11.03.2013

Granny Chic

Back in August the girls and I decided to check out the tag sales around town.
 I found this fabulous granny chic afghan for $2.00!
I asked the lady in charge of the tag sale who had made the afghan. She said her grandmother made it. Then she clarified by saying her evil grandmother. I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that! I have a feeling there was some bad blood between those two...
But regardless of whether the woman who made the afghan was evil or not I believe she had some good in her. We all do! As the season has changed to autumn and the weather has turned chilly I am grateful for the grandmother who made this afghan. It brings a smile to my face and we all love to snuggle up and enjoy its granny chicness!

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10.31.2013

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to join a walking lecture tour about the Wethersfield, CT witch trials. These witch trials occurred in the1650's….that's 40 years BEFORE the infamous Salem Witch Trials! Mary Johnson was the first girl from Wethersfield to be accused of being a witch. She was a servant and was most likely coerced into making a confession of "familiarity with the Devil" to Reverend Stone in 1648. One of Mary's other "sins" was committing adultery. She was found to be pregnant and her execution was postponed until 1650 when she gave birth to a son. To read more about the Connecticut Witch trials click here.
One of the homes we went into was the Buttolph-Williams House

While I had an amazing time with the presentation I was disappointed that I was not able to see more of the house. I went back a few days laters and was given a private tour of the home. I was allowed to explore the house's back hallways and squeeze through the tiny doors reserved for the servants. I was permitted behind the roped off areas and I could even TOUCH the different furnishings throughout the house! I think it was the best $5 I have ever spent!
 The house was very chilly and hardly any light came through the windows. It was built in the 1700's and was once was a place for traveller's to eat and sleep.
  It is also the setting for Elizabeth George Speare's novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Please tell me you have read this book! If not, go immediately to the library and check it out. It has been a favorite book of mine for the past 30 years. I read it at least once a year! I have discovered a completely different reading experience after touring the home. So, come for a visit and I will be delighted to bring you to the house!
 The door on the side of the house is called the "coffin door". When a person passed away they were laid out for the viewing inside the home. They coffin entered the house through the front door but when it was time to carry the deceased to the cemetery they were carried feet first through the coffin door. Their feet went first so their spirit could not look back into the house and take another person with them beyond the grave.
 In addition, the side door was used for deliveries and other undistinguished business.
The back of the house is windowless. Window panes were highly expensive and had to be shipped over from England. Looking at the home it has a slightly dismal and sad look to it. Much like the outlook of the Puritans at that time.

Though the house may seem dark and sad, it is such a historic gem! As I get older I realize what an amazing part of the country I live in. I hope to never take it for granted!

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10.15.2013

Evans Family Columbus Day Adventure

Well, I had every intention of taking a family trip to Sleepy Hollow, but sadly, we were all Sleepy Heads and rolled out of bed too late. Onto Plan B! I corralled everyone into the car and we headed to Mystic.
 Mother-daughter love!
 Scorpion Kenners
A view of Mystic Seaport
Gorgeous Mystic
 Of course I popped into the cemetery while we were there. I have biked, walked, and rollerbladed through this cemetery a hundred times over the years and I never noticed this...
 ....an Evans family plot!
Elegant "E" Monogram
The Evans family
 Even though we lived less than a mile from the road that leads to Enders Island we had never driven out there.
 There were some gorgeous homes! I would be happy living in ANY house out there...
...I'm not picky...
 ...Maybe on the corner of Yacht Club Road and Huckleberry Lane....
...I would even be willing to live in this boat shack!
I have such a patient husband who puts up with my craziness. For example, he doesn't hesitate to pull off the highway so I can take a picture of the "Witch Meadow Road" exit sign . After all, there are only 16 days left until Halloween!

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10.13.2013

Sisters

Yesterday Kenners and I went down to visit my sister and niece. We hardly ever get the opportunity to see them. Which is really sad seeing how we live in the same state! But life happens. Schedules are so jam packed and there's always a million things to do over the weekend.

Erica and I had planned this get together weeks in advance. We were going to put together a whole bunch of freezer meals to prepare for the upcoming winter months. The biggest problem we ran into was finding enough recipes that sounded remotely tasty! There's a whole bunch of yuck out there. My dear friend, Andy, was very quick to make fun of the whole endeavor and sent me tons of different pins and texts making fun of us! Love that girl!!

In the end we chose two meals to put together. A ham and potato dish and a cilantro/lime/chicken dish. The ham/potato meal doesn't look too promising but we'll have to wait and see how they turn out!

 Since our "freezer meal" day turned out to be a bit of a flop, Erica suggested we visit a cemetery close to her house. 
This is where Captain John Brown is buried. He "departed this life in hope of a blest immortality" in March, 1776.
 This is Captain Brown's wife. We couldn't quite figure out her first name. We think it is "Ame". She died in May, 1786 at 75 years old. Her stone was to the right of her husband's and was way smaller than his.
These two stones are both daughter's of General John Tyler. Oliye Coit, on the left and Lydia Mott, on the right. Lydia kept the military tradition alive and married Colonel Samuel Mott.
I thought it interesting that the sisters were buried side by side.
 This teeny little grave marker sits all alone. The only carving is M.E.N. I have no doubt that this tilted, tiny marker has a story to tell.
 You could read the parents' sorrow carved into this gravestone. William Avery passed away when he was 17. The inscription says:
The rising moon cannot insure
That we will end the day
For death stands ready at the door
To snatch our lives away
 This was the only gravestone in the cemetery that was marked with a "Patriot's Grave 1783" star. Here lies Captain Nathan Geer. He died in 1836. I can only imagine the combat and the battles he fought to obtain our freedom. He is a true hero.
It was a beautiful fall afternoon to wander through the cemetery with my sister!

When I got home I had a voicemail saying I had permission to start making grave rubbings in my local cemetery. I can't wait to give it a go!

In the meantime I am packing up the kids and driving to Tarrytown, NY to visit Sleepy Hollow.  I have one daughter who is thrilled to go and one who is begging to stay home. I'll let you figure out which is which....or should that be who is who?

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10.11.2013

A Return from the Grave

It has been just over two years since I last wrote a blog post. Needless to say, much has changed in my life. My children have grown. Rand is a freshman in high school. Kenners is in 7th grade....and my baby, JK, is a 2nd grader. I have more gray hair than I did two years ago. That sucks. But I'd like to think that I have gained wisdom along with the gray.

2013 has been a year of change for me. Priorities have shifted. Goals have changed. New challenges have arisen. I feel myself going through growing pains but know that it is a necessary part to growth. I started pinning different sayings that speak to me. Here is a sampling...
~ Life is simple when you live simply
~It's okay to be happy with a calm life
~All you need is less
~Saying YES to happiness means learning to say NO to things and people that stress you out
~When things are not adding up in your life, start subtracting

 I have started spending some time with dead people. There is a cemetery down the street from my house that has an old section of 16th, 17th and 18th century graves. It's fascinating to walk through. I find myself wondering about the people and families buried there. 
18th century sandstone gravestones
A monument to the Risley family 
Autumn has arrived! And it is beautiful!
I have been finding joy in the little things. Such things include the vibrant leaves, cool weather and the quiet of an old cemetery!

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9.19.2011

What is Black, White & Striped All Over?

This past Saturday I headed out to my mother's house bright and early for a tag sale. I brought a few goodies to sell, made a couple of dollars, and quickly lost the money I managed to make. JK took $40 for a new DS game. Kenners was invited to go to the mall for dinner and shopping. Need I say more? Easy come, easy go...
Although I wasn't able to hold onto any money, I did bring home a gem of my own.
My mom decided she no longer wanted this cream dresser. I quickly snagged it before she put it out to sell in the tag sale and found a great spot for it in my dining room. It is perfect coupled with my new Missoni Glass Platter and orange wooden finial!

Speaking of Missoni, I also bought a small black & white canister.
I thought it would be great on my bedside table to hold my earrings, watch, rings, bracelets, etc. that I toss off as I climb into bed at night.
A little silver, black, white and gray.
Perfect!

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9.14.2011

Flipping for Wallpaper

I absolutely adore Jeff Lewis and his design aesthetic. If I could wish upon a star and have Jeff come and re-design my house I think I would die and go to heaven. Flipping Out is one of my favorite shows on Bravo and I love getting a glimpse into Jeff's home. This season I fell in love with the wallpaper hanging in his dining area and work space.

via Houzz
I have never wallpapered before and am a little apprehensive about giving it a try.
Do you wallpaper?
Is it hard?
Would you do it again?

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9.12.2011

Pumpkins, Bowls and Half Naked Men

After a 3 month or so hiatus from the blog world I am posting once again. It has been a hard decision to make. I have been taking time to simplify my life these past few months. I have cleared my house out like you would not believe. I have edited unnecessary time wasters from my day and have relished this past summer and all of the time I have been able to devote to my family. But my kiddos are all in school now. And I have a little extra time on my hands. And today I felt a little twinge of desire to go and write a post. So here I am....here's to hoping a few of you are still out there to read my crazy ramblings!


After putting JK on the bus at 11:25 AM (half day Kindergarten) I high tailed it to the mall for a little {me} time. Look at the pumpkin I FINALLY scored. I have wanted this little bit of shiny goodness for 3 years now. Each year I sit on my butt a bit too long and decide I must have it after it is no longer available. Not this year! I walked into Pottery Barn this afternoon, saw it sitting on the shelf and snatched it up. (Note: if you go to the PB website you'll see it is NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!!)
Like I mentioned earlier, I am editing my life and my house. This includes decorating. My mantle is going to stay nice and plain this year. I felt like the mercury glass pumpkin made the perfect addition.
Just a touch of fall...
Anthropologie opened at my local mall two weeks ago and I have been anxious to check it out. It is lovely. Absolutely amazing. My big purchase? Two more latte bowls. We all just love them!
My final purchase of the day is for Kenners. She has grown up quite a bit over the summer and has developed an addiction to Hollister. I don't mind indulging her habit with the "50% off redlines" tables...Plus I do so enjoy their half naked men bags! It's a win-win situation!
The little munchkins will be home in just a few short minutes...how the times does fly!

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