Layered Living: old poetry, choices, + doors

Hello friends! Welcome to my weekly update of all the things happening over here. This week let’s talk about old poetry, choices and doors.

I have a busy few weeks ahead me with a visit from some loved ones, so I headed to my antique booth to fill it up with some fun fall finds before she came. The weather is turning, and I’m feeling a bit of autumn now!

Thoughts for the week

One of my granddaughters traveled all the way from California by herself to visit me. Of course, she was registered with the airline and I was more than happy to receive her at the airport when she landed. She came off the plane, looking so old and brave, even for a 10-year old who is almost as tall as me.

We stopped by to pick up a few of her little cousins, before making our way home, as we were meeting more family at the cottage to celebrate Labor Day.

As we drove back to our house, just a short hour away, the sun was beginning to set. The sky was turning and the moon seemed to be following us, all the way home.

The little 3-year old kept saying “Good night moon” and soon we were making our own version of that famous bedtime story. It started with, what would we say good night to when we got to the cottage?

We traveled miles saying: goodnight cottage, goodnight lake, goodnight picket fence, goodnight swing, goodnight sand, goodnight island, goodnight loon, goodnight pontoon, goodnight jetski, and on and on. Their youthful giggles as they came up with the next one, reminded me why creating a space for memories is so important.

I marveled at the things they noticed: the light in the sky changing, the shadows of birds taking flight at dusk, and the orange to pink to purple stripes in the sky as the night fell around us. Oh, sweet youth. It’s something long gone for some, but boy, when the feeling comes back for a moment it’s palpable.

Old poetry

Have you ever stopped to read any old greeting cards or postcards at an antique mall? They are soooo amusing! They use words like “swell” and “gay” (not the way it is used today) and “gal” or “folks”. Even humor was much different.

Obviously time changes everything, especially the way people talk. I have always loved poetry, and spent a large part of my dreamy youth writing much prose. The cheeky things I have seen on vintage cards make me smile.

One of the funniest little poems I have found is on this old card that someone had framed. I, of course, discovered it at an antique shop. It’s title is “Folks I Like”…

Can you imagine sending that to someone? Today’s version would probably read more like, “I Hate Everyone”! Hahahaha

This one has such precious graphics. The soft flowers are just the right colors and shapes for what I like. And the words…a gentle reminder to a stark difference of how most experience life now. But oh, to live as such. Yes, this would be my symphony!

Next time you are out antiquing, make sure you stop and read old greeting cards or poetry if you have the chance. I find it to be quite inspiring, and I think you might too. Or at the very least, you might get a chuckle.

Choices

I’ve been trying to focus a bit on healthier choices, as summer always seems to be a time to fly off the rails of sensible eating. So as I have been menu planning, I am trying to fill the pantry up with some better options.

Because you know when is not the time to think about making good choices for snacks? When you are hungry with not the best food in the house!

So the cute little pantry, needs to have items that allow good choices (not necessarily in this photo).

I always think it helps to have things look pretty, so I like to have baskets on the shelves to organize all the packaged items that could make things look a bit sloppy. We do, after all, begin eating with our eyes first!

This little closet turned pantry got a bit of wallpaper when I converted it from a broom closet. It brings a fun little surprise when it is opened, and I know I have said this before…when given the choice, I would always choose wallpaper! Would you ever wallpaper a closet?

Doors

One of the fun things I like to do on vacation, especially a European one, is take pictures of doors. To me, they feel like the entrance to the soul of a home.

I’m glad to know I am not the only weirdo who does this, as I have recently seen a few others post some pictures on social media. But old architecture is always of interest to me, and I have hundreds taken over many years of traveling.

Check some of these out:

Can you imagine the life that takes place behind these doors? What could the interior possibly look like?

The red one in the middle looks like a little hobbit door, but that portion was actually almost full size. I love the idea of what directions you might give someone to help them find where you live. “Knock on the red hobbit door”.

I wonder if any of these open onto amazing courtyards? And yes, I take pictures of gates and windows too.

Which one would be your favorite to have as your front door? Me? You know I’m partial to the blue ones!

Okay, welcome to our new word of the month, REARRANGE.

This RE word can still have many meanings and applications. But what in your life needs to be rearranged? Maybe a new schedule, to accommodate changes made in your everyday life?

How about a room that can be rearranged for better function, if it is temporary? You can rearrange a diet, a workout, a mindset. Or maybe just a thought process you have about something can be rearranged and benefit you in fresh ways. New season, new you.

Think of how you can apply this in your life to make any changes needed to make your life a bit easier, or at least, manageable.

Until next week

Thanks for spending some time with me this week. Drop a comment below and tell me what’s been on your mind.

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