The Way

Early Christian followers were initially called The Way.  I was thinking about this today while looking through several inspirational quotes on Pinterest.  I decided that since I am in the early stages of my blog, I would like to begin a regular Sunday post using this theme of The Way. Jesus came to show us the way, all we need to do is believe Him, follow Him and obey Him.  Sounds demanding, but the more you submit to Him, the more joy, peace and assurance He gives you.  He truly is the way, the only way. 

Have a blessed week!
Donna

I Have a Serious Case of Procrastination

“It’s the job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish.”  J.R.R. Tolkien

It is Sunday evening and my weekend is pretty much gone.  I sit and look about me and see so many furniture rehab projects I wanted to get done.  But there are so many of them!  I can’t get any of them finished in one short weekend (along with my other usual chores and church).  So, I’ll wait until I have a couple of good days off from work in a row.  In the meantime, I think I'll pull up some of my favorite blogs and Pinterest and get some inspiration, some ideas of things to do in the future (you know, when I have those consecutive days off).  I so enjoy spending time looking at all the wonderful creative sites, but other than burning time, it ultimately adds to my stress and quilt for not getting things done.  How do those industrious ladies get it all done and I can’t?

This got me to thinking about procrastination.  I have a serious case of it.  You might call it debilitating, project speaking.  The more projects I accrue (I just can't pass up a great deal), the more I don’t get done because, hey, I can’t finish it in a day!  I decided to look procrastination up on the internet.  Of course, I had to go to Pinterest for some cute pics, didn’t I?

Procrastination is defined by Miriam-Webster as “to put off intentionally and habitually…something that should be done.”   I found a few academic psychology sites that shared the following reasons why procrastinators procrastinate:

·        Fear of failure—can’t fail if you never do or complete the task.

·        Perfectionism—the need to do everything perfectly.  When there is little time to do the task and you can’t do a quality job, don’t do it at all.

·        Fear of success—don’t want to draw attention to oneself or you have the fear of not being able to maintain success (there’s that fear of failure again).

·        Rebellion—someone wants you to do something and you are determined not to do it as an act of resistance.

·        Being too tired—task takes too long, you’re tired and don’t have the energy to get it done…so put it off to another day.

I ruminated (I like that word) on these five main reasons for procrastination and recognized myself in a couple of them for sure.  I am a perfectionist, I want to do any project I undertake to the best of my ability and if I can’t produce to my high expectation, I tend to put it off until I can.  This explains why I am surrounded by several furniture rehab projects that I want to paint and they just don’t get started much less completed.  I am also the “too tired” soul—for real, I often put in long weeks at my clinic.  Why do the furniture projects in the first place, you may ask?  I really do enjoy them, they fulfill my creative desires.  I just want it to be perfectly done, though.

Once I made this self-discovery, what to do?  The experts suggest the following “cure” for procrastination:

•  First, recognize why you procrastinate, acknowledge your fears, and determine to get the task done in spite of it.
• Break projects up into small “mini jobs” that can be tackled in reasonable time frames.
• Plan time each day to complete at least one mini-job.  Even if it is at 10 minute increments.
• Use to-do lists and prioritize, highest first—not easiest first.

So….after this self-discovery, my plan is to put these “cure” suggestions into action.  I plan on starting a “Procrastination Journal” and list my pending projects in priority order, then break each one into mini-jobs that are achievable in the time I can allot each day.  It will be like taking medication for any other illness, something you have to do daily to get and keep healthy. 

It is late now and I want to watch Downton Abbey so I will begin tomorrow…after all as Scarlett O’Hara said in Gone with the Wind, “I’ll think about that tomorrow.”  Just joking…I hope!  I will give you a mini-job report periodically to hold myself accountable.  If I don’t, get after me!

  

Sweet Tea. . .Kentucky Style

     It is often said that sweet tea is the "house wine" of the South.  It is an appropriate beverage for any occasion and goes with most entrees, desserts and snacks.  When guests arrive it is customary to offer them a glass of iced sweet tea (unless they have "sugar diabetes").  

     There are many ways to prepare sweet tea.  As I was sitting here sipping on some iced sweet tea, I thought I would share my method with you.  

1. I have this big gallon size Rubbermaid pitcher that has a lid.  It is great for storing the tea in the fridge.  I put 1 1/2 to 2 cups of white cane sugar in the empty pitcher. 
2. I have a stainless steel 2 quart cooker that I always use.  I fill it 3/4 full of hot water and place it on the stove with medium heat.  I bring it to a full boil and then place 4 family size tea bags or 12 regular size bags into the water, place the lid on the pot and turn off the flame. (Note: over time and many gallons of tea, your pot will develop dark staining).
3. Let steep for at least 20 minutes, the longer the better.  I have let it steep up to one hour.  
4. Pour the hot tea into the pitcher of sugar and stir with a long wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
5. I then run cold water over the tea bags in the pot and add that to the pitcher, repeat until your pitcher is full.  Toss the bags, they have done their duty.   
6. Place lots of ice in a tall glass (or pint Mason jar for true Southern joy), pour in the tea, find a comfy chair (preferably on a porch) and enjoy.  Be sure to keep the pitcher of tea refrigerated.
7. Some people add 1/8 teaspoon of soda to their tea to prevent cloudiness but mine never sits around long enough for this to occur.  

      Ideal tea sipping location!

  

Blue legs in Kentucky. . .

     Sister Betty and I went to our favorite country auction the last Friday of 2012 and I bought a pair of solid oak accent tables.  They were not vintage by any means, but I liked those gorgeous legs.  When it comes to tables, I am a leg admirer!

     I neglected to take any before pictures.  Drat it! 

     I worked on them New Year’s weekend, so they are officially my first project of 2013.  I painted the legs and bottom frame with Annie Sloan duck egg blue (my favorite color), used walnut stain for glaze and waxed with Annie Sloan clear wax.  I decided to leave the tops natural oak.  A good waxing and the tops were good to go.  

     I painted the shiny brass hardware duck egg blue as well--did I mention it is my favorite color?  I distressed some of the paint off in places to give a worn, shabby appearance.  Lastly, I applied a coat of rub on poly and once dry, I gave it a good buffing. 

    I worried some when I brushed on the walnut stain--well actually, I worried a lot! The stain absorbed into the naturally rough areas in the wood and soaked up quickly.  I thought I would have to paint the whole thing again but by the time I finished, the glazing grew on me and I liked it!

    
     Look at those curvy blue legs!

     

     I took the set to my booth at Antiques-N-Uniques in Grayson, Kentucky yesterday.  From ordinary to shabby chic, they now have an individual air of distinction.  They are just waiting on a new home.   

Starting the New Year with my first blog

     I no longer make New Year’s resolutions because my track record in keeping them is deplorable.  So rather than feeling like a failure, once again, I stopped making them some years ago. 

     However, I do think the beginning of a new year offers all sorts of possibilities for the upcoming 12 months.  We just have to look for the opportunities and go for them with gusto. 

     For 2013 I want to write a blog, do more junking and antiquing with my sister Betty, repurpose and paint more old furniture (especially that stash I already have), get a larger booth at the antique mall (to hold all my newly painted furniture), work my Etsy shop more aggressively, and. . .

 

     Wait a minute!  These really aren't resolutions.  They are goals, aren't they?  They ARE not resolutions!  I don’t do resolutions!