Come play in my world for awhile!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Look very closely at the picture. Try to take it all in. There are three important components here: the dead plant, the full-length mirror, and the bar stool. It's been like this for so long that it has (in my mind, anyway) integrated itself into the decor.

Today as hubby and I were leaving the bedroom he says to me:

Hubby: Can we please just throw that dead plant out already?!

KathyB!: No way! If we pull the plant out of the pot then there will be nothing holding that mirror up.

Hubby: Well, can't we just hang it back on the door where it's supposed to be?

KathyB!: What? Then it's up too high... I can only see myself from the waist up. What good is that?! (All my trouble happens from the waist down, thank you very much)

Hubby: (Silently eye-balling the dead plant as he rounds the corner. I can tell by the set of his jaw that this discussion will be re-played in the not so distant future, and that if I want that mirror to stay I better be prepared...)

So in honor of Earth Day I hereby declare that this "thing" that I have concocted in the corner of the bedroom is an homage to mother Earth:

The plant - lived happily in the family room for several months until we ascertained that gnats were breeding in the dirt. Lots of 'em. We were literally overrun. It was deprived of water and banished to the bedroom until the spring. Now it serves as a functional mirror-holder. This falls under the category of recycling.

The mirror - hubby wants to ditch this mirror in favor of one that is meant to free-stand on the floor. I don't know what we'd do with this mirror if we got a new one... so by keeping it we are reducing contributions to the landfill.

The bar stool - We have no use for this bar stool. It fit the counter height of our California house. It doesn't fit anything here. The fact that it has a dubious role as a mirror holder is relevant because we're reusing it.

There's really no logic here but, then, sometimes shock and awe gets better results.

I'm betting the mirror will stay.

Am I the only one with weird stuff lurking in the corners of their homes?

48 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh hell no Kathy B! You're just the only one willing to embarrass yourself by posting pictures of it. I could devote an entire blog to the swill pit I call The Avenue. Hmm an idea for a future post? I'd surely die of shame. But it would make for a funny read.

Shawn said...

Umm...I don't venture into the corners anymore. I might get lost.

ScoMan said...

I say good on you!

Not letting perfectly good mirror holders go to waste is a fine art. Society these days is far too willing to throw everything away.

Right now I'm resting my feet on old cardboard boxes and videos, simply because I haven't found any purpose for them to serve yet other than "foot rest under the computer desk"

Anonymous said...

I love the idea.

I'm stealing it to justify some of the "decor" in my house.

Anonymous said...

Awesome way to celebrate earth day. I think I've figured out how to fix "global warming" once and for all.

Anonymous said...

Your screws are getting loooser . Love u anyway. Love MOM Hello Gibby.

Kate said...

Yep, I know exactly what you are saying. Have a great week.

zelzee said...

Since I am the Recycling Department Manager for our local government......congratulations! on your excellent effort to reuse-reduce-recycle!!

I have so much junk in my basement, I have dubbed it the "black hole". Once it's down there.......it will never be seen again.
And, no, throwing away is out of the question......
Never know when you will be able to use it .

(If you can find it)

Stesha said...

Kathy B, you should get an award for your recycling techniques.

Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha

Donnetta said...

No way am I looking into my corners! Something my jump out and bite me!

Your dedication to Mother Earth brings tears to my eyes.

Stacy Uncorked said...

I absolutely love it!! I like to think logically like that, too...it helps justify my pack-rat ways... ;)

Grand Pooba said...

You are just so green friendly it makes me sick! LOL, oh, I have a make shift vanity in my get ready room, it's just a mirror leaning against the wall and an old computer desk...it looks pretty funny but it works!

i am the diva said...

Woo! way to sock it to 'im, Earth Day Style!

rachel... said...

I can see the logic perfectly.

Crap, I almost hate to investigate my corners, but you make it sound so alluring....

Unknown said...

Too funny!

Now that's my kind of "going green"!!

~Thought's By Dena~/ JDs Gift Shack said...

I so can use this excuse for some of my ummmmm things in the corners hehehe Thanks Kathy!!!!

Jamie said...

Hello, that bar stool is a headrest for your dead plant. Who would take that away? That would be inhumane. Now you have to keep it.

forever folding laundry said...

I try not to look around the corners of my home, for that very reason!

You won, by the way...come check out my blog when you get a chance! =)

~Keri

Susie said...

My husband's and daughter's corners are the weird corners in my house. They claim that's because the rest of the house is mine. I think it is just an excuse to remain unorganized:-)

Jane! said...

I know! How about you hang the mirror on the back of the door and stand on the stool to look in it?!?!
Unless you're into tight skirts. then you might want to flip the pot over and use it as a step to get up there.
Which means you are still stuck with all the original elements and.... I'm really no help at all, am I?
But to answer your question - I have many of these types of things around the house - mostly kept because they drive the spousal unit CRAZY!

theUngourmet said...

You should see my daughter's room! It's ridiculous! She will never throw anything away, not even candy wrappers. She not really thinking about her Carbon Footprint, she is just a little pack rat!

Good for you for being so Green! That poor plant certainly isn't very green!

Kristina P. said...

I kill pretty much all living things in our house. In fact, I have a dead plant in a garbage bag, on our landing, because I finally realized it needed to go.

I will replace it with a new plant I can kill.

D said...

wow. There's a lot riding on that one decision.

Good luck.

CynthiaK said...

That's some pretty solid R R & R theory you've got going on. I think you should start working for environmental groups or something. :)

And, absolutely have weird "stuff" lurking all over the house! I happen to think it's the stuff of conversation starts. Great for those awkward moments with new visitors. I guess you likely don't get many new visitors in your bedroom...or do you? ;-)

ymK said...

no you are not the only one. We have recently rented a storage place, and two loads of stuff have already been taken there, but still my living room is full of things I don't know how I had fit into the closets and other corners of the house.
And, I fight with Hubby every day for making me part with these things.*sob*

Sturgmom said...

I am overcome to tears at the your moving display of "green-ness." Your compassion for the earth is unspeakable. ;)

Anonymous said...

From here, yes, because we moved into a smaller house, which made me get rid of a lot of useless stuff. According to my husband, no, because we still have a lot more useless junk.

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Why would you want to see "trouble" anyway??

I'd hang that mirror up way high!!!

Ryan Ashley Scott said...

Corners? You mean those places where the walls come together way back behind all the junk that's piled to the ceiling? Hmmm.. nope, I don't have any weird stuff lurking.

You are so brave. I would never post a pic of my own feet. ;)

Anonymous said...

Of course the mirror will stay...why would you get rid of it when it has such an important job. I don't understand the problem. Gotta comment, gotta go....lol

Hit 40 said...

I like to find things a home or give it to charity.

Random trash tuesday will help get rid of some things. I could just take it all to the charity drop, but I like to find things a place.

One time I ran into a woman pricing patio umbrellas. I told her she could follow me home to have one for free. I had an old one from my last house that I didn't use. She did follow.

And... I got rid of an old bike to an acquaintance at the pool who had their kids bike stolen. It's odd that I can usually find someone who can use my stuff.

Riddle Girl said...

I give you credit for the once live plant. I admit to having only a fake plant/tree in my family room corner.
I know...Big decorating faux paus to have "fake".
Maybe this can give you an excuse to go to an Antique store to find a cute stool to lean the mirror on. It would still be reusing something.

Gibby said...

Wait, you mean that plant isn't alive? Hhhmm, I've got some clearing out to do...

Props to you on using the 3 R's in your household. And props to your hubby for even noticing a corner like that. We could have a dead plant in our corner waving its arms saying "look at me" and Hubs wouldn't notice.

P.S. I think Anon Mom is starting to worry. (Hello Anon Mom!)

Ann On and On... said...

Isn't that what corners are for? :D

Meg said...

I've lived in this apartment for a year and a half. I still have boxes in the living room I need to unpack. I have no idea what's in them.

LCO's said...

Thats nothing, I'm pretty sure there are things growing in my storage room corners. I say give the mirrow a frame and hang it somewhere, the stool sell on craigs list and keep the pot for a new plant and throw the other one out, the earth will use it properly its organic :)

AiringMyLaundry said...

There are always weird things in the corner of the house.

I admit, I'm a bit of a pack rat. But not as bad as those ladies on Oprah so I don't feel as bad. Sure I have a corner of Junk in my house but who doesn't? Well, Martha Stewart probably doesn't but that's because she knows how to make a basket out of leaves to put her junk in or something..

Seeker said...

Oh Kathey...you really are trying to get "dirt" on all of us. Best i keep my secrets hidden as you do not have enough room here for me to write all of them. lol bet i have you wondering now

Seeker said...

sorry about the "e" in your name up there....was lazy and didn't read it before i sent it...will write your name 50 times and never do it again PROMISE

Banteringblonde said...

this is perfect ... I also have piles and corners that I am blind to!

Ink said...

Loved your reasoning about keeping the plant. You're so funny. ;)

I have a box in the corner that's been there so long I can't even remember what's in it...

The Blonde Duck said...

I have toilet seat covers in my closet.

Anonymous said...

Hi - just wanted to let you know that I left you a little award love on my blog.

Have a great Friday.

Court D said...

I... uh.... erm.... There are hardly words.

3 Bay B Chicks said...

I think we all have weird stuff lurking in the corners of our home. It is just a matter of what you are willing to admit to.

I ran my little mouse over to your blog today to pass along a big thank you! I read your comment on Scary Mommy's vlogging post. Thank you for your honesty. I am very glad to count Kathy B! in my circle of friends. I realize that the comment was not written for Chick Chat, but I appreciate your words.

-Francesca

Randomly Elly said...

left ya something on my Blog...Happy Sunday

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