A Change is Coming!

I like to reflect the changing of the seasons in my house.  Not just by putting out holiday things, but also changing the feel of the house.....making a warm nest for the coming chill.  Maybe  I'll change the slipcovers from white to a darker color and put out some textured, deeper hued pillows.  More throws, with a heavier weight and weave placed around and also more candles tells you it's fall.  Sometimes I move the furniture for a cozy-up-to-the-fireplace orientation. 

And sometimes I go shopping in my closets and find things that were not right before, but are now.   I don't know why that is, it just is.

I also put some of my beach things away, like the clear cylinder of shells and some special "finds" that are sitting out.  There are my favorites however, that don't get put away regardless of the season.  Some things I just love to look at and have around me.

One of my favorite things is this Mussel shell wreath.  I bought this a long time ago when I lived in New England and didn't live near the beach at all. 

On the Atlantic shore, the mussel shells would get so "pearly" from being scraped on the sand so many times.

As I can remember, it was pretty expensive for me, especially since I didn't have a beach theme going at all!  But, I couldn't resist and just had to have it (even though I thought that I could probably make one!).  

I kept it in an old hatbox with tissue for years.  When we bought our property on the water and moved in it was one of the first things I put up.  My husband was amazed at this and all the other "Beach" things that I had stashed away in the hopes of one day living by the water.   It's good to be a little mysterious!



  These have more blue in them and are larger than the same type of shells I find in Maryland.

 Another great find was this (sort of) old carved hull on a stand.  For a while, I used it for all our remote controls in the Living room.  We called it the "Remote Boat"!  Now I have several small old sweetgrass baskets from New England in it that are a lot more interesting!  I will change this out with mini pumpkins or fresh pine to follow the season.  In the summer, shells alone or with sand looks great.  I think one summer I put sand and old photos of family at the beach in it - that was fun! 

There are some things that I love from Christmas also that don't get put away.  One of my current favorites (from last Christmas), is this lamp base with growing partridge berry plants in it.  I got them in my friend's back yard and just plopped them into the container.  They have been growing since last November, without the addition of water.

They are in the bottom of the lamp and are sealed in there.  We used to make "berry jars" for Christmas like that, putting the partridge berries into small jars and sealing the top with cling wrap and a ribbon.  They would last a long time.

 The original moisture just keeps circulating!

Another find is this unfinished boat hull.  I was at a Christmas Fair in Maine two years ago and I saw it above a doorway   It was filled with greens and red berries and I wasn't even sure it was for sale!  But luckily the ladies of the church decided to sell it to me.  In the summer I put starfish in it, but in winter I'll have it decked out with something green or sparkly! 

One year, I went to a local auction and got this great thick, leather heart with bells on it!  Since the auction was at a farm, I think it was for horses or a sleigh?  Anyone know?  Anyway, I LOVED it!  Needless to say, this Christmas decoration is up all year at my house.   I just couldn't bear to put it away.  It is on my door and jingles when anyone comes or goes.  Delightful!



My most favorite though, is my reproduction Victorian fish bowl filled with Beach Glass!  These are my most wonderful finds put into a container that is always on my counter to delight and inspire!

To get you in the mood for autumn, click here for music and pictures.