Home Sanctuary

March - Where Have You Gone?

Many of you are like me - started off March with a bang and then sorta crawled toward the finish line on completing projects. Maybe it has to do with the "in like a lion, out like a lamb" syndrome! If you recall, I started out the month madly making plans to overhaul the storage area in my barn - the dreaded tack room. But then some unexpected things happened that forced me to abandon ship and tackle a different project -  which was to make preparations to open an Etsy shop for my artwork (a waaay more fun project). And although I'm not quite ready to hang my shingle out, I did make some great strides and hope to be up and running in another week or so! I will let you know when it's open....I can't wait!

Flash inspires such serious art...

Soooo....I didn't QUITE make it to the finish line, but I do feel great about the progress I made anyway. Each day I did a little something, even if only to write down an idea, that propelled me toward my goal. I'm almost there and it feels good.

How about you? Did you get a project finished (or almost finished) during the month of March? You know, technically, we still have through Saturday the 31st, so there is still time to catch up! If you have made some progress, send me an email or link up in Company Girl Coffee below to let us know what you did!

Today's Small Thing is to "March to the Finish" in style! Take time today and tomorrow to dig in to that project you've been procrastinating, and GIT 'ER DUN (said in my best Texas drawl). When you finally put your mind to something, you'll be amazed at how much you can get done. Make a decision, and then go for it!

Company Girl Coffee is the world's easiest meme. Simply link up below for a "round robin" of sorts - a chance to meet some new readers and go read some new blogs! Happy linking!

Song of the Day: They Say It's Spring, Blossom Dearie

Hearth and Home

Suddenly, spring is here. The bluebonnets this year are spectacular - our pastures look amazing and I can't believe I haven't taken any pictures of them yet! Hopefully I can get out there before they are gone. Here's one from last year....Texas is beautiful this time of year.

Anyway, now that the threat of cold weather is gone, I want things to be fresh and spring-y inside my house. Yesterday I noticed that my fireplace looks a bit forlorn and forgotten. We had several crackling fires this winter, and I left a nice stack of logs in there for that "last" fire....the one we never had, apparently. Since I was waiting for one more to happen, I really didn't do a very good job cleaning up the ashes - I just did a quick scoop, sweep and dump. It's clean enough for another fire, but not clean enough to sit through spring, summer and fall as it is.

Today's Small Thing is to tidy up your hearth or fireplace area. After your Christmas stuff came down off the mantel did you spruce it up for a new season? Do you, like me, still have a little bit of a mess of old logs and ashes? Take a few minutes to sweep, vacuum and dust the area....then do a little redecorating. I've got a wrought iron candle stand that fits inside the fireplace for the "off season" that I could pull out of storage, and I could add a couple of pretties to the mantel for a lovely spring look.

Here's an inspiring article from HGTV.com about decorating the mantel year round. I LOVE this idea:

 

HGTV.com

 

And this one!

HGTV.com

Bring spring to your hearth and home today!

 

Kitting

Back when my husband was in the electronics manufacturing industry, I learned a new word: kitting.

Kitting is the process in which individually separate but related items are grouped, packaged, and supplied together as one unit.

With each order of say, 100 circuit boards, all the parts - resistors, diodes, chips, LED's - would be carefully counted out in the parts room and put into a "kit" for the assembly floor. From there, workers could easily assemble the boards without making lots of trips back to the parts room. Everything they needed for that job was in one central place and within easy reach.

Kitting saves companies time and money. But it's not just companies that kit things....you probably do it all the time without even realizing it!

For example, last night, I kitted leftovers so I could easily make burritos for lunch today. I hate rummaging around the fridge for the container of meat, the ziplock bag of cheese, the lettuce in the vegetable drawer, the rice - ACK! If I didn't love burritos so very very much, I'd simply give up before assembling it all.

Now, this might not look very appetizing to you, but by putting everything into individual storage bags and then containing them all into one gallon sized bag, almost everything I need can be pulled out at once, with no rummaging around necessary. A BURRITO KIT!!! Yum.

Today's Small Thing is to do some kitting. Look around your house and notice those areas that you've kitted things for ease and efficiency, and you might be surprised at how organized you already are. And didn't even know it! Then, consider how you might apply the concept of kitting to areas that cause frustration and procrastination.

Household Kits to make life better:

Bill center: kit envelopes, stamps, pens, address labels and paper in one spot

Pantry: put ingredients for baking together - flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, salt, etc.

Hair Care: hair brushes, barrettes, hairbands, hairspray - before school flurries are much calmer if everything is within easy reach

Cleaning Supplies: a bin in each bathroom with window cleaner, paper towels, cleansers, sponges, trash bags

Backpacks: your kids are carrying their kits every day! Make sure they have pencils, notebooks, tissues, etc.

Purses: The Ultimate Kits. Lipstick, wallet, pens, and everything but the kitchen sink

First Aid: You should have a simple kit in your car, and a complete kit in your home. You never know when you'll need a bandaid (or a tourniquet, for that matter.)

Tool Kit: I've got my stash of tools that I don't tell anyone I have - hammer, screwdrivers, wirecutters, picture hangers - NO ONE CAN TOUCH MY TOOLS.

Work Kit: The things you take to work everyday - laptop, phone charger, etc. Find a cute tote that says "YOU!" so you can haul it all in style.

Diaper Bag: Everything for baby and mama on the go! Are you always missing an item in there? Take a few minutes to restock it while you are at leisure, and not running out the door.

Whew! Those are just a few ideas beyond the burrito kit that you can work on today. Let me ask you: what causes you frustration on a regular basis at home....and could a kit make your life easier?

What kits do you already have, and what kind of kitting will you do today?

Song of the Day: So Happy Together, The Turtles

PS Thank you to Company Girl Patty VZ for prompting me to think about kitting with her idea for making individual frozen meals ready to go!! You rock, Patty!

Clothes Call

 

What are you wearing today?

 

Print available here.

Proverbs 31 says quite a bit about the type of clothing the virtuous woman wears. Have you ever read this chapter in The Message version of the Bible? I smiled the whole way through it as I read it. Her clothing is well-made and in good repair...but most of all, she is clothed with something far more important than fabric and linens.

She is clothed with strength and dignity.

She carries herself with honor.

She respects herself for who she is and she respects the job she handles with grace.

 

 

 

I've got laundry on my list of things to do today, as well as a run to the grocery store and work in my office. I've been thinking about being clothed with strength and dignity as I finished this art piece yesterday, and it's made me want to go about my tasks with a new attitude.

Today's Small Thing is to clothe yourself with strength and dignity.

You are uniquely gifted and beautifully made. Respect your role as a woman enough to dress attractively, even if you are at home with no one to see you. Let your words be positive and uplifting to others, and choose to do right. Take on your tasks with enthusiasm and delight. Hold your head high and know that you are the woman God created you to be.

What is on your To Do list today? How will "clothing yourself with strength and dignity" change the way you view your role as a woman, a wife, a worker, a friend? List one or two ways you can "put on" a new attitude.

Song of the Day: You Alone, Kim Hill

Savor

This weekend was the Texas State Championship hockey tournament. Our team from Midlothian made it to the final game for the title, but lost to the defending champions in a heartbreaker of a game.

It was the last time our son Grayson will lace up his skates with his high school team before he heads to college in the fall.

I've been trying hard not to be sad about it, instead I want to savor the memories. The teams, the trips to practices, the cold rinks, the stinky equipment, the conflicts over carbo-loading, the wins and losses. Watching my kid, blessed with a healthy body, stick handle a puck down the ice. So many parents can only wish to experience what I've taken for granted so often.

Gray as a mite, in the red jersey. Age 6.

 

Gray, 6th grade.

 

And as sad as it was to lose the final game, it made me realize again that some of our biggest disappointments in life have been our very best moments. Maybe not at the very moment they are happening, but later...as we look back.  As badly as we might want to win, or get that promotion or be recognized for an achievement, NOT getting those things has a way of making us look for what is truly good and important....and reach out for each other as a family to make it through.

Today's Small Thing is to simply.....savor. 

Savor what is going on in your life right now. Whether it is good or bad, hard-going or smooth sailing, it's important to remember those moments along the way that make your life rich. The poopy diapers, the crying babies, the sullen teenager, the worry over bills and the grass that needs cutting...those things will all pass into the history books along with the birthday parties, extravaganzas and championship games. And it's all part of your rich history.

This is LIFE, this is LIVING, in all its mess and glory. Look for a bright moment in the middle of your day, and close your eyes in the wonder of where you are and the life you have. You may shake your head at the audacity of this Small Thing in light of your situation, but I know you'll find a way to make it happen.

There is beauty in imperfection, magnificence even in losses and treasures to be found in the mundane. Savor something in your life today, both the sweet and not-so-sweet moments.

Song of the Day: I Will Remember You, Sarah McLachlan

Shake it Out, Baby

I have several small rugs in my house that I don't vacuum because they get sucked up into the vacuum and make a terrible noise.  The ones that are located near the doors get a good shake fairly often, but I'll admit that the upstairs rugs get ignored pretty regularly.

Today's Small Thing is to give those throw rugs a good shake outside! 

How easy is THAT?

Oh, it's TOO easy.

RACE YA!!!

How many rugs can you shake out today? I've got 5.

Song of the Day: Twist and Shout, The Isleys

Company Girl Coffee 3.23

How are your "March to the Finish" projects coming along?? I showed you some of my progress yesterday and I appreciate all the kind comments and emails. Ya'll put wind in my sails. I'm excited to get more done.

Katharine, at Just a Thought tackled her pantry this month and I want you to see her "Before and After" photos - it's absolutely inspirational. She even organized her craft supplies in there and it looks functional and pretty - something most craft areas fail to ever achieve :). Stop over and admire. Way to go, Katharine!!

There is still another week to go in the month of March...and for those of us who need to have a fire lit under our arses to get us going, now is a good time to get our rears in gear. What can you get done in a week? Probably more than you can in a month of just thinkin' about it! I'd love to see lots of "after" pics next week...how about it, Company Girls??

 

Let's get motivated with a cup of coffee. This is a chance for you to link your blog up and invite people to stop in. Company Girl Coffee is easy and laid back....no stress at all. Join in!

 

On Being Brave Enough to Dream

Slowly, slowly....I'm making progress on the products for my online store. I plan to open with about 15 different designs and I'm at 12 so far. I love getting to play with color and paint and collage! But as I get closer to my self-imposed deadline, I find myself coming up with lots of reasons why this will never succeed and why I should spend my time looking for a "real" job, instead of pushing ahead with this dream.

See, although I've been doing murals and decorative painting for a long time, sitting in front of a canvas to create something "small" is a whole new art form for me. And I'm often paralyzed with fear and doubt...the scale of things is different, the media is different, the compositions are hard. "I'm out of my league, I'll never make it, I can't do this, I'm afraid"....says the voice in my head.

But I want to be brave, so I keep going.

 

I keep gluing and painting and praying.

 

I keep trying new ideas, like this one, of a Proverbs 31 Mama. So sweet.

 

Maybe you are struggling to be brave enough to dream. Or maybe I should say "brave enough to make a dream happen." Perhaps you are afraid of failure, and are afraid to take the next steps. I know just what you're feeling. I love this quote by Mary Tyler Moore:

"Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave."

Today's Small Thing is to practice being brave. Take a chance, make a mistake. Try something new that stretches you, and makes you better. Improve your skill, ask for help, make a commitment to your dream. 

Being brave doesn't mean you have no fear. It means you act in spite of your fear. And you trust that God is with you, because He is.

Joshua 1:9 says, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

How will you be brave today?

Song of the Day: Dream, Priscilla Ahn

Awash

We woke up Tuesday morning to standing water outside. It stormed all night long, bringing an amazing amount of rain - for Texas residents still reeling from last years' drought, you won't hear much complaining about it around here as our lakes and reservoirs fill back up.

 

This bench is usually far from the shore.

 

We immediately went to investigate the pond, which has been coming back to a beautiful level with recent rains. Just as we suspected, the water topped the dam and has been gushing over it all day. Since the dam serves as part of our driveway, we drove through a good 6 inches of water to get out of our property. Talk about exciting! The dam has only topped a few times in the last ten years, and to see the flood rushing through the woods on the opposite side of the dam and down to the old creekbed was exhillarating.

Tom saw that water was pushing through a particularly low spot and realized that a bunch of fish were getting washed away right there, so he quickly sandbagged it and diverted the stream to a shallower area that didn't pull the fish out. I probably wouldn't have ever noticed the fish being swept out, but it was an easy fix that limited the damage. The fish are contained, much to my fisherman's relief.

Today's Small Thing is to do a bit of sandbagging. Maybe you feel like YOU are getting swept away by the tide of papers and bills, or laundry or errands, and today's task is just the thing to help you take control.

"Sandbagging" is really just another way of saying "providing structure" to runaway activities or tasks. Properly placed bags of heavy sand give temporary direction to floodwaters and prevent complete devastation from happening if they were allowed to run rampant. It doesn't eliminate the crisis, it simply manages it.

What can you do to provide temporary direction to the chaos that is threatening overtake you? Sometimes, because we can't seem to put in place the perfect permanent solution, we don't take simple steps to relieve the problem in the short term. We let perfectionism paralyze us from throwing a few well placed sandbags out....and then we get washed away by the tide.

Here are some examples of sandbags (temporary fixes) for you.

Make a stack - yes, a stack. Put the mess of papers or laundry into a neat stack for later.

Stash it. Hide some clutter in a basket or closet. Seeing things clutter-free will help you feel good today.

Put things on tomorrow's list. I know, procrastinating is bad...but sometimes having fewer things on TODAY'S list will give you an energy boost to actually get them done.

Set a time limit. I still set a timer when I'm doing a task I really really don't want to do. Not only will you move faster, you'll be surprised how little time that dreaded task actually takes.

Divide it. Break your problem down into smaller pieces and tackle one piece at a time.

Delegate. Sandbagging usually requires teams of people working together to make a wall that functions. Call for all hands on deck.

Focus. Pick the one or two areas that need immediate attention. Get those done first.

Once your crisis has been averted, you can sit down and think of better ways to solve or prevent another one from happening. But for today, simply rolling up your sleeves and throwing a few sandbags out will give you the relief and margin you need.

How will you apply the principle of sandbagging today? I'd love to know!

Song of the Day: Let the Waters Rise, Mikeschair

 

No Small Thing Today

Hi Company Girls! I was away from the computer all day yesterday and then we've had huge thunderstorms come through so we turned off all our electronics. I'll try and hop back on when everything settles down (if we don't wash away in the rain first!). Have a great day....just didn't want you to worry about me.

Love, Rachel Ane