Before I get to the heart of this post, let’s talk about this clipboard. I was asked by Hometalk to create a clipboard entitled Quaint Quilt Ideas. Since I love all things quilting and quilts, I was thrilled to do it. I searched through all the posts on Hometalk and put together a clipboard that I think you will like. Here it is. Click on it and you will be taken to the actual clipboard and the posts that I’ve highlighted. Thanks for the opportunity, Hometalk!
And now, on to my confession:
As leaves begin to fall and the air gets a little cooler outside, I am reminded that Autumn is around the corner. And it’s time to admit something.
I don’t do seasonal decorating.
There, I’ve said it. And it might appear to be a form of blasphemy in our blogging world, which is currently full of pretty fall vignettes and wreaths and mantels. I love looking at them. Though I admire and applaud everyone who takes the time to do those things, it is simply not for me. Why? I’ve thought about it and here’s what I’ve come up with.
I live in a part of the country that has four distinct seasons. I live in the country. All I have to do is look out my windows to see Mother Nature’s seasonal decorating which, frankly, tops anything I could create. I bow to her and freely admit that she is simply the best. I’d much rather look at the real deal. So I let her do her thing and I watch and marvel and take pictures. That seems to be a fair trade.
I don’t think I did this even when we lived in San Diego, which does not have four distinct seasons. I suspect I might consider decorating for the seasons if I lived in San Diego or, say, Florida. But probably not.
I don’t have the patience or desire to create vignettes or seasonally themed wreaths or mantels. I don’t even have a mantel. This desire is clearly missing from my genetic makeup. It’s the reason that I could never be an elementary school teacher. If I had to constantly dream up new bulletin boards all the time, I’d be in trouble. My eyes glaze over at even the thought of it. My dear friend Jackie has been an elementary school teacher for years. She is the epitome of patience. She creates all sorts of bulletin boards for her students. She is all things I am not. My hat is off to her.
I can’t do it.
I also suspect that parents with children are more apt to decorate for the seasons. I might be wrong. My mother never did anything of the kind, but I can see that it would be fun and stimulating for kids. I don’t have children. And Scoutie doesn’t care about any of it. She told me so.
I have no storage space. Even if I wanted to decorate seasonally, I don’t have the extra room to store all this stuff. Nor do I want to spend money on something I have to throw away.
Oh, I’ll bring some branches of forsythia into the house in the spring. I’ll collect feathers and pine cones and acorns. But I do that because I want them with me in the cottage. I do it because I like them, not to create a vignette or a themed mantel. I may throw in a white mini pumpkin or two. And I’ll pull out the quilts and throws when winter comes around. But I have my quilts, with their delicious graphic beauty, around me all year round. And, of course, I decorate for Christmas – but no themes there, either. Just well-loved ornaments and decorations that we use every year.
There you have it. I’m owning up to the truth. “My name is Claudia. I’m a blogger who blogs about nesting, decorating, gardening, creating. And I don’t decorate for the seasons.”
Whew! That’s a relief.
Happy Monday.
I decorate as you do..for me and just a touch.Maybe a pumpkin now…a wreath at Christmas..So glad your tree is OK
Thanks so much for the good wishes, Missy.
I don’t do a lot of decorating either Claudia..maybe a few little touches here and there..nothing like some of these talented ladies do..Christmas is my favorite time to decorate also..a Christmas tree is a wonderful thing to me..Your cottage is pretty enough..it doesn’t need any extras..it is already beautiful..
Oh, thank you, sweet Nancy!
I forgot to tell you..The quilt clipboard is lovely!
Thanks, Nancy!
I laughed when u said u could never be an elem. sch. teacher because of bulletins. I still teach, but now I do music. However, I was a 2nd grade teacher and spent hours cutting out letters 4 the bulletin board. I hated that part of my job:) So when my kids started school, I always checked out the bulletin boards. None of the teachers cut out those letters! Their boards were so simple and easy and it didn’t affect their teaching ability at all:):) I don’t decorate my mantels. Maybe I cut out letters for too many years:)
Sheree
If I cut out that many letters, I wouldn’t decorate a mantel either!
So funny about cutting out letters! I taught for 9 years [first grade] and I wish I had a dollar for every letter cut. I could pay cash for a new car. A NICE ONE! :>)
You are so right about the beauty of the natural world and the lack of storage space.
No attic. No basement. Just a shed that is already overflowing!
The only one I do is Christmas so that my brands can get their presents from under it
Christmas is magical, isn’t it?
Confession is good for the soul. And lucky you don’t live in Stepford. But then sometimes the blogs look like Stepford. I admit that I do love the seasonal decorating blogs, but then I love all sorts of people, places and things. And blogs. You go girl.
Me too, Tana. I love looking at all the seasonal decorating out there. I find them very inspiring, indeed.
Hello, Claudia
I picked up an apple/pear scented candle a few days ago and have a pumpkin spice one as well; that may not qualify as “decorating” for the season. I like the warm colours of autumn and have pulled out the flannel rag quilt throw now that the nights are getting cooler and autumn is just around the corner. I sometimes move a couple of pictures so I can enjoy them on a new wall and will hang a wreath on the door. For me, it’s all about a few simple (and generally functional) touches to celebrate the season.
Enjoy the last few days of summer.
-Karen
I love simple, Karen!
How great that you were asked to do the clipboard…it’s beautiful! And it looks like it took some time, good for you!
I think you hit it on the head for me when you spoke of decorating for the children. That’s how I started doing the house up for the holidays. I’ve pared down, I gave all the “cute” things to my sister in law so her kids could enjoy that stuff and now I’m much more relaxed with what I do. Since I’m not very crafty, I think this helps me get in touch with my creative side if anything. And I do agree with you, the best decor is right outside our windows.
XO,
Jane
Gettin in touch with our creative side is a good thing, Jane. And being relaxed about it is even better!
It’s fun to do. And I keep it by the front window so anyone can peek in at it. I live across from a grade school so I have peekers. :) If I didn’t want the admirers I would have set the house somewhere else.
My apartment? A 2 foot tree is as dressed up as it gets.
And come January it all fits in one little box
Catch ya tomorrow.
Smiles to you.
Linda
Sounds perfect if it fits into one little box, Linda! Good for you!
I don’t know what I did but the first half of my comment vanished. I said I don’t decorate my apartment – but I do decorated my dollhouse.
Linda
Isn’t that funny? I decorate my dollhouse, as well. I should have mentioned that!
Well, I’m certainly glad you came clean! Though, I suspected as much. But, that’s why I enjoy your blog so much…you call it like it is! Me, I decorate for Christmas, but only things I’ve had forever. I used to decorate for everything when my kids lived at home, and I ended up giving most of it away. For the fall, I’ll set out my pinecones from my trees, acorns, and maybe a pumpkin. Like you said, you have the never ending question of where to store it all! I love admiring what others have done…but can’t bring myself to do all that decorating. Love your quilt board…now that says fall to me! ;)
See? I thought that having kids had something to do with it. I’ve never had children, so I bet that influences my choice not to decorate that way.
Oh, I think having kids totally affects so many decorating choices. Even pets affect choices I think. I saw a beautiful pillow once, but when I thought of that pillow with my cat…I decided it would be far better for my state of mind if I just said no!;)
Yeah! I’m not the only one. Seems like everybody in blogland re-decorates constantly. Makes my head spin. We moved into this house a year ago and it’s taken me that long to get things where I want them and I’m still looking for a few pieces. So the idea of moving it all around now and changing it out is just way too much for me. Usually I do like to warm things up a bit for winter and cool them down a bit for summer (we live in Lake Havasu, Arizona so the summer temps reach 120 and the winter gets down to 45 occasionally). All that usually means is changing out some pillows and throws or a change of bedspread if I happen to have another — which right now I do not. I think it’s much easier this way and no one minds as far as I can tell … least of all me and my husband.
Me too. I don’t mind changing things around occasionally, that can be good and lead to new discoveries. But the seasonal thing is something I just can’t seem to do.
Hi Claudia! Now that my kids are grown, I decorate a lot less. I do it now because I feel like it, not because I have to. It is fun to make things too, like a Christmas quilt or a shawl in fall colors. I can’t imagine living anywhere where the seasons blur together. I always look forward to the changes. Enjoy your week
Lynne
Me too, Lynne. Now that we’re in New York, I love seeing the change of seasons.
I’m like you. I don’t decorate although a have children and taught at primary school. :-) I like a bunch of flowers now and then, and of course those are seasonal. My christams decoration is the same each year. :-)
Flowers for me, too, Regula. I love fresh flowers.
Seasonal decorating? Not here, either. Christmas, of course, but nothing else. Fall decorating happens with the leaves turn color and fall to the ground … spring brings flowers and bright green shoots … summer, whatever. I have mantels galore in this old place, but they are mostly bare. Wreaths or vignettes … not a chance. (Sometimes I get the feeling that some bloggers decorate just so they have something to show and say. It’s obvious that you don’t fit into that category.)
Bloggers, especially decorating niche bloggers, have to come up with new posts and ideas all the time. That’s a lot of pressure in what can be a competitive arena.
when i saw the post title i thought well of course she doesn’t she is living it…. right outside her windows!
i love to see your photographs of nature and what is going on seasonally in your part of the woods.
also i loved your little tour of your temporary home last week..your voicewas thrilling to hear.
rich…deep…i don’t know like a really luxurious spoon of caramel…smile… and exactly how i thought it would sound in my mind.
i am crazy i know but my analogy is just how i roll.
Can I tell you how thrilled I am to have my voice referred to as a ‘luxurious spoon of caramel?’ You made my day!! My week!
xo
I still put out a few things each season because it’s fun to change up a little. But I have cut back quite a bit – because while I LOVE setting it all up, I LOATHE putting it away. I think there might be an age issue too, to some degree. Most of us Baby Boomers aren’t used to having seasonally-decorated homes – our moms didn’t “have access” to all the adorable seasonal items that are available at all the craft fairs and festivals that abound these days. Congrats on the quilting clipboard – love your choices. Have a great week!
Such a good point about Baby Boomers and our parents. You’re absolutely right, Janet. They didn’t have access to all this stuff. And our family was on a tight, tight budget. My mom wouldn’t have dreamed of using the money she had for anything but food and clothing. She was the queen of budgeters and she kept to her monthly budget.No straying!
Yep, we were the same, Claudia. We were six kids close in age, one income and every penny of it earmarked for more important needs. Makes me a little sad when I see these house-hunting TV shows now. A 20 or 30-something SUV-driving couple. Two incomes, no kids. Who simply MUST have granite countertops, a guest room, hardwood floors and at least 2 bathrooms. My parents had hand-me-down furniture for 20 years, used cars they kept until they conked and NO vacations or home-remodeling until the youngest was out of high school. My mom picked out her wedding china for her SILVER anniversary! That’s when I think some of us Baby Boomers have maybe spoiled our kids a little too much. It’s great to dream and have goals – but I really don’t think you’re SUPPOSED to get your dream house in your 20s. END OF SOAPBOX – and thanks.
Agreed. I can’t watch those house-hunting shows anymore because I’m constantly screaming at the TV! They make me nuts. And, I suspect those couples are coached a little, too, are told to ask about those things. Which make it even more obnoxious.
SO GLAD to know I’m not the only one. I feel like the proverbial “cranky old lady” when I watch because I yell too. Bet you’re right – some of them probably are coached. Then every once in a while, there’s a sweet young couple with a toddler who’re just happy to get out of a crowded apartment and you end up rooting for them!
Looking outside at what Mother Nature provides is as good as it gets. I have to admit I am not really a vignette person. I just like to decorate. xo Laura
Me too, Laura! Me too.
During the past couple of years I have definitely cut back on seasonal decor……..many of the reasons I share with you. As we age it’s not only a lot of extra work ‘putting up and taking down’, it’s using energy we need for more important things, like getting out of bed in the morning when one is as stiff as a board, LOL!
I do plan to be home for the holidays this year – have been missing in action the past two – so altho’ I won’t be doing much for Thanksgiving decor, other than a couple of green or white pumpkins for the French dough bowl. I will probably do my Christmas tree in the gazebo again, something on the front door, and on the dining room table and mantel.
As for looping thousands of fairy lights – those days are gone forever here! We have so much decorating stuff we can’t even get to in the attic – that will hopefully be purged as soon as it cools off up there. DH is really retired now (2nd time) so I must keep him busy doing something!!
Happy week – glad to know the tree is healthy.
Hugs – Mary
You’re not kidding, Mary. It takes a lot of work!
By the way, I tried to leave a comment on your blog today and I couldn’t get the comment box to appear! I’ll try again later. It may have been a temporary glitch.
Just went back and the comment went through. All is well.
xo
PS – forgot to tell you how happy I am that your maple is OK!!! As a card-carrying member of the National Arbor Day Foundation, I rejoice with every saved or planted tree! Few things in Nature have given me more pleasure…
We’re very relieved, Janet!
Claudia~
Lovely clipboard…how fun! I adore anything quilts.
I so enjoy decorating for the seasons. Fall being my fave. Mainly colorful wreaths and garlands with lots of fresh pumpkins, leaves and gourds strewn about.
At Christmastime, I used decorate a tree for every room and every inch of the house was decked out! I’m too old or burned out now. We haven’t had a tree in years. It’s sad but I just don’t have it in me anymore. A shame, really…we have a gloriously beautiful ornament collection stashed away in the basement. Sigh. Perhaps I’ll muster up a bit of motivation and put up a small tree.
Thanks for sharing your confession! :)
I just had a small tree last year because Don was away at Christmas time working. It was perfect. Just enough Christmas. But we’ll probably get a real tree this year.
Claudia your home is so rich in color and textures that you don’t need to change your decor with the seasons. I find my home a little bland and like the changes of decor for the seasons. I don’t do as much as some, but a little here and there makes me happy. Going to check out the clipboard…I do love quilts!
Linda
More power to you, Linda! I think changing decor for the seasons is great.
I decorate a bit for Spring but go all out for Fall and Christmas. Living in Florida makes me really appreciate all the Fall colors and Christmas decorating makes me so happy. The only bad thing about it is that once Christmas is over and I take down all the colorful things my house looks a little blah for awhile and it takes me some time to get used to it. My younger sister puts up a Christmas tree and that’s it. I think the reason I love it so much is that I work at home and usually don’t get out of the house a lot during the week so I love change. To each their own I always say. I too, am so very glad your tree is healthy.
My sister does that, too, Janie and she lives in Florida. She loves to decorate for the seasons.
I hope they don’t take away your blogger badge – but since you’re such a rebel, maybe you don’t need no stinking badge!
Ha ha! I’ll have to guard my blogger badge with my life!
Hi Claudia, I see this point of view about not decorating for the seasons. I am just about getting to that point. I am selling many of my fall items and they will not be replaced. I do love natural found elements, branches, flowers, from my garden, and pumpkins. I some how cannot do without pumpkins. I need to purge about 60% of my Christmas items now. xo, olive
I like natural elements, too, Olive. Just gathered some autumn leaves on my walk today.
I’m English and we only decorate for Christmas.
I live on my own now, in France, so I don’t even do that any more…
Penny
x
Ah, the English don’t decorate for the seasons? That’s interesting. Maybe it’s purely an American thing?
I know UK folks who go mad with decorations at Easter and at Halloween … we maybe aren’t collectively as keen on seasonal decorating as people in the US but lots of us are doing it, just not me.
Hmm… well, I do love to decorate, but I dont’ spend lots of time on fancy fussy vignettes and I tend to decorate with natural elements because like you, I like to bring that beautiful essense of nature in with me. Also, I grew up with a mother and grandmothers and and an aunt who loved to decorate, so it comes naturally to me to do so as well.. and my kids look forward to it too.. I suspect they will do some decorating for the seasons when they have homes of their own.
Knowing the creative being that you are, it did surprise me that you don’t, but it’s not a crime! Simple statements like a few mini pumpkins on a window sill is all it takes to create that seasonal vibe.
Oh, I love to decorate, just not for the seasons! I do like to gather some mini white pumpkins because I think they look pretty.
The way I see it Claudia is that you do not have to follow the crowd to have value or status. You have that by being you. I tried to keep up with the cutesy things a couple of years ago and I exhausted myself. I like to decorate for the fall season only because they are my favourite collours. Valerie
It can be exhausting, Valerie, that’s for sure! Fall colors are beautiful. I just gathered some leaves today from the park.
I don’t do seasonal decorations except for some Christmas ones although I have many Santas and snowmen that are up all year…I agree Mother Nature does a better job…also I just don’t have time and I don’t want to store it all.
I understand, Donna!
I do a LOT of seasonal decorating. I live alone and very few people see what I do – other than what I show on my blog. I can’t imagine not decorating for the seasons. It just adds to the enjoyment of life. I love just looking at all the different looks one little house can have. I do live in Florida but that has nothing to do with the reason I decorate. My biggest talent is creativity and decorating is a joy. Betty
Good for you, Betty! If it makes you happy, do it!
I don’t decorate for the seasons either, or bother with vignettes, you are clearly not alone. Although, like you, I do bring nature into my home for my own pleasure, but it’s seasonal by default and not intention. Truthfully I can barely be bothered to decorate for Christmas. Life times ago they’d have thought it mad to spend good money on artificial pumpkins – if you were lucky enough to have a pumpkin you made soup – and felt Christmas stockings – what’s wrong with a pillow case – and ornamental Easter bunnies … tradition stopped at seasonal festive food and that’s just how I like it too :)
I understand, Annie. I do like to decorate for Christmas.
Thanks for including me in your quilt clipboard:) I am going over to see all the posts. I have always decorated for the season and not sure why. I have no seasonal storage, I normally just make do with what I already have by changing out slipcovers and warming things up for the fall and winter months. I hate clutter so I agree I don’t want to store things. If I didn’t blog I wouldn’t do it quite as much I am sure.
I have a feeling many bloggers, including myself, do more decorating because we are bloggers!
Well! Thanks for explaining why I switched my major from elementary education when I was a sophomore in college. Loved this post!! And, agree with you. I may put out a few things — more apt not to be seasonal things per se, but like you a feather, an acorn or two or a pinecone collected while hiking in the woods. A few shells, a few pebbles. Whatever appeals at the moment and works. Thank you!
Yes, I was never going to be an elementary school teacher, Vera!
Ah ha Claudia, you have pinged a nerve..look at all the interesting sides to this subject that are showing up in your comments. I really don’t do the decorating thing either, just a little tweaking here and there. Funny how it just showed up about 2 decades here in Canada…before no one did anything like that.
Jen
It’s sure sparked more comments than I expected! Love that.
I am a BABY BOOMER who also grew up in home with a very limited budget. We always had a Christmas tree, but most of the seasonal decorating was done at school and the downtown department stores. Everything seems so overdone now. The bathing suits are barely gone when the Halloween decorations are out. My best childhood memories are of the beautiful crepe paper Valentine boxes, made by a mother or the teacher and the valentines that I kept for years to look at over and over. For me, the excess breeds indifference, and like you, I have no place to store nor desire to exhibit seasons when I can look out the window. I love your blog because it’s so real, so honest.
Thank you, Suzanne!
Claudia…I read your bog just now and said to myself…”I sure like her!”…Your blog is one of my favorites…I relate so well to you!
Thank you very much, Sharon!
That was mighty brave, little lady. You know, I’ve never noticed that you don’t because I’m always seeing the natural things you bring in to your house, those things from outside that do change with the seasons.
Going to the Farmer’s Market is something I did with my father as a child as he was first a produce buyer for a grocery chain and then later a garden center owner. He knew the growers personally. So the big trip of the year for me is going there to pick out pumpkins and gourds for autumn. And I can’t seem to get rid of them even in December. I make them work, for me anyway, even for Christmas. And I love pulling out linens in colors for each season. When the kids were at home they helped me and there were lots of school craft projects displayed. I still have some of them including a popsicle log cabin our youngest made that comes out every October. I admit that I get excited seeing what the style blogs do for autumn and try to copycat some things. But oh the storage problems in old houses!
As far as Mockingbird Hill cottage, what you have there is perfect. It doesn’t need gussing up!
I know you understand storage problems, Dewena! And we don’t have an attic or a basement!
OMG! I am so not internet savvy! I thought you had designed an actual clipboard!I was clicking everywhere looking for a collection of decorated clipboards. Oh, I am just going to slink my uncool self back to the 20th century where I knew the lingo.
Well, if it’s any comfort, that’s a newish term for me, too. Ah, the world of the internet!
In conversations like this, I’m always reminded of what my brother-in-law says, ” Most holidays are invented by Hallmark to sell cards” Although comical, it speaks of the commercialism of special days. I’m really not a Scrooge, I just think everything has gone overboard!
This is a fascinating conversation!
I don’t decorate for the seasons either — not counting Christmas when I put a tree up and decorate the front door and bits of the front room.
Christmas is a separate decorating category, I think.
I love decorating for the seasons, but I don’t do anything fancy or go overboard. I only change some things in the living room and kitchen. Bedrooms and bathrooms are left as is. I’m lucky that I have plenty of storage space in my basement for all my stuff!
Gosh, I wish we had a usable basement. That would make me so happy!
H i Claudia, here in the UK I don’t know one single person who does seasonal vignettes. I think it must be an ‘American thing’. Life’s too short etc. lol
I wonder if seasonal vignettes are done in France, for example, or Germany?
I’m with you 100%!! I don’t have the time or desire to “change with the seasons.” My house is the same all year round. I love my home the way it is all the time. Why would I bring in things for a season (Fall) that I don’t like the colors. My vignettes are the same all year round. I only want things in this home that are beautiful or have a purpose and I’ve accomplished that. Besides, I’m too lazy to change. :-) It’s all I can do to keep it clean! I simply love my home the way it is.
Oh, and I’m down 30 pounds as of yesterday, even with going to S.California with a weekend in San Diego, a trip to the Hilton Spa, courtesy of my daughter-in-law, and eating in restaurants the whole time we were there, except for cooking 3 meals at son’s house (his favorites). I’m on a roll now!
I’m sure Scout doesn’t care one whit for seasonal changes either. :-)
xoxo,
Connie
It’s all I can do to keep my house clean, too, Connie. And I don’t want to even think of all the cleaning I’m going to have to do when I get back home.
Congratulations on the weight loss, my friend! Yay for you!
Phew…I thought it was just me! ;-)
It isn’t!
Currently my decorating is……bringing hydrangeas in to dry in vases and a big bouquet of fresh flowers in a mason jar. No leaves have turned here yet…many flowers are still blooming. I can’t see jumping the gun with fake pumpkins and such when I still have flowers…:) I do have fall decorations but once I buy something it gets used till it wears out …I don’t do new things over and over / plus once I do put out fall stuff I have to look at it until thanksgiving so I am in no hurry…I still have zinnias and other flowers coming into bloom for my outdoor-indoor decor :)
No seasonal decorating??? Hip hip hooray for that. Kindred spirits. I put a seasonal flag out front and maybe a throw on the couch. Poof!!!! Decorating done!