December..oh my!

Tree is up...but not decorated. We like to leave it bare, except for lights, for a few days. I would leave it this way if it were up to me...but I am over ruled by a certain daughter itching to get on with the decorating. It smells so good!

I am so very far behind...nothing new there. 

My red chest arrived and I am very happy with it. Decked it out with my other red painted pieces...some fruit and greens. 

Can't believe tomorrow is December! Crunch time!

Have a great weekend...stay safe!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Come to Momma!

When we were in North Carolina we visited a wonderful antique mall called the Tobacco Barn. It is a huge old warehouse sort of place...a picker's paradise. Our car has little room for any extras when we travel, and I had already bought a few goodies, so I knew I was "only looking" when I walked through the doors of this fun place.

Of course I saw lots of baskets I would liked to have brought home, but I knew there was no room. It was cold that day...really cold in that old building with cement floors...and I'd left my coat in the car so I was doing a quick walk around...and then I ventured into a really good booth and spied this Sheraton painted chest...red...with black decorative painting. I admired it and mentioned to Mr.MW that it was red and black and reasonably priced. Annie was cold too, so we left and went about the rest of our day.

The next day I kept thinking about the chest. When Mr.MW returned from his run I told him I'd really like that chest to come live at our house...long story short...I made a call to the Tobacco Barn...asked if that was the best price and could they get it to Florida. A few more calls and a trip back to give it a good looking over and the lovely red chest was mine...an early Christmas present from my fellow.

It will arrive today. I can't wait to brush the dust and dirt off!

I'll take more pics when I get her settled.

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday and that you all have a great week!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Thanks...

We all act as hinges-fortuitous links between other people. 

Penelope Lively

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On Thanksgiving Day last year, after dinner and dishes, I began my blog, Mugwump Woolies. The actual date was the twenty third of November...but for me it started on Thanksgiving.

On this day of gratitude, amid the hustle and bustle of preparation, I wanted to take a moment to thank

 all of you who take the time to drop by for a visit...to those who have become followers...to those of you who brighten my day with your kind words...thank you all.

You have lifted my spirits on many days...you have inspired me with your creativity and generosity...you have awed me with your perseverance and grit. It's a pleasure to know you.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday...spent with family and friends...lots of turkey and pie...laughter and fun. Make some memories, my friends...Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Tennessee visit...

Look who I ran into on a day trip to Tennessee...you might recognize Linda Babb from her picturetrail....The Primitive Stitcher. Her gorgeous new home and her decorating sense are a source of inspiration to many of us. And her sweet, primitive samplers are so very original and appealing...I got to see one up close...and it was wonderful!

Before our trip to N.C., I had emailed Linda about the store where she buys many of her primitive goodies. She was gracious enough to tell me Country at Heart is in Johnson City, Tennessee and mentioned that the ride through the mountains from Asheville to Johnson City was spectacular this time of year. Well...a trip to Tennessee became my pick of the trip.

On Tuesday, we traveled through the mountains...gorgeous!!!...and pulled into the side parking lot. As I turned the corner to enter the shop...there was Linda opening the door to go in. What a fun time I had visiting this wonderful shop and spending a little time with Linda! This lovely lady is a tiny bundle of fun...and kindness. She helped me locate a fabric I've been searching for and directed me to a great antique mall in Asheville.

There was so much to see...I didn't take pictures...but here's another of Linda and me...you can see a bit of the shop here.

It was a really fun visit for me. Thank you, Linda...and Sandra, the owner of this beautiful shop.

Here are a few peeks at some of the goodies that came home to Florida with me.

I can't wait to start decorating for Christmas...but first, there are bags to be unpacked and a weeks worth of laundry to do...

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Our last night in Asheville we attended a dinner in this tent way up on a hill with a spectacular view of the mansion...magic!

Have a great week, everybody!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Biltmore II

It's 28 degrees out there on this beautiful Carolina morning. Mr.MW is out running and Annie is snoozing. 

Last night we returned to the Biltmore mansion for Candlelight Christmas. This is a huge annual event that draws crowds from all over the country...and world. The house was lit with candles and the huge fireplaces were roaring. Choral singers and musicians filled the air with the sounds of Christmas. It was beautiful...and very hard to obey the no photo rule!!!

I did manage to take a few pics outside...these were taken out the window of the jitney as it brought us to the front door. Can you see the slice of moon? It was magical...Annie oohed  and ahed the whole way...and she wasn't the only one.

There were luminary bags lighting the long entrance road drive. The huge tree in the courtyard sparkled with thousands of lights. There is no way you could end your visit and not be totally full of Christmas spirit...I can't wait to get home and start decorating!

The Inn where we are staying is beautiful as well. Here are a few pics of one of the dining rooms...what a view!

 Below is the view from our room...this morning. There is no work of art that can surpass the simple beauty of nature.

Today we are headed to the Tobacco Barn...an antique store/mall that is suppose to be wonderful...I'll let you know!

Have a great weekend!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Biltmore

It's a chilly morning here in Asheville...in the mid thirties. Mr.MW is running...Annie is snoozing...so I thought I'd share a few exterior shots of The Biltmore Estate. Picture taking is not allowed inside the mansion.

The history of this beautiful home is amazing. Built by George Vanderbilt, this mansion was home to George and his wife Edith, and their daughter Cornelia. They entertained on a very grand scale...it's mind boggling...the home has two hundred and fifty rooms...47 bathrooms!  It is still owned by the descendants and is maintained by revenues generated right here on the estate. Did you know that Anderson Cooper is a Vanderbilt descendant? 

We are staying on the grounds of the estate in the Biltmore Inn...a very lovely hotel. There is so much to see and do here...we will be out and about seeing more of the grounds and tonight we will return to the house for a candlelit Christmas tour, complete with carolers. 

For now, here are a few of the pics I took yesterday of the exterior details of the house.

The stone carvings outside and the wood carvings inside are incredible...such amazing artisans contributed their great talents to make this masterpiece. Although it is difficult for me to put my mind around the idea that this was a single family home....

I can thoroughly enjoy the fine details of the many crafts men and artists that created such opulence.

Our humble digs for the duration...notice the V for Vanderbilt.

I'll be back with more...if you want...let me know.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Ah...North Carolina

This morning finds the Mugwump Family in beautiful North Carolina. We drove up yesterday. In fact we retraced the route we took last month to Atlanta for a good bit of the trip.

We were amazed at how much the cotton had grown!

 I love the state of North Carolina. I spent two of my college years here, and so many memories came back as we passed places on the way...

Did you ever read the book Christy by Catherine Marshall? It became a t.v. series starring Kelly Martin as Christy. It is the story of a young teacher who goes into Appalachia to teach the people of Cutter's Gap.

When I was here going to college, three pals and I...took a road trip to Saluda Mountain to see where Christy lived. We were all big fans of the book, and a friend's aunt lived there. She was gracious enough to house four coeds she had never met for a weekend. Her husband worked at the train station where Christy arrived after leaving her home in Asheville. 

We had a ball!  The next day, we met up with one of the actual characters in the book...Red Headed Ruby Mae. Remember that the book was the true story of the author's mother, so the people in the book actually lived. In the book, Ruby is a very young girl...our Ruby was a very elderly woman. We rode up with her to Cutter's Gap as far as we could go in the car, and then she walked us into the Gap. There we saw the old log cabin where she lived as a child...a tumbled down old relic now, but a vivid part of the book. To our utter delight she told us many tales involving all the people of Cutter's Gap...real people that were characters in the book. 

This weekend, so long ago, is one of my favorite memories of my life in North Carolina. I still have my old ragged copy of Christy and have reread it many times. 

We will be taking some road trips...

...and later in the week, we will be going here to see the Vanderbilt Mansion decked out for Christmas. Annie is so excited! Me too!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

*Names and places in the book are fictional, but the characters were based on real people, and the

 places exist under different names.

Randomness

Do you have any of these? She can't wait to get them out each year...and I have to admit...they tug at my heart.

Love 'em!

...real feathers on this fellow

This guy was actually made to wear on your head...we put him on a pumpkin...his feathers are a bit floppy after all these years, but I love his expression!

...gobble...gobble...gobble...

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Green Acres...a few weeks ago, we had some loose tile in our master shower. One Saturday morning Mr. MW mentioned that he was going to check out what was going on with them...we knew water had gotten behind them and that something had to be done. I was here...talking to you all, and when I finally went to investigate this is what I found...bare to the studs. I turned on my heals and put in an s.o.s to our talented neighbor who happens to excel at tile work. I think my exact words to him were, "Please come save us from ourselves!".

...and save us he did...

He is so neat! It's a sad thing when a construction site is the cleanest room in the house!

Loving the new subway tile and safety rails...much safer for Annie.

I'm considering loosening up a few other things around here in hopes Mr. MW will work his magic!

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We are easily entertained...this sweet little face appeared on the top of our stove the other day...love the freckles!

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Once again, I have to say I am having trouble blogging about the minutia of my life when so many are suffering. I have loose tile, make a phone call and a week later I have a new shower.... 

Please remember The American Red Cross...they take Paypal!!! Imagine if everyone gave $5.

Have a great weekend...stay safe!

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

...one lone turkey

           Tina Woltman pinkeep....stitched by Tina's own little fingers


Just wanted to echo what so many are saying today...VOTE...it's your civic duty!

Did you know that The American Red Cross takes Paypal? Can't stop thinking about all those suffering  as a result of Sandy...every little bit helps.

The American Red Cross....New Orleans

Enjoy the day,

Robyn

Talkin' turkey...

I love turkeys! This magnificent fowl is the work of Lori Brechlin...Notforgotten Farm. There is something about this fellow that makes my heart sing. He hangs in our home every day of the year, but will become part of our seasonal celebration decor. This beautiful painting has such a presence...he really looks like an old fraktur. 

And of course, our German candy containers are strutting their stuff on the sideboard. We call them "Turkeys in the Straw". 

These turkeys each have their own personality and expression. When I look at them closely...I think I can hear them gobble.

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I have to say that I was hesitant to post today. My mind is on those fellow citizens who have lost so much in the wake of Sandy. The devastation and loss is so unbelievable. So many are just beginning the long, difficult journey of recovery...so many, with nothing left, must start over. 

Today, I will be packing up Halloween and pulling out more turkeys...but, somehow, this year it won't be quite so much fun. My thoughts will be with those who are suffering.

Enjoy the day,

Robyn