If This Table Could Talk
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Today I want to celebrate this spot: our dining table.
This round black table hasn't been around forever. In fact it was purchased in January 2012, a few months after Chris had moved out. The previous long rectangle table we owned together fit better in his house and I was open to getting a new one.
A fresh start for new stories.
Along the way I purchased some chairs from Ikea and the grey couch from Overstock.com (originally purchased for another room until I wondered if it would fit in this spot) which is definitely the favorite feature of the kids and the cat.
I love this space.
It gets used every day for meals, for conversation, for homework, for coloring, for reading. I love the windows that wrap around and the different light that comes in over the course of the day. I love opening the windows when it's pouring rain just to hear the sound as it comes down through the trees and onto the patio or on those early days of spring and summer to bring in fresh air.
This table has seen and heard many things. Harsh words and kind words. Tears and laughter. Giggles and jokes between siblings. It's been piled on and spilled on more times than I can count in it's life with us. It's been a resting place for adults and kids alike.
I take at least a couple photos there every month because it's such an anchor in our lives.
Sometimes a kid or two is sitting there doing whatever it is they are into at the moment. Sometimes there's simply evidence of our existence: books, computers, the newspaper, or a set table waiting for companionship. Sometimes I'll place my camera on the kitchen counter and use the timer to make sure I'm captured in the mix.
The things we own are pieces of our stories.
If this table could talk it would tell stories of breakfasts, lunches, snacks, dinners, drinks consumed, old and new friends, lives shared, computers, newspapers, coffee, hot cocoa with marshmallows, coloring books, homework, Santa letters, cut flowers, plans made, books read aloud, laughter, tears, laughter that turns to tears, birthdays, wishes, legos built, taxes, best part of the day/worst part of the day sharing, strategies for getting Simon to try more foods, secrets whispered, frustrations expressed, forgiveness granted, Anna jumping up and down on the couch and me telling her to sit on her bottom (over and over again), holidays celebrated, songs sung, manners taught and re-taught, one too many bean & cheese tostadas to ever count and so much more.
Is there a story you can tell about a piece of furniture or an area in your house? What stories would that piece/space tell if it could talk?
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95 comments
I love your writing. You capture the depth and the flow of everyday so well. Very inspiring and thought provoking about my own families stories. Enjoying seeing you doing more wiring and traditional layouts. Better than ever! Thanks Ali.
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I loved this, Ali.
Thank you.
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Thanks for the inspiration Ali. I think I'll copy this and do a page about our kitchen table. I have so many pictures of holidays, coloring eggs, carving pumpkins, homework, even car part repairs! Thanks for a great idea.
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I truly believe that the dining room table and the various people who gather around it make the heart of the home. Just like you I love using our table for so much more than serving food. And I'm glad I've shared some really memorable times at that round table too.
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Wonderful post and great scrapping idea!
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Love this, Ali! You've inspired me to collect a similar set with our dining room table. I hadn't thought of the collection before, but I love it!
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This is such an awesome post. Love the way you look at things.
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This is why I love following you. I don't know that I would have ever thought to tell a story about different pieces of furniture in our home, but with 7 kids and 25 years, I'm sure there are a few pieces that have stories to tell. Thank you for this - inspiration at it's best.
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I love this post. And I love that your cat gets on the table. I have one of those, too. It's like they want to be part of the family and not miss out on anything.
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What a fabulous post on your blog - and kuddos to Cathy Zielske for sharing it in her Facebook - it popped up and waited for me to come home from work, run an errand for a gift I need to take tonight to Pokeno after dinner with hubby! Life - it's always interesting and reading about the everyday of others - is fascinating. I'm so happy you are a blogger of the memories created and treasured.
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I love the part about best part of the day/worst part of the day - that's a daily table talk ritual in our house too
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Ahhhhhhh Ali...I LOVE this post. Its like I'm talking with a dear friend! I love how you SEE things like some of do. Sometimes when my kids are all around and you just are "looking" at observing when they simply think were have a conversation. Watching them eat, read. Love it!!! Mine would be "if this bar could talk" One side is counter the other has bar stools where we do most of our eating. I JUST got done having a 30 min. or so conversation with my daughter. She works long hours at a vet clinic and is studying to be a vet. She had a long lONG day. Lots of sick puppies:( And while listening I just thought what a beautiful caring, thoughtful young lady, I'm a luck lady! So to read this post just made my heart sing! I LOVED exspecially the picture of Anna and your parents! Some bittersweet memories. Thank you for the idea, I will be setting my timer and getting some of these prescious moments!
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Love this idea!! Thank you for sharing a great prompt.
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Your children are super blessed to have you as their mom!! I wish you had been my mom when I was little...
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Ali, while I LOVE this post I noticed the books and I also have IT STARTS WITH FOOD and THE $100 Startup.. great minds think alike.. LOL!
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Great post; awesome journaling.
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Ali, rarely has a post spoken to me as this one did! I immediately took a photo of a usually messy spot on my countertop in the kitchen. If one knew the stories behind each of the non related items there, they would learn a lot about me and the things happening in my life right now. I can hardly wait to scrapbook this very ordinary photo! I cannot thank you enough, it has totally changed the way I look at everyday things!
Sending blessings your way for how freely you share your talents & gifts with kindred hearts.
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I love is idea. I am fortunate to have several pieces of furniture that belonged to great grandparents, including my dining room table, which I recently refinished. I have a photo of my great grandparents with a cake celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary at this table. I have silver and china from 2 other great grandmothers, which makes me smile every time they are used on the table. How lucky am I? I will be taking many photos of future family gatherings for my children to enjoy and remember.
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beautiful Ali... thank you for sharing your life with us... you are so real and so brave and so inspirational
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An incredible space and I absolutely love all the pictures you have taken to document your lives there. Stunning, incredible, wonderful, awesome, inspiring, and important to your story. I have no more words! :)
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