Fightin' Phils win the pennant!

Enough said. Next stop WORLD SERIES.

Blue (and yellow) Ribbon Winner

I won! What has been keeping me busy for the past couple weeks you ask? Well, I have been obsessing over how I was going to create 2 artistic floral arrangements to enter into the Reading Fair this year. I've never done anything like this before for competition but after seeing some other entries at other fairs last year, I decided I was going to do it! I entered the cup and saucer class and the "my country" class which had to be red/white and blue w/ foliage. My cup and saucer arrangement won the blue ribbon for 1st place and my red/white/blue arrangement won the yellow ribbon for 3rd place.
I dropped off the arrangements at 2pm on Sunday- the judging was on Monday morning (yesterday)at 9am. The Fair didn't open until 4pm yesterday so I was dying to know if I had won! Wills and I got there around 5:30 and rushed in to find a blue ribbon laying so proudly next to my cup and saucer arrangement. Then a few steps down we found that my red/white/blue arrangement won too! I am happy for 3rd place with that arrangement as I was uncertain how the judges would like my "artistry" in putting my arrangement in a vintage chip can and not in a traditional vase. Well, I guess they liked it!

After we walked around and viewed the other exhibits, although I must admit that I kept going back to mine, we ventured out into the main part of the Fair. I think this was the first time I had been at the Reading Fair and it was nice- there were strolling musicians, carnival rides, lots of food, games, car races, an Elvis impersonator and even a house filled with rescued pot bellied pigs. Not to mention all of the vegetable exhibits and animals! www.readingfair.us

Fruit and Flora

Above are my 2 newest acquisitions for my too bare walls. Both are vintage and fit perfectly into my home. I mean, I've only been living here for 8 years, isn't it about time I commit to hanging something on the walls? Good things come to those who wait, right?

Willi, James and Monti

Willi, James and Monti, as in Williamsburg, Jamestown and Monticello- where we spent our 4th of July holiday. This was my first time to all of these places and as a person who enjoys American history, I enjoyed it tremendously. There was so much to absorb history-wise... there were fifes and drums, british soldiers, Benedict Arnold, Pocahontas, John Smith, Thomas Jefferson, I could go on; Wills must have been tired of me saying things like (as we walked along the James River in Jamestown) "Do you think Pocahontas stepped right here?" as I slowly lifted my foot up and back down to the ground.
Even with all that history at each destination, I could not help but be drawn to the gardens. To me, that sparked the most imagination in that I wondered how people in the 17th and 18th century tended their gardens, what did they use to water with, did they pull weeds, did servants take care of the garden, did they take pride in their gardens or only simply have them out of necessity? The above pictures are from random gardens we saw while in Williamsburg.
I love gardens. I love seeing other people's gardens, I love to talk about gardens and I love to learn about the history of gardening. I couldn't have imagined what an impact Thomas Jefferson's gardens at Monticello would have on me. Below are a few pictures from Monticello. To me, the picture of the garden pavillion is more iconic than Jefferson's house itself. I can just picture T.J. taking a long break to read or rest in the pavillion after a long stroll through his orchards, vineyard and vegetable garden.














I absolutely enjoyed every second I was there, taking it all in and just being there was special to me. While we toured the house at Monticello the guide pointed out amazing artifacts and paintings of patriots and presidents all of which I was happy to see; BUT as soon as she pointed out an 18th century wooden seed cabinet made by hand at Monticello in which T.J. kept his seeds that he gathered and labeled for the next year, I felt the tour was complete! The cabinet was plain, no frills, but to me it was the most interesting piece in the house.

Lo and Behold!

These cool collages are made by my big brother, Mike Miller. He is a mixed media artist and these silhouette collages are made from vintage photos and are his latest creation. Mike and Karen, my sister in law, are also the proprietors of Lo & Behold! which is their business of procuring and selling antiques and cultural relics. Mike's collection of cultural relics is often of an odd sort but has attracted quite a following. His artwork can be found in John Derian's store in New York as well as at Yard Dog in Austin, TX. Check him out on the web at www.loandbeholdantiques.com and tell him that I sent ya!

Fahrenheit

That's Fahrenheit as in the new roller coaster at Hershey Park. The hour and 15 minute wait to get on the ride was worth it, despite the stinging rain as soon as we loaded into the ride.... yeah, it poured, long story. Anyway, we enjoyed a fun day at Hershey Park and are looking forward to our vacation in Williamsburg- Busch Gardens here we come!

Finally!

A HUGE congratulations goes out to my dearest friend Jen and her husband Rich who have just yesterday, after more than 2 1/2 years of waiting, received their adoption referral from China. They are now the proud parents of a beautiful little girl and have named her Ruby XiaoAi. She is gorgeous and I am so happy for them -they have waited what must have seemed like an eternity just to see her cute little face and to find out where she is. In the coming weeks they will travel to China to pick up their bundle of joy and bring her home. xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
If you keep a green bough in your heart, the singing bird will come

wildflowers

A dozen roses on Valentines Day $100.00. Flowers delivered from a florist $69.99. A cut bouquet from the grocery store $9.99. Picking wildflowers on a beautiful summer day with your sweetheart... priceless. These wildflowers are the little beauties that Wills and I picked on Sunday. We spend the day taking a scenic drive stopping here and there to pick wildflowers. We also stopped at a roadside stand to get fresh-picked strawberries. It was nice to spend the day doing things like that, leaving it all behind for just a few hours, no worries, no cares, no responsibilities. I need more days like that.

memorial day-week recap

Days off. Love 'em! Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend... I have been off for the past week and have been enjoying every minute of it. It has been a time of catching up, doing things I just don't seem to have time to do while I'm working. Lots of gardening, cleaning, laundry and organizing. I also hooked up Wills' satellite radio (which was his Xmas present- yeah, just getting to it now...p.s. I've been listening to the Martha Stewart station.)and I also hooked up wireless Internet (who knew all you had to do was just buy a router??). I also did a day excursion to Lancaster County with my mom where we visited several green houses,farm markets and our favorite little indie shops on Main St. in Lititz. That's it for now, more updates later. Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm starting a moonlight garden???

A guest room

Here's a snapshot of what I've been working on inside during all the rain we've been having... I've finally gotten the guest room presentable. There are a few things I'd like to add here and there, but overall I think it turned out nice. All I really did was clear out the clutter that had been gathering there for a couple of years, got a bigger bed and new curtains. Now it's actually suitable for guests!I have an old wooden washstand that is crying out for a new coat of paint- as soon as I get that painted, it will find its home in the guest room.

Mom's Day with the Phillies

Every year for the past 4 or so years I've taken my Mom to the the Phillies game for Mother's Day. Yesterday was the day and the Fightin' pulled through against the SF Giants in the bottom of the 9th. The weather was great and we enjoyed the usual Phillies fare... sandwiches from Tony Lukes, crab fries from Chickie's & Pete's and of course, my favorite, the ice cream "helmet" sundae! Thanks Mom for a great time and Happy Mother's Day.

A little bit of France

One of my inspirations to become a shop owner are the ladies behind French General. I learned of their small shop in Manhattan a few years ago while researching women in business "doing what they love". I loved the aesthetic of their store and the way they used vintage notions and jewelry mixed with new gift items. It was, I'm sure, my biggest inspiration to start my shop Eye Candy. French General has since moved to Hollywood, CA and the owners have published a couple of books, one of which I received in the mail yesterday. I love this book! The pictures are beautiful and the instructions on jewelry making is detailed. Not to mention that it has many examples of one of my current obsessions... the charm bracelet (with vintage charms of course!)! Can't wait to try making a piece of my own.... all I need to do is get my collected beads, bits & pieces of old jewelry and various other crafty notions that are all dumped together in boxes out of my basement cleaned and ready to go! First things first, right?