It's a Wrap

Presents Open, Cake Eaten. Check.

We were off to sister Di's last night to celebrate my Mom's birthday.  It turned out to be a nice night so I was sure to take a walk around Di's gardens which are starting to pop.

The Rhodies are in full bloom.

Cayden, my great nephew, and Sophia, my great niece walked through the garden with me a little while. Then the slide called.

Then the fairies called.

And more flowers, like this iris. Amazingly beautiful.

Pretty green hosta.



Then back to the party. Sohpia giving Great Grammy her card that she made.



More merriment.

And of course, cake!

Don't forget the surpise guest...............Hampton's newly 'crowned' (a much deserved honor for our friend) Citizen of the Year Desi Lanio, proprietor of The 401 Tavern. 

All and all, a fun night celebrating life!

What hot for you today? I've got meeting prep, meeting, back to the desk to do work for several clients....you know, the usual juggling.  Hope you're got some more creative endeavors up your sleeve.

Ciao for now,

Bridal Fun

Ready For The Aisle

My niece Cait, my sister Gloria's daughter, is getting married in a few weeks. Yesterday was her bridal shower.  We gathered in the beautiful wine loft at The 401 Tavern and enjoyed their lovely sangria. Always fun before a wedding to meet some of the people you'll see on the big day.

Cait's the first one of our family's 'next generation' to get married. Exciting Cait, right? Her fiancee Jon proposed on the beach. Cait was beside herself. Couldn't have imagined anything better. Jon gets two thumbs up on that one. Another two on the ring.

We played some bridal trivia games which were a fun way to get to know the bride and groom better.  First up: how well do you know the bride?

Ashley, 'The Introducer', sister Glo, sister Di and

our friend Deb answering their trivia questions.

Next: How well does the bride know the groom?

Cait quicky realized this game was not going to be all tea and crumpets, and is is rightfully suspiscious.

bridesmaid Crystal and highly suspicious bride to be

My niece Nicole, Cait's sister and maid of honor played Pat Sajac, while her friend Crystal played Vana White. Nicole would ask the questions of Cait, while Cait was thinking of her answer, Crystal held up the answer over Cait's head for the audience to see. Once Cait answered, Nicole played a video of Jon on the ipad answering the question. If Cait's answer didn't match Jon's, she had to put something silly on. It got ugly quick.

(sorry the pictures aren't the best, but you'll get the jist of it)

First question.......wrong. Bride to be must don some really bad red white and blue guitar sunglasses.

Uh oh. Looks like Cait went downhill fast.  Biggo floppy hat, purple hair extensions, hello kitty scrubs, two really bad scarves, gingham hillybilly shirt.

All and all, a good time had by one and all.  Especially the bride to be.

I hope Cait liked her box of goodies and I wish I'd taken a picture. I found a great old vintage wooden advertising box and it was filled with goodies including planters, a garden greenman wall hanging, and votives from Lia Artisan Concrete Design. It really looked sweet.

Besides the bridal shower, our weekend was full. Friday night we were down to Mama Leone's 38th summer opening. Good food and fun. Saturday, we made a couple of small bets on the Preakness. I was one horse shy of winning a superfecta! I would have bought you all lunch. Promise I would have.  Did anyone see the race? Wow. 'I'll Have Another' stole it from Bodemeister, just like the Derby. This horse could really have a shot at winning the crown. He's something else. After the race, we had a campfire out back and neighborhoodlums Sandee and Gerry stopped over for awhile. They could smell the campfire. It was a beautiful night out. In fact, it was a beautiful weekend. 

I know it's Monday and I was supposed to pick some 'things I found at the link party' today, but the bridal show recap bumped that until tomorrow. Be sure to stop back to see if you were picked. If you have a shop or blog and haven't added a link yet, you can do that here.

Ciao for now,

Shop: Local....Fellow Granite Staters and Birthday Wrap-up

the state seal in the center

of the dome at RiRa

Shopping Among Neighbors and Friends

Hello out there.  It's Monday, the sun is shining and there's only 13 days left until Christmas.  Say what? Honestly, I really haven't even started. I like living on the edge. Wink wink.

I am all about handmade, vintage and local this year.  I think it just means more......with handmade comes the knowledge that your gift is unique and was made with love and care; with vintage comes the benefit of recycling and reusing something old, going green in the easiest way, and continuing the story of a piece and the life it's already lived; and shopping local will directly support your neighbors and friends (many of whom are shop owners and employees) and also boosts by the local economy.

Here's a shop:local selection from fellow Granite Staters.  If you have a blog yourself, I challenge you to promote holiday gifts from people near you.  

1. picture perfect snowy doorway by shadetree photography

2. burlap and lace pillow by sew determined

 

3. bicycle part bracelet via winterwoman designs

4. a rainbow of origami stars via susiesboxes

5. alphabet quilt by djwquilts

6. pretty lingerie and professional bra fittings via top drawer boutique

7. beaded bookmark via lmgdesigns

8. Grow Love archival art print by me- Pamela Bates- available at Bates Mercantile Co.

9. boat note cards via the shop up north

If you live in NH, Maine or Massachusetts and would like to be considered for the next Shop: Local feature this week, comment below.

If you have a blog of your own, I challenge you to do a feature this week on the great gifts available in your local area. If you're a 'shopper' (and who isn't), please consider taking care of at least a portion of your list at local businesses.

Fit For a King

Gar's birthday was a day packed with good stuff.

As I mentioned the other day, all he requested was a nice roast dinner so we started the day at McKinnon's meat shop. We picked up one serious pork crown rib roast (which could have fed an army as you'll see in a sec). 

Then we continued North to Portsmouth.

It was brisk, but the sky was sparkling blue. North Church was shining.

There is always lots to see in Portsmouth. South Church looked pretty too.

There were big giant wreaths on the door.

I had to stop taking pictures though, as Gar had one thing on his mind. Ri Ra.

 Ri Ra is a great Irish pub in Portsmouth (among other places) with good food, a decent pint (not easy to come by) and a super nice staff. Yesterday, Jane and Michael, both from Ireland waited on us and chatted when they had a sec.  Jane told us a great story about the coast guard party that was in the previous night. She said 'There were 7 Santies and a Pope. I don't know what was up with the Pope. Maybe he didn't get the Santie memo.'  Personally, I think it's nice that the Pope took time out to attend the Christmas party. By the way, that's not a spelling error on Santa....'Santie' is an Irish thing. Well, certainly a Dublin thing.

We got our usual table. Yay. It gives me such a great view of the dome and the whole place, which is in an old, beautiful bank.  The dome has the New Hampshire state seal in the center.

It's quite gorgeous.

A pint and the Irish paper. Garman was a happy clam.

I had my usual pot of tea, followed by a darn good bloody mary served to me by Michael (who in the end, won out over Jane and waited on our table). 

I'm not kidding. They have a good bloody mary, so does the 401 Tavern in Hampton just in case you're in the area looking for one.  Yesterday's had 3 big honkin' olives. Deliciously briny. 

We both went with the usual because it's just ridiculous.  The fish and chips.  It's like an entire fillet. 

There was no possible way either one of us could finish this.  I don't even think the picture truly captures this dish's massivity. (Like that? Just made up a new word.)

We both took more than half of our meals home. Can you say lunch?

When we got home, Gar's family was calling one after the other to wish him happy birthday. Then the neighborhoodlums stopped by to have a celebratory beer and watch a little of the Patriot's football game.

I prepped the roast. Gar had to help me tie this puppy up due to it's shear massivity (sorry, couldn't resist).  Yup. More leftovers. 

I will not make excuse for my husband's serving of mashed potatoes on his plate.

He is a Dubliner after all. 

In case you're wondering, neither one of us had a hope of finishing the meal on this plate either. It was truly a crown rib roast fit for a king. Well, at least the king for the day.

Moonset Meadows

It was a full moon kind of weekend. It was big and bright and this morning's moonset was no exception.

Just a quick reminder, if you have an online shop and haven't joined the current link party, there is still time. And stop back on Wednesday when our next one begins.

In the meantime, I'd like to know what you all did over the weekend. Did you spend the weekend getting ready for the holidays? Did you shop? Did you decorate? Did you put your tree up? Tell all.

Have one heck of a Monday in your corner of the world and thanks for being here. It means a lot.

A Happy Girl

What a Parade

I missed you all on the Muse yesterday. I was off to the Hampton Christmas Parade. I was looking forward to seeing Santa (well, more like seeing the faces on the kiddos when they saw Santa), but this year, Santa got upstaged by the Stanley Cup. Yes, THE Stanley Cup.

We met the family downtown and the parade started with the longest and loudest run of fire engines ever.

Our great nephew Cayden had his hands over his ears the whole time.

Then he was SO excited when he saw Frosty coming. That ended when we called Frosty over and all of a sudden he seemed to be looming too big and large and Cayd wanted nothing to do with him even if his Grammy (sister Glo) told him it was ok.

The kid ran for the hills.

Our great niece Sophia enjoyed most of the parade from the top of her Dad's shoulders. The perfect spot.

Uncle George went by with the American Legion Post 35 gang. He was like a rolling color guard. 

I'll be sure to include some more pics tomorrow......... there were great cars, bagpipe bands, highschool bands and the like. 

This however, is why I was A.W.O.L.

Just look at me balance the big 'ol Stanley Cup on one little finger!



Yup.

One Happy Girl.

Many many thanks to our friend Desi at the 401 Tavern for making it all happen.  Thanks for such a great present to start off the season Des!!! You rock and so did the Cup.

We're off with the saw to find the perfect Christmas Tree. Enjoy your Sunday. Do a little something to get in the spirit of things!