That Funky Little Store

I love when a new shop opens in our downtown! Especially when it is something that I like, like this unique gift shop with arts and crafts galore! The owner Jennifer was a lovely lady and I wish her all the best in this new venture. She has a very unique way of displaying items, I especially love the vintage bike with lights hanging from the ceiling and a display of vintage suitcase lids hanging over the entrance ( these pictures are from the Facebook page for the shop and there was no pic of the suitcase lids)
Jennifer paints these creative signs with sassy sayings which are displayed throughout the shop and a person could surely find an appropriate quip for a friend's gift here.
There are many re-purposed things like old ties made in to flower pins ( I had to have one of them) and vintage earrings made in to rings or pins.
The owner was open to me bringing a small display to sell some of my crochet items on consignment so I will be racking my brain for the best set up possible. (always a challenge)
And, finally...some more good news about our downtown...an Italian Cafe will be opening soon! With Pizza, pasta and GELATO!!! If you have never had that before it is an Italian style ice cream that is a little fluffier and comes in scrumptious flavors like pistachio, displayed in delightfully overflowing containers! We only had one Italian restaurant in this are which closed down a few months ago, so we are happy to have that void filled in our town!
Hopefully more fun places will open in our downtown adding to the ones already here! So much potential here!

The OTHER Walking Trail...

the branches we threw on the ice

the desolate path

boardwalk

ice ice baby!
Today, I went for a walk with my daughter and Rachel at a trail that is also only a few miles from my house. It is behind our mall and even though it is quite pretty there too, it is also a LITTLE scary. It is just so desolate, so I never go there by myself, but thought it would be fine if 3 of us girls went together. The first three people we saw were men walking by themselves, NOT wearing exercise clothes, one with his dog and one with a big stick, one older harmless looking guy. There are hardly ever any people in this park even though it is a good location and very pretty. There are just too many woodsy areas to go through with ditches on the side, so you feel isolated and a little creeped out by your self. Growing up in a big city makes you wary of walking alone in desolate places and I don't have a dog so this place is just for group walking! It is sad to be such a chicken, but it is impossible to relax if I am constantly looking back over my shoulder with every crackle in the leaves! We saw a woman ahead of us jogging by herself, but with two intimidating dogs to keep her safe and secure!
The board walk goes over the edge of a lake and even though it has been a high in the 50s lately, the water along the edge was still frozen. You know that you had lived in Florida too long when a fun idea was to through rocks and branches on the ice just to watch them glide along the surface. We wasted a good ten minutes doing that, but it was fun!

Walking in Winter

This morning at the outer part of Noccalula Park

during a neighborhood walk

A beautiful blue bird! The "inner park" is on the other side of the fence

the Falls are going strong these days!

looking in to the gorge

It feels good to be back at walking again and I hope I can really keep it up through winter. I love the Noccalula Park area because it is very peaceful but is located near a busy road so I don't feel isolated! I longingly gaze over the wooden fences to the inner park where I have enjoyed so many walks in months past. Ahhhh....those were the days...
I walked in my neighborhood one day but was joined twice by loose dogs, one which followed me closely for a couple of streets. I used the "Dog Whisperer" technique of ignoring and not making eye contact so it would think I was the leader of the pack, ha ha! It worked, because it soon left me looking rather bored. I had to use it again when an unrestrained dog in a yard barked furiously at me until I passed by on the other side of the street, "Dog Whispering" ignoring technique again!
So I thought I would return to Noccalula this morning, and as I passed the main entrance to the inner park I noticed that the gate was open. Hmmm, that's interesting, at Christmas the train connductors told me they weren't opening the gates again until the park opened in March. It was too desolate this morning, I think the county workers were off for New Years Eve, so I stayed walking on the perimeter but I will have to call after the holidays to see if the inner part is open for walkers. I hope so, because as you know, I love that place!
Hope your night is everything you want it to be! Happy 2011!

Holiday Time in Pictures

Kavi took this picture of me on Christmas day with my camera, that is why I made a silly face :P

Christmas Eve we acted like tourists and went to Downtown Disney!
Christina and Kavi and Snowman

Kavi (my grandson in case you didn't know)having a blast on Christmas Morning

Kavi and Daddy at Downtown Disney

When Stina and Kavi were in Alabama we went to see Afton in a Christmas play!

This past month has been jammed full of the funnest times. Two and a half weeks here in Alabama with my daughter and grandson! Christmas shopping together, a craft bazaar, Christmas lights and so much fun at Noccallua Park, Antique stores, lunches out, hot tea and cocoa every night!
Then to Florida for me and Christina and Kavi where we had more fun Christmas shopping at Ikea and the International Mall in Tampa, Greek Food, Italian Cookies, Chinese Food, Pizza! (whenever we visit Florida we load up on all of the foods we love and which are either not available in our town or just not that tasty there) Downtown Disney on Christmas Eve, just like respectable tourists. ( it is an area outside of the theme parks with shops, restaurants and a stage with free entertainment) We ate at The Rainforest Cafe which is decorated like a tropical jungle with monkeys, elephant, tropical fish tanks and a thunderstorm that happens every twenty minutes. At first my grandson was not happy with the gorillas that were near our table, but by the end of the meal he was happily looking at the silly fake monkeys!
Then preparing for Christmas Dinner, with delicious Indian food, homemade meatballs and sauce which is my husband's family recipe, pasta, roasted Brussels sprouts (my new favorite vegetable that I used to hate) delicious salad, eggplant, desserts and more hot tea and cocoa every night!
Now we are all back in our separate states in our separate homes missing each other but also recovering from the past month's activities!
I started going for walks these past two days, because I have been a very bad undisciplined girl for this past month and needed it very badly! Hope your holidays were fun and festive too! I am not sure I will be able to stay up to midnight tomorrow, but I will try!
Happiest of New Years to you and all your loved ones!

While We Were Away!

our backyard

our snowy home

For the first time in recorded history, the county I live in had a White Christmas! Imagine the joy on children's faces to look out their windows seeing that lovely sight. Snowballs to be thrown, snowmen to be made, oh the joy! My family however was in Florida for Christmas with my daughter, son in law and adorable grandson! Although it was annoying to be in the Sunshine State while magic was happening back home, I wouldn't have traded it for the world. My family is precious, loving, fun, entertaining and a greater joy to be around than snow. And that, my friends , is saying a LOT because I do love snow!
The pictures above were captured by our friends who knew that we would love to see our home in snow and I may just be making a new blog header with one of them!
So many Christmas memories were made in the last few weeks, but just as Christina, (my oldest) said in her blog, pictures need to be downloaded and edited, so hopefully in a few days!

Have A Peanutty Happy Christmas!

There are so many movies that are Christmas themed and I have loved many of them like Jingle All The Way, The Santa Clause (1 &2), Home Alone (1&2). Well, for some reason that is all I can think of right now. I NEED coffee this morning!
My grandson loves the kids cartoons every morning and they ALL have been about Christmas, but my very favorite all time Christmas program was the Charlie Brown Christmas. I mean it is ancient really, it has been on since I was a kid and that my friends was a very very long time ago. But amid the hustle and bustle about presents, the simple story of Jesus birth in a manger while the angels rejoiced in the skies brings comfort and peace.
So this Nativity Scene makes me happy and feel a little like a kid again at Christmas. Churches may have very elaborate productions and Cantatas at this time of year and they are usually very good, but my favorite play is when little kids dress up as Mary, Joseph, Shepherds, wise men,cows, sheep and donkeys to reenact that special night.
Hope that you all will have a Christmas and New Year filled with comfort, joy, peace and good times!

Letterpress Wall Calendar

Matryoshka Wall Calendar

Campy Studios Bird Calendar

tea towel calendar

Etsy has like a million cute calendars for sale! There is still time to order on in time for new years! Practicality and art all at the same time!