meet me at the dock: the things we gather

It seemed everyone was collecting something: baseball cards, Barbie Dolls, beer cans, snow globes...So in 1975, I proclaimed to everyone that I wanted to start a jewelry box collection. What I didn't realize is that I must have mistakingly said, music box collection, because I received ten of those that first Christmas...and I contunued to receive them on every holiday and birthday for many years to follow.  

The thing is, I didn't like music boxes. The sound of them freaked me out. The music reminded me of horror movies ~ like the one with some creepy clown guy who drove an ice-cream truck playing "Pop Goes the Weasel" as he was looking for children to poison. So there I was, a collector of something I didn't want, but was too polite to ever say anything!

(I'm actually happy now that I have these music boxes, and am no longer traumatized by their melodies.) 

I do not consciously collect anything these days, but I do seem to have specific things I seem to surround myself with. The most obvious being old books, and natural objects.

More than the actual content of the book, I am fascinated with the stories surrounding each book. I love the beautiful handwritten dedications, the bookplates, and finding the underlined parts. I have discovered pressed flowers, letters inteneded to be kept secret, and dear old photographs...I can get lost in imagining the history of each one, whose hands once turned those pages, where did that person live, what occasion did the flower come from...I suppose its a metaphor for me in that I always want to know "the story behind the story" in my day to day life. 

Like many of you, I also surround myself with little bits of nature. These llittle souvenirs are reminders of hikes I have been on, trips I have taken, or specific moments of beauty. I feel like when I look at these little treasures I am brought to a better headspace. The presence of these gifts provide me with a bit of relief, especially when I have been at the computer for an extended time... 

Do you have any collections?  Do you have certain things that you surround yourself with? Do tell, and take a photograph if you can. I would love to know!

*If you have a photo to share we have started a hashtag on Instagram: #thingswegather You can also post your images at our Squam Flickr Group:    http://www.flickr.com/groups/squamdock/

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend..I'm planning on collecting a lot of shamrocks! xo *jen*

P.S. 

Be sure to check out the first in a series of online workhops  we are now offering through Squam, beginning with the sweetest ever, Alena Hennessy. If you are looking for a little taste of Squam and something different than your every day e-course, this is for you!

In the Squam Store this month, we will be offering three differnt poetry prints created by Alena. They are all so pretty and the quotes couldn't be more perfect. (I have one hanging in my office and I just LOVE the way it looks in this antique frame!)