9/19/08

Storm Debris #1


Magnolia pods

Children learn by example, and one thing I learned from my mom was the simple pleasure of collecting lovely bits from nature. My sister and I helped her gather perfect pinecones on the forest floor, which she used to create beautiful wreaths at Christmas. In the autumn, I walked with her to the edge of our neighborhood where she could collect dried milkweed pods, yucca, and other plants for her dried floral arrangements.

So I began to gather similar items myself, delighting in petite little cones gathered underneath thriving spruce trees or larger ones that had fallen from ponderosas. As I’ve lived in different places, I’ve found different objects to collect: beach pebbles, sea glass, shells, sand dollars, acorns, autumn leaves, lichen-covered twigs, bits of driftwood, small chunks of quartz. They fill jars, shadow boxes, shoe boxes, and vases in our home.

Hurricane Ike blew down all sorts of beautiful pieces; I’ve been bringing them home after my walks this week and wanted to share them with you over the weeks ahead.

What do you collect?

12 comments:

walter and me said...

Well I think you know about the sea glass and pebbles! Seedheads of many varieties, the occasional feather, leaves...whatever takes my fancy really. I love those magnolia pods. Have a happy weekend. x

Gina said...

I love your pictures , they are beatiful!! I too, use to collect many things, but over time I found that they would just take up too much space and become dusty. Now I mostly enjoy looking at them and moving on. I will admit to hanging on to a few pieces though, like the seashells found on the Florida beaches or the sea glass from Maine. Lovely post, thanks.

Mimi said...

What a blessing.

Sea glass, really?

ELK said...

kristina thanks for the note ~ how is your puppy doing?

We must me fairly close as IKE was part of our world as well ~ I am in N. TX.....

ELK said...

PS you changed your layout! I like it .

Anonymous said...

What striking pictures of the bright red pods. And what a good way to focus on the small things.

Martha said...

Beautiful bright red....natural, too...it's amazing! Yesterday we helped my dad pick up maybe 100 or so fragrant green walnuts in his yard, again very lovely things that God made...Olivia brought home a handful and they are sitting in a bowl on our counter, for decoration!

elizabeth said...

i collect dishes and tea cups... thank you for the comment on my blog; i have added you to my bloglines blog role and look forward to reading your future posts.

Jessica said...

Those magnolia pods are lovely. Ike blew lots of apples off the trees here!

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

I LOVE the colors in these shots!

I like to collect feathers, sea glass, rocks......dead butterflies.

Meadowlark Days said...

I loved hearing about what all of you collect!

Martha, I'd love to see a photo of your green walnut pods!

renee @ FIMBY said...

love these magnolia shots. What do I collect??? Too many photos!