Monday Morning Contemplations

Saturday we went to High Tea at the Brown Palace here in Denver. The tea was lovely, the ambiance and piano playing equally good, and the decor was still in Christmas mode. There is a stock show in Denver every year and because there are so many folks in town post Christmas, the hotels remains in Holiday mode until the end of January.  

Nevertheless, next year I'll try to reserve far enough in advance to get there through the pre-Christmas holidays. 

I tried to get some good pictures while sitting and sipping tea, but getting a photo of the huge chandelier was almost impossible, even after elevator-ing to the second floor.

Today I am wondering and contemplating: 

1. Why is it that, healthy as oatmeal is, I am ALWAYS hungry a couple hours later, as it seems, are many of my Facebook friends? I try and alternate oatmeal with flax seeds, egg and whole wheat English muffins and the occasional whole wheat waffle or other alternative. Oatmeal is the only thing that has me craving a snack two hours later or sometimes earlier.

2. I've decided that there are two kinds of people in this world. Those of us who prefer quiet, and those who need the background noise of a turned on TV, music or other thing to keep them company. Neither is wrong, and I am definitely among the former. While I've been known to occasionally turn on music when I craft or create, I read-and often knit-in silence. I've tried to do the audio book thing on occasion while doing other things-and in my case at least, have learned I can concentrate on one or the other, not both.

3. I don't get Marie Kondo (don't judge me, don't judge me). But then I really didn't get Fly lady except for that weekly area cleanup thing. I'm a stuff person, not a minimalist. I don't necessarily believe less is more, especially when it comes to organization and efficiency (I have pens, scissors, chap stick and paper in every room so I don't have to go searching). More importantly, I don't think they put enough accent on the proper methods of getting rid of what you have (hello landfills full of clothes with tags and thrift stores not accepting more stuff). And honestly, I think the folding clothes thing? You love it or you hate it. I like the traditional folding method.

4. There is casual and there is casual. I have both friends and fellow bloggers who mourn the demise of getting dressed up or "dressed for the occasion". One friend still get dressed in dressy dresses, pantyhose and heels when she goes out to dinner with her husband. I tend to be more of a "business casual, softened" type of girl. Black knitted pants and leggings, bright tops and sweaters with cardigans, matching jewelry and sketchers flats on the high end, and sweats, jeans or casual leggings on the low end. I wore black pants and booties, a pink tunic sweater and matching jewelry to the tea. There were others in camel coats and dresses and heels. Unfortunately there were also others with overalls and ripped jeans (a planned look it would seem, as underneath said ripped jeans were leggings or tights). Too casual for me. But then again, perhaps those gals with the heels and hats thought I was too casual..??!??

5. One of my goals is to repurpose one thing a week, as opposed to disposing to the landfill or elsewhere. This week I am learning how to cut my too big t-shirts (yes, even if you like loose clothing there is a time when they become too big) into.....wait for it.......t-shirt yarn. To be turned into fun stuff, incluuding jewelry, baskets and things. And perhaps I'll even use said yarn on the new mini loom I got for Christmas! 

6.  And finally, after saying I didn't need a word for a year, I may have kinda sorta found one. That word being Deeper, after reading a variety of articles, including this one. While I won't be giving up traveling, or not shopping as such, my goal is to more deeply discover and use the things I have, the skills I have and so on. How does this fit with my goal to learn three new skills? Not sure yet!