Comforting ideas that welcome us home

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” -Irish novelist George Moore 1852-1933

Grand and majestic, towering over the coastline, the lighthouse is now considered by most visitors to be a landmark rich with history and beautiful to look upon. But for the mariner of old, lighthouses were an essential navigational tool to find their mainland destination or a safe passage home.

What do you have in your life that welcomes you home from a long journey? What is most comforting to you after a hard day’s work? For many of us, it is surrounding ourselves with what we love — friends, family and comfy furnishings.

Comfortable luxury seating should always be your first choice when it comes to designing a home with real style and quality. The Emma sofa by Sam Moore offers a polished look with beautiful detail, while not sacrificing the desire for comfort.

The same could be said of the Camden leather sofa by Bradington-Young.

The buttery-soft antiqued leather and blend-down construction of Camden gives true “sink-in-me” comfort, both physically and psychologically.

Home to me personally has become an intimate assortment of treasures that I have collected over time, but this past summer I discovered something more to add to my collection that wasn’t intended to be placed on a shelf. Rather, it was a special gift meant for the heart.

In July my husband and I took our first road trip to the New England states for some much needed vacation time. It was during our journey back to Massachusetts from New York City that we found our first New England lighthouse- Peckledge Connecticut Lighthouse.

The sight of the lighthouse placed out in the water as part of the seascape stirred so much emotion in me that I knew I would be forever changed by the discovery. The finding sparked a passion in me to become more educated about the purpose of lighthouses, so what better way to learn about lighthouses than to turn it into a treasure hunt!

Exploring the lighthouses in the area offered an opportunity for some real fun and adventure! So when I suggested the idea of looking for lighthouses to my husband, he lit up with excitement and said “Okay, map out a plan for us!”

The noble history of these national treasures began to unfold their romantic tales of mystery and intrigue to us with each discovery. Images of the men and women at sea, who looked to the horizon for the first sign of light from the towers, began to play out in my thoughts, deepening the emotional attachment that I now have for lighthouses.

With admiration for these brave individuals, who were so daring to sail the open seas before modern day technology, one can only imagine what comforted them the most about finding their way home.

One of my favorite things to look forward to when I arrive home from vacation or a business trip is to sleep in my own bed.

Nothing welcomes you home quite like the comfort of your own bed. The sophisticated look of the Rhapsody Tufted Sleigh bed with elegant lines and finishing fabrics sends you an invitation for rest and relaxation on a scale that is nothing short of grandeur.

As our time of discovery continued, we learned that the Cape Cod Light, or Highland Lighthouse, in Cape Cod Massachusetts went through a major relocation project that took 6 years to complete. It was moved back from a cliff because of the threat of erosion that may have caused it to fall into the ocean eventually.

So after a few days on the cape, the hubby and I decided to make our way back home. We enjoyed the trip so much that we have decided to return to the cape next year to explore the lighthouses we didn’t have a chance to find.

During the journey home, we laughed and sang to our favorite songs, while entertaining the thoughts of a home cooked meal. Just like most people, we enjoy having the occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant, but there is nothing quite like sitting down at your own table in your pjs, while having a good conversation over a meal you just prepared yourself.

The Chic Coterie collection by Hooker Furniture offers a wonderful place to enjoy the flavors of a home cooked meal. The homey appeal of this stylish Chic Coterie dining room set makes the idea of sitting down together as a family an easy dinner option.

The New England states are teaming with history about our nation. It was so rewarding to get in touch with what life must have been like for the keepers that made these amazing lighthouses home.

The keeper’s job was difficult and a great deal of responsibility was required of them, even if it meant for them to put their lives at risk during the threat of a major storm or hurricane.

This inspiring quote that can be found on the wall in Cape Cod Light or Highland Light museum.

As for the lives that were saved due to the selfless bravery of these men and women, their heroism must never be forgotten. So by protecting the integrity of lighthouses with historical preservation projects, future generations will be able to benefit just as we did… one inspirational story at a time!