Beginning To "Feel" Like Christmas!

Brande and Carol worked on the Christmas displays by the front door of  Country Roads yesterday. Brande and I use to have a tradition a few years back. Every Thanksgiving morning we would go into Country Roads and put up all the Christmas displays! It is so much easier to work on displays when you are closed! I know there are many of you that know what I mean. I don't have the patience to do Christmas displays when we are open for business, I confess! And since I'm confessing, I don't have patience to decorate my Christmas tree each year either! Bryce does it, and does a much better job than I use to do!! Anyway, for the past few years Bryce, Brande, and Carol have done the holiday displays. Here's a few pictures of what we have done so far.

We have two big front windows behind our counter. They are a real pain to display in because the ledge/platform that holds them is so narrow.  Brande and Carol did this window. I was going to take a picture last night of it because I know the photos come out much clearer, but it was raining really hard! I bought the vintage reindeer years ago. Take a close look at them. A couple of them look really evil! Bryce will be doing the last of our front windows today. We are aiming for an industrial Christmas! I hope you all have time to come on down and visit us this week. We will be closed on Thanksgiving! As you know, we ONLY close three days out of the year, and this is one of them!

Full Bloom Cottage

Loretta, who many of you know from Full Bloom Cottage, was in last week doing a mini makeover on her space across from the counter! And as always, it looks elegant and wonderful. She has a new line of scarfs in. If you are tired of the every day knit version to wrap around you on a chilly day, check out these scarfs. I think it adds a bit of "flair" to you outfit on a cold, chilly day! Below are a few more pictures of what Loretta has here at Country Roads!

We got really busy yesterday afternoon. The picture above is not the best, trust me on that one! But what is SO cool about this coral, is that it is actually a lamp! Why I didn't take a picture of the entire lamp escapes my imagination right now. But trust me, it is awesome! Looking for something to do today since apparently rain is on the way? Loose yourself in 12,000 square feet of great stuff here at Country Roads. Hope to see you soon!

Fall

There's a nip in the air, and it is actually chilly for here in sunny SoCal! I love this time of year. Above is an old martin birdhouse. The difference with martin birdhouses from others is that they have little compartments built in them so the birds can make their nests. This birdhouse of mine sits on my arbor close to my front door. If you look close, you can see the two little birds on the left checking it out. There were about five or six of them out there until I came outside with my camera! I love watching them out my front window while they busily prepare their nests. Below are some of the pumpkins I grew and the white one and little ones I bought. They are about done for the season, but I think I'll leave them there until after Thanksgiving! I'm still amazed I could actually grow pumpkins! The rest of the pictures are of my Fall gardens. Since our weather is mild here in southern CA we get to garden all year round!

This is my favorite rosebush! I love the way that the white roses not only look but the way they smell as well. See the streak in the sky in the background? Every time I see one streak, I say it's my Dad driving him and my Mom around in heaven! I was the one that had to take my Dad's car and driver's license away because of his Alzheimer's. And believe me, that was the worst thing I could have done to him, if felt horrible. He LOVED to drive. So, I find some comfort when I see these streaks in the the blue sky. And if there are two streaks? My Dad let my Mom drive on her own! Yep, lame but we all find peace in our hearts in different ways. I hope you all have a wonderful week-end and find some time to come see us at Country Roads! Take care.

Randomness

It's such a beautiful morning here in Long Beach. The sun is out, and that always makes me feel good. I'm not one for the cloudy, rainy overcast days. Give me the sun and beach any day of the week! Today I posted a few random photos I took at Country Roads. The variety and styles that we have in the store really adds to my business. There is something for everyone thanks to my wonderful Country Roads family!

Speaking of randomness, I remember probably one of the most random items we've EVER had at Country Roads! Years ago when our upstairs was open, we had a dealer who was an author. Nice girl, the wandering eye always made me wonder which way I should look at her though. She wrote books, I think they were cat or dog stories, seriously, and she was published. Her space was "different" but she was upstairs and was a really nice person. She had a boyfriend that would help her from time to time. He worked at Forest Lawn Cemetery. One day I had a price check in a space that was upstairs. As I ran upstairs to check on the price check, I noticed something in this girl's space. It was a half coffin. No, not a cool, vintage type coffin. It was a sample they used at Forest Lawn to sell grieving people coffins for their loved ones. You know, a floor sample! I was a bit stunned, not knowing what exactly to say. She was in the process of moving out anyway. I was really busy one day, and she came up to the counter briefly and said she was leaving and I could just have the rest of her stuff to sell. Mind you, this was stuff that was already more than 50% off! I went upstairs to see what was left, and there it was, the floor sample half coffin! I wondered what the hell I was supposed to do with that thing. I think someone finally took it for a party or something. I always wondered in my head "why" she thought a Country Roads customer would want to buy that! I always say, some day when I have time (that is hysterical) I would love to chip away at a book about my experiences at "the store"! I already have the title,  "Geeks, Freaks, and Antiques. . .The Real Country Roads Story"! God knows I have plenty of material after all these years. I hope you all have a chance to enjoy the sunshine today if it's sunny where you live!! Take care.

White Wednesday

It's a beautiful "White Wednesday" here in Southern CA. The sun is shining, the weather is perfect, and Fall leaves have covered many areas of my garden. I have to say, I think this time of year is one of my favorites! Today, I posted a variety of "whites". I'm always amazed by the different shades and textures of the vintage whites found here at Country Roads. Below are a few that caught my eye.

I hope you will take some time to go visit Kathleen's blog. Her own blog is beautiful plus she gives us all the opportunity to go visit her featured blog of the week. It is always interesting to see what others are doing. I hope you are all well and enjoying the seasons change before our eyes! Take care.

Tis The Season in "The Room"!

Yesterday, Debbie & Kate really brought the holidays to "the room" here at Country Roads! Seriously, you walk into this part of the store and you just stare in awe!! I'll show you what I mean.

These are just a few of the pictures that I posted today. Believe me, I had more. And what is even better is not only "the room" is decked out for the holidays, but a good part of the store is as well. I really hope you get a chance to stop by and enjoy all of our seasonal decor along with all the rest of the great stuff that we here at Country Roads are really loving!