Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / collecting / The Unseasonal Decorator

The Unseasonal Decorator

September 27, 2011 at 10:31 am by Claudia

I know this might be a form of blasphemy in this nesting, decorating blog world….but I’m not much of a seasonal decorator. There, I’ve said it.

First of all, I don’t have much room to store that kind of thing. Furthermore, all I have to do is look out my window or, better yet, go outside, to see seasonal decorating in all its glory. Why compete? I know I’m blessed (or cursed, depending on the season) because I live in the northeast, where each season is distinct and beautiful. I’ve been trying to remember if I did more seasonal decorating when I lived in San Diego where the seasons are two: gorgeous or rainy. I don’t think I did.

I decorate the living room area for Christmas, never the rest of the house. No red, white and blue on those patriotic holidays. Maybe a fabric egg or two at Easter. I don’t change out pillows or slipcovers for the seasons, either. It’s just not my thing and besides, our little cottage is only 1200 square feet. Where would I keep all that stuff?

At this time of year, I usually buy a pumpkin or two. That’s about it. Last year, I searched high and low for white mini pumpkins. Tracie took pity on me and sent me some. This year, I was pleasantly surprised when I found some at my local market.

These and maybe a pumpkin on the porch will be the extent of my fall decorating.

I do love white mini pumpkins.

The wicker rocker is now in the bedroom. No, it hasn’t been fixed yet. Don commented more than once about how much he liked the more spacious feeling in the living room in the rocker’s absence. So I tweaked a few things in the bedroom and there you have it. The room is definitely closer to something-like-charming with the addition of the rocker. Next up: painting all the darker pieces of furniture. Maybe with chalk paint?

I found another piece of miniature pottery the other day.

A little creamer, most likely a souvenir, from Barbados. I fell in love with the colors and the design. Isn’t it sweet?

A reminder about Thursday:

I hope this will become a weekly meme. We’ll see. Share a photo from your home or yard that isn’t staged….you know, the mess that is just to the right of your staged, pretty photo. Just a quick slice of real life. I’ll put up my post on Wednesday evening and will figure out Mr. Linky before then. I know there are a lot of memes out there and it can be hard to take part because of life’s daily demands. If you feel like joining, great. If not, I’ll merrily keep on posting my reality shot every Thursday.

The button and code are on my sidebar.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Filed Under: collecting, decorating, DIY, vintage 23 Comments

Comments

  1. Karen says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:40 am

    I find I do less and less seasonal decorating, at least indoors. I have more fun fixing up my small front porch.

    The little rocker is charming. I have a small chest of drawers similar to your yellow one in the photo. I painted it robin’s egg blue. But I like the yellow better. Hmmmm.

    Great idea, the Reality Shots. Goodness knows, I have lots of “reality” around here!

    Reply
  2. pilgrimscottage says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:51 am

    You should just decorate how and when you feel. I love the little white pumpkins!

    Reply
  3. Connie says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:54 am

    You and I must have been sisters in the pre-existence as I don’t decorate with the seasons either, honey. Only MY reason is I’m too lazy and I hate fall colors. They are simply too depressing to me. Orange? I cannot even abide the color 99.9% of the time. I have a Liz Claiborne blouse that is orange with pink and other colors thrown in and that’s the only reason I keep it. Anyway, we definitely think alike, Sistah…
    xoxo,
    Connie

    Reply
  4. BEACH BUNGALOW says

    September 27, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Yes! You seem to live in my head; you always post what I`m thinking!

    s
    xo

    Reply
  5. Rizzi says

    September 27, 2011 at 11:17 am

    WELL, I HAVE TO SAY….I LOVE TO DECORATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS……YEARS AGO I MADE HOMEMADE CARDS FOR ALL THE HOLIDAYS…….BUT AS WE GET OLDER ITS LESS AND LESS……..I ENJOY MY DAUGHTERS DECORATIONS. STILL LOVE THE IDEA ABOUT THURSDAY…..HAVE A GREAT DAY……RIZZI

    Reply
  6. The Garden Bell says

    September 27, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    You go girl. I love to look, but I’m more of a scatter-er. I just throw a thing or two out. In fact, I just spotted a Santa from last winter that never made it back to the north pole. Oh, well. But, those white pumpkins are too die for. Did you see BlueBird Notes sprayed TEAL ones. Just too cute.

    Reply
  7. Joanne says

    September 27, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    I do a little decorating..nothing extreme. Right before Halloween I decorate the outside with the kids. I’m loving those pumpkins!
    Blessings, Joanne

    Reply
  8. Ann says

    September 27, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    Great post! Now I don’t feel so guilty for not decorating for every season of the year. I have friends who change everything in their homes from one season to the next — including bath mats and shower curtains to match the season and I just can’t be bothered and never have the storage space.

    I’d like to do the Reality Thursday thing but I don’t know what to do with the button. Can anyone let me know what to do? Thanks.

    Blessings, Ann

    Reply
  9. Snappy Di says

    September 27, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    I have boxes and boxes of junky old holiday decorations in the basement. Most I just want to get rid of. I am good at putting up decorations but then I don’t want to put them away and they sit around way past the holiday they are meant for. It’s just too much work, but more power to those ladies who are faithful to the holiday decor. Long may they reign!

    Reply
  10. Gabriela Delworth says

    September 27, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Hello Claudia,

    Neither do I! LOL!

    Gabriela

    Reply
  11. GerryART says

    September 27, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    If I could ever get to the back of the closet under the stairs
    I might would find some cloth pumpkins.

    Haven’t opened that door yet this season.

    hugs

    Reply
  12. June says

    September 27, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    I think we need to form a support group Claudia. I don’t decorate for the seasons either…and for no other reason than I am just plain lazy ;)
    sending hugs…

    Reply
  13. The Boston Lady says

    September 27, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Oh The Reality Shot looks like fun, Claudia – I will hopefully remember to participate – fortunately I have so many areas that qualify that I have months worth of material. I don’t do the season decorating too much either. Christmas probably more than others. Love your little pumpkins. Ann

    Reply
  14. Mary says

    September 27, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    Other than scattering, or more like lobbing as those babies are heavy, a few pumpkins around the house (to take some vintagey pics for the blog I admit!), I’m not doing much else this year. I’ll be away for Halloween so the porch and front steps are getting nothing more than two nice mum plants for the urns.

    As for Christmas, this year will also be less bright around the cottage. I won’t be home until 12/15 and we are now even thinking of heading somewhere for the holidays………………any pics posted will most likely be from last year! I bet that’s cheating in blogland but what the heck, at this age I’ve earned some holidays where I’m not the one left to do all the work, right?

    Love the baby white pumpkins, and the wicker is perfect in the bedroom.

    Hugs – Mary

    Reply
  15. Julia says

    September 27, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    I don’t do lots of seasonal decorating either unless my grands are going to be here for the particular holiday. I love pumpkins, though, and will be buying some as soon as the Methodist Church kids get the ones in that they sell.
    How’s your mom? dad?

    Reply
  16. Leanne says

    September 27, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    Again, I agree. I have three white pumpkins from last year which are kind of yellow now, but I don’t plan to get new ones… I have three things that sit by the front door (on the inside) on the rare occasion we do get a trick-or-treater.

    And I decorate the living room for Christmas too. And that’s it.

    It’s not that I don’t have the room to store things, it’s that I don’t see the point of it.

    Also — can I ask how you got the code up on your sidebar? I have a wee little meme going on as well and for love or money can’t figure out how to display it on my blog. So much for that computer science degree….

    Reply
  17. My Farmhouse Kitchen says

    September 27, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    happy to see you at farmhouse kitchen…that shot of my kitchen window woud have been perfect for reality thursday….photo is just as the window was… no styling there….

    i love the idea of the reality thursday…

    love the little pumpkins…
    100 degrees here today..ugh..where did my FALL go????

    kary and teddy

    Reply
  18. Olive Cooper says

    September 27, 2011 at 7:49 pm

    I do a little fall decorating but mostly with the mini white pumpkins because they are too cute. Now Christmas is a whole other story, I love to decorate for Christmas but I never buy one single thing new, all thrifted.

    Reply
  19. the gardener's cottage says

    September 27, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    i feel the same way claudia. i think for me it’s just burnout.

    xo

    Reply
  20. Teresa says

    September 27, 2011 at 11:46 pm

    If it weren’t for Jeff nothing would get decorated. Yesterday he brought home Indian corn, pie pumpkins, and punkymons ( mini punpkins, these are white with orange stripes). I arrainged them on the fireplace. I had to put the corn up higher as Murphy was too interested in them. I also used some fabric leaves I had around here for around the pumpkins. I have some geese statues that I always have on the mantle that I put in the display. We have a Christmas tree, but again that is because of Jeff. Usually don’t have company so it’s just for us. I know we are important too. Just burned out I guess.

    Reply
  21. bluebirdsandbutterflies says

    September 28, 2011 at 2:07 am

    Hi Claudia,
    Love your white pumpkins! I may have to look for some, too! I do love to put out pumpkins for the fall. The cooler weather keeps them so nice here. We get tons and tons of trick or treaters in the little cottage neighborhood we live in. I have steps in front leading up to my front door and I buy a few pumpkins to put out for the kids. I have always loved fall and halloween as it begins the “cozy up” feeling of fall. Candles come out and fires start glowing in the fireplaces. Knitters start grabbing their needles. I have signed up for a class at Churchmouse Yarn and Tea in Bainbridge to learn to make a tea cozy! It is a one day class, and I am looking forward to it. Spring and summer are my two favorite times of year! I am heading to Houston on Thursday to attend a couple shower for my son and will put out some pumpkins when I return. The year is flying by! Can’t believe how fast it is going. Enjoy your beautiful white pumpkins! I will be packing tomorrow so may not be able to join the link party but will in the future! xoxo Kim

    Reply
  22. Rita says

    September 28, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    I am so glad I am not the only one. I don’t decorate for Holidays! Woohoo! It’s so much work and I never enjoy the real Holiday,FAMILY! The American flag is always up and wavy outside all year long so no need to add more red/white/blue. One pumpkin is purchased for the boys to carve during the month of October. My kitchen is red, my leaving room is green so no need to decorate for Christmas. lol Miss you Claudia, hope all goes well and happy birthday to your Papa’. Ciao Rita

    Reply
  23. Jill says

    September 28, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    I love to decorate for the seasons, but I also have storage issues over here at the Little Nest. Be thankful you haven’t got The Addiction– I tend to get tired of it all after a few years anyway. Every year there is wonderful new stuff that comes out. It’s always so tempting, and it can be so overwhelming.

    I do love me some halloween and christmas though… I squeeled out loud and clapped my hands when I saw some Christmas stuff on an endcap at HomeGoods the other day. Yes, people did look at me.

    Ah, the struggle to control my holiday decor addiction continues…

    Hugs,
    Jill

    PS: Someday I will be brave and join Reality Thursdays. Maybe I should start with the garage…

    Reply
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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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