The List

A Kitchen Aid Mixer, a Breville Blender, assorted kitchen gadgets that I would have no clue as to what they are used for, an apron from Anthropolgie (cute, but overpriced) a dessert cookbook.....just a few of the items on Jenna's Christmas list this year. This girl is putting Mom to shame. I've used the same hand mixer since 1983, my grandmother's cookbooks are somewhere. With dust on them. Grandmother's aprons are tucked away in a drawer, and a vintage blender sits on the counter....strictly for looks people! :) I've never been much of a baker, so she must have taken after my older sister. She chose a RED mixer, which would not have been my first choice. She turned her nose up at the suggestion of pink. So as I am making the purchases, I'm thinking to myself...It's a good thing. These gifts are practical, and won't be tossed into next summer's yard sale. So I said to my husband "Jenna will probably be taking half of the kitchen gadgets when she moves" and he let out a mighty chortle and replied with "what...when she's 32?" I have a suspicion he's right..and that's fine by me. :)

ps: She made cookies tonight which I will be posting about tomorrow...I just ate 2 and I think I gained 5 pounds.

She's All Grown Up

When we received the news that my father in law passed away, I wasn't sure how our daughter would handle it. We only saw him once a year since they lived on the East coast, and she's always been very reserved...just like her Dad. She didn't cry in front of me, but went to her room and closed her door. A few days later, my daughter and I were driving in the car and she said, " I want to go back for the funeral. It doesn't feel right not being there." At first I was surprised, but then I was overwhelmed with pride that she had decided on her own, that it was the right thing to do. I immediately called my husband and told him I was making a reservation for the next day. There was dead silence and then a "Really?" As he told the news to his Mother in the background, and I could hear the excitement in her voice. I spoke with Thom tonight and he said it was a very nice service and having Jenna there meant so much to both him and his Mother. They will be returning home tomorrow afternoon, and I can't wait to welcome them back with loving arms. :)

Vintage Christmas Decorating

I'm a bit behind in my Christmas decorating this year. With my father in law's recent passing, and just being busy with everyday life, the decorations were put on hold until Sunday evening. Jenna helped me decorate the tree the night before she left. We put up the vintage white tree. I was tempted to get a cute little REAL 5 footer I saw at Target, but she likes the old white one because our vintage pastel ornaments look better on it than a green one.. so we saved 20 bucks. :) (click on images to enlarge)


Here are a few of my favorite ornaments that include some handmade ones from the 1920's & 30's. The little mercury ball horse always makes us smile. Jenna thinks it's funny , and I guess it is! Someone made it long ago and I think it's sweet that there was a time when all ornaments were handmade.




Love this spun angel hair baby in the cradle which hangs with a wire and old mercury beads, a whimsical snowman with dangling legs and the glitter bird that Amy sent to me years ago when we first became buds.


I only use pinks, silver and turquoise blues on the tree. You will see no red, green or gold.


I did pick this cute little 60's pink tulle tree on ebay earlier this summer. Someone bunched the tulle over a pink candle and added little pink ornaments. No w why didn't I think of that? When I got it, it didn't stand very well, so I stuck the base inside a glass candle holder and wha-la!. I think I will place it in the center of the dining room table.


Another eBay purchase over 5 years ago was this vintage pink bottle brush wreath in the box for $20..don't hate me girls! I have seen a few of these sell for well over $100 these days. Yowsza!

Love my little kissing angel couple which I have had since we got married. I used to collect these, but I only found one pair in the box. I must have sold the others. :(

I have a collection of snowmen and Santas which have not yet made it out of the garage this year. Hopefully they will make it inside this year. And last but certainly not least, is my very first heart ornament wreath that I made 5 years ago. It's still hanging on and I haven't lost an ornament yet!

Landed..

I found a website that tracks a flight by the minute. Right down to the speed, altitude, miles from the airport and minutes before it lands. So just picture me sitting here at my desk hitting refresh every minute.. Am I nuts or what?!! Don't answer that.
At least I know she is safe and sound at 5:30am EST. This Mom is going to bed..it's now 2:45am...geez.

Just Me & The Dogs...

I'm not doing so well tonight..the house is quiet. It's just me and dogs now.

You would think that's a good thing, but I'm missing my girl. Jenna just caught the red eye to Maryland for her Grandfather's services which will be on Wednesday. I miss her already. She's 18 but I haven't been away from her since she was 3. Yeah, I know... I'm a wimp. I wanted to travel with her, but it was just impossible for me to get away. It's almost midnight now and she'll be landing around 6am EST which will be 3am my time. I know I won't be able to sleep until I know she has landed, so I'll be staying up....with the dogs.

This made me smile...

Jane sent this to me today and I watched it 3 times and still laughed. The last dog looks just like my Ivan, and if he could talk, that's just what he'd say. :)

Missing Someone

Miss Sophie and The Mr.

It's been quiet around the house the past 2 days. My husband received a call from his mother that his father was in the hospital after suffering a stroke. Before having the stroke, his father was given the news just last Friday that he had terminal cancer. My husband is now back in Maryland, and they will be moving his father into a Hospice care facility. I spoke to him last night on the phone and he tells me his Mother is strong and knows that her husband doesn't have much time. She has always been a strong lady, without ever showing much emotion, but of course her heart is aching. They have been married over 50 years. My father in law quit smoking 14 years ago, but it was too late. I remember him telling us the big reason he quit. His granddaughter, our Jenna, was sitting on his lap at the age of 4. He reached down to give her a kiss on the cheek and she scrunched her nose and said "Grandpa..you stink!" He said that was the turning point. He vowed to quit and went to a group session where he was able to kick the habit within days. I have never smoked, but I know that quitting has to be one of the most difficult things to accomplish. If you do, please try to stop smoking. Not only for yourself, but for your loved ones.

Holiday Gathering

The days are whizzing by..it was just Halloween, wasn't it? Christmas will be here before you know it. Every year I say the same thing..I will have all of my shopping done by Thanksgiving. It ain't happening...again!
I've been busy with our new shoppe and daily life at home. You would think with all the running around, I would shed a few pounds, but that doesn't seem to be happening either! We had our Holiday Open House at The Attic this past Friday evening. Everything was so beautiful and we had a great turn out. We love being the only little shop on the island that carries such a unique assortment of items. We have vintage and antique furniture, new gift items such as hand poured soaps from my friend Sharon, candles, jewelry, and decorative pillows. You can see more photos taken that evening here.