show angels

Never try to convince me there are no angels, I've had them by my side this past weekend.  When my partner Kathy told me her husband was being hospitalized I had a few moments of panic and oh CRAP!!!  Our biggest show was last Friday and Saturday and I knew I would never be able to do it on my own.  I emailed several friends and withing minutes I had enough coverage for the entire weekend.   I feel so blessed to call each of these women my friends and I'm so grateful for their help.
You can't see the halos or wings but believe me they are  great angels here on earth.  I didn't get a picture of Andy or Kathy's brother Gary,  a big shout out for all the heavy lifting, set up, packing up and reloading the trucks and van after the show.  We couldn't have done this without you.

Joy helped with making product and packaging all fall and despite a bad back she helped unload, set up and manned the booth all night.

Pat is Kathy's sister in law and our supper sales woman of the show, she was amazing.

Donna is not only my favorite teacher to sub for but now that she is retired she has helped me make product, bag and tag and given up part of her weekend to help us man the booth.

this incredible women has been with VCB from the beginning.  She always shows up at the shows usually with lunch or dinner in hand, she is one of our new product testers, worked the booth all afternoon and helped with take down.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

All the crazy ladies

Mid September is usually beautiful in central Illinois.  There are many fairs and celebrations going on as well as city wide yard sales.  What's a girl to do when they all come together on the same weekend of a huge family party as well as unexpected torrential rains.  We'd already bought the tickets to the Hob Nob market, the party was under control and a little rain is not going to stop us from  finding great junk!  My running  started at 6:45 when I left to pick up my friend Kathy and take off for St Joe an hour north for the rummage sales.  We did find several brave folks who opened their sales despite the rain and chill.  We got back home about 12 and took off for the market an hour south of home.  We made a quick stop to pick up friends Kathy and Brenda.  By the time we got to Effingham it was raining so hard I could barely see the road to drive.  We did pull off and park for a while but we were determined not to let rain slow us down so we took off for the show at the local winery.  It did finally stop raining but it was a muddy, chilly mess.  The show had great vendors and the booths were full of all kinds of beautiful things.  None of us bought too much but we did fill the back of my van.  A yummy dinner at a steak house them home.  By that time my kids had arrived for the birthday party the next day.  Six dozen cup cakes needed to be frosted and two dozen sausage rolls made for breakfast and I finally could quit for the day.  Four and a half hours later I was up again ready to get the party started, but only after I made a quick trip with two of my grand daughter to another sale a few miles from home.  I found several bargains I'll share later.  It was a long and tiring weekend and I wouldn't have missed a minute of it.

Brenda wasn't waiting around in the rain for picture taking but Kathy though a tote bag made a pretty good umbrella

I was singing in the rain but I'm too short to share my umbrella with Kathy.

Hairspray

We had the privilege of attending The Little Theater on the Square, in Sullivan, Il to see the musical Hairspray.  Set in the sixties and with the theme of segregation it was full of fun.  Great music, lots of comedy and lines that were so relevant to things going on today.  This theater has been presenting Broadway caliber plays since the 50's and is still going strong.  Many of the actors have worked on Broadway or large city theater companies and the professionalism really shows.  Buses arrive from all over the state to this tiny community for high quality entertainment.  We had a great time with wonderful friends and a yummy meal for dinner.  I don't think there's a better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Kathy and Terri's excellent, and very wet adventure

It's been raining buckets around here, on Friday almost 3"  fell.  Life still must go on especially for a long planned road trip to a day lily farm.  So off we went in the torrential rain in search of the perfect red day lily.  We drove on even when the rain was a downpour.  We drove on through flooded roads and finally found the farm, Five Acre Day lily Farm near Tolono.  The owner was shocked at such crazy plant seekers but was a good sport about trudging out into the rain and mud to dig the perfect  lily called Bright Velvet. We slogged around the display beds snapping pictures while we waited. We thanked him profusely and promised to come back soon.   The day continued with a trip to a green house for a load of mulch, they also thought we were crazy, and some retail therapy.  A visit to the Courier Cafe for an old fashioned sit down dinner and a stop at the  Sidney Dairy Barn for ice cream sundaes finished off the evening.  Kathy and I are old friends and have shared many strange and funny adventures so we had many laughs about being crazy old ladies who once they set their minds on an adventure will not be deterred by a little rain, sleet, snow or dark of night.

Hollyhocks hiding electric wires

My adventure partner Kathy

weekend fun

Now that the weather is getting nicer it's time for some outdoor fun.  A small town close to home has the Red Barn Market every April.  There are dealers inside the barn and out ready to sell the latest crafts and antiques.  It's always a nice mix and a fun morning to hang out with friends.  My friend Kathy bought a great glider and I picked up some small garden baskets and planters.  I never spend much money here but I always find a bargain or two or in this case five.

The building is an actual barn and the stalls are used for each booth.

Where there are shoppers there must be food.  

princess for a day

My friend Kathy has be helping her school theater department put on musicals for 15 years.  Last week was the last one, she is retiring in June.  The kids did a great job on Cinderella and they made a lovely presentation along with a cake and punch reception after the last show.  She works endless hours getting the shows ready and I know Larry the producer/director will miss her a bunch.  Congratulations Kathy, I know you will miss being invoked, but retirement will give us more time to go play.

birthday fun

Last week was my birthday.  I decided to keep it low key and just meet a few friends for dinner at our favorite pizza place.  Pizza was great, the company even better.  I dearly love my friends and we don't get nearly as much time together as I would like.  I appreciated all the cute cards and presents.  Thank you, thank you , thank you.

Kathy and Charlie, he's from Boston so he doesn't think this recent snow storm is such a big deal

Kathy and Nina

Next door neighbors Irma and Gary

gift

My next door neighbor Irma is finally back from her visit to Brazil.  She hasn't lived in America too long and still looks at every thing with new eyes.  To her the most common place things are beautiful and wonderful.  She makes me stop and really look at what I usually take for granted  She was kind enough to bring us back a box of Brazilian chocolates.  I'm always surprised when I taste sweets from other countries.  I don't think any place uses as much sugar as America.
Irma also brought back a bottle of a Brazilian liquor that is their equivalent of tequila, I tasted a tiny bit and it felt like liquid fire.  I'll have to have her show me what to do with it.
I love presents that make you feel like the giver really took the time to think about you personally.

Winter Jam

Winter Jam is a Christian concert featuring all of the most popular Christian bands in one 5 hour show.  This was our gift to our grand kids for Christmas this year.  Unfortunately our oldest grandson was not able to go due to a scheduling conflict.  Insert rant about schools that fill every waking moment with games and practices.  In my personal  opinion there shouldn't even be competitive sports in jr high. The crowd of 19000 was crazy and the music was loud.  We had great seats and a wonderful time.  There is such a power being in a large crowd all worshiping the Lord.  It was such a pleasure to be able to share such an experience with family and friends.

Lauren, a part of the family at least for this night

Kaylie

Barb

Tracy and Joe

Zack

Ben

Jaydin

Katelyn

Chase



Missed Nathan and Andy they were probably on a food or potty run with one of the kids.  In six hours I think the food total was 6 hot dogs, 7 hamburgers, 8 sodas, 18 bottles of water, 4 pretzels , 3 bags of pop corn and 5 bowls of dipping dots.  Who knows how many potty runs.  The fun we had experiencing it together, priceless.

 

fun with friends

I had the opportunity to celebrate two good friends birthdays on Sunday afternoon.  We took off for the big city, had a great late lunch, early dinner.  A little retail therapy, ice cream and home by 6.  A wonderful way to spend and afternoon.  I am so blessed to have wonderful friends.  We can not see each other much for weeks at a time and pick up like we hung out yesterday.  I would do any thing I could for each of them and they would do the same for me.

look in your own backyard

My friend Nina's birthday was last week so we ran away from home to celebrate. It always amazes me when I hear people say they have never been to an event or place in their own neighborhood, but they are willing to travel for hours and pay big bucks to do the same thing some place else.  That's exactly what we did less than an hour drive from home.  We came across this charming winery called Tuscan Hills in Effingham, Il.  It was beautiful, peaceful and from what the other girls said the wine was great.  I couldn't indulge, I had dental surgery the previous day and was still taking pain meds.  They tasted wine, we explored the area and enjoyed the beautiful day.  It would be a perfect place for a big party or wedding reception.  Look in your backyard for new places to check out.

Birthday time

Although it seems all I do is work on the garden and patio this time of the year, we took the time last weekend to celebrate my friend Kathy's birthday.  I won't tell how old she is, because she would reply she's still younger than me.  Each year on our birthdays we get to pick where we want to go and how we celebrate.  That's how we've ended up at a pottery factory, the slums of Indy, Fox theater, and fish restaurants, have I mentioned I hate fish? Usually there is a tiara and boa involved but Kathy "forgot" this year. No matter what we do we have a great time.  This year the birthday girl picked the Little Theater on the Square in Sullivan, Il for the musical 42nd Street.  It was high energy, dancing and great music non-stop.  Afterwards we went to dinner at a nearby restaurant.  A wonderful day spent with good entertainment, yummy food and the best kind of  friends, who could ask for more?  No pics at the show, it's not allowed, but plenty at the restaurant later.

wonderful surprise

I will always say I have wonderful friend.  They don't bribe me to say that either.  Last week two of my friends Kathy and Nina surprised me big time with a wonderful gift.  When they came for dinner they arrived with boxes of the most beautiful Fostoria lead crystal.  There is service for 16 of wine and water glasses, bowls, dinner plates and dessert plates. It is the pattern American in clear.   I didn't count it all but when I washed it the counter was full.  Mutual friends were down sizing and going to pitch these beautiful dishes until my girls grabbed them.  The pictures don't do these wonderful dishes justice, but even simple food tastes better on crystal.

glasses and bowls and plates oh my!!

Pretty table setting

Even a simple pasta tastes better on crrystal

My gift givers Nina and Kathy

 I am so blessed to have these two women in my life even if they never brought me a gift but I'm so glad they did.  A special thanks to Larry Williams and Steve McQueen for letting go of these beautiful dishes.

lovely parting gifts

I like to have small gifts to give company when we entertain.  It doesn't need to be anything fancy, I just want my friends or family to know I appreciate them.  For our recent domino night I used brown paper lunch bags to hold salt scrubs for the ladies and butter mints for the guys.  I stamped the bags with an angel stamp, folded over the top and stapled on either a yarn or tulle bow.  It didn't take 20 minutes, less than $20.00 for 10 gifts  and I think my guest really enjoyed them.

partner

Happy birthday to my wonderful business partner, Kathy Cartwright.  When we started VCB neither of us realized what a steep learning curve and crazy ride it was going to be.  You balance my creative urges and wild ideas with calm and logic and try to keep me in line, no easy task.  I've enjoyed watching you develop new skills and I think you could sell anything with great success. I wouldn't even have attempted to start a brand new business  without you.  I'm glad our friendship has lasted all these years.  It's time to celebrate!!