And Finally Some Snow

We have snow! It's been so odd this year, 60 and even 70 degree weather in December. It's not that unusual to get warm days here and there, but day after day? Crazy! Today was the first time this season that most customers that came in had on winter coats. And this evening, it snowed. This is the view when I opened our front door. I didn't step out on the porch - Baby, it's cold outside!

Hmmm, that would make a good song title. Maybe that's already been done......

One year old - Already!

Our little guy is one year old today!

So hard to believe a whole year has gone by already.

We had a party for him yesterday, complete with his very own cake.

A little tentative at first.........

........but once he got hold of a fork, he dove in. 

We are crazy about our sweet grand-baby!

His personality is really starting to show.

He loves to laugh.

He loves people.

He  is constantly on the go, looking for the next thing to get into.

And though he knows what the word NO means, 

he doesn't necessarily feel the need to obey it. 

Sweet & Strong Willed.

It's going to get interesting!

December? Doesn't Feel Like It!

 It's December 12. And it's 70 degrees. Crazy.

This is the entrance to our shop today.

Door open. Birds singing. Wooden snowmen in the window melting.

Well, the part about the wooden snowmen melting may be a bit of an exaggeration.

This must be what Christmas in the south feels like.

Here in the northern panhandle of WV, we are used to doing our Christmas shopping all bundled up in coats & gloves & hats & boots. And complaining as we do so about how cold it is. 

I've heard it may finally turn to winter next weekend. Which will be kinda hard on the flowers that have decided to bloom this weekend. Crazy!

December? Maybe according to the calendar, but you can't tell it by the Christmas shoppers strolling along in their T-shirts!

Once a Drawer, Now a Shadowbox

Not all furniture can be saved.

Sometimes "trash to treasure" is simply not an option.

But even if the furniture piece as a whole can not be saved,

parts of it can be.

Oftentimes, the drawers are still decent.

And they make great shadowboxes!

I paired these ones with dolls and turned them into 

unique Americana pieces.

All it takes is a little imagination.

And a hot glue gun.

A Vintage Carol

New in the shop. 

Let's sing, shall we?

Nine egg beaters.

Eight kitchen utensils.

Seven rolling pins.

Six metal strainers.

Five butter paddles.

Four enamel pieces.

Three pastry cutters.

Two match holders.

And a partridge in a......

HEY!!!

What happened to the partridge?

Squirrel Encounters

Yesterday afternoon, I went out in our yard, 

and discovered this little guy had beat me to it.

We have an abundance of maple tree seed helicopters this year.

Apparently, they make for some good eatin'!

He knew I was there, he would stop every so often and watch me.

I would freeze, and he would soon go back to his meal.

I have no idea how long he had been there before I saw him,

but I watched him for at least 15 minutes.

The entire time, he was finding and eating the maple tree seeds.

In between bites, he would scamper up & down the maple tree in our yard.

I was beginning to think he had moved in, but George said he probably lives in the woods and was just visiting. We do often see a squirrel run through the yard.

We had just been talking the day before about how many squirrels we have been seeing along the road this year. It seems like they are everywhere. We never made the connection until I saw this one eating the maple tree seeds. But since there are more seeds than usual, maybe that explains why there seem to be more squirrels than usual. Very healthy looking squirrels!

Blog or Babysit? Babysit!

I took a couple months off from blogging. Why? A big reason was that I usually wrote posts in the mornings before going to the shop. I've been rather busy the last few months in the mornings though. Why? Because I had the privilege of watching our grandson in the mornings. He would get here about 6:45 AM, and I would have him until his daddy got back from his bus run which gave me just enough time to get ready to go.

He would also spend an hour or so many days in the shop with me. We waited on customers, and got new inventory ready to go on the floor.

And in our down time, we spent some time poking around on Pinterest.

His mama in off work now for the summer, so I have my mornings back. I'm gonna miss giving him his morning bottle! Let me tell you, they just don't come any sweeter than that little guy!

Since I won't be baby sitting as much now, I can get back to blogging. I have several post ideas in mind. Stay tuned!