The Ultimate Pinterest Fail

This summer will go down as my Pinterest fail.

My journey began around the time school ended. The pine tree in my backyard decided to drop about a thousand pinecones this summer. Through some research I learned that there are male and female pine cones and this is part of the tree’s reproductive cycle. Apparently, my tree was getting its sexy on. And I was left to literally pick up the pieces off my lawn nearly every day.

At first, not knowing how many pinecones would eventually drop, I saved them in a grocery sack. Then I started gathering them in a department store plastic bag. Eventually, I had a black garbage bag full of them. Did I throw them away? No. I thought there had to be a way to reuse them in some artsy, kitschy, “look what I made” kind of way. I should have known better.

I don’t blame the tree. I blame Pinterest.

For those who don’t know, Pinterest is the high-tech version of ripping pages out of magazines for future reference. Instead of stowing them away in a drawer never to be referenced again, they are online for everyone to see. Like a dress? Pin it to your virtual bulletin board. Pretty soon other people will pin it. There is a board for everything. Even pinecones.

There were pictures of pinecone Santas, candle holders, table decorations, wreaths, placecards, turkeys and even jewelry. I had no idea you could do some much with something that tends to get run over by the lawnmower. I could make so many things! That thought lasted about two days, until I really looked around my house and realized I’m not a Pinterest person.

Would I really enjoy seeing a pinecone Santa at Christmas? Maybe if it were at somebody else’s house. I don’t have candles in my house and my kitchen table is too full of homework and school projects to host a centerpiece. I barely wear any jewelry at all, let alone something created with a glue gun. I don’t even have houseplants. I guess I’m a left-brained person in a right-brained online world.

I did try the arts and crafts thing once. I went to a mom’s day out program where the children were left in a nursery and we moms were left to bond. The bonding involved making a pumpkin out of part of a dryer vent. I had absolutely no interest in it, but I made a sad little pumpkin that was pretty deflated by the time I got home. I walked in and put it on my kitchen counter. My husband walked by and burst out laughing. I couldn’t help but join in – this really wasn’t me or my style. Out it went in the trash.

Now, however, I am mildly tempted by some of the painting parties I’ve seen on Facebook. You go for an evening out and, guided by an artist, you paint a painting. The paintings look really good, and it sounds like fun. Maybe, just maybe, I might let my right brain out to play.

As long as it doesn’t involve pinecones.

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