Notes from A Cottage Industry

Have I been to one too many Vintage Fleas?

One of the charming vintage shops in Vancouver Washington came up with a not-new-but-new-for-our-area event…a monthly Vintage Flea Market, to be held on the first Sunday of each month through summer.

Last Sunday was the first one. Both of my daughters and I had discussed getting a booth space in the parking lot, but...the weather here in May is dicey at best, so we chickened out, and decided we would just attend the event as shoppers. As it turned out,the event was great, and the weather was perfect, other than some pretty heavy winds, which were playing havoc on some of the booth displays. I took plenty pictures, but as I edited them, I realized that what I was drawn to more than anything else, was the fabulous art of display these talented people have.

 

 

The place was crowded with shoppers…lots of browsers and looky-loos, and folks eye candy shopping for inspiration. I say this because I didn’t see a wave of near hysterical shoppers running at items as I have witnessed in years past when the crowds of women scampered to grab what they could before someone else snagged it. Out of the three of us, only one daughter bought something. She got two darling wooden turquoise children’s chairs to go in the playroom.

It got me to wondering. (And maybe I’m wrong. I often am, you know.)

Could it be?...Have I seen it all? The weathered creams, whites, and burlaps. The feed sacks, the chalkboard painted buckets, tables, dressers...you-fill-in-the-blank. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. I like this look. 

Heck, I love this look. ( I have a version of it in my own home, and my daughters have their own versions of vintage in their homes too..)

But I seem to have it already. So do my girls. I do not seem to come across anything that I feel like will add to my spaces with such impact that I am willing to pay a high price for it.    

That brings me to the other thing that we all noticed. (and I am wondering if you have noticed this in your area as well, as this was not the first event I have noticed prices edging up.) People seem to have really raised their prices. (and this may have been why nothing really grabbed me hard enough to buy it.)

I mean, I am not expecting yard sale pricing by any means at all, but eight bucks for a small metal tag that I was thinking could be too-cute tied with jute around a cloth napkin at a summer barbeque? That’s just not happening at my house, when we are eating off my thrifted-for-twenty-dollars-six-years-ago pfaltzgraph Filegree white dishes, and the handmade cloth napkins my mom makes for me with discount fabrics. It just seems that as a vendor in afair, without the overhead that ashop owner has to bear, the prices would be a little lower. 

 

Am I  getting out of touch?  Right now, the things that send me to the moon  all seem to be table setting related, or for parties, or a small intimate event. (Like a cozy breakfast for two)I never to seem to find any gotta-haves for my own home decor these days.

I am hoping it’s not that I am “getting old”. You know, like before you know it I will be sporting sensible shoes that resemble men’s house slippers, (gasp!)  going to bed with the chickens, and saying things like “he hasn’t got the sense God gave a goose”.   

What do you think? Are you feeling like you  have seen most of the ideas and pieces, or are you still finding so much stuff you need a pick-up to take it all home? I’d love to hear your thoughts on all of this, and also, I’d love, love, love to read what kinds of things currently do inspire you right now into nesting mode over-drive...

**Edited Tuesday, May 7, 2013- While as of now, I have not had any negative comments here from readers....I want to apologize with all of my heart to anyone I inadverently offended with this post....those that had a booth in this fair, and to Billie who owns the charming shop as I stated in my first paragraph. I did not realize....(obviously, I had a complete brain lapse, and ...I did not think.) as I wrote my thoughts, that anyone involved in the fair would take offense. (Not sure why, it just didn't enter my mind as I wrote. I think maybe it didn't occur to me because I didn't say anything negative about the products- quite the contray, they were all fabulous, or I wouldn't have taken so many pictures.)

The main point I was sharing, (or...attempting to share) besides noticing pricing on the upswing, was that I am kind of surprised at myself, at not being swept away in a vintage frenzy, as I have been only a few years back. The fact was, it crossed my mind that I might be thinking more these days like...ehem...an older lady. (No ofense meant to any women out there older than me. Especially not you, Mom.)

Again I want to say, to Billie, and to the vendors in the Flea Market event...I am sorry if I offended you in any way.

Truly.

(Insert large embarrassed cringe here.)

I will not ruin a perfectly decent apology here with excuses. I will say that Cottage Vintage Home's next Flea Market will be held June 2nd.

Meet me here tomorrow, please.

Yes, I will be back from my time away on May Day, and I hope you stop by and say hello....!

A sabbatical.

Life is busy for all of us, I know.

Right now, I have far too many irons in the fire, and life has gotten away from me...and rather than muddle through with random sporatic  posts while I find my way, I feel I need to let you know that I will be away for a while.(I know. It seems a little odd to be announcing I am attending a Blog Conference this weekend, adn then announcing I won't be blogging for a time...but, my life never seems to be what one would expect.)

Please know that I will be back, and I hope you will still be checking back in, as I truly value our friendships here in Blog-land. 

Ombre' or no-way?

 

I'm having a major hair dilemma these days.

I've been wearing my hair the same length, and basically the same style for about....oh, four years, maybe?

And I am ready for a change.

Growing it a bit longer, and struggling through the gawd-awful transission stage is hard enough, but now, it seems that everyone is doing the ombre' thing, color-wise, instead of highlights. (Ombre': the look of color graduation, from darker at the roots, to a gradual lightening at and finally lightest at the ends....)

I am not sure what my take is on this look. I am puzzled by it. (See the photo above? I adore the cut...the loose curls...the ombre' color job? No, thank you.) I know it's wildly popular, but it seems to make hair look damaged, and...well, neglected to me, like you got it lightened last summer and then decided it was a bad idea.

I mean, is it just me, or does it look like you have just been growing out a lighter color, and forgot to go get it touched up? Have I reached "that" age, where I do not "get" what is hip?

Oh, dear.

To mis-quote the legendary M.C. Hammer, I'm just not jiggy with it.

I'm now going to date myself even further when I tell you that I while want to be fashionable, I am frankly more than a little worried that we are all gonna look back on this onbre' look very much the way we look back on the mullet.

Let's ponder that a moment, 'coz we all know what reaction the mere mention of the word "mullet" brings on, shall we?

Okay, so there will be no ombre'-ing for me...but, what about you?

I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts and take on this newest hair-did trend!

Dream big...or was that dream RIG?

Have I ever shared with you that my favorite car is an old vintage truck?

Mmmm hmmm.

Now, I am not typically wowed by any car. I mean, drive a Honda, drive a V-dubbya, drive a '98 cadillac; I don't really give a hoo-haw, as long as it gets you from A to B.

Except...

When it comes to old cars...er...old trucks. I have always and forever loved old (1954 through 1956-ish) trucks,...just ask any one of my kids.

Well, my V-Dub has passed it's milestone mileage of now being over the 100,000 mark, and stuff is starting to need replacing, and keeping up on, and...well, you get the picture. My Rock n' Roll Buddy has mentioned casually more than once that I might wanna start thinking about replacing it sometime soon.

Now, buying a car is not on my top ten list of fun things to purchase, so I put it out of my mind.

But then, my silly service engine light came on.

I hate that little light.

So, that brought about a trip to the auto repair shop, followed by another, and before you could say money-pit, my Rock n' Roll Buddy and I were talking about the probable need for me to change out my mode of transportation sooner than later.

He wanted to know what kind of car I thought I would like.

I said one with no payments.

Anyway, the conversation evolved and at some point (About three seconds into the discusion) I shared my very nearly-forgotten-seemingly-silly-to-some dream (fantasy?) of owning an old 1950's truck.

We debated the sense and sensibility of trying to drive an old classic truck (built before power steering came along...) to work each day, and while we both agreed it was not the logical way to go, we began to google up good ol' craigslist to see what old trucks there might be out there.

One thing lead to another and the next thing I knew, we were on a road trip up north to have a look-see at a 1954 Dodge Pick-up that was for sale, after having been a winter restoration project for some guy near Olympia.

Three hours on the road, with a picnic lunch,(and one pit stop) and we were there. The nice guy selling the truck met us in the driveway.

He opened the garage.

*gasp*

Be still my old vintage-truck-lovin' heart.

There it was.

A dream car..er, truck.....to me at least. (for my Rock n' Roll Buddy...notsomuch, but he could appreciate my passion and rose-colored vision.)
Isn't it fabulous? Perfect for tailgate buffets at parties and receptions, or for vintage themed photo shoots, not to mention how fabulous it could be for driving around on a Saturday morning to a few yard sales, and Camas Antiques?....can you see it?!

I know. (somebody pinch me!)

No, it won't be my daily commute car. (we are still gonna have to figure that dilemma out.) What it will be is a daily reminder and an affirmation to me that dreams really do come true, and just how blessed I am to have someone in my life who wants to remind me of that.

Weekend getaway.

We spent the weekend at a charm-filled Inn, located in the quaint little town of Cottage Grove, Oregon this past weekend. It was a birthday present to me from my Rock n' Roll buddy.

My birthday is in December, which is just a ridiculous busy time for my family, with three birthdays, a wedding anniversary, and Christmas, so we opted to go on my birthday trip after all of the hoopla was behind us.

That turned out to be a fabulous idea, because there is no nicer way to spend the first weekend in the new year, than a two nights of complete and total relaxation, with no scheduled activities filling up your time.

The first morning after breakfast, the girl at the front desk gave us a little guidebook to help us find our way around town. Well, I am a sucker for creative marketing materials and this little book was very clever. How could you not like a community that boasts a "cute" part of town?
I hope I don't offend any of Cottage Grove's residents, but, as it turns out, the town wasn't all that cute (not compared to Camas, anyway, although I may be a wee-bit partial.) but the people were all very nice, and we did manage to find a few interesting things...they had lots of murals around town...

( Buster Keaton filmed the silent movie "The General" here way back in 1926)

pretty cool, huh? (Hey! Maybe cute lil' Camas should do a mural on one side of that Paper Mill?)

...and seven covered bridges that you could walk through...(which I somehow managed to take zero photos of...)

Our room was full of cottage charm and character. A bed with a headboard made to look like an old gate...

...a fireplace, and even our very own cozy courtyard with a sweet little picket fence. A nice restaurant with old brick walls, painted beadboard, and oodles of paned windows, was located right on the property in walking distance from our room. We had good wine with dinner, and delicious waffles for breakfast.

It all made for a very relaxing, and memorable weekend.

The most special part of it all, if you know my Ralph, is that staying in a charm-filled Inn, in a quaint little town...is so not him.

But he knew it would be so me.

And that makes my heart swell.

A word about 2013.

The past three years I have chosen a word to focus on for the year. Actually, the first two years I stuck with the same word, which was balance. Last year I switched it up just a bit and chose organize.

Along came 2013 and I have chosen  a word once again, that is kinda-sorta along the same lines.

I imagine my words may always be along this theme, because I am a creative type by nature, and that is not conducive to being organized and balanced necessarily, as creative folks generally are whirl-wind types.

Anyway.

This year my word is…

SIMPLIFY

Mmmm hmm. This is going to be my year to (hopefully) pare things down a little bit. Try living a lifestyle of less is more, verses more is more. Have you heard the quote, “ Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”? That’s  what I am striving for this year.

How about you? What’s your word for this wonderful-new-without-any-mistakes-in-it year?

365 chances to be awesome.

That's what 2013 means to me.

Life is too short not to make the most of each precious day, and I plan to do just that. I hope you do too!

Happiest of new years, everyone!

Just as I thought. It's all about how happy we are.

This time of year always inspires me to take stock of things, both what I have done this past year with my one and only life here, and what I plan to do with it in the coming year.

I am feeling extra-blessed these days, with six precious grand babes,and a happy, healthy family. Life is full, and good, and I am feeling  oh-so content, treasuring the little things, like hot cocoa, and sleeping late on Saturday mornings.

I have a challenging grown up girl job that I look forward to go to each work day, and since I spend a lot of time there, that is a silver lining in my life as well.

You know, there is a saying that I have shared here before, on one of my weekly words to live by Sundays that comes to my mind:

“The grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love and something to hope for.” (Allan Chalmers)

I would have to agree, although I will admit when I first ever read the first part...something to do...I never really thought of the "do" as being my grown up girl job. I think I always pictured that part as in doing things around the house,like crafts or decorating, or doing things for those I love.

Anyway.

When I was thinking about all of this last night, I realized it is (or can be) about your grown up girl job. And I then stumbled upon an article that proved this, right here.

To further that point, I  was reading my most favorite work inspiring blogs, and I came across this recent post.

It's not rocket science.

It's about living.

Living every day of our lives.

Doing work we enjoy is part of the big picture of the life we should be living..

It really is as simple as that.

Harvest or Halloween, that is the question.

On a lunchtime run to Target with a coworker pal yesterday, we ended up in the Halloween section (oh yes, people, candy and costumes, and all things Autumn-decor themed are out in the stores now.) with for my friend to look at eensy weensy costumes for her nearly two year old daughter. (She was on a mission for a fairy princess costume, but we both agreed that the adorable teeny tiny Little Red Riding Hood costume trumped that idea.)

Now that I am in the midst of grand baby heaven, I am looking forward to seeing the cutie patooties all dressed up in their costumes. Beyond a few black fuzzy, glittery spiders and a black crow or two, I still am not much of a fan for the scary things like skulls and bloody limbs. (Never say never, as that may come a few years down the road, when all of the little grandsons are a bit older.)
What I do love about the season is the harvest-y decorations. The crisp weather, and the smells of baked apples and cinamon coupled with a roaring fire (and a good football game) are what I find irristable about this time of year. I am going to be stopping by the market tonight for pumpkins and I will be decorating the porch and front yard tonight, and then I will start on the inside of the house......so fun!

I know I asked this a question a few years back, but I want to pose it again...which one are you? Harvest or Halloween? Hmmmm?

 

Brain-spill.

I know, it feels like it's been like for-evah since I posted a nice, inspiring, project-y kind of post. I've been busy, busy, busy.

With life.

Some good stuff, some challenging stuff. Some happy, some sad, and a couple of brain freeze days where I sat down to write and came up with nothin'.

So, here I am, checking in on my sad little neglected blog, hoping you're checking back in too.

Lots of stuff going through my head today. I woke up yesterday to rain, which was a much welcomed surprise. (Oh, the weather guy on TV said it was coming, but he's wrong so often that we pay him no mind.)Today, no rain, but still, that yummy, crisp autumn feeling wafting through the air.

(I'm so ready for fall.)

Last week I got a nice promotion at work, and I am going to be one ca-razy busy girl during the work week now. (I love that!) Of course, this promotion called for new shoes.
(You saw that one coming, right?)

Also, as you know, I have another new fat and healthy grand babe.
(My favorite quote to date from sweet lil' Keaton's oldest brother as he came barreling into the hospital room with his two year old bother in tow, was "Can I pet him, Mom?") Needless to say, Mr. Keaton is not experiencing a lack of attention from any of us!

Grand babe numero six is due in just a few more weeks here, and so the baby lovin' is running wild up here.

Along with the overwhelming joy that new babies bring, we've had some sad, and all-too-soon goodbyes take place. Losing someone you love is hard on the heart, and causes us all to take a pause as we realize that life is far too short, and far, far too fragile to be taken for granted.

Ever.

Make sure people know you care, and tell 'em you love them, while they're here.

Often.

And, make sure you laugh some, everyday.

I'll be sharing a much less rambling, much more cohesive-get-your-decorating-mojo-on post tomorrow.

I pinky-swear.

 

 

Girl talk.

I am pretty sure the only man who ever reads my blog is my Dad, (Well, my Rock n' Roll Buddy pops over now and then too, but I think he just checks out the photos and surmises what the post must surely be about and moves on...) so the rest of you can ignore this first paragraph...Dad, feel free to skip reading this post. It doesn't have any home projects or thrilling escapades, nor does it have any Great-Grand-baby photos. It's about menopause.

There.

So let's have a little girl-to-girl talk, shall we?

When I was in my 20s, 30s and even early 40s, I pretty much thought about menopause in the third person, like it happened to other women. You know, women living in Sun City, Arizona or someplace like that....very much like the way I always think of "old people" as people much older than me, no matter how old I am.

Anyway, the point I am making here is until we hit the age of peri-menopause, and menopause, most of us don't think about it. There aren't any classes or lessons to prepare us for it fully.

Most of us learned about the birds and the bees at home from a parent or from a class at school. But when it comes to the next phase of life, the phase that follows the love and marriage and the baby carriage...for generations, when the stage following the child-bearing years arrives, women have simply been winging it, sharing stories and hopeful treatments as ways to adapt and cope with this next fun phase of being a girl
You hear about "hot flashes" and "possible dryness", and I myself have experienced the occasional stubborn "stray eyebrow" that wants to show up near my chin. (And this part in particular couldn't come at a worse time...right as your eyesight begins to fail.)

Well, we can now get more information on what that next stage is like, and I for one am now wondering why someone didn't think of it sooner.

There's a new website called The 2nd Talk from the people at Poise, with what they are appropriately calling the "Second Talk". The site helps educate women as they enter the next stage of life, along with introducing some pretty helpful products that coming out right now.

Products like...

Roll-On Cooling Gel -- It helps you feel comfortable and refreshed when a hot flash strikes. All you do is squeeze the tube and gently roll the cooling gel on wrists, chest, or neck for a cooling sensation that lasts up to 10 minutes.

The Body Cooling Towelettes offer instant cooling and refreshment when you experience a hot flash. Gently wipe the towelette on wrists, chest, or neck to feel cool and comfortable. (Featuring a portable, re-sealable package, these towelettes are easy to use anywhere you go!)

All of the products are created to make a girl feel a whole lot cooler and prettier and in control of her changing body.

Just like with the first talk we learned from, this will make our changing lives (and bodies) much easier to understand and gives us better tools to navigate through the new stage of life.

Interested in the Second Talk? Visit The2ndtalk.com and take the pledge to have the talk by October 18th. Poise is working to have one million women talking about it by then!

Poise and BlogHer are teaming up to offer one wonderful reader a $250 Visa gift card! To be entered for a chance to win, just tell me: What makes YOU feel confident?

Rules

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You may receive entries on this post by selecting from the following entry methods starting on July 26, 2012 at 9 a.m. PT and ending on August 24, 2012 at 5 p.m. PT:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: ì#sweepstakesentryî; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail and will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. Void where prohibited.

Be sure to visit Poise's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers' reviews and find more chances to win!

I need more hours in my day, or two of me.

I've been trying, harder than you can possibly know, to get in the groove of doing a blog post each day, because I love writing so.

It turns out that it's easier said than done.

Life for me is busy these days, in a really good way. And, while busy in a good way sounds like it should equal plenty of things to write about, that is the problem. When does a girl find the actual time to do the writing part?

Sandwiching home projects (Installing a new deck ourselves, and front yard landscape work so far..)and family time around working full time at my grown up job doesn't leave a huge chunk of time to begin with. Then, with two more grand babes on the way, (Yippee!!)I am busy helping with plans and projects for showers, and nursery decorating, and all the crafting that goes with it.

I am also  working on an entire new line of items for my etsy shoppe (invites, favor and gift bags, hard copy banners and decorated ice cream tubs, just to name a few....)that is keeping me busy, and my mind reeling with new ideas for the shoppe each minute that I work on things.

So.

I will be sharing all of the oodles and toodles of projects and ideas that I am working on...soon!. I just need to get my act together a little better. (Hmmmm...This all goes back to my word for 2012, if you think about it.)

 

 

I get by with a little help from my online friends.

You know that commercial for a cell phone company where the guy has an entire network of people following him everywhere he goes? Well, that is exactly how I see my Internet friends.

Seriously, how did we get by before there was such a thing as internet peeps?

Thanks to blogging, FaceBook, Twitter, Pinterest and now Instagram, I can throw a question out there and BAM! Within mere minutes some internet friend has an answer or two, or six for me. Last week I began pinning ideas for an upcoming baby shower with a slant towards bumble bees.

(Not over-the-top cutesy with bees perched on everything, but a few here and there.)

(Not that there is anything wrong with cutesy, it's just not me.)

Anyway.

After seeing someone's party pictures on Pinterest, I googled, and found a darling reproduction beverage server on ebay that resembled a bee skep, so I pinned it to have it on hand to refer to while deciding if I should buy it...(you know, paying shipping and all that....) The next thing I knew, two friends responded to my pin, letting me know where I could find the beverage server locally.

For less.

With no shpping fees.

I love it when that happens!

(Thank you Kathy and Sandi!)

Have you had similar experiences? I'd love to ready your stories!

I think it's just awesome, living in these times of cutting edge, creative technology, where we can literally have a hundred-million-kajillion friends. It makes the world a much friendlier place, don't you agree?

A slightly random post for Wednesday and some shoe confessions.

I was going to share a charming (and cheap!) project DIY I have been working on in the evenings this week, but my paint didn't dry quite fast enough last night.

Well, that isn't entirely accurate. The rest of the reason is that I got a little too engrossed in the first part of the American Idol Finale and forgot to put on the last coat of paint until way late. (Are you watching it this season? Who are you pulling for? I'm all about Phil Phllips, while my Rock n' Roll Buddy is cheering for Jessica Sanchez...they're both good, but, truth be told, our hearts both still belong to Colton Dixon.)

So, yeah. We'll blame American Idol for my lack of an exciting post for today.

Oh. Wait. Maybe I do have something I can share that is of interest, at least to some of you.

Did I tell you I got a new pair of shoes?

They're yellow.

And I heart them.

Now, I am not  a yellow shoes-dresses-home-decore person, per-say, but a while back, on Pinterest, I found these shoes.(I can't beleive I forgot to share them with you when I got them!)..
and the next thing I knew, I had ordered them. (At the time I had not a clue what I would wear them with, mind you.)

Turns out yellow is the new tan.

Or neutral.

Whatever.

I wear them all the time. They go great with jeans and a white tee and a black cardigan, or with my charcoal grey sweater.(See how versatile they are? I can't even remember what I wore before these entered my life. Thank God I bought them!)

Okay, so anyway.

Last week a friend from work asked me to run to the mall with her at lunch, and I was happy to oblige her. That's where I found these babies...

Mmmm hmmm. Another pair of yellow shoesies.

Wedge sandals.

(And surprisingly enough, from that same shoe company.)

(I know. Too cute, right?)

I had to have them.

'Coz apparently yellow is my color.

On an entirely different topic (since I didn't get the DIY project done and I am rambling on here...) I am thrilled to provide you with a bit of shameless self-promotion.

Remember my couple of ice cream posts? The ones with the  cute ice cream containers I dolled up from Garnish? (These will be available in my etsy shop soon!)Well, the nice folks at Garnish shared my craftiness on their blog,complete with shout-out links to my blog.

I heart the folks at Garnish too.

I'm out for now, but you'll be seeing my latest DIY project before the week's end, I promise.

Hope you all have a blissfully happy Wednesday, people.

 

Picture perfect packaging.

Ohmygosh! Thank you, thank you, thank you ever so much for all of the input you gave me through my survey yesterday regarding etsy and online shopping! I am more stoked than ever about stepping things up online.

Speaking of online shopping, just as I was getting all focused and excited about expanding things online, and re-branding my business, I got home yesterday to find the most fabulously packaged little purchase I had ordered last week, waiting for me in my mailbox. (Funny how that happens!)
Anyway, I thought I'd share it...'coz it's just that stinkin' cute. I mean, all of it. The adorable custom charm on the delicate chain. (It was rather hard to photograph, but it reads, "r + t". If you think that's cheesy, that's okay, but please don't tell me. I may be 55, but I am a completely incurable romantic.)
The logo'd packaging, and the sa-weeet little bag sent me straight to the moon, Alice.

No lie.

I was quite literally swooning. And my mind is now spinning, filled with ideas that I cannot wait to get started and share with you!

A question (or two, or ten...) about etsy and online shopping in general.

I had every intention of posting this morning, but then...it never happened.(I hate it when that happens. Makes my day not feel quite right.) I'm at a point of doing a lot of soul searching about what direction I want to take my blog, and my Cottage Industry. I guess I am trying to find the center of my creative passion, and focus more on it...fine tune it...you know?

I think this girl got me thinking about all of this. And this girl as well. And I am so glad they did. I am feeling inspired about my blog, and writing, and creating, and baking, and...well, everything, in a way that I haven't felt in quite a while.

So, I have a question for those of you who shop online. For handcrafted things. And for one of a kind types of things.

Do you typically go straight to etsy when you are looking for custom or specialized themed things like party invites, banners, and decorations, or when shopping for unique gift items like jewelry, and home decor items? Or, do you google an item on a website? Would you just as soon make a purchase  from someone's blog (or website) than be directed to an etsy shop?

Do you have an etsy shop? If so, do you do anything extra to market it?

I'm getting ready to launch some fairly big (for me) changes here on my blog, appearance wise, and I am also contemplating adding a new line of items for sale. Currently I have an eensy-weensy-oh-so-teeny-tiny etsy shop, (So small in fact, that some of you might not even have been aware that I had an etsy shop!)and I sometimes wonder if anyone goes there, except through my blog. If that's the case, I may as well sell my things right here from my blog...right? Wrong?

See? I have a lot of questions buzzing around in my head these days and I am searching for direction.I'd love to hear (to read!) your two cents worth!

Finally, something a little different, and whole-lotta fabulous.

I recently shared that I have forever had a magazine addiction...passion....interest, and I shared here how I gave them up for a long stretch, for economic reasons, and because I was dealing with a lot of surplus paper around my home.

Well, I stumbled up a new publication...a Premier Issue of Romantic Prairie Style, in Home Depot at the check-out, of all places, and...Ohmygosh! (I am apparently the only person in the US that didn't realize Fifi was doing this magazine...)It's fantastic.(I will admit that the price was still rather daunting at nearly ten bucks..)
It's got color, not simply more white-on-white-on-white-and-weathered decor (Which I personally do adore, but how many issues of the same look can we get inspired by?) and oodles of great decorating ideas, and...the best part...is that I haven't already seen a bazillion pictures from before the magazine issue launched sharing "sneak peeks" which turn out to be nearly all the pictures in the magazine on writer's FaceBook pages and websites. Am I the only one disappointed when a magazine arrives in my mailbox, and it feels like deju-vu experience because I've already seen three quarters of the photos online? (Why buy the magazine? (It makes me wish I hadn't subscribed to one new magazine in particular for that very reason...)

Anyway.

Romantic Prairie Style. Fifi nailed it. I loved this first issue. Loved. it. All. 

Check it out and let me know if you agree.

**edited to add: Thanks Dawn for sharing that you can find the magazine at WalMart as well! (they are discounted there, you know...)**

Going Postal, and wondering if you do too.

So, yeah. I was checking my list and that's just one of my New Year's Resolutions for twenty-twelve.

I plan on giving the good ol' Post Office my share of support this year with sending out lots of love in the good old snail mail. (Cross your fingers. I am a creative spirit, which is why I think I am totally....completely...somewhat disorganized, and I struggle with keeping my resolutions.)I love it when I open the mailbox and I find a nice little surprise waiting for me, like a card, or a box. I imagine my friends must love that too, and so I put this on my list this year of things to resolve to get better at. Think about it, people. If we don't use the Post Office, it could actually become a thing of the past, like eight-tracks, and typewriters, and liquid white out. Then we'd have no need for cute mailboxes surrounded by pansies out at our curbs, and so on and so on, and that would be tragic, as far as I am concerned, because I find mailboxes to be charming, if done up right...and I am all about adding charm, you know. (Oh! I think I just inspired myself to get a new mailbox for our nest, as well as some pansies and some coral colored geraniums...)

Oh, yes.

Wait.

Okay, true confession here: I have to admit that, five months into this year, and I am failing miserably so far at the sending actual card by snail mail. I missed sending out birthday cards to two of my besties in April alone. (I know. What is up with that, anyway?! I appall myself sometimes.)

Whew. I feel better getting that out in the open.

Anyway.

The thing is, that for me, nothing arriving in my inbox compares with receiving a hard copy invite (especially a cute n' clever one!) or a card, or a letter. This got me wondering...do you mail much these days? Do you still send cards? Little prezzies to friends and family? Or....do you rely on e-vites, and emails, and gift cards? Am I alone in this one, packaging up goodies to grand-babes for Easter, and sending hard copy birthday cards (when I have my act together) with cheery little notes inside?

I'd love to hear what you all do!

Paper vs. Pinterest.

I used to be a complete home decor magazine junkee. I subscribed to no less than 6 monthly magazines, and I picked up more whenever there was anything that looked inspirational at the grocery store.

I would tear out pages and put them, by category, in manila folders for inspiration at later dates. Some of them had been in these folders for years. They were always a great inspiration for me in the evenings, curled up in my bed, with a cuppa cocoa, and my basket of folders, laid out by room, or topic.

After moving so many times in such a short time span, I began to see that schlepping all this paper everywhere wasn't the easiest thing to move, nor to find storage spaces for. Also, I was spending a decent amount of my mad money on magazines. I wanted to be more efficient. More thrifty (thrifty-er?) frugal. More organized.

Then, along came Pinterest.

Let me tell you, it rocked my world.

I quickly migrated from in-your-hand magazines, to snagging pictures form anywhere and everywhere online. Inspiration  abounds, on all topics online, from how to make ice cream to cute outbuildings and log cabins, and to be able to save pictures (Along with links back to the origin to re-read up on things!!!) has become my replacement addiction to old school magazines.

Thousands of pins later, one day while getting groceries I landed on the magazine aisle. Whoa, baby. There were many new (to me at least) publications. (I was shocked for two reasons. First off, the economy, and second...Pinterest.)There were several on the topic of Flea Market Decor, including Flea Market Gardens. There are also many, many new ones popping up online, with the option of buying the magazines either electronically to read, or, for four times more you can get  hard copy mailed to you via snail mail...obviously a lot of us still enjoy hard cover magazines, whether the budget is tight or not.

Anyway.

Before I knew what hit me I had loaded several magazines into my cart and whisked them home. I was like a crack addict, I tell you.

That got me thinking later that night, while curled up in bed perusing the magazines, with my laptop sitting on the nightstand, (feeling oh-so guilty that I had paid nearly full price at the grocery, as opposed to a subscription.) about my old friends I'd been missing, (Romantic Homes, and a few other favorites) and so I ended up subscribing online right then aand there, to three magazines that I had said goodbye to more than a year ago.

Now, I am torn between feeling guilt ridden for having slipped back into my magazine addition, and wondering how many more weeks until I find fabulous new issues in my mailbox.

So.

My mind is now whirling and twirling with questions for you: Do you still buy, and read, hard cover magazines? Do you Pinterest for your decorating fix? Do you do both? (like me?!) If you do buy hard cover magazines,how many do you buy? Do you subscribe? What do you do with them when you are finished with them? Do you share them? Toss them? Dismantel them???

Do tell.

I'm dying to know!

Doing the right thing isn't always the easy thing.

I am a firm believer in the power of prayer, and I do not believe in coincidences. I have had many, many "God things" happen to me personally, so I know first hand who is really in charge of my life, and I know (although I can be stubborn about my own will sometimes)everything will always be all right in the end, if I put my faith in Him.

I've put off writing this post for a good long while. For a few reasons. First off, it's about something so close to my heart that, every time I think about it, (let alone speak of it aloud) the waterworks come. A literal flood of tears that I cannot seem to stop. Second, whether I share this or not doesn't really matter, because it is no ones business but my own, anyway. Lastly, some people may not understand why I did what I did.  (I am a people-pleaser by nature, and it weighs heavier than it should on me when I feel I have disappointed anyone, for any reason.)

So.

Moose.

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know I have moved multiple times in a rather short time period. Each move took me to yet a smaller home, with less windows, and none of them have had yards. (Often how it is when living in a townhouse, duplex, or tri-plex) Working a 40 hour week, then running home for a fifteen minute visit before running back out for several more hours, to run errands, or go out with friends doesn't make for any sort of life for a big yellow dog. Moose was living a life of solitary confinement of sorts.

This weighed heavily on my mind and heart for months. Thirty minutes of quality time a day cannot make up for 23 and a half hours of night-time-sleeping, and sit-around-the-teeny-tiny-living-room-and-watch-the-front-door-for-Tracey-to-finally-come-home.

I confided in friends and family about what to do.Repeatedly. What was best for Moose? This all went on for months. Then, at the end of last summer, after much angst and guilty feelings and endless prayers for guidance, someone told me I should try listing sweet Mr. Moose on Craigslist.

I know.

Unthinkable.

My selfish heart broke at the very thought.

I couldn't do it.

I looked at Moose, laying on the floor at my feet, hoping for a little attention.

I cried.

Hard.

I decided to just look on craigslist to see how many others were out there, trying to re-house their large pups. I typed "Yellow Lab" into the search box on craigslist under Pets.

Here is where God stepped in.

Again.

The second ad down on the page said "Wanted- Mature Yellow Lab". My heart stopped for a second. I felt an oddly peaceful wave come over me, and my stomach knotted up instantly with fear to find out what it said, all at the very same moment.

I took a breath, and opened the ad. I read. A family of three (a couple and their young adult daughter) decided to put an ad on craigslist because they love labs and  found re-homing an older lab really suited them. About eight years ago, after being dog-less for close to a year, they were looking at a pool table at someones house who was moving. They ended up with a pool table and two gorgeous labs. The owner was downsizing and was moving to a house without much room. These labs were about seven years old and were amazing dogs.

They had lost the last of the pair almost a year and half ago to old age. Their family loved them and it took them awhile to be able to think about getting another lab. They weren't really wanting a puppy and would love to give another mature lab a great home for the rest of his life.

The ad had been on craigs for nearly a week, and today was the last day the ad would have been listed. They were not planning to re-post the ad, but rather just see if "it was meant to be".

I wrote to them, asking if they were still looking for a dog. Yes, they were. In fact, they had gotten no responses at all, except mine. (Keep in mind that there were apox. five ads on Craigslist with folks trying to give away or sell their lab.) I asked why they took the route of placing their own ad and not looking at the ads listed for giveaways, and I was surprised to hear that it hadn't ever occurred to them. They just put the ad out there in good faith that the right dog would come their way.

I knew this was meant to be. When I asked how big their yard was, they sent me a picture along with a wonderful detailed email....
Seven acres which (including a Christmas Tree Farm) for Moose to run around and chase birds and squirrels and balls. A Dad that works from home, with a rug by his desk for a dog. I got goosebumps reading about the possible new home for Moose.

(I almost asked if I could move there too.)

We talked on the phone several times, and a week later, we took Moose out to test the waters, and see if he might be happy there. I did a lot of praying about all this that week, asking God for more confirmations that this was what would be best for my sweet Moose.

Any tiny doubt I had about sharing Moose with this wonderful family disappeared the moment we got out of the car and his new Dad showed him where the water bowl was on the front porch.

Thank you, God.

We stayed about an hour and a half, all of us visiting on the back deck, while Moose checked things out and fetched the ball. These caring people said we were welcome to come back to visit Moose. Anytime. Even to take him home for a weekend. Or whatever. They understood just how hard this all was for me.

I knew it was what was best for Moose.

I held it together really well, knowing God had once again worked things out for the good, in his right and perfect time, but when we went to leave, Moose thought he was supposed to get in the car, and he came bounding after us to the car. His new family held him, and told him that, no, he was staying. I disintegrated into a puddle of uncontrolable tears right then, and couldn't look back as we drove off down the road.

That picture up at the top there was taken a few weeks after Moose's move, by the daughter in his new family, (see his unmistakable smile?) and here is a little more recent shot of him doing what he does best...
She later shared with me that Moose seems to like exploring the property. (Although he apparently doesn't like to walk inbetween the christmas trees, he walks around them, which is so typical of fraidy-cat-Moose!)

Not a day goes by that I do not think of Moose, nor a night go by that he is not on my prayer list. My heart trembles ever so slightly, and my eyes always well up a little bit every time I see a big yellow dog. But I am confident, and at peace knowing without a single doubt that it was God's hand that brought the perfect family to me to give Moose what he needed, and deserved, that I could no longer give to him.

I'm not sharing this post to get sympathy, nor do I want to read comments that I am a terrible person and an uncaring pet owner to give up my oh-so-beloved pup. I'm sharing this post with you because I think of you all as friends, and I've never been anything but honest here on this little spot here in  blog-land. I don't plan on changing that.

Menus and tablescapes and errands, oh my!

Easter weekend will be here in less than 48 hours and I am still trying to fine tune my menus, clean house, pick up groceries, and wrap-up-finish-get-started-whatever about thrity-two twenty-six twelve projects around the house.

Anyone who knows me is not surprised.

I work best under pressure, apparently. Do you do that? Think of oodles of lil' things you are going to do around the house, and think of grand ideas that will absolutely make the room, or tablescape, or party (you fiill in the bank...)....think on 'em some more, and then, suddenly, you're having company and you want them all done..yesterday.

For instance, I tackled the new piece for the livingroom, and then, I spent a pretty good portion of one evening this week framing family pictures that I finally got around to having printed at Walgreens. (I've still got tot dust the hutch and figure out exactly where all of these newly framed photos will fit...)

Actually, when I consider that it has only been since the Superbowl that we got things rolling with decorating around here, that doesn't sound so strange to have so many projects still on the to-do list.

(I seem to use major events or holidays as my motivation I am noticing.)

(I guess I should start thinking about Mother's Day now.)

(And remember to be thankful that we will be out of town for Memorial Day weekend.)

*sigh*

Do you think I have time to pick up some pansies and get them potted after I grocery shop and hit the Post Office after work today?

My blog has moved...back!

My log has moved back here to Typepad.....

Please update my URL address on your blog roll if you have me listed, or grab my button. I want to thank everyone that reads my blog. I appreciate you and love hearing from you!

Tracey

Catching up.

Well. 

It's been another long stretch without a post. I know. Try as I may, life has been ca-razy busy, and, well...

Let's catch up, shall we?

Far too much has been going on to cover it all in one lil' blog post, so I'll just cover a couple of the highest points.

Let's see. Where do I start?

Work has been busy, with me prepping for a project I have been working on, which included quite a few evenings at home tweaking handouts, and creating props. (And you know how I love a project like that!)

We got the Sewing Queen all semi-settled in up here and she is in the middle of unpacking moving boxes and trying to find some of her sewing accessories as I type this. We are thrilled to have her here!

Then, I spent this past weekend with my two daughters, celebrating a milestone birthday for Carter and Coen's Mama. (How can she be 30 when I am only 42?!) We had a fabulous Girl's Weekend, complete with an overnight trip to the Allison Resort and Spa for some much appreciated foofifying and relaxing, laughing our heads off, as well as a marathon shopping expedition, and eating way too much.

On the home remodel front, our projects are getting buttoned down and things are looking aaaaah-mazing! 

Let me interupt myself here to say that my Rock n' Roll Buddy deserves a shout out here. He has been the driving force behind making this fabulous make over happen in record time, not to mention being the ultimate egg-McMuffin of bargain shopping, swinging some of the most eye popping price deals I have ever seen. Now, this is extra hard to picture if you know him, as the house has been in the exact same state as when he first moved in, back in the 80's. (We are not talking about a guy that typically embraces change here, people.)It's truly been a fun time and we are both pretty thrilled with the outcome.

Now, back to my post...

I have been waiting to share pictures because the plantation shutters took three weeks to be made. Since we were having them installed in every room,(pinch me!!!) there was no way to really capture any room without it looking undone due to a window without anything on it. (Unless you count the sheet we swagged across the living room window to shield us from the sun while we watched the Superbowl.)

Anyway.

The exciting installation was yesterday, and so I am gearing up to share our grand reveal. (Doesn't that sound dramatic? Trust me, the change is incredible and we both keep saying how it feels like we live in a brand new house.)

Here's a lil' peek at the installation process in the family room. The sliding doors got "Slide-By" shutters and my-oh-my! I adore them! The look of plantation shutters with the ease of sliding them open to go in and out the door, or let cool air in in the summer time!......

We're down to the accessorizing stage now, and I must say, that is my most favorite part of decorating. You know, adding touches that reflect our personalities really warms up a room. I can't wait to show you everything...room..by room..by room!

Good news, bad news, good news, good news, bad news, good news.

The last two weeks have pretty much been an ear-to-ear-grinning happy blur of home projects that domino'd into more home projects, (good news!) but I haven't had television, nor internet for that entire time, (bad news!) so I couldn't share any of it with you!(God only knows what crazy looks Steven Tyler has given folks on Idol these past couple of Wednesday and Thursday evenings that I will never see, and who's still around on The Bachelor?....)


Yes, plenty of late nights and early mornings spent picking up supplies and greeting workers, all without my trusty MAC and the world wide web.

Not too worry, as I have photos to document pretty much every step of the fun progress, (good news!) starting tomorrow!

How big of an undertaking was it? Well, let's just say that in exactly two weeks we accomplished a home re-do project that would have typically taken the average home renovator two months. (Good news!) We literally got the kitchen back to operating order,and the furniture back in place just in the nick of time for our Superbowl party. We should have had our ehads examined, after pulling a nearly all-nighter (we made our way to bed at about 4:30 a.m. for a couple hours sleep before setting the last minute things up for the party....) with my Rock n' Roll Buddy tweaking the surround sound system and me hanging pictures, fluffing pillows, and removing the layer of sheet rock dust that seems to be everywhere.In the end, it was worth every minute of sleep we lost. (You'll see, starting next post!)

Now then....

I'd like to address a comment (bad news) that I got a couple of days ago from someone that signed her name Carol but chose to post as "Anonymous" rather than link to her own blog or email address so that I could reply privately. I don't get these kinds of comments to terribly often, and when I do, I usually leave them alone. I respect all of you out here in Blogland and I honestly think (I hope) most of you realize that sometimes life gets busy and...well, things happen, like no internet due to a remodel project that required you to unplug all of your electronics including your wireless modem. Couple this with not enough time after work to pop over to a nearby Starbucks to write and publish a blog post, because you're back and forth fifteen times to Home Depot with your new best friend in the canned lighting department each night till they close at nine.....

Anyway.

Here is her comment in it's entirety: (or read it yourself in the comment section following my last post here. )

Hi Tracey,

I'm excited to see what you're going to do with your new home. Finally. However, I've noticed that you hardly ever post anymore. How come? I've been reading your blog since before Mr. whatshisname left and you used to post every day or nearly every day. Surely, you can come up with SOMETHING for your readers....a recipe, a table presentation, a light fixture or paint color you like. I have a friend who has an acquaintance who writes a blog and she gets paid for it by how many clicks she has on her blog. I'm assuming you get paid for this blog. You are jipping your readers if you are getting paid because people are clicking to see if your posting. It's been TWELVE days since you've posted ANYTHING!!!

Carol 

*sigh*

Well, thanks, Anonymous Carol.

I guess it's a good thing that it didn't turn out I hadn't posted due to a hideous family emergency.

Being snotty and snipey isn't pretty and frankly, it just isn't my style. (And it's not appealing on anyone else for that matter, Carol included.) I'm sharing this comment because I do care about all of my readers (Anonymous Carol included) and I hope you're not mad at me for being away. Please know that I was thinking of you, and that should be confirmed with the amount of photo documentation I did during our big-fat-remodel adventure..truly, you will feel like you were there with me, every exciting, dusty, messy, take-out-mealed step of the way.

On yet another note, I am at last announcing the winner of the Word of the Year Banner. (Still more good news!) I did the drawing on the 28th but had no way to share the news...

The winner is Amber, with  her word being "Bloom". Thanks to all of you who entered my giveaway, and continued to check in here for blog posts!

On Golden Pond.

You know I pretty much never remove my rose colored glasses. That's just who I am.

I always see things in a kind of romatic-fantasy-fairy-tale kinda way. One of my best friends calls it "Tracey-ville". When I start talking about a place I love, or even the way I plan on setting up a room, or a tablescape, she will interject, "Oh, you're living in Tracey-ville again".

I'm okay with that....'coz they say that, for a thing to happen, it must first be a dream.

Here's an example of that-

Way back when, in 2007 to be exact, I wrote about a wonderful. magical little town up here in the Pacific Northwest. That charm filled little spot was Camas, Washington. I shared how I'd love to live there...and.. Wow! God heard me, and a couple of years later I found myself living..here. In sweet, sweet Camas, Washington.

Since moving up here to the Pacific Northwest, I have discovered many other wonderful places and destinations near by. I'd have to say, (and in fact, have said it so many times to my friends that they can finish my sentences about it)far and away my most favorite discovery since relocating up here has to be the incredible Birkenfeld Country Store, located in Birkenfeld, Oregon, population 12.

*sigh* Little teeny-tiny slice o' heaven on earth. That's what it is. 

Sooooo...Over the past year and a half, we've traveled the picturesque hour and forty-five minute(each way)car drive to the Birk for many band gigs. The fabulous people I told about in this blog post have become our friends.

I had tried many times to figure out just why so many amazing people lived way out there, some of them opting to drive an hour and a half each way all week into Portland for work, and then congregating at the Birk on Saturday nights for music, socializing and Wendy's world famous smokehouse burgers. 

Well, now I know.

It's Fishawk Lake.

Last weekend before the band gig, we were invited to stop in for a visit with some of our Birkie friends at their home on the Lake, which is just a few (Four? Five?)short miles from the Birk.

Oh. My.

We took a turn off the main two lane road, onto a smaller two lane road. It meandered down and around through beautiful trees and over a little dam. We both pretty much uttered breathy wow's at the same time as we made the turn and caught our first glimpse of the lake. It reminded me of the movie "On Golden Pond" and "Funny farm" both at the same time.

Peaceful, quiet beauty. Homes of various styles and sizes nestled in under the trees and on the water's edge. Everyone had little boat docks and I swear I could feel the friendliness and charm just oozing out of this little community. 

Our friends have lived on Fishawk lake for fifteen years...anyway I think that is what she said.(What do I know? I had her name wrong when I wrote about them the first time!)I hope they don't mind that I'm sharing their picture...they're just such a cute couple!

As I was drooling all over my sweater while I  looked out their living room window at the lake, she shared with us how they have a "Dock Crawl" where they do open houses at different times of the year and everyone has so much fun. (Be still my heart! It's Stars Hollow on the lake!)Summer time finds the lake filled with paddle boats and ducks out in the yard at the water's edge.


Some folks live at Fishawk Lake full time and commute to work, others are retired, and still more use their sweet Fishawk Lake-home as a get away for summers, or weeks and weekends.


I can tell you that if I were to have a get-away place, it wouldn't take me two minutes to tell you where it would be. Forget Hawaii, or Mexico, or the Caribean, or the grandness of Lake Tahoe for that matter...I'd take a lil' place on Fishawk Lake, in Birkenfeld, Oregon, thankyouverymuch.

Let it snow!

After the driest December on record, and January starting off the same way (And please, do not think for one minute that I am complaining!) We got a dusting of the white stuff last night! Such a nice lil' surprise for our new year....

Baby steppin' on into Twenty-Twelve.

I bet you thought I have been just so danged busy getting myself organized that I haven't had a minute to write a post.

 

Ehem.

Oh, how I wish it were so. I have been busy, yes, but the getting organized part, notsomuch....not yet anyway. I am easing into my New Year's Resolution thing this year. You know, baby steps. (Think of the movie, What About Bob? and you'll know what I mean..)

Anyway,speaking of New Year's, I came across the sweetest lil YouTube duet from Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and even though I am rather late for New Year's Eve 2011 (or maybe I am incredibly early for New Year's Eve Twenty-Twelve?) I just had to share, 'coz I think it will make you smile.

See? Pretty cute, huh?

Back to my New Year's Resolutions... just so you know, getting organized isn't my only resolution. I also have stuff like drink more water, get on a better budget, and the rest of the typical list most of us think of when it comes to New Year's Resolutions. Actually, I always have the exact same resolutions every year. (It makes them easy to remember, and there always seems to be room for improvement.) 

Anyway.

Becoming more physically fit is always on the list, and this year, I have actually embraced this resolution and have started working out. In the past, I always had used the price of a gym membership as my standard excuse, but all employees were given a completely free health club membership through my job, so I felt God was trying to tell me something.) 

While I am not 100% into my fitness routine,(I'd say I am about 77% there though..) I can tell you that I am going to the gym at least three days a week (shooting for five, but...aaah.... Baby steps.)

...and I have begun to collect some semi-cute work out clothes. (As the fabulous Coco Chanel said "“I don't understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that's the day she has a date with destiny. And it's best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.” How can you argue with that?) 

So, I've been (and continue to be) a busy lil' bee, between work, and working out, and band gigs, and fun with family and friends...and I am striving to get organized, but I am going easy on myself so as to improve my odds for success...time will tell, and we'll see how that goes.


Baby steps.

Kiss last year goodbye.

I still can't quite believe it's New Year's Eve, 2011 already, can you?

You know I am a fanatical baker. This week I finished up my holiday baking by doing cookies and dipped pretzels for the neighbors and a few more friends. (I ran out of treats and time last week to include them all.) I stuck with my white theme, but changed the theme of my tags to New Year's.

Speaking of New Year's Eve..what will you be doing tonight?

We will be out of town with my Rock n' Roll Buddy's sis and her hubbs, and we'll be listening to one of the best local bands around... Do you ring in the new and celebrate the old, or do you call it a night early? 

Whatever you are doing, I wish you a wonderful and prosperous twenty twelve, filled with everything your heart might desire.

My favorite Martian.

(Photo Source)

**We had a very Merry Christmas 'round here, and I hope yours was wonderful too, but that's so not the theme of my post-holiday-blogpost today...**


So, I am aware that I may have already lost some of you with my title and the photo above.(and by "some of you" I mean everyone under the age of 35. If you're confused, you can get up to speed right here.)

You know how that guy wrote that book about women being from Venus and Men from Mars? Well, okay, so I never actually read it myself, but I am fairly certain the concept is that women are all about thinking (over-thinking?)..er..feeling...with our hearts (hence the Venus, Goddess of Love reference) and men are...well, I have no real idea (maybe I should have read the book?)except that I think they are much more basic, and logical,(or maybe that should be illogical...) although not any less complex to women. 

They are most definitely not as touchy-feely-heart-on-our-sleeve-ish as we girls are. (Apparently that is where the Mars reference comes in. They are Martians, for Pete's sakes. It's no small wonder we have trouble communicating with them.)

Anyway.

I have been pondering all of this lately because I am realizing that I am rather a novice level girl in the boy-girl communication department when it comes to getting my thoughts across to my Rock n' Roll Buddy. Maybe it comes from not having a long list of men on my relationships list, and having spent multiple decades with one man...er...Martian.

That other Martian and I developed our own way of showing our feelings and communicating in a particular way that became familiar...a habit.

For. Three. Decades.


Then, I spent five years solo. I didn't realize it, but I grew fairly comfortable with making my own decisions, both the itty-bitty-little ones and the ginormous ones.

Take all that into account, and add the fact that I am..well, let's just say it, fif-fif-fifty five. We are both older, and  more set in our ways wiser, and finding a way to blend our material belongings (while trying to figure out which of the other person's items hold sentimental value to them...) along with discovering ways of communicating our opinions (along with two cents on definite home-decor ideas from both parties) without injuring anyone's heart, become a rather delicate task.

For five years,I didn't have to ask anyone if they liked the giant vintage firewood holder I  ran out and bought for the living room. I just went with my gut. 

And now,....well,I get on auto pilot, like we all do on Venus, and assume just how my Rock n' Roll Buddy will respond, (Que in background music and pan in to Tracey-ville, USA, with Ward Clever smiling in lustful admiration at June as she shows him the fabulous wood holder, making his life oh-so-complete.)I assume he will appreciate certain things I do and say in the same manner that the other Martian did for thirty some years.(I came to this incorrect conclusion by the way, by surmising that, after all, they are both Martians, right?)

Only, that isn't what happens.

His response is...different than I was accustomed to way back when. Different than I expect. (Typical Martian....)

*sigh*

Me, being from Venus, with all of my romantic notions,(mmm hmmm,very clearly a Venus girl all the way, what with serving him his heated syrup in a sweet lil' pour-cup for pancakes, and having lil' felted wool birdies in snow hats adorn our winter-time table scape...)while he, quite obviously has to be from Mars.(How else can you explain the need to keep two working microwave ovens in the same kitchen, and three cordless drills in the garage?) 

I feel very much like I am trying to master a foreign language of some sort. There is a learning curve in blending personalities and belongings from two such different planets, and I am grasping little pieces of wisdom....most importantly, I can tell you that he is definitely my favorite Martian. 

Oh, how I LOVE a surprise!

Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!!!! I..we... had the most fabulous surprise this weekend!

I shared a while back that my first born daughter had gotten engaged. Well....since then, no date for the wedding had been set, and all kinds of ideas had been tossed around; a destination wedding, a quiet trip to the courthouse with a party afterwards, a planned elopement...but no date set and no progress on the plans. Trust me, I threw out all sorts of suggestions, and themes (a Christmas wedding? New Years Eve? How about something in a barn? A fabulous dinner after watching them burst out of the courthouse?) and even began gathering pictures for ideas on my Pinterest board...(you know how I love a project, right?)

Anyway.

We were invited to Multnomah Falls Lodge for a dinner to meet my daughter's future in-laws, who are visiting for the holiday's from out of town.

I had seen an idea on Pinterest for little cards for the table to use as an ice-breaker of sorts...you know, a conversation starter. I ran the idea by the happy couple and then whipped them up. I popped the cards in my purse and we headed to the falls.

Little did we know, but once inside the charming room upstairs in the Lodge, the dinner was not just a dinner...it was a surprise wedding! Not a detail was forgotten, with both of my girls planning and plotting and organizing....Old silver pitchers and canning jars from home filled with white roses adorned the tables in the banquet room. There were favors of mittens and scarves for everyone to wear as we were escorted outside to a spot near the falls. We were given cups of hot cider and cocoa along for the chilly walk.

The happy couple were decked out in their wedding attire, and my daughter had the most incredible overcoat (from Anthropologie!) that was cut slightly higher in the front, and showed off the bottom of her vintage reproduction dress....breathtaking!

We took our seats and witnessed their vows...(The little men were entertained with raisins...)

...then we all returned to the upstairs room in the Lodge for a wonderful wedding dinner and cake. My pictures came out terrible due to some screw-ball adjustments I made to the shutter speed or something or other. (Sheesh...) Thank goodness the professional shots should be here within a week or so and I can share more then.

I am still smiling as I remember the complete and total surprise upon realizing we'd all been tricked (some were told it was a charity event, others a dinner, and who knows what all else!) and what a spectacular day it was.

edited at 4:00 PM to add: here's a link of just some of the pictures from the photographer!