The new (hopefully brighter) year is upon us.  Maybe my creative muse will return, maybe not.

It occurred to me that I haven’t done a household items post in awhile.  Both of my prior such posts originated while meditating in The Important Room.  Let’s see what the rest of the house has to offer, shall we?

Walls, rugs, lamps, couches, chairs – not a lot of inspiration there, at least not today.

Electrical cords – they could definitely be the basis of one of my darker posts, but again, not today.

Windows – a very popular topic for many writers, and probably every one of those writers can do a better job of it than I can.  I don’t need that competition, at least not today.

But what’s that on top of those windows?  Oh, right – CURTAINS!

Curtains can be inspiration for darker posts, too – “It’s curtains for you, my friend!”

Or they can be the symbol of a bright future:  “Curtains up!”

Curtains, when properly hung, can be comforting, soothing – and can draw the eye to the brighter outside world.  Curtains can bring together the individual elements of an eclectic (read, “garage sale”) décor.

Curtains can be used to define space – perfect for delineating the seating and sleeping areas of a studio apartment, or for separating the halves of a shared bedroom when siblings don’t always get along (also good for hiding those faces they’re making at each other).

Curtains can be used to retreat from that bright outside world, or to keep the lunatic from across the street from staring into your living room.  Curtains can be moved aside just so, to make sure that same lunatic isn’t now finding his way up your walk to your front door.

(Oh, wait, that’s my neighborhood, and hopefully not yours!)

But curtains, like everything else in this world, have a finite lifespan.  Eventually, they become faded and tattered and need to be replaced.  Replacing curtains is not as easy as one might think – as I found out when we renovated our house, the curtains I love are no longer available in any local stores.  Thanks heavens for Amazon and other online stores.  Sometimes there’s even free shipping!

Once the new curtains are up, you are left with the old ones, but they can be useful, too.

Need a cover for that back seat in the car so the dog hair (and muddy paw prints) don’t invalidate your lease?  Try a large, sturdy window curtain (a shower curtain works especially well – perfect size, and it has all those little holes that can be used to tie the curtain to the head rests).

Got little girls who play with dolls?  You can cut the larger household curtains into doll-house size window curtains, or you can make beautiful little doll dresses.

Got little boys who like to play super-hero?  Large curtains make wonderful capes.  Even better if they’re a little tattered – perfect marks of the hero’s ability to survive the most dangerous battles.

Only have four-footed “children”?  The sturdier curtains can be used to recover the doggie or kitty bed.  Simple, cheap – and you won’t be so upset when those little claws destroy it.

(Or, if you’re Puppy Cody, you get a cover – curtain or comforter – thrown over the living room couch, you get your own fluffy pillows, and you dare anyone to try to move you off “your bed” when you’re already on it.)

Finally, don’t let’s forget the obligatory Google search on our chosen household item.  Want to know the history of curtains?  Here’s a link (and it’s well worth reading – I know I learned a lot):  http://www.history1700s.com/index.php/articles/14-guest-authors/1229-curtains-what-s-their-history-and-how-they-came-into-existence.html

I believe that’s enough for today.  I’m thinking of setting up a “Household Items” category on the sidebar for those of you who love these types of posts.  I could maybe add to it periodically whenever the non-muse hits me.

Let’s see what I can cook up.

Here’s to 2017!

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Images by Cordelia’s Mom