May 31, 2008

• Insights into the Ordinary

   Photo Meme — 10 random pictures, glimpses of the everyday

  This is not an original idea, I have seen it on two other sites.  I think you are supposed to be “tagged” to participate, but I’m not good at that.  I think if it interests you, do it — if not, do your own thing!  The thing that I find so intriguing about this photo meme is that the things are so ordinary — for the most part.  And often things we would not think of putting on display!  For instance:

  

   

  My kitchen sink — typically if I were going to invite you to visit me in my home I would clear the dishes and clean the sink.  Here it is in its everyday state.  Beautiful? — no.  Real? — yes.

   

  Next a look inside my refrigerator.  This is another forgotten place in my house — one visitors rarely observe (unless they are bringing food to share and need to find a spot in the refrigerator to put it until it gets used.)  The trouble is — in my refrigerator there is rarely a “spot” to be found.  I guess there are a few reasons for that — first, I am feeding a bunch of growing boys, so I always need to have plenty of food on hand — second, I don’t go through and clean out the leftovers often enough — and three, I am blessed to be able to keep the refrigerator full to capacity (most of the time) with healthful food (okay, ignore the leftover pizza and the rows of fatty condiments in the doors — take that “healthful” with a grain of salt — better yet, for your health, you can skip the salt ).

  This is the toilet in my bathroom — not the bathroom that visitors generally use.  This is the last bathroom that I clean when I know company is coming, because it is the least likely one they will ever see.  Again — how fortunate I am to have my “own” bathroom (I do share it with my husband).  My mother is 81 years old and has never had her “own” bathroom.  Master bath “retreats” are all the rage on the home-improvement TV shows, and they are commonplace in most new construction, but really — are they necessary?  Not really.  A few years ago, as history measures time, merely having indoor plumbing was a luxury beyond imagination.  Matter of fact, that is still the case in a large percentage of the world.

  

   

   

  This is Part 1 of “What are your kids doing right now”.  Isaac is busy playing legos — it is his favorite pastime.  Part 2 is coming up a few pictures down the line.

   

   

  

  Another example of how I am blessed (or cursed) with over-abundance.  Ta-da!   My closet.  Contrary to appearances, it is fairly well organized.  Those messy clothes on the top shelf — those would be hubby’s.  He is not as well organized.  Still — I have too many clothes.  One of my goals (after we get home from our vacation) is to get rid of the ones I don’t wear anymore.  I will donate them to either the boys’ choir garage sale or a local thrift store.  My friends tease me about my closet — my best friend/neighbor and her girls sometimes come and “shop in Leah’s Closet” when they need a special accessory or outfit for some occasion.  It’s nice to be able to share, but at the same time embarrassing to have such an excess.

   

  

   

  A picture of my favorite shoes.  They are neither practical or comfortable, but I love them nonetheless.  They don’t get out much.  They are my “ruby slippers”, sans the sparkle.

   

  This picture is the “Part 2″ I promised earlier.  The photo meme asked for a picture of my laundry pile.  I went to the laundry room and found the boys going through their clean clothes piles!  I don’t know why they even need closets or drawers in their rooms — they use the laundry room like a closet.  They wear their clothes, drop them off in the laundry room for me to wash, (which I do), then I fold and sort the clothes into piles for each individual family member.  The theory is they will come and get their clean clothes and put them away.  In reality, they come and get the clean clothes and put them ON!  Today was the first day of “summer vacation” so they had some extra time to attend to the laundry that had accumulated.  Also — they needed to decide which clothes to pack and take along on our upcoming trip.

   

  

  Next on the list is a picture of my “fantasy vacation”.  I chose Italy.  I love the sun-drenched landscapes, the history, the architecture, the wine, the art — something might actually be in the works for me regarding a trip to Italy, and it involves singing.  My sister’s college alumni choir has been invited to go to Italy and Austria and perform several concerts, but they have also opened up the invitation to “extras”.  I would have to audition for a spot and attend some rehearsals in preparation, but wouldn’t that be an amazing experience?  I’m not sure if it will work out because of cost and timing, but I am working on those.

   

   This is a picture of my favorite room — my living room.  I love this room because it is usually the cleanest room in the house!  I love the window — the light it lets in and the view it provides.  The shape of it pleases me.  I also love my piano — it belonged to my Grandmother, and she gave it to me before she passed away.  She was a remarkable woman.  She was born in 1892.  Her husband survived WWI, her son (my Dad) survived WWII.  She traveled by covered wagon as a young girl moving to Minnesota with her family.  She taught school in a one-room schoolhouse.  She raised a family during the depression.  She lived to age of 105 — only a month short of her 106th birthday.  She was only 4 feet 11 inches tall (shorter by the time she died) and during her “prime” grandma years I think she was almost as wide as she was tall!  She had an ample bosom.  She loved to read to us grandkids.  She read her Bible every day.  She had a quiet, strong faith that served as a powerful example to me. I believe she also prayed for me (and all of her children/grandchildren/great-grandchildren) every day.  She started a “study club” with the women of her town.  She believed in education and independence for women, although she was as traditional a wife and mother as you can picture.  She died just 6 weeks after my youngest was born (her youngest great-grandchild).  He smiled for the first time on the day of her funeral.

  

   

  This might be cheating a little, because the 10th picture is supposed to be a self-portrait.  The only reasons I say “cheating” is because I have used this picture before on this blog.  But it fits, and I like it, so I am using it!

   

  • 9:29 am
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