Do you still use an alarm clock? If you don’t, when was the last time you used an alarm clock? I mean, one that isn’t on your phone?
An actual, physical alarm clock plugged into an electric outlet or one of those wind up ones? A Big Ben clock, that what I had growing up, and boy was that sucker noisy.
Normally on Sundays I write about goals. But seeing how we are just a few days into the New Year and I wrote about my new goals for the year a few days ago, I thought I’d write about something else today.
And apparently it’s alarm clocks. 😉
Yada yada yada…
Yesterday the HH and I went on a “date day” in the great state of New Hampshire. We got up bright and early {without the use of an alarm clock} went out for “coffee”. He had coffee and I had probably the biggest London Fog I’ve ever had.
After the coffee shop we went to my favorite antique store of all time, Antiques on Elm in Manchester, New Hampshire.
I LOVE that antique store. Not only is the place HUGE, but it’s always packed with just the things I’m on the hunt for… And so many things I’m not.
A 60 year old magazine cover of the Beatles! Wouldn’t you think it would be worth more than $20?
Or the U2 Album War… $19. Maybe old records are like the 8 track tapes from when I was a kid… Nobody has a way to play them anymore. Although I think you can still buy record players, can’t you?
Sometimes when you’re in antique stores the prices on things seem crazy low, and then you’ll see something {like a pink rotary phone} and be like $100? Are you serious?
But you know someone is going to come along and buy it sooner or later. It will be just what they’ve been looking for.
If Grandma has an old Quaker Oats cardboard canister in her pantry, you may want to tell her people are paying big bucks for them.
I’ve always wanted a butter churn. And I have no idea why. Maybe I read too many Little House on The Prairie books when I was growing up.
Another thing I’ve always wanted… A kitchen full of copper pots. But I think you kind of have to have the right kitchen for them. Maybe not.
Someday though, someday I’ll have a bunch of copper pots and when I do I’ll hang them on the wall or from one of those ceiling pot racks.
The perfect pan for cooking 2 dozen eggs at a time!
Do you have any old gardening books?
Is the gardening advice in them much different than it is today? Home gardening to me seems like one of the most basic, straightforward things of all time to me.
Plant seed, water, give plenty of sunlight, fertilize, add mulch, water some more, harvest.
But what do I know?
I love old kitchen tools. Especially the red and green ones with wooden handles. This was the first time though I’ve seen a potato masher with a ball at the top.
I didn’t buy it though, I still have my grandmother’s red old masher that I use when I make mashed potatoes or jam.
The alarm clocks though… Those stopped me in my tracks. The HH and I had been talking the other day about alarm clocks.
And how basically the phones people use today have replaced SO MANY of the everyday things we grew up with. Alarm clocks, maps, camera’s, calculators, note pads, phone books, calendars, music players, an actual radio!
No wonder people can’t seem to function without having their phone practically glued to their hands. Or a screen for that matter.
It’s becoming increasingly hard for people to NOT instinctively pick up their phone for every little thing.
It’s weird. It’s like your whole world {not mine, but a lot of people’s} lives are wrapped up in this tiny hand held device and while it might seem like this wonderful, magical time saving thing… What is it really doing to us?
One of my goals this year is to stop picking up my phone so much and spend less than 3 hours a day online, in front of a screen.
Just seeing those alarm clocks lined up on the shelf in the antique store was a great reminder to me to GET OUT and do stuff that is not tech related.
It also kind of made me want to buy an old fashioned alarm clock too. 😉
So I guess my question to you today my friend is… When was the last time you used an alarm clock that wasn’t on your phone? A physical alarm clock.
For me, it’s been years. Maybe 6-10?
~Mavis
Adeline says
I do have a tiny, vintage “travel clock” that I use everyday. We have a “no phone in the bedrool” rule, and it really helps my sleep !
Jeanine says
I have a battery style alarm clock and had to use it last week. I had to get up at 3:00 am to take my daughter to the airport. Her flight was leaving at 6 am and we needed to be there at least 2 hours early.
Wind up alarm clocks are somewhat of a nuisance being that you have to wind them up all the time. But, it’s kind of cool to have an old fashion one.
I love old things. Many years ago, I bought the best kitchen spoon from an antique store in Maine. It has a wooden handle, measuring marks on the bowl of the spoon and a pointed part on the side for serving. Lots of tools are just as functional today as yesteryear. My husband has lots of great tools that he still uses today. Anyway, it’s always fun to browse around old antique stores. It brings up lots of memories from one’s past.
Laura says
I always use an alarm clock. The one I’ve used since high school died a couple of years ago. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to replace it. I wanted one that played music, not the loud buzzing noise and it’s so hard to find a good one! I didn’t understand at first why they don’t sell them anymore. Silly me- I didn’t realize people use their phone as their alarm clock. No thank you! I’d much rather use an alarm clock (on days I need to get up early and don’t wake naturally).
Mavis Butterfield says
I agree, good ones ARE hard to find and oddly enough, the last one we had didn’t last very long either.
Paula says
No alarm clock for more than two decades. However, I do remember get a wind up on for my 13th birthday. Similar to the one in the photo.
Janet Langlois says
We still use the 29 year old GE clock radio that we bought when we first got married, although I don’t seem to need it to get up on time!
Tracy says
We have a no phone in the bedroom rule. We have for our whole married life each had an alarm clock on our nightstand. Hubby uses his every work day morning. Mine gets used on special occasions.
Michelle says
I have an alarm clock that I never set. Been getting up at 3 AM for so long, I wake up before it goes off. Mainly have the clock just to see the time.
Patty says
I still have my trusty old clock radio and my dad’s old wind up alarm clock. I also still have our old rotary phone like the one in the picture.
Jeanine says
I have a princess phone that we still use to this day!
Christa H. says
Stopped using mine 6 years ago. I became a super light sleeper and I could see the lights on it through my eyelids and it would wake me up. LOL
Ramona says
I have a digital bedside clock. It was used just last week. I use the alarm when I know I can’t sleep in after a restless nights sleep and have to be up. Last night was one of those nights, 2 hours of sleep, laying there a while, then getting up.
Hawaii Planner says
We also have a no phone in the bedroom rule, so the phone isn’t our alarm (unless we’re traveling & they don’t have another option). The last time I used my alarm was yesterday, when I had to get up at 4:30 to get my 18 year old packed & drive him to Sacramento for his ride back to college.
I use an alarm basically every day, and I’d say 80% of the time I am up & turn it off before I need it. I like the routine of being up at the same time every day.
Christy says
I have an alarm clock that simulates a sunrise. It really helps to wake up in the morning and not to be jolted awake by an alarm.
Mavis Butterfield says
I like the idea of the sunrise alarm clock! That’s interesting. I am going to look into that. Thanks!
Lisa says
You never sleep through it? I’ve always worried it wouldn’t wake me up consistently
Christy says
The alarm clock also has the sounds of birds. I am a heavy sleeper and I haven’t slept through it. I highly recommend it.
Elizabeth M says
A few years ago I bought a cheap digital alarm clock because I wanted to try not keeping my phone next to the bed. It worked for only a year before it died. Very different from the clock radio I grew up with and used for so many years. Now I just use my phone’s alarm when I need to get up early.
Mary3M says
Just set my alarm clock for tomorrow morning. Love the pictures of your ‘antiquing’. We are getting ready for the world to stop tomorrow with the ‘massive snow’ storm coming!
Mavis Butterfield says
I hope you get a pajama day!!! 🙂
Carla says
I still use a digital alarm clock for my bedroom. I don’t want to have my phone in my room when its time to sleep, so the charger is in the kitchen and that’s where my phone is for the night.
Honeybee says
The husband and I each have a bedside clock. His is a Alexa speaker with clock display. Mine is large numbers (easy to read) that do not light up unless I push a button. I prefer sleeping in darkness.
Now that I am retired I only use my alarm if I have a trip planned. Being a night owl I consider it a joy to be allowed to sleep till I naturally awaken.
Linda Sand says
I have a small, battery powered travel alarm clock by my bed. It stays closed unless I need to know the time. Then I push a button to light it up. When I actually need to set an alarm, I do that on my phone. But, it stays in the bathroom until my it’s-not-quite-morning-yet trip in there.
Nancy says
So long that I can’t remember!
Over the holiday break, I was with a relative one day and accidentally left my phone at home for the day. I felt a mild state of panic all day…what if my adult daughter needed me for an emergency? (She never does) I even used my relative’s phone to text her and tell her where I was. (I am sure she was rolling her eyes.) What is weird is that even after I knew she could get in touch with me, I still felt edgy. And I don’t use my phone to scroll social media, news, etc. It’s easy to forget that we weren’t always able to be in contact with someone so quickly.
I had an old potato masher with a red handle that I gave away bc it took up too much room in a drawer and my utensil canister. :p
Kiln Guy says
Thirty years ago I worked in a seaside inn along the coast of Maine. At that time the inn was 100 years old. No AC, no TVs in the room and no telephones. When guests requested a wake up call the owner would reach into her desk and hand them a wind up alarm clock.
Mavis Butterfield says
I love it!
Shirley says
We still have a plugged in digital alarm clock in our bedroom mostly just to see the time at night
Generally I set my phones alarm to get up by if we need to be up earlier than usual rather than using the clock which sits on a bureau across the room
Mimi says
We still use an alarm clock for early morning appointments and when my husband needs to get up to go fishing in the wee hours. I use my phone for talking/texting and that’s about it.
I have my grandfather’s garden book from the 40’s: Pay Dirt – Farming and Gardening with Composts by J.J. Rodale. They were concerned about depleted soil back then and the concern is greater than ever now. I had to bid against another person for a large box of books at my grandparent’s estate sale (second marriage, long story, grrrr). I finally gave up bidding because I only wanted one book. The winning bidder knew I was disappointed and kindly gave it to me. My one and only memory of spending time with my grandfather was following him around his garden and watching him turn his compost one afternoon. I share his love of gardening and really wanted that book!
James Rancourt says
15 years ago when I retired. And, don’t miss it one bit. 🙂
Heather says
I have a battery style alarm clock and use it on my work days to wake myself up (I work from home). Except for that, I am very nocturnal and prefert to stay up late and wake up when I wake up. My work day starts at 7 AM and I like to wake up at 5:45 in order to have coffee, relax, or do things that need doing prior to starting work. I do have a cell phone and only use it when necessary and only have the most basic things on it in order for it to be useful and nothing more.
Susan says
I am a light sleeper, so I have an alarm clock that is also a white noise machine. Hubby also has a regular alarm clock for himself, since we get up for work at different times. No phones in the bedroom here either!
Pamela Sheppard says
I used to have a very ooooolllld clock radio that I loved. What broke on it was the speaker for the radio. It started out not so bad but towards the end instead of it going off with music it was a loud burst of static from the radio (then some music) which was quite startling from a deep sleep. Eventually it broke all together. I tried replacing it. The first one I bought was missing something from the box so back it went. The second one the time display was so big and bright that even adjusted it lit up the room too much at night. So I bought a tiny digital clock that I am not sure even has an alarm. I just wanted some way to see the time when I am in a hurry without getting my phone. Its all the way across the room on a shoe rack near the bathroom door. Its perfect and I love not having the time showing right by my face on the nightstand if I wake up in the middle of the night.
I think I have a small wind up white plastic one in a cabinet somewhere too.
Mrs. M says
We have a clock that we use for telling time. But, both my husband and I use our phones for our alarms.
I’m researching talking clocks because I can’t see the bedroom clock without putting on my glasses. Any Mavis readers out there that have recommendations?
SueD says
Given a Big Ben first Christmas I was in high school. It stopped working when my sister overwound it. I never used the alarm on it. I can tell myself a couple of times what time I need to wake up, and I do. No smartphones or tablets in the bedroom.
Zadu says
I picked up a copy of “How To Grow Vegetables And Fruits By The Organic Method”, published by Rodale Press in MCMLXI (1961; Roman numerals are something I haven’t seen or used in a long time either!) a couple of weeks ago for $2 at a local second-hand store. Unfortunately, it didn’t come with a dust jacket but a copy for sale on Amazon does have it – and I love those old pictures.
Alarm clock? I do miss my Big Ben but I don’t miss the klaxon noise! I much prefer the “Storytime” sound on my iPhone.
Lynda Rees Kling says
I have a battery alarm clock next to my bed to use whenever I need to get up early… have never used my phone. I don’t even know how to….and I leave it downstairs
Dianne Labadie says
May 31, 2019. It was removed from the room at that time.
I need to do the same. I love to read and learn, I will find something that I have to read and then I’m done the hole.
Tracy says
I have small electric (they’re silent) alarm clocks with illuminated dials –yes, dials– by every bed in my house. They’re the best way to see the time in the middle of the night and not have to move a muscle!
Mary Keen says
I have not used a watch in at least 25 years. I was a former teacher never late to class or doctor’s appointments. No alarm clocks. I don’t know how I do it I just do it. I guess that I have an internal measurement. I have about 38 watches and honestly don’t know what to do with them. I have one clock on the wall at home which is analog. I had to teach children in 4 and 6th grade how to read an analog clock. They only knew how to read a digital clock and that was 12 years ago.
debbie in alaska says
The only time I set an alarm is if I am boarding a flight in the morning. And I use my phone and set multiple alarms (5 min apart) so I don’t miss my flight.
I love the idea of not checking my phone or having it by my bedside – but my job requires that I am an duty at all times. Thankfully my need to respond is not frequent but if I don’t have my phone with me, I’d have to have someone cover for me. My apple watch is actually super helpful in that regard. It will alert me if I get a message – and I don’t need to be looking at my phone to see it. I also set my phone to silence all calls or texts that come in from an unknown caller/phone which saves me a lot of headache. I think you just prefer the simple life, Mavis and I am so glad your livelihood allows you to live the life you love.
Karen says
I just use my phone for an alarm and I do keep it with me at night. The last three family emergencies that have occurred happened in the middle of the night so I was very glad I heard the call. I also use it to listen to a book on the nights I just can’t sleep.