TIME FLIES!

Time flies!

I got so busy I never had a chance to post more photos of last weekend's Chartreuse sale!

Time flies!

Today is my 21st wedding anniversary!

Time flies!

I'm scrambling now because suddenly it's two days before my annual Christmas party and the decorating still isn't done!

Time flies!

And it's not going to stop, so I better get busy!

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

This Weekend at Chartreuse

This is the last weekend we'll be open at Chartreuse and Co. until the third weekend in January.

We've decorated the owner's 1898 house, inside and out for the holidays and everything's for sale!

Stop back tomorrow for a sneak peek of what's inside!

Barn Girl

This Barn Girl is getting tired!

Our two day holiday show at The Barn was last week.

And five weekends down with one to go at my other barn,

Chartreuse and Co.

It's been fabulous, with great sales and happy customers, but I need a break!

I'm looking forward to focusing on the holidays!

(Not to mention cleaning my house!)

That mirror I'm pictured in?

It's an awesome 75 year old door I turned into a mirror.

It's SOLD!

The new owner is going to attach it to the wall and put a sink in front of it in her powder room.

Way cool!

The Barn's Holiday Show

I've been so busy I forgot to mention we're having a two day holiday show at The Barn tomorrow and Thursday!

The barn is loaded with lots of great gift ideas, jewelry, antiques, architectural salvage pieces, etc.

Send me an e-mail if you'd like directions!

When It Rains It Pours

It's been a rough week:

My husband and youngest son were in a car accident.

(I'm thankful no one was hurt.)

His car is not drivable.

(I'm thankful we have two vehicles.)

But now my two year old mini-van needs a new transmission.

(I'm thankful it's under warranty.)

Now we have two cars in the shop.

(I'm thankful our friends have a spare van we can borrow.)

Our dog is prone to ear infections - another $160 at the vet yesterday.

(I'm thankful she's on the mend.)

We're now two days late going to Ohio for Thanksgiving while we wait for my van to be repaired.

(I'm thankful I have a loving family to go home to.)

I went shopping with my sons yesterday for new shoes and clothes.

I hate shopping.

(I'm thankful I have children.)

Giving thanks for my life, today, and every day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

(I'm thankful you took the time to visit my blog today!)

Leo's Birthday

Today would have been my dad's 75th birthday.

He passed away too soon, six years ago.

And I still miss him.

My sons were seven and five when he died and

I worry that their memories of him are fading.

So, I talk about him, alot.

To remind them of who their grandfather was:

The baby of the family (like me)

Tall! 6'4"

That he cried at commercials.

And when he watched "Brian's Song" and "Something for Joey" he bawled like a baby!

He was a big man, with a soft heart.

He was a star baseball and basketball player.

Who refused to coach until his own sons were out of little league.

Because fathers should cheer instead of coach their kids.

He coached countless other kids for over 20 years.

More than a few of which told me he was the best coach they ever had.

Everyone knew him!

He cared little for possessions,

Was a veteran of the Korean War.

And was proud of his Irish heritage.

He was not without faults!

(There were many!)

He hated all of my boyfriends except one.

And that one became my husband.

He loved him!

He loved my children!

And he loved me!

So I keep his memory alive with my children!

But, still, I miss him.

(Photo of my dad, Leo Meenachan and I, 2002)

More memories of my dad here.

The Chartreuse Ladies

One of the things I love most about being a part of Chartreuse and Co., is that I've made a bunch of new friends!

They're an incredibly talented, creative group of women that turn an old dairy barn into an amazing shopping experience the third weekend of every month.

We kicked off the holiday season last Thursday night and it truly was a magical evening.

I'm so proud to be a part of the group!

That's me in the chartreuse sweater in the back row.

Yes, the one with her eyes closed!

And that's Molly to my right.

The super talented artist I call my partner in crime at Chartreuse!

For the holidays we'll be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until mid December.

I hope you can stop by!

Kicking Off the Season!

Yes,I know it's only been five days since Halloween, but the holidays really are right around the corner!

Chartreuse and Co. is all decked out for the holidays and we're kicking off the season with our gala grand opening tomorrow (Nov. 5th) night!

We'll have chartinis, appetizers and lots of great shopping!

Find a comfortable spot, sit back, relax and check out some pictures of what we've put together here!

Oh, and that gorgeous settee pictured above?

It's French, fabulous and available this weekend at Chartreuse!

I hope to see you there!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!
My kids have been:
A cowboy
A frog
An elephant
A clown
Two cheerleaders
Anakin Skywalker
Daniel Boone
Men in Black
Hula girl
Fisherman
Jengo Fett
and this year?
Mario and his Gangster Friend

Who I Am

I come from a long line of volunteers.

My mom was the room mother my entire academic career.

(To this day she can't believe college freshmen don't need room mothers!)

She was the PTA president for years.

(Her photo is in my high school yearbook more than mine!)

My father coached little league baseball and football for over 20 years.

My mother never met a committee she didn't chair.

So, it's not in my blood to be anything different.

I volunteer.

I've been my youngest son's room mother his entire academic career.

I've never been involved in an organization I haven't ended up a board member of.

It's just who I am.

It's a family philosophy I believe in:

"You take your turn, you give back to the community."

But lately, I feel a shift in my thinking.

Things have happened where instead of feeling good about volunteering I'm starting to feel resentful.

Taken advantage of.

Maybe it's because my life is fuller now and I don't have as much free time as I used to.

Maybe now I'm just more protective of my spare time.

All I know is that I don't like feeling this way and I don't know what to do.

What I do know is that quitting is not in my blood.

Drive Time

My drive to Chartreuse and Co., takes an hour and 15 minutes and I usually go about once a week.

I look forward to the drive.

Because I am Alone.

Which is not a state I'm in very often.

But I love it when I am.

It's comfortable.

And usually quiet, unless I'm belting out my favorite song.

No other voices, or thoughts to contemplate but my own.

Some days the drive feels too short.

I long for more time on the road because once I stop the car everything starts again!

Today was no exception.

Just a few more miles would have been perfect.......

A Little Work and Then Some Fun

Today, I'm heading up to Charteuse and Co.
to meet Molly to get our space ready for this weekend's sale.


And while Molly's holding down the fort this month, I'm leaving in the morning for this beach in Maine.

I'm going to my friend's family cottage on the ocean for our annual girls weekend.
Wine.
Peeps.
Beach.

Just what I need!

Heartbroken

My heart has been broken.

Again..

It happened just as I predicted here.

My latest love is leaving me.

I'm happy for it.

Really I am.

Who wouldn't want to live in an old, beautiful, renovated farmhouse?

Why couldn't it be with me, and my farm house?

I have to stop falling in love........

with the pieces I buy to sell at the barn!

It's just hard to part with some things.

Like the apothecary chest.

It was the first thing that sold at last weekend's barn sale.

And it's going to a good home.

With someone who loved it at first sight.

Like I did.....

SOME PICTURES FROM THE BARN SHOW

We had alot of great pieces made out of architectural salvage materials, like this birdhouse.

Charming vignettes.

And best of all lots of customers, including my old friend Michelle (on the right) that I had not seen in 15 years! (Her visit made my day!

More to come!

The Barn Show - Day 1

Here's a synopsis of today's barn show:

FABULOUS!

More tomorrow (day two). I am not kidding when I tell you we ran out of parking spots! I was directing traffic out on the road, which brought back memories of my time spent working here when I was in college.

It was amazing!