Hello! Earlier this week my friend Elle [L] and I made our lists of holiday and household must-do's and headed out to get a lot done before the cold weather arrived [today! brrr]. L is very efficient; if I go out with her, we get things DONE. And yet...in the midst of buying trash bags and picking up dry cleaning, returning to Trader Joe's in search of the elusive onion chutney and bacon wrapped dates---we made time to stop at our favorite home and garden nursery for some Christmas joy.
Truly we weren't even shopping---I got a few more bulbs for January, L got some air plants for her always dying fairy garden. We watched with a twinge of envy though as a woman bought dozens of poinsettias and little trees and many festive pine/ candle/ berry arrangements. She said she was having a big open house party this week. Wow.
She must have had a generous budget! And I could spend hundreds of dollars here, because the ornament selection is amazing.
The store is in a waterfront town, so they specialize in coastal Christmas.
Even coastal mantel decor.
We liked the little starfish trees here, and seaglass bottles, white pillar candles.
Many other inspirations, too: good easy ideas for deck and porch pots.
I made a version of this one for my front doorstep, but with Trader Joe greens and a burlap bow. I'd like to add some holly too. I can't have any live greens or berries in my house because they can be poisonous if Mo eats them. As indeed he will.
This is the shop from the outside. Nestled among the greenhouses and floral workshops is the original mid-1800s farmhouse. I love that quirky window left of the front door.
Beautiful big slim trees, real. This room smelled so wonderful.
More trees and fireplaces.
Gorgeous poinsettias.
I love the pink shades.
I thought the birch logs with tiny pine trees and bows were interesting and "woodland" or Nordic.
More ornaments..
A blue bucket full of fluffy snowmen.
The amaryllis were too expensive at 19.99 per bulb, but I got 5 paperwhite narcissus in a new unscented variety, for January flowers.
Someday L and I hope to go to the city, for the outdoor Christmas Markets. HERE But for now we're happy that we still share this outing every year, begun when we'd go to Fortunoff's to see the tiny trains and villages and all their gorgeous trees. Long gone now, but our tradition lives on.
love
lizzy
gone to the beach...
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I feel like its a tradition for me to come along with you via your blog! Such a pretty place!
ReplyDeleteThank you, once again, for sharing your lovely Christmas adventure.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you and Mo.
Hunter
Oh, fun detour in your shopping day! I love poinsettias but have rotten luck with them. On the other hand I probably would have bought a $20 amaryllis bulb - I had one that lived for 5 or 6 years and bloomed every year! I loved the starfish 'trees' and the cut-shell ornaments. The tree with big dolphins on it made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteLooks like maybe Mo is tired of hats? Or just sleepy?
Thanks for sharing!
I think that s just Mo's pug face!He seems okay with the hats, if properly bribed and praised.
DeleteI love the shell ornaments and trees, really thought the big fish were awful. Just---eeew.
My poinsettias live forever...and who wants a poinsettia in July. They never die and I hate to throw out a living plant. So I don t buy them anymore.
I enjoy my arm chair shopping trips with you! Everything is so lovely. Mo never fails to steal the show. He's a natural.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy our shopping, love sharing them here too. I m happy you enjoyed our outing.
Deletelizzy
What a great nursery to be able to visit. So many pretty things. :) I hope your weekend is going well. Kit
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kit. We has a good Christmassy weekend, of wrapping gifts and watching the snow fall.
DeleteSo many things to look at! How long were you there? Yes, really like the starfish trees, and the seamless bottle on the mantle. Not a huge fan of the dolphins on the coastal themed tree.
ReplyDeleteIs the window in the stairway? Odd, but very charming.
I've been meaning to ask what TJ's was out of last time you were there. Our neighbors made the most wonderful bacon and onion jam to give as gifts last Christmas.
Enjoyed the pics. Thanks for sharing with us!
Kel
PS Mo looking most handsome :)
Hi Kel, glad you [and everyone!] enjoyed this year's visit. It never gets old to me.
DeleteThe big fish in the coastal tree are so awful. What were they thinking. Even calling the big carp ''dolphins'' doesn't help. LOL LOL.
WE didn t stay long, 20 minutes?
The inside of the buildings is nothing like the outside, I ll have to poke around and figure out where the farmhouse area is on the inside. I do think you re right, the funny window maybe is in a stairs area...
Your friends' onion bacon jam sounds yummy. That s what I was looking for as a condiment for my prime rib, along w/ horseradish sauce, Bearnaise, and classic brown gravy. I did find TJ's onion garlic jam at the second TJs, but never did find Peppermint Bark, for fun little gifts for relatives, etc.
TJ s has gorgeous greens [pines, no holly], flowers including parrot tulips and candy pink hydrangeas!, and adorable little bitty real trees, maybe cyprus? Also many succulents for cute little gifts. I could spend hours there....
love
lizzy
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