Christmas colors...........

The holiday season has arrived at SuzAnna's Antiques....so ladies and gents it's time to come on over and start shopping.  Every nook and cranny is filling up fast with Christmas decorations of every description......and the prices are fabulously affordable.  There are plenty of antique and vintage items, also retro and modern.  Something for every decorating style. 

Vanessa and I started adding a little color to our space last week, tucking special items in between the regular treasures.

I still intend keeping some neutral colored items on display.  I love adding white candles and fresh greenery to tarnished silver, mercury glass, and creamy ironstone...........as in Nordic Winter/Christmas style.  Adding a few sprigs of deep green cypress or fir, some bright berries, and trailing ivy from the garden, can make even ordinary everyday items look especially beautiful for the holiday season.

We'll be adding more ornaments, glass, silk, paper, as things sell and we have more display space - our offerings will always be beautiful and will look special in your home.

So dear friends, if you are in, or close to Raleigh, North Carolina, be sure to put SuzAnna's Antiques on your list of places to visit for holiday shopping.......whether for decorations, gifts for dear ones in your life, or even for something special on your personal 'wish list'.
Stop by, introduce yourself to the fun, helpful staff, all of whom are already in Christmas mode.....we'll be looking for you!

A fishy story.................

Arriving at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher near Carolina Beach last weekend, the fish were ready for Halloween!
Now that I've been to Africa on safari I have the feeling that visiting a zoo is no longer on my list of places to go.  Seeing beautiful animals penned and caged after watching them running free would be difficult. 
Visiting the aquarium to see the wonders of the ocean I can still enjoy.............as I doubt I'll be taking up deep sea diving at my age!

Entering the lobby we were greeted by this large alligator...........no longer a danger to humans thank goodness.  There are however many live alligators swimming in the nearby Cape Fear River.  Jasmin thought the people zooming along on jet skis were awfully brave.  Hey, I was in a tiny boat on the Zambezi River snapping closeups of humongous crocodiles and gigantic hippos just a few months back!

Great tanks of beautiful fish - these looked harmless enough.

Oops, there were live alligators in there.....see our feet reflected in the glass, Bob, Jasmin, me.....wonder if he thought our ankles looked tasty!

I enjoy all horses but these tiny sea horses are perhaps the loveliest.

This is my favorite shot of Jasmin at the aquarium - she wore the right color t-shirt to blend in with the fish.

Even the faux fish displays were awesome.  It's really a beautiful place and not to be missed when visiting the area.

Lots of sting rays, some huge, in the large ocean tank, as well as small sharks and several species of beautiful fish................

........................and these guys hanging around the outdoor pond in the Autumn sunshine.  This was a beautiful day.

First frost due.........

This morning I felt the chill on the kitchen floor.   Time to dig out cozy socks but still too soon to crank up the heating.  I stood looking out at the rain while crunching on the best, true French bread (local La Farm bakery), toasted lightly, topped with butter and fig preserves, all warm and gooey.  Hells bells to diets once Winter is looming! Comfort food. Later I made a pot of soup, one of our faves, cream of cauliflower, topped with crusty croutons made with the last of that French bread.

Tonight we change the clocks, 'fall back' and relish that extra hour in the darker morning. 

I'm ready for it!!!