Lifestyles

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.

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 2007

Why can't life always be this clean, uncluttered and simple?

The Romantic Country Party

I'm arriving late for Karla's Romantic Country Party - but better late than never!!
Karla has invited us to show or tell what we love about our home.

What do I love about my home? Well I could say everything and show you loads of pictures, but that would steal precious time from your visits to all the other wonderful places being shown and shared today. Of course, if I'm completely honest, there are a few things I'm not so happy with - but what the heck, nothing in life is perfect. That reminds me, need to get that paint can out and start redecorating again!

So here's a quick look at some favorite corners and family treasures. Some pictures you will have seen before if you've been visiting for a while.

My front porch - small but cozy and I have made it into 'outdoor room'.

In the living room I love my fireplace which burns oak and hickory logs so well through the Winter months.

My Autumn mantle decoration!My beloved Devon pottery jugs with hand painted Jacobean flowers that belonged to my Mother and fit so well with this crewel embroidery I did many years ago.Quiet blue grey bedroom where the color changes with the light, and my vintage shutters with iron 'dogs' bring back memories of France and Italy. And here.................my favorite place to read.
In the dining room my delicate bone china 'tea service for one' which was my Grandmother's.

My 'Torquay' patterned china - my seaside hometown in England - with shells and seaweed.
My kitchen island where I love to prepare good food including fresh veggies from the garden.

Writing on the kitchen wall reminding me to enjoy life.And this view I awake to each morning - my peaceful back garden with the Victorian gazebo where I sit with my coffee and am thankful for my home, my family, and my many treasured friends.

We create our tomorrows by what we dream today.