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

As I was saying, I enjoy trying to find out how our many holiday traditions got started; but each one has so many conflicting versions, that it can be difficult to pinpoint its exact origin.  Still, they’re all pretty entertaining.

 Kissing under the mistletoe, for example, is a strange one.  As one story goes, in ancient Scandinavia, it was a plant of peace; so, if enemies happened to meet under it in the forest, they would put down their arms and observe a truce until the next day.

 Somehow, over time, that led to kissing beneath it.  The thing is that, according to legend, men supposedly had license to kiss women who were standing under it.  BUT (and, as you can see, that’s a big but), afterward, they would pluck a berry from the mistletoe, and when the berries were gone, it was, well, all kissed-out, I guess, and the privilege existed no more.  

 However, like every tradition, it apparently kept on changing, and the berry-plucking eventually ceased.  Of course, although it’s no mystery why men would want to do away with the part that would deprive them of their rights to further kisses, I don’t know whether it was a blatant disregard of convention that caused the modification, or the simple fact that most mistletoe found in homes today is plastic. 

 See?  That’s the even-funnier thing about trying to solve an ancient puzzle; the more pieces you find, the more puzzling it becomes.  In the first place, I can’t imagine what possible good a one-day truce would do anybody, except that, maybe, it gave one party the chance to run away (and live to fight another day!) under cover of darkness.  Otherwise, it seems to be a hollow gesture – kind of like a meaningless kiss.  

 At CedarStore.com, we prefer more solid traditions; and that’s why most of our wood furniture is still hand-crafted in true, Old World style.  This includes our beautiful oak and cherry jewelry chests, jewelry boxes, armoires, silverware boxes, and cedar chests, which make great gifts, not only for Christmas, but for any occasion.  In fact, by giving one, you may start a whole new tradition, as it may end up being passed down for generations. 

 All in all, I’d say that’s much more enduring and meaningful than an insincere kiss under a plastic plant!

 Yours Outdoors,

 Kathy

Sure, we’re all about outdoor furniture and outdoor living.  However, millions of people have enclosed their porches, patios, gazebos, and decks, in order to bring the outdoors inside.  At the same time, millions more have brought the indoors outside, by turning their yards into virtual outdoor living rooms; and many people have done both.

 More than simply blurring the line between the indoors and the outdoors, this trend has, in many cases, made it all but indistinguishable.  Even so, we haven’t lost sight of it; and that’s why we make furniture that can easily walk that line (hey, it’s got legs, right?).  In fact, it’s so cooperative and agreeable that it can even make your life simpler.  It fits into all of your plans and schemes (uh, design plans and color schemes, that is), and a lot of it is elegant enough to be used in any room in the house.     

 Also willing to work year-round, our patio furniture will come inside and lend a hand – or, in this case, an arm, a leg, or a seat – during this hectic holiday season.  Even when your house is overflowing with guests, they won’t feel slighted – in the slightest – if you seat them at our cherry patio dining set, teak party collection, oak bar set, or any of our polywood, red cedar, or aluminum outdoor dining tables.  They’ll also enjoy relaxing on our gorgeous synthetic wicker chairs, sofas, or loveseats, which feature thick, comfortable furniture cushions.  We also have many pieces, such as our Red Cedar Teagan Table, and our Shea Buffet, that are perfect for holding food, beverages, and hors d’oeuvres. 

 Our products also ease holiday stress by making great gifts.  Besides our wood, metal, and synthetic porch furniture, we have a fantastic selection of accessories, outdoor décor, and home accents, including cedar chests, silverware boxes, jewelry chests, quilt racks, and much more.

Furthermore, if you don’t find what you’re looking for on our site, just call one of our design consultants and ask about having something customized.  You’ll find that they’re every bit as cooperative, agreeable, and obliging as our furniture; but with much better personalities, of course.

 Yours Outdoors,

 Kathy

CedarStore.com is a great place to do your holiday shopping; and we have an immense selection of gifts for people of all ages. 

 For example, there’s the stunning assortment of storage chests in our ‘Home Accents’ section.  Our classic cedar chests, finished to resplendence with a double coat of lacquer, will give any room a warm, inviting glow, as will our gorgeous cherry and oak chests, which are available in several rich wood stains.  To make them even more welcoming, you can turn them into comfortable seats, with our soft, attractive chest cushions, which are made from durable, washable olefin, and offered in several colors and patterns.  

 In addition, we feature solid oak steamer trunks, reminiscent of those that were used during the heyday of steamship travel, that are accented with brass-plated hardware and genuine leather straps, and come with locks and keys.  You’ll also find vintage maple chests that are finished in your choice of four colors of distressed paint, for an authentically antique look, along with white pine chests embellished with  hand-painted designs.

 Besides our storage chests, we have breath-taking, hand-crafted cherry and oak silverware chests, jewelry boxes, and armoires, lined with burgundy or green felt, and offered in six radiant wood tones.

 There’s also a ton of fantastic gifts for children in our ‘Kid’s Korner’ section.  There, you’ll find a huge array of durable scooters and tricycles, constructed with powder-coated steel frames, and available in several bright colors, as well as ultra-sturdy wagons with weight capacities of up to 1,100 pounds. 

 Beyond the toys, we feature a wonderful line of children’s outdoor furniture, which includes kids’ patio chairs, folding chairs, picnic tables, and folding picnic tables.

 If you want to bring the family together, try some of our fun, challenging outdoor games, such as croquet and quoits.  If you’ve never tried quoits before, it’s a game that’s just like horseshoes – well, almost.  But that counts, right?

 Yours Outdoors,

 Kathy