Posts Tagged ‘Home and Garden Decor’
Observing
Today was a beautiful day here and it made me think of the birds. Soon we will be seeing them come back and make their nests and raise their young. The only fowl that have stayed around are a large flock of geese. I know this is mainly because we have a large pond and they stay near it or on it. They are not very afraid of any of us, but they fly before we can get really close to them. They have figured our that our dogs can’t get out of their large dog pen so they can search for bugs or whatever pretty close to the fence.
One thing that we can enjoy right now are the birdhouses
. Most of the ones I like are too nice to let the birds have because for some reason they do not understand housekeeping! The latest one I have really liked looks like a little mobile home. We used to go camping in a small trailer and this brings back memories. Get out your binoculars so they can be ready and watch for the birds when they come. You may even want to put out a house for the birds even though they do not understand housekeeping!
Seasons
Winter is the season that starts each year here in our hemisphere. Most places we know of are cold right now, or at least colder than they are later in the year. Seasons come and go. Those of us who are older remember the “winter of” or the “spring of,” etc. Those winters of great snow or summers of no rain are often topics of conversations when families get together. We are happy when a day like today here where we live comes along. It is cold, but there is no wind and it does not seem particularly cold outside. We enjoy the sunshine and don’t think about the cold, wintery day that may come tomorrow.
When those really cold days come, we enjoy being inside and having something that makes us think of happy times. A “Garden of Prayer” wall plaque
can be an inspiration to us. We may be cold, or know it is cold outside, but no matter what time of year, prayer is something we can do at any time. A beautiful scene can take us to a wonderful day and time for a few moments of rest and peace. It may seem we are actually in that garden and at peace. Then the peace can linger even when we are away from the plaque. Take time to stop and enjoy the time - no matter what the weather!
Where to Put a Table
Did you ever wonder where to place a table? We seem to have too many small tables. They are not really very small - bigger than end tables, but smaller than a dining table
. They are nice and we don’t want to sell them or give them away. We have managed to find a use for all of them, but every now and then we change our minds and decide to put one in a different place.
When we are thinking of these things, we just wish the tables were small and we could put them by a chair or in a corner and they would look pretty and be a nice place to lay your book when you were finished reading. I can remember when we did not have enough tables. We just needed a nice small table to make things look pretty. When we finally could afford just the right table, we were so excited when we found it at a store. Now people can find almost anything at a store or on the web and see exactly how much they need to save before they will be able to buy it. Oh well, these are the good new days.
Cruising
Cruises are fun. At least the one I went on was! It just made me decide that all cruises must be fun because we have some friends that go on lots of them and they never come back saying it was a bore. Anyway, it is a little different than being out on a lake in a fishing boat which I have done many times.
All of this brings us back to the good old days and I mean old days. The days of the clipper ships. Those ships are the ones that we see in bottles and as figurines. Those are in the stories and movies of pirates. They are the stuff of Long John Silver and Robinson Crusoe. I probably would not have enjoyed a cruise on one of those ships. However, since I am not getting ready to go on a cruise, nor do I ever expect to go again, I must admit that sometimes I enjoy the movies of those old days and have even read a book or two about them. Now I will just stare at my figurines, etc. and remember - the real and the stories.
Help!
What do you do when you have a need that you simply can’t meet. Just crying out, “Help!” won’t fix it. You need a tool kit. In our house there are about five tool kits and multiple tools to fix any kind of need a tool will fix. That is good when the people who know what to do with the tools are around. That set me to thinking. We would have been in a bad way several times had we not had the proper tool to fix something. But what about other kinds of needs? For the needs of a wound like a scraped knee, you need bandages and ointment. For food that doesn’t taste right, you might just need salt in a shaker. When you spill a terrible mess on the floor, you need a mop and a mop bucket. When your needs are spiritual, you need a Bible and prayer. The answer to my question is be prepared. Make a list. What need might you have that you are not prepared to meet? You may not be able to take care of every need that will arise, but you will be closer than if you had not planned.
Lighting up a Room
Happy people light up a room. Beautiful furniture lights up a room. Beautiful lamps light up a room - literally. Today I am thinking of my granddaughter. She likes dolphins and has some pretty and some interesting items in her room. I found a beautiful dolphin table that would go so well with her decorations, but it takes up more space. It is a dolphin accent table. Maybe when she has her own house, she will still like dolphins and there will be room for that table. Anyway, I will keep it in mind. We have a nice accent table that we bought on a trip to Branson, Missouri. It has been moved around quite a bit and still looks new. It is a wooden table with geese hand painted on it. It will always be one of my favorite items and is easy to fit in most any room. The drop-leaf sides makes it fit easily wherever we need to put it. That is enough dreaming about pretty tables. Enjoy the holidays!
Falling Asleep
Does a waterfall put you to sleep? In our camping days we were always glad to be where we could hear a waterfall. It really can put you to sleep. Our grandson has a tabletop water fountain in his room that makes a splashing sound. He goes to sleep by that sound. Right now, however, he is at college without the water fountain. I guess he gets so tired he just falls asleep. Anyway, a water fountain can make an enjoyable sound that many people like to hear.
Water fountains are also an enjoyable item to use to decorate indoors or out. If you have an indoor fountain, you can turn it on when you want and enjoy the sight and sound. Outdoor fountains can also be on or off. If you have one, enjoy it. If not, maybe you will want to consider it. Just put in the water, plug it in, turn it on and lay back. Just be sure to refrain from doing this just before it is time to go to work!
Model Ships
When we see a model ship that someone has put together, we wonder, “How on earth did he do that?” When I see a model ship that is already put together, my interest grows because I would never have the patience to do it myself. Model ships are very interesting. They also make a beautiful decoration or part of a display. It is very interesting to visit a modern ship and see how intricate and well-prepared they are. Since cruises are so popular right now, a lot of us have taken at least one journey on a big ship. Usually we come home with a model of one of the large animals that live in the sea or with a model ship. What fun! Every time we see it, we think of our trip and how we enjoyed it. Many people collect these beautiful crafts. Some have an alcove or table where the ship is displayed. Some just have one or two displayed on their shelves. Whether you collect, enjoy, or just see the ships when you visit someone who has them, they are always interesting. I think I will see if I can find a magazine devoted to them. It would be relaxing to just sit and enjoy seeing the ships and maybe dream a little.
Time Change
Recently we changed back to Standard Time - Eastern, Central, Mountain, or Pacific. It is very upsetting to some people. Some of us old-timers would like for things to just stay the way they were in “the good old days.” Some of us just change the clocks and in a couple of days we are used to the new time. The thing that bothers me most is the darkness coming earlier in the evening. However, in a few days, I will be used to it and won’t think a thing about it. What I like about changing back to standard is the extra hour of sleep I get on the “change day.”
Sometimes the clocks are easy to change, and sometimes they are not. I like the ones that change automatically, but I think we have only one of those. It is more fun changing a decorative clock
, unless it is a difficult one. A small clock that we have has to have a go with a screwdriver. That one still has not been changed. Anyway, time change is a fact that we all have to live with unless you live in a state that has decided not to bother with it. By the way, if you are going to one of those states for an appointment, be sure you are on their time! Just grin and bear it if you don’t like the change. If you do, just keep on being happy!
Decorative Birdhouses
A birdhouse is an artificial, man-made structure provided for birds to nest in. Birdhouses are most frequently utilized for wild and domesticated birds, but some mammal species such as bats may also use them.
Decorative birdhouses are usually wooden, though some for birds are made from concrete a mixture of wood and concrete. While some are made from metal, these are generally unsuitable for outdoor use, as they can overheat easily in sunshine.