I don't really feel very much like Christmas right now.My spirit took a major hit last Monday night when my son and his girlfriend were attacked and beaten in this little bar/restaurant near his home. No one helped his girlfriend or him when they were attacked, no one called the police. It wasn't a few punches it was a beating totally unprovoked and the male person bit part of my son's nose off. Now he faces months of plastic surgery and healing, both physically and mentally. No one helped, they didn't even call 911. It has rather dented my faith in the goodness of people. I know there is always a reason for things that happen so now I will await the outcome. Tomorrow will come and we will celebrate the day without this child and his girlfriend but they will be with us in our hearts. They have chosen to curl up at home and have a very quiet day, something they would not have if they were with us, and something they need. So tomorrow we will celebrate the day and delight in our grand babies and say many thank you prayers that this child and his girlfriend are alive. Merry Christmas to all

Surprise

In my shop window, for Christmas, we had this wonderful old sideboard that we refinished, and painted white. It even went to Junk Salvation, but came home. So for Christmas it went in the window with the black re purposed dish dresser and a Christmas tree on top. Figured it was a safe bet. It wouldn't sell before the holiday, yup the perfect window for a Horatio's Christmas. Black, white, silver and pinks, just really perfect. Sold that sideboard today. It's going home at the end of the week with yup, a big pink bow. So, tonight we were supposed to get our tree, but instead we're at the shop pulling the side board out of the window and resetting about half the shop floor. Gotta love the new arrangement. It's all in woods now except for the tree. I'm just delighted that moving the tree went so easy. We are talking a fully decorated Christmas tree here with not one broken ornament. Happy dance for a good day. As for the tree at home, well maybe Wednesday. Because of our own version of itty bitty kittens,we now have three Nigel, Fitch and Gilly Hicks, I'm not sure this tree will have many decorations. They certainly are busy. Peace and Joy to all

Time

The time this year has most certainly gone too fast. It seems the older I get the faster time goes. We just put Christmas away and now we are dragging it all out again. It is so fun to unwrap and find all our decorations. It is like finding old friends. This year I had some expert help from our two youngest grandbabies. They enjoyed the stories about the where and when and why of some of the inherited Santas and Grampy's nutcrackers. We had to get some of the family albums out so they could see pictures of their great grands who had these Santas before. So we decorated and had family history 101 on a very simple level. I do wonder how I used to get everything done when my five were little though. When their parents came to pick them up it was fun to see their faces as they too remembered the decorations and those who came before. Merry Christmas to all

Not one but two

I did it, really did it and survived the whole thing. We did not one show this weekend,but two. We were tucked into a cozy space at Junk Salvation, and our usual spot at Crossroads Doll and Bear Show. We set up for both on Friday, which was a bit of fun and by Friday night I was wondering why but it was fun. Both shows were full of happy people. That is a contagious feeling and nice to experience. It was also a chance for folks to support their local vendors and economy. Shopping local keeps your favorite little shops in business and your tax dollars at home. If you choose not to shop local, before this nonsense with our economy is over, your favorite little shops will be gone.

Labor Day

Once upon a time, long long ago, Labor Day weekend meant finishing up all the canning and grandma and Ben's birthday picnic at my aunt and uncle's beach house on Fox Island. All to quickly it became just canning as we lost our old ones. Then it was the final prep to get the older kids ready for school. All to soon they were all off to school and I went back to work for the district. Now it is all about cleaning and finishing those summer projects. You know those infamous summer projects that we all schedule because the days seem to last forever. So we spend this weekend scubbing the kitchen, cupboards, pantry, drawers and all and it really does look good and I can find everything. The fall grocery list is made cause I cleaned and reorganized the pantry yet again. Then because I'm cold I sorted out the long pants and put away a few pairs of summer shoes. Just a few pair. I don't like wearing shoes. I will postpone that as long as possible. It wasn't a weekend at the beach, but it was fun in its own way to get the list knocked down. It is still very long and as lists go I have added a few more things. We even marked a 10x10 foot square on the shop floor so I can plan my booth at the Funky Junk Show in October. Here is where my sanity is in question for we are doing 2 shows on the same weekend. The Crossroads Doll and Bear Show and The Junk Salvation. Fortunately they are maybe 5 miles apart and I have a terrific honey who will work one show. I will have the master plan and schedule to end all schedules and we all know what happens to the best laid plans. It is a good thing life is an adventure and not meant to be boring.....

H&M

For those of you who love to shop at H&M a new store is opening at the Tacoma Mall. The magic date is Thursday, September 9th at noon. Though you might want to get there early. They are giving out gift bags while supplies last to those first in the store. They are apparently having some great sale items on things that are to be regular price at their other Washington stores. This store will also have product that the other stores won't.
How do I know you ask. My daughter is helping to open the store. She's been unloading semis full of product and fixtures all week. She's exhausted and dozing on the couch almost as soon as she gets home. She's found muscles she forgotten she had since she stopped dancing. She says the store is beautiful with some marble topped tables and oriental carpets. It doesn't look like any of the other stores, but has all the departments so have fun shopping.

The grandbabies are waking up. All five of them came to the end of summer sleepover at Grampy and Grammy's yesterday. We had dinner at McDonald's and played in the park. Played games and ate ice cream at 10:00 at night. Then there were the movies to watch. Batman was the first choice and one by one they crashed. Never did get to the rest. They have decided that next summer they want to ride the train to Seattle and spend the day. So we told Noah, who is 2 1/2 that he must be done with diapers by then. No presure there, he has a year cause this Grammy isn't changing diapers in Seattle.
This will be a busy year for the four oldest, their parents are torn between celebrating and crying. The fourth starts school school this week. Just leaves Noah to hang out with his Grammy at the shop. Can't believe they've grown up so fast. Our oldest has been selected to spend a month in Europe next summer with one of the exchange programs. She is already to go. It will be interesting to see if mom and dad can let go.
Time for Grampy's pancakes and sausage then they are going to help scrub the two awesome old wooden bird cages I found this weekend.

Sidewalk Sale

This Saturday is the day. It's our annual sidewalk sale in historic downtown Puyallup. I'm cleaning out the back room. Nothing is safe from the sale table. I've cleaned out my fabric stash. Yup, that is always fun. Now I will have room for more.You'll find purses, ribbon flowers, Christmas items furniture, and all sorts of fun stuff on the sidewalk this Saturday at Horatio's. The weather is going to be great. Look forward to seeing you.

Hopefully now the whole picture will show of my favorite place to spend a warm afternoon, part of my front porch. Have a good weekend.

It doesn't seem like it's been so long since I've been here. I think it's true that time truely flies the older you get. Enjoy the rest of summer. We have one more grammy and grampy's slumber party before school starts in a little over three weeks and some beach time is due and painting the living room and........

I was warm today

It's a family joke, because I'm always cold until the temperature hits at least 75. Don't know what it ended at today but I was warm, and it felt so good. If only it would last. We found an old sideboard with awful veneer, but otherwise in good shape considering it's 80 plus years old today. So the veneer is gone and tomorrow we'll sand and paint. The goal is to have it in the shop by Wednesday evening. I've been counting my blessings today and have decided that I'm very lucky. No money, but in all the things that are really important. I also have wheels of my own again. Two of them. They are a bubble gum pink Schwinn beach cruiser complete with a basket in the front. I'll be the crazy lady cruising through Puyallup on my wheels. Busy week ahead so blessed be to all.

I am ready to be warm

Yes, bring on the sun, please. Easter Sunday was wonderful with lots of good food, warm fuzzy little kids, more than enough plastic stuffed eggs, and just plain fun. However, it was a good thing all we had to bring was scalloped potatoes, cause I was to busy outside. I just went out to pick up brances from last weeks storm and one thing led to another and three hours later the pick up was full of yard waste. Just a prune here and a snip there, a bit of raking, oh heck might as well mow too. But it looks so much better. Was I done, oh no. Monday it was honey could you help me a sec and another load of yard waste was born. It felt so good, but cold, to be outside. So now I want to do the porch, but I do understand it's way to soon, but.............

Spring

We've spent the last couple of weeks enjoying spring and cleaning and rearranging the shop. We've unpacked some new treasures, fluffed and are ready for company. The trees downtown are budding out and the daffodils are blooming in the planters. It is a great time to shop in downtown Puyallup.
My friends, that are still teaching, have been popping in to visit. How I used to love spring break. It is like a new beginning. It stays light so long now and the colors. So many beautiful shades of green and the flowers....... Have a wonderful Easter

Celebration at our house

We are celebrating tonight. After ten long months of unemployment and having to move home our youngest has a new job. A good job. We are so happy for her.
The undecided bunny is finished and adorable holding its carrot. Still don't know if it's a he or she, but cute is for sure. If I hadn't put the camera away in a safe spot and could remember where that safe spot is, I'd post its picture. In the meantime stop by the shop or see the cutie at the doll and bear show at the Puyallup Fair grounds March 13th and 14th.

Time

It doesn't seem like so many weeks since I was last here. Time , it just speeds on by. I told myself I couldn't play until taxes were done and I behaved. Scary. But all the taxes are done and on their way to the places they belong so now I can play. This weekend I'm dying lace and ribbon and shipping tags, and I have a half finished bunny. It's just a tiny bunny, about 10 inches or so with a sweet face. Its mohair is very sparse and carmelish in color. It is an it until it comes together and shouts I'm a boy or girl bunny. It feels good to be playing again.
I am patiently waiting for February to end. It is not my best month. The shop was robbed last February, our house 3 February's ago and so it goes. February was when I dealt with my breast tumor all those years ago. On the plus side for the month my oldest was born in February, and this year he turned forty. He's feeling old this year. I had to remind him that our friend and his honor grandmom just turned 80 and celebrated by putting a new roof on her garden shed. As in she did all the work. All of it. The ripping off of the old roof and laying the new. Hanging from the ladder and everything. She's what I aspire to when I grow old. It is all about the time

celebration time

It is party time, at least until the last load of laundry is done. You see, right now, for the first time in months I think, the ironing basket is empty.......At its peak, on New Years Day, it was at least stacked 3 feet tall. I really hate ironing and it doesn't take much for me to really really need to finish other things much more important. I am smugly sitting here looking at the empty basket, but I know the fool thing will grow again.
Yesterday honey and I took some time to play. We stopped by Today's Country Store to check out Kris and Amy's new look. It is wonderful. The colors so blend with what they do, and it was beautiful. They worked really hard to get all of the redo done so quickly so stop in and enjoy. Their store is soul food. Enjoy your week.