Moving Toward Spring Around My Maine Cottage | Antique Finds, Cooking, and Creative Projects

Around my seaside cottage this week, I’m sharing finds from the Bath Antiques Show, cutting back my limelight hydrangeas, a new baked oatmeal recipe, sewing pillow covers for my daughter, and some fabric ideas for the guest cottage.

Hello again from Maine!

How have you done this week with the time change? I know there are many who struggle when we spring forward.

I am not one of them. In fact, it is one of my favorite days of the year. It is 4:30 in the afternoon as I write, and if this were January it would already be dark. Now we still have over two hours of daylight to enjoy.

This gradual move toward spring gives me life, and I went about my week with renewed energy.

On Sunday, as planned, I went to the Bath Antiques Show and came home with some unexpected finds that brought a bit of fresh joy to my home.

This week I also tried a new baked oatmeal recipe, sewed some pillow covers for my daughter Zoë, and cut back the limelight hydrangea hedge that runs along the deck.

Then today, when I was supposed to be getting started on this post, I was inspired by a fabric I saw online and went down a fun rabbit hole looking at possibilities for some small updates in the guest cottage. After years of the same throw pillows and wallpaper, it might be time.

See what I mean about renewed energy?

I’m excited to share all of this with you. Let’s start with the Bath Antiques Show.

Bath Antiques Show Finds

The Bath Antiques Show, which takes place the second Sunday of the month from October through April, is a favorite of mine. I’m usually not looking for anything specific, but I rarely leave empty-handed. I’ve written about the show before (you can read about a couple of past visits here and here), but Sunday’s outing was a particularly good one, and I came home with four unique finds. Here they are.

Spongeware bowl

The corner hutch in the dining area is full, so I had vowed I was done buying spongeware.

But then a bowl at the show caught my eye. Its charming scalloped design was different from anything I have. I hesitated briefly, but when the dealer offered me a $20 discount (after I had asked for his “best price,” as my mom taught me), I closed the deal.

Back home, I knew exactly where it would go in the hutch. I have a smaller bowl that also has a scalloped detail, this one a raised border on the rim. So I removed two more ordinary bowls and stacked this pair on the bottom shelf.

Anyone else might not notice them, or how they are subtly tied together, but I am completely smitten.

A Painted basket of shells

I love an old basket, and I love shells. Put them together and you have perfection, in my opinion.

So when I saw a chippy teal-painted basket filled with shells, it was a no-brainer. I already knew exactly where it would go — on the bottom shelf of the wicker table in my bedroom reading nook. I tried styling it with a few other things, but I like it best as a simple statement on its own.

STYLING TIP: Fill the bottom of the basket with paper, bubble wrap, or some other filler (I used more shells) to raise the decorative shells up over the top for better visibility.

A small frame

One of the last pieces of mail I received from my mom was a notecard with a printed drawing of my childhood home.

My parents moved when my mom got really sick, about the same time I moved to Maine. Recently I was going through old papers and put the card aside to frame as a memento. On Sunday I picked up an old frame with a simple nostalgic feel. I used some pretty floral fabric I had on hand as backing.

It is hardly a professional job — I was working with spray adhesive, which was not very forgiving (and unfortunately left some marks on the card), but that doesn’t take away from the meaning.

I propped it on the mantel in the bedroom — a warm memory of my mom and, as she inscribed on the card’s inside, “the old homestead.”

A Vintage Caged Work Light

One of the dealers had a grouping of old work lights — the kind with an exposed bulb protected by a wire cage and a handle, often with a ring for hanging. A long electrical cord extends from the top.

I just learned these are actually called “trouble lights,” because you can bring them to wherever the trouble is for added illumination. Go ahead and Google “trouble light” — you can still find them at Home Depot and Ace Hardware.

Except that the modern ones are plastic, and those at the show had burnished wood handles and new decorative cords. I was immediately intrigued. And then I thought of that dark, awkward little corner under the eaves in the Captain’s bedroom. I could picture one of them hanging there over the bed, taking on a utilitarian nautical feel.

Sold!

I will share once I have it hung

A New Baked Oatmeal Recipe

I am not one of those people who can skip breakfast. I wake up hungry every day.

On weekends I love a hearty egg breakfast, but during the week I keep things more simple, with something that almost always includes oats.

Why oats? They are high in fiber, heart-healthy, and provide steady energy to start the day.

In the summer I have homemade granola (you can find my recipe here) with yogurt and fruit.

In the winter it is classic hot oatmeal with a twist. Recently I have been enjoying it with add-ons similar to my favorite granola — maple syrup and a bit of miso (yes, you heard me right!), topped with pistachios, hazelnuts, dried tart cherries, sesame seeds, and a handful of blueberries warmed for 30 seconds in the microwave.

But as we leave winter behind, I am ready for something a little quicker and a little lighter. My daughter Zoë, who is always a source for great recipes, recommended this baked oatmeal from Love and Lemons. I gave it a try, and I agree it is a winner — full of healthy ingredients, including mashed banana, almond butter, pecans, fresh blueberries, and coconut flakes.

A few changes: I subbed 3 tablespoons of butter for the coconut oil, because I am not a fan, and I cut down on both the maple syrup and brown sugar. I serve it warmed with some Greek yogurt.

Bonus — you can make it on Sunday or Monday and have it ready each morning all week.

Cutting Back My Limelight Hydrangeas

We had a couple of beautiful springlike days on Monday and Tuesday.

That meant it was the perfect time to cut back the limelight hydrangea hedge that runs along the base of the deck.

These limelights are the pride and joy of my garden. There are 26 shrubs, and they put on an incredible show from summer into fall, with lush greenery and huge blossoms that turn from lime green to creamy white to deep rose.

Limelights are easy to grow, but they do require some work twice a year. Since they can quickly grow out of control, they need to be cut back hard — by about two-thirds — every year. They bloom on new growth, so this should be done in the fall or before they start growing again in late winter or early spring. I like to keep their dried flower heads for interest through the winter, so I always do it in February or March.

Then in early spring I apply Holly-tone to the base of each plant. This slow-release organic fertilizer helps keep the branches strong enough to support the large blooms.

With 26 plants, cutting, cleaning, and fertilizing is a lot of work. But I just keep in mind how beautiful the hedge will look later, thanks to the effort now.

You can read all my tips for growing and enjoying limelight hydrangeas in my post How to Grow Limelight Hydrangeas for Beauty All Year.

Sewing Pillow Covers for My Daughter

I wrote in a recent post, I‘m Back | A Little Winter Life Update, that since I have learned to sew an invisible zipper, I have gone on a bit of a pillow-cover sewing spree.

As a belated birthday present for Zoë, I just completed a few more for her. Zoë decorates with green the way I decorate with blue, and I turned once again to Spoonflower to source the fabrics.

These are for their bedroom, to join one that has green embroidery on a neutral background. So I chose a mix of fabrics with dark and light backgrounds and a variety of pattern sizes.

I love how they turned out. Zoë commented on the photo I shared that they looked like they would fit right in here too. She is lucky I popped them in the mail yesterday!

Fabric Ideas for the Guest Cottage

While we’re on the topic of fabric and sewing projects, I went down a fun rabbit hole the other day.

It all started with a Peter Dunham textile I happened upon when I followed a link from a favorite Instagram account. Before I knew it, I was favoriting fabrics on Spoonflower.

I have made a few changes to the guest cottage since I furnished it back in 2017, but much has stayed the same. The throw pillows, in particular, are looking a bit tired and faded. I have also been toying with the idea of some updated wallpaper behind the bed. (Spoonflower has that too.)

I quickly pulled together a mix of different patterns in shades of red, white, and blue — one even similar to the too pricey Peter Dunham starting point of all this madness. Yes, there is a decidedly patriotic theme to my choices, but I think the stars have a nautical feel too. I’m going to order some samples and see how they work in the space. Stay tuned!

I share all this as a peek into how my decorating brain works. Sometimes all it takes is a small image or idea, and I am off to the races.

I hope that every now and then I provide that kind of inspiration for you.

This Week Into Next

In addition to all that I have already shared with you, this past week included my usual volunteer time at the food pantry, a board meeting, and a couple of follow-up visits to the vet for my four-legged friends.

You might remember that I spilled tea on my laptop a couple of weeks ago. At first everything seemed to be fine, but then I discovered that my built-in camera was no longer functioning. I don’t need it often, but I do have a few monthly Zoom meetings. Not wanting to pay for a pricey repair, I opted to buy a separate webcam instead. I picked up the Logitech Brio 100 from Walmart for just $30. It was a snap to set up, and my image during the meeting was large and clear. Maybe a little too large and a little too clear, ha… I’m sharing just in case any of you might find yourselves in a similar situation.

Also, in the should-you-need-to-know category, Maddie got her first monthly Librela injection at the vet this week. This is a fairly new treatment for osteoarthritis and chronic pain. You might remember that my sweet Mads was born with a congenital condition of her front left paw called ectrodactyly. It is also known as “lobster paw,” because her paw is split like a lobster claw. It has been bothering her particularly this winter, causing her to limp or even hop around on three feet. I am hoping that the Librela will offer some relief. I will keep you updated.

And one last thing before I bring this post to a close. Local Maine author Toni L. Poll sent me a copy of her most recent rhyming picture book, Snickerdoodle Wigglebutt McFluffy-Paws and the Great Giggle Adventure. This sweet story of a Maine Coon kitten and her pal Fishy takes place in beautiful coastal Maine locations similar to mine. I can’t wait to read it with my grandchildren.

Take good care and be well,