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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Hunting And Gathering

 
 
 
It's a homey time of year for me. All I want to do is stay near the stove and the fireplace and smell something good cooking or baking. Mr. Cottage came home today and found where I was in the house by following the scent of freshly ironed linen. "You smell good," he says, making it clear that it's the pressed laundry he's referring to. We laugh.
 




 
I'm thinking ahead to a full house for the holidays. Where will everyone sleep? What will we serve? What needs to be brought out and cleaned up or dusted? What needs putting away?





 
It's a time for hunting and gathering things up like other creatures in nature do.  I think of buying yarn and knitting. Studying cookbooks. It's a sort of mild temporary insanity with an up side.
 
 
 
 

 
It's a season for old favorites, and the good stuff.  A nice time for handing things down, and telling old stories. For humming "Over the river and through the woods" while getting things ready.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








 
 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 





 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 









 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
Are you hunting and gathering up too?
 I hope it's a beautiful season for you.
 
Jacqueline
 
 
 
 

 I'm joining

29 comments:

  1. sounds just beautiful and i am sure your table will be just lovely as well. i will miss spending thanksgiving here in the states with hubby, our son and the rest of my husband's family but i am very excited to be spending it in london with my mother, sisters and nieces. what girly thanksgiving fun we'll have!blessings...

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  2. Jacqueline ~ I couldn't agree with you more. I love this time of year to snuggle by the fire, bake something scrumptious and cook a hearty soup or stew. Your pictures are just lovely ~

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  3. Your pictures are beautiful as ever. I will be seeking the cool breeze and whatever shady spots we can find lol, in South Florida. I'm in the process of "Whiting" my home. Just finished the bedroom and now beginning the living room and doing all the furniture in Annie Sloan Chalk Paints just purchased today. I wonder....what does your linen smell like? lol...
    really, how does Mr. Cottage follow this scent? what do you use? I love good linen smells and want to create more...however, I do NOT iron....lol. please do tell. blessings, lady

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  4. Dear Lady of the Woods! Ironing just smells like ironing! Like it did when we were kids! Warm and clean and cottony. Yum!

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  5. Hi J,
    Mmmm the smell of fresh ironing, I have a thing for starch, but like my linens alittle rumpled, haha! I love peaking in your cupboards and I have never seen the waist high fireplace, how cool! Acorns, really? They are HUGE, I'll have some in my post tonite, they are so small, what gives? I am humming Christmas tunes:-)
    Hugs,
    Bella

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  6. I'm with you girl....yesterday the step kidlet who was in charge of Thanksgiving, backed out and I wound up with the whole gang...I am "hunting and gathering" at warp speed!!
    Blessings,
    J

    PS...do you folks ever travel to Texas?? I found a whole box of "Rosepoint" at a junk sale that I need to send home with you :^)

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  7. My favorite time of the year. I can't wait for Thanksgiving, to be able to just sit around and chat with my family and eat good things. No pressures. Yes I am definitely hunting and gathering getting ready to host Christmas and hopefully a party or two for the holidays.

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  8. lovely photos. makes me feel very comfy. :) this year one of my oldest children will be hosting thanksgiving. a first for us! :)

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  9. I love coming here, Jacqueline, just scrolling down looking at your lovely pictures calms me and makes me smile!

    Hunting and gathering is a good phrase for what I'm doing! We are having 8 for dinner and 22 for dessert on Thanksgiving. My thoughts have been so scattered that I'm going to make a list (and I'm not a list maker).

    My mother used to take laundry in when we were children...she pressed and ironed all day long, and I so remember that warm comforting smell. I rarely iron now as my husband uses a dry cleaner, but when I do the occasional shirt, I am a child again!

    XO,
    Jane

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  10. I am hunting and gathering and planning and dreaming! And now the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh... running through my head! Couldn't be better! I am nesting, too. By the fire, with a book. Ironing linen, tidying closets. Love this time of year!! xo marlis

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  11. Your brand of mild insanity, temporary though it may be, is so appealing to me. I have been doing some of it. I have spent a few hours cleaning and getting ready for CC to come home on Friday. I am so excited. xo, olive

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  12. There's that white McCoy pot of yours that I love!! A friend gave me a red amaryllis that is about to bloom today. Your pot reminds me I need to HUNT around here for something as wonderful to put it in. Sally

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  13. Beautiful photos Jacqueline! Love that beautiful chippy cabinet.Oh yes getting ready for a cold winter! Ready to start using our fireplace!And bringing out those warm blankets!
    xx
    Anne

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  14. Another beautiful post!!! Yes,I am hunting and gathering too. I love getting ready for the Christmas season.
    Carolyn

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  15. You have such beautiful linens and your photos continue to make me want to get better with my camera. Dianne

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  16. Jacqueline,

    You know how I feel about reading your blog?

    It to me feels like going outside for a breath of oxygen - just pure and simple and timeless and refreshing and incredible. And a little bit necessary.

    Just sayin'.

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  17. I just loved my scroll through your blog ... the pictures are all charming, crisp, clean, white ... oh and now I am humming ... over the river and through the woods ... hope your holiday is delightful!

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  18. Hi Jacqueline,
    Just beautiful! Yes, it is the homey season in my cottage too. Love your inspiring pics. Freshly pressed linens ~ nothing better.
    Love your adobe fireplace. We saw many while in Santa Fe this past summer. I think they are just dreamy.
    Enjoy your preparations~
    Hugs, CM

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  19. Jacqueline,
    Hm~m~m.. .that phrase "mild temorary insanity" would be a "Custom Fit" for the present time On Crooked Creek!!! Gave me a chuckle this morning, dear friend! How exquisite are your photos!!! Quite smitten, I am, with your fluer~de~lis cup and saucer! Yes...it's ironing day for the new linens have arrived for the Master Bedroom! Ready to complete the final pages of this make~over and move onto the next "midly temporary insane" project with much ado!!!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  20. I love this time of year too, all the smells, the family, cooking and being near the fire. It makes me so happy.

    Cynthia

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  21. Such beautiful photos! You have some lovely things, every shot is just gorgeous. I really love everything, but if I had to choose my favorites, I think it would be the clear glass jars and the fireplace. Just lovely!

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  22. Lovely photos as always and you sound very organised.

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  23. Lovely n romantic pix - as always!! Thank you for sharing the beauty!
    ~Pernilla

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  24. That's exactly how I felt today!
    LOVE this post!

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  25. Your blog is dreamy, exquisite and so sentimental. I love it. I read your baby sweater post and nearly cried. My precious grandmother crocheted the most beautiful sweaters for my baby boys. While living in the tropics where I was sure the bugs would destroy them I stored them at my mother-in-laws on the mainland. To make a story short...She sold them all at her garage sale. I thought I would die of a broken heart. They were so very special to me.
    I'm so glad you have such an appreciation for these tiny garments. They have found a lovely new home with someone who treasures them.
    Blessings,
    Carolynn

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  26. What a gorgeous post! Love several of these photos Jacqueline! Your vignettes just get prettier every time I visit! Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for joining me at HSH!
    Sherry

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  27. As always your home looks so warm and inviting, Jacqueline. I've been doing my fall cleaning, changing linens and slipcovers and putting away items that won't be needed again until winter has passed. Take care!

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