my brother

I don't know how people live without brothers, or with bad ones.  Somehow I got a really, really good one who can make me laugh even when I feel terrible, and who is willing to come balance on a banister and hang up my shop sign after already working a long day.  Thank you, Trey!

shop opening @ 132 East Main Street, Orange, VA!

I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't think it might be a good idea to be a shop keeper.  On March 20th of this year (the first day of Spring!), I'm really and truly going to become one!  Here are some messy photographs of the set-up in progress.  Regular hours will be 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays, BUT I've moved my sewing machine, cutting and ironing boards all to the shop, so it will be a workshop too, and the door will be open anytime I am there working.  Please come and visit me!  

132 W. Main St.

Orange, VA  22960

540-222-9644

Happy Valentine's Day!

winter

I love winter.  The cold, the pure colors, the way everything is stripped down bare.  Only one thing is missing so far... enough snow for a good sledding party and a bonfire.

heaven...I'm in heaven

Nope, I'm not dancing cheek to cheek with anyone, but I'm feeling completely in love with winter!
This morning I met my mom at Food Lion around 7:30.  It was fifteen degrees.  I kept my woolly headband on, and shopped while I was still drinking my coffee in my mug from home.  The people that work at the Orange Food Lion are so nice.  I really do enjoy seeing them.  Then I came home, rich with groceries, and set out again on my bike for the post office.  The people that work at our post office are so nice. too.  I want to hug them every single time!  Then I rode to the florist to get some sprigs of eucalyptus.... and it was on my way home, with half-frozen jelly legs, un-feelable fingers and my heart pounding me up the hill that "Dancing Cheek to Cheek" came clamoring happily into my mind.  (This is the tune that typically plays in my head when a big surge of happiness comes over me out of nowhere). I can't justify it or say exactly what is wrong with me, maybe I have some kind of Pollyanna sickness, but I absolutely love winter, and riding my bike in Orange on a fifteen degree morning is heavenly!

I think eucalyptus is pretty heavenly, too.  I highly recommend getting some for your house.  Here's what I got this morning:

If you don't like the cold and you need something to warm your heart, here ya go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsS7B8nyw5Y

2014...

is a beautiful year, already!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hmmmm...  if I continue this trend, my next entry will be "Merry Christmas!"  I haven't been in the mood for blogging, but I had a lot of fun tonight pretending like I was a chocolate maker.  These are the truffles I'm going to take to Thanksgiving at my uncle's house tomorrow.  I used the very straightforward and easy method here.  For coatings I chose walnut, plain powdered sugar, coconut, and cinnamon.  It was fun improvising the box to transport and serve them in, too... it is a previously owned and used Sacher-Torte box from Vienna, lined with wax paper and modified with hand cut cardboard dividers, also covered in wax paper.  I also made a chocolate pie for my grandpa, and an appetizer of dried dates stuffed with pistachios and then wrapped in apricots and bacon.  Tomorrow is going to be fun!  Then I will buckle down and finish getting ready for the Charlottesville Waldorf School Holiday Bazaar, where I'll be a vendor on December 6th & 7th.  Last year it was really good, so I'm happily anticipating this year's!