Country Living Holiday Fair Part II . . .

It's a snowy day here in New York.  We're expecting anywhere from six to ten inches of it!!  Perfect day for tree trimming and cookie baking and dinner in the crockpot!!  Everyone is still asleep here so I thought I'd share some more of the photos I took at the Country Living Fair that I attended last weekend.

I fell in love with this one!!!!  Gorgeous!!!!

Anything that is vintage and pink is for certain going to catch my eye!!!!  : )

This vendor had such beautiful things for sale.  A great combination of both vintage and handmade.  I ended up purchasing a few of her items including a handmade ornament for Megan.

I'm so in love with these vintage Santa mugs.  If I can find them at a decent price for about 10 of them, I'm going to splurge.  I think drinking coffee out of them on Christmas morning or after Christmas dinner with guests would be such a great thing to do!!

Vintage wrapping paper!!!!!!!

Lots of pretty handmade things at this booth.  I loved the little cupcake under the cloche on the far right.

So that about does it for my photos.  If you ever get the chance to visit one of Country Living Magazine's fairs, don't hesitate.  Totally worth the trip!!!  I have photos that I took of the grounds that the fair was held on that I want to share next.  It was absolutely beautiful!!!  : )


Many blessings for a wonderful weekend ~ Wendy

A Season of Change . . .

This weekend we moved my mother into her new little cottage in the woods.  When I first saw where it was located, I felt a little nervous that she and her two dogs would be too isolated from other people compared to where she was moving from.   She does have neighbors but they're all spread out on a dirt road except for the ones that are across and down a little hill from her.  I made her promise that she'd carry her phone with her at all times in case she ever fell or had a medical emergency.  She's only in her 60's but has had several serious medical issues this last year.  She's fine now but you just never know.

 On Sunday, Megan, Brendan, Jakhai (our "adopted" Fresh Air Fund son who stayed the long weekend with us) and two of Brendan's friends all piled into the car and took a road trip with me back to Nana's new house.  While the kids explored the more than 30 acres that my mother's cottage is situated on, my sister and I helped her start to get some sense of organization out of the ton of stuff we had all moved the day before.  Just a little side note here . . .  please don't leave a legacy of clutter for your children to have to deal with when you are gone.  This really lit a fire under my butt to start to purge!!!  : )

 By the time we left late Sunday afternoon I, too, had fallen in love with her new home and everything about it.  The kids were able to take photos of a family of deer and even a video of a small coyote that was running around.  I didn't see a coyote in the wild until I was in my 30's!!!  : )  The thought of sitting in her living room on a snowy day, hunkering down with a fire in the fireplace makes me smile.  It's the perfect escape from all of the craziness in this world.  But I still made her promise to keep her phone with her at all times!!  : )

 Many blessings for a peaceful and beautiful Tuesday ~ Wendy




*All of the photos were taken during our recent pumpkin picking adventure in Warwick NY with the exception of the little scarecrow.  He's sitting happily on my mother's front porch in a mum plant!!  : )

A Recent Weekend . . .

 A couple of weeks ago, my sister and I and our families were invited to a gathering at our friends' house in Mountainville, NY.  It's a tiny town about 45 minutes from us but seems like worlds away with its rustic, country charm, barns and lots of trees and open fields.  The way the area where we live was when I was growing up. 

Our hosts, Mark and Maureen, were very good friends with my father.  After he passed away, Maureen and I spent a lot of time together.  I think,  in a lot of ways, it made us both feel closer to him.  I was able to see a different side of my father thru Maureen's words about him and I think just me being his daughter made Maureen feel close to him again.  My father's death was very sudden and premature and hit me very hard.  It was almost a year to the day after my first husband passed away suddenly, as well.  I don't know that you ever get over the death of a parent.  You kind of tuck it away and accept it the best you can and smile thru tears when you think about it.  At least that's how it is for me . . . 

Boogying (not sure how to spell that!!) down poolside.  Excuse my daughter's underpants.  She wanted to be completely naked but we were able to talk her into keeping her undies on!!  : )

Megan and niece, Annie.

 Mark and Maureen's house is absolutely beautiful.  And there's a perfect view of a barn while you lounge poolside.  Hello??  Poolside . . .  Barn . . .   Works for me!!!!!!

 They also have the most amazing tree in their backyard.  Mark told me what it was called but I don't remember.  He also said it's a pain in the neck because it constantly sheds.  I think it would totally be worth the aggravation!!  : )

 Meg had lots of fun exploring the grounds, smelling the flowers and playing with the two resident doggies.

Maureen said the pups spend more time in the pool than she and Mark do!!

 It was a beautiful day spent with friends and family and I'm so glad we were finally able to get together with them.  This has been a summer filled with time spent with friends, old and new.  Lots of new memories have been made.  I set my intention for having a great summer, spending more time outdoors and being with people whose company I truly enjoy and it's been one of the best summers of my adult life.  Sad to see it go but looking forward to "autumnal" memories.  There's THAT WORD again!!!!! I told you I liked it!!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Wednesday ~ Wendy

Old and Rusty on a Wordless Wednesday . . .

Many blessings for a Wednesday filled with rusty country goodness ~ Wendy


All photos were taken around my yard.  : )