These owls are in my house now. Since my impulsive excursion to Hobby Lobby during the 45-minute-window before lunch with Chris yesterday. Since I gathered up the boys from their playing time outside, declaring, “Come on, boys! Leave your shoes on! We’re going to Hobby Lobby!” These owls:

But aren’t they cute? I hesitate to say what they actually are, but I might as well. We’re headed down this road, and I might as well be fully honest about it. They are salt and pepper shakers! Let me explain what happened. And this is somewhat of a realization that I had about myself yesterday. In my core, I knew it to be true, but never fully accepted it as a “thing I do” until yesterday. Dare I say that I grew a little antsy late morning in the fact that I was quite sure I didn’t want to be at the house the entire day. Maybe it was due to the fact that we had such a tremendous time at the zoo the day prior, that I knew if I didn’t break for it right then, it wouldn’t happen. I was feeling symptoms of cabin fever setting in. I can’t plan for this, it just happens and the rest of my family better be ready because they’re comin’ with me!

Why Hobby Lobby? Because the realization that I had involves three steps:

1. Jen grows antsy or restless.

2. Jen feels the need to go buy something non-committal, meaning, something I don’t have to wear, spend much money on, or put a lot of thought into deciding if I should have it or not.

3. Jen goes to Hobby Lobby because there are always seasonal items on sale. You see, the cure-all for the onset of cabin fever is to buy something that will set somewhere in my house, that when I look at it, will bring a little smile to my face.

If you recall from an older post, I defined the word chotchkie as a decorative knick knack with little or no purpose. These owls fit the bill. Well, actually not so much, as their purpose is to dispense salt and pepper! But I won’t use them for that. I knew that it was the right thing to do, making this purchase yesterday, because when I arrived home from work last night, saw them perched above the kitchen sink, I spoke the following words, “Chris, I love those owls!”