Actually, from now, until the end of next month, all kinds of boxes will be opening.  In fact, I guess that it’s pretty accurate to say that we’re entering the official box-opening season.  Just for starters, there are all of the silverware boxes, cedar chests, and oak chests, from which people will be retrieving their table services and holiday napery.  Beyond those wooden storage boxes, however, millions of people will be digging into gift boxes, before the end of the year.

Naturally, most will be giving, as well as receiving, at least, one of those boxes, which, you can bet, will be as carefully chosen as the presents that they will hold.  On the other hand, in many instances, boxes will be given as gifts; and they will be deeply appreciated and cherished, perhaps, for decades to come.  Some of the timeless favorites include cedar chests, cherry chests, jewelry boxes, jewelry chests, steamer trunks, and armoires.

There’s no denying the significance of boxes; after all, they play very special roles in our lives.  Not only can they be among our most prized possessions, but they are often charged with storing, and protecting, some of our best-loved belongings.  Usually, the things that we entrust to them are irreplaceable keepsakes, such as family photographs, quilts, precious holiday ornaments, special linens, laces, and tablecloths, silverware, and jewelry, which become heirlooms, and, along with the storage boxes, are passed down through the generations.

Indeed, it has been this way for thousands of years, as, throughout the centuries, every known society has placed great importance, and high values, on all sorts of boxes.  These have been made in all sizes, from prayer boxes, which were small enough to be worn as necklaces, to cedar chests and trunks that were large enough to be used for storing household goods.

Boxes have also been constructed from an endless variety of materials, including stone, wood, marble, gold, silver, copper, steel, porcelain, and crystal.  They have been carved, etched, engraved, inscribed, and decorated with beads, jewels, shells, pearls, precious metals, ivory, and symbols of every description.  Some of these special boxes have been – and continue to be – the focal points of holiday, family, religious, and secular traditions.

As far back as ancient Egypt, wooden chests were used for storing jewels, gold, documents, and other important assets.  In Europe, it was common for craftsmen, using whole trees, to carve one-piece chests that were used to safeguard valuables.

In early America, when cellars were dank, and closets were non-existent, the colonists used chests made of cedar for storing blankets, linens, clothes, and whatever scarce items of finery that they owned.  Since it was also rare to find a chair, the chests served as benches, too.  Truly, these chests were so essential to the households that, according to the logs of several ships that brought settlers to America, they were, frequently, the only possessions that families brought with them.  In later years, that was also the case with many pioneers who were traveling west.

Of course, there was a period in which the cedar chest was commonly referred to as the “hope chest.”  According to the customs of the time, it would be given to a young woman, as a place to keep linens, blankets, tablecloths, towels, quilts, and other things that would be necessary for starting a household when she got married.  Fortunately, however, that tradition has long since faded.

So today, women, and men, are free to use their cedar chests and steamer trunks for storage, or as attractive home accents, without any crazy expectations.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Weathervanes are truly fascinating.  Once, vital tools for tracking weather conditions, they are now, for the most part, rooftop accessories.  Still, that doesn’t mean that they don’t serve important purposes.  No-o!  Just as fashion accessories can turn a nice outfit into a smashing ensemble, the smallest home accents, such as weathervanes, can make the biggest impact on outdoor décor.  Of course, besides their roles as eye-catching ornaments on the roofs and cupolas of houses, barns, garages, garden  sheds, gazebos, cabanas, and many other buildings, weathervanes still do their jobs to perfection.

Sure, they may not be the first sources that most people check when they want to know the, uh, current conditions, but some do, indeed, consult them from time to time.  Another great trait of theirs is that they can be used as expressions of people’s personalities, hobbies, lifestyles, and even their geographical locations.  Furthermore, it seems that this has always been the case.

For example, as I mentioned, the first known specimen, a bronze weathervane, is thought to have been crafted in 48 b.c., by the Greek astronomer, Andronicus.  It was forged in the shape of the Greek god, Triton, who was a merman, and was between four, and eight, feet long.  It was erected on top of the Tower of Winds, an octagonal structure, in Athens, which featured the likeness of a different wind deity on each side.  So, with every change in wind direction, Triton’s trident would point to the god who was, supposedly, in control of the weather that day.

References to weathervanes have also been found in writings of Mesopotamia that are over 3,500 years old, and China, where strings or flags were used to read wind directions, as far back as the 2^nd century, b.c.  After evolving for several hundred years, weathervanes changed significantly in Europe, during the 18^th and 19^th centuries.  They were being made from many different materials; and, in the Victorian era, new and fanciful designs were being introduced, which included mythical creatures, and various animals.

Naturally, the European settlers eventually brought them to America, and relied heavily upon them to predict the weather, and to help them to improve their farming methods.  In the early colonies, the best weathervanes were imported from Europe: and some, dating back to the 17^th century, still exist today.

Over the years, they continued to increase in popularity, and people began to create original and unusual designs.  Those living on the coasts would have nautical-themed weathervanes, made into forms that included ships, sea creatures, lighthouses, sea gulls, and anchors, while those in rural areas had horses, roosters, cows, eagles, and pigs.  It was, and still is, the same way with decorative mailboxes, which also reflect people’s interests.

Today, it’s not surprising that weathervanes are still as cherished as ever.  After all, they make head-turning embellishments for homes, garages, and garden structures; and, as birthday, holiday, anniversary, and housewarming gifts, they can’t be topped.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

We’re always looking for ways to put more color into our lives.  Indoors, we carefully choose particular types of paint, wallpaper, furniture, and other home accents, so that we can be surrounded by our favorite shades.

Outside, there are even more possibilities, which include the countless varieties and hues of flowers, plants, and shrubs that are available for our landscaping, as well as those that exist naturally.  We also have scores of color choices for our patio furniture and picnic tables, which we can further embellish with other outdoor décor items, such as outdoor furniture cushions, and patio umbrellas.

Among the things that nature adds to the kaleidoscope, birds are the most enchanting; and bird-watching is one of the country’s most popular pastimes.  This is quite understandable, for many reasons.  For one thing, some birds have spectacular plumage that will absolutely take your breath away.  Then, there are the endless, beautiful tunes that they sing; and even those common little brown sparrows are a delight to watch.  Indeed, birds of all feathers can bring us joy.

While it’s a lot of fun – and great exercise – to go hiking through fields and woods to observe different species, you can bring them in droves to your own backyard, by putting up some birdhouses and birdfeeders.  Believe me, you’ll never regret this move.  In fact, once you start feeding the birds, you’ll be so fascinated, and entertained, that you will never want to stop.  They’re captivating, playful, and downright hilarious; and the more you watch them, the more you’ll want to read and learn about them.

I cannot tell you how much enjoyment these little winged creatures have brought me over the years (and, yes, I’m watching them at my birdfeeders at this very moment).  There are several types of birdfeeders that you can use, including hopper, platform, hanging, tube, and post-mounted.

In future entries, I will have some tips about using these birdfeeders, and information on the kinds of foods that will soon have them brimming with living color.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy