Sunday, February 1, 2015

Simple Things

Steve loves music - all types of music - and the stereo is always playing either Steve's music (11,000 songs), Pandora or iTunes radio.


I don't always listen to the lyrics, but sometimes a line will stick with me.


I awoke on Saturday morning with nothing on the agenda until our walk which wouldn't be until 2:00 .p.m. - we plan our beach walks around the tides.


In the midst of my puttering, the song "Keep Me In Your Heart" by Warren Zevon came on.


I love the line "sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house".


 The leisure time to do "simple things around the house" is what I love most about retirement.


Creating a Valentine vignette in the living room . . .


the entryway . . . 


the dining room . . .


and even outside on the patio.


The next line, "maybe you'll think of me and smile" also resonates as the items I touch evoke memories.


The polka dot heart shaped dish in this photo makes me think of skiing - I bought it on a ski trip to Mammoth Mountain.


The red leather heart in this vignette makes me think of our old dog Dorje - she found my favorite heart and ate it, but luckily I was able to find another one.


I shared with Steve how much I like "Keep Me In Your Heart" and he explained the history of the song.


Warren Zevon wrote the song after he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and it is the final song he wrote and recorded - this link talks about the recording of the album and people's love of the song.


 It was a lovely day spent in my little cottage by the sea listening to a beautiful song while doing simple things.

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linking to

Cozy Little House - Tweak It Tuesday

66 comments:

  1. Amazing blog and very interesting stuff you got here! I definitely learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!

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  2. What a lovely post! I had to look up Warren Zevon and found him on You Tube. He reminds me of Bob Dylan, who was a favorite of ours.

    Those lines from the song are good ones and speak to my heart.

    I love the way you decorate your home.

    Have a wonderful week ~ FlowerLady

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  3. What a great post! I always enjoy seeing your happy, sun shine filled decor....especially when we are currently being hit with a snow storm.

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  4. OH Carol, I can hear these words resonating...first of all, doing simple things around the house is a great joy. Now I have more time to do that and it is so liberating. Reading and writing for me are those simple things. And to know where the lyrics of this song came from is so indicative of our lives. Not much matters when we are FACED with the inevitable mortality of these bodies. The soul then reaches even deeper, farther up, and expresses itself.

    My friend, I will always keep YOU in my heart for you have touched mine. Anita

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  5. Why am I the only one crying so far??? What a beautiful song. I've never heard it before and now when I'm puttering around the house, I will think of this song. And you Carol. Your home is so pretty. I love that you decorate with things that have memories attached to them. I LOVE that! I hope you have a wonderful Blessed week!

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  6. So beautiful... and your little valentine's touches are equally so.

    Enjoy your day Carol xox

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  7. Carol, you're so right about retirement - being able to do the simple things (but admittedly, sometimes it takes a while for a vignette to become just right, right?). Now knowing the back story of this song, the lyrics are oh, so sad, but I do very much enjoy memories provoked when pulling out little things around the house - they mean a lot. That's part of why I love Christmas, I think. Great, colorful post, as always!
    RIta

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  8. Knowing the history behind it makes it more powerful. I also love having the freedom to take time to potter around the house. It sounds like your day was lovely.

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  9. How sweet and sad at the same time. The lyrics are so simple but true for those of us who've been married awhile. :)

    Your little spots are so pretty.

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  10. Beautiful post and such gorgeous pictures of your little house by the sea. Have a wonderful walk today!

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  11. What a lovely song! I enjoy vignettes and you do them so well. I too like how using things I love evokes memories and emotions. Simple Joys!
    hugs,
    Linda

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  12. I am a good friend of Warren Zevon's cousin. I was with him in a movie theater when this song came on and he started to cry. When he told me why, I started to cry. It is a beautiful song.

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  13. Carol, your post put a big smile on my face . . . and I love smiling:)
    Your little home is so pretty with it's hearts all about in the different rooms.
    Not only did we get to enjoy your home, but you also put a song in our hearts, to last all day.
    Thank you.
    Connie :)

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  14. Carol, What a beautiful thought for a song. It's true we do things like ...as I clean about the house, I often think of my parents. We all want to be loved and remembered. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  15. A visit to your blog - and thus, to your cottage - is always such a pleasure. The simple things, as you call them, make your home so pretty and that has to impact such a lot in your life and in your Steve's life.

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  16. Oh, how I love visiting your colourful cottage by the sea; it's always filled so much love, even on all the other 364 days, and not only the one dedicated to the sentiment on the 14th of this month! Your symbols of the feeling, set around your home, are sweetly nostalgic.

    Poppy

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  17. Good morning! I wanted to tell you how much I like your blog! I have no idea why I never saw it until this morning, as I always read Brenda's blog and that is where I found you :) To live in a cottage by the sea....what a dream! If I could find a cottage by the sea and have it in England, it would be my heaven on Earth! Hope you are having wonderful weather. I will be visiting your blog daily, so until tomorrow!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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  18. What a lovely post, Carol. The story behind the song is so sad and beautiful.

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  19. All of your valentine vignettes are so cherry, bright, and happy...they definitely make me smile! You have so many creative ways to bring that valentine spirit into your home, Carol.
    Mary Alice

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  20. What a wonderful post, Carol. And your valentine decorations...love them.

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  21. What a lovely and bittersweet post.

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  22. I will be off to listen to this as soon as I finish typing...

    Your V-day vignettes are so very charming ~ sweet smiles all over the place!

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  23. I just love this blog and how powerful those words are in the song. Your vignettes are ever so pretty. Yes, retirement is doing the simple things that make us happy.
    I'm off to listed to the song.
    Have a terrific week, Carol.
    Mary

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  24. I'm not sure that I know that song. I love the story behind it though even thought it's sad. Your Valentines décor is very pretty.

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  25. I don't think I've ever heard that Warren Zevon song...but with the mood I'm in today, I don't think I'd better go listen to it. Even just reading the words on your blog made me tear up! Your vignettes are beautiful...

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  26. I love this song too and with the history behind it makes it even lovelier. I love those days of just doing little simple things that make you smile. I know with your beautiful weather and cute cottage you can have these simple and beautiful moments everyday. Love your valentine decor. Super sweet.
    Kris

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  27. Sounds like a perfect day to me...:) There's nothing better that days spent doing the things we love in the place we love the most....home sweet home. Such a sweet story about the song. I'll have to look it up. Sounds like a good one. Have a blessed afternoon!

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  28. Just blog hopped on Helen Philipp's recommendation. A beautiful, touching post - love all your homely hearts. Thank you for sharing. Love Pat

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  29. It's always nice to have a song in your heart and mind! My hubby loves music and listens to it all the time as well. As much as I love it, sometimes I enjoy the quiet. You have created such lovely Valentines vignettes! I do the same things when I pull my décor out. Each little thing brings back a memory of either where I got it, or who gave it to me. Aren't memories ever so sweet? Loved learning the history of the song. Have a wonderful week my friend!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  30. The things might have been simple but the results are all so pretty.

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  31. What a beautiful post Carol. Thank you for sharing the lyrics with us. I'm surrounded by so many things in my home that bring back memories of loved ones who once owned them. It's all about the little things.

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  32. Carol, your heart vignettes may be simple things, but the way you have organized and spotlighted them is truly heartwarming. Like you, I like to take my collections and group them into vignettes during the seasons. You'll find heart vignettes around here this month as well. When I spied Mary Emmerling's Hearts and Flowers in the basket vignette, I clicked over to Amazon to see if I might find it. I have her book on Country Hearts, but thought I'd missed out on another. Couldn't find it. Now that I look closely, was it a Calendar Day Book? Then I saw your copy of Sarah Lugg's Objects of My Affection. I have a cherished copy, a personal gift from Sarah Lugg. Will tell you the story in an email. '-)
    Thanks for sharing all your "simple" pleasures about your home. Truly a delight! I've pinned your heart vignettes to my Have a Heart Board. Thank you for the inspiration!

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  33. I watched the video and listened to the song and it really brings home just how fleeting life really is. I've cut back on my computer time to do things that make me happy, and puttering around in our old house is one of them. I also have music playing almost all the time. There's not much on television that interests me anymore, so I often sit and knit with soft music playing in the background. It's the best way to relax after a stressful day at work!

    It's wonderful that you've got memories behind all the hearts you've brought out to decorate your cottage. Lovely post.

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  34. Love the Valentine touches in your home...everything looks so pretty!! I just put a bunch of little heart pillows in an old sewing drawer today.
    ~Cindy

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  35. Boy did this pull at my heart......such a beautiful song!!! And your Valentine vignettes are so pretty Carol! You need to come here and help me with some as my son loves everything and anything pretty for the holidays! Wishing more goodness this week friend! Nicole xoxo

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  36. Carol,
    We too fill our home with music, it inspires and oftentimes a song will get stuck in my head! Your Valentine touches are happy and fun and what's best about them is the memories attached and snippets of time recalled. Love the leather heart and the fact it's leather heart number two thanks to your sweet dog who may not be here any longer but is remembered. Sweet post.
    xoxo,
    Vera

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  37. I didn't know the story of the song and it's a moving one. I had forgotten how many lovely hearts you owned!

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  39. I loved Warren Zevon...what a great post for Valentine's Day!

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  40. you have so many different hearts, carol! lovely vignettes. the story behind this song makes it's sweet lyrics a bit sad.

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  41. I have never heard of that song and it's just beautiful! I love that you love Valentines decor. I think I have something in every room for this holiday of love!

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  42. What a beautiful post! Your home looks gorgeous and your Valentines decor is sooo pretty!

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  43. Hi Carol, I love hearts and your little touches just speak to me. I can't tell you how your ideas inspire me. We also fill our home with music and certain songs just help to lead the way!
    Hugs

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  44. Hi, I have just found your blog, I absolutely LOVE your home, it's beautiful.
    Kay :-)

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  45. Hi, I have just found your blog, I absolutely LOVE your home, it's beautiful.
    Kay :-)

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  46. Such beautiful pictures. Love them all. What a great song, it's sad, but the words are powerful. Certain things remind me of certain people. It happens when you least expect it. I love to have those memories. This thought for some reason just came to me. Probably because of your dog eating the heart, hah. Our son loved to fish. He caught a pretty big one. My husband wanted to preserve this fish and had it mounted. Yuck. He paid alot too. My son was always showing it to people until our spaniel ate it. Double yuck. We still laugh about that. Hugs.

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  47. I so wish I had that song to play at my husbands memorial. That picture with the stuffed hand in it, oh my. I want to make one of my husbands hands. When he was in the hospice facility the first time I walked in his room and there was an outline of his hand laying on the tray table. I asked him where it came from. He said some lady drew around his hand, for what he didn't know. I have kept that drawing because it reminds me how soft and gentle his hands were, and his spirit too.

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  48. I absolutely love that song. I had no idea the history on it though..... so sad.

    Have I mentioned that I love your home? lol Everything is just perfect :)

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  49. I'm a music junkie and I am very into the lyrics, so I get it. I listen all day long, my hubby is more of melody guy. Carol, did you make that heart towel that is hanging over the chair? I can't tell if it's embroidered ~ it is absolutely gorgeous!

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  50. Hi Carol,
    You're so right about finally, in retirement, having time to enjoy the simple things around the house... and outside (like walking the beach for you or slogging through the snow for me!). Your photos are beautiful. Amazing how a song can inspire ideas, isn't it? Enjoy your day,
    Cheryl @ 22 Applegate Lane

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  51. What a sweet post. I liked learning about what you enjoy about retirement... nesting and walking on the beach together, among them. Sounds like a wonderful day! ~julie

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  52. Simple things and simple days, funny how the older you get the more you learn to appreciate them. Retirement is great :)

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  53. Forgot to mention how sweet the words are to that song and sad, too. Love all of your hearts.

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  54. Love all your sweet vignettes. I haven't started putting anything out for Valentine's day yet. Sweet song and a sweet story to go along with them.

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  55. Olá.gostei muito do seus projetos,vou ficar por aqui para não perder nada.Feliz quarta para você.Valéria.(Brasil).

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  56. Great post Carol, beautiful to look at and a charming read.

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  57. Loved this post. The fork with the heart is adorable. It seems to me I got a lot more accomplished before I retired...or, truthfully, before my husband retired! I think we need to move by the beach and get busy.

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  58. We do time our works depending on the tide! The song was lovely thank you for sharing it and the story behind it. I' m afraid I hadn't heard of Warren before but my husband immediately recognised his name and knew the song the "Werewolves of London." Your simple day sounds perfect! Sarah x

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  59. I love all of your sweet simple vignettes around your sweet cottage! And, having pieces that hold such dear memories is so treasured! You always inspire me! Blessings, Cindy xoxo

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  60. Morning Carol,
    Another great post...........I will have to find that song and listen to it, sounds very neat.
    I truly think it is the simple things that make us happiest in life, at least it is for me, and sounds like it is for you too.
    Most of what I decorate with reminds me of someone or some event in life, which evokes memories every time I see it,
    like the song says. Music is such a powerful force...........I love music, I would much rather listen to music than watch
    TV anyday.........

    Happy Valentines day to you and Steve if I don't get by before Valentines day......and loved your sweet Valentine touches
    at the cottage.

    Blessings Hon,
    Nellie

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  61. what a beautiful song and poignant history. I love all of your vignettes and have hearts all over my house even when it isnt february.....so am always in love with yours. I also love the joy of having no time constraints most days being retired. So much less stress and it is nice to be able to enjoy all the little moments you miss when you have to scurry around meeting deadlines etc.

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  62. Wow! A beautiful and very heat rendering post....thank you.

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