Can You Copyright a Polka Dot?

It's always disheartening to come face-to-face with certain realities...  take for instance, the delight of stumbling upon a sweet shop... paired with the sadness that it houses a crafter of rather moderate talent... but more-than-moderate ego... one whose public ridicule of her lesser-monied patrons and the talent of her fellow artists was so smug and so vile that it caused me to more carefully consider not just the art... but the artist behind it...

   

Out With the Old...

Traditions... predictable and comforting patterns of behavior... that was me the day after Christmas... out at dawn to find just the perfect wrapping, cards and potpourri for the next year's festivities... and all at half off, no less!  No longer so, I'm afraid... it seems that with each passing year, stores stock less and less holiday sundries... so that you're fortunate to pick up a few things BEFORE the Holidays... forget about after.  This year, for the first time, I didn't go out on Boxing Day at all... and, instead, have been tentatively searching out my post-Holiday bargains solely online... I will miss most the tactile aspect of in-person shopping... as I am a little old school about certain things... cards should be cards... nice heavy card stock... that sort of thing... nothing worse than a floppy Christmas card...

ah well... online, Christmas and me... in with the new.

Ah, Christmas...

Christmas... combining a little past and a little present.  My great grandmother made the most fabulous cinnamon rolls ever.  My childhood taste buds were honed on these yeasty marvels... with their lovely combination texture... and the most mouth watering caramelized bottoms... oh, drool.  There were things you could just count on... turkey at Thanksgiving... Santa at Christmas... and great grandmother's cinnamon rolls at both.  If I close my eyes, I can still recall that distinctive scent of cinnamon combined with warm newsprint.  She always kept the rolls in their baking pan and wrapped the pan in newspaper to keep them warm on their trip from her house to ours.  My sister has managed to recreate those rolls to absolute perfection.  She even uses the very same pan... and wraps it newspaper... but has added her own special touch... the passenger seat warmer in her car.

That Evergreen Bough...

This year the decorating is slow going...

because instead of just unpacking...
with a this goes here and that goes there...

I'm changing it up a bit...

And if you're me...

that takes time...

to find just the right spot...

for just the right treasure.

Just Breathe...

It's important to take time for a little holly jolly

amidst all the prep work for the Holidays...

so, today, a friend and I went on a small Holiday excursion...

a little breakfast... a little gift exchange...  a little Christmas shopping...

the only thing missing...

a little snow.

We Need A Little Christmas...

It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough... Where does the time go?  The Thanksgiving turkey is barely a memory... and here I sit... with undecked halls...

Well, almost undecked... it's a start... baby steps...

Fair Warning...

My shopping is far from done... actually, I don't even have many ideas for anyone...  Shopping excursions so far have consisted mainly of... one for me and... and well, one for me.  If this trend continues, it's going to be...

 

fruitcake for everyone!!  (Well, except me of course... I seem to be accumulating quite the stack...) 

The Best Laid Plans...

Yesterday, I roasted my Thanksgiving turkey.

And as I do every year, I promised myself

to simmer the turkey carcass and make my own stock...

Yet every year by the time all is said and done...

I don't even want to think about cooking...

let alone making stock...

This year I had a brilliant plan...

stow the ingredients for a stock in the stockpot early...

once the turkey was carved and put away...

just toss the carcass into the prepared pot and on the stove it goes...

Easy yes?

Here's a picture of my stockpot...

all ready and waiting for that turkey (or what was left of it)

You will never see a picture of the glorious finished product...

Because one loud crash and a frantic chase later...

turkey stock just did not seem that appetizing...

when prepared from a carcass...

recently wrestled from a hissing cat

who had to be chased through two rooms

and halfway up the stairs...

And I know... a picture of that carcass-dragging cat

could have just possibly made my blog an overnight sensation...

but you'll just have to rely on your imagination...

And For Dessert...

Thanksgiving has come and gone...

my brother made an incredible butter-basted turkey...

and his traditional (yum) candied sweet potatoes...

my sister-in-law made an absolutely to-die-for stuffing
with cranberries, pecans and Granny Smith apples

that I have to get the recipe for...

(because I think I like it even better than my sage and onion)

and her traditional (yum) orange and cranberry relish...

that's when the discussion turned to

combining the traditional holiday dishes

with something new

a little zing...the unexpected

alongside the traditional must-haves...

I have the traditional dishes... sure...
but something new...
not only new... but awesome...

the pressure is on...
that's all I have to say...
yesterday's dinner was perfection...
an impossible act to follow...
and Christmas is at my house... ...eek!

to maintain the standard they've just set...
I know I'm going to have to do
dinner and a show...

And Now A Word About The Bird...

 hello gorgeous... 

 
yum and...

yummier...

do these count as veggies today?

Countdown to Turkey Time...

I am thankful for my small...
but seriously silly...
family.
oooooooh and the turkey...
and the mashed potatoes...
the gravy too...very thankful for that...
the stuffing... amazing stuffing...
the candied sweet potatoes... musn't forget those...
and...

A Day In The Life...

What I'm supposed to be doing...

loading merchandise on the online shop...

making art for the brick and mortar shop...

fall housecleaning...

inventorying my Christmas gift stash...

What I would like to be doing...

shopping...(of course)

watching Christmas movies...

reading something frivolous...

What I am actually doing...

nothing.

Sunny Skies...Autumn Leaves...

absolutely perfect day for a drive up to Michigan...
 

 

shopping...brunch by the water...walking through the leaves...

life just doesn't get much finer...

Happy Halloween...

There is nowhere else I would rather be on October 31st

then my little brother's annual Halloween bash...

it's amazing...

Happy Halloween to you and yours....

Gotta fly!!

 

Did Your Hear Something?

`Twas the night before Halloween...

When all through his house...

Not a zombie was stirring...

Not even a mouse...

The treat bags were hung...

By the front door with care...

In hopes the Great Pumpkin...

Soon would appear...

Good Evening...

Ah, October... a month dedicated to ghouls and ghosts and all things frightful... Halloween... my youngest brother's absolute MOST FAVORITE holiday... Linus and the pumpkin patch all over again... spending our younger years watching scary old movies... 

by bribing him with...



Oh, What A Beautiful Morning...

Today the weather was fine...

it was a day for being outside...

a day for appreciating the warmth of the sun...

accompanied by the crisp Autumn air...

a day to relax... listen to the birds sing...

marvel at the red and golds of the tree leaves...

buy vintage school lockers...

Finally...

our sweet little Etsy shop is stocked and open for business...

please consider us when shopping for your vintage art supplies

or adding to your vintage treasures

we look forward to seeing you...

Currently Reading...

I like Nina Garcia's fashion perspective...
and her latest book does not disappoint...
women of all ages can benefit from this read...

practical, insightful and impeccable fashion advice...
like having your very own stylist for all of life's (not so) little moments...

Will You Take A Nickel For That?

I am hosting my first ever yard sale in a few weeks.  In preparation so far, I have rummaged through two dresser drawers and one shelf in the hall linen closet. I think I probably need to pick up the pace.  I know on the surface it doesn't seem to make sense... my estate saling every weekend and now selling some of my treasures... for pennies.  But I am determined... I am inspired... I am scared! Because while randomly channel surfing one night, I landed on an episode of Hoarders and have been totally skeeved out ever since... not that my house has descended to that level... yet... but I do have some closets that should only be opened while wearing a hardhat...

One Man's Trash...

You either love vintage...

or you don't...

there is no indifferent in between,

let's just be friends relationship when it comes to vintage goods...

I am one of those vintage LOVE people...

well most vintage...

('60s and '70s... not so much...)

'30s and '40s vintage... come to Momma and cue the violins...

the treasure hunt... the rescue and re-purpose...

life just doesn't get much sweeter.

Where's the Justice...

Not only has this Summer been a steady stream

of hellish temperature and humidity...

but to add insult to injury... I have a cold...

where I picked it up is uncertain...

I myself blame our obviously germ-ridden County courthouse...

No, I haven't slid into a life of crime and decadence... yet, anyway...

I'm serving two weeks' of grand jury hell... uh, civic duty...

so, currently, anything vile... no matter how remote the stretch...

that can be laid at its feet is...

and so... ta dah...

thank you... thank you grand jury for clogging my already overfull schedule...

and my sinuses.

Broken Baker's Dream...

My gorgeous vintage covered cake pedestal...

survived decades of heavy kitchen use...

and a mere three months

of nothing but decorative duty on my counter.

A Bit Late...

Some of my canvases... currently on sale in our moxie... shop

maybe moving online at flannel pancakes...

decisions.... decisions...

does not a happy procrastinator make...

The Old Ways...

I was in my kitchen bright and early this morning...

chopping fruits and vegetables....

my hair pulled up in a makeshift bun...

an apron tied loosely over my sock monkey pajamas...

enjoying the light breeze coming in through my large kitchen window...

trying to get a few more chores done...
before the heat of the day arrived with a vengeance...

thinking this must have been what women have done for ages...

up early.... working quietly in the morning breeze...

well, minus the sock monkeys, probably...

Summertime Shopping Etiquette...

If you drip on something you buy it...
plain and simple...
yesterday, courtesy of the outdoor tag sales
combined with the 92 degree temperature...
and its effect on my forehead and my water bottle...
I ended up with a whole trunkload of (slightly damp) treasures...

Congratulatons!!

Summertime...

Today...96 and humid...tomorrow...98 and humid...
we are NOT amused.

Retro Tupperware...

Isn't this covered cake pedestal just absolute perfection??
well, almost...

ahhh.... much better!

Next Read...

...we are almost all of us... our friends... our family...
given the right circumstances...
tettering on the edge...
her blog is thought provoking...
I think her book will prove to be amazing...

Easter's On It's Way...

Everything was falling neatly into place...
beware when things go too smoothly...
until my jaunt to pick up Easter chocolates yesterday...
on my lunch hour... in pouring rain... to a CLOSED shop...

fortunately, a quick detour to Fresh Market after work...
and several pounds of Jelly Bellies and German chocolates...
made everything all right with the world...

leaving today devoted to some of my favorite holiday prep work...
playing with food... and coloring eggs.

Simple Pleasures...

looking forward to a nice leisurely weekend breakfast...

Today Was a Day...

to open the windows and let in the light...

Well Said...

"There are two types of people...

those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am!"

and those who come in and say, "Ah, there you are."”

~ Frederick L. Collins

Like I Need Another Distraction...

pinterest

...seriously.

Where Does The Time Go...

moxie...

definition - fortitude and determination; chops

embarking on a creative venture with a friend...

wish us luck...

Who Me?

This year I put my favorite Santas up on the fireplace mantel...

where treasures may safely reside out of harm's way....One day, I came home to find this scattered across the floor...

(there's nothing quite as festive as stepping on fractured deer legs on your way in the door)

postponed santa surgery is now in progress...
cat treats continue to be withheld...

wish us all (figurine, feline and human) luck...