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!

Dreams & New Years Resolutions

 
Katie gave me this picture for Christmas, which by the way looks much better framed than it looks here. And on a side note, I hate having my picture taken so I had NO idea where or when she took the photo. Then it came back. It was Riley's second birthday in August and we went to Disneyland. I can't remember the exact name of the place we were at, I think its "Mickey's Playhouse" over in California Adventure. I was sitting on the floor with Riley and we were looking up as all the cartoon characters we watched together on the Disney channel came out and performed. There were all these little kids sitting on the floor with the same look in their eyes. It's something I'll never forget. What never ceases to amaze me is the "dream" Walt Disney had so many years ago when few others dared to dream back then.

New Year's resolutions are like that in a way. We dream of things each year we would either like to do, like not to do, or change. And then life happens and our time gets away or we get sidelined and forget about our dreams until the next year. For the past five or six years now, I've wanted to write a book. I've had the title for a long time, "Geeks, Freaks, and Antiques. . . the Story of Country Roads". I've never thought I could write a book, but I do see everyday life, people, and experiences as stories just waiting to be told. And for those of us that spend time at Country Roads, there are stories of ALL kinds being made daily. So, I hope I can pursue my dream, my new years resolution and hope there are those of you out there with dreams as well that decide to follow them. All we can do is try. Here's to a 2009 filled with dreams that DO come true.

"Un"-Decorating Christmas

Since I was off today, I thought it was about time to say "good-bye" to Christmas. I've got to tell you, "un"-decorating is not nearly as fun as decorating for the holiday. I decided I would take the eight foot Christmas tree out of the house by myself this afternoon. That was probably a mistake, but this particular tree and I never bonded. I remember when I first got the tree. Katie came over and said "something spells like poop", except she used a different word. So ever since then I've been convinced my tree this year smelled! Of course when I decided to drag the big tree out the door, I forgot to empty the water bowl that was attached to the tree, nice mess. Next, having a "blonde" moment, I tried to drag the tree out the door by the top of it. You know, so the whole tree gets stuck in the front door, dandy! As you see above, the tree didn't make it much further than off the front porch, I was over it! There it sat with my holiday penguins looking down on it probably thinking as well, "that tree smells". Above on the left was only just the beginning of those holiday totes that I'm always so excited to see right after Thanksgiving. But for some reason that excitement is lacking right after New Years! So, with another Christmas behind us, a new year ahead of us, all my Christmas stuff I love so much (except the tree) will jingle their way back into their totes into the loft in the garage, and I will, however, have fond memories of this Christmas with the big, smelly Christmas tree!

Thank You!!

 
Today was our 3rd annual New Year's Day, "I'd Rather Shop Than Watch Football Sale". It's a six hour sale that we've done really well at the past couple of years. So well, in fact, those of us that work rarely have a chance to sit down, let alone have lunch. At Country Roads we are all related one way or another and most of us are young, with the exception of me, the old gramma ;0} Pictured above from left to right is Carol (in her sassy pink Christmas outfit), Yesi (Carol's sister), Pam, Hannah (who is Pam's youngest sister who did an outstanding job with little or no training today),and two of my own kids, Katie and Bryce! I took the picture so I didn't have to be in it, but forced everyone else to do it. Sorry, but sometimes it works out being the "boss lady". Working at Country Roads is "different" than a regular job and it doesn't really feel like work when you're surrounded by those you love. And "thank you" to our customers that continue to shop with us and share so many nice comments. Please know how much we all appreciated your kind words. Our customers are pretty awesome and thank you to all of you that brought in purses for the Orange YWCA's "My Sister Joanie's Purse Project". Your donations are appreciated! And lastly, "thank you" to ALL of my kids. You guys did a great job today, I love you all!

Oh, how could I forget. . .Cindy, Gay, and Stacey( three of our CR dealers) worked all day to help us out. It was great to have that "extra" help. We all appreciated it, thank you!!

Happy New Year!!

Wishing us all, a 2009 that is filled with peace, kindness and caring. This past year we've all probably seen or been through things that we never dreamed would happen. I believe in hope! So when I wake up tomorrow morning I will wake up with heart filled with hope for a great 2009 for us all! It's a brand new year, a brand to start of new beginnings. Happy New Year!

I Love Technology!

 

There she is, my little grandbaby waving "hi" at everyone. To me it is just amazing to watch someone that you know will be so very special to your family grow! It's these moments that even in the worst of days I'm reminded of what is important to me and I'm grateful.

Happy Birthday Dad

My dad would have been 88 years old today. It's amazing when I think of what he saw in his life time. He grew up during the Depression, joined the Army and went to Germany during WWII and came home on the Queen Mary. When he got out of the Army he married my mom. She was a Texas girl, born and raised in Temple, but he convinced her to move out here to be with his family. My dad went to work for SoCal Edison and worked there until his retirement. Then he started refinishing antique furniture that he use to sell at Vet's Antique Swap Meet when it first started. Guess that's where I got the antique bug from. He loved my kids. His grandkids meant the world to him. He loved cats, and my mom. My mom died four days after Riley was born. As I've always said, I think she just hung on long enough to know Riley was here healthly and safe. When my dad died, they said the cause of death for my dad was Alzheimer's complications, but I think it was from a broken heart and he passed away on Valentine's Day, five months after my mom died.

My dad made me crazy most of my life, especially as he got older and struggled with the dementia/Alzheimer stuff! It was just the nature of our relationship. He was "head strong" and I guess looking back, so was I. When I look at the picture above of me and my dad, it brings back the good memories. There is something safe and secure being held in your dad's arms when you are little. I remember when our roles changed and it was my turn to take care of him. He accepted it, and evenually I did too, although it was still was difficult. But most important, I think he trusted me and hopefully felt a little more safe in the confused mind he now lived in.

After my mom had died, and he would hold Riley in his arms, he would "always" tell me, "your mom would have loved this baby" and then get a big grin on his face. That was always a hard one for me, always a struggle to keep those tears from streaming down my cheeks as I told him, "yep, she would have loved Riley". Last Valentine's Day, which was a year to the day my dad died, Riley looked at a picture of my dad and said, "Papa", that's what my kids always called my dad. No one ever taught Riley to say this, no one ever said anything about the picture, it just came out of her mouth. This morning, on my dad's birthday, Riley woke up and looked at Katie and said, "Papa", which freaked the hell out of Katie. I guess this is kind of what life is about, you know. Those you love may not be here physically, but they are always with us in our hearts. I never thought I'd say this, but I do really miss my dad, especially arguing with him, that was our speciality! Happy Birthday Papa, we love you.

We're Just Days Away From. . .

It's Country Roads annual biggest and best sale ever, "I'd Rather Shop Than Watch Football Sale" is almost here. On New Years Day, January 1st, 2009 from 10am-4pm you can make some time for yourself and "shop" rather than sit in front of the tv and watch football!! This is the time of year that our dealers are ready to "clean house" so we have some awesome sales for you. For the best stuff, get here early so you have first pick! And thanks for joining us as we begin our 17th year of business. Our customers are the best, thanks!