Coastline Treasures

While on a trip to Tybee Island in Georgia, we went on a boat trip taking us through the bay and up the river.  The waters were clear and the sun made each wave sparkle in its light.  We could see many birds; I was especially delighted by the pelicans.  They were fun to watch as they circled then drove to catch their prey.  We could see the occasional fish jumping up into the air and the dolphins playing in the wake of the boat.

What was the most surprising to me where the numerous lighthouses, day beacon and buoys.  At every turn there they were marking the path keeping us safe and leading the way.  I was intrigued by the different lighthouse figurines; some were on the shoreline and some were in the waters.  I was told that the tides make the travel treacherous without their guidance.  What I did not realize was that the lighthouses in water were on dry land at low tide.  I was glad to know that these sea markers were there to safely guide our way.

Lighthouses come in different shapes, sizes, colors and designs.  Their designs were practical for the environment in which they were built.  Some lighthouses are built in the middle of water, on a rocky cliff, a sandy beach, or along harbors.  Architects used local materials to build their lighthouses and constructed them to with stand its environment.

The lighthouse decor used for constructing lighthouses is round, pyramid, skeletal, conical and square.  The round designs are often made of brick and painted.  They can be tall or short depending on their location.  The pyramid lighthouse is not used much being made of wood or steel.  A skeletal design consists of a steel framework for little wind resistance.  Finally the square lighthouse encompasses the tower being built into the keeper’s house creating a square look.  There are other shapes and styles depending on where you live.  The designs are endless.

Have you ever thought about spending a night in a lighthouse?  Lighthouses contain so much history, if only they could tell their stories.  Just imagine the families that have lived there and protected the seamen from the rocky shores.  Lighthouses are numerous along our Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Great Lakes.  They come in all shapes and sizes too.

There are several dozen lighthouses that can accommodate guests in the United States.  They are along the west coast; Washington, Oregon and California.  Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York along the east coast; as well as Michigan and Minnesota around the Great Lakes.  By today’s standards, some have rustic accommodations without refrigerators and a simple one burner stove with a solar heated shower outside along with changing your own linen.  Others are elegant Bed and Breakfasts serving champagne and spectacular meals.  No matter which way you want to experience an overnight stay at a lighthouse, there is one just for you.  Don’t forget to visit the gift shop and bring home a lighthouse décor souvenir.

Many years ago I started to collect decorative wall plates.  They were part of a signed and dated limited series.  I had so much fun with them.  Each month I would receive one and it was always a surprise.  Of course I knew it was coming, but I never knew which design would be next.  I never looked ahead because that would ruin my surprise.

Once I received the entire series of 12 plates, I laid them all out.  I used a wall in my dining room creating a pattern that really showed them off.  I love entertaining and having these beautiful plates decorating the wall.  I get joy out of each of the designs and it reminds me of the joy I had opening up each one as they arrived.

In the 1800’s people of Europe began to add pieces of fruits, nuts, and paper streamers to evergreens; a symbol that life would return in the spring.  Germans started adding foods, such as cookies in all sorts of shapes like stars, hearts, angels and bells.  In America they started adding long strands of cranberries or popcorn along with small gifts that would be hung by a string or a piece of yarn.

In the1880’s various German entrepreneurs began making ornaments that were mass produced solely as Christmas ornaments.  Known for their glass making, the area around Lauscha, was central for glass ornament production.  Soon these popular glass ornaments were exported all over Europe and to America.  Today we still adorn our Christmas trees with glass ornaments, bows and tinsel.  Make your tree special with your own theme; angels, bells, cowboys, lighthouse décor, doves.  You choose; the ideas are endless.

Hand-painted decorative wall plates make great décor for your kitchen or dining room.    These intricately painted treasures make great and beautiful additions to your walls.  Hand-painted plates come in a variety of styles.  Some depict colorful natural scenes, like the beach or a hillside.  Others have flowers or crazy designs.  There is something for every taste.

Some of these plates are not only done by hand, but by fingers.  These plates are given textures because they are finger painted.  But, unlike a toddler’s finger paintings, these plates are marvelous.  The colors are bright and vibrant and the scenes depicted are incredible.  It takes a lot of skill to be able to paint that way.

If a picture of the world was taken from space with every lighthouse around the world lit, and every other light turned off, the picture would be something amazing.  Looking like little lighthouse figurines from space, there are thousands of lighthouses all over the world.  These navigational beacons are the warm, soft light to guide sailors home just as fireflies guide children.

Because they are so magnificent, lighthouses are objects of mystery, history, and romance.  They are the destinations of tourists, beach walkers, and people needing a secluded inspirational place to relax.  These standing fireflies are the perfect guide for anyone.

A year ago I began my first year in college and I remember getting to the hotel the night before and seeing the welcome sign for all the new students and their families.  That welcome sign was so exciting for me because I knew I was about to embark on a new and exciting time in my life.  That sign for me stood for all the new possibilities, friends, and knowledge that were soon to come.

One year later I am back and ready to begin another exciting time in college.  I have a picture of that sign saved on my computer.  It is a great reminder of why I am here and everything I want to accomplish.  That welcome sign doesn’t just welcome me back to school; it welcomes me to the beginning of the rest of my life.

Many people think lighthouses, like lighthouse home décor, are a more modern idea, but lighthouses date back to ancient history.  Deemed the most famous lighthouse in the world, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built on the Island of Pharos in Hellenistic, Egypt.  It was from these origins that many countries got their word for lighthouse.  The word pharos is the word for lighthouse in many languages, or a variation of the word.  For example, the word faro is the word for lighthouse in Spanish.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in 280 BC and served the traditional lighthouse purpose of marking the port.  For centuries the lighthouse stood as the tallest structure in the world at between 383 and 440 feet in height.  It is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Lighthouse décor is a great way to celebrate the start of our nation, especially since the first American lighthouse is almost as old as the country itself.  The first American lighthouse stood on Beacon Island in Boston Harbor.  It was lit for the first time on September 14, 1716.  Unfortunately, this historic landmark did not survive the Revolution.  It was blown up by retreating British troops on September 13, 1776.  

The oldest surviving lighthouse is in New York at the southern entrance to the New York Harbor.  Built by Isaac Conro, this lighthouse, standing at eighty five feet in height, was named one of the three best built lighthouses by a congressional investigation in 1852.  This lighthouse is one of the few that remains active today.  It is preserved by the National Park Service in order to be able to continue to shine its light.