tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91056072782522047402024-03-18T03:00:57.212-04:00Shorehouse chic.Our new old house at the Jersey Shore and the tons of advice I got on other blogs about renovating and decorating inspired me to start Shorehouse Chic. Now I yap about the house, the thrift sales and yard sales and the adventures here at the shore.Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-43527210935421602872011-05-22T09:00:00.001-04:002011-05-22T09:00:03.488-04:00Luck be a lady.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We went to an amazing fundraiser in Asbury Park (NJ) Friday night. A good friend of ours is on the Board at </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.thecenterinap.com/">The Center</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, a local organization serving people living with HIV and AIDS. Their annual Center a la Carte event brings together local restaurants and beverage suppliers in support of their incredible mission. And there's nothing we like better than getting together with friends to raise money for a great cause.</span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There were games and prizes. There was a ring toss. The deal was you had to try to land your rings around the neck(s) of wine bottles, and you won whatever bottles you landed on.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mike was first to go. His technique was what I would describe as a machine gun scatter shot approach. (Note from Mike: "It was not!"). An interesting technique, but he didn't land a ring-around-the-neck.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Next up: Me. I took a breathe, had a pep talk with my friends, and let the first of my rings fly.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And let's just say, turns out I have a hidden talent.</span><br /><br /></p><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AoSCPEQbyro/TdiB0yc6qtI/AAAAAAAADUc/CcxXiN-k4D4/s1600/wine.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; display: block; height: 400px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609376079786191570" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AoSCPEQbyro/TdiB0yc6qtI/AAAAAAAADUc/CcxXiN-k4D4/s400/wine.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />It's true. I totally rocked the ring toss. I have witnesses. My last ring even bounced, ricocheted off the shelf, and landed on the bottle. It was quite something. I have witnesses.<br /><br />I picked up an ice bucket at a yard sale on Saturday to chill my winnings in. That, and I bragged a lot.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4XMMn6U_ck/TdiBwGA4z0I/AAAAAAAADUM/5jKUPiV7CGg/s1600/ice%2Bbucket.JPG"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 300px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609375999137992514" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f4XMMn6U_ck/TdiBwGA4z0I/AAAAAAAADUM/5jKUPiV7CGg/s400/ice%2Bbucket.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I think we're officially ready to get the whole Summer thing started.</div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-72442060314990324402011-05-11T15:27:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:37:51.037-04:00Tiptoe through my tulips.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoRGPsVFqsE/TcrjZKsESsI/AAAAAAAADT0/dB6Dl6y7Dgw/s1600/1%2Bfront%2Byard.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542707721423554" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xoRGPsVFqsE/TcrjZKsESsI/AAAAAAAADT0/dB6Dl6y7Dgw/s400/1%2Bfront%2Byard.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Look at how my little garden grows!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLICNHVddtQ/TcrjW6FonbI/AAAAAAAADTs/VUa63gx9G-8/s1600/2%2Btulips.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542668905520562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLICNHVddtQ/TcrjW6FonbI/AAAAAAAADTs/VUa63gx9G-8/s400/2%2Btulips.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Tulips and daffodils are new to the garden, thanks to a generous gift of bulbs from a former colleague (thanks, Pat!). I wasn't sure how they would do, especially given </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2008/09/busted.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">those little pesky squirrels</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> who seem to </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2008/09/busted.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">enjoy my garden even more than I do</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. But I'm quite happy with the colorful results.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KTjw2ttyKNc/TcrjMm2pGsI/AAAAAAAADTk/Za-AhC-WVpE/s1600/3%2Btulip.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542491943672514" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KTjw2ttyKNc/TcrjMm2pGsI/AAAAAAAADTk/Za-AhC-WVpE/s400/3%2Btulip.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhXaYP_je8Y/TcrjMO6sRWI/AAAAAAAADTc/Fx9XAfGx1Cg/s1600/4%2Bdaffy.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542485518206306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhXaYP_je8Y/TcrjMO6sRWI/AAAAAAAADTc/Fx9XAfGx1Cg/s400/4%2Bdaffy.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />My other spring blooms made their appearance as the tulips started to fade.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmlUa5Qyy70/TcrjLv0iFkI/AAAAAAAADTU/1Z8As2WxAWM/s1600/5%2Biris.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542477170873922" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmlUa5Qyy70/TcrjLv0iFkI/AAAAAAAADTU/1Z8As2WxAWM/s400/5%2Biris.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9B9y5jrIbXg/TcrjLZ0Lt7I/AAAAAAAADTM/84gJTy6qcZw/s1600/6%2Bplum%2Bblossom.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542471263827890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9B9y5jrIbXg/TcrjLZ0Lt7I/AAAAAAAADTM/84gJTy6qcZw/s400/6%2Bplum%2Bblossom.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Even the pansies I planted in the fall (that spent most of the winter buried under some 71" of snow) are blooming.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLpMXwWt6Xo/TcrjLCeIa8I/AAAAAAAADTE/UtrzXzuiTzY/s1600/7%2Bpansy.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605542464997321666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kLpMXwWt6Xo/TcrjLCeIa8I/AAAAAAAADTE/UtrzXzuiTzY/s400/7%2Bpansy.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of my neighbors says I have magical soil. Maybe I do.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Speaking of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Tim_(musician)"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">tiptoeing through the tulips</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, I've started to play ukulele. Not a typo. I bought myself a uke for my birthday a couple of months ago and a lovely young man (dude?) is attempting to teach me to play. Tonight's my second to last lesson. Maybe I'll make my performance debut on the blog.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But not just yet. My ukulele playing isn't nearly as magical as my soil.</span>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-75323144284301869282011-05-07T19:30:00.015-04:002011-05-08T00:25:54.863-04:00Junk in my trunk.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Spring is finally in the air at the Jersey Shore! The flowers are blooming, the sunshine is warm, the <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2009/06/tents-are-back-in-town.html">tents are going up in town</a>, and my trunk is full of treasures.</span><br /><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UYDjdifSRk/TcXIBd8DLyI/AAAAAAAADS8/Qw-uT0Rb_38/s1600/1%2Bjunk%2Bin%2Btrunk.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105238874369826" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0UYDjdifSRk/TcXIBd8DLyI/AAAAAAAADS8/Qw-uT0Rb_38/s400/1%2Bjunk%2Bin%2Btrunk.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Yard sale season kicked-off for me today with the town wide yard sale in Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ. I had a pretty good season opener, if I do say so myself, and didn't even spend twenty bucks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of my first stops was at this House of Many Frames. The most expensive one was $4 and it was on of those gigantic (40" tall) ones on the left side of this photo:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-leuhTkKdb2A/TcXIA0FhwuI/AAAAAAAADS0/OJDen4juLPc/s1600/2%2Bframe%2Bpile.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105227639833314" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-leuhTkKdb2A/TcXIA0FhwuI/AAAAAAAADS0/OJDen4juLPc/s400/2%2Bframe%2Bpile.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I got these three for $4 total:</span><br /><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FP-PnsmQsIM/TcXIA7Om43I/AAAAAAAADSs/ttk2qPz5ghw/s1600/3%2Bframes.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105229556966258" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FP-PnsmQsIM/TcXIA7Om43I/AAAAAAAADSs/ttk2qPz5ghw/s400/3%2Bframes.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I especially like the detail on the largest one. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qEZYATKaxKc/TcXH361kBgI/AAAAAAAADSk/FQr-9NSiHq4/s1600/4%2Bframe%2Bclose%2Bup.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105074833098242" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qEZYATKaxKc/TcXH361kBgI/AAAAAAAADSk/FQr-9NSiHq4/s400/4%2Bframe%2Bclose%2Bup.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Do I have a plan for them? Nope. But sometimes that's how I roll.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I think my favorite find of the day was definitely this antique ironing board.</span> </p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VUr1KwAvvmQ/TcXH3v1xQyI/AAAAAAAADSc/fSY8WcSmhFY/s1600/5%2Bironing%2Bboard.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105071881175842" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VUr1KwAvvmQ/TcXH3v1xQyI/AAAAAAAADSc/fSY8WcSmhFY/s400/5%2Bironing%2Bboard.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And the price was right! </span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ARnl2bxZXU/TcXH3rvLYfI/AAAAAAAADSU/QcyZmcuIxd0/s1600/6%2Bfour%2Bbucks.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105070779785714" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ARnl2bxZXU/TcXH3rvLYfI/AAAAAAAADSU/QcyZmcuIxd0/s400/6%2Bfour%2Bbucks.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I do have a plan for this, and I can promise you it has nothing to do with ironing. That would be crazy talk.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also nabbed two Fenton pieces ($5 for both). They needed to be hosed down (literally) and they're currently in the dishwasher, but I think I got a decent deal on these.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aPGeMRxdnCM/TcXH3d95auI/AAAAAAAADSM/6aNtjUUGYRU/s1600/7%2Bfenton.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105067083426530" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aPGeMRxdnCM/TcXH3d95auI/AAAAAAAADSM/6aNtjUUGYRU/s400/7%2Bfenton.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Oh, I also saw this door in someone's trash.</span><br /></p><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIaJdfPTYDc/TcXH3UdJZpI/AAAAAAAADSE/A1XgJyBorow/s1600/8%2Bdoor%2Bin%2Btrash.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604105064530142866" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lIaJdfPTYDc/TcXH3UdJZpI/AAAAAAAADSE/A1XgJyBorow/s400/8%2Bdoor%2Bin%2Btrash.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">If it can't be in my home, I sure hope it winds up in someone else's and not in a landfill. (And by the way, the glass isn't frosted; it's dirty. But still!)</span><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Any treasures in your trunk?</span></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-4827794999370470142011-04-29T05:30:00.001-04:002011-04-29T05:30:00.127-04:00Wee William's Big Day<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cuM_XgFPjgo/TbpYoirbc_I/AAAAAAAADRE/GepV9cQ5ZGc/s1600/di%2Band%2Bwill.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886540115604466" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cuM_XgFPjgo/TbpYoirbc_I/AAAAAAAADRE/GepV9cQ5ZGc/s400/di%2Band%2Bwill.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />My grandma was from Liverpool. As a result, I knew a LOT about the British Monarchy at a very young age. My Christmas and birthday gifts were often quite regal.<br /><br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qg5MMbqQhd8/TbpYo9IhlwI/AAAAAAAADRM/DKsjQ2L5a28/s1600/books.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886547216963330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qg5MMbqQhd8/TbpYo9IhlwI/AAAAAAAADRM/DKsjQ2L5a28/s400/books.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ccUsXqSFfw/TbpYqglbRWI/AAAAAAAADRc/7POB6jtf3Kc/s1600/invite.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886573913294178" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ccUsXqSFfw/TbpYqglbRWI/AAAAAAAADRc/7POB6jtf3Kc/s400/invite.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2zoF4NluPs/TbpYxyCmVBI/AAAAAAAADRs/rmLLzPVmgBg/s1600/xmas%2B1981.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886698858140690" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2zoF4NluPs/TbpYxyCmVBI/AAAAAAAADRs/rmLLzPVmgBg/s400/xmas%2B1981.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7175Lbqyc8I/TbpYqUeHoMI/AAAAAAAADRU/iaS0E-GgCVA/s1600/dish.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886570661421250" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7175Lbqyc8I/TbpYqUeHoMI/AAAAAAAADRU/iaS0E-GgCVA/s400/dish.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And I've inherited some interesting pieces.<br /><br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI5SuFBYWxo/TbpYyMVs_II/AAAAAAAADR0/639lLntX5Xg/s1600/ring.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886705917590658" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VI5SuFBYWxo/TbpYyMVs_II/AAAAAAAADR0/639lLntX5Xg/s400/ring.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />(Our family jewels are of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">faux</span> variety. But a gal can dream.)<br /><br />I just wrapped up (intense! busy!) work in London and was happy to spend some time combing the shops for Royal Wedding 2.0 memorabilia to bring home. I was super excited to come home this week to this, sent from a colleague across the pond...<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1QagbU4rNs/TbpY8lbPRlI/AAAAAAAADR8/MD_cZ_fO8yY/s1600/mug.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600886884450387538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1QagbU4rNs/TbpY8lbPRlI/AAAAAAAADR8/MD_cZ_fO8yY/s400/mug.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I had a vivid dream about my British Grammy the other night which really didn't surprise me. I'm hoping she'll visit again tonight so we can sit down to a "proper cuppa" (for her, that would have been a cuppa milk) and have a chat about the nuptials. Though I'm sure Grammy would still be hung up on </span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/17/kate-middleton-see-through-dress-sold"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Kate's see-through dress</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. (I also saw a sketch of Harry's date's alleged dress for the wedding. Bare shoulder! In Westminster Abbey! <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tsk</span>.)<br /><br />I've had some nasty computer issues (our home PCs...plural...are a hot mess) and I've actually started to snail mail people. I'm like a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">luddite</span> blogger. The good news is, we're going away today and I'm looking forward to zippy hotel <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">WiFi</span>. The bad news is, our flight takes off in the middle of the Royal Wedding.<br /><br />Travel fail. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Hope you're all well! Looking forward to seeing you again.</span></div></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-88559970019664325822011-03-15T14:45:00.001-04:002011-03-15T14:45:00.795-04:00Beware the Ides of March<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tRGWi__xJxs/TX-xwue4hAI/AAAAAAAADQ0/jFJZzCZbrXo/s1600/DSC05045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tRGWi__xJxs/TX-xwue4hAI/AAAAAAAADQ0/jFJZzCZbrXo/s400/DSC05045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584377513632105474" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> 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unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Nature can be so beautiful…like these late winter waves breaking on the Jersey Shore this weekend.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">Just a few blocks away from the idyllic scene, almost a year to the day of l<a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/03/sad-day-in-ocean-grove.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ast</span> year’s massive blaze</a>, another windstorm spread <a href="http://www.app.com/article/20110312/NJNEWS/103120329/Ocean-Grove-fire-appears-accidental">one more devastating fire</a> through the town on Friday. Miraculously, everyone survived.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. ~William Shakespeare</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">And thousands of miles away, our brothers and sisters in Japan have suffered the greatest of tragedies at the hands of nature. A few of my colleagues left Japan that morning, on a flight to New York just a couple of hours before the first quake hit. They were lucky. Ten thousand people, and the countless loved ones they’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> left behind, were not.<span style=""> </span>If you can, please be sure to <a href="http://www.americares.org/whatwedo/emergency/japan/japan-earthquake-tsunami.html">help the Tsunami victims</a>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">How can something as beautiful as nature, so full of wonder, so at the core of what makes my world go around, betray us in such a way? Some things, no matter I hard I try to, I will never understand.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">My heart goes out to everyone affected. </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";">We had a couple of minor health issues in the family this past week so we’re especially hopeful that the arrival of the <a href="http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/caesar1/g/idesofmarch.htm">Ides of March</a> marks the end of a tumultuous period.<span style=""> </span>Spring is in the air in our part of the world, the temperature is slowly rising, and nature is once again showing she can be full of hope and promise.</span></p><div> </div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-53412098231537413292011-03-08T08:00:00.001-05:002011-03-08T08:00:14.790-05:00Happy Mardi Gras!<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRNOzxQYdxM/TXWwLh2aEWI/AAAAAAAADQs/vdlrTLRd8vg/s1600/Mardi%2BGras%2BIndian.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581561025307218274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRNOzxQYdxM/TXWwLh2aEWI/AAAAAAAADQs/vdlrTLRd8vg/s400/Mardi%2BGras%2BIndian.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:85%;">Mardi Gras Indian, New Orleans Jazz Fest 2010</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are many things and places I love and one of them is New Orleans. I'll be back there in 52 days. But who's counting. Until then I'll have to wash down my not-quite-the-real-deal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake">King Cake</a> with a cup of chicory coffee. And by the way...the best, best King Cake I've ever had was sent to me by my brother last year from </span><a href="http://www.shopsucre.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sucre</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, a must visit when in the Big Easy.</span></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-62138570055336229782011-03-07T07:15:00.002-05:002011-03-07T07:15:00.645-05:00Hope springs eternal. In the form of crocus.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For some reason, I insisted on ordering crocus bulbs this past fall. Maybe I had a inkling of what a LONG (emhasis on LONG) winter it would be, and how welcome their colorful little buds would be when the ground finally thawed.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUg6JWri7Z8/TXFX_i9DLhI/AAAAAAAADQk/6g7xVFIDyaw/s1600/1%2Byellow%2Bcrocus.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580338162514996754" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUg6JWri7Z8/TXFX_i9DLhI/AAAAAAAADQk/6g7xVFIDyaw/s400/1%2Byellow%2Bcrocus.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AT3Z38WMWfM/TXFX_f6pHnI/AAAAAAAADQc/ueFgysKC108/s1600/2%2Bpurple%2Bcrocus.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580338161699593842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AT3Z38WMWfM/TXFX_f6pHnI/AAAAAAAADQc/ueFgysKC108/s400/2%2Bpurple%2Bcrocus.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>I was so excited to wake up to the first of the crop this weekend.</div><div><br />Since spring was kind of, sort of in the air (or at least poking out of the front yard ground) I decided to head over to <a href="http://www,lbfands.com/">L.B. Forcellati & Sons</a> in Wall, NJ -- a nursery and garden center with one incredible greenhouse. It's the perfect place to visit when you need a little sunshine and warmth in the middle of the cold season. My friends and I think they should set up tables and serve high tea. Just to us. </div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojye0gQDi78/TXFX_eyFOjI/AAAAAAAADQU/aK7CVtuuiCQ/s1600/3%2Bgreens.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580338161395251762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojye0gQDi78/TXFX_eyFOjI/AAAAAAAADQU/aK7CVtuuiCQ/s400/3%2Bgreens.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_laJ6j1TeSw/TXFX--h59tI/AAAAAAAADQM/-H7jOKWvdhU/s1600/4%2Bgreens.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580338152737470162" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_laJ6j1TeSw/TXFX--h59tI/AAAAAAAADQM/-H7jOKWvdhU/s400/4%2Bgreens.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jdb5k__uuTU/TXFX-1XJvCI/AAAAAAAADQE/C5e3Ywq5VOs/s1600/5%2Btree.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580338150276447266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jdb5k__uuTU/TXFX-1XJvCI/AAAAAAAADQE/C5e3Ywq5VOs/s400/5%2Btree.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZiyYxqiSO0/TXFX0OaklpI/AAAAAAAADP8/vjHkiZQPMVg/s1600/6%2Bflower.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580337968023115410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZiyYxqiSO0/TXFX0OaklpI/AAAAAAAADP8/vjHkiZQPMVg/s400/6%2Bflower.JPG" /></a><br />The orchids were amazing. I was definitely starting to feel spring was indeed in the air.<br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4GB_71EtV48/TXFXz3oMLXI/AAAAAAAADP0/2LAEB9qOgfE/s1600/7%2Borchid.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580337961906220402" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4GB_71EtV48/TXFXz3oMLXI/AAAAAAAADP0/2LAEB9qOgfE/s400/7%2Borchid.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpeG-kT0yzY/TXFXz-ovShI/AAAAAAAADPs/l88kA4ymup8/s1600/8%2Borchid.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580337963787569682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpeG-kT0yzY/TXFXz-ovShI/AAAAAAAADPs/l88kA4ymup8/s400/8%2Borchid.JPG" /></a><br />This bird of paradise plant had a sold sticker on it, and I'm dying to know where it's heading. Somewhere fancy for sure (maybe another greenhouse), since I can't imagine this plant handling the frosty Garden State winters.</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HEYLZQSn-Y/TXFXzeD8bGI/AAAAAAAADPk/mhlOrSvbeuE/s1600/9%2Bbird%2Bof%2Bparadise%2B.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580337955043306594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_HEYLZQSn-Y/TXFXzeD8bGI/AAAAAAAADPk/mhlOrSvbeuE/s400/9%2Bbird%2Bof%2Bparadise%2B.JPG" /></a><br />And don't get me started about how much I wish one of these Meyer lemon trees could come home with me. And I wish you had smell-o-vision right now, because these little trees smelled fabulous. <p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KLAEeCcuLIA/TXFXzRCpt0I/AAAAAAAADPc/-k2jvquuU54/s1600/10%2Blemon.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580337951548225346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KLAEeCcuLIA/TXFXzRCpt0I/AAAAAAAADPc/-k2jvquuU54/s400/10%2Blemon.JPG" /></a> </div><br />I walked out feeling ready to take on the world! Until I realized I still had my ankle length parka, hat and gloves on. What do you do to get through the last days of winter? (Other than scream, which is something I'm strongly considering this year.)</span>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-39108449124008035532011-02-27T18:55:00.002-05:002011-03-03T14:53:25.867-05:00Rolling out the red (mostly black, with earth tone highlights) carpet.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cAoeLDVG_Ug/TWrftewMwEI/AAAAAAAADPA/7AxaH3yNRuY/s1600/1%2Brunner.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578517060894113858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cAoeLDVG_Ug/TWrftewMwEI/AAAAAAAADPA/7AxaH3yNRuY/s400/1%2Brunner.JPG" /></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oscar Sunday is as good a day as any to roll out a new carpet. There was a brief period of almost-warm-oh-my-did-I-see-crocus-leaves weather today, so we decided to do some pre-spring cleaning. And after scrubbing the floors Cinderalla style, I finally got around to laying out our new runner. </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqar53-yyzE/TWrftEcb__I/AAAAAAAADO4/V5MKdLUM834/s1600/2%2Brunner.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578517053831905266" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqar53-yyzE/TWrftEcb__I/AAAAAAAADO4/V5MKdLUM834/s400/2%2Brunner.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p><span style="color:#000000;">We picked it up at a home store in Asbury Park (Robert Legere) that twice a year marks everything down 50%. I usually pick up super fancy Christmas ornaments at the January sale to use as favors at my </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2009/12/boxing-day.html"><span style="color:#000000;">cookie party</span></a><span style="color:#000000;">, but this year no ornaments. I was too late to their party.</span></span></p></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><span style="color:#000000;">The runner is replacing this one we got at Pottery Barn a couple of years ago that was a big fat fail. Jute - pretty to look at, impossible to clean up after. I loved the thickness and texture, and the color against the dark wood floors. But it created tumbleweeds larger and more invasive than anything that's ever rolled off our dog during peak shedding season. I would vacuum, go out to dinner, and come home to jute dust. Everywhere. </span><p></p></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Du-bFtbdxjU/TWrftKRhcuI/AAAAAAAADOw/efGyJvQ4XWE/s1600/3%2Bjute%2Brunner.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578517055396737762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Du-bFtbdxjU/TWrftKRhcuI/AAAAAAAADOw/efGyJvQ4XWE/s400/3%2Bjute%2Brunner.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><br />Speaking of the dog, someone thought the new runner was her new bed.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a64zSA61dsQ/TWrfs-CnuiI/AAAAAAAADOo/YdLQ2CLuZfI/s1600/4%2Bmaggie%2Brunner.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578517052113009186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a64zSA61dsQ/TWrfs-CnuiI/AAAAAAAADOo/YdLQ2CLuZfI/s400/4%2Bmaggie%2Brunner.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><br />Maggie's quite good at making herself comfortable. This is how I found her when I woke up this morning:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ur1SuPDVg88/TWrfsmibA2I/AAAAAAAADOg/gG8vZGO7gFM/s1600/5%2Bmaggie%2Bbender.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578517045803942754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ur1SuPDVg88/TWrfsmibA2I/AAAAAAAADOg/gG8vZGO7gFM/s400/5%2Bmaggie%2Bbender.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><br />Looks like someone had a rough (ruff?) Saturday night.</span></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-20412743823161107152011-02-19T18:15:00.001-05:002011-02-19T18:22:29.931-05:00Hi, my name is Laura...<a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MEnN7uQl75o/TVhPHnoetvI/AAAAAAAADNQ/qeEYEL4BZ6k/s1600/1hand.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291531187435250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MEnN7uQl75o/TVhPHnoetvI/AAAAAAAADNQ/qeEYEL4BZ6k/s400/1hand.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />...and I buy tchotchke.<br /><br />I promised no more junque. But this little hand just waved at we. "Hello, pretty girl. You look like you could use a pick-me-up. So why don't you just pick me up?"<br /><br />And at fifty cents, she may make the "best of" list for 2011 if she plays her (pun alert) hand right.<br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qhvh1A9g1Rg/TVhPHMMD15I/AAAAAAAADNI/0qe1moj9lnw/s1600/2handinplace.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291523820476306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qhvh1A9g1Rg/TVhPHMMD15I/AAAAAAAADNI/0qe1moj9lnw/s400/2handinplace.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Now this one I can't explain. I'm not a sampler kind of girl, but I live in a friendly house by the side of the road. Maybe that's all I need to make questionable decisions.<br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjSLZDchoWE/TVhPHEVWvOI/AAAAAAAADNA/6iOhIOmDVbA/s1600/3crossstitch.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291521711979746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YjSLZDchoWE/TVhPHEVWvOI/AAAAAAAADNA/6iOhIOmDVbA/s400/3crossstitch.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Many times I find the story behind the object d'art more fascinating than the object itself. Or at least the story I make up. When I picked this one up in all her duct-taped, vintage papered glory, I knew there were plenty of good stories this piece could help me tell.<br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8XJEAPkGvUY/TVhPG2edOwI/AAAAAAAADM4/p1w3I_uRSN4/s1600/4back.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291517992057602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8XJEAPkGvUY/TVhPG2edOwI/AAAAAAAADM4/p1w3I_uRSN4/s400/4back.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYZylg-ayY8/TVhPG0JsIyI/AAAAAAAADMw/FrfU3aqTaTM/s1600/5backupclose.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291517368083234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qYZylg-ayY8/TVhPG0JsIyI/AAAAAAAADMw/FrfU3aqTaTM/s400/5backupclose.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Incidentally one of the Valentines <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2011/02/things-i-love.html">in my last post </a>is signed "Estella" so you can only imagine the stories I'm making up!<br /><br />The sampler could make a cute housewarming gift for the right person (and at only $7 I don't feel terrible about this purchase). I've got some nerve considering another piece for myself given the piles of unhung art piling up around here.<br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sndp_R0shSc/TVhO8UFM2CI/AAAAAAAADMo/pnJvGi6DxNc/s1600/6art.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291336960628770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sndp_R0shSc/TVhO8UFM2CI/AAAAAAAADMo/pnJvGi6DxNc/s400/6art.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IiHL2fN006k/TVhO8PULRqI/AAAAAAAADMg/GuE6YoyoT_E/s1600/7moreart.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291335681263266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IiHL2fN006k/TVhO8PULRqI/AAAAAAAADMg/GuE6YoyoT_E/s400/7moreart.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7wAIWVzPPg/TVhO7lXlfJI/AAAAAAAADMY/hfbD7SfVX-o/s1600/8moreart2.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291324421274770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7wAIWVzPPg/TVhO7lXlfJI/AAAAAAAADMY/hfbD7SfVX-o/s400/8moreart2.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Today I was inspired to move one of the piles to a bed. Progress!<br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ydcmrn5kivU/TVhO7v7sZFI/AAAAAAAADMQ/PCmM3AA4z6Y/s1600/9artonbed.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291327257076818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ydcmrn5kivU/TVhO7v7sZFI/AAAAAAAADMQ/PCmM3AA4z6Y/s400/9artonbed.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Maybe tomorrow it will move from the bed to the wall.<br /><br /></span><div><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i__WuEm1Qq4/TVhO7WZ0dlI/AAAAAAAADMI/_zY_U8drr20/s1600/10wall.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573291320404112978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i__WuEm1Qq4/TVhO7WZ0dlI/AAAAAAAADMI/_zY_U8drr20/s400/10wall.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Now that would be something. </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-30615455842013578682011-02-14T13:15:00.001-05:002011-02-14T13:18:47.366-05:00Things I love...<div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVo-XmOcp5E/TVhQAZd_tzI/AAAAAAAADNY/UrhJNSBeg8w/s1600/DSC04958.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573292506637907762" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVo-XmOcp5E/TVhQAZd_tzI/AAAAAAAADNY/UrhJNSBeg8w/s400/DSC04958.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />My family, my friends, my dog. The amazing memories I have of any combination of the three.<br /><br />Baking. Good books. Thrifting (duh!). I most love thrifting with my family or friends (two loves for the price of one).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/fashion/weddings/13vows.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=style&adxnnlx=1297706736-UrQ8d2jonEyz/Ow9Knu7kQ">This Vows column</a> in yesterday's New York <span style="font-style: italic;">Times</span>.<br /><div><br />The shorehouse. Long walks on the beach. The smell of warm rain. The way the sky looks as the sun is setting. Skiing in the Rockies.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d3flGnn0xts/TVhQY0YefNI/AAAAAAAADOA/zklhlFtxPX4/s1600/DSC04950.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573292926179376338" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d3flGnn0xts/TVhQY0YefNI/AAAAAAAADOA/zklhlFtxPX4/s400/DSC04950.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Now this is starting to sound like a Playmate data sheet.)<br /></span><br /><div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1V4DRKw399c/TVhQAssn3nI/AAAAAAAADNo/04Mf2xFnSoE/s1600/DSC04956.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573292511799533170" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1V4DRKw399c/TVhQAssn3nI/AAAAAAAADNo/04Mf2xFnSoE/s400/DSC04956.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I also love these vintage Valentines I picked up at the Ocean Grove Flea Market in the fall. They were $1 each and all addressed to some lucky lad named Victor. Can you imagine that children gave each other such amazing Valentines? Or at least I'm assuming they were given out to classmates. If not Victor has some explaining to do to Peter, Everett, Vic and Estella.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Things I don't like so much? Bronchitis with "a touch of" pneumonia. Which is what I have and why I've been MIA. Again. One of these days I'll get this blog thing down again.<br /><br />'Til then, air kisses from a safe distance! I'm looking forwarding to a cup of tea (I may even go back to coffee today!) and visits with you (I owe many). I couldn't think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day.<br /></span> </div></div></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-47250658931480619112011-01-31T07:50:00.001-05:002011-01-31T07:50:00.482-05:00Going Dutch<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My <a href="http://peculiarwhimsy.blogspot.com/">friend</a> invited me to take a little Dutch Country, Pennsylvania, adventure this weekend. Any road trip involving thrift stores (eight stops in the town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephrata,_Pennsylvania">Ephrata</a> alone!), a flea market, hand rolled pretzels and Amish buy-in-bulk stores works for me.<br /><br />The snow fell steadily while we were out and about, but it looked way more spectacular stretched across the farm-dotted Amish landscape than it does plopped across the roof of my car (which I dug out AGAIN yesterday when I got home. Ugh.). Did I take photos of any of the postcard-perfect scenery? Of course not. That would make too much sense.<br /><br />But I did catch a couple of shots of our thrifting in action.<br /><br /></span><p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_9ulhDnI/AAAAAAAADL8/Nk0IFFa6erQ/s1600/1%2Bball%2Bjars.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568208319000153714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_9ulhDnI/AAAAAAAADL8/Nk0IFFa6erQ/s400/1%2Bball%2Bjars.JPG" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jean was on a mission to find inexpensive turquoise vintage Ball canning jars. You know how it is when you have something specific in mind and then you can never find it? Well, apparently that doesn’t happen to her. She found a treasure trove at the <a href="http://greendragonmarket.com/">Green Dragon</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />She scooped up the best of the blues as fast as her hands could scoop. </span></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_vC3zBUI/AAAAAAAADL0/XqumnXsGYKc/s1600/2%2Bscoop.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568208066747499842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_vC3zBUI/AAAAAAAADL0/XqumnXsGYKc/s400/2%2Bscoop.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I exercised tremendous restraint. For the most part. I picked up a couple of milk glass pieces.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_u0WZdKI/AAAAAAAADLs/EW8o0CmiJ_k/s1600/3%2Bmilk%2Bglass.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568208062849316002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_u0WZdKI/AAAAAAAADLs/EW8o0CmiJ_k/s400/3%2Bmilk%2Bglass.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The hobnail piece is Fenton and more my thing, but there’s something about the larger piece I liked. I’m hoping the wide mouth will make for a nice flower arrangement; if not, it may be returning to a thrift store near you! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">These little butter knives were too cute to pass up. A good deal for a set of six, and I think they’ll polish up well:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_um8CYwI/AAAAAAAADLk/mtQmeF3njVg/s1600/4%2Bknives.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568208059249091330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_um8CYwI/AAAAAAAADLk/mtQmeF3njVg/s400/4%2Bknives.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I know I promised that I would ease up on tchotchke purchases this year, but I think this little guy winked at me. And he was only $1. So how could I leave him on the shelf? Plus, I’m planning on using him as a cake topper (but am secretly hoping to keep him).<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_utnPHwI/AAAAAAAADLc/gwJrtFUQDCY/s1600/5%2Bdapper.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568208061040893698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_utnPHwI/AAAAAAAADLc/gwJrtFUQDCY/s400/5%2Bdapper.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The only downsides of the trip? Seeing this gigantic painting at one of our stops (which I think may give me recurring nightmares) and finding an olive in my margarita.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_uUrZ_oI/AAAAAAAADLU/sJqChkvaa04/s1600/6%2Blady.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568208054347497090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUY_uUrZ_oI/AAAAAAAADLU/sJqChkvaa04/s400/6%2Blady.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I hope you all had lovely weekends! Thank you so much for your comments on my last post. I wrote it from the bottom of my stomach, which is much bigger than my heart, and your kind words meant a lot to me.</span></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-33829847234554119712011-01-26T14:00:00.002-05:002012-09-10T18:39:05.523-04:00Bye Bye Bitty<div align="left">
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<a href="http://content.markbittman.com/photos/at-the-hollywood-farmers-market-c-2000"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566566679328986866" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TUBq5uPuFvI/AAAAAAAADLM/BF_OE9RmVa4/s400/bittmancolorphoto.jpg" style="display: block; height: 259px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> (Photo: Sally Stein via </span><a href="http://content.markbittman.com/photos/at-the-hollywood-farmers-market-c-2000" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">MarkBittman.com</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I nearly passed out in my pea soup on Monday when I read that </span><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110124/ts_yblog_thecutline/mark-bittman-ends-nyt-minimalist-column-after-13-years-heads-to-opinion-section-magazine" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Mark Bittman was ending The Minimalist column</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. Last night, I devoured every word of his </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/dining/26mini.html?ref=theminimalist" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">last column</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> as I would a slow-cooker veggie chili on a cold winter's day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I know I shouldn't get emotional over the demise of a </span><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/features/diningandwine/columns/the_minimalist/index.html?scp=1&sq=the%20minimalist%20with%20mark%20bittman&st=cse" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">food column</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">, but to me it was always more than just that. Mark taught me how to cook, really. He and I have spent many hours together in my kitchen over the years. I also watched with insane jealousy as </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000569/" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Gwennie</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> got to travel </span><a href="http://www.spainontheroadagain.com/" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On the Road</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> with him. ("Ah-hahaha...Oh Bitty!") How I wished it was my brunette mop flapping in the Spanish breeze in that convertible instead of </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000569/" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">her</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> perfect blond locks...And that it was I who could eat and eat and eat like </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000569/" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">her </a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">without putting on so much as an ounce. But I digress...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Bitty (may I call you Bitty?), if you only knew.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">What did Mike get for his birthday last week? No, not another gift certificate to a hardware store. He got </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/dining/19mini.html?ref=theminimalist" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">heart healthy whole grain pancakes</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">, so I can keep him around to fix things at the shorehouse for years to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Did the raw </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/17/dining/17mini.html?_r=1&ref=theminimalist" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">butternut squash slaw</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> take center stage as you promised? Oh yes it did, and got a standing ovation at that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I served nearly all of the farmers' market corn I bought last year </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/dining/28mini.html?ref=theminimalist" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Mexican-style</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> thanks to you. Hola, deliciousness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">And as soon as I can find fresh basil that doesn't look like it got run over by a snow plow (winter can be so cruel), I'm definitely making your </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/dining/12minirex.html?ref=dining" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">fazzoletti</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">. And don't even get me started about </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/dining/27minirex.html?ref=dining" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">your gnocchi</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I could wax nostalgic about The Minimalist 'til the grass-fed cows come home (ed note: speaking of wax, you should really have a look at how wax beans play a roll in the </span><a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01EED71738F934A25753C1A9619C8B63&ref=theminimalist&pagewanted=2" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Green Beans and Tofu Skins With Rice Sticks</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> recipe!). But instead I'll savor the memories, and every last delicious meal we shared.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I think most of all, Bitty, I'll miss your candor. You've always been so patient and kind about my vegetarian ways (and even </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764524836?ie=UTF8&tag=markbittmanco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0764524836" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">devoted a cookbook to it</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">) and never made me feel like the one-eyed circus freak many people treat me as (and you know who you are, ahem). In fact, in yesterday's column you wrote:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">“My growing conviction that the meat-heavy American diet and our increasing dependence on prepared and processed foods is detrimental not only to our personal health but to that of the planet has had an impact on my life and on that of the column.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">::sniff::</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Best of luck, Bitty. 'Til we eat again.</span></div>
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Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-85037521729152426222011-01-24T19:15:00.001-05:002011-01-24T19:15:00.419-05:00Sunrise, Sunset<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For those of you not in my neck of the world, it is cold outside. Very, very cold. It’s so cold (“How cold is it?” Wow. Total <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match_Game">Match Game </a>flashback), my train literally froze on the way to work today.<br /><br />Between the crazy snow and frigid temperatures, it’s been one heck of a winter here. But I think Mother Nature is trying to make up for landing her frosty one-two punch by ending each day with spectacular sunsets like this one at the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">shorehouse</span> last night.<br /><br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TT31JViMyqI/AAAAAAAADLE/1ZC5a-QCs2Q/s1600/sunsetinOG.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565874255248018082" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TT31JViMyqI/AAAAAAAADLE/1ZC5a-QCs2Q/s400/sunsetinOG.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Either that or she has a wicked sense of humor.<br /><br />Speaking of rays of sunshine, a bunch of amazingly kind folks have come by as I get my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">bloggy</span> sea legs back. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shorehouse</span> 2.0, if you will. A huge thanks to all the folks who’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> found me again and commented these past few posts…Kathleen at <a href="http://leohaven.blogspot.com/">Purple Flowers</a>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ang</span>, Erika Swain, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Keetha</span> at <a href="http://keethastuff.blogspot.com/">Eclectic Company</a>, Joyce at <a href="http://www.joygallagher.com/">A Perfect Beginning</a>, Maureen, Tee at <a href="http://www.thedivasthoughts.com/">The Diva’s Random Thoughts</a>, Deborah at <a href="http://fairfieldhousenj.com/">The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fairfield</span> House</a>, Diane at <a href="http://diane1876.blogspot.com/">A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words</a>, <a href="http://cupcakinitup.blogspot.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cupcakin</span>’ It Up</a>, <a href="http://graycardigan.blogspot.com/">Grey Cardigan</a>, Liz at <a href="http://violetposy.co.uk/">Violet Posy</a>, Pat at <a href="http://millefiorifavoriti.blogspot.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mille</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fiori</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Favoriti</span></a>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moderne</span> Momma at <a href="http://www.modernemama.com/">Beach House</a>, Sheila at <a href="http://thequintessentialmagpie.blogspot.com/">The Quintessential Magpie</a>, Lauren, Caren at <a href="http://citymommacountrymomma.blogspot.com/">City Momma/Country Momma</a>, j.<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">cro</span> at <a href="http://i8pixistix.blogspot.com/">Snapshots and Confabulation</a>, Susan at <a href="http://sueskitchen.typepad.com/">Black Eyed Susan’s Kitchen</a>, Heidi at <a href="http://faboolosity.blogspot.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Faboolosity</span></a>, Ola at <a href="http://theappletea.blogspot.com/">Apple Tea</a>, Patti at <a href="http://ppandorasbox.blogspot.com/">Pandora’s Box</a> and <a href="http://ina-offret.blogspot.com/">Ina in Alaska</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I’m really happy to be back.</span></p>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-31287639275206530442011-01-20T06:52:00.000-05:002011-01-20T06:52:00.417-05:00The Year in Thirft: Part Two<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Continuing on from my </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-in-thrift-part-one.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">last post</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">...<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">6. Ironstone gravy boat. Cost: 25 cents<br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Provenance: St. Paul’s Rummage Sale, Ocean Grove </span><p><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTds1r_i91I/AAAAAAAADKs/BSKZxX39OEE/s1600/gravy.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035534237661010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTds1r_i91I/AAAAAAAADKs/BSKZxX39OEE/s400/gravy.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I bought this the day before “stuff-everything” day (<a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-in-thrift-part-one.html">see #5</a> on my list). It is in perfect condition and may be the best way I’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> ever spent a quarter (aside from on pinball). It’s been used for marinara sauce on pasta night and for caramel sauce on a dessert buffet, so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">yay</span> for using!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">7. Wall mirror. Cost: $3 </span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Provenance: Yard Sale, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Oceanport</span> </span></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdszKZ2h6I/AAAAAAAADKk/u3g1qBYT_9I/s1600/mirror.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035490861451170" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdszKZ2h6I/AAAAAAAADKk/u3g1qBYT_9I/s400/mirror.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Virtually everything at this yard sale was overpriced. Laughably overpriced, in fact. Except for this dandy mirror at a mere three bucks. Plus it weighs a ton, so that's really only pennies a pound. (Note how I rationalize my purchases.)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">8. Annie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Selke</span> fabric. Cost: $5/yard ($10) </span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Provenance: <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Allaire</span> State Park Flea Market </span></p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdshLnt73I/AAAAAAAADJ0/wuiGrwZ6bgQ/s1600/selke.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035181950398322" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdshLnt73I/AAAAAAAADJ0/wuiGrwZ6bgQ/s400/selke.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">My friend Jim and I almost <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">plotzed</span> when we saw this </span><a href="http://www.housefabric.com/categorysubview.asp?CategoryID=124&CategorySubID=754"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Annie <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Selke</span> fabric</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> poking out from under a pile of bolts festooned with dancing rabbits, neon roosters and the like. The only shame of this is that I only bought two yards. It was a hot day and clearly I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">wasn</span>’t properly hydrated. Had I been of sane mind I would have bought the rest of the bolt and made fabulous curtains. Live and learn, fellow <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">thrifters</span>. Live and learn.<br /><br />9. Pair of Yugoslavian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Roussell</span> chairs: $3<br /><br />Provenance: Estate Sale, West Long Branch<br /><br /></span></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdskQQrTGI/AAAAAAAADKE/hQFMzZpn0NM/s1600/roussell%2B1.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035234735541346" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdskQQrTGI/AAAAAAAADKE/hQFMzZpn0NM/s400/roussell%2B1.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />What are Yugoslavian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Roussell</span> chairs, and how do I know these are they? Well:<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTfOCUkEj0I/AAAAAAAADK8/9IAMIBZBigM/s1600/roussell%2B2.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564142403914600258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTfOCUkEj0I/AAAAAAAADK8/9IAMIBZBigM/s400/roussell%2B2.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />True, they're nothing fancy, but this definitely qualifies as a non-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">tchotchke</span> practical purchase. Plus they’re so cute and vintage looking and we needed extra seating for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">al</span> fresco dining on the porch (with my </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-in-thrift-part-one.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">vintage tablecloths</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">, of course). And, hello: Three bucks a pair! Score.<br /><br />10. “Mrs. Johnson.” Cost: $2<br /><p></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Provenance: Trinity Church <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Asbury</span> Park Thrift Sale<br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdsxOcK8DI/AAAAAAAADKc/R1d87Gpz3zE/s1600/mrs%2Bj%2B1.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035457585180722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdsxOcK8DI/AAAAAAAADKc/R1d87Gpz3zE/s400/mrs%2Bj%2B1.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></p></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">This large oil on board portrait was the true score of the year. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I spent a lot of Saturdays rummaging and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">thrifting</span> with my friend Jim in 2010. A LOT. And artwork just seemed to jump into our hands. We’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> amassed quite a collection of gems which probably deserve a post of their own. But Mrs. Johnson, oh Mrs. Johnson. Thank you for hopping out of a pile of crap and into my loving arms. And thanks to my friends Terry and Peter at </span><a href="http://oceangrovenj.com/html/shopping.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tumblety</span> Howell Art</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> for helping me put her damaged frame back together again. </span></p><p><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdspEQj4nI/AAAAAAAADKU/EZEmT8GQZTo/s1600/mrs%2Bj%2B2.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035317413175922" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdspEQj4nI/AAAAAAAADKU/EZEmT8GQZTo/s400/mrs%2Bj%2B2.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">At first I considered ditching the frame, but when I saw the artist signed it (along with signing the back of the painting) I realized it was original and really wanted to make it work. </span><p><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdsmlkz_7I/AAAAAAAADKM/Fw-sOiSNN3k/s1600/mrs%2Bj%2B3.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564035274816880562" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TTdsmlkz_7I/AAAAAAAADKM/Fw-sOiSNN3k/s400/mrs%2Bj%2B3.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I did a little </span><a href="http://staff.lib.muohio.edu/westernarchives/show_content.php?unique_id=59"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">online research</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> and it turns out S.W. Peabody was Susan W. Peabody, who was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1920s. She had a couple of </span><a href="http://www.renaissancesociety.org/site/Exhibitions/Works.The-Art-Club-First-Annual-Student-Art-Exhibition.292.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">student exhibitions there</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">, and appears to have been a benefactor to a number of museums over the years. Now whether or not she's related to <em>the</em> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peabody_Essex_Museum"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Peabody</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> artsy patron family I don't know. But I'd sure like to think so!<br /><br />I am so excited by this purchase I can’t even tell you. (Well, I guess I did tell you.)<br /><br />I’d love to see your favorite thrifty find of 2010. Do tell! </span></p></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-32643254413300381642011-01-13T20:00:00.008-05:002011-01-14T13:44:26.535-05:00The Year In Thrift: Part One<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As I mentioned at the end of <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-i-did-in-2010-part-two.html">my last post</a>, 2010 proved to be a stellar year for thrifting in New Jersey. Here, in part one of two, is a look at ten of the things that made my thrifty hearty flutter this past year:<br /><br />1. Statue of Liberty vase/cup/thingie. Cost 50 cents<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Provenance: Ocean Grove yard sale </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This past year, I made a promise to myself I'd limit tchotchke purchases and only buy things that served a purpose.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></p></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-V1b_oo-I/AAAAAAAADJg/cb09BcqXClI/s1600/1%2Bstatue.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828810106119138" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-V1b_oo-I/AAAAAAAADJg/cb09BcqXClI/s400/1%2Bstatue.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />So I put my toothpaste in Lady Libby and gave her a purpose. Plus, she’s right at home with <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2009/07/sweet-land-of-liberty.html">her family</a> in the second floor bathroom.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-V0y2pvlI/AAAAAAAADJY/WIVuEXLVMFE/s1600/2%2Bstatue.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828799062589010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-V0y2pvlI/AAAAAAAADJY/WIVuEXLVMFE/s400/2%2Bstatue.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />2. Vintage aluminum sign. Cost: Free<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Provenance: Next door neighbor’s trash<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The sign said, “Take Home Kern’s Bread”…so I did. Right from my shorehouse neighbor’s trash.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-V00wc20I/AAAAAAAADJQ/okbjPmq8iqE/s1600/3%2Bbread.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828799573449538" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-V00wc20I/AAAAAAAADJQ/okbjPmq8iqE/s400/3%2Bbread.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Vintage linens. Cost: $10 (total)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Provenance: Ocean Grove Flea Market (by way of vendor’s Nana’s cupboard) </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-Vs9_QBCI/AAAAAAAADJI/x_uI4iozVNA/s1600/4%2Blinens.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828664612488226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-Vs9_QBCI/AAAAAAAADJI/x_uI4iozVNA/s400/4%2Blinens.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The tablecloths were $5 each which, even though that’s big bucks for me, I knew was a bargain. One still had tags on it!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-VsjgcY7I/AAAAAAAADJA/tXuaERmelzc/s1600/5%2Blinens.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828657503953842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-VsjgcY7I/AAAAAAAADJA/tXuaERmelzc/s400/5%2Blinens.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Judging by the wild-eyed look on the face of the shabby chicified woman next to me when I asked “how much are these?” I have a feeling she knew I got a deal, too. The vendor threw in the towel (literally) for free. And they all laundered like a dream.<br /><br />4. Funky necklace. Cost: 50 cents </span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Provenance: Allaire State Park Flea Market <p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></div></span><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-VsdFIE3I/AAAAAAAADI4/UUk_RhMZqro/s1600/6%2Bnecklace.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828655778763634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-VsdFIE3I/AAAAAAAADI4/UUk_RhMZqro/s400/6%2Bnecklace.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />A couple of snip-snips later and I shed the Travolta chain and added my own white gold one. Eventually I’ll also change out the gigantic loopy thing the chain goes through, but I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on this thing. “Is that coral?” “Is that sculpted?” I’m fairly sure it’s plastique, circa 1970. <p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-VsDFyphI/AAAAAAAADIw/HmfFZkRPz7M/s1600/7%2Bnecklace.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828648802231826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-VsDFyphI/AAAAAAAADIw/HmfFZkRPz7M/s400/7%2Bnecklace.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />5. A whole slew of </span><a href="http://www.retroholiday.com/shiny-brite.php"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Shiny Brites</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and old timey ornaments. Cost: Free? </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Provenance: St. Paul’s Rummage Sale, Ocean Grove<br /><br /></div></span><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-Vr7aGxUI/AAAAAAAADIo/MxXj5L-gLyw/s1600/8%2Bshiny.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561828646739952962" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TS-Vr7aGxUI/AAAAAAAADIo/MxXj5L-gLyw/s400/8%2Bshiny.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />It was “stuff-everything-in-a-bag-for-$3” day at the rummage sale. They had a whole slew of glass vases, and since my friend runs a home-based florist biz I asked if he wanted them for his shows and such. While I was carefully filling the shopping bag, something shiny (and “brite,” if you will) caught my eye from a box under the table. I stuffed every single loose ornament in the vases, and the ones in cardboard sleeves slipped right in vases as-is. Since they fit in the bag that I already was buying for </span><a href="http://www.jerseyweddingflowers.com/bridesbouquets.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bloom Boxx</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> technically they were free right? Right.<br /><br />To be continued…with ironstone, Roussell chairs, Mrs. Johnson and more!</span></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-63978462087482429662011-01-06T07:45:00.001-05:002011-01-06T07:45:00.272-05:00What I did in 2010. Part two.<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Continuing on...<br /></span><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">August 2010<br /><br />In August my friends and I held our first ever Farmers' Market Challenge. The object was to make dinner entirely from stuff picked up at the Asbury Park Farmers' Market, a wee tiny array of vendors. You know how in the beginning of The Iron Chef everyone runs and grabs ingredients out of each other's hands? That's what we looked like. Which was pretty funny since most of the shoppers there were...well, just shopping. And we were grabbing. And running. And tossing produce to (at?) each other. But the vendors totally got into it.<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7l5xCWWI/AAAAAAAADGc/GFg3MpTOn_w/s1600/August%252C%2BFarmer%2B1.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211149964663138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7l5xCWWI/AAAAAAAADGc/GFg3MpTOn_w/s400/August%252C%2BFarmer%2B1.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />The next week a couple of the them wanted us to email pictures of what we made. And thankfully, we didn't embarrass ourselves. Here's a sample:<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7l2ESeLI/AAAAAAAADGU/l-bt19QurGc/s1600/August%252C%2BFarmer%2B2.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211148971669682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7l2ESeLI/AAAAAAAADGU/l-bt19QurGc/s400/August%252C%2BFarmer%2B2.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><br /><p><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">September 2010<br /><br />As the "Summer of Sawdust" drew to an end, our new bathroom was fully framed out and ready for tile. </span></p></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7lqMraXI/AAAAAAAADGM/LrlR8_Lwk70/s1600/September%252C%2BSheetrock%2BBath.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211145785633138" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7lqMraXI/AAAAAAAADGM/LrlR8_Lwk70/s400/September%252C%2BSheetrock%2BBath.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /><br />The tile part was easier said than done (and we didn't even do the tiling ourselves), but I think you'll be proud when you see the final product. (I squealed when I got in the shower for the first time.) I must recommend is the </span><a href="http://www.toiletsthatwork.com/toto-toilet-detail.asp?id=CST764SG&name=VESPIN&view=1&view2=seat"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Toto Vespin toilet</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">. You may have heard of its "cyclone technology" and if not let's just say that's a mighty good flush. It also makes me want to hang one of </span><a href="http://mrslimestone.zenfolio.com/"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Mrs. Limestone's pics </span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">of the </span><a href="http://mrslimestone.zenfolio.com/p166765895/h3e98a1c9#h3e98a1c9"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Coney Island Cyclone</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> to next to it. (Pssst! She's giving away her photos over at her blog! </span><a href="http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2011/01/new-years-giveaway.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Head over to enter</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">.)<br /></span></div><div><p><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">October 2010</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I saw a pig in dress in Asbury Park. And I'm not making a derogatory comment about some </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicole_Polizzi"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Jersey Shore girl</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">. I saw an actual pig in a dress.<br /><br /></span></p></div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7leJjOxI/AAAAAAAADGE/1HMpqZJhUhw/s1600/September%252C%2BPig.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211142551288594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7leJjOxI/AAAAAAAADGE/1HMpqZJhUhw/s400/September%252C%2BPig.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Halloween weekend, I </span><a href="http://njzombiewalk.com/"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">walked with the zombies</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">. </span></div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7lBliOgI/AAAAAAAADF8/8oEO2rDloYM/s1600/Oct%252C%2BZombie%2B1.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211134884035074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7lBliOgI/AAAAAAAADF8/8oEO2rDloYM/s400/Oct%252C%2BZombie%2B1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />And scared the neighbor's kids.</span></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YjpBRSI/AAAAAAAADF0/9ql3xn4x22I/s1600/Oct%252C%2BZombie%2B2.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558210920687158562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YjpBRSI/AAAAAAAADF0/9ql3xn4x22I/s400/Oct%252C%2BZombie%2B2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />November 2010<br /><br />I went to </span><a href="http://www.meetup.com/fashionlab/messages/archive/"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">a crafty meet-up</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> inspired by Amy Sedaris' new </span><a href="http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2010/nov/04/amy-sedaris-crafts-poor-people/"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> book.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I made this hair clip out of candy wrappers and entered Amy's contest on </span><a href="http://www.meetup.com/fashionlab/messages/archive/"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">WNYC</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YmgYfkI/AAAAAAAADFs/byTOm3Dr8ig/s1600/November%252C%2BClip.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558210921456238146" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YmgYfkI/AAAAAAAADFs/byTOm3Dr8ig/s400/November%252C%2BClip.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />I didn't win.<br /></span></div><div> </div><div><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">December 2010</span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We headed to Key West for a pre-Christmas getaway. I went to my first-ever boat parade and loved it. I wanted the little boat in the photo below to win, partially because it really did look like a sleigh but mostly because it had a flame thrower in the back. Sweet. </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></p></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YRUaEVI/AAAAAAAADFk/2qdJeT4h2RU/s1600/Dec%252C%2BKey%2BWest.JPG"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558210915768865106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YRUaEVI/AAAAAAAADFk/2qdJeT4h2RU/s400/Dec%252C%2BKey%2BWest.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br />Like me in the Amy Sedaris contest, it didn't win.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We had to drink hot cocoa and wear winter coats to keep warm. In Key West. Florida.<br /><br />In hindsight I laugh a little about that, because when we got home </span><a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Blizzard-Bills-Add-Up-NJ-Turns-to-FEMA-112822084.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">this happened</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">: </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></p></span><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YPUeMiI/AAAAAAAADFc/hocGvMRif04/s1600/Dec%252C%2BSnow%2B1.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558210915232264738" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YPUeMiI/AAAAAAAADFc/hocGvMRif04/s400/Dec%252C%2BSnow%2B1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YHfRGSI/AAAAAAAADFU/Q6WJlDhwRP0/s1600/Dec%252C%2BSnow%2B2.jpg"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558210913130060066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK7YHfRGSI/AAAAAAAADFU/Q6WJlDhwRP0/s400/Dec%252C%2BSnow%2B2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;">(That's my car under there.) </span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">We were trapped in the shorehouse for five days </span><a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Blizzard-Bills-Add-Up-NJ-Turns-to-FEMA-112822084.html"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">waiting for the streets to be plowed</span></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">. You probably wouldn't have liked me very much by day four.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">So there you have it. What was my favorite part of 2010? Thrifting adventures. Oh, the thrifting. Honestly, it was a banner year. My friend Jim and I elevated thrifting to an art form in 2010.</span></div><div><p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Up next: Top 10 Thrifts of 2010</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-40242508136315479742011-01-04T07:30:00.004-05:002011-01-04T07:30:01.944-05:00So what did I do in 2010? Part 1<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Believe me, I ask myself that question often. I mean, where did this year go? Here’s a look back…<br /><br />January 2010<br /><br />I made my <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-old-bookcase-and-playing-dress-up.html">first dress!</a> Courtesy of the amazing workshops at <a href="http://www.maverydesigns.com/">M. Avery Designs</a>.<br /><br /></span><br /><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8eSRTQtI/AAAAAAAADH0/rXkRND0nkMk/s1600/Jan%252C%2BDress.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558212118615114450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8eSRTQtI/AAAAAAAADH0/rXkRND0nkMk/s400/Jan%252C%2BDress.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />February 2010<br /><br />I finally made <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-without-snow.html">popcorn on the stove top</a>. And I’ll never make it any other way again. This may seem insignificant to you, but it was a life changer for me.<br /><br /></span></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8eHyhprI/AAAAAAAADHs/6MYzQ-cSbsY/s1600/Feb%252C%2BPopcorn.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558212115801679538" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8eHyhprI/AAAAAAAADHs/6MYzQ-cSbsY/s400/Feb%252C%2BPopcorn.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />March 2010<br /><br />I learned to make donuts. And I never made them again. They’re trouble in a frying pan, I tell you. To think, delicious donuts are just a <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2009/03/wholey-cow-these-are-tasty.html">tube of refrigerated biscuit dough</a> away.<br /><br />April 2010<br /><br />One door closed and another opened. I walked away from a job I was at for nearly a decade and sprinted into a new one.<br /><br />But not before running away to the <a href="http://www.nojazzfest.com/">New Orleans Jazz Fest</a> for a weekend.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8eIuaSQI/AAAAAAAADHk/aCaikNtzyr0/s1600/April%252C%2BJazz%2B1.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558212116052855042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8eIuaSQI/AAAAAAAADHk/aCaikNtzyr0/s400/April%252C%2BJazz%2B1.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8d8fthwI/AAAAAAAADHc/iLEajDAbfK0/s1600/April%252C%2BJazz%2B2.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558212112769976066" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8d8fthwI/AAAAAAAADHc/iLEajDAbfK0/s400/April%252C%2BJazz%2B2.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And then we started our much ballyhooed attic renovation.<br /><br />And then, I walked away from my blog.<br /><br />Life got in the way. I could barely keep up with my new routine, and everything else just sort of fell by the wayside in 2010. The few spare hours I had I was happiest just sitting in silence with my dog and a good cup of coffee. And sometimes by "good cup of coffee" I mean "stiff cocktail."<br /><br />But the rest of 2010 wasn’t a total wash.<br /><br />May 2010<br /><br />The tulip bulbs I scattered the previous fall bloomed just in time for Mother's Day.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8duqLXMI/AAAAAAAADHU/hRIln7z7k10/s1600/May%252C%2BTulips.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558212109055777986" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8duqLXMI/AAAAAAAADHU/hRIln7z7k10/s400/May%252C%2BTulips.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />They were late bloomers, but so was I and I turned out OK. Or so I'd like to think.<br /><br />June 2010<br /><br />By June the attic was fairly gutted and we realized "relaxing summer" would not be in our vocabulary.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IYtgS4I/AAAAAAAADHM/aTHzFTgcRkU/s1600/June%252C%2BGutted.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211742386899842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IYtgS4I/AAAAAAAADHM/aTHzFTgcRkU/s400/June%252C%2BGutted.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The front garden went all jungle on me, only three years after planting it.<br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IYZdp3I/AAAAAAAADHE/z_67_B5ChN4/s1600/June%252C%2BJungle.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211742302840690" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IYZdp3I/AAAAAAAADHE/z_67_B5ChN4/s400/June%252C%2BJungle.JPG" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />We also joined our <a href="http://www.handsacrossthesand.com/">Hands Across the Sand</a> to help protect our beautiful beaches. </span></div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IIk86VI/AAAAAAAADG8/Hu5VwfjHVAs/s1600/June%252C%2BHands%2BAcross%2BSand.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211738056059218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IIk86VI/AAAAAAAADG8/Hu5VwfjHVAs/s400/June%252C%2BHands%2BAcross%2BSand.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />July 2010<br /><br />Have you ever been to the <a href="http://www.newportfolkfest.net/">Newport Folk Festival</a>? I went for the first time because my favorite band (<a href="http://www.theavettbrothers.com/">The Avett Brothers</a>) was playing. We took a family road trip and it was the perfect weekend...just me, mom and <a href="http://tinselandrot.blogspot.com/2010/08/month-of-festivals-newport-folk.html">my brother</a>. I suspect I'll be back in 2011.<br /><br /></span><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IOhgNtI/AAAAAAAADG0/0jq4AIpm7lI/s1600/July%252C%2BAvetts.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558211739652208338" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSK8IOhgNtI/AAAAAAAADG0/0jq4AIpm7lI/s400/July%252C%2BAvetts.JPG" /></span></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKdA1CpDI/AAAAAAAADIY/UxIqNFZyoGw/s1600/DSC04146.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558227489916101682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKdA1CpDI/AAAAAAAADIY/UxIqNFZyoGw/s400/DSC04146.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKdOi_VII/AAAAAAAADIQ/rRz_0bCluVg/s1600/DSC04158.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558227493598483586" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKdOi_VII/AAAAAAAADIQ/rRz_0bCluVg/s400/DSC04158.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKc7y7cWI/AAAAAAAADII/xML3k70XPpA/s1600/DSC04159.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558227488565064034" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKc7y7cWI/AAAAAAAADII/xML3k70XPpA/s400/DSC04159.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKdcG-1tI/AAAAAAAADIg/Moz0MVOd9Q8/s1600/DSC04161.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558227497239107282" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSLKdcG-1tI/AAAAAAAADIg/Moz0MVOd9Q8/s400/DSC04161.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">July held another first for me: My first ambulance ride. I don't recommend, but am very grateful to the <a href="http://bbfa8821.com/">Bradley Beach First Aid Squad</a> for scooping me up (and <a href="http://i8pixistix.blogspot.com/">to my friend</a> for scooping up my bike!). And for the endless hours of entertainment provided to me by all of the guidos being treated in the ER. (This happened on a Saturday at the Jersey Shore, so you can only imagine.)<br /><br />Next up: Farmers and zombies and blizzards. Oh my! </span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-42498246820837262722011-01-01T11:55:00.002-05:002011-01-02T12:24:39.556-05:00Should auld acquaintance*...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSAVjWWFT0I/AAAAAAAADE8/5LOsQj08XnY/s1600/auld.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557465637212999490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSAVjWWFT0I/AAAAAAAADE8/5LOsQj08XnY/s400/auld.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Harry: What does this song mean? My whole life, I don't know what this song means. I mean, 'Should old acquaintance be forgot'? Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances, or does it mean if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot?</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sally: Well, maybe it just means that we should remember that we forgot them or something. Anyway, it's about old friends.</span></em><br /><div align="right"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/">When Harry Met Sally</a></em>, a movie I can watch over and over and over.</span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So what about <em>really</em> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">auld</span> acquaintances? Have they been forgotten? If so, you're totally not reading this. </span><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><p>My excuses for extended absence from my blog and yours are pathetic at best. My adjustment to my "new" job has been tougher than expected, and this summer I got in a rather...how should I put this...ugly bike accident. And as much as I thought a "2010 Wrap Up" post would have been a good way to explain what I've been up to, photos of me at the office and/or photos of my kneecap stitched back together seemed a little morose. But I'm determined to focus on the bright side! Since I left you, a major attic renovation kicked off this spring, which looked a little like this at the middle stages:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSAhpH-gLiI/AAAAAAAADFM/3m92zQw1ySU/s1600/attic%2Breno.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557478930574749218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/TSAhpH-gLiI/AAAAAAAADFM/3m92zQw1ySU/s400/attic%2Breno.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">And it's <em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">thisclose</span></em> to wrapping up. To anyone out there who is a general contractor, I have a new appreciation for you and bow to your excellence.</span></p><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Other than all of that, oh, the thrifty adventures I've been on since I left you (I went to a <em>really</em> good rummage sale on crutches less than a week after my accident, which proves my dedication if nothing else!). The past few months were among the best <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thrifting</span> days ever. And the 852 photos I pulled off my camera <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2103232&id=1158537676&l=22f89be79b">while trapped in a</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2103232&id=1158537676&l=22f89be79b">blizzard</a> this week proved it.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So I guess I'm saying that I'm back. And if anyone is still out there...thank you. A happy, healthy and prosperous new year to you all! </span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">* Somewhat horrifyingly, I took this picture minutes ago. I pulled out the Christmas ornaments from the basement to stage the photo so I wouldn't look like a total nincompoop. The only holiday decoration at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">shorehouse</span> this year was the wreath outside. ::hangs head in shame::</span> </div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-35682431912156567302010-04-03T14:16:00.003-04:002010-04-03T15:02:33.153-04:00Lights out.<p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S7eK-AT81QI/AAAAAAAADD4/7u2OXBaboRo/s1600/DSC03691.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455982271422846210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S7eK-AT81QI/AAAAAAAADD4/7u2OXBaboRo/s400/DSC03691.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I turned off the lights in my office for the last time yesterday.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was bittersweet. I've spent many (emphasis on many) hours in this office over the last eight years. I am happy to move on to my new job with new challenges (on Monday. Who doesn't take time off between jobs?! Apparently I don't.), but sad to leave behind a core group of colleagues I will miss working with.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will also miss the stellar view from my office window of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Building"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Chrysler Building</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S7eK9QNYuxI/AAAAAAAADDw/kh0zHkTLcvM/s1600/DSC03693.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455982258510412562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S7eK9QNYuxI/AAAAAAAADDw/kh0zHkTLcvM/s400/DSC03693.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />But the funny thing is I'll only be down the street. That's right -- one of the biggest cities in the world and I managed to find myself a job one block away. Go figure!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Hopefully I'll be able to do a better job of finding work/life balance this time around. That's the one thing I've failed miserably at.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Besides, I have blogging to catch up with!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I hope you'll stick with me while I continue to sort out my new life over the next couple of weeks. I mean, it's yard sale season! That's peak season here at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shorehouse</span>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Happy spring everyone.</span>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-57856600494004492932010-03-17T17:30:00.001-04:002010-03-17T17:42:26.658-04:00Luck of the Irish<div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHu7xHmRI/AAAAAAAADDo/j7atkCXzM70/s1600-h/Shamrock.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHu7xHmRI/AAAAAAAADDo/j7atkCXzM70/s400/Shamrock.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449715895738276114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(Memorial benches on the boardwalk. <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-fever.html">I wrote about them here</a> last April.)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know I've been a bad blog girl. I don't post. I don't visit. I don't even call you on the phone or bake you brownies. I'm not going to attempt to make excuses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, yes I am.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You see, the luck of the Irish has smiled upon me. I got a new job! My one and only New Year's Resolution was to find a new job this year (well, that and lose my bubble butt). The job search turned into a bit of a full-time job in itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I found out about new job while I was in Colorado and will be at old job until I start new job on April 5. And in the midst of everything I took on a freelance job last month. So there is a whole lot of job in my life right now. But the good news is, everything's starting to come up roses. Roses and pansies. Because after all the snow (finally) melted last week, the pansies I planted in September started blooming! With new buds and all. I took these pictures on Sunday after the big storm:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHuQNm8wI/AAAAAAAADDg/KWMNWNgh2kM/s1600-h/DSC03643.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHuQNm8wI/AAAAAAAADDg/KWMNWNgh2kM/s400/DSC03643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449715884046611202" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHt0CDD2I/AAAAAAAADDY/KZmEuSw6VPA/s1600-h/DSC03646.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHt0CDD2I/AAAAAAAADDY/KZmEuSw6VPA/s400/DSC03646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449715876481929058" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHtOoueWI/AAAAAAAADDQ/JqUil10fEuw/s1600-h/DSC03644.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S6FHtOoueWI/AAAAAAAADDQ/JqUil10fEuw/s400/DSC03644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449715866443610466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's like they were cryogenically preserved under all that snow or something.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I hope everything is rosy in your neck of the world. Today in NYC the sun is shining and the mercury is climbing. Life is good.</span>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-90999414654769458722010-03-13T16:53:00.009-05:002010-03-13T17:32:51.616-05:00Sad day in Ocean Grove.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was hoping to come back and talk about our trip to Colorado, and about some really great things that happened this past week, but that seems pretty insignificant right now. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">About three blocks from the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shorehouse</span>, chaos erupted in the darkness early this morning.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJwklzkYI/AAAAAAAADCw/2a2WFEXdmXY/s1600-h/39d3a406-b186-4408-9860-67d24ba2125e_Large.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448240379272073602" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 352px; height: 234px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJwklzkYI/AAAAAAAADCw/2a2WFEXdmXY/s400/39d3a406-b186-4408-9860-67d24ba2125e_Large.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJwZEuRoI/AAAAAAAADCo/zlQAQ-I64cw/s1600-h/8077e0f3-1cd5-499b-8df5-5b5e781d1aea_Large.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448240376180524674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 352px; height: 234px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJwZEuRoI/AAAAAAAADCo/zlQAQ-I64cw/s400/8077e0f3-1cd5-499b-8df5-5b5e781d1aea_Large.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJseWQr6I/AAAAAAAADCg/6YhIwZg32Uw/s1600-h/713709b3-4a54-42c5-b2fa-5b6a6d1d69ec_Large.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448240308876783522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 352px; height: 234px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJseWQr6I/AAAAAAAADCg/6YhIwZg32Uw/s400/713709b3-4a54-42c5-b2fa-5b6a6d1d69ec_Large.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJsMzVllI/AAAAAAAADCY/n9o9GUo3CA4/s1600-h/bilde2.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448240304166901330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJsMzVllI/AAAAAAAADCY/n9o9GUo3CA4/s400/bilde2.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJryZwdVI/AAAAAAAADCQ/-zK9nPKSTPg/s1600-h/bilde3.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448240297080288594" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 267px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJryZwdVI/AAAAAAAADCQ/-zK9nPKSTPg/s400/bilde3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJrtwFzDI/AAAAAAAADCI/a86S3NgU5gQ/s1600-h/bilde4.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448240295831784498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wJrtwFzDI/AAAAAAAADCI/a86S3NgU5gQ/s400/bilde4.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Photos from the <em><a href="http://www.app.com/article/20100313/NEWS/100313025/1004/NEWS01&source=rss"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Asbury</span> Park Press</a></em>, </span><a href="http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=24d77fc627a5418a80823e397b67b62b&plckUserId=24d77fc627a5418a80823e397b67b62b"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and </span><a href="http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPublicPhotoGallery&plckGalleryID=57ff0e46-e72e-4cda-bd12-468d39c78ca0"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We're in the midst of a terrible storm and the 48 mile-per-hour winds caused embers to be swept for blocks, making battling the blaze extra challenging in a town of wood-framed Victorian homes. Miraculously, no one was killed. But some people's lives were changed forever, many losing everything.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clark, the amazing owner of <a href="http://www.themanchesterinn.com/">The Manchester Inn</a>, has lost his home and his business. His Inn was a favorite stop on the Ocean Grove House Tour. He would whip up the most amazing homemade soups (even a vegetarian one!) and his gratis lunch stop was always a favorite for those of us in the know. Anyone who's ever asked me about the Ocean Grove House Tour knows I say, "Make sure you stop at The Manchester Inn!" For the Holiday House Tour his special hot mulled cider was also on tap, along with recipe cards so you could recreate the magical potion at home. The Inn was solar powered, a project Clark took great pride in and would talk to anyone about with the excitement of a grade school boy who just hit a home run. A well curated photo display right inside the front entry helped tell the story.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The Manchester Inn was on a popular stretch of the local July 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> parade, and guests always spilled out of their rooms and onto the porches for one of the best viewing spots in the town. Here's a couple of pictures I took in 2008 (the Inn is behind the trees):</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wMZB7ABnI/AAAAAAAADDI/NaidX-aRP1M/s1600-h/DSC00764.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448243273363621490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wMZB7ABnI/AAAAAAAADDI/NaidX-aRP1M/s400/DSC00764.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wMYvU3zLI/AAAAAAAADDA/7LIIAlauDzg/s1600-h/DSC00757.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448243268371860658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5wMYvU3zLI/AAAAAAAADDA/7LIIAlauDzg/s400/DSC00757.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />When I saw what was left of The Manchester Inn and its neighboring Painted Ladies this morning -- a pile of charred embers -- my knees got weak and the tears flowed freely.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Please keep my neighbors in your thoughts this weekend.</span> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-57118725628521328262010-03-07T22:57:00.010-05:002010-03-08T00:32:35.057-05:00Things I've learned in Colorado<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8T9HmkZI/AAAAAAAADB4/SBxXA_glY3I/s1600-h/1+me+and+my+shadow.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114531663581586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8T9HmkZI/AAAAAAAADB4/SBxXA_glY3I/s400/1+me+and+my+shadow.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />So far, I've learned that waking up to a snowman outside of your window is a great way to start a day...<br /><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8TUEZ58I/AAAAAAAADBw/XlwK_ONeqoE/s1600-h/2+snowman.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114520644315074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8TUEZ58I/AAAAAAAADBw/XlwK_ONeqoE/s400/2+snowman.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />...that signs like these are just a suggestion to some people...<br /><br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8S1dMXtI/AAAAAAAADBo/cMTW0fTeYgI/s1600-h/3+closed.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114512426786514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8S1dMXtI/AAAAAAAADBo/cMTW0fTeYgI/s400/3+closed.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />...and that the view on a gray day is still better than the view from a desk any day.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8Sk7qGDI/AAAAAAAADBg/n2JAXl7ChBw/s1600-h/4+cloudy+day+at+copper.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114507991160882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8Sk7qGDI/AAAAAAAADBg/n2JAXl7ChBw/s400/4+cloudy+day+at+copper.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I learned when the sun shines on the mountains it is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">breathtakingly</span> beautiful, and in a town this high up in the sky you feel like you could hug the clouds and kiss the sun. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8JqGGwsI/AAAAAAAADBY/aYhXZR7LlHw/s1600-h/5+sunny+day.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114354758337218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8JqGGwsI/AAAAAAAADBY/aYhXZR7LlHw/s400/5+sunny+day.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I also learned that the thrift shops aren't open on weekends (that was a bit of a buzz kill, I admit)...</span><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8JOS5kKI/AAAAAAAADBQ/Zx4p1x7DB48/s1600-h/6+thrift+shop.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114347295805602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8JOS5kKI/AAAAAAAADBQ/Zx4p1x7DB48/s400/6+thrift+shop.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p>...and that waking up early on Sundays to have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nutella</span> and banana crepes should be compulsory. <p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></div></span><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8I8fwlZI/AAAAAAAADBI/iI7-UFa0nrc/s1600-h/7+breakfast+crepe.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114342517904786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8I8fwlZI/AAAAAAAADBI/iI7-UFa0nrc/s400/7+breakfast+crepe.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I learned that our friends' seventeen year-old son is pretty rad (or whatever it is the kids today call it) and I also learned that I think I am still seventeen, judging in part by the way I dress on a ski vacation.<p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8Hwk75RI/AAAAAAAADA4/4Q4STMz9XrQ/s1600-h/9+seventeen.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114322138522898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R8Hwk75RI/AAAAAAAADA4/4Q4STMz9XrQ/s400/9+seventeen.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Notice the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">trifecta</span> of ski vacations on the counter...peroxide, Band-Aids and sunscreen.)<p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I learned that Colorado is very dog friendly, and that people take their dogs everywhere (to work, to the ski slopes, to Happy Hour...). And that made me happy. </span></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R7891AkqI/AAAAAAAADAw/qMa-eXDaPd4/s1600-h/10+dog+1.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114136717038242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R7891AkqI/AAAAAAAADAw/qMa-eXDaPd4/s400/10+dog+1.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R78YIlI-I/AAAAAAAADAo/z9Kv4T4g5HY/s1600-h/11+dog+2.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114126598579170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R78YIlI-I/AAAAAAAADAo/z9Kv4T4g5HY/s400/11+dog+2.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114120392620562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R78BA9uhI/AAAAAAAADAg/yKOT4_vkwrk/s400/12+dog+3.JPG" border="0" /> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(That is a full-sized garbage pail. And a gigantic dog.)<p></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And I learned that the folks back home are still as amazing as ever. I got an email from </span><a href="http://beachhouseliving.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Beach House Living</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> saying that she was once again donating to my </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-for-haiti-2and-little-something.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Help for Haiti 2</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-for-haiti-2and-little-something.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">auction</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. And look at the fabulous earrings and hand-stamped ribbon from her </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/beachhouseliving"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Etsy</span> store</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> that will go to the winning bidder:<p></span></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></div></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R779IW__I/AAAAAAAADAY/Vu_GacnzHjM/s1600-h/13+bhl+earrings.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114119349895154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R779IW__I/AAAAAAAADAY/Vu_GacnzHjM/s400/13+bhl+earrings.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R76-XWjCI/AAAAAAAADAQ/mYQbqRdZHQo/s1600-h/14+Stamped_fabric_ribbon_12-09_033.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114102501346338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R76-XWjCI/AAAAAAAADAQ/mYQbqRdZHQo/s400/14+Stamped_fabric_ribbon_12-09_033.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The current high bid for the <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-for-haiti-2and-little-something.html">entire package of items</a> is $100, and you have until 11:59 p.m./ET on March 10 to bid. You can choose to donate to the Haitian or Chilean relief organization of your choice (or split between charities). And think of all the gifts you can tuck away (or keep for yourself)! Plus <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">remember</span>: I'm matching the winning bid dollar-for-dollar and making a donation to the babies of <a href="http://www.hudsoncradle.org/">Hudson Cradle</a>. So <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-for-haiti-2and-little-something.html">click here to bid</a>...and thank you in advance for your generosity.<br /><br />There you have it. From 12,998 feet in the sky. Be back soon!</span></div></div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-11005580527181824232010-03-01T20:41:00.003-05:002010-03-01T21:06:01.150-05:00Snowing, I mean Sewing Challenge<a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.maverydesigns.com/">M. Avery Design Studios</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> in Hoboken decided to </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.meetup.com/fashionlab/calendar/12554961/">host a sewing challenge</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> that I just had to be a part of. And being that sewing is very much a challenge for me...how perfect!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Megan recently acquired a large lot of upholstery fabric samples. And by large lot I mean enough to cover New York's Central Park many, many times over. She invited members of her </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.meetup.com/fashionlab/calendar/12554961/">Meet Up group </a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">to come pick out one pound of fabric scraps. The $10 entry fee would be used to set-up a scholarship at the sewing studio for a young and deserving local lass. Great idea!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">For the project you must use </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">only</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> the pound of fabric you grabbed. I had an idea in mind so grabbed Damask fabric from the same style/design group:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtChHynwI/AAAAAAAADAI/ceOevOY-LI0/s1600-h/1+fabric.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtChHynwI/AAAAAAAADAI/ceOevOY-LI0/s400/1+fabric.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443845939602300674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtCXm2HhI/AAAAAAAADAA/hEyXV5I85ro/s1600-h/2+fabric+CU.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtCXm2HhI/AAAAAAAADAA/hEyXV5I85ro/s400/2+fabric+CU.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443845937048198674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I also grabbed these little Asian inspired panels because they fit into my one pound pile. I'll make a separate project out of those...I'm thinking lavender sachets since the pieces are smaller.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtCPASO7I/AAAAAAAAC_4/K0ARj3aGoQU/s1600-h/3+asian+print.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtCPASO7I/AAAAAAAAC_4/K0ARj3aGoQU/s400/3+asian+print.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443845934738979762" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The other, and somewhat unexpected, part of the challenge was this:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtBzrX5UI/AAAAAAAAC_w/mmq83qj1SDI/s1600-h/4+snow.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtBzrX5UI/AAAAAAAAC_w/mmq83qj1SDI/s400/4+snow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443845927403513154" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Waking up to </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">yet another</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> snow storm in the city and needing desperately to get to my Singer at the shorehouse to complete the sewing challenge in time for this Wednesday night.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cool heads and excellent shoveling skills prevailed. I spent a good deal of the weekend cutting and piecing together and sewing. Here's a sneak peek of what I'll be entering:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtBkDQ6OI/AAAAAAAAC_o/TGSl3o1A0U0/s1600-h/5+sneak+peek.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xtBkDQ6OI/AAAAAAAAC_o/TGSl3o1A0U0/s400/5+sneak+peek.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443845923208751330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The contest is Wednesday night so I'll show you my project in all of its (somewhat pathetic) glory after the competition has ended. Let's just say that I wish I didn't use Damask. Shredded, hairy mess.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I also want to thank all of your kind comments on my <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-for-haiti-2and-little-something.html">Help for Haiti 2 post</a>! Wow. WOW. There aren't enough ways for me to say, "thank you." Sadly <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/01/chile.earthquake/index.html?section=cnn_latest">Chile now could also use some help</a> so the winner can donate to Chili or Haiti, or split the donation between the two fund raising efforts.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://ruedelaclef.blogspot.com/">Rue de la Clef </a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">has also pitched in some homemade goodness to the prize package: </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xreN_ZuwI/AAAAAAAAC_g/CydLsFhb9TU/s1600-h/6+rue+brew.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xreN_ZuwI/AAAAAAAAC_g/CydLsFhb9TU/s400/6+rue+brew.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443844216479922946" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/help-for-haiti-2and-little-something.html">Head over to the original post</a> for more details, and thank you again for your generous bids and links.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> As an aside, the lovely lady behind Rue de la Clef is also embarking on a </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://mymonthbymartha.blogspot.com/">month-long project</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> to replicate Martha's calendar (yes; </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.marthastewart.com">that Martha</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">). Today's task was to feed the chickens and gather eggs. And it's only March 1 so this should be something.</span>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-56512646888495879082010-02-24T21:30:00.005-05:002010-03-08T00:44:28.410-05:00Help For Haiti 2...and a little something extra...<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The debauchery of Fat Tuesday ushered in the season of lent. Many who celebrate do so by giving up something...sugar, soda, dessert (and these days, maybe reality television, facebook or twitter). When I was younger I gave up meat for the whole of lent, not just on Ash Wednesday and Fridays like the rest of them. I went, if you'll pardon the pun, whole hog.<br /><br />It should be noted I was (and am) a vegetarian. But those nuns were never prouder of me, so why ruin a good thing?<br /><br />But now I'm older (and wiser, and less deceptive) and think life should be more about giving back than giving up. And if all of us did a little bit, we could make the world a better place, I tell you what. I am astounded by the generosity of the blog community, and it's part of what has drawn me in.<br /><br />So here goes: Haiti still needs a lot of help. As of this week, the UN estimates </span><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61L01P20100222"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the death toll in Haiti could reach 300,000</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and the number of people left homeless hovers somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 million. I really can't wrap my head around these numbers. All we can do is try to help, even a little.<br /><br />The Help for Haiti 2 auction at the shorehouse will offer the following prize package to the winning bidder:<br /><br />Another nifty tote bag made by my own hands. This one is slightly larger than the one in the last auction, and is reversible!<br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8WrGaXwI/AAAAAAAAC_A/d3c1Uz8Xd9o/s1600-h/DSC03548.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907291297210114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8WrGaXwI/AAAAAAAAC_A/d3c1Uz8Xd9o/s400/DSC03548.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8eVEXA0I/AAAAAAAAC_I/HZUud0dhLN0/s1600-h/DSC03549.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907422821974850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8eVEXA0I/AAAAAAAAC_I/HZUud0dhLN0/s400/DSC03549.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8fBT7vDI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/GndDF_yeADI/s1600-h/DSC03552.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907434698456114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8fBT7vDI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/GndDF_yeADI/s400/DSC03552.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8eXH6UqI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/lkistGbNjy4/s1600-h/DSC03550.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907423373742754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8eXH6UqI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/lkistGbNjy4/s400/DSC03550.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Then there's a sweet little clutch from </span><a href="http://www.maverydesigns.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">M. Avery Designs</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> where I learned to sew. It's made with a great textural upholstery fabric, and lined in shantung silk. It has a snap closure and I added a vintage pin to jazz it up even more: </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8WfcC6VI/AAAAAAAAC-4/Y5q7ln86AKM/s1600-h/DSC03543.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907288166721874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8WfcC6VI/AAAAAAAAC-4/Y5q7ln86AKM/s400/DSC03543.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How cool is this? </span><a href="http://www.annmadeart.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bracelets with a Conscience</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> is the brainchild of Point Pleasant, New Jersey's Ann Harmon. Talk about giving back! The story of her company and commitment to helping can be found online </span><a href="http://www.annmadeart.com/our_story.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.<br /><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8WIlyvEI/AAAAAAAAC-w/pkj7mQ7oLlQ/s1600-h/DSC03541.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907282033589314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8WIlyvEI/AAAAAAAAC-w/pkj7mQ7oLlQ/s400/DSC03541.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More prizes will be added so be sure to check back. <strong>The auction will remain open until March 10 at 11:59 p.m. EST. </strong>Simply leave a comment in this post with your bid amount. At auction's end the winning bidder just needs to make a donation to the Haitian relief charity of their choice in the amount of the winning bid. I will ship the prizes at my cost anywhere in the world. This is the perfect way to get some (really) early holiday shopping done -- keep one prize for yourself, and tuck away the others as gifts!<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Update, March 1:</span> The lovely <a href="http://ruedelaclef.blogspot.com/">Rue de la Clef </a>has added a tissue pouch and homemade pancake mix to the...well, mix! The winning bidder will also find these coming their way...</span><br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xreN_ZuwI/AAAAAAAAC_g/CydLsFhb9TU/s1600-h/6+rue+brew.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443844216479922946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4xreN_ZuwI/AAAAAAAAC_g/CydLsFhb9TU/s400/6+rue+brew.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><em><strong>Update, March 7:</strong> Look what </em><a href="http://beachhouseliving.blogspot.com/"><em>Beach House Living</em></a><em> has</em> <em>added. These gorgeous earrings with smokey colored stones...</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R779IW__I/AAAAAAAADAY/Vu_GacnzHjM/s1600-h/13+bhl+earrings.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114119349895154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R779IW__I/AAAAAAAADAY/Vu_GacnzHjM/s400/13+bhl+earrings.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>...and handstamped ribbon that's tres chic. Both are from her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/beachhouseliving">Etsy store</a>.</em><br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R76-XWjCI/AAAAAAAADAQ/mYQbqRdZHQo/s1600-h/14+Stamped_fabric_ribbon_12-09_033.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446114102501346338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S5R76-XWjCI/AAAAAAAADAQ/mYQbqRdZHQo/s400/14+Stamped_fabric_ribbon_12-09_033.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />And wait! There's more!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will match the winning bid dollar for dollar and donate my money to </span><a href="http://www.hudsoncradle.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hudson Cradle</span></a></strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, <strong>a group home in Jersey City, NJ, providing full, nurturing care to homeless infants with complex health, development, social and safety needs. </strong>These folks are among the hardest working and most compassionate people I know, and we're in an economic time when charities need our financial help more than ever. </span><a href="http://www.hudsoncradle.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hudson Cradle</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> is hosting a Taste of Hudson fundraiser on the Jersey City waterfront on April 29 -- I'm in charge of the auction at that event so if you have ideas for prizes, or want to learn more about the event or organization, please give me a shout!<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And more...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Everyone who links to this post will be entered in a random drawing to win something made by little old me. Everyone who places a bid will also be entered.</strong> Little old me has been a little stretched lately (as evidenced by lack of blog time. Eek!), so hasn't exactly made anything yet but will this weekend. I'm thinking I'll make a pillow using that </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-without-snow.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ikatish fabric I recently blogged about</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (thank you for the </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-without-snow.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">kind comments</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> on my "evolving" sewing skills!) and one of the 12 x 16 pillow forms I picked up at </span><a href="http://www.joanns.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jo-Ann's</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. So it will kind of look like this... </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8V0Ili5I/AAAAAAAAC-o/DrLCYc_BMek/s1600-h/DSC03540.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907276542380946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S4H8V0Ili5I/AAAAAAAAC-o/DrLCYc_BMek/s400/DSC03540.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...just better. Because it will actually be sewn and all. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm also going to automatically enter everyone who so kindly bid on my last auction: </span><a href="http://ruespeanutbutterandjellylife.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rue</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, </span><a href="http://www.modernemama.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Modernemama</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, </span><a href="http://blondiesjournals.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Blondie’s Journal</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, Desiree at </span><a href="http://www.lookiloos.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lookiloos</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, Jane at </span><a href="http://www.atticmag.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Atticmag</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, </span><a href="http://fairfieldhousenj.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fairfield House</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (who has a fun </span><a href="http://fairfieldhousenj.com/2010/02/24/youve-got-mail/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">postcard project</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> going on -- go check it out!), Maureen at </span><a href="http://maureen0608.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mom Times Two</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/03189482076349354734"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Northlandmom</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Thank you, ladies. I think together we can all help make this world of ours just a wee bit better.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now...start yer biddin'!</span>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9105607278252204740.post-69117173071054216972010-02-16T18:49:00.008-05:002010-02-16T19:36:36.224-05:00Happy Mardi Gras!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S3svXWnZW5I/AAAAAAAAC-Y/IPDFO-_cm5Y/s1600-h/DSC03546.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438993053234322322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S3svXWnZW5I/AAAAAAAAC-Y/IPDFO-_cm5Y/s400/DSC03546.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How happy was I when my friend showed up at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shorehouse</span> on Sunday with this little something he whipped up for moi? It's good to have great friends. And it's better to have great friends <a href="http://bloom-boxx.com/">who are florists</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Whew, it's been a whirlwind of activity at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">shorehouse</span>. We finally decided on the contractor to work on our attic redo (gulp) and I had no idea how time consuming that whole process would be! Things like plumbing parts are about as exciting to me as walking a half mile in the snow every day to the train (yup; still snowing here). He'll help with the little <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-year-big-projects.html">half bath</a>, too, which I'm sorry to say hasn't gotten much further than the <a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-and-done-bathroom-vanity-found.html">vanity</a>. I feel like my home life is moving in slow motion. And my work life...is interesting.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I dig manage to finish another dress. This is more of a pseudo-dress-tunic-cover-up-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">thingie</span>, but it's cute, and unlike the </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-old-bookcase-and-playing-dress-up.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">other dress</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I didn't have to seam rip myself out of it. But truth told, I think I'll stick with </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-without-snow.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">pillows</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and crafty bits. I think building a house from the ground-up would be easier for me than reading a Vogue pattern that is suspiciously marked something like, "Super easy, moron-proof pattern inside!" Lies. The only thing I've gotten good at is sleeve patterns.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S3svOONcd0I/AAAAAAAAC-Q/iHaD3Tqh5fY/s1600-h/DSC03537.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438992896359167810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S3svOONcd0I/AAAAAAAAC-Q/iHaD3Tqh5fY/s400/DSC03537.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S3svNxyzWsI/AAAAAAAAC-I/iJ3AU4rNRJs/s1600-h/DSC03535.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438992888731228866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1GMLHeBrVyk/S3svNxyzWsI/AAAAAAAAC-I/iJ3AU4rNRJs/s400/DSC03535.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Speaking of sleeves, I've got something up mine. I'll be hosting a giveaway, a fundraiser for <a href="http://www.hudsoncradle.org/">Hudson Cradle</a> (the NJ charity I'm involved with) and a </span><a href="http://shorechic.blogspot.com/2010/01/haiti-auction-at-shorehouse-ends.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Help for Haiti 2</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> auction all together in my next post. So stay tuned!</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now I have to get back to something of personal importance. Which would be polishing off the delicious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mardi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Gras</span> snacks my <a href="http://tinselandrot.blogspot.com/">awesome brother</a> had sent to us from the </span><a href="http://www.nola.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Big Easy</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. And for the record for all you aficionados, the trendy </span><a href="http://www.shopsucre.com/seasonal-featured/sucre-king-cake.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sucré</span> </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">on Magazine Street in NOLA is now officially home to the king of all King Cakes in my humble sugar-loving opinion. <p></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Laissez</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">les</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bon</span> temps <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">roulez</span>! Which I think is Creole for "My butt is getting incredibly big from all the crap I'm eating. But who cares! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">WHOO</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">HOO</span>!" That's right; I put the Fat in Fat Tuesday, y'all.</span><br /><div></div></div>Laura @ the shorehouse.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15442672928319257413noreply@blogger.com12