These pictures were taken last May. We had gone down to a big home improvement store looking for tile for our entryway and bathroom. At first the choices seemed overwhelming, but then the salesman explained that a lot of the different tiles we saw were actually variations of the same tile–the tiles had so much variety we wouldn’t have a clue what we were getting. And we couldn’t possibly get a uniform look.
So a few days later we went down to Santa Fe to try again. We tried a couple of stores before we found a salesman who knew his materials and helped us match some tiles to our samples of the flooring and the wood for our cabinets. Thanks to him and to our samples the process didn’t take long at all.
This weekend we started on making another choice–what color to paint the house. It has to go with the roof, the dark brown of the flashing and and the terra cotta trim on our windows. There are gazillions of different colors and shades so those constraints help a lot. I still spent a lot of time on the internet looking at possibilities so we would know more or less what we want when we go down to our local retailer and look at color swatches. It’s highly unlikely the colors on our computer screen will be the same as the swatches. Also the swatches won’t be exactly the same as the paint, and the paint looks different in small samples than on a whole house, and colors look different in different light, and they also look different depending on what they’re next to. So we’ll choose the best we can and expect to be surprised.
This whole enterprise is one great experiment, so we might as well enjoy it. For some reason it tickles my funny bone. 😀
What about you? Have you had to make any choices lately? Were they hard or easy?
Choices? Though I haven’t announced it on the blog, I’ve made a choice to end my “Eyes of the Great Depression” series and begin a new series, “Faces out of Time.” Second one up today.
Heat and drought continues. The reprieve of a few weeks ago didn’t last.
No earth shaking decision making in my life Monk. Just the usual, should I stay at home or go out and get wet kind of choices!
I’m having a full on time of “choices” and thoroughly enjoying the process…I loaded a couple of pictures on blog of the current status of workroom!
Today after dabbling with coursebook, DVD of said exercises and doing some of the exercises realise that a “choice” of what to move out of the room and put somewhere else, choice has to be dealt with.
Nothing is serious other than the “room” is now too small!!
There are other rooms in the house but this one has the best natural light source and basically less within wall space. The tandem garage is absolutely useless – it is damp, concrete floor (which could be useful for messy things), poor light sources both natural and artificial…The other rooms downstairs have a height problem, bad light and poor power sources.
I can see in minds-eye that a new home space is required so I might put that on my list – as a potential move in the Spring if I can find a suitable place at the suitable rent!
Cheerful Monk:
In August I celebrate one year in my inherited home; lots of choices still to come regarding it. Interior and exterior things I’d like to do, but I also keep in mind my neighbors and their needs. It’s a lovely small community and we strive to help each other. I have no regrets and the house is okay the way it is really. Good luck with those colors choices!
Mike,
Sorry about the heat and drought. We’ve gotten a bit of rain here. Not enough to stop the drought, but in some places enough to cause flash flooding. There was probably some damage to one of the roads Andy drives on this afternoon. He’ll check tomorrow.
Rummuser,
And choices about which books and articles to read and what to use as blog topics?
Cathy,
I did see the pictures on your blog. Thanks!
Dixie,
I’m glad you’re part of a caring community. That means a lot.
We’re zeroing in on some colors. This afternoon we went to the local store that carries Benjamin Moore paint and got a bunch of color chips so we could view them in different lighting. We’ll go back tomorrow and see if we can buy some samples of real paint. It will be interesting to see how the whole thing turns out.
No, they are not choices. They are given. They just happen. I am not being facetious.
Rummuser,
I’m not surprised. That’s completely consistent with
The thing that does puzzle me is why you say you’ve made a choice to take care of your father rather than putting him in a nursing home. From your stated view on life why isn’t that just more example of things rising only to pass away? Why are you thinking of yourself as a doer in this situation? Yes, spring comes and the grass grows by itself, and sometimes cows come and eat and dump on the grass. Is thinking of yourself as a doer helping you gain equanimity? And wouldn’t your losing your cool at times just be part of the process of life, to be observed?
I stand corrected. Between the two choices, Life made me choose the alternative of personal care giving. Life had been preparing me for that role.
>but then the salesman explained that a lot of the different tiles we saw were actually variations of the same tile–the tiles had so much variety we wouldn’t have a clue what we were getting. And we couldn’t possibly get a uniform look.
– It happened to me!
A few months ago, when I got the kitchen and bath renovated, the tiles for the bath were from different batches and there is a discernible difference on one wall. But I chose to laugh it off and call my bath a ‘modern art’ piece of work. 🙂
>So we’ll choose the best we can and expect to be surprised.
– It’s the best attitude to have, Jean. I have seen how people I know would literally hyperventilate when narrating the inevitable frustrations that are part and parcel of these projects. So I decided to be kind to my cardiovascular system and shrug as much off as I could.
>This whole enterprise is one great experiment, so we might as well enjoy it. For some reason it tickles my funny bone.
– I was the same. Although I think I got to prove to people yet again that I am indeed a little *whistles with index finger forming circles at my temple*
This attitude does indeed float my boat. 🙂
Kate
Kate,
It sounds as if we both approach life with a sense of adventure. It’s much more fun that way. 🙂