I used to enjoy shopping a lot more than I do today. I don't know if it is because I seldom find anything to get excited about, there is little I need, things seem too expensive, and or shopping like so many other activities just ain't as much fun as it used to be. It seems there is an avalanche of junk all made in China sitting around the stores, awaiting the reach of the shopper. Really, things used to be much more interesting, at least that's how I remember it. Like this photo of an ornate wire type bottle with a little grill plate on which one can write a note, and into which one can put corks from the wine bottles. Really. But to carry this absurdity farther, this cork holder is $29, which you can see in the description in the upper left corner. Seriously, who would spend $30 on that? Obviously someone because it is a featured item at a little local gift boutique where I browse from time to time.
Wine is my preferred beverage; it's my go to alcoholic drink, so I accumulate wine bottle corks. I have always saved these corks and from time to time there is a decorative need for them; once in CA I lined a wooden tray with them and made a cork board which was handy near the computer for sticking notes and articles on. Several years ago a neighbor' daughter had a way to use wine corks for place card holders at her wedding reception and I was able to supply all she needed from my accumulation. I don't know why but it started long ago--once I had a huge glass fishbowl on our coffee table and filled it with corks. Today I store corks in a couple of different places, but the thought of spending $30 for a place in which to dump my corks, is beyond my comprehension.
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| Pounded aluminum pitcher of corks |
I still love a bargain, but with a house filled with stuff, determining the need to acquire bargains once spotted is more difficult. I have no transition children nearby trying to furnish a home, so there is no need for me to accumulate on behalf on anyone else. Anna Quindlen's recent column in the Sunday Parade magazine made me laugh out loud, I so related. If you missed it, here is a link--it's short and sweet and so very spot on. http://www.parade.com/news/2012/04/22-is-your-stuff-weighing-you-down.html in part--
"I didn’t have all this stuff when I was young and single. None of us did. It was a big deal to have blinds and coffee mugs.........At some point desire and need became untethered in our lives, and shopping became a competitive sport" Well, you gotta follow the link.
I do not like clutter and so at least with this big house, I can confine my miscellany to areas unseen if someone just stops in, like the downstairs study/computer/project room where works in progress reside. And so with being full up, comes a reluctance to look for more which has heavily curtailed my former shopping expeditions. Now I will search for unique items for gifts or for antiques, collectibles to add to any of my collections of angels, glassware, etc. but to just shop and buy China made merchandise, I have less interest all the time. And because we are filled to the brim, well that's a good thing .
