Tag Archives: simple living

Brave New Home

Posted on February 3, 2022 by smellincoffee

Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing© 2020 Diane Lind272 pages Prior to the 20th century, Americans enjoyed the same rich diversity of housing options as anyone else: detached houses of varying sizes, granny flats, boarding houses, … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Civic Interest, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Nomadland

Posted on June 24, 2021 by smellincoffee

Nomadland: Surviving America in the 21st Century© 2017 Jessica Bruder273 pages America has always been a nation on the move, but some people take that more literally than others.  Nomadland takes us into the aftermath of the great recession, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Society and Culture | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

A clump o’ reviews, because I’m house/dog/pool-sitting sans PC

Posted on June 20, 2021 by smellincoffee

I am in town for Father’s Day and thus taking a moment to scribble on my computer, having spent the past few days happily bobbing in a pool. Taking care of friends’ houses in their absence is such a chore, … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics and Literary, Reviews | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Wisdom Wednesday: To Live Deliberately

Posted on August 19, 2020 by smellincoffee

    “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, … Continue reading →

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Wisdom Wednesday: Enough

Posted on July 15, 2020 by smellincoffee

Hearing wisdom and knowing wisdom are two different things. The usual human experience is to hear a thing, remark on its  insight, and then shove it away in some dark closet of our minds, where it is forgotten and fruitless.  … Continue reading →

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Clutter Free

Posted on July 6, 2020 by smellincoffee

Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space © 2015 Kathi Lipp 226 pages “Enough is a beautiful thing.” Reading books about decluttering is much easier than actually doing it, which is probably why I’ve read so many … Continue reading →

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An uncluttered thought or two

Posted on July 4, 2020 by smellincoffee

Yesterday the library was closed in observance of Independence Day, and I have been using the time to get a little closer to my minimalist goals. This is a constant undertaking, an intermittent weekend project. Although I am frequently given … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflection | Tagged | 5 Comments

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Posted on January 29, 2020 by smellincoffee

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter © 2018 Margaret Magnusson 128 pages Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, for old time is still a-flying. While you’re at it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged | 2 Comments

This and that

Posted on December 5, 2019 by smellincoffee

Well, good news and bad news. The good news is…my book buying ban is OVER, so I have five books on the way.   A few are for next year, but I may try a couple beforehand: Rubbish: The Archaeology of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Tiny houses and zero waste

Posted on November 26, 2019 by smellincoffee

I’ve recently read two books which can be paired together nicely, so that’s what I’m doing.      Enter Tiny House Living and 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste.      In the last few weeks I’ve been watching Tiny House Nation … Continue reading →

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