Longing for The Beauty of Things Past

"Oh what beauty I find in the past " - anonymous

Handwritten Notes

Emails, e-vites, Facebook, texts…..While communication today still engenders excitement, planning and anticipation, we may be depriving ourselves of what in the past has been a visceral reaction to the receipt of a personally addressed envelope and the note inside.  While the end result of an invitation, announcement, comment, etc. whether via computer or handwritten is the same, something may be lost in the generic quality of computerized missives.    It is well known that hand written envelopes are always the first pieces of mail opened.  Doesn’t this demonstrate how any kind of communication should always make the recipient feel singled out, thought of, special?  

Dinner for Two or Four or Six or Just You

Handsome placemats, cloth napkins and elegant dish-ware — maybe even a flower or seasonal decoration on the table—why not?  Make a little effort for a lot of elegance, relaxation and joy in the sanctuary that is home.    

Guest Book Reverie

Long ago and far away I lived in an old house that seemed suited to the concept of a guest book for visitors.  I purchased the guest book on a whim having imagined it open accompanied by a dramatic pen on the library table placed at the front entrance to the house.  I asked both relatives and friends, to sign the book.  Many thought it a frivolous, old fashioned request, but after a little laughter or joking remark, they would sign it.  While the idea of a guest book was simply a romantic gesture at the time, never did I imagine the unexpected pleasure of looking through the book --days, months and even a few years later.  The signature of those who had been to our home, some who had passed away, some no longer in our lives, gave such a jolt of pleasure and nostalgia, reliving the occasion and remembering the person and the personality.  The book became a treasured memento. 

Dining Alfresco

Every spring all of the home and home design publications make dining al fresco, grilling and associated activities highlights of their issues. These issues usually include recipes for outdoor parties, suggestions to make the event more colorful, tasteful, lighter, brighter, insect free. While outdoor gatherings are in themselves occasions to celebrate the season, picnics (once a popular pass time) may have lost out to the more ambitious backyard affairs.

When I was growing up, my Mom had an old fashioned metal picnic basket. At least once each summer, she would pack it with cheese and/or ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper, some whole or cut up fruit and some of her famous oatmeal cookies as well as a container of lemonade with old fashioned aluminum colored glasses. She would load up her shopping cart with the picnic basket, a blanket, perhaps a ball to play with and off we would go to walk to Lemon Hill with its modest playground and lush grassy places to spread our blanket. Simple but oh so exciting to my sister and me. Somehow I think even today’s sophisticated children would be enchanted by this summertime treat!

©Author: Contributor, Cassatt