plenty in my stash

With Valentine's Day just around the corner,

I'm gathering a few vintage items I have tucked away.

I'll find places for them later.

I'm sure there's more...

I'll not be buying anything new - but don't feel sorry for me...

I have plenty in my stash.

more reading

 Monday afternoon we drove into the "city" to Barnes and Noble.

It's been a l-o-n-g time since we've done this

(used to be a once-a-week habit)!

I gathered a few magazines and leisurely paged through them.

It felt like the ultimate luxury.

I used to subscribe to a couple of the magazines above,

but they seemed to fill up with more and more advertisements 

at the same time the subscription rates increased,

so I dropped them.

I still have stacks of the old Victoria magazines.

It used to be my favorite along with Country Living which I couldn't find at B&N  yesterday...

Hmmmmmm.  I wonder where it was...

..one particularly intriguing photo...

reading

 I get many of my "read leads" from visiting other blogs.

Usually, the thriftiest way to read books for me is to request them

from our wonderful library system.

After picking up these two, I started with the top one.

Before finishing the January chapter, I decided I will keep my eyes open

for a used copy at a thrift store or garage sale!
I'd LOVE to mark it up a bit--write in the margins and underline a bit.
Maybe a "happy face" here and there.

It is delightful AND worth an annual read.  Here are a few examples of why I like it--all from January!
***

• We will do more of less, rather than more and more...engage ourselves more deeply in fewer activities...limit mere contacts and explore relationships more deeply.
• In winter we have no love affair with Nature, just a passing friendship, respect, appreciation.
• What fuzzy edges grow in our thinking when we live with a background of clutter.
• No more hoarding for a rainy day or special occasion--but use something new and exciting right away.
• To live properly you must have roots.  Roots take different forms and shapes.
• How delightful to learn also that the  balanced individual is often inaccurate, untidy, vague and unconventional, and does things on the spur of the moment.

I sure wish I could remember who mentioned THIS book!

There aren't too many books I reread, but this is definitely ONE that I would!

What books do YOU read more than once?

true confession

It's no secret.

I have "stuff".

"Minimal" isn't my style.

For me, less is NOT more.

Still, there is a limit, and I think I've reached it.

Passed it, actually.

He sat at my kitchen table after a trip to our cellar
to take a look at some repairs that are needed and to give us an estimate.

He took in the view of the room and said something to the effect of,
"Rebecca, you have a lot of antiques and other junk around here!"  

I don't think he actually said "other junk",

but the meaning was clear.

Actually, he didn't have to tell me. 

I already knew.

2015 is my year to do something about it.

I just haven't figured out WHAT yet...
What I HAVE figured out is that I'm good at coming up with a goal--
just not so good at figuring out how to achieve it,
getting started,
and making myself put forth the necessary effort.
There.  I've said it.

the packaging

 Like small children who find as much pleasure in the gift box as the gift itself,

 so I delighted in the packaging of several gifts I received this past Christmas!

 This beautiful footed bowl was filled with fruit.  What a treasure!

And this plaid box is stunning.

I can't bear to put it away!

Whether beautiful, unique, utilitarian or a combination of the three...

I really enjoyed the packaging of Christmas 2014.