After forty-two years of marriage I have come to the unalterable conclusion that my husband and I don't always agree on everything and don't even necessarily approach things in the same way (I have never claimed to be a fast learner.).

For example: Hanging pictures. My approach to this task is to eye-ball the place on the wall I'd like to hang said picture. Get a nail and a hammer (or any available heavy object that will drive a nail into the wall - I've been know to use a big metal spoon, but don't tell my husband about that little trick please.) I then proceed to pound the nail in, hang the picture and step back and admire my handiwork.

My husband on the other hand gathers the necessary tools to accomplish this task - tape measure, hammer, nail. He then begins tapping the wall with his fist to find a stud. Once located he then begins to measure from all directions to be sure to get the exact location he is looking for. He then carefully taps in the nail, hangs the picture and stands back to admire the professional job he's done.

Okay, so I do admit that there have been times I've made more than one hole in the wall, but once the picture is hung who's going to notice?

As a little aside here - did you know that you can use an ordinary sewing needle to hang even the heaviest of pictures. I didn't believe it myself, but it is absolutely true. You snip off the eye of the needle (I sometimes don't even bother with that because who feels like going down to the garage to find the right tool for that job), tap it in the wall, and you're good to go. I've hung pictures that are very heavy, and it works every time.

There really isn't much problem with the differences in our picture-hanging techniques, but there can be times when the differences become a tad annoying. Having come from a large Italian family where arguing (well discussing) was practically a sport, I've had to learn that there are some things just not worth arguing over. When I was a teenager, I would have these long "discussions" with my Dad over just about anything. We both knew that neither one of us was going to give - what fun would that be. There were times when I was waxing eloquent defending my point all the while thinking "I know he's right about this, but I am never going to admit it." In fact yesterday, we were arguing (make that discussing) whether we should be using soaker hoses around the foundations of our houses. He said no; I said yes. He was wrong - but he'll never admit it :-)

For years I've used one of those "twirly" sprinklers to water our lawn. Works great. I love it. Sadly, last year one of its little arms broke, and we needed to replace it (kind of hard to turn in circles and remain upright with one arm missing). It was late in the season, and we could not find a twirly one anywhere. So my husband bought this one.



I hate it. It doesn't cover nearly the area the twirly one does. It take forever to get the whole lawn done.



Last week our daughter gave us the extra twirly sprinkler she had just sitting in her garage. Happy day! An efficient sprinkler once again. We started using it immediately.

Yesterday, I said to my husband, "Isn't that sprinkler great? It does a much better job than that other silly one." He just looked at me. Then he said, "The other sprinkler makes a square pattern. I like that better because then you can easily see where you've left off." Huh? Who seriously cares if you miss a spot here or there or actually overlap in a few places? You cover more area!!

Here is where I normally would step up to the debate podium and begin to argue my case. But I have been learning that there are some things just not worth getting into a disagreement over. So I remained calm and didn't say a word (twitch, twitch).

He's running the sprinkler this morning - the twirly one. But he's marking the area it covers with rocks so he won't overlap.

"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is counted prudent."
Proverbs 17:28

Blessings,

Notice how brown and dry our poor grass is!