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| Fall Centerpiece |
When M was here on Friday evening, he left one of his gardening tools behind and didn't realize it until later in the evening. So, he texted me and stopped by on Saturday morning to pick it up. He brought me this really cute little pumpkin he had grown. I decided to put together a fall themed centerpiece, using a few other items I had on hand.
The brass platter is from India and I've had it for years, although I decluttered the set of six brass goblets that came with it (I didn't drink out of them). The white pumpkin-like planter with the artificial succulents was a holiday gift from a cousin, a few years back. The black lantern is a candle holder and is something M rescued (one of his other clients had a garden party and used the lanterns as table decorations; she was getting rid of them after the party and M brought me a white one and a black one, saying I was under no obligation to keep them).
The brass platter and the black lantern candle holder are usually displayed on shelves in the family room bookcases and the white pumpkin planter is usually on display on the top of a shelving unit in the dining room (most decluttering experts say not to keep artificial plants or to display items on top of bookcases, etc., as they add to visual clutter.) What's funny is, the items I used (other than the pumpkin M gave me on Saturday) are all things I've considered decluttering, but, have continued to keep. They are purely decorative for the most part (I've used the candle holder during power outages), but, come together nicely (in my opinion, of course) for a centerpiece like this. Which is why I find it so hard to declutter some of my decorative items! They come in handy from time to time.
I guess the question is: do I use them often enough to justify keeping them/the space they take up? The honest answer to that is, "Probably not!" But, it is nice to have them for just such a use! Maybe I should use them more often! Could I have used something else to go with the pumpkin to create a centerpiece? The answer to that is, "Yes!" I could have used one of my blue and white china platters instead of the brass one. I could have used a blue and white china vase instead of the planter. I could have used a different candle holder. It would have been a different centerpiece, then, of course.
This weekend has been sunny and warm (a high of 95F, today!) I slept through the solar eclipse on Saturday, so didn't get to see it. After M had been to pick up the forgotten tool, I took some packages to friend R (they had been delivered to my address because she didn't want them left outside her apartment building in case someone took them), along with a bag of curry leaves that she had requested. Afterwards, I did a load of laundry and relaxed. I tried to take a nap, but, I couldn't fall asleep, so I watched videos online and played sudoku!
Today (Sunday), I did two more loads of laundry, including my bed sheets, and ran the dishwasher.
October Decluttering Week 2:
4 more discontinued/expired medications
2 more medical/health insurance brochures
1 jar candle
This weekend, I am grateful for:
- The sunny and warm weather
- Working appliances
- A brief curbside visit with friend R
- M bringing me a mini pumpkin
- Being able to video chat with my daughter
My weekend joyful activities have included visiting with R and putting together a fall centerpiece.
Plans for Monday include continuing with the kitchen tidying and maybe sewing.
How was your weekend? What are your plans for Monday?
Your centre piece looks very nice. You don't have to declutter decorative items they're what makes a home feel homely. It's turned very cold here and it definitely feels like autumn now.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I'm enjoying the centerpiece! :) At times, I think I have too many decorative pieces! But, it is hard for me to cull the items. Maybe I should box up some of the things and see if I miss them!
DeleteWe will have warm temperatures this week and it will cool down over the weekend. I hope you are enjoying the autumn weather where you are. You should have plenty of things to photograph for the monthly photo challenge. Our "season of change" is still mostly summer-like!
A lovely table centre piece. The lantern and platter are definitely things that could be used for many other seasons/celebrations. We did a big clean out of the medicine cabinet a few months ago & thankfully the pharmacy takes all to dispose of. Having somewhere to get rid of stuff immediately helps me with inspiration of decluttering. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary-Lou. Yes, the lantern and platter can be used for other things, as well. It's good that your pharmacy takes back all the expired items; I need to ask at my pharmacy, again, because the last time I asked them, they just told me to toss the stuff!
DeleteI like your centerpiece. I say if you have the room and you like the pieces, you should keep them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. I do like all the pieces and I am very good at finding spaces for all my decorative items, but, from time to time, I think I have too much! I will never be a minimalist, but, maybe some careful editing is needed!
DeleteThat's an attractive centrepiece. Cute little pumpkins are easier to display than the competion monsters!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela; yes, cute little pumpkins are easier to display than those huge ones! LOL!
DeleteWhen I was a kid in the UK, say fifty years ago, we never decorated for autumn. We would decorate for Christmas only. People have started to decorate for Halloween, but it's not universal. If I ever get on top of the housework, I am totally decorating for the season.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that - perhaps it isn't about the decor but how much joy and pleasure you find in decorating and using those gorgeous accents. If you have fun and pleasure from them, then it's definitely worth keeping the treasures (and that candle holder looks utterly awesome!)
We never decorated for autumn when I was growing up, either, Lyssa. For one thing, we didn't have any changes of seasons, other than the rainy seasons when the monsoons came and the dry seasons when it would rain, sometimes, but, not monsoonal rains! LOL. We would decorate for Vesak (a Buddhist festival; celebrated on the full moon day in May) and for Christmas (if you were Christian or if you were a Buddhist child of 4 or 5 and wanted a Christmas tree like your Christian cousins had - my parents were very open minded and tolerant about things like that!)
DeleteI do enjoy my decorative items and I do have the room for them (or, at least, I make room for them!) On the other hand, I sometimes think that I have too many things and should pare down! I've used that candle holder as part of my Halloween decor on the mantlepiece in previous years and might do so again, this year, too. :)
Also, you deserve nice things.
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you! :D
DeleteI think you've made a very nice fall arrangement on your "new" table.
ReplyDeleteYou know I'm always trying to declutter but still I continue to have many decorative items. Because I like looking at pretty things in my home. We all have to answer questions about what satisfies that need for ourselves.
My latest question concerns my little milk jugs /creamers. I have 5 (one being a Christmas one) and I do use them but not daily.
Although I go through periods where I do use them daily. Still, I don't think I need all 5 of them so I'm going back and forth about that situation. lol
Thank you, Debra. I like my decorative items, but, every now and then, I think I have too many! "Less is more" and all that! But, like you with your milk jugs/creamers, how many do I need or want? It is hard for me to decide what to keep and what to let go! It's a process, I guess.
DeleteIsn't it satisfying when you can put together a lovely display with what you already have in the home? I like the way the creamy "pumpkin" plant pot complements the little pumpkin, while the lantern adds a nice contrast. Lovely to have a brass tray, too. You may have to rethink your decluttering for sure! I'm a great fan of artificial succulents, I have a little one in the powder room and I was quite tempted with another in the dollar store the other day until I reminded myself that I really didn't need it!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is satisfying to be able to put together a display using items you already have. Maybe that's what I need to do - put together more displays and "style" my house! My daughter liked the contrast of the black lantern and the orange pumpkin. I do like the little artificial succulents arrangement - makes me want to put a real one together!
DeleteLove the centerpiece. If it makes you smile, keep it. It's the little things in life that are sometimes important.
ReplyDeleteThat's really high. I don't like high temperatures, but I don't like it chilly either. It's only October and I'm already moaning about the cold.
Thank you, Sharon. It does make me smile. :)
DeleteI'm loving the warm weather and am not looking forward to the colder temperatures. It does get quite cold in October up there, doesn't it? Bundle up warmly!
I agree with others, you can keep any decorative items you want! But I do understand how sometimes a home can feel too full of things. I accept that I like my things and am keeping most of it all! Your display is very nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie. Sometimes, the decorative items become visual clutter and that's what I am dealing with now, I think. One can have too much of a good thing, I guess? I need to stop liking so many of my things! LOL!
DeleteHi Bless, big apologies for having been absent xxx I do keep some things like clothes and bits and bobs that I seldom use, but do still use. It just makes sense to me. The display looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteRatnamurti, it's lovely to hear from you, again. I hope all is well with you. Yes, it makes sense to keep some items that we use only occasionally. I guess I am just feeling like I need to edit a few of my belongings and establish a routine of items in, items out!
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