The Joy of a Cuckoo Clock

Cuckoo clocks make me smile. I didn't know that about myself until recently. We bought one on vacation recently and I just love it. There's something very satisfying about a clock that doesn't require a plug or batteries. We just pull the chains down and give the pendulum a little nudge and it tick-tocks away for 24 hours.

The half-hourly "cuckoo" and music are a source of giggles and "ooo-aahhs" for all of us. I was worried that the extra noise in the house would be annoying, but I enjoy it, although I might feel differently if we couldn't turn off the music at night.In a world of constant noise, computers, television, video games, washers and dryers, and all the rest of our "modern conveniences", there's something precious about clothes that hang on a line to dry and a clock that you have to wind.