It's been a while...

Hello all!!
It's been so long since I've posted to my blog. I am not very good at it I guess. Life has a way of keeping me occupied!
I am getting ready for the holidays with all the other stores and boy, is it a lot of work... It's hard for me to get all this stuff out before Thanksgiving, but that's retail...
The store looks pretty good, but I won't be doing the finishing touches until after Thanksgiving. I've added a couple of pictures and will try to throw in some decorating tips that are inexpensive and festive. For instance, if you are looking to add holiday touches outside, fill your containers and pots that remain outdoors with cedar branches. I gather mine after we have windy days. Cedar lasts for ever if it is stuck in the pot with wet dirt. And fill'r up full..... don't skimp. You can attach a big ribbon with your color scheme to the pot and it will look fabulous.
I have a fire place , but we don't use it that much any more, so during Christmas I fill a big old tin bucket with water and just pack it with cedar . It fills the whole opening and it smells like Christmas.
I also invest some money in paper whites... Lowes has really good prices and the smell is heavenly. I try to get them in clay pots and I use and old saucer to catch the water and protect surfaces. I have a collection of vintage glass ornaments and I put some of the smaller ones right at the base of the plant so you just don't see dirt.. Use what you have and don't be afraid to go over the top... its fun!
I haven't been out shopping much this fall...I have spent a lot of time with my mother in law, who is hanging in there. We have had some problems at our home with a leaking roof . I will be redoing our guest bedroom because of this and before that happened, I started tearing my 1984 main bathroom apart. My God, I still have the original dusty rose Formica counter top.. the impressive golden oak cabinet, linoleum floor and the shiny bright globe light that was the rage in the 80's... Oh, I forgot the wallpaper, 2 layers , I forgot about the first layer. I have gouged the walls and don't quite no what to do with them. I should keep a picture diary and let you see the before and after. At the rate I'm going, I'm lookin at April..........
But first is Thanksgiving and we all need to be thankful for our loved ones, our health and our homes. Everything else is just stuff....
Come to Snohomish and check out all the great stores. The town is open until 8:00 the Friday after Thanksgiving and I will be having a 20% off most everything sale. Come and see us, the town looks like a postcard at Christmas.
If anyone has any fun tips on holiday decorating,
lets pass them along.
Have a great Thanksgiving and be good!
Annie