Self Control and the Lack Thereof

I try to get to a flea market/thrift store about once a week and have found a lot of little, useful, fun things lately. I'm keeping my eyes open for table setting items. Like linens, napkin rings, crystal, dishes, etc.  The dish part is the most difficult for me to control. Pretty dishes are a real weakness. But they're also the hardest to find storage room for. So I really do try to use self control. Try being the key word here. I stopped in at the local salvation army thrift store a week ago and saw this set of dishes. 43 pieces for $20. In excellent shape. Which is rare for older sets rimmed in gold or silver. It's usually worn. Normally I'm not drawn to anything retro but these really appealed to me. However, my practical side won out. I don't have room. Went home without them. 
But they kept calling my name. Decided to go back for them, but things kept interfering.  If they were sold, I just wasn't supposed to have them. I finally stopped in yesterday. And they were marked down to $15. Need I say more?

I love the handles on the covered vegetable bowl and sugar bowl lids. 

I almost passed up a bag of very 80's dusty rose and mauve napkins rings for 75 cents. But then I realized...they're wooden...I can spray paint them any color I want. I even have some different metallic paints.  That might be a possibility...

The White Sofa

We needed a new sofa. Desperately. The one we'd had for the last 6 or 7 years was pretty shot...ripped armrest, sagging springs and squished foam cushions. But it had been a freeby and served us well.  Although hubby is back to work after being laid off for a year and a half, we're not quite ready yet to buy a new one. We found a used one in excellent condition, but it was....white. A creamy white, but white.  You have to understand. Our living room is our everything room. We have no "family room".  We eat, watch tv, entertain, have visiting grandkiddies and granddogs in this room. I said to hubby, "It's pretty, it's comfortable, it's in excellent condition, the price is right, but it's....white! So very not practical."
A week went by and we both kept thinking about that couch. So we bought it. It really does look nice in the room and it's so comfortable.  There are new sofa rules. No food and no dogs!

A Perfect Christmas

(Even though I didn't post this until today, I wrote it Monday December 27th...how's that for being behind?)

 
My two sons just left after being home for about a week. My two daughters live close by, which to me is a wonderful blessing.  It was so great to have them all here for Christmas. And that's what makes a holiday special. 
You see, although I had great plans, I was sick with a bad cold pretty much from Thanksgiving until about a week before Christmas. It sapped what little energy I have sometimes. On top of that, we kept my three grandchildren for about a week and a half while their mother was off in the tropics for a wedding. They didn't get the best me either. 
Thankfully I didn't have a lot of gifts to buy because I had all my shopping to do the week before Christmas.
I wanted to have a beautifully decorated house...I did manage to get the swag on the stairway and one on the china cupboard earlier in the month. 

The tree was purchased the second Sunday in December. It set outside until Christmas Eve. I struggled half the night with lights that didn't half work (definitely a must-purchase for next year).  Last night I added Meme Gamby's vintage ornaments to a little tree in the kitchen. Yes, last night. (I still have a week to enjoy them).

God bless my girls, because thanks to them we have plenty of delicious cookies for the holiday.  Despite my lack of enthusiasm, they insisted we have our baking day and I'm so glad they did. It's always one of my favorite times. 
But, thank you Lord....I felt good in time for Christmas and enjoyed every moment.  The tree wasn't perfect, the house wasn't perfect, but when we're all together we always have a wonderful time. And isn't that what it's all about anyway?  
Happy birthday, Jesus!