Black Eyed Susan's Kitchen

REASONS TO BE THANKFUL...

         As I sat down to write this post, I thought about the reasons that I might be thankful today. In the end, I realized that the list would go on and on...good health, a comfortable lifestyle, living in a free country, the legal right to pursue happiness and worship as we choose, and as I said, that list could go on and on. One of the things that I am especially grateful for this year, is that we live in a time when technology has given us the opportunity to get to know more people like ourselves, and stay a little closer to our loved ones. Even if it is only in cyber space. We are enriched thanks to the internet and the blogosphere. So, one of the things that I am thankful for this year is my increasing group of blog friends. I am also grateful for the new friends who I have met this year and the ones that I have known for a long time. I am particularly thankful to know that the people in this country have become (maybe they always were) colorblind and have chosen a man to lead us, who brings a  fresh perspective and some hope. I am ever thankful  for the health, happiness and bright futures for my children and to have another holiday in our home full of warmth, good food, and family.
Warm wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Satisfying Thanksgiving.
♥, Susan

QUICK AND CRAFTY

         I just wanted to mention that I put these cashmere sweaters up for auction on ebay yesterday. All but two have a few tiny holes (really tiny), and although they are totally wearable, it occurred to me that they are great for crafting, sewing and felting as well. I also thought that you would like the colors. If you have interest, you can find them here. I now return you to your holiday preparations and again wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
♥, Susan

HERE AND THERE, THIS AND THAT

        The season is upon us....what season is that, you might ask? Well, it is craft show season, and holiday festival season, and turkey season, and school pageants and plays season, and football season, and, well, you have the idea. So many things to do that we have to pick and choose our agendas. So, priorities in order, we went to see the high school show, which only son helped to build the set for (tech crew). Then I pulled out all of the holiday garb or should I say gobble...there are the pilgrims, which my mother in law made for me several years ago, and then there are the turkeys, mostly vintage, but some are newer and although, I am not a huge fan of the AnnaLee dolls, when I find a cute one at a yard sale, I am inclined to add it to the holiday collection. Does it count as vintage if I include a turkey that I made 26 years ago? The holiday would not be complete without the Wendell August turkey platter and stuffing spoon, and the Fall Boy (yup, that's me in the pic) and this will be the last week to enjoy those wonderful shades of orange on the mantel, because, after Thanksgiving, the decor will change for the more glittery, and shiney brite. I will leave you with this picture of the welcome dance we saw yesterday at the Swedish Got Jul, festival that has been the start of our holiday season for the last six years. It is always happiness to go here as I described in last years post. Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone.  

A QUICK WORD

             I stopped by the market this afternoon, to pick up a few groceries for dinner. Typically, I was diverted by the sale items, some of which were things that we actually needed. I finished checking out, packed the groceries in the car, and drove over to the high school to pick up my son. As I reached over to put my purse on the floor of the car, so that I could run into the school without it, it wasn't there. I looked in the back where the groceries were, thinking that I threw it in with them and it was at that moment that I realized, it had been left in the shopping cart. I ran into the school, grabbed my son's phone (mine was in the purse), and called the market. The woman on the other end of the phone asked if it was a black purse and told me that she had it there...someone had dropped it off at the customer service desk. When I went in to the market to pick up the purse, the woman behind the desk was on the phone talking to someone else who had lost something. When she mentioned that all they had was a black purse, I pointed to myself and mouthed the words, that would be me. She handed me the purse without asking me to identify anything in it. By the time I got back to the car, my hands were shaking. Everything was in the purse...not a penny or a credit card was missing. Now, I have great faith in humanity, and so appreciated the kind soul who found it in the first place. There will be a big karmic reward for this person, but was I wrong to be a little shaken by the employee who just handed over the purse without even asking what my name was?  I'm still feeling a little shaken over this.

BIG WINNINGS, AND SEVEN LITTLE KNOWN FACTS WITH A TWIST

        Last week, the postwoman brought some really fun packages my way. I won, this gorgeous scarf from Laura at Shore(house)chic, when she had a giveaway with a very unique theme. She visited a house that was for sale, an old and unusual house,  that used to be a school house in Lambertville, New Jersey. To enter her give away, you had to guess the asking price of the house. I am proud to say that my many years of going to open houses and snooping around payed off, as mine was the closest guess. That adorable little felt bag was a winning from the Ghoultide Gatherings, Elona of Wondrous Things. I just love that cheesy grin on the cat...kind of devious, and perfect for a cat lover like myself.
         I have been tagged by Linda at The Briar Rose Gate, and although the tag is to disclose seven rarely known facts about myself, I thought I would put a little spin on this. (leave it to me to bend or change the rules) So, I thought I would mention seven collections that I have (like I would only have seven..ha!) that I have not talked about. 1. I collect wedding ring china, which is mostly fine white china with a band of gold around it. I like to collect different pieces (all vintage) from different manufacturers. They all go together and set an unusual table. 2. I collect gold charms. It all started when I was a young girl and mom and dad bought me that first charm bracelet. Typical of me, the collection grew, mostly from holiday gifts, and now includes a long gold neck chain chock a block full of charms as well as a charm bracelet. I never tire of the unusual, vintage or unique charms. My sister in law and brother in law graced me with a fabulous turkey charm last year because I make Thanksgiving dinner every year, and it is my favorite holiday. It is also one of my favorite charms. 3. I collect pocket books. I know, some girls are shoe girls, some collect designer clothes, but for me, its the bag. Handmade, cloth, leather, beaded. I love them and can't seem to let any of them go, so there is a big collection in my closet. (sadly, I have passed this obsession on to daughter in the middle) 4. I collect American folk art. Contemporary items made by crafters and artists today. All the better if I get to meet the artist. 5. I have a collection of all of the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazines. I have been a big fan from day one, and have recently learned that they are looking for a new publisher. I hope that they find one fast, because I would be very sad to see this periodical end. 6. I collect vintage milk glass. Vases and bowls and cake plates on pedestals. These items are not only pretty to look at, but very useful too. They go great with most tablescapes and people can sometimes feel a little nostalgic to see a piece that they remember from their childhood or grandmothers house. And lastly, number 7, I have a magical collection of fairy ornaments that belong on Christmas trees, but tend to show up all around the house. They are just too cute to pack away for the entire year.
       I am supposed to tag seven bloggers to disclose seven random and unknown facts about themselves, but since I have twisted this concept into something else, I would like to challenge all of my friends and readers to see if they can list seven collections that maybe others are unaware of. I know that you are out there going to the estate sales and yard sales, and the discount shops and craft shows, so what kind of collections are you putting together? And for those who know me well, I didn't even mention those really big collections that I have written about in prior posts. So....what are you collecting???

RAINY WEEKEND IN VERMONT

             In my ongoing love affair with Vermont, 30 years and counting, we are getting to visit one of my favorite states more often that usual as daughter in the middle is attending college up there right now. More happy road trips for us. Since the kids in our state had Thursday and Friday off for some form of teacher convention, we grabbed our youngest, packed our bags and headed north. We spent Saturday, shopping with daughter in the middle, while her brother stayed at the college and played video games with his friends (one of his friends attends the same college), so it was happiness all around. We stopped in Dorset first, at one of our must stop at kitchen stores, J.K. Adams. Now, this is no ordinary kitchen supply shop. This place started out as a woodworking shop, producing some of the finest cutting boards and wooden bowls I have ever seen. These bowls were huge, as in 30-40 inch diameters. Just think of all the fun stuff that you could display in there.Then there was this honey display. The beeswax candles on the top shelf were so tempting as was the honeycombs and all of the other products, but most of all, I fell in love with this corner hutch and the old chippy paint on it. Then there were the dishes. Daughter in the middle and I really liked these black and white farm animal motifs, and then we also liked, this display of fiesta ware, mixed with the colorful glass platters. The thing that may have tempted me the most though, was this display of orange and yellow fiesta ware. Shown with the sunflower platters, it really caught my eye. As we were on our way out the door, this one last display was picture worthy, reminding me that the holidays are approaching, as is the cold and icy weather. After our visit to Adams, we were on our way to Manchester to our favorite shops, and outlets including Betsey Johnson, Ralph lauren, Coach and our most favorite bookstore in the world, Northshire. Truely the best independently owned bookshop on the face of this earth. We had a great time, walked all over the place, and spoiled daughter in the middle, just a little bit.   

IT'S IN THE HAT

         Sometimes, it's more fun to do things the old fashioned way. So, here goes.... I wrote down everyone's name with a pen and cut them out with a scissor.  Then, I got out my most favorite hat...How much do you love this 1940's hat with jet beads all over it. I have been tempted to take the beads off and make a necklace, but I do love the hat...anyhoo, next, I put all of the names into the hat, and then I pulled out one...and the winner of the three books, is Heidi at Sweet Cookies! Congratulations Heidi, please send me your address and I will get these out to you.