Happy New Year! A new year, a new beginning. Jay and I have been contemplating our new plan for the year. We usually begin the year with a thorough cleaning, painting, and mini remodel. While our plan is still to begin the painting next week, we are torn with our direction to go with the store. Do we continue as we have? ... Do we try a new twist?.... Or do we simply put the "closed" sign on the front windows and start fishing for a living? We are truly thankful for our wonderful customers and in a bad economy, life has been good...but....it has also been very hard. It is extremely difficult to find those fabulous treasures, clean them, paint them, repair them and then sell them for a reasonable amount. I am certain that we are not alone but we are tired. Is anyone else out there tired? So..like I always tell Jay when we get tired,"let's get on our big girl panties and get going".
Next week we will put our thinking caps on and think...think...think....pray...pray....and pray! If you have any ideas...we would love to hear them.
But for today, Happy, happy new year to all. xoxo Alice and Jay

bringing down the house

We're back! After a full week of deconstructing a mid 1800's tenant house, we are back in Sasser to try and reconstruct some nifty new things for the store. This is the house before we started.The front porch roof was the first thing to fall. Jay had to give me a lesson in bringing down a house. We have only taken bits and pieces of a house before, this was my first total demolition. As usual, I started out excited. Then I began to really look at the house. I began to imagine a family(probably a lot like the Ingalls family). I dreamed of how excited the family must have been to be building their own home.

The porch fell and so did my excitement. As I carefully studied the construction of hand hewn logs, giant wooden pegs, and beautiful hand forged nails I imagined strong rough hands of a young man building a home for his bride. The pride that was taken in each beam and board still seemed to sing a faint song that I was certain you could hear if you put your heart close enough! My heart ached a little for this sweet little home.
The walls came down after the tin roof. Can walls really talk? Sure they can. These walls wrapped their warm arms around families for over 150 years. In fact,
there were still a few families living in these walls! This little cotton mouse had quite a comfy home complete with a stash of fresh nuts.

Every single board, peg, and post was heart pine. Arachnophobia? Stay clear of old heart pine houses in the woods. This house had thousands of spiders.
After three full days of hammering and crow barring...the little house is looking bare. But guess what? It is still standing! It is a skeleton of what it was, but Jay and Herbie could NOT bring it down. I am pretty sure that there is one little post that is holding it up, but it is HOLDING it up. I hope that the handsome young man is smiling above as he watches his little handmade home stand up to the test of time. Hopefully we can share a bit of his love in some heart pine tables we are making for the store. Come by and see if you can hear the music....

see you later, alligator?

We have seen our share of odd and unusual things at the store but yesterday took the cake. We have rescued kittens from giant holes, birds from our ceiling rafters, and even a baby Opossum on our front walkway last week but yesterday....

yesterday, we had a customer run up and tell us there was an alligator out front. It took a minute to process as she stood there with wild eyes almost yelling, "there is an alligator out here". Of course, no worries for us if anything involves critters. Jay's days of turtle trapping kicked in to first gear and in no time flat, he had him an little alligator. The little fellow was really dry and we figured that he was either looking for water or he had heard about how cool our store was and he was coming to do a little Sunday shopping.

Now, since I am and I come from a long legacy of Georgia Bulldogs graduates, we didn't really see a need for a pet gator at the store. So, as quickly as we could, we returned this baby to the nearest flowing creek to live happily ever after. Godspeed my little friend!

smiles

A VERY long story....made short! Being really sick =no blogs. Hopefully, those days are almost over and we will be back in the swing of things soon. In the meantime, we had a GREAT open house. It was our first time and we had a wonderful day. Thanks to EVERYONE who made it that way.

Now, speaking of smiles. Meet Ave. Avery is the funniest person I know. She also happens to be one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. I made this the background on my phone so I can smile every time I see her face. I hope she makes your day as bright as she made mine.

hokey pokey

You put your right foot in....you put your left foot in....
you put your right leg in....you put your left leg in.... You turn yourself around...
Doesn't our new bench make you want to do the hokey pokey? Why settle for an ordinary bench on your back porch. Heck, put this on your front porch and we guarantee that you will be the talk of the neighborhood.
Smile- the sunshine is good for your teeth!

Yesterday, we decided that today would be a great road trip day. It was a spur of the moment decision.
Those are the kind of decisions that I live for! An adventure just waiting for the sun to rise. This was the view from our lunch table.
This was the view from the other direction.
A sleepy little fishing village tucked quietly amongst the moss covered oaks, swaying palm trees, and pelicans that line the pier posts. This is my memory of a Florida almost Forgotten. Steinhatchee, Florida. A little slice of heaven hidden off of highway 19. We had seafood lunch at Roy's which sits right over the water. If you are craving great seafood, it is worth the drive!

The prettiest little chapel sits in an oak grove near the water. Who couldn't stop and give Thanks in a place like this. After we stuffed our tummies till we could stuff no more and did a mini-sightseeing tour(Steinhatchee is a mini town) we hit the road to do a little shell shopping.
While I am not much of a conventional shopper, I AM a great "fun junk" shopper. Shells and shell art fall in to my "fun junk" category. WORLD OF SHELLS here we come! PS Jay says that this chain fell into his "fun junk", unfortunately, it was not for sale. We filled the truck with shells and to sell. Next stop, Boston, Ga.
We went from quintessential old Florida to quintessential Old South. Nothing defines the South more than a sunset falling upon a cotton field set against a forest full of Longleaf Pines.

After I finally came out of the cotton field, I asked Jay to drive me around the pond to enjoy the last few minutes of the sunset. I watched the sun set and then turned around to see a full moon and its perfect reflection smiling at me. Can you see the moon in the sky and the water? It was breathtaking and the perfect end to a perfect day!

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

potato soup?

Jay has gone and done it again! He built another table today and I think I may like it even better than the one yesterday. The scalloped trim and old column legs make it feel like a quaint little cottage table. Maybe a bowl of potato soup and hot sourdough bread served on some old ironstone; a gauzy white ruffled pillow like Judy Hill from Texas makes in that perfectly aged chair....
Ahhh.....perfection.

guess who had the most fun??

Here is the wonderful table that Jay built for the store today. He used heart pine tongue and groove boards that we salvaged from a home last year. These boards were milled in the mid 1800's before the Civil War. I think he did a great job!
I can just imagine a happy family gathered around this harvest table enjoying a Thanksgiving feast.
Here is what I did today! This is what happens when something sits on my work table for too long. It turns pink and usually polka dotted. All my fish needs now is a pretty pearl necklace.
Who do you think had the most fun today? :)

sit with me!

If I could fall into a picture and spend the day dilly-dallying , this would be where you could find me today.

Sit in reverie and watch the changing colors of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind. Henry Wadworth Longfellow

We met the most amazing folks!

Since Jay and I spend most of our time hidden away in the warehouse and the other part of it on the road, we are not known for being social butterflies. Having the opportunity to meet new people when we are at a show is a real treat for us. Today, I would like to introduce a few very special people we had the honor of spending time with in Texas. First, the truly beautiful Robin Brown. Robin designs the Magnolia Pearl clothing and is tops with Spence(he almost giggles when she takes him over to her booth with her "pearl girls" and treats him like a king).
Next is Jay and his favorite French lady, Corey Amaro from Tongue in Cheek. We met her last year and she is (as my parents would say) just as cute as a button! She even put a picture of us on her blog. I think that may qualify as our 5 minutes of fame!! (willows95988.typepad.com)
Here is the sweet Teresa and Craig of Time Worn Interiors. Her booth is always fabulous and she and Craig are too! She was our first friend at Marburger and her Kentucky kindness made being a new kid on the block a lot less stressful. Thanks, TOT!
Laurie of 2chippy's should have been one of the Sugarbaker sisters (remember those designing women). She is all great things Southern rolled up into one wonderful package of fun. I am pretty sure that she sparkles at night.
This is the sweetest pea in Texas. Shelley and her husband, Mr. Sweet Pea, were an amazing team to watch. They rolled in from Florida and we just watched in amazement as they created one of the most beautiful booths at Marburger. I wish that they would offer lessons on how to pack , unpack, and work their magic.

Now, I would have had more great pictures except for that one bad egg that chewed me out when I asked to take a picture. I understand that everyone doesn't want a picture taken but kind words would have worked lots better than the ones she chose to use. I didn't seem to be able to find those pink big girl panties after I got my hand slapped and all I have to say is "SHAME ON ME!"
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway!

home sweet home

The sunrise yesterday found us on our, 6 state in one day ,trek back home. We had a wonderful time and met so many wonderful(and only ONE not so wonderful) people. I have so much to write about but my age is catching up with me today and as surely as the sun will rise again tomorrow, I will write and share pictures of our adventures beginning tomorrow.
As for today, I want to write about the blessings that made the trip with us. First, my parents! Thanks to you for your never ending support, your tall tales that make life a little more fun, your okra(more later to explain!), your ability to go with our flow(and we flow the wrong way most of the time), and your enthusiasm for living this life to the fullest. Without you, none of this would be possible and we love you beyond words. Looking forward to the Spring!!
"A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though she knows you are slightly cracked" B.M. Nell, What an honor it has been to have you walk into our hearts. Thank you for making the journey with us. You made our trip so much more fun. Your laughter is contagious and your encouragement is a treasure. We hope that this will be the first of many adventures that we share with you.
"I believe in angels, the kind Heaven sends. I am surrounded by angels, but I call them friends." Shonya, You jumped on our gypsy wagon from Georgia and headed West with us without knowing the road that was ahead! We loved your spunk from the moment we met you but it is your kindness and faith that has left us feeling so blessed. What a beautiful person you are, inside and out! Isn't it wonderful when God takes us out of our own house to introduce us to a neighbor that we otherwise may not have met. Thank you for putting up with our nonsense and we look forward to doing more of these Georgia Gypsy Jaunts together!

Who knows...we may just end up with our own pink gypsy wagon! picture of Jay in front of Large Marge and the Junk Gypsy tent in Warrenton.

caravan is headed West!

The Caravan is loaded, gypsies are all here(ruffles, lace, and bells included), and we are heading West. See you in Texas!

On the plains of Montiel

In the sixteenth century, romances of chivalry, written in absurd, exaggerated style were popular in Spain.
A dignified gentleman by the name of Quixada went crazy over these foolish books. His brain was stuffed with enchantments, quarrels, battles, challenges, wounds, magic salves, complaints, amours, torments, giants, castles, captured maidens, gallant rescues, and all sorts of impossible deeds of daring, which seemed as true to him as the most authentic history. Every innkeeper was a magnate; every mule-driver a cavalier.
He decided that for his own honor and for the service of the world he must turn knight errant and jaunt through the world redressing wrongs and rescuing captured princesses. He changed his name to Don Quixote de la Mancha and set out on the adventure of a lifetime.
I haven't thought about this story for a long, long....really long time. Until yesterday. Yesterday, when I tried to take a few pictures of the things that we have ready to take to Texas. I am certain that we have a handful of "giant" windmills, a couple of monks with a captured princess, an "army" of sheep, and a barber wearing a brass basin on his head! This load is full of so full of magic beans that we may have a giant beanstalk growing in our booth. I tried to take a few pictures but sadly none of them turned out. Sancho and I will begin our packing this weekend and we hope to meet up with all of you in the promised land called Marburger Farms. Who knows, there may even be a windmill or two to have a tilt with.

See you there. Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes

How could this be so hard

How could changing the look of your blog be so hard! After all, they have websites and gadgets and widgets and ....to help you. The cutest blog on the block...NOT!!! Why, oh why, can't I figure it out. I feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy has gotten the best of him...AAAUUGGGHH!

Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins. Native American Proverb

I learned this lesson well yesterday. There are times in my life when the stars are perfectly out of line and I somehow think that I may be the only person that does anything-anywhere-anytime! I am easily annoyed and my patience is hard to find. Gah! How is it that I am the ONLY one who knows how to load and unload the dishwasher, why can't anyone else figure out what color to paint that table...yada...yada...yada.
Jay always tells me that the best lesson is a bought one. I bought a big one. We had a busy day in progress with many, many projects underway at our warehouse when Jay suddenly thought he had a catch in his back. Thirty minutes later we were on our way to the Emergency Room. Three hours later I was putting Jay to bed as he was heavily sedated and eagerly awaiting the arrival of a brand new kidney stone!
So... all of this leads to my lesson. I had to clean and put away all of our projects and close up the warehouse for the day. Easy, right? HECK no! I quickly realized that there were as many things that I physically could not do as well as just simply didn't KNOW how to do. What a blow to my "I can do ANYTHING" ego.
At the end of the day I'm just hoping that the stars are moving, I bought my lesson and paid in full. Jay is feeling a little bit better today and I will appreciate anything that he is able to do!! I am returning his moccasins with a little bit softer heart and may even clean them for him every now and again.

Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins. That way when you criticize him, you will be a mile away AND you will have his shoes. (I may have bought the lesson but I can still have fun!)

cOmE iN! CoMe In!

We have a new family member. Meet Magdalena, she is Soothsayer straight from somewhere in Arabia. She is telling fortunes at Alice and Jay and it is looking good for candy filled futures! PS Rumor has it ...she has a third eye!!!!

too pooped to spook!

Our Halloween treats and tricks are starting to fill the store. Two of our ferns have sprouted ferocious looking blooms!
Gummy earwax, minty maggots, bags o' blood, witch warts and pirate choppers are plentiful in our witches' cauldrons.
"Feed me, Seymour!"
Our store has been transformed into a fantasy land of Halloween curiosities. We have vampire bat skulls, werewolf skulls, Dr. Jekyll's potion kit, Cap'n Hook's severed hand, Fairy Godmother's magic wand and SOoo much more.
As always, the witches have set up house and they have brought a few pirates, professors, and warlocks with them.

Hurry by and check us out before we ride away with the full moon on our brooms.