Someone asked me the other day about what I do...for a living?...for entertainment?....for kicks and giggles?...I told her that I write a blog. The fact of the matter is that I have been writing this blog since July of 2007. By blogging standards, that is a very long time ago. Funny enough, when my friend Suzy told me that I had to start blogging, I didn't even know what she was talking about. It took about a minute for me to figure out that this would be a fantastic way to keep in touch with former customers as well as the artists who helped to supply my store, Suzy included. So, without much fanfare...here is blog post number 500...champagne and black tie reception will follow (kidding!).
Holidays in small towns are steeped in tradition ...
In our tiny one mile square borough we have the tree lighting on the first Saturday of December...always! The Band of Two Rivers play us into the festivities,
the girl or boy scouts line the street with paper bags filled with sand and candles, the streets are kept safe by the fire and police departments, Santa will show up for the little ones and there is always hot cocoa. Except not this year...no hot cocoa. Bummer!! The store on the corner won't let them use the side walk in front to set up a hot cocoa station any more...they think we should go in and buy a cup...booo...hisss. After more than 20 years, a tradition is broken. We went home and had cocoa there.
Breaking with tradition a little bit more, I have decided not to bring out all of the glitz and glam of holiday decorating. Some, but not all.
I am trying for something a little more understated this year. I moved the jade plant from the window in the living room and filled the window with norfolk pines. By next weekend we will have the tree up.
In the meantime, we finished the upstairs bathroom. If you go back to this post, you can see where we began...a year ago.
After making a million decisions ( am I prone to exaggerate?) and moving the doorway, ta-da...said in a very sing-song voice...it is finished. Things I learned this year...my style is definitely cottage modern, I am not as willing to compromise as I thought, and I love the color blue. 
The little mosaic tiles on the floor are my favorite part...and the wainscoting on the walls...and that little strip of decorative glass tiles at the top of the shower. The guys did a rockin' job and I couldn't be more pleased. Next, we finish the bedroom...
where we have a wall full of closet space that needs to be refigured into several doors because I bought these 
doors from a house that is being redone and there are five sets of them. Just enough to go from one side of the room to the other. I could sure use a local magician carpenter to come in and surprise us with the finished product! I am going by the old adage, Good things come to those who wait...patiently.
This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.
♥, Susan
My you are a busy one! Can't believe you've been blogging that long! Love the new doors!
Mary
Posted by: Ocean Breezes & Country Sneezes | December 04, 2011 at 03:02 PM
Congratulations, Susan, on 500 blog posts and four and a half years of blogging! I will be celebrating my completion of four year soon, as I began at the end of December, 2007. It's been so much fun and I have enjoyed virtually meeting so many nice people, like you, who I would never have known otherwise.
Your town's tree lighting ceremony sounds like a nice event, although I think they should bring back the hot chocolate!:)
I am doing less decorating this year, myself, as it is only my husband and I here at home this year. We hope to do some early celebrating with the kids and grandkids.
Your renovations look beautiful! I know you can't wait till it's all finished.
Hugs, Pat
Posted by: Pat | December 04, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Congrats on your 500th post. Your town sounds like they have a great Christmas celebration. Too bad about the hot chocolate though. I can understand the need to cut back on the decorating, since my son is 19 now I do not feel like I have to overdo the decorating. Your new bathroom looks beautiful. Wonderful photos, have a great week!
Posted by: Eileen | December 04, 2011 at 04:56 PM
That's a lot of great blogging! I sure enjoy visiting you every Sunday night! Congrats to you, my friend! ♥♥♥
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | December 04, 2011 at 05:20 PM
That's a lot of blogging! (I know because I started blogging in July of 07, too. =)
Oh the bathroom looks great and that you have identified your style is terrific. I am still in limbo I think. I really don't have a clue.
Lots of doors for your closet? I'd need to label them or I'd get lost. It's going to look fantastic.
Posted by: Vee | December 04, 2011 at 05:25 PM
Congratulations!!! Wow over 5 years:)
Posted by: A Garden of Threads | December 04, 2011 at 05:52 PM
Congratulations on all you years of blogging!
Thanks so much for your visit to My Front Porch. Glad to know you...I'll be back.
Ciao,
Suzanne
Posted by: Suzanne | December 04, 2011 at 05:59 PM
Congratulations on 500 posts. You certainly have a busy life but that is good. V
Posted by: Valerie | December 04, 2011 at 06:05 PM
Congratulations on your 500th post! Thanks for visiting my blog.
Posted by: Jennifer @ Town and Country Living | December 04, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Congrats on your 500th post, looking forward to many more :) Your bathroom looks fabulous! And that is really crummy of that store to break tradition.
Posted by: Carol @There's Always Thyme to Cook | December 04, 2011 at 06:58 PM
Your bathroom is beautiful.
We are in the process of updating our home. I know all the work that goes into it.
Congratulations on your 500th post!
Posted by: Dee | December 04, 2011 at 07:15 PM
Your bathroom is really wonderful. I liked it.
Posted by: Rajesh | December 04, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Congrats. Can you tell me the brand and color of the paint you used. I am in the processing of redoing my bath and the blue that was selected is a very sky blue - maybe too blue. Yo
urs looks lovely. Thanks!
Posted by: wendy | December 04, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Well that's not very Christmassy, not letting the hot chocolate station set up! But otherwise, sounds like a wonderful way to kick of the Christmas season.
Your bathroom makeover looks great! Love the accent tile in the shower and the pretty blue on the walls. And the door is nice too - hope you find the magician to install all of them :-)
Posted by: Kelly @ JAX does design | December 04, 2011 at 08:22 PM
It does take a chunk of time to post a blog every day. That's why I've backed down to only Mondays.
I saw only a blue toothbrush; did I miss something?
Happy Blue Monday to you, Sue!
Posted by: Sally | December 05, 2011 at 06:25 AM
Congratulations!
My Blue Monday.
Posted by: Cafe au lait | December 05, 2011 at 09:56 AM
Congrats on the 500th blogpost. It is always so nice to visit here
Posted by: Ingmarie We | December 05, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Beautiful blues. Congratulations for the 500 posts.
Come see the Blue at my page when you get a chance. Thank you!
Posted by: Ms. Burrito | December 05, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Wow, 5 and a half years is a long time! Congratulations on 500 posts. Love the band in the park!
Posted by: Susan | December 05, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Congratulations on the 500 posts! Looks like you have been busy - my list of redo/ to dos is getting longer. To bad about them not having the hot cocoa stand, especially since it was a tradition looked forward to.
Thanks for stopping by. I may go see if they have a new display up this year.
Posted by: Glenda/MidSouth | December 05, 2011 at 03:13 PM
Wow! You have done some posting! Awesome! I am glad I came by to say hi and wish you many more years of blogging fun! Hugs Anne
Posted by: Anne | December 05, 2011 at 08:40 PM
We chose the same bathroom tiles! Your bathroom looks great!
Come back & visit, I'm have a give-away!
Posted by: Carol | December 05, 2011 at 08:50 PM
That's supposed to say I'm having a give-away!
Posted by: Carol | December 05, 2011 at 08:52 PM
Congrats on your 500th post :) Your bathroom is lovely!
Posted by: abeachcottage | December 06, 2011 at 04:58 AM
Congratulation! Keep on blogging:)
Visiting for BM! Hope you can visit mine too..
http://www.heavenly-dreams.com/toy-story-toddler-bed/
Posted by: Leah H. | December 06, 2011 at 08:37 AM
Hats off to you for the big 500!!
We ALL need magicians to work in our homes. Right now my husband is nursing a bad hernia so all my jobs have to go on the back burner EXCEPT my mantel! Hurrah. Jeff restored our fireplace and is now replacing a mantel that previous owners ripped out??? WHY??
Love to you and happy holidays,
Sharon
Posted by: [email protected] | December 06, 2011 at 08:54 AM
I love your bathroom tiles too. That's pretty much what I want in our ensuite.
Good luck with those doors - they'll be great!
Posted by: Pondside | December 06, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Oh my! How time flies :-> xo, suzy
Posted by: georgiapeachez | December 06, 2011 at 06:44 PM
WOW! Was that Mr. Swin?!
The bathroom is looking so much nicer decorated, too. I'm happy that much is finished upstairs! All that's left is to finish up the bedroom and it'll all look magnificent!
Love you!
See you in a couple of weeks!
Posted by: Jenna | December 07, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Congrats on your 500th+ post!!! :) Love your Xmas decor & home redos! :) Thank you for stopping by my page! Happy Holidays to you!!!
Cheers,
Jessie
Posted by: Jessie @ A Cozy Cottage in the CIty | December 07, 2011 at 10:31 PM
upstairs! All that's left is to finish up the bedroom and it'll all look magnificent
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