So my husband gave me a day. What's a day, you ask? It's a day when he gives me his undivided attention. It's a day when I get to enjoy myself the way I want to, without any worries, without trying to please anyone else.. I chose to spend it going through the thrift stores in "the big city", window shopping, buying our Christmas sausage at our favorite butcher shop, and eating at my favorite fast food joint. I gave myself a gift, by not worrying about counting calories! Jamie, my son stayed home to tend the homefires and to watch our dog, Georgie, so for once, I wasn't rushed to get back home. I also gave myself permission to spend a few dollars that I ordinarily wouldn't on some of my favorite food items; Gevalia's Peppermint Mocha Latte K-cups and Thomas' cranberry English muffins. And a whopping ninety cents at the Re-Use It Center on a Fiesta teacup (a gift for someone else), another cute teacup, a ironstone saucer (to put under my plants) and two vintage Christmas items. Teacups and china are ten cents there. Oh! And if you've read this blog for a while, you might remember how discouraged I was about finding a nice Nativity set. Most of them are so cheaply made and garishly painted. Is it so hard to paint Baby Jesus' eyes in the middle of his face? Anyhoo, I found a vintage, probably from the 1930s, Italian Nativity set at the Salvation Army for $2.99.
When we returned home, Jamie had the house all straightened up and the ice candles lit to welcome us. It was the perfect day, the perfect gift. Hopefully, I'll get another "day" next Christmas!
Well I happen to agree with you....that sounds like a PERFECTLY lovely day to me! Everything you did just sounds so slow, relaxed, happy! We sure do like to spend our days quite similar. We also window shop all the time as our walking leads us past many pretty windows, so many now decorated so festive for Christmas. I wish we had a place where china and teacups was priced so low here.Hope your week is going nicely! Is it cold there? What y'all got planned this weekend? We are doing alot with daughter and grandgirl this week.......it's a BUSY ONE!
ReplyDeleteIsn't window shopping fun, Debbi? Thrifty entertainment. At the thrift shop where the teacups and China is priced so cheaply, you have to hunt. The good and the bad are all jumbled together, but that's the fun of it. Well, if you call 8 degrees cold, then yes, it's cold! Ha! We wanted to travel down to my son's farm to see the grandchildren, but we're supposed to get 8 inches of snow on Saturday, so I guess I'll just stay home and sit by the fire. Have fun with your granddaughter!
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Jane
That sounds perfect to me. No time limit, browse as long as you want to, and bargain goodies at the end of the day.With all the generous love in your heart, you so deserve a day for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jean. It really was the perfect sort of day.
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Jane
What a sweet idea and I'm glad you had such a lovely day with your husband and were welcomed home so nicely by your son.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will share your new Nativity set with us. :-)
Happy Christmas holidays ~ FlowerLady
I'll try to get a picture of it, Rainey. Itwas so dark when we got home. I'm looking forward to the Winter solstice and the days beginning to lengthen again. This year it seemed like the days were shorter than ever!
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Jane
Yes, I've had the very same perception of daylight hours being SIGNIFICANTLY shorter than any other year in memory! I can't imagine what that is all about. It's just the oddest thing, and there's got to be a reasonable explanation for it.
DeleteSue
I think it's because we've had few sunny days, Sue. When the day starts out gray and dark, there isn't much room for improvement. It's good for hibernating, though!
DeleteJ
This is my kind of perfect day! What a wonderful gift. :) Mine would be to leave the house for the day, and come back to it cleaned, tidied, with clean sheets on the beds. To come home to a lovely clean house....It never happens after I have been out to work....
ReplyDeletexx
That's the very best part, isn't it Emma? I wish that you could have a carefree day too. Trust me, there will come a day!
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Jane
Sounds Ideal! Just to have a day to linger would be lovely... My perfect day would be to sleep past 6 a.m. and have hot coffee or tea ready for me.... and a good book to settle down with for the day! Will we see pics of your treasures??
ReplyDeleteas ever.. m
Well, I could send you a coffee pot on a timer, Matty, but I'm not getting up early to feed you goats! Ha! And if you find a good book, please let me know the title. I've had a spate of bad luck in finding interesting reading material of late. Hoping today is as perfect as it can be for you, dear friend!
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Jane
Sounds like a wonderful day! What a special gift!
ReplyDeleteIt was, Kathy! Thanks!
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Jane
It sounds like the perfect present. We did something similar for my birthday in September, going to an international market & public gardens in the city, and then a simple dinner out. I hope you'll share the Nativity set.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go to an international market, Laurie. None around here though. (We live in the boondocks) It doesn't have to be expensive to be perfect. does it?
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Jane
You must have been feeling like a million bucks when you got home! A day of all the experiences you enjoy most sounds like heaven gifted on a silver platter.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'll show us your treasures?
Have a splendid day, Sue
I'll try Sue. If we ever get a few moments of daylight to snap some pictures!
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Jane
Mornin' Jane! Wow, your "day" sounds like a perfect one. "Undivided attention" is huge in itself. Your finds at the thrift stores sound amazing. If I had my own airplane (or helicopter, not picky) I'd fire it up and take off to shop in some northern thrift stores, meself. I'm glad you found a nice nativity set; can't wait to see it. And how nice of your son to straighten up the house for you. You've raised him well.
ReplyDeleteBecause I've been there and couldn't believe me eyes, I laughed and laughed when I read: "Is it so hard to paint Baby Jesus' eyes in the middle of his face?" Isn't it a wonder what they put on the shelves in stores.
Hope you have a lovely day!
Toni
The undivided attention was the best part. Toni. I have to share Ran with all the elderly widows in the neighborhood, who always have little projects for him.
DeleteThe quest for a Baby Jesus with his eyes where they should be, has been a long one. You'd think the manufacturers would be more respectful. Stay warm!
Hugs
Jane
That sounds like a perfect day! I love those too. Mine would include breakfast at our IKEA and a little browse around the store, followed by a couple stops at my favorite small thrifts too. Then onto a Scandanavian bakery/butcher shop here in Minneapolis for a little treat and a look at the attached gift shop with all the Scandi gifts and wares. I might pick up a couple stocking stuffers there. I love those days with my Hubby when we can just talk and visit as we drive and browse!
ReplyDeleteOh! Can I tag along on your perfect day Isabella? Now that does sound perfect! I love anything Scandinavian. I think one of the most romantic things in the world is driving with my husband in the winter. It's so cozy and peaceful and I always have confidence that he will get us safely home. Hope you get your day soon. Sounds doable!
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Jane
I love that! What a perfect gift. My sweetie is one who likes to make big gestures (and purchases) and I've told him for years it makes me uncomfortable. I am so much happier with a lunch out, walk along the beach and something small like another little bird to add to my collection or a balsam candle (which I love). He's slowly learning! I should print this out so he can read it for himself.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a lovely day.
Dana
I think men have learned through the propaganda of commercials that women want/expect big grand gestures. I don't know a single woman that wants those things. Every year my husband asks what I want and I say something like those K-cups and he says he can't get me that. Why not? It's what I want. One year, when my husband used to travel for work, he bought me an emerald ring for Christmas, being egged on by the woman that traveled with him. I was madder than a wet hen! It was as if he didn't even know me, to buy such a fancy thing (I'm a very plain person). What I wanted was a nice pair of sewing scissors, which I didn't get. Hope you get your balsam candle and little bird this year!
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Jane
What a DELIGHTFUL day! And to think Jamie had your house all welcoming and ready for your return. And your purchases were so nice...I think maybe your guardian angel was running ahead of you and lining up those neat buys! Hugs, Andrea
ReplyDeleteJamie is an angel here on Earth, Andrea. He has the purist of souls. I'm so blessed to be his mother. If there's such a thing as a thrifting guardian angel, I must have one! Stay warm!
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Jane
meant purest!
DeleteGood for you and your special day. I'm like everyone else and want to see the nativity set. Can you take a close up of the face? Sounds like a terrific bargain at $2.99.
ReplyDeleteI'll include a picture in my next post Sheila!
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Jane
Your special day sounds just perfect to me. I now request experiences, time or photos when forced to answer the question of what I want. I love photos but today everything is electronic and I still enjoy having a few paper photos of the grandchildren. You definitely have a thrifting angel. You make some wonderful discoveries. I am always amazed that people spend $6-15 for a coffee mug and I discover some wonderful mugs for 29 cents. (Must be a sign of the times that my keyboard does not have the cents symbol!) Of course, I'm glad that people do buy pricey items that eventually end up at the thrift stores to be discovered by us. Like the $50 dog bowls that I just saw on another blog. Would not have noticed the price except she mentioned that they were available in her shop and I looked just out of curiosity. It is hard to believe that it will be Christmas in a week. After a long, hot summer that seemed as though it would never end, fall has been absolutely beautiful and the days just sped by. Temperatures were in the teens last night and only about 30 degrees today. After tonight though, we get back to the 50s and maybe 60s for a few days. Strange weather but makes the cold more tolerable. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Even though I do not comment daily, I have enjoyed each of your posts! Thank you for sharing your experiences!
ReplyDeleteJust received some photos from my grandchildren, Shirley. You're right, nothing like the real thing. And yes, bless those that spend the money on expensive items then donate them to the charity shops. Someone has to! Who'd spend $50 for a dog bowl? Sounds kind of sinful when you can do so much good with that amount of money. But I suppose the people that make $50 dog bowls have to make a living, too. I can't believe how cold it is, considering how warm Autumn was. But I'm not complaining about the snow! Thank you for commenting so often! I didn't expect people to comment every day, but it is nice and I enjoy it immensely. I think we have a kind of little community going here, it's wonderful! Hope you are staying warm and cozy!
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Jane
What a wonderful gift! Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was pretty nice, Fran! Merry Christmas to you too!
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Jane