Non-Consumer Photo Essay — Beauty in an Everyday Environment

by Katy on August 5, 2011 · 13 comments

I was readying to unload the dishwasher this morning, when I was overcome with how beautiful my dishes looked. The bright shiny colors, the cohesiveness of shape and design and the inherent order of the dishwasher system. It was almost a shame to put the dishes away.

This area of the foundation was crumbling, so my husband spent months spreading layer after thin layer of cement back on. Needless to say, all the soil had to be removed for this to happen. The soil is finally back in place, and I mixed huge amount of compost back in last night, which looks so rich and tempting. I can't wait to come back from vacation and plant something here.

A close-up of the homemade compost. A tiny and startled mouse popped out from the compost when I was digging it out. I hate to say it, but it was awfully cute.

I've been meaning to replace these mis-matched cushions for awhile.

There -- Doesn't that look better?

I realized that the bulk size pectins were cheaper per ounce, so these small boxes are ready to be returned. Every penny counts!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

 

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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }

Willow August 5, 2011 at 9:36 am

You might reconsider returning the pectin. Many grocery stores have to throw away food returns once they have left the store. They worry about tampering and such. What a shame to waste food even if you can save money. Just a thought.

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Reese August 5, 2011 at 10:47 am

But isn’t this for non-shelf stable products only? My store will restock items within their best-by date if they can last. Fresh foods, unfortunately, don’t get the same treatment!

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kira August 5, 2011 at 12:22 pm

They throw away everything you return at Bath and Body Works too.

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Willow August 5, 2011 at 1:44 pm

I am sure each store has its own policy. When I worked at Ross we reshelved just about everything unless it was damaged. But I have never worked at a grocery store.

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Katy August 5, 2011 at 3:23 pm

I think they’ll restock the pectin. It didn’t need to be refrigerated.

Katy

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Jinger August 5, 2011 at 3:42 pm

I absolutely love your porch chairs and cushions…fabulous. I want them!

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Jill August 5, 2011 at 7:14 pm

LOVE the Fiesta! My dishwasher looks the same way. I will admit I would love to have some of the new colors!

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Hilary August 5, 2011 at 7:32 pm

I love that you take time to see the beauty in your dishwasher load, but, (isn’t there always a “but”?) I think you should be loading those plates differently. I was taught that they should be facing the center of the machine, so you’d load from both sides of that row and they would face each other in the middle. They need to face the spray, not have their backs to it. Maybe newer machines no longer require this as the spray may be more powerful? Just a thought. I am going to go read my instructions again!

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Katy August 5, 2011 at 7:54 pm

And yet . . . they’re clean. 😀

Katy

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j August 6, 2011 at 12:01 am

Katy,
I’m not surprised that you find joy in these “everyday beauties”….
it is typical of your outlook on life and why your blog is one of my very favs! Hope the vacation is wonderful…safe travels!
j

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Jenn H August 7, 2011 at 3:47 am

Speaking of pennies & pectin, if you buy the low sugar kind you can use less sugar (obviously, haha) and save a lot of pennies. Not to mention the long term health savings of less sugar. For Shur Jell it is the pink box. The Ball brand actually has a No Sugar formula now, but I think that might be taking it too far!

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Elizabeth L. August 7, 2011 at 12:12 pm

I’m so jealous of your collection of Fiestaware! I’ve been combing thrift stores for years looking for some, but not luck. I need to try some yard sales. Although if I had some, I would NEVER sell it. 🙂

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Rachel August 11, 2011 at 5:19 pm

I will never look at my dishwasher the same way again! Thanks for the reminder to appreciate daily life.

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