More Adventures of "Riley & Leonard"

Riley hasn't been over as much the past couple of weeks. Her daddy has been off work with a back problem, and I've been working a lot both at the store and at home. I've missed playing with Riley and Leonard has missed Riley even more. The minute Riley got here today, she ran into her little playroom, and Leonard also came running in too! Riley immediately got to work making lunch for her buddy, I believe she had a play hamburger on her menu today! Looks as if Riley was concerned that Leonard wasn't getting enough veggies as she offers him some of her play eggplant! With lunch finished, Leonard settles in for an afternoon nap, as Riley gently puts his Christmas bow back on him. Guess it doesn't matter the holiday has passed when it comes to those two. You know, there are days that I get on total overload with everything I"ve got going in my life. I HATE to be that busy, I really do. And then, just like magic, I watch Riley's big blue eyes sparkle as she plays with Leonard, and suddenly I don't have a care in the world! And life is once again good.

A Little "Vintage Bling"

I thought I'd share a little "vintage bling" from one of my favorite dealers, and friend, Stacey Stemile. I have to say she is one of our more creative talents here at Country Roads!
I would never have the patience to work with such tiny objects, and I love how all these little treasures are mixed together to create such awesome stuff. I like the use of vintage items, especially old bottles and individuals, such as Stacey, taking the time to put these together. Like most things these days, these bottles are now being reproduced and sold at cheaper prices. But I've gotta tell you, they aren't nearly as artistic as when individuals make them by hand! This is another shot of some of Stacey's work. I love the way this is displayed. I think there is something to be said about purchasing "art". It's not always about the cheapest price, but to me, I much rather have something made by hand with love and care than from a factory in China somewhere. You know.

A "Wolf Moon"

  I'm sure everyone has seen the big ass moon that has been out the past two nights. I heard someone call it a "wolf moon". It's pretty incredible. Those of us in retail always know that when it's a full moon, "those" customers all come shopping. And at Country Roads, there is something different about our Sunday customers as well. Not sure how to pinpoint it, but they are brutal! So, today with it being Sunday and a very FULL and bright moon out, I'm definately feeling the pain of the day. Although I'm very grateful, thankful, and blessed that we were very busy today, it was still a tough day. So, whenever I'm tired, or sad, or just need to feel good, I go see my little Riley, my granddaughter. So after work I went over to visit. And I was oh so lucky, one of the Christmas gifts that "Grandpa Gout" (my ex-husband) had given her was one of those things that the bottom looks like a wading pool filled with balls that get thrown down the tube in the middle! So, since I'm not really tall I could easily fit inside of it with Riley. I had a cold Corona to forget about the torture of the day, while I sat among all the balls that Riley either threw down the tube or bounced off me. And you know, the "numbers" we did at the store were great today, but sitting in the ball thing with Riley was what I'll remember the most about today because that is always, by far, the best moments of my days, spending time with Riley! Happy Wolf Moon!

A Little Elegance

The one thing I really love about Country Roads is the different "looks" you will find throughout our 15,000 sq feet(both inside and outside in the garden). The photo above is in Loretta Kilheffer's area, she has two spots in the store. I love how the exposed brick from the old building goes so well with her beautiful whites. The chandelier in this picture looks great with the contrast of the vintage shutters and picture frames, all perched above a white washed vintage dresser. Over in Loretta's second area of the store, that is in one of our front windows, I love the top shelf. I'm a sucker for architectural pieces and old globes (I have several vintage globes in Riley's playroom). Loretta's pillows are also pretty cool as well. The old, chippy white door with the mirror would look great in ANY room. In this photo, it sits next to an old farm table. These really awesome architectural corbels look even better with the tabletop chandelier in the back! You know, when I first opened Country Roads in January of 1993, we were primarily country and primitive antiques. Now, many years later Country Roads has many looks, something for everyone. And these looks are changing all the time, so its fun to shop. But what means the most to me is that the majority of my dealers really understand the importance of display, and they are GOOD at it!

Scarey Little Doll Eyes!

I was a little slow in paying attention to all these doll heads rolling their in my store! For a long time now, the dealer right across the counter has had two cases full of vintage dolls. They scare the crap out of me. I feel like they a starring at me as I work! Now with the popular thing being just the "heads", yikes, someone save me! As I walk through the store I feel them starring at me under glass! Some of the scary doll heads are under glass all dressed up with class, but no where to go, and yes they are a tad frightening too. This group of doll heads are really old, and "really" evil looking. They are so evil looking they are all locked up in a case like they might escape! Okay, if this little trio of girls don't prove my point, how much more wicked can you be than the one on the left? Just look into THOSE eyes! But hey, if you like to be creeped out, stop by Country Roads. I'll point you in the direction of all our scary friends. Believe me, I KNOW where each and every one of them are ALL hiding!!

Changing Out Our Displays

I have to admit, I was happy we were changing out our Christmas displays, as those have been around since early November! We wanted something new and fresh. We have an area by our front entrance we use for display. To the right there is a little porch area, with picket fence built around it, and an old rusty tin roof covering it. Above is a photo of a new display in this area. Just random items from the store that were put together. Also in this area we have a long row of attached, rusty old mailboxes we use to keep our trade publications and other advertising materials in mixed with various displays. As you come into our front door, we have a fountain made from old washtubs and buckets, where the water runs down an old rain gutter. The backdrop for this is old, rusty tin. Our customers enjoy sharing with this with us, "do you have a bathroom, that water really makes me have to go". You know, people really don't have to share quite so much! And that was a toned down version of what they sometimes say! Also, in this same area we have an old potting table made from barnwood that we have designated for seasonal displays. Sometimes we do just random displays, like this one. A mix of some architectural stuff with one of our favorite dealers, Christie Repasy's, paintings. It is reminding us(me) that Spring and warmer weather (thank God) is just around the corner. This is Mike Parson's old, funky, old medical chair sitting next to the potting table with the birdhouse seated on it. I love this chair, I lust after this chair, its shape, the rusty metal and chippy white paint. It's expensive, but believe me, if Mike ever drops the price it will be MINE!! I know how lucky I am to have my job, a store filled with great stuff and better yet, really good dealers. Going to work is like shopping and decorating every day, although it can be expensive!

I Love My Kids Old Photos

  I'm a sucker for photos, especially those of my kids and my little Riley. Today I was working in my office, put up a new bulletin board which is actually a big metal sheet they use for roofs. I like the "industrial" look these days. Anyway, right before I was getting ready to "decorate" it (isn't interesting how we all can find anything to decorate") I came across an old album that had a bunch of my kids wallet sized photos in it. There were pictures of them at all ages. There were school photos, Little League, studio photos, and more. So. . .I decided to dedicate the lower portion of the new bulletin board, nearest to my computer, to all those little photos, kind of a collage thing. All I have to do now is glance to my left, and there are ALL my kids at different ages with big smiles on their faces. Sounds kind of corny, but those little photos are priceless to me. Even though our kids grow up, they are still our babies, don't you think? Oh, and sorry about the flash thing in the middle of my collage. Not such a good photographer it seems!

Architectural Elements

I absolutely love architectural pieces. There is something so appealing about them, maybe the chippy paint, maybe because they've survived all these years and are now being used in a "different" way than they originally were intended to be used. I have many architectural pieces in my home, and Country Roads is loaded with them. Above is a picture of a grouping of old columns I have in my family room. Also, I love the round cement piece that sits on top of the lower column.

This grouping sits on top of an old apothecary cabinet in my family room. I use the vintage urns to hide my candles, and the green architectural pieces came from part of a facade inside Country Roads. Above is one of my favorites. Of course I got it at Country Roads from Gloria Hill, Shabbytown USA, who always finds the most awesome pieces! I use the pieces grouped together as a shelf to hold old, vintage baby shoes. It sits above an antique glass bulletin board case that is filled with photos, my dad's high school "letter", and other small things of my parents that are special to me. I have architectural stuff all throughout my house. This set of corbels sits on top of a vintage doctors medical cabinet in my office and is a backdrop to my old Orange Nehi soda bottles. At one time, my building, that Country Roads is housed in, was the home of an Orange Nehi bottling company. I love this old window! It hangs in my bedroom over a little glass top desk with a vintage iron sewing machine base. I guess the appeal for me when it comes to architectural elements is the history behind the pieces, the chippy paint, and the warmth they add to your home. Country Roads has a pretty good selection of this stuff, so stop on by when you are in the area and pick out a few pieces for your own homes!

I'm a Sissy

  I'll admit it, I'm a sissy when it comes to cold weather, I hate it. I was taking pictures at the store today and I was outside in the garden. It was beautiful out, and a white rose had bloomed which reminded me of warmer days. You know, I hate wearing layers of clothes, I hate wearing my Uggs to work, I hate having to wear a jacket all day and I hate having a chapped face even if it gives you that "rosey cheeks" look! An interesting part of all the above, is this happens while I'm working "inside" of Country Roads. My store is housed in an old 1919 building which I believe at one time was a warehouse type store front. We have no heat, or hot water. The past couple of weeks when I've opened the store the temperature has been 51 degrees inside. Come on, this is sunny, southern California! I know many people enjoy this weather, but I gotta tell you, I'd choose the heat, shorts and flip flops anyday over the cold! Our skies are clear and it is beautiful outside. I enjoy these things while I'm trying my car with the heat on full blast! I watch the news and there are times I watch in amazement how people live with snow and ice and all the misery that must go with it. I just don't get it, I don't know how they do it, and as I said above, I can't help it but I'm a sissy!

Make a Difference, Rescue a Dog or Cat

  This is my dog Sally, the wonder dog as I call her among other names. She really doesn't do anything she supposed to do, she never did and she never will I suppose. I rescued her about eight or nine years ago from the shelter. Sally probably had been abused and would cower if she got in trouble, yelled at, or disciplined. Needless to say, I felt bad for her so that is why she is such a "free spirit"! She hates the squirrels that taunt her and loves to sit by the pool with me in "her" lounge chair, as I sit in my chair with my headphones and ipod. I love my dog, even though she makes me crazy and has lots of personal "dog issues". I also have eight cats, yes, I hate to say that, but at one time or another, they were ALL in need of a home. Now when there is a cat or kitten that needs a home, I start asking around at Country Roads to find it a home. What really bothers me most is all the people that have lost their homes due to foreclosures and they have to move into an apartment and pets aren't allowed! Our shelters are now OVERFLOWING with great cats, kittens and dogs and puppies. So, please, when you are ready for your next pet, give the shelter a try, you will be glad you did, really! These pets somehow know that you saved them and will reward you with so much love over and over. And hey, so dogs like Sally aren't perfect, they still love you!