Do you save things that are special to you or are precious because of value or sentiment for someday? I am trying to get over this habit and use the things I have.
After doing the laundry, I was putting all the dish cloths and tea towels away and decided to straighten the drawer up. I was amazed at what all I had and didn't even use. I found a fabulous French linen tea towel that was given to me by a special friend and I just had it at the bottom of the drawer. I didn't want to use it and get it dirty. Just more of that save special things mentality.
It's fabulous and will be perfect to use as a table runner since it is quite large. I found other treasures too.
Now this picture is definitely the good, bad and ugly. This is what all I had in that drawer. See that whole stack of pot holders, well - - -
this is what I was using every day. Clean, washed every week, but look how rag tag they are. Why aren't I using some of the others? Ok, these are getting retired.
Another treasure I found are two wonderful flour sack towels.
And look at the cheeries. These would look so cute.
Another fabulous rooster one. I really need to hang this up also.
Then here's a darling one for Easter. How cute is this.
Ok, I am going to use some of these and open everything up and make sure that I use it all. No more in the bottom of the drawer and saved for a special day. I ironed the French tea towel and decided to use it on the breakfast table.
The bottle carrier holds napkins and flatware ready for our meals.
I decided to use the red rooster towel for now, but I am determined to switch out with the others and enjoy them all.
Love the splash of color it adds to the kitchen.
Do you use your things, or do you save them. I say let's use them and enjoy them. No sense having them in the bottom of a drawer.
Thanks so much for stopping by, I always look forward to your visits.
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We should use what we have and love. Why save it away in the dark of a drawer. I love the check tea towel.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, get it out and enjoy it!! Love the blog and am a new follower.
ReplyDeletewhat a really good post Marty. I lov ethe way you showed what you used every day and what you were saving. I don't have pretty dishtowels like you do and the French linen ones that I have I use just like you did as table runners. I think you have made a really good point here. what are we waiting for. I think you are going to thoroughly enjoy seeing your pretty tea towels every day. So good for you Miss Marty!!Love you to pieces, Kathysue
ReplyDeleteI use everything!Thanks for sharing. Richard at My Old Historic House
ReplyDeleteI love your new found treasures! And the bottle carrier is perfect for flatware and napkins. Enjoy your new found goodies.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn @
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com
Guilty as charged! I just can't bring myself to use some things, or even light some gorgeous candles. I really MUST take a leaf out of your book Marty. I love your honesty, you've certainly pricked my conscious. Thank you for sharing your lovely things with us.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Rose H
Marty I use to NOT use things, But I do now we only live once and I know when I'm gone chances are all my stuff will either end up in a garage sale or at goodwill... LOL... So I'm going to use it and be happy...
ReplyDeletePattie
The older we get we realize that we should be using our "best" stuff instead of letting it stay in the drawer. Everyone comes to this point sometime in their life. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love your picture of the old man praying. I bought mine in 1967 and have never tired of it.
Hugs,
Connie
I am guilty of saving things instead of using them too! I have gotten better over the years - after all there really is no sense in having something if you can't enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteI use more now than I ever did...but I am still guilty of saving some...don't know why!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about using what you have. I started that after I moved 5 years ago. It's the little things that can make your day a happy one.
ReplyDeleteI actually just started doing that myself, Marty! Earlier this year I thought to myself, "what actually warrants a 'special' occasion?". Every day should be special and I have vowed not to say I'm saving something for a special occasion! You found some great towels and I just donated a bunch of those mitten potholders to Goodwill. I never use them and they were just sitting in the drawer taking up space.
ReplyDeleteI liked the idea of spreading them out on the counter. I do love the checkered one also. Recently I burndt one of my checked towels, but salvaged 3/4 of it. I just might use it to embelish another towel. The bottle carrier is so nicely adorned. I do love sunflowers.
ReplyDeleteTea towels are a favorite of mine. It's like a little piece of art in the kitchen. Can you guess my favorite of the ones you showed? Yep, the rooster with the black and white checks. :-)
ReplyDelete~ Sarah
I agree - we need to use what we have and enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteAfter my Mom passed away and we were sorting through her things, we came upon numerous things that were never used. She had a habit of buying pretty things and then saving them for a special occasion. It's sad to think that she was never able to enjoy them.
Marty,
ReplyDeleteMy MoMa use to put the pretty towels away "for company" she would say. Guess what??? I use them all! I do rotate my towels out with the seasons and holidays!!! Wouldn't that cherry towel be great for Fourth of July!
Fondly,
Pat
Isn't it awesome how we find the best treasures in our own drawers and cabinets!! I love your rooster tea towels. I don't know why we save everything for company.......we should treat ourselves more special and use our pretty stuff!
ReplyDeleteMarty I LOVE that French tea towel your using on your table and the red rooster towel looks perfect hanging in your kitchen! Martina
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'll have to take some inspiration from your post and have a look into the depths of my kitchen linen drawer.
ReplyDeleteMarty, When my grandmother passed away we found boxes of nightgowns, towels, bedroom shoes and much more that she thought was too pretty to use. I try to not keep anything that I don't use. Your new vignette is pretty and I love the French towels.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sherry
Marty, I have the same khaki towel with the black gingham at the bottom and chicken. I have some towels we don't use too. They do get pulled out and hung here and there. Love your new vignette.
ReplyDeleteMarty, Guilty. I have new and favourite tea towels. My daughters joke and say can we dry dishes with these ones. I always frown and say no. They like to tease me. But what the heck why am I saving them .
ReplyDeleteMarty, I have a terrible habit of not using the things I truly love. Crazy, isn't? I've always been that way too. If it was my favorite sweater, I'd never wear it because I didn't want to ruin it or wear it out. I have dishes that I love so much, they just sit & collect dust. Where does this crazy mentality come from?
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to clean out too Marty. Looks like you found some great hidden treasures. I love the tea towel on the table and the one hanging on the oven. None of mine are that pretty, but I do have a collection of unsightly oven mits! I need to do some retiring too.
ReplyDeleteI've also been in that habit of not using things, but I'm better now, If not now when - can't take them with me! LOL!
ReplyDeleteNeat post!
Katherine
You have some beautiful things. I have pot holders that have seen better days but I just can't get rid of them. It's like I have trained my hands to be comfortable w/ them.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Marty! I have a lot of stuff in my house, but I don't want it here if I'm not ever going to use it. That is the reason everything is so cluttered in my house. I have to use it to justify keeping it! I do have one of those atrocious fox stoles that was my Mother's, and although it will never be used, I've kept it in a box in my closet for 10 years, and knowing it's there bothers me, but I can't seem to get rid of it! Your red towel does look so cute on your oven, and I love the French linen towel on your table. Great idea for the cute bottle carrier too. laurie
ReplyDeleteYes!! That mentality is exactly why I have to clean out so much "stuff" (treasures) now. I know exactly what you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteHi Marty
ReplyDeleteNow see how pretty your table looks and your stove now that you have taken out your special items you were hiding away. I used to be like that myself so I do understand but now I use things or give them away to someone who I KNOW will use it.
hope you have a great week.
Judi
Good job pulling them out to use! I love the tea towel on the table--it makes your pretties show up so nicely, and how WELL it fits with your other things!
ReplyDeleteI try to use my stuff, but with a 7 year old BOY at home. . . well.
:)
Thanks for an inspiring post!
I'm a "saver" too...but working on it...think I'm going to sort my drawer tomorrow too :) Chat soon, Laurel
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this thinking! I did this same thing a couple of months ago! I found fresh unused linen towels that had been gifts and I was preserving them! We need to use these things and enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteI think most of us are guilty of this. When my grandmother died she had a cedar chest full of things that had been given to her. She always used things till they fell apart. She even patched her bras and had new ones in her chest. Of course she was raised in the depression. I am trying to break myself of this habit. Love your blog. It was really good one. Love the red towel and rooster.
ReplyDeleteThe towels you had hidden away are all so lovely, so I love that you have them out to use and truly enjoy. I use all mine, but I do rotate them. Love your tablescape.
ReplyDeleteAmen Sista! I agree, why do we save things for later! My grandmother had drawers full of nice gowns and robes, but wore the same old house dress. When she passed everything she saved was faded and torn at the creases...good to no one. Life is what happens while we save things...we should enjoy! You had some lovely things stashed...me too. Best, Vicki
ReplyDeleteOh Marty, I am a big saver too. It's sad really, some of my special and beautiful pieces never get displayed because they are tucked away for "special occacions"...Thank you for inspiring me to take them out and enjoy them. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Kisses,
♥Ana
Marty,
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely collection of tea towels. I am so glad to see you begin to use and enjoy them. You have inspired me to see what's in the bottom of my kitchen drawers (lol). Love ya'.
Debbie
Oh man, you should see the pot holders I am using. They are washed often but totally embarrasing. One of them even has a splotch of peanut brittle on it from last Christmas. I'm inspired to use my new ones now. I have several tucked in a drawer too. I feel better already.
ReplyDeleteI have a little thing for kitchen towels. :) I actually don't buy myself a lot, but I adore them. So what do I do? I buy them for other people (who are probably thinking, why did she get me this?). :) For some reason I am just drawn to them. I used to save them, but now I use what I have. Love your Rooster one with the black gingham at the bottom!
ReplyDeleteYou have some beautiful tea towels. Everything looks gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun and pretty linens Marty! Yup, life is too short not to enjoy all of our pretty things everyday!
ReplyDeleteYou have some wonderful treasures, Marty! I love the grainsack towel. I have made it a goal to use my pretty things more often, otherwise, why have them?
ReplyDeleteI agree...we all need to use the good dishes, china and towels! Use that crystal also! You never know what tomorrow may bring....
ReplyDeleteHi Marty!!!!!!! thanks for stopping by..
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear from you. I will stop by from time to time, hope you are doing great..Have a great summer and take care dear friend.xoxo.
love Silvia;)
I had picked up the saving gene from my mom! But years ago I decided no more of that. I wasn't sure what I was saving for. So I try to use what I have but still at times I will find things that I had tucked away. It's hard to break :)
ReplyDeleteI have learned this lesson very well this year. I actually brought home some great kitchen towels from my in-law's house and 3 sets of Ralph Lauren monogrammed bath towels they never used. My sister-in-law had given them to them as gifts and they continued to use older towels. Lucky for us, same initial! I think it is great to save a few things for "company" but life is too short to stuff things in closets!
ReplyDeleteI like to think I have a use it mentality, but I really have no idea what I have hiding in my drawers...so maybe not *winks* You really did have some hidden treasures Marty! The french tea towel looks wonderful on your table! Vanna
ReplyDeleteMy mother taught me to use everything...not to *save* things because they were pretty but to USE them because they were pretty.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything in my crowded house that I don't use. :)
The older I get, the more I use and enjoy my things. We are even using our crystal more.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that last week I bought some new dishrags and threw away the ugly, falling-apart-ones....
My motto is "There's no use having it if you are not going to use it!"
ReplyDeleteI know this post is almost a year old, but I love it! I collect roosters and use them in my kitchen/dining area. I used to save things for a special occasion because that's the way I was raised. But when my sons got about 8yrs and 10yrs, I started using my china and crystal every Sunday for our breakfast. I thought one day, "Who am I saving it for that is more important to me than my own kids?" Plus, they both learned how to sit and use finer things and appreciate them and even came in handy when they were young men going on dates! Thanks for the memory! : )
ReplyDelete