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Have you noticed how everything old is new again.........................wasn't there a song with those words? This morning, while awaiting arrival of the carpet cleaner, I discovered while moving smaller pieces of furniture and decorative items in the downstairs rooms, the things that I love are definitely old passed down family treasures, or items found at antiques and vintage shops that once graced another person's home. Reproductions are now available everywhere, some quite attractive I have to admit, but they haven't absorbed any history............they just don't have authentic chips and scratches, they hide no secrets, they are just something pretty to fill a space.
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Perhaps this modern new glass bowl above has yet to gather and hold a family's memories, but it's being helped by adding beautiful branches of old coral and sea urchins, maybe collected during a trip to an island..................and wrapped gently with miniature linen doilies and snippets of antique lace. How lovely to take the new back a bit in time by adding something from your family. How difficult it is to get rid of things that belonged to your family.
Remember my SIMPLIFY sign and the best laid plans to clean out, give away, unstore, declutter, downsize? That was last year and I've just realized I still have a way to go. So I'm off to work on it again - wish me luck.
Evening on the edge of the English Channel ~ October 2007Why can't life always be this clean, uncluttered and simple?
Have you noticed how everything old is new again.........................wasn't there a song with those words? This morning, while awaiting arrival of the carpet cleaner, I discovered while moving smaller pieces of furniture and decorative items in the downstairs rooms, the things that I love are definitely old passed down family treasures, or items found at antiques and vintage shops that once graced another person's home. Reproductions are now available everywhere, some quite attractive I have to admit, but they haven't absorbed any history............they just don't have authentic chips and scratches, they hide no secrets, they are just something pretty to fill a space.+of+scan0015.jpg)
Perhaps this modern new glass bowl above has yet to gather and hold a family's memories, but it's being helped by adding beautiful branches of old coral and sea urchins, maybe collected during a trip to an island..................and wrapped gently with miniature linen doilies and snippets of antique lace. How lovely to take the new back a bit in time by adding something from your family. How difficult it is to get rid of things that belonged to your family.
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You said 'how difficult to get rid of things that belonged to your family'. I so agree. My treasures are things that my mother and my grandmother wore, made, painted....how could I get rid of them?!
ReplyDeleteGoodness, can I ever relate to this. I treasure every little scrap of fabric remnant from my Grandmother and I can't bare to part with anything that was hers.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with the glass bowl. The doilies look like they were made just for that purpose. Very inspiring...
AH yes, I have been on that journey, too! It seems like every step forward finds me two steps back.
ReplyDeleteBut it not so much family treasures as children's "I can't get rid of that....that's from my first year of college"! We're taling about college books and miscellaneous stuff! The good news is that one child....who's stuff is stored everywhere just bought a house. Guess who's going to start getting his stuff....perhaps we can start parking in the garage again! HA!
:-) Rosie
I understand completely!! I love collecting things that have special meaning to me and I know that I should downsize but what to get rid off...I can't part with any of it. It all has meaning for me. I love browsing Antique shops or malls for things that are old and hit a cord in my heart...but sometimes, I have to stop doing that cause I don't have room. Thanks for sharing. You did a great job displaying your bown with the old linen doillie wrapped around it.
ReplyDeleteWhen trumpets were mellow
ReplyDeleteAnd ev'ry gal only had one fellow
No need to remember when
'Cause ev'ry thing old is new again
(Dancin' at) Your Long Island Jazz Age parties
Waiter, bring us more Bacardis
We'll order now what they ordered then
'Cause ev'ry thing old is new again
Get out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails
Let's go backwards when all else(forward) fails
And movie stars you thought were long dead
Now are framed beside your bed
Don't throw the past away
You might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When ev'ry thing old is new again
Get out your white suit, your tap shoes and tails
Put it in backward when forward fails
But leave Greta Garbo alone
Be a movie star on your own
And don't throw the past away
You might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When ev'ry thing old is new again
I might fall in love with you again
Mary, I love this song and I really enjoyed reading your comments.
How could we ever feel rooted and secure in our own lives if we didn't have a tangible link with our past. Just hearing stories and seeing photographs isn't enough. Holding heirlooms, reading greetings cards and old memorabilia and making room in our lives for the treasured possession's of past loved ones is what makes us who were are.
Warm wishes Angela
My sentiments exactly! I am drawn to vintage items because they are mellow with age, holding history, mystery, as well as beauty.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photo of the channel!!!
That last picture is magical. For me nothing can touch the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. Perhaps that is why the only things I tend to collect are bits of lovely rock and shells and wood. Makes for some odd shelf displays but I love them for reminding me of what is out there and how I long to return. Stunning picture... did you take it?
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is any better feeling than an uncluttered-and clean-room.
ReplyDeleteNo one can top Angela's comment.
ReplyDeleteShe is like you and has a way with words. I love the picture at the sea. On the weekend, we went to the shore of the North Sea. Heidi knows I love Engand, so she says "look Mom, there is England, want to swim". Ahhhhhhh no.
You have beautiful treasures, don't throw them away.
I have quite a few pieces that belonged to my Grandma and Great Aunt Beth. Some of those pieces were handed down to them, and the challenge is remembering their history. Even the broken and worn things are precious.
ReplyDeleteYour house is so lovely! It is quite an inspiration. XXX
I read your post last night, and it really got me thinking. Our home is filled with memories - treasures given to us by family and friends. And, when I say filled, I don't mean something here and there, but the majority of our things trail to a memory.
ReplyDeleteI do have concern that we have so many things because we only have one child, and I don't want all of these things to one day become a burden. My child has requested that I document the who, what, when, where and why of these items. And, that is a project that I need to accomplish.
But, isn't it unrealistic to think that my child will want all of these things? I feel that at some point I should begin to share them with other people I love. My mother has already started to give some of her things to people she loves.
So, I believe I, at least minimally, have a plan. But, then I come to your comment about uncluttered and simple. I fully agree that we need uncluttered and simple in order to have peace in our lives, but I also feel that many of the events and "things" in our lives that make them cluttered and complicated are the very life experiences that make us strong and who we are.
Now, that I have rambled on and on, you are probably thinking who knew your post would provoke so much thought on my part. But, just stack it up to the meanderings of my mind. I believe it all ties back to balance.
I truly so enjoy your posts and perspectives on beauty.
I have to agree about what you said about reproductions - there's nothing like the real thing!
ReplyDeleteYour English Channel photo is gorgeous Mary. Wonderful post & I loved your "Green and Gorgeous" pictures of your beautiful garden. Your trumpet vine puts mine to shame! Ours is the same lovely orange, but we have never had the amount of blooms you do. Maybe it needs pruning back :-}
ReplyDelete"Simplify", yes, I think we all try to do that in some way. I'm still trying!
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the English channel is beautiful.
Hugs,
Donna
Hello Mary...wonderful post. I agree about getting rid of family things. There are several things here in J's lodge and other places around our home, that once belonged to family. Great stories go with them. There are also things that we've collected over the years, that have stories, as well.
ReplyDeleteLove that shot of the English Channel!
Pat
HI Mary,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, nothing can beat true old things...the history for every little ding...
I love the "simplify" concept, just wish I could figure out how to do it :-)
Hugs,
Penny
Mary I have followed your blog for a few months now- I love your photos, your style, your home! Tonight I feel a little homesick for my home, as I work away for weeks at a time. Your photo of the English Channel could be from the beach close by....that is where I am lucky to live, and I miss the sea more than anything.
ReplyDeleteI hear you!!
ReplyDeleteIt's sometimes so hard to get rid of stuff.
I have to clean out more too!
Rosemary
Hi Mary
ReplyDeleteStop by my blog when youhave a chance. There's an award there for you!
Hugs
Rhondi