Merry Christmas!

This is to all of you incredible blog friends from far and near! You made my almost first year an amazing experience and reading your comments and your blogs has given me countless new insights and joy. I truly had no idea how much fun it was going to be!
I am humbled and grateful for all you have given me! I have learned to navigate my way around, still need to get the hang of some little details, try not to fear new things and hope to improve my pictures as I come along with you all into the new year!

And big thanks to my family, who has endured hours of Mama's absence due to excessive blogging... I love you! Thank you for your acceptance, humor and love!
Thanks to the older boys, without their help I would not have started in the first place! Frohe Weihnachten, Jungs!

With some pictures of holiday decorations in our house I say farewell for this year and see you all in the beginning of 2010!



May the next year bring all of us joy and happiness, health and and many reasons for gratitude! It's a wonderful life!
Merry Christmas to you and a happy New Year!

XX
Victoria



All pictures by V.Zlotkowski

Union Christmas 1864

This is an image of the Union Christmas Dinner 1864 created by Harper's weekly.
Click on the image to enlarge it, so you will enjoy all the details of the print.

It got me thinking of the times back then, in the midst of the Civil War. 145 years ago.
America and the allies are fighting a different kind of war now and troops are out there in dangerous places. Families are waiting for their safe and soon return.
My heart goes out to all of them!


XX
Victoria

Join me at a half day...

Most of my work and things I need to do on my own are usually crammed into half days. Most people with older school age children and a working life will know what I am talking about. Afternoons are reserved for chauffeuring the kids to various activities, some last minute grocery shopping, providing snacks and dinner and overlooking the home front...evenings have gotten out of control, since no child of mine is early in bed anymore. I announced a few weeks ago that after 8PM the kitchen is closed for service and Mama is off....doing her things!
The moment the kids are off to school my day begins and I have to be totally organized to finish what I plan to do. Sometimes a lovely diversion comes around by travel/shopping with clients.
Yesterday was such a day, and of course I needed to be home by 3 PM. Thank goodness my client sits in the same boat so to speak and needed heading home too!
We had ordered a pair of lamps, made by Susan Schneider of Shandell's up in Millerton,NY. Yesterday we drove up there to pick them up and used the midday to window shop and had a lovely lunch in the county side...






Millerton in Dutchess county is a pretty little town, Millbrook with it's wineries is nearby and so is Rhinebeck! It attracts artists, artisans and people in search of the good life...
The small place is the home of Harney and Sons Tea Company and you can find their teas almost everywhere!


They even have a delightful small restaurant complete with tea tasting room in Millerton!

The classic local diner...

Within walking distance one can find not one or two but at least three beautiful appointed design stores. From small soaps and candles to large chandeliers everything is available.
At PUNCH on Church Street I found a pretty little stamp box, filled with old fashioned stamps to decorate letters with. I love to write pretty letters, so it will come in handy!




They also had wonderful pillows and small rugs, china and decorative items! Very eclectic, uncommon goods for home and garden! And for one self and friends to spoil!




Not far at NEST on Main Street more beautiful pillows, artwork, tableware and just everything else for a well decorated home can be found!



There are some antique stores...






...and an old fashioned country store with beautiful woolen shirts by Woolrich, complete with soda counter and useful items for hiking, hunting and more...



There is a lovely coffee shop with delicious homemade foods and drinks, and all has an incredibly inviting feel to it! The communal book shelve there boasted an old edition of Wagner's Tannhaeuser, complete with music sheets!!! I was wondering...




No wonder though, it is also home to Eddie Ross and his partner Jaithan. Their sweet little country house was featured in the first (online)Lonny Magazine.

On my way back I snatched a couple of landscape pictures, the snow made everything even more pretty and I can't wait to go there again towards the warmer season to explore the neighborhood!







Yesterday was a wonderful half day!!! And truth be told, the second half turned out quite as nice...


XX
Victoria



Pictures by V.Zlotkowski

A little bit of this and that

Everybody is in the holiday mood and I take it, we all can use a bit of easy entertainment, no more of have to and need to:


Just fun and games....many of you have already folded the blog business for this year and I do not blame you, but for time being I will hang on to it, we are staying put here in our snowy Northeast, perhaps some skiing days after Christmas...
We have a snowstorm forecast for this weekend, earlier I supplied our household with all things needed and sitting here by the fire I now feel it can come and we stay snugly inside!


Apart from those survival essentials I usually read whenever I need some time to relax.
I happened to be in Diane's bookstore in Greenwich,CT, one of my favorite little bookstores. It is one of those rare places, where you feel the loving touch of the book lovers at work, shelves packed delightfully to the ceiling with books, beckoning to be cracked open.
There is a small upstairs, reached through a creaking staircase, art books, design book and more, downstairs from children's books through historic novels and cook books everything a reader's heart desires. This place is lovely and I wished I lived closer...below a few of the books, which caught my attention:







Every one of them more delightful then the next...

Being in the season of giving and receiving, I received an unexpected book gift from Apartment Therapy, perhaps because I participated in one of their contests. I did not order it and yet, it arrived on my doorsteps the other night. It is a delightful crosscut through the apartments, they had featured over the years.


Thank you, guys, this is a wonderful gesture and I appreciate it very much!

And lo and behold my third book from 'The Various' trilogy has arrived too, a gift to myself by the British author Steve Augarde. I adore these books and I am already deep into this one! I can only recommend it!



And while checking my e-mails, I still receive some from here, a place where I used to buy toys for my little ones, who are by now not so little anymore.
And I cannot decide to cut my ties, so I browse and think of toddlers who might be in need for some delightful toys...





Thinking of gift giving: I found and bought many things way before December and now dig them out from various hiding places, like a squirrel in winter!




This fun pillow via Etsy seller christiechase.


But it seems the biggest gift I can bestow on my family and myself is the gift of time:
Time to sit with my husband and share more then the household repair list, time for my daughter, who needs me to listen to her dreams, time for my youngest boy to cozy up and read books with him, time for my oldest boys to read their letters, hear their plans and take part in their lifes overseas.
Time to talk to my parents and siblings, time to reflect and renew, time to give to friends and time to just give...
I have been thinking about the old complaint of the missing time: This new year shall be a year of finding time. It is about making decisions and if in doubt, I will make time! Perhaps one less post to blog and instead listen, one less shopping trip and instead read to someone, one less errand to run and instead cooking with the family, one less planned out weekend and instead the pleasures of sweet nothings together with the ones you love...
I will start right now and leave you here, sitting instead with the children and watch the movie with them, a movie which has been waiting for us since two weeks ago in it's red envelope:
Bridges to Terabithia...


Good night!
XX
Victoria


Pictures by Victoria Zlotkowski, via google image, bookends from Christopher's in Nyack,NY, Anthropologie and as indicated.