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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The Most Pleasurable Way to Do Chores

A repost of a favorite..author unknown~~
"Puttering is a sublimely peaceful activity. Puttering cannot be done on a deadline; puttering cannot be done in haste. When you putter, you are intimately engaged in something you love. When you putter, you drift from one little task to another. You inspect everything with a lover's eye. You do a little of this, and a little of that. You'll likely accomplish nothing that's big by itself, but bit by bit your world is improved. Puttering is usually associated with a place: a garden, a kitchen, a workshop, a garage, or (as in my case) a study. The exact place doesn't matter. The point of all true puttering is that you're doing things that need to be done--and you're not doing them on a schedule or to achieve some larger goal. You're doing them because doing them satisfies your soul, because they are worth doing for their own sake, and mostly because you've been able to let go of the rush to achieve, step back, and contemplate your special place in peace. Puttering is how people got things done before clocks were invented. Children putter naturally; only in their case we call it playing. Over time I've been accumulating a list of touchstones to tell me when my life is getting too stressful and I need to cultivate a little peace. If I'm tempted to eat breakfast in the car on the way to work, then I'm rushing too much. If I get irritated by the traffic on the freeway, I need to relax. If I'm always grumpy, I need to lighten up. And if I've not been puttering, I need to slow down. Life's too short not to putter "
~~~~
I haven't puttered since school let out in May.
I'm looking forward to puttering around my home
in a few more days!

21 comments:

  1. I enjoy puttering too. This original post is what made me aware that puttering is quite delightful. I think of you every time I hear/use the word.

    Hmmmm, maybe Willow should make "puttering" one of her weekly words!

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  2. Modgirl~ yes, we should ask Willow to investigate that word for us! Puttering is quite delightful and I have missed it this summer! It is a wonderful way to care for your home and it's therapeutic at the same time!

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  3. Very neat. My cousin in Indiana kept talking about puttering when we were there a couple of weeks ago. She has some different ailments and she said she just putters, then rests, and putters some more. I think it has a neat sound to it. I kind of sounds like a fun word for working on stuff, but not stressing out about it.

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  4. Nanatrish ~ well, you know, I was born in Indiana! Maybe it's a Hoosier term! :)

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  5. Let the puttering commence! It's just a step up the activity scale from "faffing around" in my book.

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  6. I like to putter myself. In fact some days my wife says I putter too much and then I will take a nap. I really liked your photo today.

    Imagine my surprise at what popped-out of my sprinkling can > Dances on Sunshine

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  7. I never really clean. I only putter. That is why my house is dirty, but my stuff is neatly stacked. hehe

    My favorite kind of puttering is when I organize magazines. I go through them reading any articles I haven't gotten to yet. Then I tear out pages I want to save for some later project. Then I decide if what is left of the magazine goes into the thrift store sack or the trash. This depends on how many pages were torn out. Then if I am really fully into the putter I might get out my tape and paste book....where I will make some kind of artsy stuff out of the torn out pages. I have boxes of torn paper. Because of this I don't think I will ever run out of something to putter with!

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  8. BPG ~ faffing around??? I've never heard that term, but I'm sure I would love doing it! :)

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  9. Yes, a nap would be the perfect thing to do after too much puttering! :) I'll pop over and see you later today....

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  10. Stevie ~ "if I'm really fully into the putter".....you are hilarious!

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  11. I love the word *puttering* and I love to putter!

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  12. Lora ~ me, too! Even the word makes it sound fun! :)

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  13. Puttering about? Now that sums up my day to a "T"...I guess I need to get off the computer and putter some more..:-)

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  14. Rebecca ~ now, you need to recommend a tea that would go along nicely with puttering....

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  15. All caught up ---- I think I've been puttering a lot lately and missing some favorite blogs!
    I used to think summer was relaxing, but now I know winter is ... at least after the holiays are over!

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  16. Pat ~ yes, summer is busy! At least it doesn't have any "me" time in it as far as I'm concerned. I only seem to putter when I'm alone!

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  17. Hey, I should research puttering and faffing!

    Happy puttering to you! When does school start?

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  18. Willow ~ yes, faffing! You need to investigate! :)

    School starts the 27th...one week from today! :) :) :) :) (one smile for each boy!)

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  19. i love to putter and i love how this post describes the act of puttering! so true. hope you get to putter again soon!

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  20. Julie ~ yes, me too...I'm looking forward to it very soon!

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