Happy New Year...almost!

I am so sorry to have been away for awhile...and it is a long saga...suffice to say that though Christmas was a complete blessing,  time with family a great gift, and 2010 a great year...the last month has been...interesting, to say the least, and I am learning  great lessons in being flexible, going with the flow and trusting! 
and I REALLY look forward to the coming year...I hope to see many of you at the Fleas...Alameda, Pasadena and Long Beach...and to read about your own adventures in your blogs and comments!
May you all find surpassing comfort and joy in the New Year....
and all the best,
kate

December...

Having fun bringing out little bits of Christmas right now...I will add a few photos once I have had a chance to try things here and there...
I must say, I am really thankful for a bit of a change in the weather...though I know that our change in California often foretells worse weather along the midwest...on into the east...it gets me thinking about  the coming of winter...the longer nights, often bitter cold (yes, we do get freezing temperatures here, though "nothing to write home about" as my grandfather used to say), rain, snow...I feel that the season is meant somehow to tell us to gather in, to pull in closer...quiet our lives down a bit...I know that is hard, with so many things to do...!  But I hope that we can take each day this month (as those days run toward the first day of winter), and find a way to experience the quiet night of the year...
 
I am bringing out my soup and stew recipes...pairing them with a grand wine, baking some cookies and stocking up the wood for our fireplace...

Our recipe for Italian Sausage & Kale Soup

4 links Italian Sausage or 3 Links Italian & 1 link Portuguese Chorizo (to make up 1 pound)

1 (15 oz) can White Cannelini Beans

1 (15 oz0 can Diced Tomatoes

3 small potatoes (yukon gold works best)

1 quart chicken broth

1 lg onion chopped

3-4 garlic cloves grated or pressed

3/4 pound kale chopped
bay leaf
salt & pepper to taste

Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in pot...begin cooking sausages, until browned, add chopped onions, cook 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent, add garlic, cook to release the aroma, not browned, then add chopped potatoes, canned tomatoes with juice, bay leaf, salt & pepper to taste, and chicken broth...

cook until potatoes are starting to get tender, then add the kale...cook until kale is soft and tender...add a little parmigianno shaved or grated when serving...

serve with toasty crusty bread (yum) and a nice red wine...nothing too heavy...enjoy!

For those of you out and about this weekend...we will be at Alameda Flea Market...can not wait...my sons have been busy...I have been busy...and we are getting everything tucked away in the trailer to head up on Saturday...Stop by and see us if you are coming....we will be in S21 &T7  (back to back spaces, how fortunate are we?)

Also, stop by  Common Ground 
for Debra's vintage inspired Fridays...& Vintage Thingy Thursdays....

 

  

Giving Thanks...

We here in America have just celebrated our day of Thanksgiving...
a national holiday of giving thanks*, and I truly hope that in the midst of cooking, entertaining, travel, schedules, talking, laughing, resting, eating...all of you were able to spend quality time gathered with family and/or friends and most importantly, were able to take time to remember those things you are most thankful for!

We had a small family celebration this year...we barbequed a turkey (we did and it was wonderful!)...we had 3 pies made lovingly by my father (family tradition!) two different dressings...new recipes for side dishes...(I am always trying something new) and it was all SO special. And what am I most thankful for?  my family, of course...my husband, sons, mother/father, brother, inlaws...the whole brood!  And my friends...God bless them!
Time (always...and never enough of it), each day and each experience that challenges, stretches, pushes us...and mostly, the Author and Creator of all. 

Now, renewed, refreshed (a bit tired from all the entertaining)  I am ready to begin Advent, that time of preparation for the coming of Christmas...and I am promising myself that I will set aside time...for all those things that really matter...












Happy Thanksgiving...Happy Hanukkah...Happy Christmas!...Happy Holidays!   May you anticipate with the coming season with renewed hope, joy and comfort!





*** with a little nod to White Wednesdays at Faded Charm

Brothers of Industry

I mentioned in last week's post that my sons were starting in the business...and putting  their own unique stamp and look on things...

Who knew they would get so much pleasure out of salvage and flea markets...they come home from a day of picking and go through the treasures they found and the stories that go along with them...And I am enjoying seeing their thoughts as they create this business...wait til you see some of the pieces they have found...

I am just waiting...and trying not to be too impatient...to see what interesting surface will be showing up on the steel cart...I am seeing that as a great kitchen island, or a portable bar cart...hmmm....
And the super colander...it will be a fabulous chandelier soon!  They have already repurposed a few antique table lamps...and we will be bringing those to Alameda and Pasadena...


On a different note, one of the things I have always loved about treasure hunting is the people you meet while you are out and about...For those of you who love to flea, you know what I am talking about...the flea market folk are so much fun to get to know!  everyone knows one another and helps one another out...it is THE best!

and now, how lucky am I...I get to share all this with my sons...I am pinching myself...it is such an incredible blessing!   If you get a chance, check out their blog...Brothers of Industry

The Adventure of Flea Marketing!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!   I love Sundays!   Our whole family looks forward to Sundays...a sabbath day...a rest day, a day to gather together, to eat wonderful food, drink a little wine and talk a good bit about the week we all had...this is our family tradition!
And then the last two Sundays we have all started a new "family tradition"...We are now, officially, a Flea Marketing family!  I have always enjoyed flea marketing...it is (believe it or not) so much fun to get up well before the sun rises and bundle up...grab a cup of coffee and my shopping cart and head down to Santa Monica or Pasadena...Occasionally my sweet husband will come along with me up to San Francisco and we get to enjoy a little holiday along with my shopping!
And now, we have moved on to a new adventure in Flea Marketing...my sons have both branched out into this whole mad world of all things flea, vintage and antique and at their suggestion, we scheduled a few selling dates at Alameda and Pasadena and off we went, husband, sons, trailer and all!
Two Sundays ago was our first go at it...and what an inauguration.  We had been checking weather reports for a good week or so ahead of time and it was looking "alright", until Friday...and then the weather report mentioned rain.   As the hours passed it started looking worse and worse, but our trailer was packed, our hotel paid for and it is "rain or shine" at Alameda...how bad could it be and what is a little rain, right?

Needless to say (the picture says it all I am afraid)...it was one of the few times that they actually canceled the flea market due to weather...we all laughed about it...that just seems to be our luck!  But I must say...the customers we met (yes people really do come shopping in all weather up there, bless them!) were simply amazing and so sweet...they actually thanked us for being there!  We had a fabulous time!  we were soaked to the skin, shivery cold...and we are ready to do it again and again! 

It was so much easier this last weekend...Pasadena...aside from getting up in the very wee hours to drive an hour and a half so that we could be there by 4:30 am...to find our space...that is an experience in and of itself...set up and hope for the best!   And wow!  what a show...so many people, so much fun, and so crazy busy...thank you to all of you for coming by our space (U6)   You made it such a success for us...we can not wait to do it again.

My son sold several of his gorgeous mirrors, a stylish "urban farmhouse" table and more...I sold my mid century cow hide chair & ottoman...(I admit, I will miss that chair!) plus a complete assortment of this and that...we are filled with new ideas and can not wait for the next flea...

The guys are thinking of doing Santa Monica in two weeks...they have started their own blog and website...(check out their blog, Brothers of Industry ) and they were off today finding new wood and industrial treasures for their latest creations... whew...they definitely have more energy than I do at this point...(but just give me a few days!) and then it is off to do the whole thing next month...and we ALL can not wait!   We hope to see you there! 

And by the way, please take a moment to pop over to Faded Charm White Wednesdays  ...one of my favorite blog parties and always a great source of inspiration!

A quick word, if I may...

It is a beautiful Saturday, and two weekends post my busy shows...and I am already back at getting ready for a new round of busyness!   (note busy ness, rather than business!)   I am happily redoing my living room with a few industrial farmhouse touches...pictures to follow I hope!  and also getting ready for a new little venture...my husband, son (his girlfriend) and I will be hitting the road for the next few weekends, doing the Alameda Flea Market on Sunday the 7th (look for me at Booth S21) and then Pasadena Flea Market Sunday the 14th...(look for me in Booth U6)

I hope to meet some of you there!  

with a thankful heart...

what a wonderful weekend!  what a whirlwind of a weekend!   And how gracious and kind you all are! 
This last Saturday was the show at Nipomo, Remnants of the Past...and what with everything going on it just seems like it came and went lightning fast...
My sweet husband helped me take all my big pieces up on Thursday afternoon, and then we drove down to Los Angeles with our son to take him to the airport (and that of course is another story...and for your kind words for this momma's heart, I thank you so much)...and then back up to Nipomo to complete the setup for Saturday with my sweet friend and partner for this show, Betsy...then back home, and back again Saturday morning...I felt like I was meeting myself going and coming, going and coming....until Saturday and 9 am and then it was MAGIC!  

The line of people waiting to come in started a good hour before the show started...and it never stopped!  the energy...the excitement, the fun!!! It NEVER STOPPED!

 
You will notice that there are very few photos here of the day...that is because I never got time enough to leave my space...this is one of my favourite shows to shop, and THAT never happened!   This is one of the best places to see some of the most phenomenally talented women in this business, and I barely got enough time to say more than hi! WOW!  your space looks AMAZING!...and then run back to my space....
For me, though, each one of you that came by to see me...that shared your stories...and for each of you who share your thoughts here on my blog...I treasure that...it is the best part of this whole thing...So I must tell you all, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!  You are, each and every one, a true blessing!
until next time,  my thankful heart to yours...kate