I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Monday, December 21, 2015

Out and About ~ It's Christmas!



Hi! How is everyone? Excited? Exhausted? Bored to tears? I've been having a very fun Christmas. Besides spending time at home with family and friends and Mo, there's been some excellent girly outings to share with you.
First--and sadly the last [of this year] Flea was on Sunday. It was big and bustling and packed with junk and folks enjoying the sunny crisp day.


I always get a kick out of the washing machine guys. Do these things even work?


And Santa was there! Selling granny's garage crapola, just like a regular guy.


Also my pet peeve--I got there early but even as I entered the market a dealer was frantically repacking her pastel mercury glass Shiny Brite ornaments and she whisked them away before I could grab even one or two of the very lovely selection.
Of the items I was bemoaning not buying last visit, only the pretty sweater--pickle green, red, cream, mustard--hand knit fair isle sweater was still there. I wanted to felt it and use it for Christmas cushions and other crafty things. BUT it was quite small and no bargain at 20.oo firm. I also loved this enormous 12 gallon pickle crock, speaking of pickles. It was taller than my knee, really big and cool. But I couldn't imagine how I'd get it to my car, so ---no.


Earlier in the week, my friend L and I made our annual Christmas trip to the pretty flower nursery, over the bridge on the mainland.


It's not tres chic---or all white---but it's gaudy and glittery and fun and we love it.


Ideas for decorating in and out.








Lots of lovely real trees. I hope they all find a good home.



We loved these herb topiary trees, great gift idea. They smelled delicious, especially the rosemary.





Many beautifully decorated trees.





And their specialty, fairy houses, was all tiny gingerbread homes for the gnomes and elves.









The shop is located in a bustling harbor village, so it specializes in beachy and nautical [aka ''coastal''] Christmas decor.










 I picked up a few little stocking stuffers that I can't show off right now.


So pretty! We then stopped at Trader Joe's so I could buy a selection of unusual cheeses for my Christmas Day afternoon antipasto platter. And peppermint ice cream.




On Friday my good friend B drove down from upstate for a thrifting day and dinner. We made it to the thrift shop without getting lost! Yay! Sadly prices there are outrageous, and discouraging. A beautiful modern, machine quilted throw in whole-cloth taupe reversing to cream cotton, scalloped edges, was 49.99! But what caught my eye was this grouping of cashmere sweaters.At one time I was collecting these sweaters and cutting them into squares about paperback book sized to make into a colorful cozy cashmere throw someday. This batch had great unusual colors.  Orange! You never see orange cashmere....But they were 8.99 each! And if I got 10 of them it added up to more than $100.oo with tax. No way! Across the street at the big Marshall's there were gorgeous cashmere throws from Ralph Lauren and--Tahari?--for less. In chic neutral colors, no difficult knitty sewing involved. I was a little sad though. And went home with nothing.


We had delicious Thai food, right across from my bigger town's main square [where the farmers market usually is]. The lights were so festive and fun. We made up for our disappointing thrifting day by shopping in the surf shops there on the main drag. I got myself a very cool "Surf Wax" soy candle. I love shopping local, especially in the surf shops,lol.


There's an outdoor skating rink here under the glittery trees.


B thought I was nutty but she patiently drove us home by a circuitous route so I could look at all the outdoor Christmas lights on the houses. Christmas lights weren't part of her childhood in Queens but they were a big deal at my house. I love how happy and hopeful they look in the dark winter nights.


Here's Mo too, lighting up, in his special reflective sweater. Thank you again, Mel!



love 

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Yule. Winter begins now but the days are getting longer. Something to savor. And don't forget to admire the rare Christmas Day full moon.





Mo killed the Christmas Tree watering can.
And ate it.

PS Speaking of decorations, have you seen this idea? Mercury glass pine cones, painted with Krylon's "Looking Glass" spray paint. [try Amazon, Home Depot prob won't have it] I must make these, to fill my big wooden bowl in January. So cool.  They also tell how to bleach pine cones, for that chic white Christmas look.
http://goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com/2013/11/give-pine-cones-whole-new-look-for.html


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11 comments:

  1. What fun pictures especially Mo and the watering can! I have a primitive wooden crèche that one of my pups got into years ago....let's just say baby Jesus and one of the wise men have issues!! I just love TJ's selection of cheeses. They didn't have the fig goat cheese at mine but I got vanilla and wild blueberries! We love their Unexpected cheddar!! So good....I'll have to try some of your choices. Merry Christmas Lizzy and Mo!!

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    1. Merry Christmas, Cathy! Let me know which cheeses you get and which you like.

      lizzy

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  2. What a great trip! What is with some of these thrift stores, you go in and they think they are upscale antique stores. I went into one and saw a cute little jar with a green lid, perfect for a little scene at Christmas, they wanted $7.00 for it! No way. Just in from picking up the turkey and hopefully that will be the last of my shopping. Our latest snow storm just arrived. Wish I could send you some. Merry Christmas Lizzy and Mo!

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    1. Yes! A doggy bowl was 7.99, and across the street at Marshall's the same bowl was 2.00. But I m sorry you didn t get your jar. Good news is, you got snow! How exciting. Have a wonderful Christmas, Kit.

      lizzy

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  3. Merry Christmas! Poor Mo, I bet there was some tummy regret. Enjoy your holiday!

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  4. Yes. I m washing all the white slipcovers even as I type this. LOL.

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  5. I just had to share, I loved Mo so much in his Christmas card outfit that he is now my wallpaper and it makes me smile when I sign on each day. :) Kit

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  6. The flower shop/nursery is so festive!

    Why was the dealer with the mercury glass ornaments packing up so early?? You'd think they would take an extra minute if they realize you were interested. I want to try the pine cone painting thing, and maybe the bleaching too. Great ideas!

    Oh nooo, good think you HAVE slipcovers that can be washed, lol.

    Enjoy the rest of the week!

    kel

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    1. The dealer---well, who knows? She d been out since dawn and was fed up/ her kid had a hockey game/ she had a party to go to/ the Giants kickoff was at noon? The portopotty was broken?

      I ll let you know if/ when I get the paint and do the pinecones. If the rain stops Mo and I will go out looking for pinecones. Have a great holiday.

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  7. What a fun outing! I'm jealous that you have festive places to go.

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