Tuesday, June 13, 2006

another Carol -- welcome!

Carol T visited for the first time. She asked what my family thinks about my collecting. Well, Carol....

My husband has developed an appreciation for some of the things I collect and has a few quirks of his own. He loves old things in the garden; he has an old push mower and a rusty tricycle, birdhouses and wagons, etc..

My children are used to me. They rarely ADD to my collections. A couple of them appreciate heirlooms, and I have pointed all of those out as well as which items are valuable. I have most heirlooms marked with the source, so they will know what came from whom. Also things that were gifts, I've dated and marked where possible.

Daughters #1 and #2 are minimalists. Their homes are decorated beautifully, but with no extras. When they're finished with a look or a color, out go those accessories and they change decor. My son has a few collections, like presidential campaign buttons and coins. He's into aquariums -- has at least have a dozen that are really huge and beautiful. My daughter-in-law likes things plain and simple. Last time I moved, it was in the middle of a deadline, and I didn't have time to paint much or unpack things, and I was getting depressed without color or my things around me. She liked the look--thought it was calming.

Our youngest daughter used to collect quite a bit herself. When she was small she always latched onto everything the older girls were getting rid of. During her last move she thinned out her books and her bunnies and got rid of her wolves.

One of my grandsons, Adam is a postcard collector in a BIG way. It started as a school project in first grade. Just this past school year a friend of mine (writer Barb Andrews/Jennifer Drew) who collects postcards and writes an article for the Antique Trader put a picture of my two grandsons in the magazine along with their school address. The boys got boxes and envelopes of postcards, some vintage and very collectible from collectors all over! It was amazing. Some people are still sending them postcards. Adam keeps his first ones in an album, but actually likes to have the rest all loose in shoeboxes so he can look through and sort. He spends hours pouring over them. He especially likes bridges. I have a picture somewhere.

Our kids really don't like it when we move, so we try not to do that often. LOL We have some good friends who helped us move last time, and not long after, we were having a discussion about our funerals. You know how you get on a weird subject? We are all on the same worship team and flow well together. I told them I wanted a praise service with singing and dancing. My friend Carla said she'd play the keyboard for the service, but she wouldn't help my kids move my stuff again!! Too funny.

Most people who see our home are interested in looking at everything. The women always say, "I wouldn't want to dust it." LOL

8 comments:

  1. No one in our family really collects anything. My grandfather, however had a very large stamp collection and began a collection for every grandchild. Unfortunately, no one became interested enough to continue their collections.

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  2. We are more packrats than collectors here in my family. I think it is a trait we pass on from generation to generation. After my grandfather passed away in a car accident New Years Eve, my dad had to clean out his workshop/garage because my granny decided to move. I don't think the man ever threw anything away. We found 8 track players, all kinds of tools and even found sales ads from the '80s.

    My great-grandmother, who traveled the world, had a spoon collection which my dad inherited. There are spoons from each country and state she visited. We almost have one from all 50 states. There are over a dozen different countries represented.

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  3. Hi Carol T. Don't let Cheryl fool you. She may collect some beautiful antiques and such, but the number one thing she collects are good friends and readers!

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  4. I think there is a packrat gene that some of us get and others don't. I had a grandmother like your grandfather, Jennifer. When she moved we found bread wrappers and twistie ties and boxes of fabric scraps and you name it. The dear woman never threw anything away. I'm sure that generation grew in in want and learned to conserve everything.

    Mel, you are so right! I am blessed to have wonderful friends and faithful readers -- and readers who are friends -- and friends who are readers!

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  5. Both of my parents have always thrown away everything they could. I would have loved to have had some of my grandparents things.
    I don't have a lot of room or the money to be a collector so I just stick to books and a few vases and bowls that are made of colored glass.

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  6. My mom got rid of a lot when I was little because we didn't have room in our tiny house. Maybe that's why I'm a hoarder. I figure my daughters are not collectors because they grew up with me!

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  7. Sorry, I forgot! Welcome to Cheryl's blog, Carol T! Now there are two of us! lol

    Cheryl, I finished reading Hell on Heels by Carla Cassidy and I loved it. I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!

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  8. Glad you enjoyed it, Carol. Now send it to me. *BG*

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