Thursday, March 29, 2007

What we expect vs. reality

The television has spoiled our sense of time.

Martha makes fluffy cheesecakes from eggs she gathers at the beginning of the show from her chicken hutch encircled with a fence she's thrown together from willow-branch-prunings in a kitchen where the perfect pan is always available (and clean, no less!). Extreme Makeover bulldozes the old and builds a new home in 54 hours or some ridiculous time. Home Depot (secretly becoming Home Despot, as in wielding tyrannical power, in my heart) sings the siren song of "you can do it, we can help."

So that when we begin to work on our own spaces, we expect huge, wondrous, miraculous changes without despair, wailing or gnashing of teeth. If you will then indulge me further, I beg your forgiveness. Please forgive me for being proud of this kitchen countertop. I think it sets off the "hand placed 2 and 1/4" plank by 2 and 1/4" plank by yours truly and My Good Man's Excellent Friend hardwood (think: hardwon ) floor excellently.

This, as my blood blisters from mis-directed hammers and snugly clamped boards attest, is hard-gained, but OH, so satisfactory. And my 47-man camera, grip and costume crew so nicely stayed out of the picture!!!
And while I was hammering, what does Artistic Child do? The dishes at our house. With the aid of creative eyes and a camera, the painful task is ameliorated. (Sorry, use of unusual vocabulary words is becoming a competitve sport about the abode).


Well, maybe you had to be there to find Joy in the Process....

Blue skies!