Here it Comes!

It's like Christmas Eve around here!

I'm so excited because a massive snow storm is on it's way!

Winter fun all weekend long!

Stay safe!

Lots of "Dust"!

Okay, seriously, the weather forecasters in D.C. got it all wrong.

I mean in my world a "little dusting" is equivalent to the powdered sugar you sprinkle on a bundt cake!

Or the lame attempts my kids make to dust the furniture!

A "dusting" doesn't require the driveway to be shoveled three times!

No, we got significant snowfall

in the D.C. area today.

And I love it!

It forced me to slow down.

Instead of driving from one event to the next I stayed home.

And enjoyed a little down time.

A roaring fire.

A glass of wine.

Watching "Ice Age 3" with my son.

No cleaning, no projects, just relaxation.

It's my kind of "dusting"!

Image available here.

This Weekend at Chartreuse

Molly and I were at Chartreuse today working to get everything ready for this Saturday's one day barn sale.

Check out some of the items were offering:

Lots of chalkboards

Molly's art work painted on salvaged doors and barnwood:

Fabulous slipcovered wing chair and burlap pillows:

I have to go back tomorrow to finish fluffing, pricing, loading in all the cool stuff I bought at yesterday's auction, so I'll take more pictures and post them.

Well, That Didn't Work

Well I went to the auction on Wednesday to try to get inspired.

To get out of my creative slump.

To find joy in the "junque"!

I spent five hours standing out in the freezing cold bidding on things for my shop at Chartreuse and the barn.

The pickings were slim, but there were a few fabulous things I had to bid on.

And so did my arch nemesis!

Oh, yeah, he was there...as always.....

The one with the oh, so fabulous shop, in a trendy part of D.C.

The one with the really super cool, one of a kind beautiful pieces I love so much.

He was bidding on the same things I was!

As usual.

Like the garden table with the scalloped base and smooth, time worn, beautiful wood top.

Winning bid: $475.

Guess who won?

Nope, not me.

Or the super cool old safe that weighed a ton but would have made a really cool one of a kind coffee table?

$120.

Nope, not me.

Or how about the industrial steel side table that just screamed Restoration Hardware?

$110.

Nope, not me.

My pockets aren't as deep as his!

But I did get a really great french country panel mirror.

and

An old wooden box spring that will look fabulous as a display for jewelry in the shop.

and

A super cute industrial wagon that will be adorable loaded with pansies in the spring.

The other thing I didn't get was pictures!

My hands were too cold to carry a camera!

Off to the Auction

Forgive me readers for I have sinned!

It's been two weeks since my last blog post!

I've been tired.

Worn out.

Stressed out.

Uninspired.

But, I'm hoping that will change today, because I'm off to the auction.

It brings me joy!

The thrill out of the hunt inspires me!

Energizes me!

Calms me!

Wish me luck that today's auction is just what I need to get back to being me.

My Christmas List.....

Merry Christmas to all!

Okay, Enough, Already

The snowstorm of 2009 in a nutshell:

Day one = excitement is in the air!

It's going to snow!

Should we cancel our party?

Day two = It snowed!!!

Yippee!!

20+, beautiful, fabulous, fluffy inches of winter fun!

Big fat fun, lots of shoveling, snowballs, and sledding!

Life is cozy, beautiful and warm in front of the fire!

What the heck, we'll just postpone our party!

Day three = The snow has turned on us.

It's losing its luster, turning brown and ugly!

The natives are getting restless

Hubby's getting CRANKY

The kids don't want to play outside anymore

And

For God's sake how many times do I have to tell my G@d da#n@d! kids to take their boots off before they come into the house!?

So, how's it going at your house?

La Joie De La Vie

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful!

This is where you'll find me today, enjoying a great fire in between shoveling the snow!

It's one of the "Joys of Life"!

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!