Homebodies - Simple little pleasures...
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- Published on Saturday, September 3, 2016
By Rita Friesen
The Neepawa Banner
“After all,” Ann had said to Marilla once, “I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” Ann of Avonlea, by L.M. Montgomery
I enjoyed a couple of those perfect days this week. Nothing earth shattering, not on holiday, just puttering around my home, shop and yard. If I ever complete the myriad of little projects I am currently working on, the shop will be tidy, the front entrance will be well lighted and the back door will be replaced. I have many dreams I am working on. So this week, I stained an arbour white; created a seat for it out of a roll of foam I found and a ten dollar curtain; had new boards cut for the garden bench, stained and varnished, working on the bolts to secure the slats; envisioning a reclaimed set of four panel doors that are to become a headboard; envisioning another door to incorporate a window a grandson painted for me when he was but a lad; glued the arm rests of an antique chair and working on re-upholstering the seat and back ( I have the fabric); and just plain playing.
I have been sanding and sawing, drilling and gluing, staining and finishing. This slow and gentle movement on a series of projects is soul satisfying for me. Amid the clutter is another project, the parlour table still has not been reduced to a coffee table. But I am not impatient. I know how I work, think for a long time and start slow, but get it done. There are tools I want to sort, but the ones I want to work with are spares and I can find all the ones I need, so that job is progressing very slowly. No matter, it may or may not get done. Several years ago, I was determined to sort the totes of Lego pieces and re-construct all the structures. The kitchen was littered with pans and trays of the various shapes, sizes and colours and it took a while, but I got it done – to be honest, I called in two of my young friends to help that time, but the method was sound!
With help, I got a row of solar lights down the driveway, much easier to find the dogs after dark! The motion sensor solar light is still in the box, but I have read the instructions and I am almost certain where I want to place it.
Curling up in the big chair reading a book, walking the dogs, phone calls and coffee stops. The scent of fresh cut wood, stained hands from honest labour, cold drinks on a hot day. Simple pleasures, simple little pleasures, like pearls slipping off a string.
