cold frame

I have always wanted to extend my gardening season. I miss the smell of dirt by March. Thank you Bob for making this little beauty for me! The plans came roughly from Elliot Colemans "4 Season Gardening" which is a wonderful book for those of us living in the arctic tundra, I mean Vermont. I just started mesclun greens yesterday although I dont think I was supposed to leave them out overnight in the 5 degree temps, we'll see...

photo update

table made from recycled barn boards, so much character. 
The reason I am raising my children in Vermont...
the most lovely champagne glasses ever, as my sister said "I actually gasped when I opened the box and saw them". And I am quite sure she did.
Why I love ornamental grasses SO MUCH. How lovely are these icy blades? Hmmmm.....
Beauty.

Snow!

It will surely be a white christmas this year! We have 12" on the ground and 18" expected for today and tomorrow. So....the shop is not open today (Sunday) officially, but we will be in and out doing snow maintenance. To make up for these snow days we will be open Monday & Tuesday. Christmas eve we will be open until 2. 

Enjoy this winter wonderland!-K.

Sunday mornings

So sweet. Time to linger, have that third cup of coffee. Don't even think about last nights mess. Enjoy the hard work that got you here...

November...already?!

Yup, its been a loooong time. We have done some major home renovation and I keep waiting for the slow time. I do remember vaguely experiencing a slow time. A sort of easy time filled with reading and baking, a time when I would wonder..."what shall I do today, maybe take a ride into Woodstock, check out some bookstores, have some coffee..." I haven't had those thoughts for a while. 

Anyway, I know I'm not the only one feeling this way. Seems like everyone I talk to missed summer, can't believe they are about to miss fall. Stocking up, tightening up, hunkering in, stacking up the wood and all sorts of winter necessities. People seem to be preparing for the big Who Knows What. 

Shopwise, we have ignored all suggestions to slow it down. Packed to the max as usual, with a visit from the UPS guy almost every day. The big sellers this fall have been pj's,  jewelry, blankets, candles, so many candles and sweetly-scented lotions, salts & body products. It seems our customers are surrounding themselves with the comfort of simple pleasures. We have added a wonderful new line of table linens, colorful and bright. 

We are *hoping* to expand our hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Core hours will continue to be Wed., Thurs., & Fri 11-5. Sunday 12-3. I will try to be there most Mondays & Wednesdays as well- at least from 11-2:30. Stop in for a visit and some tea!

Brooklyn

We just got back from a very inspirational trip to Brooklyn.We walked and ate and walked and ate  through all the neighborhoods until we could walk no further. The sweetest little shops all filled with personality inspired a Pear Tree make-over. Actually the FOOD was the most inspiring, we considered turning the shop into a small italian bistro...

But, no, it will remain the eclectic little shop that it is, with the addition of a little funk and some more houseplants. After a long winter lots of time for contemplation within, its so nice to connect to all of the creative energy that the city brings.

finally

My hands are dirty! I been starting seeds, and very happily watching them grow, AND... today I found my first patch of dirt in the garden and immediately planted spinach seeds in it. The soil can be "worked" which is the requirement on the seed packet. I don't know if it is too wet though. Might rot, but I just couldn't wait. Every day the snow in the yard recedes a little bit. The ornamental grasses I planted last year are showing the beginning signs of survival. So are my 'meadowbright' echinacea and  all the little ladys mantle divisions. The yard is soggy soggy, but it smells so good- now I remember why I live here and cant imagine what I did all winter.