Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to show you what I read the other day from an email.

The first proclamation by our first president George Washington

General George Washington and his soldiers were struggling and starving at Valley Forge during a harsh winter.....bleeding, shirtless and shoeless. One day he announced there would be a day of Thanks Giving and he told his troubled troops that on that day, there would be no work, nor fighting.....a day of quiet and gratitude.

A young boy wrote to his family on the morn that he didn't know what to be grateful for. There was nothing but hate and hardship in his world. He followed with a promise to pray and to spend his day giving his Thanks Giving to God.

That very evening, he finished his letter with the statement that it had been the best day of his life, and that he and his comrades were revitalized and at peace. He didn't see a physical change at Valley Forge but he somehow knew the fighting would be over soon.

It wasn't long after that Benjamin Franklin over in Paris (on assignment to rally the French to help us to be free of British rule) ....(sorry UK friends:))) heard tell of this curious day of Thanks Giving. When the French got wind of this, they immediately deduces that no one would have such a celebration if unless they were winning. So, wanting to be on the side of victory they sent soldiers and charged in to finish off the war. The Redcoats waved the white flag and we became America .......the Beautiful.

I hope you all have a wonderful day to be with your family and friends....and even if you can't be with them take time to reflect on your life and be grateful for what you do have. I am so lucky to have great friends that are willing to put up with our erratic schedule. It may be months, sometimes years before we get together but know that you are always in my thoughts and in my heart. I am truly blessed.

This year I have been so lucky to have gotten to know you all too. I have laughed and cried over the stories you share. You can't imagine how much it has meant to me...now if only I could get my husband to understand:))) but I'm still working on him. He knows you guys better then our own neighbors....boy that doesn't sound good!!! He does listen patiently as a rattle on and on.....kinda like Wilson from Cast Aways.....that's a line I'm stealing from my friend ZuZu from a Cottage in the Woods.... her husbands kind of the same way at times. I think you might all be able to relate to that one?

I want to thank you also lately for the sweet comments. I haven't been able to respond as I'd like but be sure that as soon as I get some time I'll be over dazzling you with my wit:)) haha! I wish!

I want to share a lovely Thanksgiving card that I received from one of my dearest friends Adrienne. You may remember me mentioning her HERE.

Thanksgiving Parisienne style!

It's from an original painting that she did. How did I get so lucky to have such sweet and talented friends? She sents me one for every holiday. Can't wait to see the Christmas one I get!!!!

Lucky girl!!! indeed

see you all soon I hope!

xo,

Carole

Adrienne's home # 3

I wanted to start where we first saw the back courtyard...in her studio. The vista from here was one of the best I've ever seen. What a beautiful way to start the day. I imagine I wouldn't get much work done if I was left here. I'd be watching the birds and looking at the progress of the garden as the season progressed. Not much work would be accomplished but I'm sure Adrienne is not like me. I'm easily distracted.....just ask my husband. ha-ha

I love the shape of this bench or settle I think they call it. Her boxwoods just lend themselves to the classic look of the garden. There's a nice balance of formal and informal in this garden that gives it it's charm. From here you can almost see the little ceramic mushrooms she has in the pot on the right. Laura and I both noticed all the ones she had in her garden though I forgot to take pics of more of them.

I think I need some mushrooms in my garden. Oh, with all this rain we're having I could probably grow my own real ones!

Old vintage tools hanging by the front porch....

hanging above this table with ......

Bunnies at every turn.

This one looks very alert.

He must have heard us coming.

Oh there's Laura taking a picture of our favorite metal bee skep- turned gardenhose holder. I think we'll have to find out where Adrienne bought that one.
Her gorgeous hand painted table.

I wish I had taken more pictures then I did. Laura's blog shows more then mine I believe so please go to her's and see more. Don't know what I was doing???? I guess just soaking it all in. We had planned on coming back after seeing the other houses but by the time we were done it was after 4 and we didn't want to impose.

I wanted to share with you some cards that Adrienne has illustrated and sent me over time. I've gotten them at Christmas and Easter too but they were put away with the decorations. This one is one that hangs in my craft room at home

and this is one that I still had in the back room of the shop that she sent this past Halloween.


Aren't I lucky to have such a talented friend.

Today Laura received a comment on her blog about Adrienne. She wasn't sure at first who this person was. She later found out it was Adrienne's lovely sister in law Cathy. Laura gave me permission to show you what she wrote. I was going to just write a excerpt from it but I decided I didn't want to omit any of it.

" Adrienne Samuelson's home is indeed a "real life" dream. Imagination and creativity are captured at every turn and twist, in every nook and niche, radiating outward to encircle every vista and panorama. 360 degrees of pure delight.

This is a powerful vision brought to life-one where grace and goodness prevail and negativity is banished. It is a magical place, immediately enveloping all who enter and hold us spellbound by its charms. Adrienne's creativity cannot be contained to her studio- her artistic presents permeantes the whole house and gardens making every vignette a canvas for her illustrations. Childhood delights are rekindled as inquistive bunnies and flighty crows take us to another realm- a place where the expectation of joy abounds. But the realm, isn't just fantasy- it is real.

The enchanting home should be published far and wide-in shelter magazines, in the Home section of the New York Times, and in inspirational books, - it is a tonic for the doldrums, a cure for what ails us, and an object lesson that dreams can come true. It is the pursuit of happiness attained and the realization of the American Dream.

Cathy

I couldn't have said it better myself. How beautifully written about an amazing person and a wonderful friend.

Adrienne's home #2

This is the beautiful and artfully arrangement that greets you when you enter Adrienne Samuelson's home. I met her about 5 yrs ago when she came into my shop and we've been friends ever since and have worked together designing a wedding. She's the kind of person that lights up a room and always makes you feel comfortable and this visit was no different.

I knew her house would be eye candy.....after all she's an artist extraordinaire, illustrating cards for Caspari. But Laura and I were blown away by her collections....

and her sense of design.

We loved all her blue and white in her living room.

and we were both drawn to the queen anne's lace paperweight....so delicate it resembled a snowflake

Wonderful collection of nautical antiques.

Her country side showing through with the blue and white quilt and enamel pitchers.

This is of course the dining room. This room is done in the same color blue but with the fresh touches of light green

maybe just used for Spring? Maybe we can come back another season and see????

This window display with it's bunnies and vegetables and fruit were so whimsical and fun I half expected to see Alice peeking out around the corner.

Makes me want to put in a bay window.


Laura and I didn't know where to look next......there was so much to see and to take in.

We both went a little crazy when we saw this clock and watch collection. Paula had told us about it but it was so artfully displayed we both just loved it.

Can you imagine having a window like this in your workroom?

And looking through this one right by your desk???

I'd want to be there every minute.

Makes my workroom look like a dungeon.

At every turn a bit of whimsy to inspire....

A little bit of her witchy side. We all have it that!!!lol

Assorted baskets and favorite pots adorn the kitchen sink. Two topiaries with wispy branches on either side flank the windows

Wonderful silver shelf not often seen.

I sneaked a picture of Adrienne while we were stand outside in the garden.

We still had 6 other house to visit and Laura's camera was giving her trouble so we promised to come back. At the end we ran out of time. Booooowho!!!

I'm going to end here and show you the gardens tomorrow.

.......more bunnies and whimsy!!!!!

Good Night!!!

Carole