Favorite 'Go To' Shop in New England

Let me introduce you to my favorite shops in New England, "The Christmas Tree Shop".  They are scattered throughout the Northeastern states.  This store has all sorts of things for your home, at very reasonable prices.

It's called "The Christmas Tree Shop" but it's not just for Christmas.  Yes, they have great seasonal items but also many, many other great things not associated with the holidays.  

I thought I'd post a small sample of what was in the store last Thursday.

Cottage Furniture: (this is actually $169)

Daniela is looking for a cabinet to hold her daughter's many paint brushes and art supplies. 

Pottery and Glassware:

Primitives, Country, Rustic?... (I'm not sure what this style is called).

French-y styled storage chests:

At unbelievable prices!

Cute miscellaneous stuff:

Only $6.99 each.  If you had a country kitchen, these would be great above cabinets.  

I loved buying China here.  In the past, I purchased tea pots to hold flower arrangements as gifts.  

Unfortunately, traveling by airplane with only a carry-on does not permit large purchases.  However, there is one thing that I always stock up on every year.  It's the reason we make a beeline to "The Christmas Tree Shop" the first night I'm there:

The napkins!!!!

Made in Germany.  I guess they're technically "expired" by the looks of the date... but do napkins really expire?  
Anyway, the most expensive for forty napkins is $1.99!  I think that's a great bargain.  So, I stuff all these in the bottom of my carry-on luggage and I'm pretty much set for the year.

If you're ever up that way, go to this store.  Don't let the name fool you.  They have health, beauty, stationary, seasonal, food, lamps, pictures, storage...  I could go on and on.  

Love from Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine

To the Norman Rockwell Museum

This past Sunday morning, we decided to head west.  Daniela had never been to the Normal Rockwell Museum.  I had been there only once before, about ten years ago.  It was the perfect opportunity.

We entered the Berkshires mountain area on a perfect day.  

We stopped in Stockbridge, the town where Norman Rockwell lived as an adult.  It's an absolutely picturesque, charming, wonderful place.  Once there, we had to have lunch at the Red Lion Inn.  (humph, no picture.)

The Red Lion Inn has been around since the late 1700's.  The Inn is full of beautiful antiques.  There are no ropes saying, "Hands Off". If I must say, one thing I LOVE about New England people is they are down to earth, honest people.  No pretentiousness here.  We came into the Inn with jeans, messy hair and a highly wrinkled linen shirt (last two were me) and we were graciously welcomed without one glance at our attire.

During lunch there was beautiful live piano music in the background. I just had to get a photo of this man playing for our enjoyment.  

In the main dining room (I'm bummed I didn't get any photos), you're served by the waitstaff with these charming outfits.  Traditional and classic: very New England.

In this Inn, there is also the Country Curtains store.  A few tables over, was the founder and owner of the company, Jane Fitzpatrick.  After lunch, we passed by her table on the way to the store section and met her.  She was gracious, as were the two ladies at her table.  My friend complimented her products and thanked her for such a wonderful company.     I hope we made her day.

This is the pub area.  A gentleman offered to take a picture of us together.   My only request: "Make sure you get the lion.  Make sure you get the whole lion!"  Next time I'm in the area, I'm definitely having a glass of wine in here.   I hope it's not another ten years.

Then it was a few minutes of a tranquil country drive and we were at the museum.  It's amazing to me that a person can get inches away from these famous paintings.  (Side note: I don't know why I'm leaning to touch the pumpkins except maybe for the fact that it gives me something to do other than stand stiffly by the sign.)

This is the basement area of the museum.  (I snapped this with my cell phone.)  It's magazine cover images he painted throughout the years.  There's something about Norman Rockwell paintings that make me get teary eyed at times.  Maybe it's the expression of human emotion that he captured on the canvas.  

After viewing Rockwell's paintings, we headed over to his studio.  His studio was originally located in the town of Stockbridge but the building was relocated to this museum property.

It's a leisurely stroll on this path to get to his studio.  I would love to walk around this property on a regular basis if I lived closer.  

There were paths through the woods too.  

Then we entered the actual studio.  This is where he posed the men, women and children he painted.  That's his actual chair, palette and easel.  The pipe was lost long ago.  This is a replacement.  
It's spine tingling to realize this is where some of his most famous paintings were created.  

This lady was the docent when we first entered the museum. I was so thrilled to see her again and tell her how much we enjoyed her lecture.  She welcomed photographs.  

It was great being back in this museum.  It was a spontaneous decision to go and I'm so glad we did.  Daniela's already planning to go back with her husband.  They'll ride the Harley as the leaves change.  Hmmm... maybe I can tempt He-Man to do the same one year.  

Love from Whippoorwill Road,

Bernadine 

Shopping the Brimfield Fair

This was Friday morning.  The Brimfield Fair is in a very small town in called Brimfield, next to the town of Sturbridge.  The Fair is on both sides of the main street.  Parking is in churches, peoples yards or driveways, and designated areas.  The fee for parking is very reasonable and the people very helpful.  

You've got to be very careful when driving.  Since the Fair is on both sides of the roads, there are crowds that walk next to the road, walk in the road and walk across the road.  Their eyes are on the next big bargain, not on the cars approaching.
I understand that mentality, totally!

I tried to capture the enormity of it all...  I don't think I succeeded. 

Daniela doesn't look it here, but she's really melting.  We picked the hottest day to go to the Fair.  The weather had been beautiful.  But no, not on this day.  I brought the heat with me from Atlanta!  The heat zapped our zeal to explore all the rows and avenues of this extravaganza. 
But I found this little watercolor painting.  It was 50% off, so for only $14, I was taking it home.  

 It's difficult to explain how big this Antique Fair really is.  It goes on and on and on.  

This was my favorite item but it was WAY, WAY out of my price range at $1800!  It did give me an idea for my mantle though.  

We had a great time, sweaty as it was, talking to the vendors, looking at all the goods.  But we were wiped out at the end of the day.  One thing I love about New England are all the great inns, restaurants and shops.  We found this restaurant called "The Copper Stallion".    

We couldn't figure out how to enter the restaurant or find the front door.  Picture two women pulling on locked doors, peeking in windows and staring dumbfounded at the people dining in the upstairs balcony.  Finally, we followed a group who looked like they knew exactly where to enter.

It was towards the back, around the corner of the red painted building.  Literally it was like walking through the back door into this great old house.  It had a great ambiance (sorry, no photos- too tired).  A great equestrian motif (I could just kick myself for not getting photo's).  And great food (I just wanted water, an ice cold beer and some cold hummus).

We would return the next night for dinner again.  (That's when these photos were taken, after a light rain.)  It was a great day at the fair.  But we decided for Saturday, we would skip the fair and hit the yard sales and antique stores instead.  If you get a chance to go to Brimfield, go!  It's a great experience.  Don't forget to bring good shoes, water, and a cart to carry your purchases.  And enjoy the surrounding towns, the great restaurants and the people.  

New England: it's a charming

place to be.

love,

Bernadine