For five days this month, three of my writing communities intersect on the same day. I’ve often had folks ask me how I manage three writing groups at once The secret is in the streamlining. For The Stafford Challenge, we write a poem a day for a year. For the Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com, we write a poem a day for five days a month and every day in April (you can read today’s prompt by Sarah Donovan here, inspiring writers to write about a place to breathe), and for The Slice of Life Challenge, we blog about a life moment. The magic of making it happen is to figure out which one works as a one-size-fits-all writing and to get started. Today, I’m using the Open Write prompt linked above.
A Place to Breathe……hmmm…….there are several of those, but what comes to mind lately is Ace Hardware.
After church, we piddle around on Sundays. Sometimes that means going to the hardware store so we can replenish our birdseed supply or pick up something we need to work on around the house. My husband likes looking at the lightbulbs, and I know I will always find him on that aisle. We live deep in the rural countryside of Georgia, so it doesn’t take much to entertain either one of us.
Me? I look around, but I discovered a secret thrill that takes me to the Magnolia Home paint chip section, and I have to be secretive about my mission so no one else discovers it. This hidden pleasure would surely draw all the crowds from their farms and tractors, but I only want to share it with those reading my blog so that my place to breathe remains mine alone in this town.
Colorful Story Paint Chip Haiku
did you know that there
are stories on the backs of
Magnolia chips?
these are the kinds of
deep-breathing exercises
perfect for writers
colorful stories
that’ll take your breath away
and make you want to
write your own colorful gems
about your own hues
just take a deep breath
close your eyes, go someplace loved
pick up your own pen
Take a look at these colorful, brilliant gems pictured below! Sure, it’s a marketing strategy, but I’d pay a little more for a gallon of this paint just to line the pockets of a writer who took the time to make all the right words work.
And then, after the Magnolia Paint chip section, I’m off to the garden section, where the herbs have just arrived in 4″ pots, where I picked up four patio tomatoes before they were entered in the system earlier this week – – -stood and waited for them to be buyable. I smell the rosemary and dill, and then…..smell the summer salmon on the grill.
Then a bag of birdseed and clear hummingbird mix for the hummers due to arrive this week according to all bird count maps. I’ll boil water and clean out the glass feeders, hang them by the front porch…..and sit with a glass of blood orange iced tea spiked with honey. And I’ll listen for the familiar hum and the steak of green glimmer. I will hear them before I ever see them.
And last I’m off to the lightbulbs, where he will be standing, holding a box or two, saying what he always says: you just can’t find incandescent bulbs anymore, and we need them for the heat in the well. And I’ll do what I always do: I’ll show him the heat bulbs like we used for the chickens, and he’ll act like it’s the first time I’ve ever suggested it. He’ll put back his box and pick up the heat bulbs, and then we’ll make our purchases and drive home after an exciting piddle through our local Ace Hardware Store.
Common Threads 
Wow, stories hiding in plain sight on the backs for paint chip cards! What a treasure trove that is, and no wonder you wrote- “This hidden pleasure would surely draw all the crowds from their farms and tractors, but I only want to share it with those reading my blog so that my place to breathe remains mine alone in this town.” This is a magnificent slice about noticing the details while piddling through the hardware store, Kim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My town has Ayers, a Ace Hardware store. For me, they have one of everything, but maybe just one. When I need something, I prefer to stop there first before heading to the mega-Home Depot. I don’t know Magnolia Home paint chips! As a start to a department meeting in the Fall, a collegue passed out Glidden paint chips with the name of the hue listed under each swatch and challenged us to try to write by including color words. It was a fun writing exercise. Thanks for showing another possible paint chip writing exercise! And BTW – you really are making the most of your 30-minute time slot as a writing focus! Way to go!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is like a college course in how to observe and slow down. So many tips in one slice. I love the paint chip stories and the way the herbs can transport and the way the hummingbirds are heard first. But this is probably my favorite line: “And I’ll do what I always do: I’ll show him the heat bulbs like we used for the chickens, and he’ll act like it’s the first time I’ve ever suggested it.” Perfect capturing of a relationship moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found the magical Magnolia chips hiding out in my local Ace hardware store not long ago as I explored and planned an early spring painting project. I am going to admit here, in cyberspace, that I spent a very long time reading and collecting one chip of one color (about gardening that I want to use for a birthday message). I have never felt compelled to buy any of the Magnolia home things at Target, but the marketing behind those chips both interests and excites me. Thanks for sharing and reminding me of a chip, stuffed in a drawer somewhere, that I need to find and use for a birthday message in April!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do love a great hardware store. I just wish I was a bit handier! Alas, my husband is so I don’t work too hard on trying to skill myself, but I’d love to learn how to refinish furniture and repurpose art. Adore your poem and learning about the magnolia chips. Cool!
LikeLike
You brought me back to growing up going to the local hardware store before Home Depots existed. I did not know about the paint chip stories, but I am intrigued and will seek them out. I have to say the mention of bird seed made me feel happy, spring is coming! So much in this one slice I can take away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh! I thought this was going to be a slice about using the names of the colors. I never realized that I might find STORIES on the backs of paint chips! Now I’m going to have to make a special trip to our neighborhood hardware store to see if they carry this brand!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim,
They do say Ace is the place, but I bet no one had sneaky poets in mind when they coined that jingo! You can purchase a paint chip poetry kit, as I’m sure you know, but what would be the fun in that, right? You seem to have some of the same conversations w/ Briar that I have w/ Ken. They, too, are traditions! I do like the way paint chips inspire, but I struggle w/ all things Magnolia since it involves Chip Gaines. Has he become less obnoxious? BTW, I like the shoe department at our local Ace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the best slice! First of all, kudos to you for juggling three different writing communities/challenges. I haven’t even managed to look at Ethical ELA today or any of my other Sunday reading pleasures. Next, you structured the piece so well, sharing tidbits of you and your husband’s personalities and relationships so effortlessly and with humor and heart. Finally, I now know my dream job–writing for Magnolia Home!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim, I did NOT know about the stories on the backs of Magnolia Home color chip cards – and Ace Hardware being your place to breath with this “secret thrill” is utterly priceless. I am delighted to see the cards and read the stories here. As for the poem: How superbly you pulled the “breathing” through the wonder of the chips, or vice versa – either way, the poem itself is a powerful invitation to breathe, be, and write one’s own “colorful gems.” Like this whole post. I have to say I laughed aloud at the light bulb part, your husband acting (again) like it’s the first time he’s heard this information. Sigh. I know this experience all too well…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s the rest of the story on those Magnolia paint chips. Fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK, I’m so glad you have the photos. When I first read your poem at Ethical ELA, I thought the stories were ones you created with the colors. But there are real stories! So cute and, as you said, well-written. I’m going to be looking for Mahogany Home paint chips.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to find an Ace Hardware store and find those Magnolia paint chip stories. I was just thinking about using paint chips to collagues with for my next Art Spa with my teaching colleagues. Now, I really have to find a bunch. Thanks, Kim1
LikeLiked by 1 person