It's Almost Here!!

Merry Christmas!! On this blog that's what we say!

Hoping everyone has a wonderful holiday with family and friends!

I will be back in the New Year and hopefully more often.

Mid January

Good Evening Everyone!

It's already January 15th and I have not wished all of my friends a very Happy New Year. My last post was about our antiques show in November and then I think I went to sleep, lol.

What we thought was going to be a kick back and chill December turned out just the opposite. We worked three weekends with our auctioneer in additional to our regular Tuesday auctions of which some were cancelled thus having to pick-up Saturday/Sunday work.

We were also expecting family/friend to come for Christmas/New Year's visit but that did not happen which I do have to say weather played a part in that.

And then the Wednesday before Christmas my last duck past away. This hit me like a ton of bricks. I raised ducks from day one of moving to Pennsylvania way back in February of 1988. I am getting better, but I do forget and say to my self  "oh I need to go check on the duck".

So, now we are in mid January and stuff is happening which I will save for another post, that way I won't be at a lost for words and not blog, like that would ever happen.

Have a good evening and if you have a clear sky, go check out that Full Wolf Moon.

Happy December

Hope all of you are doing well and not stressing yourselves out, Ha Ha. Yes, we all do it no matter what we tell ourselves.

Our antiques show last weekend was a hit, best one that we have had at this venue. Now its time to get ready for the next one which is in early March, never too early to start buying those treasures that our wonderful customer's are looking for.

I have not started to decorate yet :-(  around the house so I thought that maybe I would start with my blog and that will get me started.

Have a wonderful and festive weekend no matter what you do. Just take care of yourself.

Ginny

December, How Did you get here?

I bet many of us are asking the same question (s), it's December already or Where did the year go? Hope everyone is doing well, by the sounds of your blogs it seems you are. Busy as bees, but that's what this time of the year is all about. Here in Williams Township it is quite warm today, over 50. So the heat is off and the door is open. I suspect it will be one of the last few days to do this. 

Not looking like Christmas around here yet, hoping to fix that soo, just haven't got into the spirit yet :-(, not sure why, just not feeling it yet.

Can't make this too long as I have work to do today for my real job. Talk to everyone soon. Have a geat day. 

P.S. Don't worry, the pond does not look like this yet, just need to change that header picture.

It All Started With A Christmas Card.......

What? The extension of Black Duck Antiques (the extension yet to be named)started with a Christmas card. Friends that we met back in 1985 sent us a card and asked if we were still selling and buying antiques because they are selling their home and have "STUFF" that they need to move on. So, off we went to their home in late January to see what they needed to move. Long story short after talking with them (mostly re-living our fun times together)they asked if we would be interested in handling the sale (s) of their household. What? be a picker, arrange estate sales, send items to auction? Are we dreaming? We said YES and have been busy ever since. I should tell you they will be living in a travel trailer until they tire of life on the road. Yes, that's right they are selling everything or I should say we are selling everything, except the real estate. So far, we have had dealers day at the house, this is where we invited antique dealer friends to cherry pick the house. Our friends were able to find some treasures and we made some money for our friends, minus our commission of course. And from this Christmas card, our friends have gotten us another client and maybe a third client (their family Doctor). Now how cool is this!! That our friends think enough of us to refer us to their friends!! So this is why my posts are few and far between and on the short side, except for tonite. So, remember if you need to move stuff, Les & I just be the couple to help you out. Have a great evening and a wonderful Sunday.

Tonight Is The Night

Winter Solstice that is. At 12:30 a.m. Winter will begin. Time for all of us to get our books, our craft projects or whatever floats your boat in order because once Christmas is over we will be looking for things to do on those long Winter's nights. I have a couple of things in mind that I want to get done. Some reading, some clearing the clutter and somethings that I will keep a secret for now. My food and gift giving shopping is all done. Tree is not up yet. But it is only a small tree and it is more like a Winter tree they a Christmas tree. It will go up tomorrow or Friday. Baking will begin tomorrow along with the cooking of tomato sauce for Christmas dinner. It is just Les and I and it has become our tradition to have some type of pasta and just enjoy the day and each other. I hope whatever is on your plate you will have it clean so that you too can enjoy the day and yourself. Merry Christmas.

1st Antique Show of the Year

We had our first antique show of the year this past weekend (Fri.&Sat.). This was a new show for us and it was okay, nothing to get too excited about, but after all it is less then a month since Christmas and bills are coming in, so we are grateful that we did have some sales. The weather was good, except for the dealers who had to unload their vehicles curbside into snow banks, LOL. But, that is one of hazards you endure when you agree to a Winter show. Other then our show we had a quite day on Sunday. Getting ready for the next batch of weather, so we may head out later today and check on our booth at Weil Antique Center. Also, don't forget to tip your hat to Benjamin Franklin, today is his birthday. Enjoy your day.

Plough Monday

Plough Monday; Traditionally, the first Monday after Epiphany was called Plough Monday because it was the day when men returned to their plough, or daily work, following the Christmas hoilday. It was customary at this time for farm laborers to draw a plough through the village, soliciting money for a "plough light" which was kept burning in the parish church all year. This is from the 2011 Farmers Almanac.

No Big Hurry

I have been reading blogs and facebook on and off all weekend and it seems the the thing to do this past weekend and maybe a little before was to take down the Christmas decorations. Now I know all of you retailers need to do this to make room for the next big holiday, St.Valentine's Day. But, I'm a little surprized how many folks have dismantled the their house to put it back the way it was without Christmas. But, not me I will let my decorations linger until Candlemas Day. Some how that has become our tradition. Maybe it is because I don't decorate alot or maybe it's because I have not put up a tree in a very long while, but I'm still enjoying the lights, the smells, even watched a few Hallmark Christmas movies this weekend. But, hey that is just me. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, even if you did take down your decorations. LOL

Big Night in The Skys and Last Minute Things

Well, it's a good thing Old St.Nick isn't riding thru the skys in the next 24 hours or so. We have a Full Lunar Eclipse, a Full Cold Moon and the Winter Solstice all coming up. All we need is a big ole snowstorm (only kidding ladies), I would panic too if that happened. Still need to go to the grocery store this week. Gift shopping is all done, but then I only have Les to buy for, oh yeah and the cats and ducks. Cats will get a toy from the grocery store and the ducks will get some extra spinach, LOL. We don't decorate that much since we got our two cats. They are terrors and for the first time in years we put up a small tree, so far it's still standing and I believe that it will. They are not one bit interested in it, that is until I go to put a decoration on it, then they check it out, but checking is all they have done. Still need to do baking, but there again not alot. It will be just Les & I and we like things simple. My biggest love is sitting in my chair all covered up and watch old movies or reading a book on Christmas Day, dinner will be some type of pasta, nice and easy. I bought my book weeks ago, so I will be set. Work is picking up (this is a very good thing) and keeping me busy. I need to go and write out my shopping list, I know that I will be there a long time and I don't want to forget anything if I can help it. Have a good evening and keep plugging away on your last minute things.

Heat's On

Here is a picture of our two girls. Dolly (in the background) and Maggie (front). For some reason, this year they have taken to sitting on top of the radiator. They are sisters and both are 6 years old. Maybe they need a little more warmth now that they are getting older. This is a rare occasion that they both are sitting together. Dolly is our timid one, Maggie is the bully, but that night they were being pals and getting along, usually Dolly steers clear of Maggie. I just finished putting a Banana Bread in the oven. It is a recipe from my M-I-L, she got it off of the back of a package of Diamond Walnuts. It's a favorite of ours. And for some reason it only gets made this time of year. When my M-I-L was living she always made two, one was put in the freezer for Christmas morning and we ate that while opening presents. I don't carry on the tradition of making two, but I always have some type of bread or muffin made for us on Christmas morning. I'm taking off tomorrow and I'm thinking of hitting a small mall near us. We don't really do Christmas shopping for each other, but around this time of year I like to go and window shop. Boscov's, one of the anchor department stores at the mall is having sales on insulated curtains/drapes and we could use some of those for the drafty windows. With any luck if the weather is decent this weekend I would like to get outside and do a little decorating, put up some wreaths, garden flags (Christmas ones of course) and I don't know what else just yet. We also need to get some more wood on the porch for the wood stove. Well I left Les watching the timer for the banana bread, but I want to be near by when it goes off. Have a good evening.