"Little" Collections

Why do we collect things?

I was looking around my workspace today and I seemed to be surrounded by small collections. It got me thinking about the connections we have with THINGS and why we collect them.  

Feathers

Feather Collection

Well, it should come as no surprise that I have a collection of feathers. This is about three years in the making, of found feathers and gifted feathers, which is pretty amazing. :) I love each one! 

So many beautiful patterns

Some North American Blue Jay feathers

I read "The Beauty of Life: William Morris and The Art of Design" a few years ago. It was the first time I had encountered his well-known quote which was given in his lecture "The Beauty of Life" delivered in 1880; 

"Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful"

I wish I could live by those words, unfortunately, I have a lot of editing and downsizing to do before I get there! (This includes some ugly, but useful second hand furniture amongst other things.) 

Handmade Lampwork Beads

These lampwork beads have taken up residence on my desk. They're in a little glass bowl and I look at them every day. I pick them up in my hand and admire them often. They were each handmade by the artisan Christel Wille and I treasure them. 

Antique Buttons

I purchased a jar of buttons at an auction years ago. Recently, while going through them with the kids, I noticed there are some real beauties in there. Knowing nothing about buttons, I make up stories in my head about where they came from. The black ones, some sad mourning Victorian woman. Are some of them faceted glass? Black Jet? 

I have this one hanging on my pin board. How cute is that?!

Treasure! 

I think many of these are made from mother-of-pearl. 

Shells

 Is there anyone who can walk by a perfect shell on a beach and NOT pick it up?!

Pinecones

It's possible I am part squirrel. If I see a nice pinecone, or acorn, I have to pick it up. The kids have  apparently the same affliction, and there are larger pinecones in our mudroom along the windowsill. At the mall the other day, I noticed some HUGE real pinecones decorating the Roots store window. I had to restrain myself from going in and asking what was to become of those pinecones when they redecorate. Come to think of it, I may call the store yet. It would be a shame if they threw those away.

Smooth Stones

Cars...

Well, we pass on the idea of collecting to our children. Not only is there a "stick collection" at my front door, a "rock collection" in the back garden and all along our window ledge in the mudroom, there are "collections" of toys all over the house. 

Is collecting a good thing? Are hoarders considered "collectors"? I suppose there's a limit to a collection, when you stop admiring something for what it is, and want it just to HAVE it.

I hope you enjoyed a look at a few of the things that I enjoy. What do you collect? 

Beach Feathers

Loving this feather. Inspiration/Reference for another feather painting!

 I don't know what it is about feathers at the beach...they seem to have an "ick" factor that other feathers  do not hold for me. I know, most feathers contain gross bird germs, and I do wash the feathers that I collect and sanitize my hands after I pick them up - - but, wet shore bird feathers kind of gross me out. They look neat scattered on the beach, but I do not want to pick them up and take them home. Why is that?!

We went to the beach this evening and picked up smooth stones and ran in the sand. The boys (My husband included) skipped stones and tossed/launched/dropped and threw a great deal of those washed ashore, back into the Lake.

A great " I Love You, Daddy!" moment. 

Hoping to get to the beach more often. We do not take advantage of what is all around us. Must do this on a weekly basis!

Evening Insects in the Field

This little guy hopped onto the hood of the golf cart. 

After dinner tonight we went to visit Mike's parents. They live not far from us, along the "wine route" with lots of orchards surrounding the property. There's a field behind the greenhouse that "Opa" takes the kids through on his golf cart. It was a nice evening so we took the kids for a ride.

So many insects out tonight. Apparently, they do not mind the heat one bit. The long grass was teeming with fluttering, jumping, crawling things. It was great!

I love these "thistles"

There were tons of little moths and "cabbage" butterflies and monarchs and such flitting about, but then, I spotted a big Eastern Black Swallowtail down low in the long grasses, just, fluttering about. Mike, carefully tried to put his hand underneath it. ( I thought it must be "injured") Then, free of the tangle of long grasses, it fluttered away. Mike said it was hiding because of all of the swallows and purple martins and other birds, swooping around catching their dinner - - and really we just served up their dessert. I hope not.

Eastern Black Swallowtail

Back orchard

"Magic Hour"

Mike spotted this baby bird amongst the thistles. If you can identify him for me, please do!

LOVE this! 

While driving "off the beaten path" Mike found a hitchhiker on his ankle.

So, when I couldn't be feeling more fortunate that the sun came out from behind a cloud, just as it was setting (perfect for photos, Thank You!!) and we saw all of these amazing grasshoppers and birds and butterflies and the ever-elusive praying mantis - - a feather spiraled down out of a tree, right in front of me.

I'm not kidding.

We were walking back to the house, and just as I walked under this beautiful Purple Maple, a lovely black and white feather, slowly twirled down from the branches and I reached out and caught it. It was surreal.

Thank You, Mother Nature, for the wonderful evening!! :)