Things I Overheard At The Party

 

  

Blogland Is Full of Goodness

Thanks to everyone who linked up at the Gotta Blog It Hop last Thursday and to those of you who had a look around at the blogs that joined in. There are so many great blogs out there and it's so nice that some of these bloggers hang out here.

Just to prove my point, here are my picks from the party.

top left:  Linkouture. I've been reading Bev's blog for awhile now. Number one, she cracks me up on a regular basis.  Number two, she's quite a talented jewelry designer. Number three, she might be afraid to step out of her comfort zone, but she does it anyway. 

 

top right: Violet's Buds. I think I met Melanie and Scott on facebook, if I remember correctly. You'll find everything from recipes, giveaways, and guest posts from artists and crafters, and shop updates. 

 

bottom left: Mi+Ed.  I think Mirta and I connected through etsy where she has a wonderful paper goods store.  Mirta's blog has some great artists interviews that make me want to try my hand at other things. 

 

bottom right: The Magical Miss. The blog of very talented photographer Abra Alani.  So enjoyable seeing what she's capturing at the moment.

 

So off you go to explore........but first...........

 

Freeform Friday

 

My friend's son sent me this song this morning. It made me cry. It's a beautiful story, sad at times, and beautifully sung. Some Americans may not understand the healing qualities and importance of 'tea and toast' because we're a big coffee nation, but I think because my English Gram gave me tea starting when I was little (trust me, it was very watered down and sweet) I can really relate to this song. Tea is still my morning drink of choice, and tea and toast makes everything right with the world.  Click here if you're reading via email.  

 

 

 

What's hot for your weekend. Ours? Oh you so want to be us.  We get to rip our nasty old shower out because it's leaking and ruining our fairly new flooring. Sweet. Yes, I am dripping with sarcasm. However, I will not be sad to see the current shower go. It's my nemesis. It was built in when we bought our home, concrete floor, tile walls which we've redone. Problem is, you can clean and clean and clean and it looks as if you've done nothing. I don't expect this little demo and installation project to go smoothly, because nothing goes that way in construction. So if i does, I will be pleasantly surprised. I will say this, I plan on having my way with the sledgehammer later and letting go of some stress.  Other than that, I am planning on a Cosmo and some youtube dancing later. It is Friday after all.

 

Ciao for now,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering Bo

A Year Ago

 

A sad anniversary for me today. My godfather Bo passed away a year ago. I miss the heck out of him. I miss the way he answered the phone in his sweeter than sugar 'hellllllooo'. I miss sitting at the kitchen table talking to him. I miss the way he said things just for laughs like Pedogie, instead of Pierogie.  Garrett and I sing 'you say pierogie, and i say pedogie....let's call the whole thing off' everytime we cook pierogies now.  I miss his character and boy was he a character.  I miss watching him sit at the patio table with my husband, while they solve the world's problems over a couple of beers. Luckily, he pops up several times a day on my computer slide show, and I say, 'Hi Boski'. I know he's with me, but I'd give anything to hear him say Pammy again.

 

Here's my post from a year ago.........

 

My Godfather

I'm a sad girl. We're a sad family. We lost my godfather today. Robert Belenchia. Uncle Bob. Bo. Boski. He put up one helluva fight against pancreatic cancer.

They really broke the mold when they made this guy. Boy did my parents pick the right godfather (and godmother) for me.

Well, actually, first they picked the right guy for my godmother. When they met Bo, they gave him the thumbs up and the rest is history. Friends for life.

A few things about my godfather:

He could have been a professional singer, but my godmother nixed that. Family came before singing. But boy oh boy could my godfather sing. My father and him would sing anywhere and everywhere they got the chance. My father would set people up, 'hey, my friend Bo is up from NY and he'd like to sing a song. He fancies himself a singer'. Then Bo would get up and belt a tune like there was no tomorrow and he'd bring the house down, every time.

He could dance as well as he could sing.

He was a veteran, teamster, father, son, brother, uncle, friend.

He loved lobster.

Loved lobster bakes.

Enjoyed a beer (or two...trust me he didn't drink all of those himself) or a scotch.

Loved to laugh.

Was the life of the party.

Loved to just sit around the table and talk.

Enjoyed being a grandfather.



Liked to talk to Gar in his version of an Irish accent. Aye laddie. And they liked to solve the world's problems.

Was the best godfather a girl could ever have.



Here's to you Boski. I love you.

Freeform Friday

I wish I had a video of my godfather singing, but I don't. In his honor, here's a little Jimmy Rosselli. If you're reading by email, click here.

Are Your Costumes Ready? It's Time to Get Our Party On!

via dahlia house studio

Halloween/All Saints & All Souls/Dias De Muerte Style!

It's the time of year for ghosts and goblins, trick or treat, and remembering the saints and the mere mortals who have passed.

Did you wear your costume? I mean, it is a costume party after all. This weekend at the neighbr's barn party Gman and I dressed as The Old Man and the Sea (I know, so literary)- he was the old fisherman and I was The Sea.  Then Sunday night I went down to my sister's to hand out candy. I dressed as a pajama party.  It's one time of the year when we can just let our imaginations run wild. More on all the Halloween hoopla tomorrow.

More importantly, it's time to party at Mercantile Muse!  These little 'link parties' are my way of supporting somethings I really believe in. Small business people, the handmade movement, vintage goods and bloggers. It's a place for independent shop owners, business people and bloggers to link up their stuff, show off a little bit and get to know each other and you.  It's a virtual helluva good time. So by all means, join in the fun.

1. day of the dead invites via lucky lady paper
2. ‘waiting to be picked’ via Rosemary Jordans
3. victorian dress via Edgar and Annabel
4. sugar skull necklace via mrd74
5. gold skull swizzle sticks via GnomeSweetGnome
6. haunted house poster via wallpost
7. white chocolate pumpkin bread via Simply Divine Desserts
8. ‘evening celebration’ via dahlia house studio

Ready to Party?

Remember, even if you don't own an etsy shop or online business and you don't blog, you are still invited to this party. It's a fun place to window shop and see what you might have been missing until now.

******Please read these guidelines before linking up.******

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up the party, please follow too. There are several ways in the sidebar.

*Don't link and run. You're linking up because you want new people to discover your shop? You'd love to make a sale, yes? Well, please follow some of the links others have left behind. People have made sales because of these parties, and it's all about supporting each other.

*Link once for your shop, once for you blog to save space for others. 

*You'll also find Bates Mercantile Co. here: facebook, pinterest, twitter.  It's be great to connect with you as many ways as I can.

*I want these to be the best parties around, but I can't do it without your help. Will you help me by sharing a link to the party? Blog, tweet, facebook, share on any etsy teams your on? If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be wicked awesome.  Everyone is welcome here, so be sure to tell your friends.

*When you take part in the link up, you will go on the Mercantile Muse maillist. Corrsepondence will come from the address pbates at speakeasyinfo dot net.  I'll let you know when the next link up party is underway and about other happenings 'round these parts.

*BY ALL MEANS, let us get to know you better! Leave a comment that tells a little more about you, your shop or blog.  Need help to get started? 'Did you dress up for Halloween? What was your costume?'

One more thing before we rock on.  Would you like to see these Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link up parties every Thursday or do they work for you on an every other week basis? You input means a lot.

Let's party!

Thanks for being here.

Have a fantastic Thursday and I'll see you on the flip side,

Take A Walk With Me

I Know I Said Chowder Recipe.....but....

I have no officially got whatever the G-man has had for the last week and it sucks. So no recipe today.  I felt a twinge in my throat yesterday but nothing much. However, we stopped over to my parent's last night as my Aunt Joan and Uncle Bobby were swinging back through on their way home, and when I left- it hit me. 

Chills, body aches and general feeling of lousiness. Hopefully I didn't give it to anyone else.

Woke up this morning and feels like a Mack Truck hit me. So I'll be going back to beddie-by. Summer bugs...what's with that?

Before I do, enjoy this little walk around the yard with me.

Gotta say from far away, this flower garden just looks like one big mess.

However, it really looks more like this....

The hummingbirds and butterflies love the bee balm.

While I floated about the pool on Sunday, Garrett was still  packing things up.

Please ingnore the undies on the line. 

Some of my day lilies have popped. Love the ruffles on this one.

Pow! The colors are this one are gorgeous!

The Pamela Jean, which my Dad made us, was flying high.  The bluebirds like to light there and look down on me in the pool, but not on Sunday I'm afraid.

Queen Anne's Lace....so delicate and pretty.  I also noticed that it's kind of like nature's own fractal. Each little branch mimics the entire flower. Very cool.

I heard the butterfly say.....what will it be today, the bee balm or the milkweed. Decisions, decisions.

Lucan's decision wasn't nearly as tough.  Futon for lounging and a nap.

Have a great day! It's sunny and beautiful day. At least I have a nice view from my bed. 

Off I go!