Make Your Day

Aunt Martha's Pattern 3753, Detail

Unsure about what needs doing today? Consult Aunt Martha's embroidery patterns. They advise the stay-at-home person what to do each day of the week. Laundry Monday. Shopping Thursday. Housecleaning Friday. Simple. Organized. Done. Start Over.



Unrelated to these images (I think...), for a long time I cleaned my apartment or house every Thursday night and I cooked every Sunday. I loved this routine. I upped the volume and sometimes downed a little wine. Thursday cleaning meant the weekend was almost here and that my place was ready for it. Sunday cooking helped me learn how to cook and meant I'd eat well for the first few days of the work week. This routine also meant I didn't worry much about cleaning and cooking the rest of the time. I'd get to each at the times I'd set aside for them.
 

Now our days are often over scheduled and fragmented. We rarely get long stretches for personal tasks or hobbies. (Who even has a hobby?) Worse, those things we want to explore and develop--the things missing from our lives--get only stolen moments. We can't seem to shove other things out of the way to get to them.
 

So here's what I'm thinking. Assign those missing things a day of the week. Art Wednesday. Dream Business Thursday. See the World Friday. You get the idea. Even if you can't spend hours on the day's theme, let it simmer in the back of your mind. Maybe all you can manage on Art Wednesday is to google Marcel Duchamp, and on Dream Business Thursday is to toss around exciting possibilities while you cook dinner.

That's fine. At least you're inviting these new things into your life. Even if you can't give them any time the rest of the week.

***

I have no idea what the cowboy dog, below, is up to, but his life looks more exciting than the chicken's life.






Aunt Martha's Pattern 3981, Detail