Waiting for garlic

I was preparing rosemary chicken for Sunday supper. I realized that I forgotten the garlic as I was placing Chuck in the pot. I set him in the crock and turned back to my chopping board. When I checked on him a moment later, I was struck by how much he looked like a little pink, bumpy guy patiently waiting for his doom. My daughter Emma said, "Oh Mom, Look at him! I'll go get my camera!" Several hours later we had him with sauteed spinach and garlic toast. Delicious!
[R.I.P. Chuck the Chicken]

A Box of Complete Joy

Okay, so my friend Gail calls and says there's an estate sale by her house. I pulled my jeans on so fast your head would have spun. I was not that optimistic since it was close to noon already, but oh how wrong I was! Spring green linen napkins (.25 ea), vintage wrapping paper; florals and Christmas (large pile for $2), old decks of playing cards still tucked away in their boxes (.50). I think you get my drift. The creme de la creme was in the upstairs bedroom. A box FULL of 1940's and 50's New Year's hats and noisemakers. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. The colors! The glitter! The crepe paper! The POLKA DOTS! Guess how much....5 bucks for the box. Oh Joy!

Holiday Mantel... to be continued...

After a long dry summer, the mantel is now ready for prime time. First in the holiday showcase is Halloween of course. We haul up the orange and black plastic bins (half off sale at Target) and it's like Christmas in October. My kids have their favorite festive gems....mostly vintage, but not all. I admit to having one resin piece, but cut me some slack, it was a gift from my mom to my daughter on her first Halloween. My favorites are the black pottery kitties (only one is shown) from the Penny Whistle thrift store in Ardmore, PA. It was worth moving 3,000 miles just to get my hands on these. Please note: the bow ties are orange. (!) Once I tried to put a votive inside them but their heads got very hot and just about blew off. That would have been a tragedy. In a couple of weeks it will be time for the turkeys to take over...mmmmmm!

Does it ever stop raining here?

Its Saturday and I am spending this wet soggy day in my studio. Making Christmas goodies and eating comfort foods. When my daughter wakes up - sometime after noon - I will ask her to help me post some photos. Goodie.