Carole's Christmas Shop 2012

Maynard Greenhouse

Old Saybrook, CT

Carole opened her Christmas shop on Saturday...

...and by now all George's Christmas trees

 are ready outside the shop as well!

Every nook and cranny of this enchanting shop

 is filled with treasures! 

Seriously, 

I don't know how Carole manages to outdo herself each year!

Beautiful ornaments...

...glittery Wendy Addison selections

...gorgeous jewelry

Have a look....

I know...it's amazing!

If you are in the vicinity of Old Saybrook, CT...

be sure to visit Maynard Greenhouse and Carole's Christmas Shop

 ...stop in and tell Carole and George I say hi!

You will be soooo glad you did!

How was your Thanksgiving?

Mine was wonderful...

...we were with sister Mary Beth and family and friends.

We had turkey with all the trimmings

 and the most delicious desserts too! 

We are grateful for so many blessings...

Today, Dan and I ventured out to a few local shops...

steering clear of the Black Friday madness.

 It was very relaxing and fun to spend time with my "boy".

:)

Will be posting soon about the Holiday Open House

 at Taken For Granite in Stony Creek

 and my visit to Gather in Ivoryton

as well as a few more stops we made while shopping in CT.

Until then....

...take care!

Thanksgiving 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!

I had hoped by now to have posted all about my shopping adventures in Connecticut last Friday and Saturday...

...but TIME got away from me!

 The photo above was taken at Carole's Christmas shop

 at Maynard Greenhouse....oh my...wait until you see the rest!

Meanwhile...

Wishing you all the happiest of Thanksgivings...

Be back soon with photos of Carole's Christmas shop in Old Saybrook, Deanna's shop Gather in Ivoryton and Michele's shop Taken For Granite in Stony Creek.

Copper Love

Some coppery autumn photos for you...

Hope your week is going well.

:)

Angels Are Among Us

After the recent hurricane and snow storm in our area...

...there has been a tremendous response to those in need

  by family, friends and neighbors.

  

And not just by those that we know...or those in our community.

 A group of utility workers from California were outside our home,

 working in the cold in their shirt sleeves 

for days to bring us back power.

Thank you California guys!

The outpouring of love and offers of support by total strangers

 gives renewed faith in humanity...

...and strengthens our faith in God.

...and yet there are still those suffering and in great need.

This post is dedicated to those who have helped...

...and to those that are still helping.

Thank you.

.

Truly, there are angels among us.

Autumn Snow

We woke up this morning to five inches of snow.

Pretty.

Fortunately we still have our power...

...and nice warm heat.

But, I really wasn't ready for snow yet!

Especially right after the hurricane.

Many golden leaves are still clinging to trees

 and we haven't even celebrated our Thanksgiving yet!

However...after the events of this last week and a half

I'm learning to take things in stride

 and am grateful for things often taken for granted.

The snow has really made me think ahead to Christmas.

Pulling out coppery ornaments...

...sort of in-between....autumn and December.

Hope you are all having a good week.

And for those of you without power yet...

...like my sister Mary Beth in Westchester...

...hang in there! 

Sending warm wishes and hugs.

:)

What am I grateful for today?

Heat, light, hot food, hot showers

Cast My Vote and Picked A Winner

Today was wonderful

 with a warm house, electricity and sunshine!

We are feeling so fortunate as my sister still has no power...

...and of course, so many people have lost everything as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

Mr. Flea and I got out early in order to cast our votes

 in the Presidential election.

I had a little time to take a few pictures

 of my pretty deep green Belgium bottles and French canning jars.

Thinking of using more green and red

 in my Christmas decorations this year.

I used to always use this color palette...

but then... 

...moved more toward a white and natural

 Christmas the last few years.

  I like both.

 In fact...

I also love a blue and silver and gray Christmas combination.

Perhaps I will use all three!

I will probably leave out my lavender and purple bottles

 when I decorate for Christmas ...even though...

...that could be pretty too!

It's obvious I have no idea yet which way I will go! :)

Speaking of purple bottles...

...thank you for all your comments!

The randomly selected winner of the Giveaway is...

ZuZu from A Cottage In The Woods.

Thanks again so much for all your support,

 words of encouragement and prayers.

 You folks are the best!

:)

Safe!

We are safe with no damage to our home.

 Thank you for your emails, your prayers and thoughts during this terrible Hurricane Sandy.

 We have no power but hope it will be restored

 by the end of the week.

Please keep the many other people

 who have suffered so much loss in your prayers.

I will be back next week...hopefully power will be restored...

and will announce the winner of the purple bottle giveaway soon.

So grateful...

Take care, Laura