Home Treasures

It is fashionable to streamline home decor. Simple lines, few objects, and not much to dust has its advantage. I would love a home like that! It would be a bit like living in a fancy hotel. But, I know I would miss the little treasures that surround me now. Yesterday I spent time reading through a journal handwritten by my great-grandfather many, many years ago. And my husband, while cleaning out his desk drawer, came across a button that he found when he was a child. Its markings indicate that it was once part of the Civil War era uniform of a soldier. Not only does this little button take him back in history, but it also connects to an excursion he took with his family when he found the button in a farm field in Pennsylvania. There must be a balance, as it is our past, our heritage, and experiences that help us connect in a healthy way to our future.

Emilie Barnes, an author who balances the beauty and meaning of home decor with a super organized home, talks about the charm and romance of treasured memories. According to Emilie, treasures can be found in your home, or your mother's, or even your grandmother's home. Sometimes they are stashed away and simply need to be looked for. Over the years, my mother was good about saving and stashing treasures. The simple treasures from our family have been passed along to me. They are probably things that others would not see now value in; items like my grandmother's astronomy book, great-grandfather's journals, dad's  LaCrosse sticks from his teen-age years, and mother's high school class ring. Each has a meaning attached to it. And each meaning deserves to be cherished and held because of their connection to our roots and heritage. Those who came before us are who make us into who we are today.

So, take a look around. What treasures do you have stuck in a drawer, a box, or on an upper shelf?

~ recipes ~ antique utensils ~ aprons ~ dish towels ~ grandmother's china ~ napkin rings ~ tea sets ~ photo albums ~ family photos ~ musical instruments ~ buttons ~ books ~ knick-knacks ~ salt & pepper shakers ~ oil lamps ~ quilts ~ trunks ~ love letters ~ sachets ~ costume jewelry ~ wooden toys ~ dolls ~ games ~ teddy bears ~ sun hats ~ watering cans ~ sea shells ~ first-edition books ~ children's books ~ paintings ~ framed art ~ buttons ~ boxes ~ thimbles ~ needle covers ~ sewing machines ~ needlework ~ samplers ~ lace tablecloths ~ heirloom dresses ~ lingerie ~ hats ~ bonnets & booties ~ hatpins ~ shoes ~ boots ~ gloves ~ tools ~ farm implements ~ enamelware ~ embroidered pillowcases ~