The Tree Oddessy, Give Me A Cuppa, And Who's Winning

Oh What An Adventure

When we left the house on Sunday we had no idea we'd be gone so long or that we'd have so much trouble finding a new tree farm. Had we known, we would have gone just down the road to Hampton Falls where there are a few and where our old tree farm used to be (unfortunately they retired the tree farm, which is a bummer because it was great). 

All that said, we thought we'd take a drive and have a look around.

Look around we did.

We found the oldest town forest in America just up the road 15 minutes in  Newington. Who knew?

We passed the bay which was a beautiful shade of blue with sun sparkling all over it.

Met a couple new friends along the way, as big as a house.

Passed lots of farms (just not Christmas tree farms) and lots of cows. We caught two cows necking- one kissing the other's neck. I missed getting shot of that one, because I was laughing too hard.

We drove all over hells bells. Found roads we never even knew existed. Which also brought us upon some pretty vistas.

We even ended up on a dirt road or two.



Yup. We were in the sticks.

Alas, we made our way back to a tree farm literally 5 minutes from the house.  We'd been there before, but they didn't have much of a selection. Luckily they planted more which the sunflowers were standing guard over.

Some were too skinny, while some were too big and fat.

I sent Gar back up to the corner where I'd spied a spruce. Prickly yes, but still my favorite Christmas tree. I love their habit with space in between branches, it's shows my ornaments off nice.

We both agreed it was it.

She's a beauty.



Yeah, yeah. I know. She's a beauty that currently stands underneath my snowman collection, with only half her lights. The other two strands that I bought last year have called it quits already.

Fingers crossed, I'll be dressing her up tonight.

Tea Lovers Unite

Just in case I haven't said it before, I love my tea in the morning. Irish breakfast tea, nice and strong. Just milk. No sugar.

My latest illustration, which will be available at Bates Mercantle Co., is More Tea Please.

If you have a tea drinker on your list, this print would looks great framed.

She's a Winner

Jess from KazooVintage is the winner of our latest giveaway.  Jess will choose from either personalized notecards from Bates Mercantile Co.......

.......or an ad on Mercantile Muse through the end of the year.

Keep an eye out for our next giveaway, soon to come.

Tomorrow marks the next Gotta Have It, Gotta Blog It Link Up so be sure to swing by if you have a shop or blog and link up. If you don't have a shop or blog, be sure to shop by and take a look around.

Happy Tuesday everyone. Make it a great day.

Art Prints Are HERE and Gotta Have It Shop/Blog Link Up

Business Before Pleasure: Ready To Print and Roll

I am happy to say, that after much rolling around under my desk, moving computer, rearranging wires, reconnecting wires, setting up the new printer, ink and drivers, we are in business.  Our first art print rolled off the production line yesterday. It was printed on our new Epson R3000 with archival Epson Ultra Chrome K3 pigment inks with vivid magenta, on beautiful Aurora acid free art paper and it looked fabulous.  Can I get a whoop whoop? Perhaps a Hallelujiah? It's been a long-time a-comin'.

I'll be signing all of my original illustrations on the back, so you know that you've received something directly from the aritist.  I am now busy trying to update the listings in Bates Mercantile Co., our online etsy store, to reflect that we now carry prints, in addition to our printables. 

One thing about the whole set-up process. If we can put a man on the moon, why or why must we have this knarly mess of wires attached to computers?  Just wondering.

Onto the party.........did someone bring the salt for the margaritas?

Gotta Have It Shop and Blog Link Up Parties

I'm a pay it forward kind of gal (if you missed yesterday's Favorite Finds post, don't miss the shops I included this time around). I like supporting small business owners like myself. We need all the help we can get. So, in that vain, here are our Gotta Have It Shop and Blog Link Up Parties.  They're a place for fellow online shop owners and bloggers to promote their shops and blogs for FREE. So join in and link up!

It's pretty easy. Really. Here's all I ask:

*Consider following Mercantile Muse if you like our blog. On the righthand sidebar, there are several ways to follow.

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers)-- be sure to scroll down further for the Gotta Blog It link up.

*Please check out other participants that catch your eye. You never know what may come back to you for taking a moment to support fellow participants.

*Share a link to Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It if you can. The more traffic the link ups get, the more it benefits us all. Much appreciated if you blog, tweet, facebook about the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It.

*Leave a comment...(how's the party is working for you, how you found it, and did you get traffic from the last party).  

*If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button for this free promotion link up party from Mercantile Muse's button page and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

Time to party! Oh man, someone spilled their drink already..............

Now for the blogs......Gotta Have It Blog Link Up. Post 'em here!

Have a great Wednesday. The sun is shining here. Will do my best to get out and about with the hound at the end of the day. 

Be sure to stop back tomorrow, as I'll be announcing our next giveaway.

ttfn,