Annie Mame » Baubles, Bangles and Pearls

“A Connecticut Christmas”~Bring Food and Help a Neighbor

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:54:07 +0000

WHEN:
December 11th (Saturday) 1 to 4 p.m.

WHERE:
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding
Old Lyme, Connecticut
36 Town Woods Road
Old Lyme, CT
06371-1142
(860) 434-1974

ENTRANCE FEE:
FOOD TO HELP FILL A CT FOOD BANK TRUCK

This event is lovingly produced by four gals who barely knew each other four weeks ago, but over coffee we decided we wanted to help folks in the state who are hurting.

So we decided to try to help the CT Food Bank and a struggling dairy farm. Three of us are granddaughters of dairy farmers, the fourth owns a farm, so it was a natural that this have a “farm” component.

Your hosts for this fun neighbor-to-neighbor event which will include free Ashlawn Farm coffee and cider and music and Santa for the kids are:

Heather Colby
Carol Dahlke
Ann Nyberg
Anna Rubino

Proceeds of an indoor CT market will go to help Tiffany Farms of Lyme ( it’s one of the few remaining working dairy farms in the state), Their historic hay barn burned to the ground in September. The farm has been around since 1841.

What will you find at the market, well for one thing dozens of vendors.

Fresh produce
Arts
Ornaments
Olive oils
Oil Cloths
Toys
Books for children and adults
Biscotti
Soaps
Jewelery
Rugs
Canvas bags and purses
Artisan breads
Pasta Sauces
Wooden Sculptures
Fleece wraps
Children’s clothing
Four Mile River Farm Natural Beef

Music will be provided by:

Blue Plate Radio

Branford First Congregational Sanctuary Bell Choir

Lyme-Old Lyme Choir

Strolling guitarists, Kip Sturgeon and Dan Bernier

All these folks are giving up their time and energy to make something magical happen for a lot of folks around the state who need help.

This is hosted by High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc in Old Lyme and will take place in their huge riding arena.

Please come out and support this amazing event on December 11th from 1-4 p.m….help others this Christmas.

Give A Gift From An Artist

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:34:25 +0000

If you’ve never wandered into the Guilford Art Center, this is a good time to do that, around the holidays.

It is chocked full of unique items, all handcrafted, one-of-a-kind-gifts to put under the tree.

Sparkle and Glitz For The Holidays

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:38:25 +0000

If Santa could pluck from this workshop, Christmas might be a whole new ball game.

The holidays at Madison Flower Shop and Garden Center in Madison, Connecticut are always a wonderland of glitz. I dare you take a point-and- shoot camera in here this time of year and take a bad picture, it just won’t happen.

The place is jam packed with anything and everything you might need for holiday entertaining. Wreaths, ribbons, Santas, ornaments, candy, flowers, Christmas trees, glittered everything, angels and glass, stop me when you’ve had enough.

Colors? Every one you can thing of, even if you want to do a purple Christmas tree. Don’t worry there there is plenty of good ole red and green galore. Speaking of old-fashioned, there are small bottle brush trees around the shop that bring you back to the 1940′s.

The owners, Donna and Jay Santoro have their three daughters working away inside over most holidays to ensure that things run smoothly, the sisters have grown up in the store.

I know for a fact that this crew can create anything you might need for the holidays at your house including even knowing where to get a hold of a machine that can make snow just in case it doesn’t fall on the night of your big holiday open house. I just remembered that conversation Donna and I had years back, well now you know about it.

All of this eye candy coupled with the kind of flowers arrangements they are capable of conjuring up, and you would have yourself one gorgeous wedding too. This time of year might be off season for most nuptials, but it’s high season here.

The Santoros are only the second owners of the flower shop and garden center, they speak fondly of the family who first set up shop here. It’s grown by leeps and bounds since that time nearly fifty years ago, but still has that New England charm of a place you want to go back to especially around the holidays. Now if you’ll excuse me. I’m off there for another “glitz fix.”

If It’s From Yesterday, They’ll Have It

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:41:04 +0000

Remember When is a shop that might remind you of going into your Grandmother’s attic there are all sorts of treasures here to go thru.

On Main in Torrington, Connecticut the place is chocked full of everything, just name it.

There is vintage lighting, furnishings, jewelry and accessories.

Bette Davis And Betty Page Would Be Proud

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:09:58 +0000

Julia Sloan is a woman to be reckoned with. She took her tax return and opened a business with it. She says if she can do it anyone can. Her Brazen Betties Boutique is adorable. While she is a designer herself, her shop is full of work by Connecticut artists and designers. I continue to marvel at all of the talent in this state.