Family and the Secretary ~

A Saturday morning memoir ~

Those days are gone. My life is different now. I miss much and managed to do much more in times gone by. I'm not a fan of aging. I wish I had more energy, that my legs and arms were stronger, my feet more sure and comfy where planted. My memory though still good doesn't always give me a word immediately. Names are sometimes forgotten. I look things up but I don't ask Siri. 

I sleep upstairs in my 'room with a view' and let my better half enjoy the master bedroom downstairs. I have to have the light on and read for a while in bed or I can't fall asleep. He falls asleep when his head hits the pillow, snores and changes position a lot. I never seem to move once I'm sleeping soundly. I wake up with hair flattened on the same side every morning. I like my bed and always say "goodnight" to my long gone, much missed Mum. I recall in her later years, long after my Dad died, when she told me snuggling into her bed was the best part of her day. She lived to be 91. She looks down on me from the photos on the wall, a child with her siblings in one, age 21 in another, and as a bridesmaid - and the dressmaker of all four gowns - at a sister's wedding in another. Sepia photos of children in lace up boots. Girls with hair bows, a boy in short trousers, grandmother holding her second set of twins. Five children in four years! The historic part of my maternal English family. I remember them all and feel their absence every day.

The antique secretary once belonged to a North Carolina country doctor. The piece is sturdy, weighs a ton, probably mahogany, the paint was done prior to my purchase from SuzAnna's Antiques. I love it and will never part with it. It's the first thing I see when I wake each morning. It holds my collection of favorite books and a mishmash of items. I change or move around things on the shelves and padded bulletin boards I made. I store paper goods, pieces of my life. . . .and secrets inside.

In earlier days, which really weren't that long ago, I so enjoyed what friends and I called 'treasure hunting' - mostly shopping and collecting vintage and some true antiques. Come Spring I was anxious to get going with gathering new pieces for my booth at SuzAnna's Antiques. I shared a fun space with my dear friend Vanessa. We loved those special days, buying, displaying and selling, and the camaraderie of the other dealers.  

~ SuzAnna's Booth 2011 ~

I still have several items shown here in my home 

Today I came across an old blog post about those days. It included this list I made in March 2011 -

SuzAnna's Antiques is really warming up now that Spring is here................soon I'll share more pics of the treasures available........meanwhile I'm off to a huge neighborhood yard sale this morning. 

My shopping hunting list for my booth includes ~

• Chandeliers for glitter and glamour - French would be best
• Small furniture items in need of love and new homes
• Ironstone Platters, must be crazed, cracks add character
• Antique silver flatware/trays - unpolished of course
• Old beautiful linens for tables and beds 
• Shells, coral, barnacles - for seaside decor
• Old bound books - fun to read and play with

..............and whatever else catches my eye. 

This Saturday morning is dull. It rained in the night and there's no sun yet to dry things up. But no snow as in the northeast. That said, the sun has just popped out which always helps when life seems somewhat downhearted. Bob's eye surgery Tuesday went well however he does not have restored clear vision yet!  We are hoping this will improve with time. . . . . . .we are great believers in healing takes time.

~ Pieces of the past ~

SuzAnna's Antiques - Holiday Open House

SuzAnna's Antiques 2022

Many of you may recall my days at SuzAnna's Antiques. Memories are many and happy. The friends made there during the years when I shared a booth with Vanessa, and then my granddaughter Jasmin working there for several years, all remain close to my heart. I look around the cottage and see so many things purchased there. Yes, SuzAnna's is special.

Now located further away from Raleigh I don't get there as often, but the Holiday Open House is never missed. This year we headed north with Jasmin, met up with Vanessa and her daughter Luna who have moved back to North Carolina from California (so glad!), and we joined the crowd of shoppers for a lovely evening with shop owners, mother and daughter Susie and Jennie.  

Did I buy anything? The brass angel came home and will soon be hanging somewhere for the Christmas holidays!  Despite trying to downsize I couldn't leave without something to remind me of another special visit.

So, who is already starting holiday decorating?  Perhaps most of you, like me, don't do much until after Thanksgiving here in the USA. I have noticed in my neighborhood some lights are being strung outside and probably by next weekend lighted trees will appear in windows. Dusk creeps in early now. Woodsmoke lingers in the colder air. We readied the fireplace this week and stacked wood near the back door. The fire tools are aging but a new fire screen looks smart, and unrolling the hearth rug brought back memories, fortunately no cinder burns so it will last a while longer!  We'll light a fire on Thanksgiving Day when it will be quite cold and cloudy.

Best wishes to all who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this Thursday.  

Week of preparations -

SuzAnna's Antiques - Rolesville, North Carolina - November 2021

It has been a busy week.  Two PT appointments, a doctor visit, and an MRI.  Cooking up the big pumpkin for eating (soup and a gratin) and tucking some away in the freezer.  Pulling out a suitcase - yes I'll be traveling very soon - watch this space!  Starting on the Christmas cards which need to travel much farther than I can these days. Thursday evening we managed to drive a little north through horrendous rush hour traffic to SuzAnna's Antiques for the Holiday Open House. Many of you will recall my long, lovely history with the shop, the booth I had for a while with a best friend Vanessa, and my granddaughter Jasmin working there for several years.  Since they moved out of Raleigh it's a long way to go but always worthwhile. . . . . . especially to see the delightful Susie, Jenny, Bruce (playing a handsome Santa again!) and others of their family.  The crowd was big, the holiday offerings awesome - impossible to leave there empty-handed - and when Jasmin arrived it was just like the old days. . . . . .except we were all masked of course!

This evening we'll pop over to see the Christmas tree lighting at the midtown shopping center - then it will really feel festive, and it will be cold!

Happy weekend everyone - hoping you have good weather to enjoy any holiday preparations you are working on.

Back to SuzAnna's Antiques!

It was far too long since I last visited SuzAnna's at their new location

 outside of Raleigh. I went once early last year when we were just

 starting to wear masks, and then two weeks ago, still masked, I had a

 wonderful visit there to see old friends. 

Of course couldn't resist doing a little shopping.

I brought home dried lavender and this bird art . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . hanging here now.

Will be heading that way again soon - treasure hunting is so much fun.

Did I hear someone say what happened to "downsizing" - well I'm still 

working on that!

Have a fine Saturday. We're off to the market for fresh eggs and veggies, 

then a walk in full sun and 72 degrees - that's what I call perfect!

Fall Florals - October Days

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

L.M. Montgomery, "Anne of Green Gables.

I've been searching for something different to add to my dried parsley sprigs 

now featured in the dining room/my office as an early Fall floral display.

Nothing remaining in the garden really worked.  

Last week at SuzAnna's Antiques I found these dark purple and chartreuse

 green faux sprigs. No idea what they are but grabbed them, brought them

 home and voila - perfect, just the look I was hoping for.

What's on your table these brilliant Autumn days?

The twelfth anniversary!

As mentioned in a recent post, I'm trying to become more of a minimalist

in my home decorating efforts. Really I am trying! I've been through several
 styles of home decor since becoming a homemaker. After a lifetime of
 leaving for an office with the daily commute keeping me busy, retirement
 has seen me staying just as busy around the home.

 I am just an amateur interior decorator, wannabe designer etc. If younger, and I 
could start over, I would probably work in that field professionally as I do love
 the creativity decorating brings whether in house or garden.

My efforts at bringing aspects of shabby chic into my home about 14 years ago
 were fueled by several things happening in my life. Having more time on my hands,
 and a little cottage-style home crying out for style, my discovery of SuzAnna's
 Antiques here in, town became my place to hang out. Soon I became part of the
 always fun treasure hunting, antiquing, community. . . . . . . . and then
 I discovered blogging!

Yes, 12 years ago today I tiptoed quietly into blogland' when
 I wrote a post on my first blog, Across The Pond. 

A neophyte who was grateful for all the tips from that first group of vibrant gals
 who suddenly opened up the online world of creativity to me, they shared DIY
 projects we could understand and have fun with. 
Along with photographs and tutorials, we could make our own homes look like
 ones we'd only seen in those early days of HGTV, (those were the best days
 for that show as many of you will recall), and in home or garden magazines. 
We were on our way, supporting one another with cans of paint and brushes, 
'before and after' painted furniture photos, sewing antique French linen into
 pillows or recovering chairs, searching for chipped and cracked china and
 stoneware, silver plated trays and silverware, soup tureens, plates by the
 stack, wooden dough bowls, and making our gardens showplaces filled with
 urns, rusted gates, and vintage claw-footed bath tubs planted with flowers!
No, I did not drag a bath tub home, there were limits, such as never owning
 a pickup truck, but I found some awesome urns that were 
much easier to transport!

Vintage folding rulers - measuring life!

Later, people would actually stop me in stores, or when shopping at
SuzAnna's, recognize me from my blog and we would chat. Some would
email me and in one case, a young woman (who made me feel young too)
 would become one of my very best friends, dear and beautiful Vanessa. 
Eventually we shared a booth at SuzAnna's Antiques. There we had such
a great time together, spending weekly get togethers hunting for beautiful 
things to sell on to others who shared our love of old, often shabby,
 long ago treasures for house and home. We found so much we loved
 we then expanded and had our own adjoining booths for a while. 

My booth at SuzAnna's Antiques - 2011

Some things we never sold, instead taking them home because we loved them
 and couldn't let them go. The old French sideboard I still have and Vanessa painted 
it for me in Annie Sloane's chalk paint. It's a favorite piece with many memories.

I realized I was on a roll and I kept blogging, making a lot of

new local friends and acquaintances, as well as wonderful people around
 the world. . . . .many of you whom I've met in person which is the best part of
 blogging. This spring I am so looking forward meeting up with yet another long
 time blog friend in England - and will share that exciting occasion later of course.

So, along the way, through the years, changes have been made around this

 small cottage. Some things have moved on to other homes, others have stayed
 with perhaps a new paint finish, a little elbow grease to shine up the silver. . . but
 more often left to gather a patina, almost like me.

Our booths were closed when it became too much to handle with my hectic
 travel schedule, and then Vanessa moved away. We were still able to meet up
 now then, but now she has moved across the country so it will be harder. . . but
we'll work it out somehow because that's what blog friends do, right?

SuzAnna's Antiques has also moved to a new location north of the 
city due to their property being taken by the railroad. My granddaughter 
no longer works there as it's too far for her to commute, however she and I 
hope to take a trip there on a nice spring day to share the treasures we
know will be displayed. You can bet I'll take photos to share with you.

So, no more rambling for today.
I'm celebrating knowing each one of you, those of you who have 
followed me for years, and those who may be new visitors here.
I'll be traveling again this year and hope to have both old familiar
places to share again, like my home in England in springtime, along
 with exciting new places, including a familiar ship taking me to exotic
 far flung spots in faraway lands.

Thank you for being my wonderful and very special friends.
I have a lot to thank blogging for.
You make my life happy.

Remains of my Valentine flowers, still lovely.

Open House. . . . . . . . . . .

The Vintage Village and SuzAnna's Antiques held their annual Christmas Open House

Thursday night - and what fun it was!

On a perfect evening - a calm and comfortable 55F - Santa arrived as costumed 

singers and musicians played old country and modern carols. Lights glittered and

 glimmered as we raised a glass and nibbled on delicious cheesy and sugary morsels.

The mood was jolly and bright and the crowd shopped and mingled.

My granddaughter Jasmin was the official photographer for the evening - however

 these are my photos, taken with my new iPhone 7Plus. . . . . . . . I'm surprised, 

and very pleased, with how they turned out in somewhat odd lighting situations.

Vintage Village in Raleigh. . . . . . . .

I've been away from the Vintage Village and SuzAnna's Antiques far too long. 

Last Saturday I did stop by as granddaughter was 'keeping shop' for another, 

'village' store owner. Jasmin still works at SuzAnna's Antiques but is also

 available to help out at other shops.

Needless to say I made a purchase from St. Clair's!

The blue and cream linen pillow - you know I have a hard time resisting

 anything with a birdie - came home with me.

Granddaughter Jasmin 'minding the store' - a really delightful little

 antiques/vintage shop named St. Clair's Décor in the village

 next door to SuzAnna's Antiques.

Upstairs there is a tiny space filled with some lovely small painted pieces. 

Have a wonderful weekend. Hope your weather is fine.

Anyone heading out to shop - antiques, vintage or new?

A Change at SuzAnna's Antiques. . . . . . . . .

Although I no longer have a booth, I always enjoy stopping by SuzAnna's Antiques in Raleigh's Vintage Village. I especially enjoy it when visiting and finding my granddaughter Jasmin busy at work there. Now, after five years, including her entire time in high school, working part time after school or on weekends for owners Susie and Jenny, Jasmin will be moving on to a new part time job. Needless to say, many of us are sad about this, however she needs new experiences in the workplace world. She hopes to work in a health related environment which, for someone planning a career in nursing, seems a path she needs to follow now, and part time employment needs to fit with her college schedule.

I can't begin to tell you how wonderful Jasmin's years at SuzAnna's have been, both for her, us, and hopefully for Susie and Jenny. She was treated kindly and taught so much by the loveliest mother and daughter team, experts in the world of antiques and vintage. From a somewhat shy 14 year old who was nervous making change - the old fashioned way by counting back rather than a computerized cash register - and being somewhat reticent in stepping forward to assist customers, Jasmin soon bloomed. She learned how to help customers choose treasures for their homes, designed lovely vignettes and displays within the shop, and being a kind and helpful person to work alongside, made great friendships with her co-workers. I think she'll be missed by many at the entire Vintage Village location,  but I know she'll be stopping by to keep in touch, perhaps even work a few hours if they need help on special occasions, and of course I'll often be with her doing my usual treasure hunting and sharing here what I find tucked away in that great place.

Jasmin at SuzAnna's Antiques

Past and present. . . . . 

 . . . . .  . life is always changing.

Thankfully many of us enjoy holding on to the past, and places such 

as SuzAnna's Antiques make the present so enjoyable