Category Archives: Holiday Celebrations

On a Small Business Saturday | 2019

23 Saturday Nov 2019

Posted by in 80s, Art, Craft, Holiday Celebrations, Holiday Crafts, Memories

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First stop for my Small Business Saturday was Verona Coffee. On Main Street in Collinsville.  I just recently learned they have board games that their customers may play while there. Pretty cool, I think.

Verona Coffee Logo

Then I headed over to Will and Co to meet with the owner, Ardis. What an a-Mazing human being she is. We had some business to discuss. Keep watch for an upcoming label.

Will and Co_Logo with Wedding Dress

She needed to make a swing over to Office Depot to pick up a banner for Will and Co’s Black Friday Sale, (featuring Bridal Dresses, Formal/Party Dresses and Children’s Dresses priced to move. Btw… due to an error on the banner, you will be able to get a Wedding Dress for not just $79 but…, $75).

ALL Wedding Dresses for $75.


So I had time to swing by the St. Clair Antique Mall, on Salem Place in Fairview Heights, IL,  as I am on the search for a certain something as a Christmas gift for someone. While there, I overheard a man asking one of the people working if there was a Model Train store in the area. One person referenced about one in Belleville, but it had closed, and then said he may need to go over to St. Louis.

I recalled there was a place that dealt with cars, and maybe trains in Collinsville, IL. (If I missed you, I am sorry, I didn’t find your name via quick Google search.) However, I did locate and informed the man of K-10’s Model Trains in Maryville, IL, so I hope you got a new customer today. He and his wife were in the area for the day doing holiday shopping from Mt. Vernon, IL.

k-10s Model Trains

Later today after returning home I was sifting through the day’s mail. A new catalog caught my eye. Hammacher Schlemmer | Guaranteeing the Best, the Only, and the Unexpected for 171 years. I don’t know anything about them, but I figured I would definitely take a look. Or maybe I’ll just hear what you have to say.

Hammacher Schlemmer_Tag Line

I open to the first page to see kids on a large keyboard mat. Immediately the movie “Big” comes to mind, bringing a smile at the thought of the “Chopsticks” scene.

Then I see “The Hammacher Schlemmer Classic FAO Schwarts Train.” And I think to myself…., I bet that guy I came across earlier today would be taking a closer look at that.

FAO Schwarts Train

I also figure some of my video game friends would be drawn to a Classic Mini Arcade, including Pac Man

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and Galaga.

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And for my laser printing geek friends there is… “The Word’s Slimmest 3D Printing Pen.” And personally, I may further research on “The Thousand Points of Light,”  a rainbow of colors (or white) fiber optic tree. Because…, well…, has anyone seen my Mama’s place for the Holidays? Anyway, I will look some more later.

btw…

Those Formal / Party Dresses for Will and Co’s Black Friday sale?

All Adult Size Dresses: $29 – $49

All Children’s Dresses: $10

If you know anyone who could use a fancy dress for the holidays or events, you might want to pass this info along.

Will & Co. is located at the O’Fallon Plaza on the border of O’Fallon and Fairview Heights, on the corner next to where Dandy Inn use to be.

Hot Toddy with Rosemary in a Mason Jar

01 Monday Jan 2018

Posted by in Art, Craft, Food, Herbs, Holiday Celebrations, Memories, Personal Musings, Photos, Uncategorized, winter

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Last Night was New Year’s Eve.

I decided to make a Hot Toddy.

I grew up making it with Honey, Lemon Juice, Whiskey / Bourbon and Hot Water.

I didn’t grow up knowing what the best Bourbon is.

I’m sure it makes a difference.

While recently in Seattle having a very special Family Gathering, I was introduced to a yummy Hot Toddy.

That one included a Cinnamon Stick and Whole Cloves.

As I said, it was yummy, and it was crafted by my “Little Sister” Barbi‘s beau as I was also introduced to him for the first time.

It was also made with Tequila at my sister’s suggestion, but that is not of matter here.

It is New Year’s Eve and my son just went out in the single digit cold to meet some friends.

So I decide I’m going to make a Hot Toddy for myself.

I scraped some crystallized honey from the bottle. It isn’t that old, but where it resides on the kitchen counter can get pretty chilly when it is so cold outside.

You should feel the air when I open the kitchen cabinets along the outer wall when it’s cold outside.

But I digress.

Honey.

Water boiling.

Bourbon

I have a few cinnamon sticks but they are part of the decor in a very cool shaped bottle so I stoop to the powdered cinnamon I have in the cabinet.

I have also run out of Whole Cloves so Ground Cloves it is.

I do have some dried lemon zest, grated by my son during another culinary journey.

Note: I am not a foodie by any means. No. No culinary genius. I wish I was.

Because… Yum.

Add the hot water.

I’m missing the visual of the floating Cinnamon Stick.

Hmmmm. Rosemary.

Boots on. Scarf, over head, covering ears. Scissors. Flashlight.

Remember, it’s dark out.

Find the Rosemary and snip a sprig.

Snip another after quick consideration.

I didn’t want to have to bundle back up to get more.

Snip a couple sprigs of Thyme as I am walking back to get inside. (See one of my very first blogs, that happens to be about Thyme, here.)

Sprig of Rosemary in the jar.

I opted not to use the “thyme” this “time” in the Hot Toddy but instead use it for something else, though a few leaflets did drop into my drink.

The powdery spice and the semi congealed honey are settled at the bottom, slightly stirred by Rosemary sprig recently submerged which results in looking more like a specimen jar from a swamp or otherwise murky waters. hahaha

Hot Toddy w Rosemary on Cutting Board 01b

It tasted pretty darn good, though.

And then my son returns home, shivering and with painfully cold hands requiring a hot chocolate to warm both inside and out.

I just recently learned that what we call hot chocolate in the states is not truly hot chocolate.

I checked on Hot Toddy with Rosemary today.

I found this Yummy Recipe via Instructables.

Hot Toddy Recipe

It includes Ginger.

I’m out of Ginger.

Add to Shopping List:  Ginger Root.

Look further into Instructables. Looks promising.

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Memorial Day Weekend

27 Monday May 2013

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Memorial Day

Keeping close to heart, this Memorial Day Weekend, the gift of self-sacrifice so many others have given so that we may enjoy the freedoms we tend to take for granted. RIP

Posted by | Filed under Holiday Celebrations, Pictures

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First Snow

29 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by in Holiday Celebrations, Pictures, Seasons

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It wasn’t a lot of snow.

But it was enough.

Enough to be magic’s passage.

A warmth to light upon the heart.

A smile to rise upon a face.

And a sparkle to gleam from eyes in fresh child-like innocence and joy.

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What you do when you get up before 5AM on a Saturday so you can be down to the school by 6 to get your son on the bus for a wrestling tournament, of which, upon arrival to your son’s school, you are informed by the coach that the tournament just got cancelled…., due to the snow.

Snowball fights followed in the back yard. Rogue son was surprised and quite impressed when his Mama turned quickly to Warrior upon a pelting cheap shot to the face, his coat becoming much whiter than blue plaid in the end.

Arachnicide

19 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by in Craft, Holiday Celebrations, Holiday Crafts

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Missing.  I check again, searching through boxes and crates. It isn’t here.  My mind whirls searching for an answer and with a sudden realization panic and fear rise within as I rush out the door. “Oh god, please, no. Please, no.”  So well camouflaged during yesterday evening’s photo shoot for Spider Craft, it was left behind.

Heart racing, I return to its last known location.  Too late….

Repulsed by the sight, I turn away, my stomach woozy.  Limbs mangled and torn, its skull cracked and mere particles of brain matter remain.

RIP Cami Spider

Yes, there was a savage killer on the loose.  Could this be the Zombie Apocalypse?

RIP little Cami Spider.

Spider Craft

19 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by in Craft, Holiday Celebrations, Holiday Crafts, Pictures

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As a little girl, I was mesmerized by the craft of the spider.  From the eaves of the cottage, the spider would weave its masterful web directly across from my bedroom window of the attic.  I carry that fascination and admiration still today.  It should then be of no surprise that I enjoyed the Second Grade Halloween craft brought in by one of the room mother’s at school so many, many,………many years ago.

  • One peanut in the shell.
  • One long black pipe stem cleaner cut into 8 equal sections.
  • Punch holes in sides of peanut shell with a yarn needle where legs are to go.
  • Insert pipe cleaner sections into holes.
  • Dot a couple eyes with a black marker.
  • Bend pipe cleaners to shape legs.

Fast-forward numerous years. Stumble upon ‘bumpy’ pipe stem cleaners (aka bumpy chenille stems).  Second Grade crafted spider whirls to the forefront of my mind’s creative processing.  Evolution.

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