Showing posts with label rainbow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rainbow. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Take A Walk With Us: The Thing About The Rain


We All Need A Rainbow Now And Then

If it didn't rain, we'd never see a rainbow. It was a pretty much windy, rainy, raw miserable day yesterday.  Gman texted me at the end of the day and said 'double rainbow - do you see it?'. I of course jumped from my office chair and shot out the door. I did see it, but didn't have my camera in my hand. Bummer. By the time I did, the double rainbow had faded, but there was still one gorgeous one there lighting up the sky.

I stood in the side yard and took a few shots.






Then I turned in the opposite direction toward the southwest and saw the glow through Tom and Joan's pines.


I knew I had to see what the sky over the field looked like, but I had a hard time turning away from the rainbow.  I finally ran around the front of the house, but still had to look back at the rainbow.

{Honestly, I looked and looked.......


....all night long......


...but never found the pot of gold in our house.}



I did finally turn around to the field.

Do you think I could have ignored this?



Not.




A.


Chance.


That's the thing about the rain.



Once you get through it, things look so much better.


My Mistake & Another Rainbow

When I listed the Veterans in my life on Veterans Day, I forgot two.  My Uncle Whitey and my Uncle Bobby. I thought Uncle Whitey (my Mom's sister's husband) was, but wasn't sure. Uncle Bobby....I honestly had no idea. How sad is that? Not sure how I missed that info before, but I did.  My Mother's baby brother served in Korea according to my Dad. I thought he was too young (yes, Aunt Joan, you can tell him that I said 'too young' unless you don't want it to go to his head). Tip of the hat to the two I missed.

Speaking of Uncle Bobby and Aunt Joan, like many, they suffered great damage to their little cottage on the NJ shore thanks to Sandy. They've worked their butts off all their life and really cherish the time they get to spend at their cottage on the shore, so to know it now needs a gut job makes me sad for them.  The rainbow makes me think of what they've been through and my friends and their families who have suffered dearly because of the storm.  Many have lost just about everything, some have lost cars, some just lost power.  The good thing about a tragedy like Sandy is that it brings out the best in people. Sure, it can also bring out the worst in some, but I'd prefer to focus on the people who show their best side in hard times. While my aunt, uncle and cousin assessed the damage to the cottage (looked ok from outside, but the inside had 2.5 feet of water, sand and mud run through it) and began to start taking things outside, three men from Pennsylvania stopped by to offer help. They didn't know them. They just wanted to help. They wouldn't give them their names. They simply got busy helping them remove all the water damaged things from the cottage.  I know it meant a tremendous amount to my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin Suzanne, who said they were 'angels'.  These guys were the were the embodiment of a rainbow after the storm.  So are the attitudes and the fortitude of those who have lost so much.

Let's think good thoughts for all of the people dealing with so much in the aftermath of Sandy.  They can use 'em.

Ciao for now,




Thursday, May 10, 2012

A Simple Thought For The Day


Good Reminder

I came across this the other day and aboslutley LOVE it. Don't we all need to remember this now and then? Consider yourself reminded.



Day 4 of ElleMoss 21 Day Photo Challenge: Rainbow

Since there has been no sun, and it's finding it hard to get out from behind the clouds and rain, no rainbows here.

Luckily I captured this Rainbow of Yarn last month at the farmers market.



Holy moly! Did anyone else notice it was Thursday?  Big project underway in this house. Think good thoughts for the Gman's new venture which he's been working hard on and is almost ready to launch. More soon. Promise.

See you on the flip side,

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Favorite Finds: Look On The Bright Side


Antidote for a Gray, Misty Day

Kind of bleak here today. Gray, misty, a little rain mixed in. Last night we had some wicked thunder and lightning move through. A little odd after having a snow storm on Saturday that dropped about 12 inches on us, to have a Spring thunderstorm 2 days later.

So to combat the ugly weather blues, here's a selection of etsy favorites that are sure to brighten things up.

A fantastically happy pink ponytail holder from my etsy pal and fellow Dublin afficiando Miki Martinez in Madrid. Now, Miki has tons of awesome vintage finds, but she has now added these great scrunchies to her shop.

Handmade Elastic Japanese Fashion PonyTail Holder.n2

I will now be embarrased to wear my ugly ponytail holders. I'm not kidding, they're downright ugly compared to Miki's.

I don't know about you, but I spent a lot of time as a kid playing Barrel Full of Monkeys.  This necklace from Hearsay Designs is a hoot and half!

Barrel of Monkeys Chain Necklace - Red Blue or Yellow

How could you not feel bright and cheery wearing a barrelful of yellow monkeys?

I love all of Josh Freidman's photos. It might be because oneo f his favorite subjects is NYC. Then again, it could be that he's just a darn good photographer. The color and the subject in this one get equal billing for brightening my day.

Children Playing in Fountain - Fine Art Photograph Print - 8"X12" on metallic paper (Other sizes are available)

Well, I can't say I'd ever thought of putting the Virgin Mary in a cigar box, but I absolutley love this upcycled box from shrinefairy. I think it's a beautiful shrine.

Colorful Mary Cigar Box Shrine

I'll have to be happy dreaming about being able to pull this number, by Wonderhand, off. The colors, the herringbone-stitch-fish-scale design, the hand knitting- I love it all. Hhhhmmm......I think I could rock this look as a vest.

Multicolored Little Dress: Siren. Handmade, New Collection 2012

Oh, this bracelet by ACuteCute would make me happy every time I wore it.


Brown Leather Color Wax Rope Adjustable Charming Bracelet-With Rainbow

At $4, I might just have seriously consider that one! As my mother Marge would say, "How could I leave it here for that?". Right Mom?

What? The sun shines in your house? It certainly does with this lamp from FiligreeCreations!

Table lamp, accent lamp, night light Little Sunshine, Contemporary design interior accent by FiligreeCreations on Etsy

Flip the switch and POW, right in the kisser. Sunshine yellow happiness.

More colorful photography from my etsy & facebook friend Leona of LeesWhimsys.

Hydrangea 5 x 7 Photo Art Vivid Color Blues Yellows Creams Flowers Gardening

Just loving the texture and the colors Leona explored in this shot of a hydrangea. Stunning.

And one more pop of electric blue from VintageByShevva.

ROYAL BLUE 1980's Vintage BLAZER

That 80s blazer rocks!

I'm feeling brighter and cheerier already. How about you?

Hope your Wednesday is going well. I can't believe it is the middle of the week already.  I've been working on ad design and logo/branding design today....what's on your plate?

Ciao for now,





Friday, September 16, 2011

Super Fun Giveaway & Potatoes/Potahtoes


How Do You Say Hello GIVEAWAY 

OK, so I said I had an idea in mind for the chevron pattern I used for the free gift tag printable from Wednesday.  Here it is and it could be yours!



The happiest little way to say hello. 


Let me rephrase that, the happiest little way to say hello in eight different languages.

Each set has 8 note cards and 8 white envelopes, is printed by me and packaged nicely with a Bates Mercantile Co. belly band.



TO WIN TWO NOTE CARD SETS (one for you and one for you to giveaway as a gift if you so desire, or keep both of these note cards if that's the way you want to be):

Easy as 1-2-3. Make sure you complete all three to be entered. Earn an extra entry by completing step 4!

1. Follow this blog- Mercantile Muse.  You can do that via email, google, or rss feed and you'll find all those options right on this page.  Comment below this post, that you are now following and how. If you already follow, comment below and include how.

2. Like Bates Mercantile Co. on facebook and comment there that you liked us and that you're entering the giveaway. Also include in your comment here that you liked us on facebook. If you already 'like' us, just say so in your comment.

3. Visit the Bates Mercantile Co. shop on etsy and let us know what your favorite item is in your comment below.

To earn an extra entry, and make me really, really happy:

4. Refer a friend to Mercantile Muse who becomes a follower. In your comment below, please mention which new follower you referred.

The winner of this giveaway will be chosen at random from those who entered according to the steps above and will be announced next Friday.

I really love these note cards and know the winner will too. This is a brand new design and you saw it here first. It's not even listed in our shop yet!

Rachael Redeems Herself With a Spud



I've mentioned a couple of times this week that I enjoy the recipes in Rachael Ray's magazine EveryDay, but that sometimes I have to do some tweaking. Well, last night I made her 'pressed potatoes' for a Thursday Night special appetizer and all I can say is, we made another batch and called it dinner because they were so good.

 
It was easy as pie.

Small Red Potatoes or other thin skinned potato
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic
Scallions/Green Onions- chopped
Sour Cream
Preheat oven to 450F

Boil the red potatoes (use however many you're in the mood for). When fork tender, drain the pot and drizzle with some evoo over them, add sea salt and crushed black pepper and garlic.  Mix until all coated.  Grease a cookie sheet.  Put each potato on cookie sheet and press with the bottom of a glass to 'smoosh and semi-flatten'.  Pop in the oven for approx. 20 minutes and flip after 10.  Cook longer if you want them crispier.  Take out of oven and serve on dish topped with scallions and dollop of sour cream.

Have a closer look.



Hey, wipe that drool off your keyboard!

Oh my, my, my, my. Our new favorite way to have potatoes. Gar has even requested them again tonight and I'm more than happy to oblige. These pressed potatoes were that good. Well, that and Gar is Irish after all.

Birthday Shout Out

Happy Birthday to our niece Rachel, whose talents know no bounds......dancer, singer, curry chef, spoon-on-the-nose balancer extraordinaire (don't be alarmed, just an old Dignam Family tradition).



Hope you're letting Dublin know who the Queen of the Day is Rachie! Sorry Rache, I couldn't resist the photo.

Feel Good Friday

We love these girls (and the arrangement ain't bad either)!  Click the link if you get this via email and don't get the video.





Here's hoping you have a great day, and even more fantastic weekend.  Our big plans include: a campfire if wind dies down, pressed potatoes, wood splitting, basement clean up. I know, I know......thrills galore! How about you?

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Roasting Romas & A FREE Printable/Missoni Inspired


More Missoni Inspiration

Chevrons on my mind.....sounds like a song. They are on my mind, so I created another design with them.  This one is for you. And it's FREE. Cool, huh?



These gift tags are colorful, hip and a little bit retro. 



Any package would be honored to have them attached. At least, that's what I've heard. I think they'd be really cute on a package wrapped in white! But, that's just me. You do whatever you'd like. 

Talk about fun!




Here you go:

Click on picture above, save to computer or copy and paste. These gift tags are set up to be printed on an 8.5 x 11 paper. I also have an idea running around my head for note cards using one of these designs. Stay tuned for an update, as I'm hoping to have them in our store, Bates Mercantile Co., later today.


The Heavenly Smell of Romas Roasting

Finally, the Roma tomato post.....I'm a few days behind on this one. Sorry about that. If you have Roma tomatoes growing in your garden like we do, or can get your hands on some at farmers' market, you need to try this. You won't be sorry.  I had no idea I could roast and freeze my tomatoes until my friend Carey (aka Martha) told many years ago. I've been roasting them ever since, and there is nothing like being in the middle of the winter and being able to add garden tomatoes to a dish for some wonderful flavor.



Here's the scoop (and yes, I know I spelled caramelizing wrong above, but I'm too lazy to change it now):

* you need enough Romas to fill a cookie sheet- if they're big, you can cut in two
* I use a well seasoned cookie sheet- that is to say, one I've roasted a lot of veg on with olive oil. Or one you don't care about 'becoming' well seasoned.
*this is a slow cooking process, but one that doesn't need a ton of tending to
*Romas are the tomatoes of choice for this because they are a meaty tomato with not a lot of seeds. I do also throw some cherries in there too if i have them.

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. Cut Romas in half if they're on the larger side. Leave them whole if they're on the smaller side.  Grease the pan with extra virgin olive oil. I give it a good glug over the sheet and then spread with a paper towel. Sprinkle pan with sea salt and cracked black pepper. Place tomatoes on cookie sheet and sprinkle with more sea salt and pepper.  Pop in oven and let them do their thing. Check about once every hour and turn. It takes several hours on low heat for them to first, caramelize, and then start looking more like a sun dried tomato. There's no golden rule here, do them until they are done how you like them. I'd say at least until they caramelized and start to brown on the edges.  They do stick a bit due to oil and the natural sugar in the tomato, just use a spatula to flip. I have a little metal one that works great. I like to finish them facing up so that they get a little dryer.  That's it. The flavor is out of this world.


Not the best picture, but you get the idea.  If you can stop yourself from eating them all right then and there, let them cool and you can pop them in a freezer bag. Make sure all the air is out, seal and throw it in the freezer. Take out in middle of Winter, and remember why you do all that work in your garden or why you like farmers' market so much. If you have a home office like I do, you can do them any day. If not, the weekend is a great time to do this when you're hanging around the house.

So delicious. Trust me.

Sunset Meadows

Gorgeous day yesterday. 84F. We won't see that much longer, supposed to drop tonight. May have to cover my tomatoes because some are still ripening. 

I caught the sunset before I hopped into the pool last night. I've got to get in while I can. It was out of this world......74F and glorious.

Back to the sunset.  Beautiful streams of light.



A big, bright.................


.........ball of fire.


Hot, but very cool.

Thursday already. How'd that happen? Make it a great one in your little corner of the world.

Peace out.



Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Over The Rainbow For Color.

Ziggy the Wiener Dog Plush Dachshund

Color! Hot Dog!

Target introduced their new Missoni collection yesterday. The stores were jammed with people buying up the now affordable designerwares. Chevrons all over the place. I am all for Chevrons, in fact I love 'em, but the other thing that draws me to the Italian design house is the explosion of color.  So in the spirit of Missioni, here are some of my favorite colorful pieces I've found on etsy recently.


How about this little french man........just loving his daring red and chartreuse outfit. He's hipper than hip.

French Man -------- Ceramic Marionette.
copyright annalela


Groovalicious is the only word for these boots.  Dang, now where'd I leave my disco ball?

LADY STARDUST 70s Glam Magenta Leather Boots, 6
copyright luckyvintageseattle


A dapper daschund whose getting his Missoni groove on with both their classic combo of chevrons and color.


Ziggy the Wiener Dog Plush Dachshund
copyright blackbirdfashion


A colorful collar to make your little black dress pop.


Hand felted Necklace from wool of "Bordeaux"
copyright Marywool


Good things come in small packages. So do chevrons.


Chevron Love in turquoise, embroidered ring
copyright hybernate


Adorn yourself with some beautiful jewels. One size fits all. Isn't that the best thing about jewelry?


Necklace and Earrings Set, Beaded Necklace, Pendant Necklace, Beaded Jewelry
copyright dorosoucy


Lovin' Tova's work. Lemon tree, very pretty.............


Naive Scenery Painting, Folk Art. Lemons And Oranges - "The Orchard"
copyright tovazvik


Color is a cinch with this belt.


WILD RIVER, hand woven stretch belt THICK 6 color
copyright the royal


Charlie was The Man, before Missoni became hip. Maybe Missoni copied his style.


gaf Charlie Brown View Master gift pack Peanuts Snoopy with 7 Reels vintage
copyright sorrythankyou


Finally, two of my own digital illustrations. The first was included in a couple of Missoni inspired treasuries yesterday here and here.


Chevron Printable Wall Art Home Decor Missoni Inspired
copyright BatesMercantileCo.

And the second........Chevron V. Circles. I am not trying to breaking up this fight.

Printable Wall Art- Chevrons v. Circles
copyright BatesMercantileCo.

So, if you are looking for a little Missoni inspiration, Target doesn't have a corner on that market.  Our fellow etsy shop owners have plenty of color and chevrons to offer. There's LOTS of happy to be had. 


Please support these independent artists and vintage purveyors by visiting their shops. You won't believe what you can find. 

Have a wonderful midweek kind of day.  The sun is shining here, and I will be getting in the pool again later. It was heavenly last night. 

See you on the flip side.


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