Assortment

With What You Have | 8

 

Our recent words about contentment inspired me to begin a series that celebrates ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness. But, it's not all about me - what have you done with what you have? I'd love to hear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you have a party coming up - a party for outside with that new green grass & that creek nearby. You go ahead and plan that party. 

In the planning, you realize you don't have a thing for folks to sit on. Roll those willow logs from the woodpile, cut that two-by-twelve in two, whack them together with long spikes, and there you've got a couple benches. 

And you immediately love them. Of course, you do, they're the stylish faux bois - only real. Wink

Then, go ahead and build a fire pit. Build it from the broken concrete that was recently stacked in a heap - old pathways to houses long gone that he jack-hammered out of the ground one day. Pick the best from the heap, lay them in a circle, then stack another layer on top. Lay it rough side up - it's better that way. 

Then, have that party. And another. And another. Many more, in fact, as the years go by. 

The benches will weather, grass will grow between the stones, and you'll be better for having experienced fullness in the lack and abundance in the simple. 

Do what you can with what you have.

 

Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the newly-released Shelter Collection - four small floor plans designed for gracious living in 900-1400 square feet, the first & second just recently released, the third, and fourth coming soon. Peruse the collection here. 

 

 

With What You Have | 7

 

Our recent words about contentment inspired me to begin a series that celebrates ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness. But, it's not all about me - what have you done with what you have? I'd love to hear.

 

 

 

 

 

The bell jingled as I walked through the door of the saddle maker's shop. I breathed deeply; the air was infused with leather. At his workbench in the back of the store, he was busy putting new strings on a worn-out saddle. The tag hanging from the horn, I noticed, in scratch letters said, "Fix everything that's broke."  

That's why I'd come, too. 

I needed a piece of leather, one inch wide, about six feet long, and some lacing, too, to replace the frayed strap on the handbag I had. He nodded, paused his work on the saddle and lead me over to deep shelves that climbed the wall - all full of rolled-up leather. 

This one. 

He rolled it out across a deep, wide table; cut one strip wide, and the other one narrow. The wooden handles of his tools were worn; his hands were steady and sure. 

The coiled leather he placed like a nest in my hands, and with it a scrap of paper for the cashier.

It read, "Leather pieces $10.00."

A reasonable price, I thought, to fix what's broke.

 

Do what you can with what you have.

 

Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the newly-released Shelter Collection - four small floor plans designed for gracious living in 900-1400 square feet, the first & second just recently released, the third, and fourth coming soon. Peruse the collection here. 

 

 

With What You Have | 6

 

 

Our recent words about contentment inspired me to begin a series that celebrates ingenuity, creativity, and resourcefulness. But, it's not all about me - what have you done with what you have? I'd love to hear.

 

One glass butter dish careened off the counter and onto the floor. It happens. No biggie. We had another. 

Until it also, on another day, at another time, landed with a crash into a hundred shards when it met the unforgiving floor. 

Well, now.

Now we were fresh out of butter dishes.

I could have bought a replacement, I know. But I just didn't want to spend money there, for one more thing. Surely I had something already...

 

Ah-hah! A half-pint jar. I've got plenty of those recycling from full to empty on the pantry shelves.

 

The perfect height for one stick, this has been our butter jar for these past many months, and I'm happy to say, it's working just fine. 

Do what you can with what you have. 

 

P.S. Before we moved into the little house, I purged all plastic from my kitchen. Now, I use empty canning jars to store leftovers in the fridge as well. Salad keeps especially well in a sealed glass jar.

P.P.S. Want that bread recipe? Go here.

Wishing you the loveliest of weekends, friends!

 

Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the newly-released Shelter Collection - four small floor plans designed for gracious living in 900-1400 square feet, the first & second just recently released, the third, and fourth coming soon. Peruse the collection here.