Christmas Eve Party

We had the loveliest Christmas Eve party, with over forty guests. There was magic in the air as the flutist and cellist played carols. We played Christmas crackers, charm cake, hunt the pickle, peppermint pig and laughed and made merry until well after midnight! The food was delicious and included stuffed grape leaves, hummus and pita bread, artichoke squares, mini quiches, chicken wrapped in bacon, lasagna, strawberry spinach salad, tortellini primavera, cranberry nut chicken salad on freshly baked croissants, cranberry fluff, red velvet cheesecake, eclairs, cream puffs, chocolate trifle, apple cranberry pie, ginger cookies...Now that I am thinking about it maybe it was not the laughter that made my sides hurt so much!!!

Christmas All Around The House

We managed to take a few photographs before the guests began arriving on Christmas Eve. The quiet before the Christmas Eve crowd of 40 plus arrives is quite magical. When you and the house are perfectly dressed, and the fire and candles are lighted, it is like waiting for a performance to begin!

A Lace Cuff in the December Light

We adore this antique Victorian gown with its dripping lace cuffs and its stunning changeable taffeta front! A cunning bow sits atop the bustle at the back, which falls into a train. If you wore this gown your demeanor would have to have been more elegant than in a pair of ripped jeans and keds! And you have to love an era when women wanted to add volume to their backsides with bow and bustle! Who needs to diet after Christmas?! Let's simply revive this style!!!!!!!!

Lighting The Way

We found this beautiful antique diminutive lantern just in time for holiday decorating. The sides of the lantern are made of paper and glow beautifully when a candle is placed inside!(We opted for a battery operated candle so as not to burn the house down!) Watch for it in our auctions!

Autumn In New England

We have had the craziest weather extremes this autumn from 70 degrees one day to two feet of snow the next! The one constant this autumn has been enjoying all New England has to offer with good friends and family! Our fav haunts have been The Red Apple Farm, The Old Mill and Henshaw Farm; all perfect spots that exude a quintessential New England vibe!

Cranberry Bogs Awash In The Glow Of November's Full Frost Moon

We went to Cape Cod this week-end for a mini vacation. We walked the beach at twilight, watched the full frost moon rise over the scarlet cranberry bogs, traveled up and down historic route 6A to visit antique stores and check out the quaint cottages with bittersweet spilling from baskets bedecking the gorgeous primitive wood doors. We stopped to eat at the Scargo Café and had delicious artichoke dip, grilled veggie burgers and pasta salad.
We stopped for ice cream but found all the stands had been boarded up for the season, and the little ice cream shop that has been around for 100 years was under renovation! At least the antique shops did not disappoint! We found an armful of treasures, including milliner’s flowers, a French box filled with antique doll wigs, an Edwardian slip, shiny black millinery feathers, and a Parisian four poster curtain surround with ball fringe. I guess we’ll have to wait until next spring for ice cream cones!

Goodbye To The Flea Market Until April 2012!

Robins in the Trundle Bed
We couldn't resist the last flea market of 2011! The temp was in the 20's and cold, but the hugs from good friends saying goodbye for the season warmed and heartened us! We even managed to divest of one pair of mittens to search through a few boxes. While attempting to avoid ice patches, mud slicks and snow, we still managed to unearth a few treasures. Our fav is a Madonna on canvas from a Southbridge Church. Simply divine!