Friday, May 30, 2014

Whining About Things or Fixing Them?

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” 
― Karen Lamb


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Busy, busy. 

I finished half of my wallpapering project upstairs yesterday. (Do always buy peel-able wallpaper--it just peels right off, no warm water needed!) 

Then in the afternoon, my new slipper chair arrived, so today I'll push the box upstairs then put the chair together and then lug up my white table from the front porch and maybe re-paint my dresser up there and finish the wallpapering and --

Stay tuned to see what I actually do.


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Oh, and remember my dear little table which I use every single day and consider one of the best purchases of my life?




 Well, on one Saturday as I sat upon The Red Couch, I reached over to set my cup of coffee down and discovered my table was gone! I looked over at Tom and saw--what the heck? He was using his work computer while it sat upon my table.

What a big, hairy test for me. :)  I neeed my table, especially on weekends.

There's a season for everything and here at Hobbit Cottage it's the Find Solutions For Nagging Problems Season. Seriously. Why keep complaining about annoyances when you can, instead, creatively fix most of them?

So I went online and looked at side tables for Tom and although I fell in love with this one:


... I knew it would take up too much room physically and visually in our tiny living room. We both decided, instead, upon this table, below, though yeah, it's pretty modern, but otherwise, perfect. Maybe someday I'll paint it red:




Tom l-o-v-e-s that table. He smiled all last weekend while sitting at his recliner with this table and his computer in front of him.

What a terrific feeling to fix the things which nag at your head rather than use-up your energy whining about them. 

And remember how I'd felt convicted to stop shopping for another house? Well, that was a bigger deal than I let on, because 1.) Since childhood I've been 'all about houses'. They're a huge part of who I am and 2.) We live in an area with hundreds of cheap-but-cool houses (with actual closets and an extra bedroom) in safe neighborhoods and we could make a straight-across-trade-for-cash for so many. Oh, the temptation for this house-loving lady to view these cute homes online!

But what I'm discovering--again--is that as I've stopped spending energy looking for a better house, my energy now goes to making this house better. 

And there's your remarkable revelation for the day. heh.



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"The soul of the sluggard desires, and [has] nothing: but the soul of the diligent will be made fat."  ...  Proverbs 13:4



“...the best possible way to prepare for tomorrow is to concentrate with all your intelligence, all your enthusiasm, on doing today's work superbly today. That is the only possible way you can prepare for the future.” 
― Dale CarnegieHow to Stop Worrying and Start Living


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My buddy, Susan, shared this oh-so-sweet video about a couple who've been married 60 years and, not only will they inspire you, but so will the police officers involved. Their part encouraged me because--sadly--in the past year, 6 officers here in Buffalo have been suspended for various reasons. It felt great to be reminded by the media that officers help us in myriad ways which we often forget.


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This week's SavingStar Friday Freebie? A 6 ounce can of Hunt's tomato paste.

Oh, and last time I forgot to mention that on each Tuesday, SavingStar issues a healthy offer which is good until the following Sunday. It's usually 20 percent off of loose vegetables or fruits and so this week we receive 20 percent off of loose tomatoes. 


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4 comments:

  1. The new table for Tom looks just perfect, and even has a place for magazines! Well done, Debra!

    You should check out the Brimfield Police Department on Facebook for something fun and inspiring.

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  2. Anonymous2:33 PM

    Glad you found a good solution to that problem. Sometimes I think men do not realize that we like ownership of a FEW items even though married. I guess we maybe should paint things more pink or plaster them with lace?? Heh... It is nice you have your own bedroom and can decorate however you wish...I have often longed for such. Maybe someday. Seeking peace with all men...
    Elizabeth in WA

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  3. Cute tables! We have an old swivel piano stool that Steve and I "fight" over. It also comes in handy as a steering wheel when the grandkids create any sort of transportation in the living room.

    And I agree with Elizabeth in WA, Steve has no desire to use my very 1950's pink tile bathroom - EVER. He even walks past it down the hall if he gets up at night. Even in the dark he doesn't use the pink bathroom. It works for me!

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  4. Judy's mention of a piano stool...I have one too, but it's weak somehow and the thing keeps cracking down the middle everytime anyone heavier than a 3 year old sits upon it. So at Lowe's a few weeks ago I discovered wood rounds for tabletops. I'm going to refashion my antique stool into a fun, newly painted table to use.

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