BUSY MONTH OF JUNE...

Busy as bees flitting from one flower to another - that will be my month of June!  With 8 of our 9 grands in school, the end of the school year brings assemblies, field trips and field days.   Winding up one sport season just to start another one!  The Berks Country Best Kept Secret Tour is the last 15 days of June with the first 15 days of June keeping the store "wonderful" for all who visit!  In the middle of all that is the trade show where I have to think Halloween and Christmas !!! WHEW!! I enjoy being busy however it makes "time" go too fast...what happened to MAY??
Sweet Annie is handing out our June "SPRINKLES" - stop in and pick one up!

 New candles are filling our shelves along with a NEW scent....PEACH MARMALADE!!
Can you imagine how wonderfully summery these will delight your senses!! (they will make you hungry)!!

16 oz.

 10 oz.

 Votives

***Melissa Adams won our contest for guessing what the "gadget" was I posted the other day - it was a "Cork Compressor"....used years ago to compress corks when they were taken out of a jug or bottle - when they were removed they would swell and you could not put them back in...hence a new "gadget" was created..!!  Melissa wins one of our Herb Books from Long Creek Herb Farm...way to go Melissa!!

WE'RE HAVING A HEAT WAVE !!

What a "scorcher" today was - much too soon for 92 degree weather!!  I did go to the store to clean up my messes I made yesterday - I had to put all my ribbons on my "new" display rack...!!  I really love it but Tony was right (again)..it didn't hold as many ribbons as the ribbon holders did.   I didn't let that stop me...and "made-do" with what I had on hand (I am a great make-do innovator).  I even feel a bit more organized.  Here's what the paper cutter looks like now....I am tickled pink!!  Now I need to make an advertising sign for above....any ideas???

Here are a few more patriotic mice from Helen Voytilla...you are the first to see them - so much sweeter in person...the stars and top hats are made of wool.  $29.

We are having quite the thunder storm right now...hope it cools things off - we live in an old farmhouse with only window air conditioning...which by the way are still in the attic!!

The vintage tin ice cream spoons are stamped "Olde Glory"  !!!

A NEW PRESENT FOR THE THREADGOODS ROOM..

Remember this ribbon display - well it worked very well in our Threadgoods Room when we redid that room  last January (we sell lots of ribbon)...however today at the flea market I found a new piece.  We saw it when we first arrived...but it was too early to purchase a present for ME !! We needed goodies to fill the store for the upcoming Best Kept Secret Tour - so we passed on it....and as I am no different than any of our customers...it ATE at me...then it started biting me...and then I couldn't take the pain any longer and we went back and "lucky" for me...IT WAS STILL THERE!! (I have a sign in the store that states " you only regret what you didn't buy, not what you did)   Took my own advice and purchased it.  Then of course I asked Tony to take me to the store so we could "rearrange" that room AGAIN - He is a real KEEPER!!  Cause not only did this wall have to be rearranged but so did another room so I could use the top piece for our stationary again.  Like I said - he is a keeper!!

This is the new piece.....Tony has to make me new dowels (he's at Home Depot as I type) so my ribbon will fit on it (the originals were too thick)..Those who know me know I have a real passion for paper cutters - It is all one piece...isn't it great!!

 Can't you envision it filled with all our wonderful ribbons!!!

Tomorrow I will fill it up with the ribbon again....and post another picture !!

We had two days of "finders keepers" (spent lots of $$$) however, we found great treasures to fill the store.

Helen Voytilla stopped Sunday and brought me GREAT new goodies too and Joanne McIllmurray brought the best "shoe shine box" with a hooked rug top - more about these goodies later!

CONTEST - COME OUT AND PLAY!!

WHAT IS THIS???
I love the unique and unusual "make-do" and "necessary" every day items from the past.   Simple but much needed for everyday life on the farm.   This is just such a piece....AND if you can guess what it is I will reward you with one of our great herb books from Jim Long of Long Creek Herb Farm.  Take the challenge...
What is this??

LOOKS LIKE RAIN...

I never mind a rainy day as long as it doesn't "storm" with thunder and lightning - a nice summery, steady rain when the weather is warm is a "country pleasure" !  It also gives me time to concentrate on "inside" work (and there is PLENTY of that)!! 
I ALMOST have the email on the new computer figured out....I just have to "learn" how to put the names in groups.   Thanks to everyone who emailed with their kind words - I promise I did not remove anyone who didn't ask to be removed (I did have a few of those- :(  !!
Yesterday I met two storekeepers from Boyertown (a town not far from us) who own THE DANCING TREE - an eclectic mix of ALL Made in the USA from mostly local artisans.  I have never been to their store but you can bet I will be there soon - they are part of our Best Kept Secret tour and have sold over 200 bags of goodies....(remember when I was griping about all the work the promotional goodies were that went into the 2000 bags)!!! The Best Kept Secret Tour is coming up fast....June 15-30 - it should be a fun time to meet new friends and hopefully new customers! (I really wanted to get my "windows" washed before the tour.....maybe Monday, Memorial Day Tony and I can at least get the first floor cleaned)  It is not an easy task as I have the  18-20 inch windowsills filled to the brim with goodies for sale...(sigh)!!  (smiling)!!
I brought in two new scales to the store -  scales are fun to decorate with - and can be put in any room of the house!