The T-Cozy

29 Years Ago Today, I Met “The One”

While riding a commuter train between Manhattan and Connecticut on December 28, 1984, I met John, the love of my life. But it wasn't easy; it took us two long months of riding the same train before we finally spoke to one another. 

When we finally met, little did I know I'd marry this sweet man who possesses the kindest heart. John is the type of person you can always count on to be there for you and I feel blessed to have this wonderful person to share my life with.  I’m so grateful that we both decided to take the 5:17 train out of Grand Central Terminal on that cold December evening back in 1984. 

Happy 29th Meeting Anniversary, John!

Susan

Paris in a Nutshell

While visiting our son in London late last month, we figured — why not take the train over to Paris? Jacob had already gone to France, and since he had classes that he couldn't miss, it gave John, Hannah and I something to do for a couple of days. 

Without a lot of time, we chose to visit Paris's major tourist attractions. First stop: The Eiffel Tower. Having only seen it in pictures, I found it even more lovely in person. 

We decided to forgo the line for the elevator and take the stairs . . . all 704 of them! Once we reached the top, we were treated to spectacular views of the city and beyond.

I was very impressed with The Paris Metro — quick, clean, and easy!

The Arc de Triomphe is a symbol of the French nation. It links old and new Paris.

Built over eight centuries ago, the Cathédrale Notre Dame is truly spectacular.

On the Pont des Arts, a bridge spanning the Seine, thousands of ribbons and padlocks are attached to its railings. To show their undying love, couples place a lock with their names written on it and then throw the key into the river. This bridge is located just across from the Louvre, one of the world's largest museums.

Of course, a visit to Musée du Louvre would not be complete without viewing dear old Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci's famous portrait from the 1500s is smaller than I expected, measuring just 30 inches high.

That's Paris in a nutshell. I loved every minute of it!

Susan
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First Snow

Yesterday was the first snow of the winter season here in our corner of Connecticut. Although only a couple of inches fell, it was my favorite sort of snow — the kind with big, juicy flakes that stick to everything. As I sat at my desk gazing out the window, I realized that I'd never seen our new house in the snow. So I put on my warmest boots and headed out to take a pic.

In the snow, our cottage was even sweeter than I expected. Classic Currier & Ives!

The reno project is progressing nicely here, but going a bit slower than I hoped due to waiting on building inspections to happen and kitchen cabinets to arrive. So our living room is doing triple duty, acting as our comfy TV-watching space, my studio, and even our kitchen. The most bothersome aspect of this arrangement is when we have to trek across to the other side of the house to wash dishes in a small powder room sink. It is sure to be even cozier when Jacob arrives home from London this weekend. Hopefully in another month or so, our new kitchen, family room and studio will be complete. I can't wait to finally unpack everything, spread out, and have space to entertain family and friends.

No more snow for today, but it is supposed to be quite chilly. I just may light a fire in the living room's large stone fireplace right across from my desk. Later, I plan to sort through my photos from our recent trip to Europe. I promise to share some favorites with you next time.

Stay warm!

Susan

T-Party Antiques Is Now at Stratford Antique Center!

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. Ours was extra special this year. I mentioned in my last post that we'd be traveling a bit over the holiday. And travel we did! Our son Jacob has been studying in London all semester, so John, Hannah, and I journeyed to the UK to visit him. Along with England, we spent a couple of days in Paris and a few more in lovely Edinburgh, Scotland. I can't wait to share more about the trip, but it will have to wait until time permits, as this week has been spent catching up and working on a new spot where I'll be selling my vintage wares.

Many years ago, I rented a booth at the popular Stratford Antique Center. Although I did quite well there, I chose to give it up during the time I had my tea room and shop. I was just too busy back then to do them both. For over a year, I have wanted a spot at this center. But the waiting list was long and vacancies few. I was thrilled to get a call from them just before my trip telling me that they had room for me at last. Yay! Now that I am no longer at SoNo Marketplace, the timing was perfect.

I have spent the last few days since my return from Europe painting and setting up my booth. It is still very much a work in progress, so I'll be sure to show you more as it develops. And look out for more posts about our journey. It was filled with inspiration and I can't wait to share it with you.

Susan

Over the River and Through the Woods

More progress has been made on our new home! The barn red paint is finally gone, the front door is a pretty shade of aqua, the shutters went from basic black to a tranquil warm gray, and the overgrown shrubbery has been transplanted to another area of our garden. Doesn't it look better? (To view the old color scheme, click HERE.)

Soon, new garage doors and gutters will be installed. Then we will take a break on the exterior until the spring when we'll add foundation plantings and redo the driveway. I also plan to place terracotta window boxes in the three front stone window wells. How sweet will that be? 

In the meantime, we have plenty to keep us busy inside. In the kitchen area, old windows are coming out; new ones in new locations are going in.

The window, below, will eventually be over our sink. I look forward to having a view of our backyard while doing the dishes. The kitchen in our former house didn't have a single window! 

My studio has a new skylight. Soon more windows will be installed on the outside walls.

Having been a rental for over a decade, our cute cottage was thoroughly neglected. I am truly enjoying bringing it back to life. As you can see, we are far from being able to cook Thanksgiving dinner here, so we will be traveling a bit over the next week. However, in a couple of months, we look forward to having a house warming party and hosting many gatherings of family and friends. 

Wishing you a warm, wonderful, and family-filled holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Susan

A Clean Slate

It is amazing what a new roof, removing overgrown shrubs, and a thorough power washing can do. The exterior of our new little cottage is now all clean and ready for paint. Yay!

Here are my color choices: the trim will remain white; the red siding will be painted a neutral beige to blend with the stone; the black shutters will be gray; the white gutters will be replaced with bronze aluminum ones; and the front door will be a lovely shade of aqua called "Antique Glass."

Inside, the foyer, living room and three bedrooms have freshly painted walls and gleaming refinished floors. Have a look . . .

After a month, we can finally unpack and get comfortable. (And I can begin to decorate. For me, there is nothing more fun than that!) However, while we enjoy these nice, clean rooms, our kitchen, family room and studio are undergoing their major renovation. What a mess!

It's been crazy here this week, and certainly very loud. But I can deal with it because once it's done, I know it will be fabulous. I'll share more of the demo with you soon. In the meantime . . . Happy Halloween!

Susan

A Crazy Cacophony and a Couple of Crashes

What a week! We've been in our new house for eleven days and a whole host of projects are already underway. Now we have a brand new roof and several rooms with their original oak floors freshly sanded, sealed, and brought back to life. 

Soon interior and exterior painting will begin and I'm grateful that Hannah is coming out from NYC this weekend to assist me in selecting paint colors. I can't wait to show her the plans for our new kitchen!

For the last few days, highly skilled lumberjacks have been chopping down three giant oak trees which loomed close to our house. Although I hate to cut down century-old trees, these had rot making them a safety hazard.

 

A cacophony of hammering, chain saws, floor sanders, and tree branches crashing to the ground have serenaded me all week. On top of all of that, my hard drive crashed. The Apple Store came to my rescue and had me up and running again in a couple of hours. Aren't they the best? But I had a bit more bad luck this week when someone rear ended my car. Fortunately, no one was hurt — just my little Prius, to the tune of $8,000! 

Needless to say,  I am looking forward to a quiet and peaceful weekend. I hope you enjoy yours, too.

Susan

A Moving Experience

Yay! We have officially moved! Here is a peek at our new home, a stone and shingle Cape Cod cottage built in 1925.

Smaller than our old house, this charmer has good bones and is chock full of potential. Plus, I'm thrilled that it has retained a few vintage features — two stone fireplaces, glass doorknobs, nice woodwork, crown molding, mechanical twist doorbells, and a cool old light above the front door.

Although we've only been here a couple of days, we can already tell that this Norwalk home, on a spacious and peaceful wooded lot, is going to be a wonderful place to live. However, it desperately needs some TLC, so we aren't wasting any time and will begin renovations pronto.

Starting tomorrow, we'll be getting a new roof. Come Monday, we'll be doing tree work, clearing brush, trimming shrubs, and refinishing floors. Then we'll be ready to paint several rooms and the exterior. By the way, we are doing away with the red on the siding and opting for a warm taupe to blend with the stone. Better, don't you think? Not sure what color to go with for the front door and shutters. Maybe a light aqua?

By mid-month, we embark on a construction project where walls will come down to combine the family room and kitchen, creating a large and lovely space for John to cook and for family and friends to hang out. And let's not forget my studio! A small space off of the family room will be mine, all mine. :-)

Susan

Relics Found

Our estate sale was a huge success! Tons of stuff went out the door and off to happy new homes. We are now doing the last bit of packing, sorting through a few remaining boxes, and deciding what to keep and what to trash. While doing so, I found these...

This black and white photograph was taken around 1988 for a newspaper article that was published about my graphic design business. I'm sitting in the studio of my first house — a tiny cottage I purchased as a single gal in the mid-80s. How do you like the short hair?

I also unearthed the bracelet that was placed on my wrist as a newborn in the late 1950s. Back then, babies wore these low-tech sweet things stating our last name and gender. Hey — shouldn't the beads have been pink?

FYI: the date of our closing has been postponed a bit, so we don't know exactly when we'll be holding the keys to our new home. As soon as we have them in hand, I promise to share it with you.

Susan

Packing Up 23 Years in 23 Days

As you may know, we put our house on the market at the end of April. With Hannah living in NYC and Jacob half way through college, John and I felt that it's the right time for us to downsize and simplify our lives. Over the past four months, we were pleased that our home received a nice amount of interest, showings, and best of all, offers. Big news... We'll be moving in less than a month. Yay!  

For over two decades, our house has taken very good care of us. It was a wonderful home in which to raise our family, situated in a quiet, private neighborhood of Rowayton, Connecticut. And although we will all dearly miss living here, we look forward to a change of scenery. 

For a while now, I have longed for a snug and cozy cottage. We have made an offer on a house two miles away that is just that. It has great potential and very well may be the cottage of my dreams. So if things work out as planned, we will be moving there in a mere three weeks.

Now we begin the arduous task of packing up 23 years of stuff. To make things a bit easier, we've hired a company to run an estate/moving sale where we'll be selling unneeded furniture and even some of my collections. Lots to do — so you may not hear from me as much in the coming days. However, once we move, you can be sure I'll share our new home, sweet home with you.

Susan

A Frog Named Spike

I'd like to introduce you to someone. His name is Spike and he's been a member of our family for a very long time. Isn't he a cutie?

Rewind 16 years . . . When Jacob was four years old, he headed off to his friend Jack's birthday party. When I picked him up at the end of the day, I was surprised to find a very unusual item in Jacob's party favor bag — a baby frog! Yes, Jack's mom thought it would be fun to give all of the party guests pet frogs in small jars of water to take home. Crazy, right? Though Jacob was happy, John and I weren't thrilled to have an instant pet. We didn't even have a proper tank to put it in, let alone frog food. So I quickly did research online and learned that this sudden addition to our family was an aquatic African clawed frog. With that knowledge in hand, we headed out to the pet store to get the appropriate supplies. Once we got our new baby frog set up in his new home on the kitchen counter, Jacob promptly named him Spike. 

Fast forward 16 years . . . Spike is still going strong. Plus, out of all of the partygoers' frogs, he is the only one that is still alive. Why has Spike lived so long? We're not really sure. Perhaps it's because we've always used spring water in his tank. Or maybe it's because we have a cover on the tank so he can't jump out and go exploring. But I believe it is due to the fact that for all these years, Spike's tank has been front and center on our kitchen counter, right in the thick of things. He gets to see us come and go. And I think he likes watching John cook dinner every evening.  :)

Susan

Just Under the Brooklyn Bridge

I had a most enjoyable — and unusual — experience last weekend. For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, John gave me two tickets to Bargemusic, New York City's floating concert hall. 

This concert venue is a 100-foot-long renovated steel barge that has been turned into an intimate wood-paneled room. Excellent acoustics, lovely views of lower Manhattan, and the gentle sway of the East River made this chamber music concert quite memorable.

The 1899 barge, now moored at the foot of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, once carried sacks of coffee for the Erie Lackawanna railroad. Today, its cargo is beautiful music.

Susan

Hiking the Jewel of Martha's Vineyard

Now matter how many times we visit Martha's Vineyard, we always find new things to do, like our hike last week through Menemsha Hill Reservation.

Known as the jewel of Martha's Vineyard, Menemsha Hills Reservation is home to Prospect Hill, the second highest peak on the island. Trails loop around low lying wetlands, home to red maple, cinquefoil, beech and black cherry trees, before giving way to brushy bushes and grasses. 

The longest trail guided us to a remote beach. 

Here cool breezes blow from Vineyard Sound and a path leads down to the rocky beach below with commanding views of Menemsha Village and the Elizabeth Islands.On a picture perfect June morning, we truly enjoyed our 3-mile hike. And even though John and I have gone to the island together almost every year for the past 28 years, we never grow tired of it.

Susan
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A Collection of Cottages

Cozy, quaint, cute. What more can I say about the cottages of the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association? Except that I adore them! Every year, I look forward to taking a stroll with my family through this historic community. 

Embellished with gingerbread trim and painted in every color of the rainbow, there are over 300 of these charming homes in Oak Bluffs. Aren't they the sweetest? 

Susan

Québec City, Revisited

To celebrate our silver wedding anniversary last week, John and I traveled to Québec City, the place where we spent our honeymoon twenty-five years ago. Back then, we stayed at a tiny inn called Manoir Ste. Geneviève. 

We were so happy to see that it is still around and asked a friendly Québecer to take a picture of us in front of it. Manoir Ste. Geneviève is located on a small park right across from Québec's most famous building, Le Château Frontenac (above left). Back then, John and I looked wistfully across the way and promised each other that if we ever returned, that's where we would stay. And sure enough, this time we stayed on the top floor in a room overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, where I found a bouquet of roses from John waiting there for me. 

I just love Québec City's narrow cobblestone streets lined with century-old buildings. Chock full of European charm and easily walkable, everywhere you look, you'll find history, beautiful architecture, quaint shops, and most of all, fine French dining.

On our last night in Québec, we went to a restaurant called Le Saint Amour. We dined there while on our honeymoon in 1988, and I even saved the matchbox, which is a bit battered now, as a memento of the meal. Once again, we were thrilled to see that the place is still in business. Plus, the food was as delicious as we remembered.

I must share a lovely little coincidence with you… Upon arriving in Québec City, we went to a bistro near our hotel for lunch. As we walked in, John and I heard what was playing over the restaurant's speakers and looked at each other in amazement. It was our wedding song, the first one we danced to as a married couple. Wow! What are the odds of that?  :)

Susan
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25 Years of Wedded Bliss

On this day twenty-five years ago, I married my commuter love, the handsome man I spotted across a crowded train. It most certainly was love at first sight. However, it took two months of riding the same train for us to finally meet. 

Once we did, little did I know that I had just met a very special gentleman — someone with the kindest heart — the type of person you can always count on to be there for you. I am so fortunate to have the honor of sharing my life with him. 

Happy 25th Anniversary to my dear husband John, the one true love of my life.

Susan

Celebrating Motherhood

Motherhood is certainly one of the most difficult jobs around, but it is also, by far, the most rewarding and fun. 

I treasure each and every moment with my two children and feel so blessed to have them in my life.

Here's to motherhood! Wishing you the very happiest Mother's Day.

Susan

Studio Sweet Studio

Things have been a bit hectic here lately, so I apologize for not posting as often as I'd like. You see, we put our house on the market last week and we've been working hard to get it ready. As you may know, John and I have been talking about selling our house for a while now. With our daughter's move to the city and our son half way through college, it finally felt like the right time to downsize. And although I am looking forward to finding a new, smaller home, there is one room that I will dearly miss — my beloved studio.

My studio is the one room in our house that we added in 1991. Back then, I had a heavy work load as a graphic designer. I needed a space that was quiet with a separate entrance so that I could work and meet with clients and printers without disturbing our growing family. Now I use the room as a sewing and craft space, to run my Etsy business, and to write this blog. It has served me well for the past 22 years.

You have heard me go on about how important it is to have a space of your own, a quiet place to create and reflect on life. My studio has been just that. Filled with all of my favorite things, it has been a constant source of inspiration. Spending time here has made me happy each and every day. 

Now my hope is that someone new will feel the same way. So wish us luck! Let's hope a lovely family will want to raise their children in the home that has sheltered us so well for over two decades.

Susan

The Shopping Bag as Art

When I worked in New York City back in the 1980s, my favorite place to shop was the flagship Bloomingdale's department store on East 59th Street. This massive store takes up an entire city block, from Lexington to Third Avenue. Bloomies has always been know for innovation and finding ways to set their stores apart. Back in the 1960s, they made retail history by introducing the first "designer" shopping bag. For three decades, Bloomingdales produced an ever-changing series of paper bags featuring the work of famous and fledgling artists, architects, graphic designers, photographers and fashion designers. Raising the medium to the level of fine art, these bags came into their own as highly collectible design objects.

From my shopping days in the mid-80s, I saved four of these collectible bags. Stashed in a bin under a bed, my intent was to some day mount them on a wall. When I came across these relics decades later, I wrote a post about them and was surprised to receive numerous emails from people who eagerly collect them. One nice lady, a Manhattanite, was desperate to buy all four. I figured they weren't doing anyone any good under the bed, so several months ago, I took the train in to meet her at Grand Central Terminal's information booth to complete the transaction. 

However, I only sold her three of them, saving my favorite one — the Statue of Liberty bag. I had a special purpose for it, and now that my daughter moved into the city, it was finally time to follow through with my plan. 

Hannah and her roommates have a very nice apartment with a very bare wall above their kitchen table. So last week, I headed to the Artists' Market, a beautiful framing shop and gallery in Norwalk Connecticut, to see if they could help me turn my Bloomies bag into art.

Artists' Market owner Jeffrey Price and I discussed how best to display the bag which features a two-sided woodcut by illustrator Anthony Russo. We decided to carefully open the bag at the seam and frame it flat. For a bit of whimsy and to show that this was once a shopping bag, we left the bright yellow plastic handles at the top. I love how it turned out. 

John, Jacob and I trekked into the city last night to have dinner with Hannah and present her with the finished piece as a housewarming gift. We helped hang it on the kitchen wall and I am happy to report that she and her roommates are very pleased with it. Doesn't it look nice? 

To me, this framed bag stands for many things. It pays homage to Lady Liberty, shopping, New York, and a classic department store. It is also a welcome reminder of my days in the city, when in my early twenties, Manhattan was the only place I wanted to be. Now it's Hannah's place, too.

Susan
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New York City Holiday Bling

Yesterday, after a full day spent sprucing up my daughter's new apartment, Hannah and I decided to take a stroll up Fifth Avenue to enjoy the holiday lights. First stop: Rockefeller Center!

The center's 80-foot Norway spruce is breathtaking. Covered with over 30,000 multi-colored lights, it is crowned by a Swarovski star.

Cartier, Bulgari and Harry Winston are three of Fifth Avenue's ritziest jewelry stores. Their holiday decorations are super bling-y. 

Spanning the intersection of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, the UNICEF Snowflake is adorned with 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms. It is 23 feet in diameter, over 28 feet in height and weighs 3,300 pounds. Wow.

The window displays at Bergdorf Goodman are spectacular. They were inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies, Vaudeville revues and Hollywood musicals of the 1930s. 

So beautiful. New York City at Christmas time is truly magical.

Susan

Hello NYC!

With the Marketplace's grand opening and my daughter's move to Manhattan, the past few days have been a whirlwind. I spent yesterday furiously catching up. Today, I'm heading to the Big Apple to help Hannah get settled in her new apartment.

This early evening photo, shot by my daughter, features where she works — the iconic Empire State Building. Lucky girl!

While I was at the Marketplace's grand opening on Saturday, John did a wonderful job of helping with Hannah's move. Her apartment is a fourth floor walk-up, so everything had to be lugged up three flights of stairs. Today, I get to do the fun stuff: helping with what I am best at — organizing and decorating. 

Once time permits, I'll share some thoughts and photos from the SoNo Market Place's opening weekend. It was crazy good!

Now I'm off to catch the train to NYC . . .

Susan

Leaving the Nest

Over the past six months, John and I have had the distinct pleasure of having our daughter around. Since graduating in May, she has been living with us and commuting by train to her job in New York. But that will all change tomorrow. My darling daughter is leaving the nest! As I attend the SoNo Market Place's grand opening celebration, John will be loading up a van and heading to Manhattan with her. Just as I did when I was her age, she and two roommates are moving into a New York City apartment. I'm awfully proud of her — and I'm also a little sad. But I keep reminding myself that she's only a 50-minute car or train ride away.

As John and I become empty-nesters once again, I'm certain my new booth at the SoNo Market Place will be a welcome diversion. 

With a 1950s aluminum tree, bowls of vintage glass ornaments, and my new dollhouse in place, my marketplace stall is all decked out for the holidays. I'm so looking forward to tomorrow's festivities!

Susan

Now There Are Two Ways to Shop at T-Party

Yay! SoNo Market Place is opening today! Here are the hours for this weekend's soft opening — Friday 11/23:11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 11/24: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 11/25: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For those of you who are local, the marketplace is located at 314 Wilson Avenue in South Norwalk, Connecticut. 

For those of you who live farther afield, you can always find me on online here. 

Plus, I'm offering a discount in my Etsy shop from Black Friday 11/23 through Cyber Monday 11/26. Be sure to enter the coupon code THANKSGIVING to receive 10% off your order.

Happy shopping!

Susan

Before and After Sandy

We have workmen at our house today, so I'm back at Starbucks for a little quiet and free WiFi. We're making lots of progress on the storm clean-up and repairs. And power was finally restored to our street yesterday. However, we can't turn ours on until today's electrical repairs are complete. :(

Remember this photo? It's the neighborhood beach down the road from our house.

Here is what it looks like today. The Adirondack chairs were safely stashed away, but the terrace and stone wall are in pieces. Crazy, right?

Gotta run. Time to get back home to meet with another contractor!

Susan

The Calm After the Craziness

Finally — a post-hurricane post! I have good news and bad news. First, the bad news: we were hit very hard. With a 16-foot storm surge at high tide on Monday, there was widespread flooding and wind damage along the Connecticut coast, as these photos show.

A tree in a neighbor's yard squashed their pick-up truck like a pancake.

Boats broke free of their moorings and ended up in unusual places, like the five that came crashing into the front yard of the house, below.

And almost every street has trees and power lines down.

So now for the good news: we fared better than expected. A flooded crawl space, several inches of water in our garage, an inch or two in our mud room, porch and my beloved studio. Other than that, our house was dry. Thanks goodness!

We have spent the last few days recovering. We had moved almost the entire contents of our house to the second floor, so we've been getting everything back to its proper place. There has been lots of cleaning and speaking with contractors about the myriad of repairs that are needed to restore our house to pre-hurricane condition. Plus, we don't have power, telephone or internet service and it looks like it will be a while before we do. I ran out at the crack of dawn this morning and headed to Starbucks for their WiFi so I could write this post and say hello.

I wanted to thank you all for your recent comments and support. I am so grateful for your kind words and also for safely weathering the storm with my family by my side. 

Susan

The Pentagenarian Snapshot

Get a load of this photo! It was taken fifty years ago. Can you guess which one is me?

Back then, my parent had close friends who lived in Detroit. They came to visit with their two daughters, one of which was kind enough to recently post this picture on my Facebook timeline. I had never seen this relic before. Isn't it a hoot? 

Wearing our Sunday best in the bright spring sunshine, we are posing in front of the fountain at the Cleveland Museum of Art. My sister, who had just turned nine, is the second one in on the right. So... which one is me? 

Give up? I'm the little one! This shot was taken one month before my fourth birthday. Hmmm, I see that I still part my hair on the same side. But what an attitude I appear to have! I seem quite self confident as I stand a bit away from everyone else. I love my crispy party dress and saddle shoes. And how about that necklace? Even then, I made sure to accessorize.  ;)

Have a good weekend,

Susan

Strolling the Streets & Celebrity Sightings in Toronto

At the end of last week, I tagged along on John's business trip to Toronto. I've never been there before and have always heard about how nice it is. I now know that Toronto lives up to its good reputation!

While John was in his meetings, I wandered around downtown. I marveled at how clean the city is and I was happy to see so many people using bicycles to get around. If you don't have a bike of your own, there are lots of rental bike-share stations.

While strolling the Toronto streets, I came upon St. Lawrence Market, a huge space with over 120 specialty vendors offering a wonderful variety of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, baked goods and dairy products.

John and I visited a few museums. At the Royal Ontario Museum of natural history and world cultures, we viewed an awesome exhibit called Ultimate Dinosaurs. We also toured Casa Loma, the former home of Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellatt. This 98-room castle, situated on a hill overlooking the city, is surrounded by lush gardens. 

John was a good sport and accompanied me to the Bata Shoe Museum which celebrates the history, style and function of footwear. From Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut-crushing clogs and glamorous stilettos, this museum covers over 4,500 years of shoe history. My favorite collection featured the shoes of 20th-century celebrities, like Marilyn Monroe's red pumps and Elton John's 1970s platform boots.

Toronto has an impressive mix of old and new architecture. Sometimes they even combine the two, as in Brookfield Place, a modern office and retail complex that retained a heritage building inside its airy atrium.

Another interesting area, called Kensington Market, is a distinctive multicultural neighborhood full of eclectic shops and cafés. We must have passed at least a dozen vintage clothing stores! I got a kick out of this car-turned-planter we saw there.

We happened to visit at the same time as the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF offers screenings, lectures, discussions, workshops, industry support and more. Although we didn't have time to go to any events, we were able to spot a few celebrities on the red carpet.

One evening, we caught glimpses of Alexander Skarsgard and Julianne Moore when they arrived for the premiere of their new movie titled What Masie Knew. And our final celebrity sighting was on the plane ride back to New York. I sat right across the aisle from John Turturro!

Susan

Slowing Down

At the end of my street, this traffic sign is a reminder to reduce speed when heading around the curve in the road. However, when I round the corner, it also reminds me to slow down and give myself time to enjoy life's simple pleasures — like lingering over a delicious meal with my family, reading a good book, taking a leisurely bike ride, or having a cup of tea with a good friend. Life can be hectic. Living it more slowly can help us to reconnect with what is truly important to us.

Wishing you an enjoyably slow Labor Day weekend,

Susan

My New Ride

Hey! Check out my new set of wheels! I am now the proud owner of a Felt Bicycle.

Having had my old bike for over 20 years, it was about time for a new one. I hinted to John that a bicycle would be a great gift for my three "events" next May (Mother's day, anniversary and birthday) because he always frets about what to buy me. In early summer, we happened to come across the exact bicycle that I had researched and wanted, in just the right size to fit my tall stature. So my sweet husband decided to get it for me a year early. Thank you, John!

I ride my bike just about every day, especially in the nice weather. It came with a carrier rack over the back wheel, so I strapped on the largest basket I could find which can accommodate small packages being shipping out from my Etsy shop. Most days, you'll find me pedaling to the post office in town.

My new bicycle is Felt's Café 8 Women's Deluxe model. The frame is navy blue lightweight aluminum tubing with a relaxed geometry for a comfortable riding position. I love its retro aluminum fenders and cup holder! Plus, it comes equipped with a comfy leather gel and foam saddle, leather handle bars, and a clip-on leather saddle bag. I even like the vintage-inspired logo on the front.

My sweet new ride has eight speeds to make getting around town easy along with providing the performance for faster fitness rides. Oh, I almost forgot to mention — it even has a small built-in safety bell! Speaking of safety, I always wear a bike helmet. In my twenties, I hit a rock in the road and fell off a bike without a helmet on. Not fun!

There is just one more thing I'd like for my beautiful new bicycle — a colorful crocheted dress guard for the back wheel, just like the ones I shared with you here.

Now I'm off to the post office!

Susan

A Quiet Monday Morning

My, it's quiet around here! John and my daughter left for work and my son is back at school. 

So I hope to have a very productive Monday. I've just listed the water lily vase and later I'll be working on an Etsy listing for this luscious chenille bedspread. (The book and foot stool are already in my shop.)

Now I'm about to hop on my bicycle and drop off a package at the post office. By the way, I have a new bike that I love! I'll share it with you next time.

Susan

Three Things I Like About the West Coast

We returned home from our trip to Orange County last night. I spent today catching up on paperwork, working on Etsy listings, doing laundry, and thinking about what I like most about that idyllic paradise known as Southern California.

Three things in particular impressed me:

1. The Weather. Every day started out a bit overcast, great for taking my long morning walk in cool comfort. By 10 a.m., the sun would burn through revealing blue skies and a picture perfect day — not too hot, not too cold — just right. 

2. No Mosquitoes. In the evenings, it was remarkably mosquito-free. In Connecticut, I get numerous bug bites if I am outside at dusk in the summer. But in California, I was able to linger outside all evening without getting a single bite (and without having to douse myself in bug repellent.) 

3. No Frizzies. My hair is super sensitive to moisture. In California, I enjoyed being able to dry my hair in the morning and have it look smooth and nice all day long. 

Don't get me wrong — it's great to be back in Connecticut. However, we returned home to high humidity and thunder storms, basically a mosquito's paradise. And as for my hair, it's a frizzy mess.

Have a good weekend!  :)

Susan

Touring the Mission San Juan Capistrano

Nothing says "California" more than the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Steeped in Spanish influence, it is one of the state's most important historical, cultural, and educational centers.

Founded by Padre Junipero Serra on November 1, 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the seventh of twenty-one Spanish Missions established in California by Franciscan Padres. 

The most well-known residents of San Juan Capistano are the Cliff Swallows. These little birds return from Argentina every year in mid-March and begin rebuilding their mud nests. You can see a few nests tucked under the eaves, above.

What a lovely spot for a plein air artist to work his magic!

The first clear reference to the planting of grapes at a California mission comes from San Juan Capistrano in 1779. The first cultivation of the vine, the Criolla or "Mission grape" produced California's first vintage. 

Four mission bells hang in the campanario, or bell wall. They are named, from largest to smallest, for San Vicente, San Juan, San Antonio and San Rafael.

The Mission San Juan Capistrano has been preserved as a timeless monument to Native American, Spanish, Mexican and American cultures. Its courtyards and lush gardens are host to many special events, exhibits, educational programs and historical re-enactments. I'm so glad we were able to visit.

Now it's off to the pool with Jacob. Just a few minutes ago, we felt a small tremor. Yikes! An earthquake!

Susan

First Stop, Los Angeles

Here is a quick post about what we've been up to so far in California.

Yesterday, Jacob took this amazing photo from the airplane window as we passed over the desert on our way to Los Angeles. 

In all of my trips to Califorrnia, I've never been to L.A. So we headed to Hollywood Boulevard for the afternoon and did a little sight seeing.

What fun to see Grauman's Chinese Theater and its forecourt featuring the hand and footprints of iconic celebrities!

Next, we checked out the Hollywood Walk of Fame with its five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks.

Jacob has become quite the vinyl collector, so we stopped at Amoeba Records, the world's largest independent record store. It also seems to have the world's most graffitied elevator doors!  ;)

After a fun afternoon, we made our way to where we are staying in Dana Point and had dinner overlooking a lovely Pacific Ocean sunset.

Today, we headed to San Juan Capistrano. More about that next time!

Susan

Back to School and Afternoon Play Dates

Doesn't summer go by too fast? It's already August and before you know it, children everywhere will be heading back to school. In the retail world, now is the time for back to school shopping. When I was in grade school, that always meant new shoes, crispy new school supplies, and sometimes a new lunch box. I always liked school, so perhaps that is why I gravitate toward items in my Etsy shop with a vintage grade school vibe.

Back in elementary school (do they still call it that?), once the school day ended, I always loved having play dates with my friends. We all walked home from school and lived near each other, so I would stop at my house to collect a Barbie Doll or two and run over to a friend's house to play.

I wonder if these playful items from my shop were anyone's play date favorites?

In a few short weeks, it will be time for Jacob to go back to college. He will be living in an apartment this year, so we still have some back to school shopping to do. And I'm sure it will feel odd to Hannah that she's staying behind. Now that she has graduated, she's keeping very busy and enjoying her new job. Although her days are long, she doesn't miss the homework or the hours spent in the library. And since she is living at home until she can afford to move into NYC, John and I are happy to no longer be empty-nesters, at least for a little while.

Wishing you a good weekend. California, here we come!

Susan

Saying Goodbye to Martha’s Vineyard

A few posts ago, I shared a beautiful sunrise from our house on Sengekontacket Pond. So it seems only fitting to end my series of MV posts with a beautiful sunset over the Atlantic Ocean. 

These are the red clay cliffs and lighthouse up-island at Aquinnah, formerly know as Gay Head. This mile-long expanse has revealed pieces of lignite from the Cretaceous period and fossils of sharks, camels, wild horses, and ancient whales. The Aquinnah Cliffs are a national landmark and climbing on them is prohibited. Instead, a lovely lookout point is provided for visitors, complete with coin operated binoculars. We were treated to a most spectacular sunset, and a picture perfect week on the island.

To remember our trip, I have a couple of souvenirs: a 1948 postcard of cottages in Ocean Park and a very special scallop shell.

Jacob and Briana brought home an impressive array of seashells from the banks of Sengekontacket Pond. A couple of days ago, Briana presented me with one that she painted. So beautiful! Thank you, Briana!

It is always hard to say goodbye to our beloved Martha's Vineyard. As the ferry pulled away from the shore, John was particularly sad. He has been coming to MV since he was a baby and the island holds fond memories of time spent there with his parents, who both passed away when John was quite young. However, leaving is easier when we keep in mind that we'll be back next year, and for many summers to come.

This past week, I've been photographing the vintage items I found on my trip. I'll share them with you in my next post, so be sure to stop back. And have a nice weekend!

Susan

Strolling in Edgartown

Each year, on the last evening of our week on Martha's Vineyard, we have dinner at a nice restaurant in Edgartown. Then we stroll to the lighthouse to watch the sunset. Along our way, we pass stately antique houses that line the shore. These classic homes have white clapboard siding, black shutters, picket fences, glorious gardens and water views. Aren't they lovely?

At the end of the street is a small boardwalk leading to Edgartown Lighthouse. This annual stroll is the perfect way to end our stay on Martha's Vineyard.

Now that I am home, I'll be sharing more inspiring MV views with you this week, along with the array of fun vintage items I found at various flea markets around the island. 

Susan

MV Morning

It's another beautiful morning on Martha's Vineyard! As soon as I woke up today, I dashed outside to capture this glorious view of Sengekontacket Pond from our house.

So far, the weather has been perfect and we're having a wonderful time. I'll share more with you soon . . .

Susan

Island Bound

It's that time of year once again. We'll soon be on our way to the enchanted isle of Martha's Vineyard. Yay!

As you may know, MV is our most favorite place. While we're away, I plan to blog a bit and share its beauty with you. But don't hold me to it. Once I'm there, I may decide to be a beach bum and do absolutely nothing.  :)

Susan

A Picnic, Presents, and a Parade

What a wonderful weekend! To celebrate Hannah's graduation and my birthday, we had a picnic brunch at the beach yesterday with family and friends. It was a beautiful day and John made pancakes on the grill. They were delish!

We asked everyone to refrain from bringing gifts, but that didn't stop them from bringing flowers. Look at all of these glorious bouquets!

John and the kids gave me some spectacular presents: a book that is just my style called Found, Free & Flea, the new John Mayer CD, and best of all, an iPad. Yay!

Or course the weekend wouldn't be complete without attending Rowayton's little Memorial Day parade. Here are my favorite views from the event: a 1958 turquoise and white Nash sedan convertible, a trio of Boy Scouts manning a vintage wooden go-cart, and the marching band from Hannah and Jacob's former high school.

What fun! But now it's time to get back to work. This afternoon, I'm photographing my new Elephant's Trunk Flea Market finds to prepare them for their Etsy debut. I promise to share them with you later this week.

Susan

So Proud

Hooray! Hannah is now a graduate of Johns Hopkins University!

Hannah worked her tail off all four years and made the Dean's List every semester. And in true Hannah fashion, she has found an exciting job in New York City that she'll start in early June. It's hard to put into words how proud we are of her.

I am also thrilled to have a full house again. I love having both of my beautiful children back at home. Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend and spending time with family and friends at my birthday brunch at the beach on Monday. 

Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend,

Susan

A Room-for-the-Whole-Family Room

Hannah and Jacob arrive home from college tomorrow. John and I can't wait, and our revamped family room is all ready for them.

It's so nice to finally have a comfortable couch that all four of us can sit on at the same time.

Remember how I couldn't show you the entire family room before our kids came home for Thanksgiving? That's because we had a big surprise for them — a new flat screen television. You should have seen the look on their faces!

Our new sectional sofa is big. In fact, one of my friends described it as an ocean liner! Although it has taken me a little time to get used it, I now like how it provides some definition to a room that is otherwise wide open to our kitchen.

The exposed back of the sectional is such a large expanse, so I had to do something to break it up. It is a perfect spot for a console table, or in our case, a rustic bench piled with books and candles. 

My favorite part of the room will forever be the built-in shelves chock full of my ever-changing collection of vintage pottery.

I am always tweaking the arrangement of the items on these shelves. 

I recently acquired this charming little oil painting. I love how the artist placed it in a vintage wooden frame that tilts.

More new additions: a couple iron masonry stars . . .

. . . and a few old books sprinkled here and there.

Although our antique dollhouse isn't played with anymore, it will always deserve a place of prominence in the room. 

Along with art pottery, the family room has a small collection of picnic tins. (I have gobs more in my studio and master bedroom.)

I arranged a selection of tins that are in tones that blend with our new sofa and pillows. Love these colors!

A comfy sofa, a cushy ottoman, a great TV, and our children home with us. This winter break, we four will be spending lots of time together in our cozy family room. I couldn't ask for more!

Susan

A Weekend Away in Rhinebeck, New York

Last weekend, with the kids not yet home for winter break, John and I headed to a truly wonderful place for a little R&R — the Olde Rhinebeck Inn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this structure was built around 1745. From the beautifully furnished rooms to the sumptuous gourmet breakfast, this Early American bed and breakfast is first rate. Innkeeper Jonna Paolella has done a spectacular job creating a relaxing and most inspiring place.

We stayed in the Plow and Harrow room, a spacious upstairs suite with a separate sitting room, a queen size pencil post bed, gas fireplace, large windows, bathroom with converted primitive dry sink, a two-person shower and antique claw-footed tub. Perfection!

Doesn't my laptop, above, look out of place in this rustic setting?

Click here for more views of the Olde Rhinebeck Inn.

John and I had fun exploring Rhinebeck and its surrounding Hudson River Valley towns. So many charming restaurants and shops! I even found a few vintage treasures for my Etsy shop.

Before we had children, one of our favorite pastimes was traveling to cozy country inns along the East Coast. Now that we are empty-nesters, it's nice to have the time to do it again. 

Susan

A New Spot to Curl Up with a Good Book

At last, the waiting is over! The last piece of our family room furniture puzzle has finally arrived.

Our newest edition is Pottery Barn's sea grass wing-back armchair. It's the perfect place to curl up with a good book. As I mentioned in an earlier post, for our family room redo, we did one-stop-shopping at Pottery Barn. To lessen the cost burden, we amassed several PB gift cards obtained from points earned though our Citicard. Those gift cards paid for our leather ottoman and throw pillows. Then, we ordered the sofa using a Pottery Barn credit card which offers 10% back. The points from the sofa completely paid for this new chair!

I've really enjoyed revamping our long-neglected family room. And there is still more to show you, but that will have to wait a couple of weeks. We have another new purchase in our family room that our kids don't know about. So I will share the rest of the room after they are home for Thanksgiving. I don't want to ruin the surprise!

Susan

Just Peachy

One of the benefits of empty nesting is that now I can be more spontaneous. So you may be surprised to learn that I'm writing this post from The Big Peach. John has a trade show in Atlanta and I decided to tag along. I've never been here before and I'm having a wonderful time so far. 

We headed to the High Museum of Art yesterday to view an exhibit called "Picasso to Warhol, Fourteen Modern Masters." 

Here is a peek at a few of the more than 100 works, all of which are on loan from The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Next we strolled through the beautiful Atlanta Botanical Garden where we spotted amazing orchids, tropical plants, roses, and more.

Today, I went on a fun tour of Atlanta in an electric car. Tomorrow I'll be touring CNN and Coca-Cola. What a great city! 

Time for us to head out to dinner. I'll share more of my peachy trip to Atlanta with you soon.

Susan

Adventures in Brimfield

Yesterday morning, John and I got up at the crack of dawn and drove two hours north to the largest outdoor antiques show in New England. Taking place three times a year, the Brimfield Antiques Show has over 5,000 dealers from all over the country selling fine antiques, plain old junk, and everything in between. 

Only our second time in this tiny Massachusetts town, our first trip to Brimfield was 25 years ago, before we were married. But now that our kids are both at college, we can be a little more impulsive. We had fun spending the day walking the treasure-filled fields on the half-mile stretch of Main Street. The weather was pleasant, the dealers were friendly, and the traffic was light. All in all, it was an enjoyable spur-of-the-moment adventure.

I'll share my Brimfield finds with you in my next post. Until then...

Susan

Starting Fresh

Now that Hannah and Jacob are both away at college, John and I are reclaiming our family room. As we await the imminent arrival of a new sofa, were have cleared out the room in preparation.

For two decades, this large, bright space adjoining our kitchen has worn many hats. It has been a playroom, homework room, Xbox room, computer room, party room, craft room, board game room, and an eat-on-the-couch-while-you-watch-TV room. The space has been through three rugs and three different couches. Even the club chairs and ottoman have been reupholstered. So after years of our children and their friends enjoying this room, it is time for an update suited to our more mature, empty-nester needs. 

Two months ago, I ordered a stylish and super-comfy sectional sofa that should be delivered any day now. Another new purchase, a large leather ottoman that will double as a coffee table, has already arrived. We have a stash of new throw pillows for the couch, as well. To complete the room, we plan to buy a cozy reading chair. 

Though the room's furniture was worn, it still had some life left. Hannah requested to use the antique bench in her post-college apartment, so it went up to our attic. We gave away the two striped club chairs and ottoman on "Freecycle." They went to a nice family with twin boys who are filling up a container for a move to Jamaica.

And just yesterday, we donated our navy blue sleeper sofa to an organization called "No Vet Left Behind." Their mission is to offer food, clothing, furniture and other household items to newly returning soldiers.

It has been a while since we've bought furniture and I can't believe how expensive it is. With two kids in college, we wanted to be as thrifty as possible. We did one-stop-shopping at Pottery Barn because, for several months, I have been amassing PB gift cards from points accrued though our Citicard. They practically paid for the leather ottoman and pillows! When we ordered the sofa, we obtained a Pottery Barn credit card which offers 10% back. The points earned from purchasing the couch will pay for our new reading chair. Sweet!

In its shabby state, I barely spent time in our family room. Now I can't wait to read, watch movies and snuggle with John on our new sofa. But don't worry, we promise to share it with the Hannah and Jacob when they are home. We have only one request — no eating on the new couch!

Stay tuned for another family room post after it has its spiffy new furnishings.

Susan

The Quiet House

We're home! Jacob's move into his college dorm went smoothly. Now both of our kids are settling in nicely at school while we get into a new routine at our oh-so-quiet house.

We are finally done cleaning up after Irene, too. John and I are beat. It will be nice to have a three day weekend together to recuperate after all the hurricane crazyiness. 

Have a nice Labor Day weekend!

Susan

After the Storm

As expected, Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on our low-lying neighborhood. Lots of flooding, downed trees, and many folks without power. How did we fare? Our yard is a salty, soggy mess, we have no phone service, and our crawl space is in the midst of being pumped out. However, we feel fortunate. Thankfully, we didn't get a drop of water in our house and we still have power. 

We've spent all morning cleaning up after that messy Irene. Later today, we'll be off to take Jacob to college. So bittersweet: I'll miss him dearly yet I'm very excited for him.

Our nest is looking mighty empty!

Susan

Keeping an Eye on Irene

I have only one good thing to say about the upcoming hurricane scheduled to slam into the eastern seaboard tomorrow. It has given John and me an opportunity to spend a little more time with our son. The move-in and opening weekend festivities at Jacob's mid-atlantic college have been postponed until further notice.

Original artwork by Briana LaBonte.

I truly enjoy living near Long Island Sound — except when a hurricane is looming. And unfortunately, we may be in for some major flooding this time. Living here for twenty years, we've witnessed several floods, but it has been a while since we've had a really bad one. So now it's time to batten down the hatches. 

My first introduction to hurricanes occurred in September of 1985, less than three months after I moved into my first house. It was a sweet little cottage on the banks of a peaceful stream, one that Hurricane Gloria transformed into a raging river. We lost power, my sump pump couldn't work, and my basement quickly filled with water. However, this story has a silver lining. I got to meet all of my new neighbors when they graciously came over to help me bail out the basement.

The last bad flood in our current neighborhood was during a nor'easter back in December of 1992. Hannah was two years old and I was six months pregnant with Jacob. When the tide came in, it just kept on coming. Before we knew it, we were unable to leave the house and John couldn't get home until the tide turned. But luckily, our house is at the apex of the street and we stayed high and dry. We can only hope for the same once Irene comes to town tomorrow.

Susan

Final Martha's Vineyard Views

I bet you're wondering when I'll stop gushing about my recent trip to Martha's Vineyard. Sorting through pictures and writing these posts about our beloved island has kept that relaxed, just-back-from-vacation feeling alive for me. So will you indulge me this one last time? I promise to move on to other topics after today.

Just look at this shot of the Edgartown harbor! Postcard worthy, don't you think? Here are more views of lovely Edgartown . . .

A trip to MV wouldn't be complete without breakfast at the Art Cliff Diner. It's a funky, intimate place that was established in 1943 and has retained a vintage vibe. I had one of their delicious French crepes filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Yum.

Flowers and more at the West Tisbury Farmer's Market. (Love that flower sign.)

Isn't this the most charming fish market ever? Called Larsen's, it is located in the quaint fishing village of Menemsha.

We attended a fabulous concert by Ben Taylor, the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. (He grew up on the island, that lucky guy.)

A final photo from our last night on MV. We had a delicious dinner at an Edgartown restaurant called Alchemy, took a leisurely stroll around town, and then headed off to see the last Harry Potter movie (which we all loved).

What a perfect trip! And the best part of all was that both of our college-aged kids, with their busy summer jobs and friend-filled lives, were able to join us. 

Susan