FELICITY on wings…

Those little nimble musicians of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties, with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art.” – Izaak Walton angola300

I was sitting out on our front porch Sunday morning…( enjoying  wearing my angola50lightweight jacket instead of three winter coats,) while completely enjoying the  bright , warm sunshine and blue skies. ( Nature was surely teasing us, as today it is snowing…) 🙂  I was captivated by two red breasted robins that were joyously unrestrained in their boisterous merriment as they hopped from one branch to another…at first together, then their play became a game of  “Tag” your it. I had not seen this pair of beautiful and alluring birds before in our yard and was surprised when I read that they are the first sign of Spring

Sitting there, my hot  cup of coffee in hand, flavored with Heath Bar creamer, (If you have never tried that one, it is a must,) 🙂angola778  I felt as if “the great outdoors”  was putting on an impressive and grandiose  performance for me. A flock of snow geese gallantly cruised over our quieted neighborhood. (I think they are getting a little confused, as I, as to what season it truly is, 🙂 wondering WHEN it will be time for them to migrate for the spring… A brilliant and august  blue jay perched upon  the top of the  telephone pole across the street, and when I closed my eyes, I heard a melodic chorus of all types of  chirps, cooing songs, a few cries and whistles along with the lovely ‘honk song’ of the galvanic geese. Truly, it was beautiful music to my ears.  I began to think about what a gift birds are to our lives… Not only do they put a song in our heart, bless us with their kaleidoscopic colors, and intriguing antics,  but their music is more calming and enchanting to the soul, than any Orchestra’s symphony I have ever listened to…and its all free of admission! Every season, we are treated to an entirely new cast of superb actors and exquisite singers, entertaining us as well as inspiring our minds and hearts…

In my life, I have come to learn that EVERYTHING goes better with gratitude, 🙂 thus, at times, (I do a test,) and try to imagine something that I may (even without knowing it,) take for granted, to no longer exist in my life.  Its then I feel its magnitude and worth, and my heart is overflowing with thankfulness for its resplendent bestowal.  What if suddenly, our worlds were no longer graced with all the beautiful birds we see and hear in our everyday regimes?   Life would seem so quiet, less cheerful and it certainly would not be as colorful. We would miss  the birds in the early dawn, singing their familiarangola999 minstrelsy that help us get up and out of  our warm, snugly beds. What would our camping trips up in the mountains be like without the enchanting ballads of the night birds, the mysterious “hooo hooo hooo” of the owl, the whimsical song of the  whip-poor-will  and the regal, black winged bats, (swooping down out of the trees,) that always make a campfire story a lot more suspenseful. 🙂

In this vignette, I hope to share just a handful  of reasons why birds are such a captivating species, the gifts they so freely give to us and  what I learned as I researched  this glorious creature… I know there are thousands of books published that many of you already have read, so this is just a quick peek to stir up  “your already inbred  interest,” and spark the interest of those of you who have never really thought much about birds…Hopefully, in reading this blog, you will be as taken aback as I am, with these little (and big) guys! ENJOY!

First, a few splendid and notable quotes in appreciation of this eminently significant species..

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Happier of happy though I be, like them I cannot take possession of the sky, mount with a thoughtless impulse, and wheel there, one of a mighty multitude whose way and motion is a harmony and dance magnificent.” ~ William Wordsworth

In order to see birds it is necessary to become part of the silence.” ~ Robert Lynd

“Have you ever observed a hummingbird moving about in an aerial dance among the flowers — a living prismatic gem … it is a creature of such fairy-like loveliness as to mock all description.” ~ W.H. Hudson

“The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life …ahhh The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds — how many human aspirations are realized in their free, holiday-lives — and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song!” ~ John Burroughs

“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.” ~ Victor Hugo

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”~ James Allen

Faith is theangola200 bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.” ~Rabindranath Tagore

Why do birds sing in the morning? It’s the triumphant shout: “We got through another night!”~  Enid Bagnold

“Even when a bird walks, one feels it has wings.” ~ Antoine-Marin Lemierre

“What is more cheerful, now, in the fall of the year, than an open-wood-fire? Do you hear those little chirps and twitters coming out of that piece of apple-wood? Those are the ghosts of the robins and angola47blue-birds that sang upon the bough when it was in blossom last Spring. In Summer whole flocks of them come fluttering about the fruit-trees under the window: so I have singing birds all the year round.”  ~Thomas Bailey Aldrich

“The bird dares to break the shell, then the shell breaks open and the bird can fly openly. This is the simplest principle of success. You dream, you dare and and you fly.” ~ Israelmore Ayivor


A flock of geese leave their lake and take wing, turning to poems in the sky.”  ~Dr. Sun Wolf

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer.  It sings because it has a song.”  ~Chinese Proverb

Bald Eagle in mid-air flight over Homer Spit Kenai Peninsula Alaska Winter“When thou seeist an eagle, thou seest a portion of Genius; lift they head!” ~ William Blake (King James version of language.)

 

 

After seeing the birds of the  hinterlands in Angola, it inspired me to ask Kit ‘if we could make visiting this exotic area of the world, one of the things we do on our Bucket list.’ 🙂 Truly, these little winged miracles are remarkably stunning!

The charming, yet subtle  Brown Finch.

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Brown Hooded King Fisher…A brawny, dapper little guy…Very colorful!

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The vivacious, fanciful Southern Masked Weaver.

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The greater Flamingos…How romantic!

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The rugged and zealous Greater Adjutant.

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The cavalier and pensive Short Toed Snake Eagle.

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Suave and gracious Greater striped swallows.

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An inspiration for our beloved movie, ” Happy Feet.”  The Winsome and austere ,  Gentoo Penguin

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The Gouldian Finch found in the Northern Australia woodlands. Amazing in color as well as  symbolic of the awesome and majestic rainbow.

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The virile and strong Tawny eagle.

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The aristocratic and phenomenal  Whooping Crane…

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Here are a variety of baronial birds you don’t have to travel across the world to see… What a blessing, each of their unique beauty is.

The great white owl, also known as the Snowy Owl. ‘A face everyone can’t help but fall in love with!’  🙂

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The Turkey with it’s  gobbling call…Benjamen Franklln’s choice for the national bird of the United states, as to the Bald Eagle. . angola121

 

The delicate, stirring yellow finch.

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The sweet, magical and romantic  hummingbird.

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The gallant and intense, rousing Rooster… The French have claimed him as their (Unofficial) national bird.

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One of my favorites, the redbird or cardinal.

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The innocent, symbolic and  breathtaking white dove.

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Everyone’s well know friend, the unpretentious, subtle and wise sparrow.

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Another East Coast favorite of mine, the exemplary and gracious Blue Jay!

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Our neighbors, the humorous , patient and suave snow geese. Delaware would not be the same without them! 🙂

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Flocks of these gorgeous birds in action… The first  time I saw a field of snow geese take off in the country side of Delaware, I was in awe…it looked like a grandiose white snow flurry!

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Whether they made us laugh, amused us while we had the mumps and measles, taught us wondrous lessons of life, helped us fall asleep at night, were a great “babysitter ” for our moms so they could have a few moments to themselves, or inspired us to believe that fairy-tale’s, dreams and happy endings really can come true... The birds we grew up with were a blessing to us all in ample ways/

Daisy and Donald Duck filled our homes with many an antic and an abundance of color.

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Daffy Duck and Baby Huey energized us and made us laugh.

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Tweetie Bird and The ugly Duckling! (What wonderful lessons they taught us.) 🙂

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OWL in Winnie the Pooh…Wisdom comes in all types of packages!

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Louis the trumpeter in the Trumpet of the Swan and the ever popular Little Red Hen brought a dance to our step and a warm, cozy feeling deep within.

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Brothers Grimm’s,  The Golden Bird and the French fairytale, the Bluebird challenged our imaginations and shaped our dreams as we nodded off to slumber-land.

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Chicken Little, “The sky is falling,”  and Woody Woodpecker… smiles and laughs galore!

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The Road Runner and Big Bird from Sesame Street….again many a life lesson and an abundances of humor.

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“BOO BOO” in the renowned Mickey Mouse Club  and the prestigious Mother Goose… Two familiar faces with stories to take us off into other lands…  giving us the gift of “daydreaming” as we entertained the thoughts of all magical characters in their stories.

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CAN YOU GIVE A BABY SHOWER FOR A BIRD? 🙂

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One of the most cherished gifts these feathered marvels bestow upon us is sharing their “nesting and hatching stage.” … I can’t tell you how many times we have discovered a birds nest in some “hideaway” place in our yard, (the eves of the roof, our large maple tree, or the roof  gutter, (when the rainy season is over.)  Our first clue that newborns will be arriving soon, is when we see a wild bird frequenting one of these cozy places, at least 7-8 times a day… sure enough, when we peak into their gathered branches, twigs and leaves, we see perfectly formed eggs. We get so excited as we wait daily, asking one another; “Have they hatched yet?” Before we know it, we hear the babies crying as their mom leaves for her venture in “grocery shopping” to get them some food. (We know better than to go close to the nest… but we wait to begin seeing the little tikes begin to fly, or  should I say ‘attempt to fly’.  The entire process is miraculous to witness. We almost feel like we are ‘proud parents; with the mama bird as we have watched her new family come into this world and leave home in a very short time. (And tell me, what is cuter than a nest full of adorable baby birds?)

 

 

LEGENDS, MYTHS AND BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS OF THIS WINGED SENSATION…

Myth: It is believed that if your hen takes to crowing,  it is a herald of a death in the owners family.

Myth:  If a wild bird fly’s into your home, it is a warning,  presaging a death.

Myth:. If a bird enters your home and begins to fly around in circles and goes back outside,  or if a bird hits your glass window, this also is a presage to a death.

Birds and what they symbolize to certain cultures:

crane7The beautiful white dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit to the Christian faith.

In the Western world, white doves are released at wedding ceremonies as a symbol of a couples endearing love…

In South East Asia, Cranes are believed to carry off the souls of the dead to heaven.

crane8 white storkIn the European culture, White storks are known to bring Spring…(Kind of like America’s groundhog ,”Punxsutawnay Phil.”)  We look to his  “announcement of springs arrival”  all depending upon if he sees his shadow or not. 🙂

 

crane4 swallowEvery March 19th, (Known as St. Josephs day,) the faithful swallows return to the Mission  San Juan Capistrano in Southern Californian. Festivity and gladness fills the air with visitors arriving  from all over the country,  as these little guys return and rebuild their  mud nests that are adjoined to the ruins of this grey stone church. Its amazing and symbolizes a “Miracle” at this mission that St. Francis loved so much.

Legendary Fable : By Jewel Diamond Taylor.

A long time ago God had a great many burdens that He wished to have carried from one place to another on Earth.  He asked the animals to lend a hand, but all of them had excuses for not helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on… Finally the birds came to God and said, “If you will tie the burdens into small bundles, we’ll be glad to carry them for you.  We are small, but we would like to help.”

So God fastened upon the back of each bird a small bundle, and they all set out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went, not minding the weight of their burdens at all.  Every day the burdens seemed lighter and lighter, until the loads seemed to be lifting the birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens.

When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they removed their loads, there were beautiful wings in their place.  Wings that enabled them to fly to the tree tops and soar through the sky, closer and closer to God.The burdens we carry for others, as well as ourselves, become wings of the spirit, lifting us to new places and bringing us closer and closer to God.

May you always Soar in spite of your Burdens!

IN THE BIBLE

angola100 raven1st Kings, 17: 4-6 Ravens were used to bring food to Elijah.

Genesis, 8~  The raven and the angola 101 dovedove were sent out by Noah to determine whether the land had dried sufficiently after the great flood.

 

Luke 3:21-22

“Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

angola91 turtle dove The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove, is heard in our land.  Song of Solomon 2:12

 

FAMOUS “REAL LIFE” BIRDS THAT HAVE MADE HISTORY

angola71The African grey parrot ALEX  who was studied by Dr. Irene Pepperberg, demonstrated that he had the ability to count, could reason on a basic level and use words creatively. His intelligence has been likened to that of the Ape and dolphin, as well as a 5 year old human being. Amazing! He is such a handsome , dapper bird…

 

angola72Cheri Ami , (don’t you love that name?)  was a British bread homing pigeon that in the autumn of 1918 delivered 12 messages for the United States Army during World War 1 and miraculously  helped save the lost Battalion.

 

angola78Bubi, an Eurasian Eagle-owl that lives in Helsinki, near the Olympic Stadium is known as a “good omen,” for Finland with their national football team. Whenever he appears at the game, they win… Beautiful bird!

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How about  the birds we all know that have made it to Hollywood? (Either by inspiring a movie to be made, playing a supporting actor/actress role or THE LEADING CHARACTER?)

MUMBLE in Happy Feet… His first movie was such a hit, they gave him a sequel ! I love him as little baby penguin…

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An abundance of applause and cheer  “for all the many diverse birds” that played in Home Alone 2 and The great outdoors…(I can only imagine how much fun those movies were to make! 🙂

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We were in awe at the two great eagles in  the great films, Narnia and The Lord of  the Rings… ( I am thankful that eagles are not REALLY that immense.) 🙂

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My heart fell in love with Soren in the great classic Guardians of Ga ‘Hoole. The animation in this film alone, was breathtaking…

LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA'HOOLE

The adorable Nigel the Pelican, in Finding Nemo with the bellicose  seagulls in this colorful, entertaining film. (It truly is amazing how far animation has come…)

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The very humorous chicken Pollito in the hilarious and posh movie, ‘In-despicable Me’ as well as the fetching, great owl, a trustworthy companion to Harry Potter in all of his fete’s.

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The somewhat, snobbish seabird from the south of France, Silas, from Ice Age and the endearing, spirited Roberto in Rio 2.

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How about the jovial, laid back crows in the classic movie Dumbo and the much “fawned after”  Rocky in chicken run?

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The mighty Sven in Happy feet two was exceedingly alluring as was the debonair, classy seagull, in the film Jonathon Livingston seagull.

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Kaharr in the remarkable classic, Water ship down  made us smile and the diverse and entertaining  ‘pigeons’ in the movie Valiant were a hoot! 🙂

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Zazu in the beloved Lion King and Scuttle in The Little Mermaid, brought us so much color, diversion and recreation…adding plenty of “winsomeness” to our lives.

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The amazing “Paulie” and  Polynesia in Dr. Doolittle. (Two very intelligent and striking parrots.)

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Fifi, Rumpelstiltskin’s magical goose in Shrek Forever After and the gallant great eagle in The rescuers down under…Both beautifully animated, classy films.

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What about the 24 hour consort tunes these beautiful creatures sing to us throughout our mornings, afternoons and into the late evenings under the stars? Each bird has its own unique song that brings our souls a joy and graces us with winsomeness, great bliss and exhilaration, truly enriching our lives daily.

My favorite tunes? The gentle, soothing cooing of the turtle dove, the classic call of the whip-poor-will, the magical tweets of the Kingfisher, the engaging whistle of the hummingbird, the familiar everyday chirp of the sparrow and the Bob White Quail who continuously, (but very creatively ) calls out  his own name, ( bestowing upon me many a nostalgic memory of my years  in South Carolina.)  I love to hear (the sometimes annoying yet comforting at the same time,) squawk of the parrot, or honk of the geese, the “ah, ah , ah of the woodpecker, the crow of a raven…(a little on the scary side,) but he has such a history of  being ‘the bad guy,’ we have to give him a break. 🙂 Lastly, the chorus of the dawn…I am not sure exactly who is singing what, I just know that it helps get me out of bed to start my day more than any alarm clock I’ve owned. 🙂

Bird stories that will make you smile…

In reading an article by Mark Cocker in the Guardian, there were two stories he shared on his travels that took me aback as I hear stories all the time about birds helping people to get through difficult times….Do you ever wonder how they know we are troubled? What moves them to bring us comfort, amazement and wonder?

kingfisherOne of his stories  was about a  mother who had  lost her  daughter in a car accident. Weeks after the funeral, “something” told her to go to the french windows at the other side of the house and there, sitting on the patio, was a beautiful, blue kingfisher. She picked the winged miracle up and was able to pet the bird for a short while before it flew off.  That moment of kinship and revelry with this amazing beautiful blue bird was, its author confessed, “a mystifying solace to me over the years”.”

kingfisher1Another story shared was  about a  recently bereaved widow, who in her grief, began taking walks on the sandy beaches along the shore of the soothing, quieted ocean. She was taken aback with the sight of the intense, pensive shorebirds known as  oystercatchers,  standing at the crest of the oceans tides… She recounted how, “one day as I approached they started to hop away; I’d never seen them hopping before! Well over a hundred oystercatchers hopping towards the sea; it was hilarious.” ( The stout legged Oystercatchers stand on one leg to keep their bodies warmer in the colder temperatures. . ) The birds became a source of comfort, and a motif of the reassertion of joy in her life.”

 

A FEW REAL LIFE BIRD STORIES from people I know…

Margo’s blessing!

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One of my best friends of 37 years, Margo, came to visit Kit and I from Sunny California. I had so much fun introducing her to my new friends in Delaware at a ladies afternoon Tea….she fit right in, (as I knew she would.) 🙂   We all enjoyed a lovely array of savory, ambrosial, home cooked cuisine, sweet indulgences, delicious teas, a warm fire in the hearth and made wonderful new memories on this pampering ladies day out together.  As we were getting ready to leave, a red cardinal lit upon a branch on the tree in front of our hostess’ home. Margo’s  eyes welled up as she had prayed and said to the Lord that the one thing she wanted to see on her ‘east coast visit’  was a cardinal…her favorite bird… Her heart was  so touched… she could not  take her eyes off the bird…(You see, I was so use to seeing these magnificently gorgeous birds in all my years here, I forgot it was a rare sight for someone who lived across the country. ) I never took  this  gracious, austere bird for granted again and was so happy my dear lifelong friend had her wish come true…

 

 

BEAMER!

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I don’t really know how to share about my little guy that I had for many years…except to say…there are two kinds of budgie parakeets in this world. The one that sits in the cage, sings an occasional tweet, enjoys biting you, every time you try to get him to perch on your finger,  and eventually becomes a pain, as you never feel a  love-connection…its almost as if they have become a decorative item, (with a lot of clean up and maintenance,) than a cherished pet. 🙂 That ones name was Romeo. Now the second kind of parakeet was Beamer… (Why did we name him Beamer?) Short story…when Kit and I were dating , my brother had given me his BMW…the most beautiful car I had ever had. (WE called it The Beamer.)  I ended up totaling the car 3 months before Kit and I got married….it broke my heart as I knew I’d never have that car again.  Thus, when we bought our new bird,  we decided to name it Beamer, to let the legend live on. Anyhow…this parakeet was one in a trillion… He fell in love with us immediately. The beautiful cage we bought him was his second home as he preferred to be with us whenever he could…he’d perch on the curtain rod, and every time we’d call to him, he’d fly to our shoulder…jaunt down our arm and back up again, give us a ton of kisses…and my favorite …when I’d do the dishes in the kitchen sink, he’d be on my shoulder, walk down to my hand, put his head under the water and then shake his whole body as if he were taking a shower. He’d bob his head up and down, sing, run back up to give me lots of kisses on my face and then get all comfy on my shoulder again…(where he’d stay for hours.) He brought so much joy to our life for years…He was a huge comfort to my heart as I left my family behind in California and moved to Arizona.  His love was such a diversion and solace to the emotional pain I felt with missing my family and friends so much. His songs were amazingly beautiful and his spirit so pure… When he died , (and I was crying out to Kit,) he  came running down the stairs frantically asking me “Honey, did someone in the family die?” Though very saddened it was Beamer, he was glad it was not one of our siblings or a parent.  It was a great loss for me  as well as our household. ..( You know women get more emotional than guys over these things…) The next parakeet I bought, was Romeo’s evil twin…so I gave up and switched to dogs! 🙂

An unexpected joy during a difficult time.

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A dear friend of mine was going through a rough season in his life and discovered such joy and comfort in the new feathered guest that were frequenting his beautiful garden with its enchanting trellis, outside his kitchen doors…Not only did the array of such diverse birds bring life, an abundance of bright color, but as he watched them and studied how intricately they were all made, their sundry movements and  alluring antics, he began to have more fun learning about all of his new guests. Each winged marvel brought a unique song and it was fascinating to watch the interactions of all the winsome birds as they flew in and out of the garden, morning, noon and night.   They quickly became daily house-callers, with their  familiar faces as they dropped by his magical and beckoning ‘outside amphitheater’ of nature.  He had found a  great joy in the midst of his new company, so much so, that he decided he too would collect birds this year for his home…bring a little bit of that mirth inside.  Birds will do that you know.? 🙂

An unforeseen and surprising consolation.

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My dear friend Lisa’s  parents, who often visited her from their home in Maine, had a stunning Macaw Parrot for a pet…His name was Rocky. (Very Befitting.) When they came for a short stay,  I’d go over to her house to say hello and there he was, demanding to be the  center of attention (almost as big as his cage, as he was quite a galactic bird.)  Rocky’s vocabulary of words and phrases were so immense that he was like a walking poetry book!  He loved to eat peanuts, seeds and fruit, as well as just “hang out”  with everyone..interrupting our every conversation, (but no one  minded, as he was eminently lovable. ) 🙂 I could definitely  see how one could get use to this big guy always being around.  Lisa’s parents passed away within a short time of one another and Rocky came to live with her. Little did she  know that this bird, (having learned such an abundance of  words and ‘ endearing phrases’  from her parents)  kept their spirits and memory alive by repeatedly saying the  things they had taught him. He brought her so many smiles, laughter and brought back many a cherished memory of her mom and dad.  Who would have thought that Rocky would end up being a hand delivered,  winged comfort to Lisa’s heart as she missed her parents so deeply?

YES, God truly cares for every bird of the air…

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While in my early twenties, I was living in California and was on my way into a Ralph’s Supermarket to get a few groceries. As I was walking under the eve of the markets roof, a beautiful, small in stature sparrow fell to the ground and landed right at my feet…he couldn’t move and was laying on his side…I couldn’t be sure, but he looked like he was a baby bird. My heart was very moved for this little guy…I felt in my spirit to pray for this little guy… I didn’t want him to suffer so I prayed for God to touch and  heal him or to just take him home.  A few people stopped as I was standing there, all  feeling a sadness, yet not really knowing what to do. As people came and went, I still stood there and then, to  my amazement, this little guy got up and flew away.  I felt a soothing peace inside, not only that he lived and was healed but that God truly does care for every bird he has created, no matter their size or worth in  our eyes. Whether it is a grand, stoic Bald Eagle, or a tiny sparrow, they are all the same to Him.  After that day, I began observing birds a lot more and God has used them many a time in my life to teach me about the simplest truths.

In closing,  I have to add at least one more thing that these winged miracles bring to our lives…this time, on the inside of our homes. Their rainbow colors and  buoyant personalities are quite the muse for embellishing our homes with warmth, cheer and an ambrosial ambiance.

Whether through a beautiful panting or lifelike prints, their resplendent character blesses our homes with vibrant color and a quiet calm.

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Our couches and over sized chairs would not be the same without their adoring  faces bedecking our favorite rooms.

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This year, my new collection for our home is birds. 🙂 My husband bought me the most beautiful bluebirds for Christmas.. (One of my favorite gifts!)  Birds also inspires many types of decor through decorative birdcages… (Whether you own a bird or not.)

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They are a great “wonder” to get our creative juices flowing, as we try  to capture  their beauty and bring a little bit of its glory to the inside of our births.

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They’re an inspiration for us to bedeck our windows,verandahs and porches, turning them into flourishing gardens. (Hoping they will grace us with a  daily visit or two.) 🙂

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They inspire us to bring more color into our homes… a gorgeous medley of the hues found in the bucolic countryside

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What would our kitchens be like without the French’s national bird, The grandeur and stellar Rooster?

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Roosters are such a classy and regal bird!

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Birds inspire us to create our bedrooms with joy, simplicity, and the rich alluring, tones of nature.

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Two of my favorite things in my home…my new (not quite “your typical looking Rooster’) cookie jar and my red bird dinner pates…

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Whether  a French linen table cloth or lovely dinner ware,  birds are a blithesome  motif for our dining rooms!

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The beautiful colors of nature, highlighted  with captivating, engaging and  elfin little guys…

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Not only do these coffee table books bring an abundance of color and striking decor to your home, but these are books that your guests really will pick up and browse through…how can they not, they are so beautiful?

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Whether a quick note to a dear friend or a new Christmas Ornament for your tree… the bird motif is exceedingly charming, enchanting and blesses our hearts with an abundance of mirth.

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I am looking forward to learning more about these winged miracles. I hope that perhaps this vignette has sparked a little interest for you, or if you are already a bird-lover, touched a place in your heart that was already there.

redbird1***I wanted to add that after another bountiful snowfall, since the time I began this writing, (yes, spring is still stalling,) I saw for the first time, four gorgeous red cardinals light upon the snow in our front yard…I have to tell you, there is nothing quite as breathtaking as the sight of the stellar, vibrant red bird against a backdrop of a crisp, white, freshly fallen snow… I feel very blessed! 🙂

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where the picture originated from.

 

Whimsical Creations.

“To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted. ” ~George Kneller

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We all are ‘inspired’ in celebrated and significant ways by the things that we love…whether it is our spouse, our beloved pets, reading a bestselling novella, our favorite musicians,   a classic movie, a new recipe for getting healthy or a brand new eatery we found tucked away in the country with the best peach cobbler a la mode we’ve ever tasted…Beauty is also an inspiration …especially in how we  embellish and present our homes, created with our personal touches and adored decor items. The things that inspire us,  create within us a new strength, purpose as well as  courage to live a more beautiful and delight-some life.

Perhaps it is your LOVE for FUN  that  quickens you to  bring forth a patina of diversion, pleasure, amusement, bliss and bright colors?

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Are you a fan of “everything Chic'” enjoying a cool, ‘au courant’ exclusive, dapper and  dashing, yet at the same time, sophisticated and  understated ambiance in your home?

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If you are like me, you adore a romantic motif…rooms filled with a touch of glamor, mystery, a picture-book flavor and an abundance of enchantment.  🙂

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Maybe you absolutely go wild over a home filled with “Pizzazz.” An ambiance that is not only alluring and  captivating, but is graced with abundant  charisma and a  little extra added “oomph?”

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If your heart is partial to French decor,  you love the provincial countryside look…a potpourri of rustic, casual yet eminently welcoming furnishings and decor to create a warm and fetching  ambiance using an abundance of natural materials.

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Many love the Vintage, old world look with its heartening traditional theme and its’ quaint and stunning ambiance.

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We all have our own distinctive, unique signature style when it comes to decorating… You are the only one who can capture the essence of each one of your rooms within your home and CREATE them to be Whatever YOU want them to be.”

This vignette is not necessarily just about “creating.” If all of us were given a blank check and could shop on line, go to all of our favorite boutiques, travel to Europe and Spain to buy the finest linens, drop by our nearest  Ralph Lauren Furniture store or a Waverly interior decor showroom, and purchase our decorating materials, our homes would look as if they they stepped directly out of a ” Better Homes and Gardens or Veranda magazine.” The key challenge here, is not using a blank check to create the home of your dreams…its using something more personal…Your inbred, talents and creativity to take what you already have in your home, along with your brilliant imagination, some ingenuity, cleverness, individual style and  yes, perhaps a few dollars here and there, (  I heavily accent on the FEW, 🙂   but creating your homes ambiance with your own resources, with any muse or muses you so desire.

Everyone has to start somewhere… There are seasons within our lives where our abode is ‘temporary.’  Perhaps you are renting a room in a large home, going to school and only have a small area to display your unique tastes and likes. Maybe you rent a home with a few other men or women and its a potpourri of all of your tastes mixed into one themed abode…monica (I always think of the popular sitcom FRIENDS and how diverse all their tastes were, especially Rachael and Monica’s home…it was dramatic, colorful and FUN! )   It may be that you have just purchased a brand new home and are deciding on what your “style and patina” will be. Decorating can be astonishingly expensive,  (as our lists for items needed to produce a certain ambiance grows faster than the “General Sherman giant sequoia tree in California.”) 🙂   I realized early on in my ‘decorating adventures’…sometimes the money would be plentiful for these much desired , ‘have to have’ items, and  at other times, the piggy bank was empty. Thus I learned, first hand, how to take what I have already collected ,  along with what I’ve learned and captured through  many a home decor book and magazine, and began decorating our little haven with “our style’ but with very little cost. Not only was it fun, challenging, and eminently rewarding, but it gave me a great gift I still exercise today… CREATIVITY and using my imagination… (I still love to go shopping and buy something new for the house) but many a time, I choose to re-create a room with my own inventory and a few craft supplies! 🙂 This is my challenge to you within this vignette… and hopefully I can share with you, some inspiring ideas of just how to do that.

If you are  not in a “creative mood” as of yet, I think these quotes will inspire you to ‘fire up’  your imagination as well as innovation.

 

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“Nothing encourages creativity like the chance to fall flat on one’s face.”  ~James D. Finley

“Think left and think right and think low and think high.  Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” ~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

“The Possible’s slow fuse is lit By the Imagination.” ~Emily Dickinson

WC601“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. ” ~Michelangelo

“Never tell people how to do things.  Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity. ” ~George Smith Patton, War as I Knew It, 1947

“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. ” ~Mark Twain

“Don’t expect anything original from an echo. ”  ~Author Unknown

“There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds.”  ~G.K. Chesterton

“I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.” ~Pablo Picasso

“Sometimes imagination pounces; mostly it sleeps soundly in the corner, purring. “~Terri Guillemets

“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”  ~Author Unknown

“The strongest nation on earth is your imagi-nation. ” ~Matt Furey

Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.”  ~Henri Matisse

WC607“Trust that little voice in your head that says “Wouldn’t it be interesting if…”  And then do it. ”  ~Duane Michals.

“I remembered a story of how Bach was approached by a young admirer one day and asked, “But Papa Bach, how do you manage to think of all these new tunes?”  “My dear fellow,” Bach is said to have answered, according to my version, “I have no need to think of them.  I have the greatest difficulty not to step on them when I get out of bed in the morning and start moving around my room.”  ~Laurens Van der Post

WC600“Those who do not think outside the box are easily contained.” ~Nicolas Manetta

“I’m creative – you can’t expect me to be neat too.” ~Author Unknown

 

I will never forget my first real challenge…It was my favorite month, December,and we were able to move into the most enchanting, historical little cottage home. (It truly was our Christmas gift that year.) But, we did not have the decorating budget for all  our hopes and dreams to fix this place up…It was frustrating and disquieting to say the least…(Still overflowing with gratitude that we had such a cozy, storybook new abode, I took what I had and began to make it ours!

“Honey can we afford some paint , masking tape and a few paint brushes?” I asked several months later, ( in a bit of  desperation as this little home was entirely too white.) (And a dull white at that.) Kit said Yes! We had so much fun going to Ace Hardware shop, picking out our ‘just right’ paint paint color shades and then stopping off at  Borders to get our cappuccino’s afterwards… dreaming together of what our new little haven would look like with some color.

I don’t need to tell you that once you START adding color to one room, its almost an “obsession” to paint another room…then another. Well…we did. (Thank the Lord it was  only a tiny one bedroom cottage home.)  🙂

Our neighbor and one of our best friends Vince, ( a very talented painter and artist) said he would help me…How blessed was I?

The biggest room to tackle was the living room. After much research, (even though it sounds crazy,)  we chose a bright, snowy white and soft Iris yellow for the walls along with a  rich cranberry red for the French doors and crown molding.  Vince  taught me how to use masking tape to make stripes and I was having more fun than I dreamed possible. Were my stripes perfectly straight? NO! Was I scared and a little nervous? YES…Did anyone really care if it came out flawless?  NO…It was my first attempt at “doing it myself” and if I failed, no one was going to loose sleep over it or go into a dither. 🙂 But, as long as you didn’t look behind my big hutch, it turned out pretty cool!

Here are a few Before and After photos….

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For the dining room, we chose a very safe, light, pastel-parasol pink  color  and picked up a rose stencil at Micheal’s to blend in with the original Persian green crown molding.  I also placed my floral  border paper in the center of the walls…it was a  very subtle change but it livened up the room with a soft, romantic glow…(especially alluring with an abundance of candlelight.)

Before...with the off white, (uninspiring paint color) and  After…with the soft, tranquil and serene lulled rose-pink.

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Our bedroom was the hardest room to decide the paint color as it was the smallest of rooms. Our first choice? A dark, cranberry red! (We still had paint left.) 🙂  My expertise friend Vince, said ” NO” right off the bat…”Susan, it will make your room look 10 times smaller.” I didn’t  listen and ended up doing a lot of work to cover the partial wall I tried in this rich dark color 🙂  (Lesson learned…LISTEN to the experts.) 🙂  I finally chose a Martha Stewart, sky blue and asked my ‘teacher’ to show me how to do a bit of Faux painting…his specialty…And of course, I wanted more stripes! 🙂

A few more Before and After photos

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Th easiest  room to paint  was our county kitchen…I had plenty of yellow paint left so I used it more as an accent color along with my floral stencil…Again, it illuminated  the entire ambiance with a beautiful brightness and warmth…we loved it!

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Here are a few more decorators  styles using creative stenciling, Faux painting and striped walls, to give you some ideas if your ready for a little (fun) work, as well as an inexpensive and colorful change…

I adore the rich, warm golden tone with the artful  stenciled ivy…It reminds me of Francis Maye’s villa, ( Bramasole) in Under the Tuscan sun.  🙂 I never would have thought to do horizontal stripes…exceptionally brilliant!

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Again, the Faux painted wall is incredibly rich, warm and inviting…I like these birds as well, except (in a small way,) they remind me of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, “The Birds,” so I could see this inspirational stenciling on a wall in a game room. (A room with an abundance of energy and excitement,) not so much for a room of repose and calmness. 🙂 (That’s just me.) 🙂

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Both of these artistic displays are altogether elegant, stellar and very regal!

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Another resourceful idea to bring forth a creative change with what you already have,  is to repaint your picture frames…

I inherited two of these antiquated glass frames…believe it or not, they hung over my sisters and my twin high beds as we shared a room together growing up. My parents had beautiful  ballerina paintings in them. They were off white and very regal looking, (a perfect frame for the celebrated dancers,)  but not my taste, (nor hers.) 🙂   One day, (when we were much older,) my sister and I  painted these frames with vibrant water colored paint, using the color scheme of Kits and my home. I ended up putting our wedding photos in them and now, as an adult woman, I absolutely love and cherish them as they are inspirationally  unique and fit our motif perfectly. (And I get so many compliments on them, especially from antique collectors.)

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Taking any wooden frame and making it yours, by antiquating it or painting it according to your color scheme is quick and easy. When finished, its as if you have a brand new picture frame to spruce up your rooms with.   Gorgeously done!

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Exquisite and romantic.

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Another unique idea from this artist… as your painting, mix and match your patterns, using different hues of the same color.   One of my dear friends makes these seashell frames from all of her shell collections from Rehoboth  beach. Not only are they fascinating and lovely, but they  brighten up her classic maritime home here in Delaware.

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Something so easy and magical…adding kaleidoscopic color along with your special touch to something we all have within our kitchens.. ROLLING PINS!  My amazingly artistic sister made me the one on the left. I display it as decor only.  (I use my plain rolling pin for baking.) 🙂

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All you need is a little imagination…

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When Kit and I moved into our home in Delaware, we were blessed with an over-abundance of WINDOWS! I didn’t  have enough curtains for our home, nor did we have the extra cash flow to buy new ones…so I decided to “be creative” and mix a few patterns together for a “potpourri” look for my valance, using a designed floral, white lace sheer as the foundation.

These first two valances are my two windows in the front of the living room. Definitely  a little bit of mix and match going on here, but it fits in with our motif! (And cost me nothing.) 🙂

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This is my very large window on the side of the living room… I made this valance to look  similar but added the red checks and a diverse designed lace fabric… again, its what I had and it worked.

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I love this decorators ingenuity and personal creativity with how she used a delicate and  splendorous  tea cup as her ‘tie back’ for her curtains…it brings such originality, style and felicity.

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This has got to take the prize  for the most creative...an old, painted window shudder used as a valance…incredibly clever and inventive.

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A fabulously stunning, homemade burlap creation!

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Not your typical store-bought- curtains…Lovely, innovative and fresh!

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Adding the dimensional roses creates an air of  “cozy, demure and graceful romance”.

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If your home does not have as many windows as you would like, you can make your own “window look” with window boxes or paned mirrors. Bedeck them with a homemade, cheery  valance or place a motley  bouquet of flowers around it… It creates the ‘illusion of  space’ within your home, causing your room to look larger than it really is.  (Now if we could just find a way for the sun to grace these paned mirrors with its warmth and sublime radiance.) 🙂

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My brother Jim’s home in Newport beach was unbelievably creative with a magical, elfin ambiance…one of the things he did was fill his home with window boxes. (You can use old window shudders along with a window frame or a paned mirror as well.)  He added fresh and artificial flowers around his new creation, causing  the entire room to liven up with warmth as well as a Junoesque  atmosphere.  Absolutely stunning! (It was Kits and my favorite spot to sit when we’d go for a visit.) 🙂

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You can find these types of mirrors at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores as well as your nearby thrift stores or consignment shops! You will be surprised at the creativity these paned ‘looking glass’s’ will spark within you to ‘make it your own.’ 🙂

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To add charm, a touch of elegant style and a create a  “look” all your own, making a new topiary tree for your living room or dining room table scape is a great  idea and so easy.  With a bag of Spanish moss, a few artificial flowers, a dense and hefty twig,  a foam ball or shape of your choosing, a glue gun and some ivy, you are set!

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The nice thing about creating a topiary tree with green moss is that it’ s interchangeable with each festive occasion you host, as you add new seasonal decor  to its foundation for whatever the motif of your room is at the time.

In your playful , adventurous creativity, its fun to go with a very simple, elegant tree , an inspirational cherub motif or a sylvan , enchanted look.

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You can’t go wrong with ivy and roses or a topiary tree decked out with colorful berries, apples and pears…

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More creative topiary tree ideas…These artist’s work reveal  that beauty comes in so many creative ways! Lively and animated as well as romantic and flamboyant .

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If you have a grapevine, straw or wicker basket around your house, artificial roses and Ivy, you can turn the ordinary into extraordinary, adding warmth and color and that “something new” we all desire every now an then, to add to our lovely havens.

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These flowering baskets are all fabulously unique, expressing each artists style and individual tastes. (I especially  love the one with the flowering ‘Tootsie Roll pops.’ Creative and yummy! 🙂

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You can always take a basket you have already decorated for a special season, and use it again for the next…

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How about a new, colorful way to display your treasured cards, photographs or special concert tickets you want to keep forever?  If you have an old cork board laying around, buy some fabric and ribbon on sale. If you do not have a sewing machine, craft shops actually have a supply of a new glue stick that is entirely made just for fabric, (producing the same effect as a tiny needle and thread.) 🙂 I  love it!

Each memory board is beautifully done and so diverse!

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These Memory boards  are shown with  a before and after photo to show that you can add  as little or as many photos as you’d like , depending upon the room your are decorating.

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What a classy office space… this decorator has created her board to fit in perfectly with her motif! Very stunning!

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I adore my memory board with the chalkboard… I keep it updated for every season!

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How about using an old window shudder with a fresh coat of paint? Brilliant idea!

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Creativity with a dancing flame! 🙂

There is no stopping when it comes to ideas for creating color and charm with a candle display.( All with ingredients found right within your home!) (Again, all these creations are diverse and fetching…)

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Whoever invented “Puff Paint” is a genius…incredibly inexpensive, this fascinating gem will turn anything in your home into a new, innovative, classy piece of decor.!

These creations are easy to do and definitely  something you can personalize and give as a gift or keep for yourself.

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This could be YOUR  “Great Pumpkin” for the autumn season. It will stay festive for the entire season.

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I adore these puff painted snowflakes…what a wonderful idea for a wintry motif.

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These next photos are all “gifts’ from my sister who I keep telling you is fabulously creative as well as artistic… She blesses me so!

A monogrammed vintage perfume bottle…

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She personalized a framed piece of art with gold puff paint as well as a jewelry holder, a few Christmas ornaments, Grahams Christmas pillow and petite glass vases to match my formal china. The lampshade and puff painted lamp base is displayed in her home.  Truly, these are all things she had around her home or picked up at a consignment or thrift shop and customized it herself with the puff paint…What a great invention used with wondrous talent.

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Another resplendent transformation. A grapevine wreath (in any shape you choose,) made into a riveting ‘work of art’ with your colors and personal style , creating a beautiful new decor item for your home.

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A few beautifully created spring wreaths!

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An assortment of dried roses and flowers, (many of which came from floral arrangements I had received and dried after they graced our home with their delightful fragrances,)  along with a few sprigs of greens and ivy, along with a ribbon.   ( And of course,  my faithful glue gun.) 🙂

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How about a wreath in a pot!

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The wondrous thing about a fresh or artificial green wreath is you can continue to re-create your “work of art’ with the celebration of  each season… using whatever you have within your house that you love. I always keep dried roses, babies breath, a medley of wired ribbons, and (as you already know,) bears of all shapes and sizes… 🙂 I have used this green wreath for every occasion you can think of, embellishing it with whatever the festivity calls for! 🙂

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OKAY! Tell me one person who at one time in their life or another, has not owned a cherished Teddy bear?  (Some of us, 🙂   just never outgrow them!)

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If you are a teddy bear lover as I, one way I have curbed my “obsession” to run out and get a new adorable little guy, each time I have a desire to add to my collection (in which I do use as a part of my home decor,) is that I redress the bears I already have…I have had more fun shopping at garage sales and thrift stores for baby clothes with my friends and have acquired many  classy and adorable outfits  for my bears for under $5.00.

My oldest Teddy bear, (I have had him for 28 years now,)  whom I adore, (as he was the one my mom and I picked out together one very memorable afternoon we spent  in Laguna beach California.)  I can remember us laughing as we saw him amongst all the other bears in this classy boutique….he was quite dapper in his black tux and bow tie. His name is Cornelius and he is still a charmer.

Here is Cornelius (undressed,) awaiting his new outfit for spring.

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And a few of my other fair-haired friends…Cornelius’s girlfriend, Hope

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Hope and Cornelius together sharing some Hershey’s chocolate Easter eggs…

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This is Jimbo… named after my brother Jim, (his nickname)…. he is a wondrous and tangible reminder of my brother as he loved bears…

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My bear “JImbo” dressed up as a girl for spring time…(Hey, lets face it, this little guy has a face that can go either way so no one knows… 🙂

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Griffin and my two older bears, Katie and Gerrard are all dressed up delivering messages in our little abode with a petite chalkboard, bringing forth personality, warmth and smiles.

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The home dressed bears are a lot less expensive than the brand new bears at the Bear Boutiques or online… But just looking at what is new on the market, sure does  give you a great idea of what to look for at Garage sales, thrift stores and consignment shops to dress your favorite bears up at home…(I am already  on the ‘hunt’  to find  the cunning hats on the adorable, debonair duo below.)  🙂

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And for all of you “Bunny collectors”….dress up your little guys for the season and  bring about a decorative change to your abode! (Add a bit of  color and charisma and change the ordinary into something remarkable .)

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A few flowering pots filled with sunny yellow flowers,  a medley of old books tied with a pastel ribbon and some moss, beautifully transforms these two white ceramic bunnies into a beautiful spring display.

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My faithful and poised bunny, dressed up for the season with his topiary tree and flower basket…( all things around my home.)

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I had to throw these pics into this blog,  as they are just too cute  not to share… I found this little dog that looks like Grantham’s twin, so I dressed him up too…Kit keeps this one on his desk…(As his office decor is mainly nautical along with a dog themed motif, (meaning ample photos of Grantham.) 🙂  OK, no more stuffed animals… 🙂

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If your creative muscle is becoming toned, here is a more challenging, artistic change to bring forth more beauty and color into you home.

Again, a little paint, your very own unique style and  imagination…

The artist who did this is my sister…she has the “free hand” artistic talent that I do not, and I am in awe at her beautiful creations. Here is a before and after photo of an old hutch she refashioned. Amazing!

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An old table she painted to bring some creative color and style to her home.

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And lastly, a hope chest she made to look old with her antiquated golds and stenciling…

Another artists creatively made over  hutch with  its array of stenciled flowers and subtle, hushed hues, blended so beautifully together. Both incredibly inspirational!

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These two ‘works of art’ are a bit more formal…. Charmingly beautiful!

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I adore this blithesome  Armoire. From start to finish, its absolutely stunning… I love the color scheme this artist has chosen… This finished piece of art would grace any room in the house.

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How about taking an ordinary birdcage in your attic, or a lantern and “dressing it up” a little for a centerpiece or inviting table top in the living room?

The inspiration for the  birdcage is the renowned eatery, Mimi’s cafe. Very genius! The lantern is beautifully transformed with a white pillar candle and an array of petite, lulled pink roses…both unique and beautiful!

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Its amazing how just a few additions bring life to something within our homes we never think of as a decorative item…

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Refreshing, livening and animated ….as well as elegant, regal and formal…both bird cages are breathtaking!

The two lanterns are brought to life with romantic lighting, (whether a candle or designer lights) bringing forth charm and enchantment.

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I am continuously amazed at such beautiful talent.

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Winsome, invigorating and very chic! These would be perfect displayed in a bay window or in the dining room … bringing a bit of natures majestic beauty inside your home.

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How about sconces? I began collecting these after I got married. They are such a fun decor item as you can continuously change them  for each season, to set the ambiance of your room.

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Wall sconces are an ideal place to  bring color, texture and your own style into any of your rooms, hallways or foyers.

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Great ideas for the kitchen, living room, study, bedroom or entryway.

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We’ve talked about creating beautiful wreaths or topiary trees with  everyday things around your home, how about adding one strand of petite amber or white lights for a romantic, cozy ambiance? I love glistening petite lights as they  bring enchantment, an elfin magic and a fairytale-like ambiance that livens up our decorative displays.

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Homemade pillows! Pillows transform our favorite over sized chairs, couches and our beds in a magical way…and they are so easy to make. (Remember if you do not have a sewing machine, the fabric glue sticks are available at craft stores.)

Soft, elegant and inviting!

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Each designers creation is splendidly diverse and eye-catching. I can feel the creative juices flowing. 🙂

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If you are blessed to have a Village collection, bring it out of your attic a few times a year,   bedecking it with the grandest decor for each season.

Summer in the mountains by the lake…

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Autumns brisk days of vibrant colors….

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Winters magical wonderland…

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Springs allurement of bright blossoms and promise of new life…

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A  summer celebration of the beloved 4th of July holiday.

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One of my best friends Kim created this incredibly  statuesque and stirring Village scene for the Christmas holidays in her classy home…Absolutely awe-inspiring. (And she plays the piano beautifully!)

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SPEAKING Of Christmas…here are a few wonderful Christmas ornaments to make at home for just pennies…

All of these ornaments are not only innovative and clever, but memorable keepsakes with a  homemade touch of love.

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Kit bought me this snow lady years ago…she is made to hold utensils in the kitchen…I gathered a handful of twigs from the woods in the meadow and created a decorative snow-lady for any room in the house for our Christmas celebration.

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What a wonderful idea…adding a snowman face to a wintry garland,  creating an eye-catching Christmas wreath.  I am taken aback with all the classy and fun  snowmen made out of a potpourri of all types of boxes… Fabulously creative and festive. (Such creative talent.) 🙂

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Color changes everything!  It creates a mood within your home ‘all by itself.’ If your feeling a need for something new, try creating a new table-scape with a different tablecloth, dinnerware and centerpiece.

There is nothing as enchanting as a medley of vibrant reds and  shimmering golds! OK, perhaps white damask linen with formal china and sparkling silver. 🙂 I love changing the mood of our dinning room with table-scape changes.

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A baronial autumn celebration…

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If your desiring a clean, fresh, calm and soothing ambiance , its hard to outdo the color combination of an alluring, soft  yellow highlighted with the gorgeous decorative duo of blue and white? Elegance and serenity all rolled into one. 🙂

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When in need of cheer…. a medley of bright COLORS!

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Whenever Kit and I go to visit my brother on the west coast, I am amazed at how he turns his beautiful  dark wood dining table into a “work of art” bringing forth  an ambiance of  elegance, grace and convivial spirit, with a beautiful linen cloth, sparkling crystal, baronial china along with fresh flowers and soft candle light. He has blessed us with so many happy memories at this table with all the thought and creativity he puts into his presentation.

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A beautifully simple table-scape… a mixture of gorgeous rich woods with white linen…a very classy and galvanic appeal!

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A few ideas for creative centerpieces...all homemade with things already within your home, bringing forth wonderment, color and a welcoming atmosphere.

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If you already have a three tiered cake plate stand, there are so many creative ways to dress it up for any motif!

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Once you have created a birdcage or a topiary tree, remember you can change them at anytime for a seasonal , captivating centerpiece for a special gathering. 🙂

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My dear friend Ellie made this innovative Valentines candy/candle holder for me this year…What an awe-inspiring centerpiece idea to have a few of these filled with vibrant red and pink pillar candles. 🙂  I just adore this artists idea of the flowering rain boots for a centerpiece… I am feeling wonderfully inspired…How about you?

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Lastly, If you are like me, you have a few cherished plates that you have inherited from someone you love, were given as a gift or have bought on a whim while shopping…(Plates you would not necessarily eat off of, but that are designed for decorative display.) I find when I take them out and create a cozy corner with one of them, I feel as if I have treated myself to something new for my home, all over again…  Its fun and ‘different,’ from my everyday decor.

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I hope that you have gleaned a few ideas of how to use “what you already have,” (added to your imagination and talents,)   to create a medley of warm, colorful and fascinating new looks for your home, when you feel you need a change… Lets face it, we can only move our furniture around so many times.) 🙂

HAPPY CREATING! 🙂

PHOTOGRAPHS: In placing your computer mouse upon any of the photos or graphics, it will display where the picture originated from.