Strolling Main Street USA

Jim and I are fans of small towns and small businesses. We decided that strolling Main Street in our chosen hometown would be a great way to spend some time on the Saturday before Christmas. We visited with old friends, made new ones, enjoyed shopping familiar shops and discovered some new ones.

It was so much fun that I think I'm going to wander not only Main Street Hermiston, but other little Main Streets as well in the coming year. I’ll have my camera in hand and promise to share what I find.

Hermiston Drug… Don’t ever visit Hermiston without a stopping at Hermiston Drug. The lunch specials at their lunch counter are famous. It’s an old fashioned full feature drug and gift emporium staffed by some of my favorite ladies! Baby gift? HD has it. Fenton Glass? HD has it. Band instruments? HD has them. I could go on and on.

Our Place Bakery… the new kids on the block. We lunched on homemade potato soup and soft yeasty bread at Our Place. It was so good that I think my eyes rolled back in my head. I know Jim's did. The atmosphere at Our Place couldn’t be more comfortable, homey and welcoming. And did I mention that the food was SOOOOO good? Next time I'm saving calories for dessert!

Hale’s… While we didn’t lunch at Hale’s on Saturday, we have done so many times in the past and will many times in the future. We love Ford and Dana and their staff and we love their food, too!

Kickin’ It Cowgirl Boutique… just made the move to Main from around the corner. More space, more great stuff, more cool cowhides on the floor. I found a jacket there that I really, really want!

Sherrell Chevrolet… How many Main Streets have a new car dealership? Ours does! A really good one. We give gold stars to Sherrell Chev. I think that I’d look really good wearing that black jacket from Kickin’ It while driving that Camaro. Jim is laughing at me.

Branch & Wonders Bookstore… NOT what I was expecting! Two delightful ladies have purchased this former paperback book exchange and turned it into a fully stocked bookshop featuring previously owned titles. They’ve brought artisan jewelry, original paintings and other art works to the building and in the process have created a trendy and hip shop! Kudos ladies!

Andee’s Boutique, IJ Gems, Lucky Endz Gifts and Roemarks Men’s and Western Wear… This block rocks Hermiston retail. Rocks it, I tell ya’.

KC’s Art and Collectibles… It’s all about antiques and art here. Mary is usually doing important agriculture things at the ag research center so it was a happy surprise to find her minding the shop. She is one of the smartest women I know. I went away with a huge 1970s McCoy jardinière and a big smile. I always leave KC’s with a smile and usually with a treasure as well.

Women’s Fitness Studio… It’s nearly Christmas and thanks to WFS I’m more fit and less fat. This fitness studio is nonthreatening, up to date, owned and operated by a mother and daughter team who know their business and it shows.

Main Street USA is all about the folks. The folks who work hard, smile with sincerity and truly make up the backbone of our community and our country. It’s filled with more wonderful places and people. Get acquainted with them. Spend a little (or a lot) of money. Keep it alive.

Frugal

Frugal… The word is often spoken in a hushed and almost reverent tone. I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. When did “frugal” become so important? When did frugal become a life goal to be obtained? When did just living a normal life, within one’s means become “frugal”?

Here’s what I suspect. I suspect that living within one’s means began to head out the door when we began to make a big deal about every single thing. Now, don’t jump to conclusions here. I LOVE events and parties and making big deals about stuff. And I’m fond of stuff. Junky stuff. Good stuff. Lots of stuff. I’m just thinking some things through here and putting my thoughts into words. Typing them on my big fancy computer. Wondering if I should replace my cell phone. Wishing I had more pairs of jeans.

While pondering frugal I’m remembering Christmas as a child. I was born in 1953, so that was a while ago. My dad, a logger usually had a good Christmas tree spotted on the way to work. I honestly don’t remember if he would bring one home to us or we would go out to cut it. Wish I did…. Anyway, the tree didn’t go up very many days before Christmas. One, because we lived in a 10’ x 50’ trailer house. Two, because the tree stand was boards so no water for that little tree. All of our decorations fit in one wooden box. Opening the Christmas Decoration Box was Christmas embodied for little kid me. We removed the same treasured ornaments every year. Sometimes the tops went missing. Mom would make a replacement hanger with a bobby pin.

Christmas had a rhythm. It was bright and shiny and intimate. It didn’t last for weeks and weeks. It was holy.

The Christmas program at church was the social highlight of my season. It was all about the wonder of God becoming one of us, heaven celebrating His grand entrance to human kind. Attempting to grasp that He indeed arrived just as one of us. We all “spoke our piece” or tried to. Christmas hymns were sung. Herman Wilkinson and other men of the congregation handed out brown paper bags filled with nuts, an orange or tangerine, a candy cane, sometimes ribbon candy. I was never excited about the oranges. Every year Mom or Dad would have to remind me that in the years gone by citrus fruit had been hard to come by and the orange in a child’s stocking was a very special treat. I still didn’t get it. I always hoped for caramel.

So, back to frugal… I’m still pondering frugal. I’m working on the importance of living within one's means, keeping a rhythm to Christmas. Keeping it bright and shiny and intimate. Most importantly keeping it holy.

One Crazy Bunch & Never the Way It's Planned

These monsters existed nearly a year ago. They were supposed to look like Frankenstein heads. As you can see they became their own creatures. Proportions odd and off. Faces, well.... Bolts through the neck became arms. They gathered in their own little groups. Kind of like life. It's never the way we plan. But it is almost always interesting.

Enjoy October Y'all. And remember...  your creations may not turn out like you expect. My advice? Eat them anyway.

Just A Bit Ago

Just a bit ago there was a sonogram of a little girl holding onto her umbilical cord and growing strong.  Hold on Baby! Hold on!

Just last week she was a toddler waking up from her nap with sweet baby bed head.

Just the day before yesterday she was snuggling on my lap. Post nap. Nearly six years old. All legs and arms. Trying to get comfy. Succeeding as long as I held onto her foot so it didn't slip off of my knee. 

I am struck with the tenderness of the moments. Their fleeting seconds of complete peace. 

Today. Today she is still nearly six, and enthralled with big girl life. Soccer. Coffee at Starbucks with her mama. Going hunting with her daddy. Dance class. A performance at halftime with the ‘big high school girls’.

Again I am struck with the sweetness of the moments. Aware that I will look back with such affection and happiness. Today  my heart is sweetly broken yet completely happy.

Where will you grow next my first and beloved grandchild?

Flying With Friends

The news is out! Laura will be moving The Rusty Pelican from Richland to Benton City, Washington this fall! We are all so very excited.  REALLY excited!

Rusty will be repurposed and be joined by a sibling. Second Saturday Antique Market At The Rusty Pelican. Stay tuned for updates.

Lavender Festival 2010

This is how it started.

This is how it ended.

These are the pics of the in between.

It was a wonderful day in the lavender fields.  Jim & Sheri opened their lovely Hermiston farm to the public as a fundraiser for Agape House & the event was a complete success.

So many volunteers working REALLY hard, live music playing, happy folk strolling, local artists creating, wineries offering tastes, light breeze blowing, warm sun shining, bees buzzing, Jordawn bopping around keeping it all flowing and everyone happy.  I am honored to have vended my wares in this perfect environment! Who could ask for more?

My family is the true delight of my life. Here I am with grand #1 snuggled close. Grand #2 is hanging out behind us to the right, chilling, listening to music.

My new fave. Robin's Egg Blue, with a twist.

 

Jordawn, the Energizer Bunny.

Bloom

Another simply true thing courtesy of my sister, Bonnie.

Farmers Market Time

It's that time of year. Summer really wants to show up, but spring just won't let go yet. What HAS shown up in our little corner of Oregon is fresh local produce! This was my haul last Saturday from Hermiston's Own Saturday Market.

Don't you just love that so many of our little burgs are hosting their own farmers markets? Hermiston on Saturday morning. Umatilla on Thursday afternoon / evening. Pendleton Friday evening. Each market has it's own personality & I love visiting them all.

Get out there folks! Meet the farmers who labor so we can eat. Support them face to face. See you at the markets.

At My Sister's House

Common objects become beautiful.

Her artist's eye elevates them.




What's important remains what's important.




Calm words are spoken in the woods.

"There are no more bugs. You will be alright."

There was only one.

And I was.

Plant Talkies - The Flatware Formerly Known as Spoons, Knives & Forks

Thanks Hermiston for the great reception of our fun plant talkies! I'll be sure and bring them with me to the vendor faire at Paperie Arte in Pasco, March 12, 6-9 pm. I have passes. Let me know if you want one.

For those of you who can't make it to the big city and might be crying because you didn't get your message at How Bazaar, just give me a holler. I'll get one to you. $5. What a deal!

Have your own statement to make? We're happy to customize.

Getting Ready

It's gonna be fun! How BAZAAR at The
Hermiston Conference Center, Sunday, February 28th. I'm pulling out treasures. Re-imaging some. Repurposing some. Remembering the fun of finding them all the first time.

Save the date! It will be worth the wait.