TODAY was a memorable day long ago

As you read this today I will be away from home in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Circled on the calendar, this date is always special to me. It was just a week before I turned 19, the year was 1962........and yes, I am that old! I kissed my family goodbye, boarded a plane at London's Heathrow Airport - my first time flying - and crossed the pond to work for one year in Washington, D.C. I was not a gutsy girl who had traveled much. After the war people in England didn't have money for holidays and traveling to foreign lands. I did have a sense of adventure though. I knew I was meant to go places. I also had a serious boyfriend. My parents liked him but didn't want us to get married at such a young age, so encouraged me to spread my wings and fly away for a while.

Here it is, forty seven years later. I'm still not far from Washington but I've covered an awful lot of ground in that time. Water has run under many bridges, life has been full of ups and downs, but I never returned to England to live.

I've crossed the pond numerous times during the years. I kissed my mother, father, brother, entire family, and a hoard of much loved friends, hello and goodbye over and over again. I kept coming back to my adopted country, my very special husband, my American family and friends. I could say I have no regrets but that might be stretching the truth a bit. There are always regrets, whether one moves just a few miles down the road, or a few thousand miles across an ocean, when it means leaving home and loved ones behind.

It's said "you can't go home again". I'm inclined to say, "home is where you make it". With modern transportation it's not so difficult to drive a smooth highway for a few hours, or settle down in a seat for a night flight across the water. Your loved ones are always waiting for you.........so go while you can.

................and what about that boyfriend you ask. We are still in touch. He's still the nicest guy, and we meet up now and then when I'm home, across the pond.

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While in the mountains today I'll be meeting a very special blog friend for the first time - more on that later.

Stackin' them up

I seem to be collecting stacks of things lately........not like in tons and big loads, just small things in multiples that become stacks.

The two small stacks of different shaped handled bowls were from Homegoods. These appealed to me for several reasons ~ they look French, they look old due to the slightly yellowed edges, they are cute shapes, and of course they were very inexpensive, as in cheap!

The lovely fluted latte bowls, at least that's what I use them for mostly, my morning coffee. As the mornings start off cooler I enjoy wrapping my hands around a bowl of hot coffee. They can also be useful for soup, cereal, fruit, ice cream, even storing leftovers. I waited for Anthropologie to open their first shop in this area (in Durham, NC) recently because I like their bowls which are made in Portugal. They come in a myriad of colors, are sturdy, and can go in the microwave. Of course mine are white and French blue..........and they stack up very nicely thank you.

My new stack of tiny butter pats ~ old, slightly worn on some edges, French style decoration in gold, perfect. My friend Vanessa spotted these when we were treasure hunting a couple of weeks ago. She always finds things I love......and doesn't try to sneak off with them to her house! You're the best friend ever Vanessa. The six were just $10.00, a real deal.

Friendship flowers.....

A sweet friend came to visit last week. She brought flowers from her garden. Just how I love them..........loose and unstructured, as if picked in the wild from a rolling field. Placed effortlessly in simple glass. Tied with perfect garden string. I could smell perfume mixed with green tones, ozone and earth. Mary Ann, you made me happy with the late season bounty from your beautiful garden. Thank you for being my friend.

Autumn weekend............

Busy time, the weekend. Warm days, cooler nights. Shopping for a cozy sweater. Catching up with dear friends. Sharing news over great Italian food......and wine. DH packing for a trip. Airport run. More shopping near the airport. Some gardening under turning leaves. Some leaves....................falling quietly.

Antique French books ~ Appley Hoare Antiques, London.

Then taking a little afternoon time to sip a cup of tea and finish the last chapters of a good book ~ Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris who also wrote Chocolat and other great books full of surprises and twists.

Martha still inspires...............

Have you seen Martha Stewart's Halloween inspired stickers? I found some on sale at Michael's last week and scooped 'em up because they were really cute. Black, slightly glittered owls, ravens (crows?) bare branches, a couple of falling leaves and a feather-------two sheets in one package.

I think the stickers give a bit more dimension to the white pumpkins and gourds, plus they're not too cutesy or Halloweeny!!

Despite the ups and downs of her life, and whether you like her or not, Martha and her creative team of artists definitely know what it takes to create seasonal decorations with a bit of added elegance. I thank her for this.

Blue notes................

Tracy, who used to have a space at SuzAnna's Antiques, now has her own cute little shop in a small pink barn building on the same premises. She named her shop The Little Shabby Shed. There are other shops including Sam's Country Porch with antiques, fresh produce, plants and plenty of pumpkins, The Rusty Roof & Nail and The Shack By the Track. This fun, treasure-filled shopping stop is now known as The Vintage Village at Neuse Crossing in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Give Tracy some old barn wood, a can of paint, bits of vintage hardware, sometimes add a few crystals or rhinestones, and she'll make something spectacular. Last week when I stopped by, I noticed

some interesting items in my favorite shades of French blue-gray.

If you are in our area, do stop by and meet the great people here......and bring your shopping bag, or truck, to take home your new found treasures!

...look for a silver lining

My newest foot gear......have to admit I love different looking shoes/boots.
Since traipsing merrily through numerous French markets last October, I've searched for a pair of silver, yes SILVER, sneakers! Not running shoes with bits and bobs of mesh and vinyl, real classic style leather sneakers.
Crazy I know, but I loved the look on other market goers - you know, that little extra touch French ladies seem to use to spice up plain pants or jeans.......even mid-calf skirts with leggings peeking out underneath. Leggings are back and really popular this Fall. They now come with touches such as buttons and zips at the bottom......and in great stretchy fabrics such as the black cable knit pair I grabbed at JCPenney recently. Oh yes, I'm ready for cool........soft scarves, tall boots and warm legwear at the ready.


Wearing my new silver shoes out into the sunlight for their first visit to SuzAnna's antiques was a brave step. Paired with black ankle pants, a silver-grey sweater and a plum suede tote bag, they looked OK. For a moment I imagined I was back in Provence at the market as I looked through linens and lace.

I seemed to gravitate toward silver stuff on SuzAnna's tables and shelves. A vintage silver clutch purse, perhaps I should have bought that cutie.

Lovely decorative silver serving pieces at reasonable prices......if only I had room for more.

Loved this butter dish and the great old serving spoons

Jeannie of Uniquitiques displayed some vintage silver backed hair brushes ~ could see them in a tarnished silver bowl in a bathroom, perhaps with an old sepia toned photo of a lady with flowing hair.

Italian leather silver sneakers found online at fabulous Zappo's.

Do you look for the different shoe? Are you drawn to shoes that are unusual........perhaps a slightly quirky look or an uncommon color? I love European shoe styling...........and of course leather from Italy is always beautiful. Comfort does now come first for me. No longer teetering around on high heels, although I love them, but flat shoes can be cute also.

How about sharing your shoe favorites.............just remember whatever feels comfy and makes you and your feet happy works!