Old Towne Orange

I opened Country Roads almost 20 years ago in historic Old Towne Orange. There were many reasons why I chose Old Towne, one being that it had always been known for as an "antique destination". But the other reason was because it is an historic destination as well! Old Towne Orange was established in 1870, so there is not only character here, but a lot of history as well. My building is one of the "newer" buildings, built in 1919, compared to many of the homes and other buildings that were constructed in the late 1800's! When Elseware Vintage decided to expand to another available store three doors down they began the work of getting the new store ready to open. The last tenant was a dance studio and there was a wall of mirrors. When they began taking everything down the mirror, plaster and more and started working on the store, they found these amazing walls underneath everything! I can't even imagine how exciting that would be. I have this special love of old advertising, as I see it as art. My family room is filled with vintage advertising signs! This is a big buzz around Old Towne right now, and you can see why. It is like finding a piece of history after all of this time!! Apparently, at one point it use to be an alleyway where this building is now located. In reading through everything, this building was built in 1923 which would make me think this is when they started building more on West Chapman where my building is located. Some day, maybe when this dandy economy picks back up, I would love to get the ugly stucco off the building and expose the original brick! It would look so much better! There are several buildings in Old Towne that have the original old signs painted on them. Years ago the had a group that was raising money to restore all the old advertising signs that are still on many of hour buildings. They are works of art. Even though the businesses have changed a lot over the past few years down here, the charm and character (that could be a whole other blog post) remains the same!! I'm happy to be a part of such an awesome little place!!

How We "Choose" Our Days

Do you ever wonder how people "choose" their days. I think sometimes we plan them the day before, and other days we wake up and "choose" what we are going to do! Yesterday I "chose" to go to Disneyland. I thought about it the night before, and questioned myself if I should go or not. I had a lot of work to do for our sale this week-end, but spending the day with my Riley & Morgan was awesome! The weather was beautiful, and actually so warm I got a bit of a sunburn which felt good. At eight months, Morgan was having a great time. I was a bit bummed that Morgan fell asleep through "It's a Small World". That is my favorite ride with kids. I just stared at Riley, as she took in all the magical things a Small World is filled with. It was a great day for me, and a little tiring as well. But I will always have the memories of my "girls", they grow and change so fast! I wouldn't miss that for a minute. Then there are other people, that I guess, wake up and decide they will "choose" to go to Country Roads and do a little bit of shoplifting, to the tune of about $1600! Apparently this woman did a bit of "S & S" as in shopping and stealing at Country Roads. My Boy Bryce, once again, caught a shoplifter! This woman is GOOD! Guess she's been doing this since 1995 according to the Orange PD! Below are pictures of some of the stuff she stole. She stole this bracelet right in front of Bryce has she was looking in a case with him standing next to her!!
She even managed to steal a big metal propeller, although that is when Carol "heard" newspaper! I told you she was GOOD! Look at the size of some of that stuff!! I was touched though that she was into recycling and cared enough to bring her own newspaper to wrap her stolen stuff up in paper! Guess life really is about choice. In my case I chose to go Disneyland, and in the woman above case, she "choose" to go to jail!!

Baby Jesus Is Missing!!

"The statues of Mary and Joseph hover over the empty space where the baby Jesus once rested in the Nativity scene in Plaza Park inside the Orange traffic circle" E.W. Fields, OC Register
Old Towne Orange is this awesome little Old Towne area. I've been down here almost years now at Country Roads! And even though we've got Chapman University here we still get a lot of "Andy of Mayberry" stuff that happens. So, as I write this blog post, please know I don't mean to offend anyone, but how can you not see the humor in the disappearance of the cement Baby Jesus? Brande and I laugh because it seems Baby Jesus gets stolen every so often. I remember one year when a drunk driver drove right through the middle of the nativity seen and wiped it out. I think the time has come for someone to donate a GPS tracking system for Baby Jesus! I really don't think stealing baby Jesus is exactly good karma for anyone! If you've seen Baby Jesus, please let the Orange PD know! Below is the article that the OC Register wrote about the disappearance of Baby Jesus.

Old Towne: Jesus is missing
December 18th, 2009, 3:52 pm · 45 Comments · posted by EUGENE W. FIELDS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A statue of baby Jesus was stolen from the Nativity scene in Plaza Park.

Mayor Carolyn Cavecche, who for more than 10 years has been part of the community group that sets up and takes down the scene depicting Christ’s birth, noticed the baby was missing.

“I was driving through the Plaza and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a bare spot,” Cavecche said Friday. “We checked and, sure enough, there was a missing baby Jesus.”


The Nativity scene, in the park inside the traffic circle, consisted of a manger with statues of Mary and Joseph near the baby. Outside the manger are three wise men and two sheep. The mayor noticed Jesus was missing Wednesday afternoon.

The statue is approximately 30 inches long and 18 inches wide, weighing 10 pounds. It is valued at $400.

Sgt. Dan Adams said that wires securing baby Jesus were cut.

“You wonder what kind of person does this either as a prank or as a statement the week before Christmas,” the mayor said. “If this was just a prank, they can return it no-questions-asked to Orange Realty. We’d really like to get this one back.”

Realtor Dan Slater was one of the original volunteers to set up and take down the Nativity scene in 1999. Volunteers hope someone has a baby Jesus that can be used this year in the scene.

“It won’t be the same, but something is better than nothing,” Slater said.

Cavecche said all of the figures were special ordered from a company in Minnesota, and a replacement would not arrive in time this year.

This is the third time the statue of the infant Christ had to be replaced; it is the second time one was stolen.

“It was stolen in 2000,” the mayor said. “Our security system wasn’t as advanced and someone stole baby Jesus and we found him smashed in the downtown Plaza area.”

Three years ago, the entire Nativity scene was smashed by a drunken driver during a police pursuit. “The car hit it and just completely blew up the Nativity scene,” Cavecche said. “We were picking pieces up all over the streets and the Plaza. …

“We’ll have to try to make due this year,” Cavecche said. “If we don’t get this one back, we’ll have to try to order another piece.”

Last year, a menorah placed inside the traffic circle was stolen before the beginning of Hanukkah. The one there now was to be secured to a foundation to thwart thieves.

Slater said the fund for maintenance of the Nativity scene has $33 left in it. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can send a check payable to Orange Nativity to the Orange Realty office, at 1537 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, Ca. 92866.

Police are asking anyone with information about the theft to call Detective Simone Mueller at 714-744-7578.
An update to the "Baby Jesus is Missing" theft. Riley came to work with us today and Brande and Riley walked down to the crime scene to check it out. And to Riley's disappointment, Baby Jesus was still missing. Hopefully someone just "borrowed" him and will return him soon!!

"Holiday Memories"

Our BIG three day sale starts today at 10am! I know that many of "you know" that when Country Roads has a sale, we don't mess around, ever!! There are some really good sale prices going on today through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. This includes holiday merchandise as well. Here is the best part. We are not the only one's celebrating "Holiday Memories"! Many of the other stores in Old Towne Orange will be doing the same thing for the next three days. Also, there are ten merchants, including Country Roads, that are participants in the "Passport" giveaway! All you have to do is visit all of the ten participating stores, have your "Passport" stamped and the automatically enters you to win a gift certificate from one of the participating stores! The weather is beautiful, the sun is shining, and I hope I see many of my favorite Country Roads customers over the next few days. For more information visit, OrangeReview.com This site will give you information on Holiday Memories and a list of participating merchants!Make this your week-end to kick off the holiday season! Hope to see you soon!

Country Roads Early Days!

I've been trying to organize my pictures the past couple of months. I came across these photos of the store in the early days. We opened January 2nd, 1993. I think these photos were taken in the fall of '93. Above is Katie on the left, and her friend Jessica on the right.Here we have Bryce on the left, and Christopher on the right. We were having an open house on this day and had music, a photo booth where you dress up, and more. Here is another shot of Katie & Jessica posing. I don't have any pictures of Brande doing this, but I'm guessing she "chose" not to participate in the fun! Here's the boys out in the garden, posing with the photo booth girl. I don't think they were having as much fun as Katie & Jessica were!Tim built out the interior of the first building back in the winter of 1992. Here is a picture of an old house where some of the wood and stuff came from.This another picture of the house above that contributed to the "look" of Country Roads. I'm amazed when I look at these pictures of the "early days" and think of "now" and how much has changed with Country Roads, how's its grown, and grown. Honestly, I had NO idea back then that Country Roads would become the store it is today. I very humbled for that reality!

A Weeks Worth of Thoughts

I was just telling my friend, Malisa, that I love books, and really like to read but my brain has difficulty turning off. I'm always thinking, wondering of the "whys" in life as we travel this journey. Why does something so simple as a bunch sunflowers from Trader Joes that I bought this morning make me feel good each time I pass them in my house? I think back on this past week and wonder what I've learned.This little girl reminds me daily of what is important in life, she warms my heart in more ways than I could ever put into words. And just that "smile" makes my days brighter. The other day, I was rushing around the house, as usual, and started to unload the dishwasher. Riley walked up to me and looked into my eyes and said, "Gramma, can I help"? Four simple words that have now become a constant reminder to me to slow down because life passes by so quickly and I don't want to miss the little stuff.And this little girl reminds me daily how fast she is changing, growing and for me to remember I don't want to miss a those little changes. Morgan has just now started smiling, and I'm glad I can enjoy that tiny little smile with the little baby "talking" she now does. And before I know it, she too will be saying, "Gramma, can I help"? Then there are days I find my mind wandering, thinking about all the smaller stuff in life. As I water my garden, I look at my pumpkin vine and wonder will I get pumpkins this year, and if I do, there has to be two so I can carve "Riley" into one, and "Morgan" in the other one. If you gently crave something on pumpkins when they are small, they will grow with the carvings becoming larger. We did that last year on a pumpkin with "Riley" carved into it, and I wondered back then, when Justine found out she was pregnant,what Morgan would look like and how fun it would be to carve her name on a pumpkin. And in a blink of an eye, here I am thinking the same thoughts today with Morgan as a small baby and Riley now almost three years old! I often think about bees, yep you read that right! They are pretty smart bugs. A few months ago, these bees in the picture had started to form a beehive in my rosebush. I contacted these girls who rescue bees. She told me that the bees would probably move in a couple of days to a place where they had a hive a year ago once the queen bee went back to it. And you know what, they did exactly that! I was amazed. But it also made me think, if bees are so smart, why am I always trying to rescue them out of my pool? Wouldn't you think that the word would be out in the bee community, like "don't dip in a swimming pool for a drink", especially since bees appear to be so smart? And lastly what's really been in my thoughts this week is why people die before their time. Last Saturday, a customer, actually my friend Teresa, had come into the store with tears in her eyes to tell me something very sad. You see, there is a small florist and gift shop in Old Towne Orange called Juleps. It's owned by this awesome couple, Kyle & Linda Hodo. A little over a week ago, Kyle was on his motorcycle and had a seizure and died instantly in the accident. They are young, I'm guessing in their late 30's, don't know for sure. Here in Old Towne, we are all small, family owned businesses with the exception of a bank, Starbucks and a Radio Shack. Because we all work our businesses we don't get out to visit much with each other unless we have a meeting of some sort that we are holding in Old Towne. All I can say is Linda and Kyle are/were the most supportive & postive people in Old Towne. I just remember their willingness to always participate, their good energy and support of everything. And I will never, ever forget Kyle's smile. This is the magic of little areas like ours, Old Towne Orange. It is all about family! It reminds me today that this is how our country was founded, by "family businesses", not the big shopping malls. So, as I conclude my "Weeks Worth of Thoughts", I'll probably go sit out by the pool with my ipod, a cold Corona and my dog Sally. And yes, I will be out there with my pool net rescuing bees. Please know Kyle, you and your awesome smile will be missed!

Country Roads: "Always Your Favorite, Never The Same"

There are mornings when I'm walking by my front windows to "go to work", it never quite sinks in that Country Roads is "my" business. Taking credit for things I've accomplished isn't always easy for me, but nonetheless, I am very proud of Country Roads. In our 17th year of business, I have watched my customers kids have kids and they now bring in their grandbabies! Teresa(Haddix), where are the photos of YOUR grandkids? We have around 80 vendors here at Country Roads that "get it". They know about quality and pricing and DISPLAY! As I walked around taking over 200 pictures for this slideshow below, I realized what a great store "Roads" is. And if you live to far to come shopping after you see this, you can call us and with that little piece of plastic in your hand & any of the treasures you spot can be yours, just say "charge it"! Hope you enjoy the pictures, and for all of you that have supported Country Roads all these year, THANKS!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Vintage Medical Cabinets

I love old, vintage medical cabinets and ALL of these cabinets came from Country Roads! I think its fun to use them in my house for different things. The one above is in my bathroom, and has a collection of old medical instruments and also part of my razor/shaving collection. I paid the most for this one but with the glass shelves, the heater button still on it, I tell myself it was worth it.


This cabinet is in "the bathroom in the hall". When I had my other kids still living here it use to hold towels and supplies. Now I have it filled with vintage trophies. I still need to paint the brown section of the cabinet black. It was a repair the dealer made to this piece, and I so wish he would have chose another color.

This cabinet is Bryce's and is a rare one, almost like a stepback cupboard but metal. I've never, ever seen one like this. It holds some of his small collectibles. Originally, this cabinet was used in a dentist office. And by the way, since I get up at the crack of dawn and start working, Bryce was very kind to clean his stuff off the top of it to let me take a picture!

And lastly, this small vintage medical cabinet is baby Morgan's. It's waiting to be filled with her little things and she too will grow-up, just like my kids did, loving the vintage and antique stuff! Also, this is the very best way to recycle, you know what I mean? Stop by Country Roads, or visit my dealers blogs, you never know what you will find at our store!!

One of Those Days

Today we had some staffing issues,so Riley came to work with Katie and I, and Carol worked with as well. The day started off well, Riley helped me take some pictures.

We all had lunch, walked around the store, and all and all it was a pretty busy day. Riley helped me look at the inventory and we talked about things Gramma liked. One of the most special highlights of the day was when Riley found the volume button the CD player. Let's just say THAT got everyones attention, and Riley just laughted and laughed!

The last hour of the day, Carol got an old wagon and pulled Riley around as they helped customers and added stuff to the wagon for Riley to play with. But, all things must end and the day came to an end. So, after a very long day at work, I think it was time for us ALL to call it a day!! I can identify with poor Riley's little face! We were both tired!!

Thank You Mary Striley!!

I received this picture of Mary, and her son Jake a couple of weeks ago. And now, Mary and her little boy are dead from a murder/suicide. Her son Jake was shot in the head while sitting in a high chair, and Mary was shot in the head in a bedroom. Her boyfriend took full responsibility, and then killed himself. I watched the news the other morning and they mentioned something about a murder/suicide in Orange but there were no names mentioned. Then that night when I picked up the newspaper, and saw a photo of Mary, my heart dropped. How does this happen to someone that is so positive. I don't pretend to understand these things. It's taken me a couple of days to write this ,so please be patient with me as I struggle through this. I didn't think this would grab my heart the way it did, hurt the way it did, but I just couldn't let it go.

How do I know Mary? She was a customer at Country Roads until her MS made it difficult for her to shop. The first slide show I sent out to my E-Mail Express customers with lots of pictures of the store, she responded so positive with an email telling me how much she enjoyed the pictures because of her disability she wasn't able to come into the store as much as she use to and this made her feel a part of the store. Then our friendship kind of grew from there. She would make comments on my blog and would often email me. All positive, each and every word!! She would send me pictures of kittens and puppies. When she found out we had a cat in our gardens that had just had kittens, Mary emailed me to give information on a vet that was low cost and could help us. She loved animals and a few weeks back she asked if I would do a post on my blog about a low cost pet adoption that was coming up in Orange County. Because of Mary, this little dog found a home with one of my dealers and friend, Cindy Finch. Because of Mary, this little dog also found a home because of Mary. Bill, Cindy's husband, went back to the shelter a week later and rescued Gay Oscar!

I hope, with all my heart, Mary knew what a difference she made in people's lives. Her kind heart, the smile in the picture above, illustrates the Mary that I knew through emails and blog comments. You know, I do this blog for a couple of reasons. Of course, being in business I do posts to promote Country Roads. I also write this blog to encourage myself to "write" each day! But what I've found out with both owning the store and having a blog, this has given me so many opportunities to reach out to people when I can, to help when I can. I'm a big believer in "paying it forward" and the "giving back" thing. And Country Roads, and my blog have allowed be to do this.

It will be awhile before the ache goes away in my heart from what happened to such a beautiful person. I have the above picture posted on my bulletin board to remind me of the person Mary was; kind, caring and compassionate. I'm very grateful I had Mary be a part of my life, even if it was only a short time. Every email she sent me ended with this quote, "Just when the caterpillar thought her world was over. . .SHE became a butterfly"!! I now know that Mary has finally become the most beautiful, loving butterfly ever!

Riley Time!!

Riley hasn't been over too much the past few days. Potting training time, and she is doing well. I got to spend some time with her today, as did Leonard, her buddy. The photos below really don't need words when it comes to Riley!!













This was the truck my mom had given Bryce when he was Riley's age. My mom's dad use to drive a Texas oil truck for a living.

As you can tell, we're done with picture taking for the day! Sorry, I'm just one of "those" Gramma's, I can never, ever take enough!