Our old cat, Buttons (God Rest His Soul), was quite a cat. You can read about him here in this tribute, written sometime after his disappearance from our Barn House. Since then, there have been several "Buttons Sightings" around this place, the most recent being last summer in the old shed. My man was cleaning it out when he heard some rustling behind some boxes. Thinking it was one of the many pesky raccoons, he raised a shovel over his head and approached slowly.
And suddenly, darting out from the shadows, was a striped gray cat.
"BUTTsie???" Tom called. "Is that you?"
But he was gone.
And the legend of Buttons lives on.
Buttons had his favorite spots to curl up in. Mostly, he loved places where the sun came in and warmed his soft fur. The back of the couch, the girls' bed, a window sill. There, the light was just right for inspecting paws for dirt and for giving himself a bath. He could think clearly about the state of the world, and contemplate whether to sleep or simply rest.
I've long admired the way cats "own" certain pieces of territory. We could learn something from them.
Do you have a special place in your home that is "your own?" I've never had the luxury of a pretty sitting room, craft room, or a reading nook, but there are a couple of places that I think of as "mine."
1) My side of the bed, where my stack of magazines, hand lotion and reading glasses live.
2) The end of the couch by the table and lamp, where I like to read and blog on the laptop.
3) The upstairs loft, which is currently a MESS of boxes and stuff I don't know what to do with. I dream of really making it "mine" with pretty furnishings....someday. For now, it is a catch-all.
Today's Small Thing is to stake a claim on some real estate in your own home. You may not have any "extra" space for a personal area, but find a spot where you like to be and pay a little attention to it. Set out some hand lotion, a pretty coaster and bring a soft throw to make it comfy. Dust off your nightstand, organize your books, and set out a candle.
My nightstand on a good day:
Carve out a little corner that speaks to your soul, even if it's right in the middle of a busy living room or bedroom. You've got to nourish your own need for sanctuary before you can truly make it happen for everyone else.
POINTS: 40 for paying attention to your own little corner
BONUS POINTS: 20 for enjoying it for at least 10 minutes today! :)
Where is YOUR little corner and how will you make it special?
