….only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself.”–Ruth Stout
I connected with the above quote when I found it, because in the first two weeks of January this year, I have given myself permission to concentrate on ME…
My thoughts…
my plans for the months ahead
my memories of the past year
my ideas for home decorating
my plans for gardening…
and so much more.
I always shop the Stars Haggle sale in January to find those things which give me delight in the dark days….. good value for my $$$$$ and something for my house and of course ME (I told you–these days are all about ME).
I purchased a sweet repurposed pin from the booth of Pat Hattan at Splendid (check out her showcase–she has the coolest jewelry)…. The tiny writing in the frame says: “The compliments of the season with kind remembrances”. How could I resist this at $35??
Next, something to warm up my bedroom… a 1940′s cotton Jaquard coverlet in just that shade of pinky-coral that perfectly slips into my color scheme. A real find from Melanie Corson at 50% off–making it a bargain at $9.
And finally, a narrow four-drawer little chest with old “dry” pink and gray paint…purchased from Marcee Melton for $75…Perfect beside the bed to hold a lamp–and storage to boot.
In thinking about the last year, I came up with my own “awards”…I share these with you….
Best Books:
•Appetite for Life-A biography of Julia Child by Noel Riley Fitch
•The Help by Kathryn Stockett – I didn’t want it to end.
Best Periodical series:
•‘Where Women Create’ published by Stampington Co.–comes out four times a year–I wait for every issue.
Best TV shows:
•Return to Cranford PBS-Masterpiece Theater – (based on books by Elizabeth Gaskell) set in an English village in the 1840s, the costumes alone are worth watching over and over
•Mad Men–the AMC series about the Madison Avenue men and their lives–a trip back to the 1960s.
Best Shopping:
•Stars Antiques (of course!)
•Palmer Wirfs Antique shows
•Anthropologie (if only for inspiration)
•Queen of Tarte Sales (inspiration!)
•Marguerite–New shop by Stars owned and created by Daisy Phillips
My favorite online journal to visit:
•The Pastoral Dollmaker–the photos and musings of Christine Crocker and her dollies
I could go on and on, but this is just a sampling of what I found delightful in 2009.
And now my two weeks of ME are up and time to get busy….
Signing off…
—Gayle
Stars Antiques
