working with found wood?

[hydrolagus.livejournal.com]

Or is it called something else in particular? I did an Amazon.com search and I don't know what the right search term would be. I have large branches that came down during the last windstorm and I want to use them for indoor decorating (curtain rods, stair rails). Does anyone know, or know of a good reference, for how to treat them and have them not get buggy and such? Can I get away with just sanding and varnishing them, or do I need to do something special?