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I have a dear friend who comments on my “humorous decor’” quite often. She chides me in a kind way, saying that more people should add whimsy to the household items. I pretend not to know what she is talking about.
But then I gaze around and I, too, smile. I just love to display items that are not too elegant, sometimes even sappy. Take, for example, my two latest treasures. These were a gift from my older daughter and her husband, for Christmas last year. They are sweet pictures and definitely bring back memories of my childhood. One’s called “Picking Dandelions”, very sweet. The other is a ‘companion picture’ and shows two girls holding the dandelions. One is asking the other “Do you Like Butter?” She holds the yellow flower/weed to her buddy’s chin and, of course, the yellow color ‘reflects.’ We used to do that all the time, then we’d pop off the head of the flower and run, laughing! Ahh, the good old days. Kids nowadays would think that was rather boring. Besides, who would have time to pick flowers when they are playing video games inside?
Another favorite is one my husband actually added to the house. When we remodeled the powder room near the back hall, he tried to find a register that would fit into the opening for the cold air return. It was smaller than most and he could not find the right size. Since he had just completed the tiling, he was a bit stymied but then retreated to the basement and came up with a great find! He discovered that this fit very well. It is a part from a car, probably from the dashboard of a 1950s Pontiac. In any case, it serves the purpose and brings a smile to all who view it. Pretty darn creative!
When we entertain ’special guests’, we sit in our déco room and have the ceiling light set pretty low. Then I put water in my uber-sized martini glass and float a candle inside. Oh, not just ANY candle, this one is shaped like a yummy green olive. It offers good ambiance and often brings cheerful comments. (These candles were found at a small boutique in Florida. I sure hope I can find them again since I am almost out! I’ll have to convince hubby to take me back soon)
Our back hall is often where friends choose to enter, even though hubby tries to encourage a ‘front door mentality.’ One of my favorite pictures is this one of the cat named “Suzie” and her two doggy pals. They look a bit intimidated, cowering almost, rather humorous, don’t you agree. A very old print, it has probably made folks laugh for quite a few decades.
Bubbles
This delightful old print is called “Blowing Bubbles” by Frances Tipton Turner. Very colorful garden scene with gorgeous flowers. A little girl in a yellow dress is using a pipe to blow the bubbles into the air. She gets a bit of a surprise to find that one contains a fairy or elf! This one hangs in our bedroom and definitely makes us smile!
As I get older, I often wonder what my children and grandchildren will pick from my estate (if there is anything left for them, considering the economy!) I hope they select items that remind them how much I loved to laugh and how silly I was when they were little. I hope they remember the ridiculous songs I sang to them from old sheet music such as Mairzy Doats, that made them stare at first, and later they would join in. I hope they request the Suzie picture or one of my many flamingos I decorate with. But mostly, I hope they remember how I loved to make them all smile.
