And the Winner Is!!!!!

Okay my friends....WE HAVE A WINNER!

Terry From...http://bigcityprims.blogspot.com/

The only thing is....softy that I am, I feel bad that only ONE person can win!...LOL I hate to dissapoint anyone. As you can see, tickets were filled for the entries, and were blind-picked, by an employee of mine, not me.

Thank you to all who entered, and left some lovely comments. I am looking forward to spending some time now reading your Blogs, and "chatting" with you. The best part about this was getting to meet some great new people.

Blessings, Dale

I was just thinking….

Does anyone have more class and grace than Taylor Swift?

How about pure beauty?

How DO you have that talent, presence, and remain so stable at 19!
How do you KNOW how to act, and adapt to any situation? What a wonderful role model, and entertainer for young people. To me she is a joy to watch, and I, even at my ripe old age, ….(tee hee) STILL, remember the High School years, and the trials and triumphs she sings about.


I think Sarah Palin, & Kate Gosselin are cut from the same cloth.

Sarah never said….when a convoy presumably descended upon her house to what?…um , ask her to run for….OF ALL THINGS…
VICE PRESIDENT???, She never said…"Ya talkin’ to ME????
Why me?,
Thank you,
I am surprised beyond belief,
I hope I can,
I will try,
and I am nervous.”
No…she barreled right in, never blinked, and even when she showed she had no grasp on concrete issues, fought with the press, and was antagonistic TO THIS DAY.
Look at the rewards!, book rights, and....…people actually asking her if she intends to run for President????? Huh?
There are more prerequisites for COLLEGE!!!

I would like to be a Rocket Scientist.

And if and when I lost…(assuming I was Sarah…LOL) THE FIRST thing I would do is RUN HOME, and take care of my pregnant daughter, and be with my beautiful baby boy. Not create more hate, polarization, and talk about DEATH PANELS, and other incorrect, propaganda. I would be so grateful and humble.

Now Kate….
Before…

After…..

WOW!…She OBVIOUSLY has a better stylist than Jon!

And a better publicist.

I think Jon, started to change, wanting to go back to WORK, be private, live his life, maybe stretch for his dreams.
She got hooked on the perks, fame and fortune….
Yes…men behaving badly, but…
He was hurting. She wouldn’t give up the high life, so…

I KNOW IF IT WERE ME…and I was Kate….
I again…would RUN HOME, take care of my babies, the same way I had planned when I took the EXPENSIVE fertilization treatments and pushed God’s hand, …..take a job or two, and with my husband’s job provide for my children. Unless of course this was all planned.
Stay private, and get into counseling. I never heard her say she was shocked, missed the old Jon, was willing to give up the bright lights and give it go.

Really, how realistic is their children’s life? It no longer is about the day to day caring and feeding of multiples. Every day is a paid-for EVENT! And how will the kids feel when they re-run the shots of the potties with POO… in them!

See how lucky we all are?! We don’t have to worry about such things! We live the simple life.

Meanwhile…OUR GIVEAWAY WILL END TONITE!…STAY TUNED FOR THE WINNER!….

Go out and make it a great day!

Scenes from New England

Yesterday was a wonderful fall day for a drive. So, I went down an old country road, and saw beautiful foliage.

And down that country road, I found some delightful old barns.
Some looking like plain work horses. Nothing fancy, but sturdy and serving the families well without being all prettied up.

Others beautiful in the fact they were still being used as they have been for generations. Seeing the hay being put away. Comfort to see some things haven’t changed.

Here is one that is just so beautiful! It has been in the family for years and years.

This is the home of the people who own the farm in the picture above.
What is better than Fall Foliage, Country Roads, and Old Barns?

Then I went home and planted some Chrysanthemums. Along with some decorative Kale. I love the bright colors and the sturdiness of the plants. I enjoy seeing how long the Kale lasts before the snow. It is like a contest with nature. No matter how cold, it keeps on going and growing, ‘till the snow flies.

So that is how I spent my day…Now back to the store…LOADS of new merchandise, and gearing up for the ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE!

Have a great day!

October GIVE AWAY!

As promised…here are the details and rules for joining in for a chance to win our Blog Give Away.
 
Look what you can win!  Several great items
to put together, or break up around your home!
Here is the group together.

Here is  a closer look individually….

Waxed/Scented Pumpkin Diffuser & Reeds

  
Candy Corn Prim Candle Ring     2”

 
Decorative Travel Tin of “Spice” Scent
2 oz.

Set of  THREE Harvest Boxes…
These could stay out for Thanksgiving! 
5” x 12” Stacked.

Festive Colored Pumpkin Candle Mat
9” in Diameter

 

1. First,  Visit my website : A COUNTRY SHOP  & leave a comment on the website,  under “CONTACT”  (top right of home page) 
telling me what your favorite item is on my website.

2. Sign up to be a FOLLOWER, and get an EXTRA ENTRY!!   Current followers will be automatically entered.

3. Post a link on your Blog (if you have one) to this GIVEAWAY, and get ANOTHER ENTRY! Please let me know you have done this.
Give away ENDS:  Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6 PM EST.
Please be sure to leave contact info.  

Winner will be posted on this site, and items will be mailed USPS, Thursday, Oct. 15.

Good Luck Everyone!!!!!

Diary of a Mad Shopkeeper

Okay…so I am really not THAT mad, but jeez….

I am contacted by someone who noted that another blogger had copied my original work that I posted about Primitive/Country decorating, months ago….and cited it as a “great article she read in a “trade magazine”….HA! Thanks for the compliment…but talk about twisting the truth! You copied, and then you lied to your blog friends, saying it was a Trade Magazine. Not too authentic.

Then I see other shopkeepers/online purveyors..all vying for attention, but somehow knocking others. Hate that. I liken it to someone giving you a “back handed” compliment. Trying to build themselves up, while tearing someone down.

I don’t feel anyone is any more a true Store/Shop owner, or better Crafter, Candle Maker, or Business woman than any other. None of us is better than anyone else according to what we do. We are all doing what we love, working as hard as we can, with our own talents, wishes and dreams, and I don’t like to see others putting themselves as better, because they are conducting their business differently.

You are online only? Good for you! You are the crafter? Thank goodness for you, or what would we have to enjoy and purchase? You are a store owner? Thanks for trying to continue Mom and Pop independent business. “Etsy” only? well, I am so glad you have a way to show us your talents. Working from home, be grateful and gracious, and good luck to you too! But, let’s all be kind to each other, and believe that each of us is coming from the best place in our hearts, and encourage each other.

I have seen people put down people without stores, or put down crafters, or imply they as opposed to others are better because of their location, or lifestyle, or religion??? C’mon! Let’s all help each other enjoy what we all do, whatever that is…and help each other be the best we can be.

And by the way….A BIG Thank you!!!!!! to all of you wonderful Bloggers, Followers, Customers, and more who, without you….we would have nothing to work for, and share things with. I truly appreciate your role in my Blog, Store, and or Life.

THEREFORE!...I think I shall have a BLOG GIVE AWAY!

So....think Fall, Scents, Warmth of homespun texture, colors, .....and stay tuned for the DETAILS!
Country Blessings…….

Small Town Life In the Country

Sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in all that is wrong. At work, at home, in the world. Times are changing. Life is going fast. Bad news, grim future? if you watch the news.   But yesterday, I had a reawakening of the small pleasures in life, and that if we slow down to listen, we may see an abundance of things to be grateful for.

Living in New England. The pleasures of the changing seasons. Watching the Countryside change. Daily waves of new color and landscapes. The freshness and cool air of the morning. The warmth of mid day. The gentle closing of the evening.

New bird calls. Not the urgent noise of Spring birds, fighting for territories, building nests and new life, but rather the steady, routine of Geese, Blue Jays  and Crows.

              

Speaking of Seasons, and Country Life…….

              
                                   State Fairs.   

Good for the soul. No matter how hokey, there is still something to be said for everyone taking the time to visit a good Country Fair. The fact they still exist!
Look at this old Postcard. The entrance is still the same today! This is from here in Rochester, NH.
              
It’s nice how Fairs haven’t changed. Some things do stay the same, and there is comfort in that.  Farm animals, Rides, Fried Dough, and some daredevils.
              
There is a whole subculture that goes with that, from the carnival workers themselves, to the Quilters, and 4-H’ers, the old Farmers, the Church’s Concession stand. Crafts, Games, and old timers. All made up of ordinary people:  trying, living, keeping themselves busy, or volunteering, reaching out and helping. 

I fell asleep last night listening to the roar of “Monster Trucks”.
            
I actually kind of liked it. It reminded me that I am lucky  to live in a small enough town, in the Country that hosts a fair like that. Still.

Far enough away, yet close enough to hear. While I felt the cool breeze of the fall night, I was grateful for my small town life, and happy for all those people who were participating or enjoying an old-fashioned ritual. Restores your faith. In people. In life. Amen

An Ode to Summer

Good bye Summer
(With a nod to Margaret Wise Brown)

Goodbye to days of swimming & sun,
Goodbye to Ice Cream when day is done

Goodbye to mornings of sweet birdsong,

Goodbye to days that last so long……….

Goodbye Flowers

& Fresh Tomatoes……….

Goodbye going without Bulky Coats!

Goodbye Cows


Goodbye Geese….

Goodbye Summer everywhere!

Well, I have hung on as long as I could. There is now no denying Fall is officially here. I do love Fall, it’s just that Summer is so short in New England, and the rain really never stopped ‘till August!

But now the indoor delights begin! Cozy in our Country Homes, this really is the best time of the year for Candles, and Scents. Bowls of Potpourri! Change out your linens, add some whimsical Fall Figures to bring out the child in you.

As evening falls so much earlier, it is so nice to come home to a window framed with curtains, parted slightly to reveal an electric candle or accent light to welcome you. As you open your door, the scent of your bowls of Potpourri greet you. Add a string of small lights amongst your garlands, and inside your cupboards.

One of the BEST things I have done is load my house up with timers for the lights. I know, you think “I’ll just put them on.” But what a nice feeling when you come home, and it is dark out, and a few of your accent, primitive, or colonial lights is there to greet you. INSTANTLY, you home is “ready”, and your room looks its best accented with lighting. And it is cheering!

Time to nest! Enjoy all the pleasures of Fall, and make your home a Primitive Paradise!