EMPORIUM EXTRAORDINARY

                                                                                                                                                           Tucked into the Deerfield Valley, in southern Vermont is my favorite emporium to visit, Delectable Mountain Cloth "operating since 1978."  It's a jewel box of a store that will entice all of your senses.  My heart beats faster as I approach the artfully decorated store front. It can take at the very least a minimum  of ten minutes to drool at the window dressing before entering.  My heart does a flip flop, beating faster, and faster, which way should my eyes wander?    I FEEL LIKE ALICE FALLING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.... AND OH WHAT A MAGICAL ADVENTURE I'M ABOUT TO TAKE.......

BABY AND DOLL DRESSING GOWNS HANG FROM THE  RAFTERS

 IN THIS DREAM...."TEA TIME OR A GLASS OF SHERRY MY DEAR" SAYS THE MAD HATTER
WHILE I RAMBLE THROUGH THE LACES

ARE THESE ANTIQUE  EARRINGS BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYED ON A SILK PILLOW DRAPED WITH  LACE OR JUST THE EXQUISITE EYE OF THE OWNER, WHO FERRETS OUT PRECIOUS JEWELS AT MOST REASONABLE PRICES

"EL CAPITAN " OF THE ADVENTURE .....JAN...SHOWING OFF HER NEWEST ACQUISITION, A FROU FROU OF OSTRICH FEATHERS AND ROSES, TOTALLY DEVINE....ALAS THE HATS ARE FOR HER COLLECTION AND FOR THE DREAMER TO DROOL FOR... 

"CHURCH HATS" MINGLE WITH LACE AND NECKLACES

FLOWERS DRIPPING WITH MORE NECKLACES

ANTIQUE BUTTONS MINGLE WITH NEW CZECHOSLOVAKIAN GLASS PRESSED INTO ANTIQUE BUTTON MOLDS.  ARRANGED BY COLOR NATURALLY,  ARTFULLY DISPLAYED DRIPPING FROM PRESSED GLASS PLATES AND CRYSTAL SALT SELLERS

A OLD TIME VITREN WITH A UNPARALLELED SELECTION OF LACE SHARE SPACE WITH  COLOR CO ORDINATED FLOWERY HEAD PIECES.....AND A LITTLE WINK AT THE SUMPTUOUS ARRARY OF TO DIE FOR FABRICS  There motto is "The store is small but our love for fabric is big"  

MORE STILL LIFES TO ENHANCE THE SENSES

CAN YOU TELL THAT I WEAR MY HEART ON MY FLOWER HATS?

MY DEAR FRIEND IS ALL SMILES ON HER VERY FIRST VISIT!  YOU CAN'T HELP BUT WANT TO TOUCH, FEEL THE VAST ARRAY OF NATURAL FIBERS... SILKS, LINENS, COTTONS  & WOOLS

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE CAN BE FRIGHTFUL BUT IN HERE....IT'S ETERNALLY SPRING!

AS YOU TREASURE HUNT......PRECIOUS BITS OF LOVELINESS WILL   PUNCTUATED YOUR VIEW

PEAKING OUT FROM THE DELICIOUS BUTTON SELECTION  I SPY A FRIEND AND OH MY I'M CAPTURED IN THE ANTIQUE DRESSING TABLE MIRROR!

HUNG LIKE DELECTABLE CONFECTIONARY FOR A BRIDE TO BE OR A TEXTILE ENTHUSIAST  IS AN UNPARALLELED  DISPLAY OF  WHITE TEXTILES

LIKE ANY GOOD DREAM YOU CAN WANDER INTO THE WINDOW DISPLAY TO FINGER THE FINERY 

DID I MENTION THE SCARVES? OH MY, MY,  MY.....AS ONE PASSIONATE OBSERVER SAID, " TIS A SORROW THAT WE ARE BORN WITH JUST ONE NECK"  THE SELECTION IS DAZZLING, SOME MADE IN STORE FROM THEIR VERY OWN STASH OF VELVET, SILK OR LINEN 

TREASURE MAPS?  KIND OF IF YOU LIKE BITS AND PIECES OF FABRIC TO CREATE WITH  ALL SELECTED AND BUNDLED UP AND RIPE FOR THE PICKING

TWO HAPPY LADIES LADEN WITH TREASURES AND ALREADY DREAMING OF  THEIR NEXT ADVENTURE TO THE SPARKLING LAND OF DELECTABLE MOUNTAIN CLOTH...... THANK YOU JAN AND HER DISCERNING EYE AND HER EQUALLY PASSIONATE STAFF...... WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL YOU RUMMAGE THROUGH THAT ESTATE SALE YOU INHERITED AND SHARE THE TREASURES..... A MOVEABLE FEAST........ 

BZ STYLE 4TH OF JULY DINNER

 WE WERE TO HAVE A PICNIC WITH FRIENDS AND WATCH FIRE WORKS......MOTHER NATURE HAD OTHER PLANS....THUNDERSTORMS.  SO NOT TO BEE OUTDONE...WE JUST TRANSFERRED THE EVENT IN DOORS.

THE TABLE WAS SET WITH A TULLE "TABLE CLOTH" FOUND BY THE YARD AT JOANN'S FABRIC.  TRACY STILLWELLS DOLL GRACED THE TABLE AS THE CENTER PIECE WITH SOME RED,WHITE AND BLUE STARS FOUND IN BZ'S STASH.  FLAGS EMBELLISHED THE GLASSWARE. "GIRLS" PLACE SETTINGS HAD BLUE STAR NAPKINS AND A LITTLE GIFT OF: FLAG BRACELETS TO WEAR AND TAKE HOME

THE "MENS" PLACE SETTING HAD RED & WHITE GINGHAM CHECK

   EVERYONE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DINNER:
   J& K BROUGHT THE STARTERS OF COLD SHRIMP
  R&J BROUGHT A FABULOUS CREAM CHEESE & CRABMEAT STARTER
 THE MEAL CONSISTED OF DELICIOUS COLD CUCUMBER SOUP (THANK YOU R & J)
 HOME GROWN DEVINE CAPRESE SALAD BROUGHT BY J & K
S'WONDERFUL ASPARAGUS, COOKED TO PERFECTION BY R&J
BZ'S  BARBECUED CHICKEN
MICROWAVED FRESH CORN ON THE HUSK
AND BZ'S RED, WHITE & BLUE DESSERT (RECIPE TO FOLLOW)  

FIRST LAYER OF THE DESERT

THE DESSERT ALL DRESSED UP

THE DESSERT ALA MODE (HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM) SERVED ON  A FLAG TRAY



RECIPE FOR THE PICNIC STYLE RED,WHITE AND BLUE DESSERT
SERVES 8
8  125ML SIZE "MASON JARS" I USED GLASS ONES
1 PACKAGE OF MOLASSES COOKIES
1/2 PT FARM FRESH BLACK RASPBERRIES (RED ONES ARE OK IF YOU CAN'T FIND THE BLACK)
1 PT BLUE BERRIES
2 WHITE PEACHES, DROPPED IN HOT WATER FOR 1 MINUTE, PEELED, PITTED AND SLICED INTO 8/16 PIECES
1 PT FARM FRESH STRAWBERRIES
2T SUGAR OR TO TASTE
2t KIRSCH / CLEAR CHERRY BRANDY
HOME MADE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM OR GOOD QUALITY STORE BOUGHT

1) IN A FOOD PROCESSOR "CRUSH" THE COOKIES TO CRUMBS
2) IN A MEDIUM SIZE BOWL WITH A FORK CRUSH THE BLACK RASPBERRIES. ADD 1T SUGAR.STIR IN THE WASHED BLUE BERRIES.  ADD THE 1T KIRSCH.  TASTE AND ADJUST SUGAR OR KIRSCH                        
.
3)  USING A TABLE SPOON ADD 1T COOKIE CRUMBS TO THE MASON JARS AND SOOM OUT ( IF YOU NEED     MORE CRUMBS PLEASE ADD)                                                                                                                                            

4) ADD 1T BLUEBERRY MIXTURE  TO EACH MASON JAR AND WITH THE BACK OF TH SMOOTH EVEN OUT THE MIXTURE.                                                                                                                                                                          

5)    NOW REPEAT WITH THE WHITE PEACHES                                                                                                                    
6) FINALLY ADD A LAYER OF STRAWBERRIES. IF YOU ARE  PACKING THIS DESSERT TO TAKE TO A PARTY OR PICNIC I SUGGEST SLICING TH STRAWBERRIES AND ADD A 1T OF SUGAR TO THEN BEFORE ADDING THEN TO THE JAR.  I KEPT MINE ON THE TABLE READY TO BE GARNISHED WITH FLAG FOR ABOUT 4/5
HOURS  BEFORE READY TO SERVE                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7)   SERVE AS IS OR GARNISH WITH AN ALA MODE OF STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM

NEED I SAY WE ALL LICKED OUT PLATES AND HAD A GRAND OLE TIME?                                                                                                                                                                         



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
             



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

4TH OF JULY IN VERMONT

AN ANNUAL EVENT  IN SOUTHERN VERMONT IS THE 64TH WARDSBORO 4th OF JULY PARADE. YOU NEED TO WAKE UP EARLY AND BRING A FOLDING CHAIR TO GET A "GOOD SEAT" IN THE SHADE.  THIS YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION!   SPECIALLY SINCE THE WEATHER HAD BEEN STORMING CATS N DOGS FOR WEEKS AND THE DAY WAS TURNING OUT JUST SPECTACULAR (IF A LITTLE STICKY)  THE PARADE (ANNOUNCED ON A SPEAKER SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING YOUR WAY) GOES UP MAIN STREET, TAKES A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND RETURNS FOR A REPEAT PERFORMANCE (SO THAT YOU CAN BEE CAMERA READY) PLUS THERE ARE VENDING BOOTHS OF ARTS & CRAFTS TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED WHILE YOU WAIT.

WHAT'S A VERMONT PARADE WITH OUT A FEW BLACK AND WHITE COWS?

IT WAS A MOOVALAS DAY!

THE CHILDREN ENJOY CANDY BEEING TOSSED FROM THE  FLOATS

HILLBILLY MEETS THE DUCKS

EVEN THE MAJESTIC CLYDESDALES WERE STICKING THEIR TONGUES OUT  FROM THE HEAT

GRANDMA OF THE TOWN @ 92 YEARS YOUNG CAME DRESSED AS THE ENERGIZER BUNNY

OINK, OINK FROM THE LOCAL BBQ/SMOKING COMPANY

HAVE YOU SEEN DOROTHY?

ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE FLAG

PROUD FARMER

THE START OF THE ANTIQUE CARS

A FABULOUS MODEL T?

A FRIEND IN THE RUMBLE SEAT

HUNTING FOR MOONSHINE?

I'M VOTING FOR NIXON ( SEE THE STICKER)

WHAT WERE YOU SMOKING WHEN YOU PAINTED THIS CAR?

FARMERS MARKET SPECIAL

CAN YOU GUESS THE MAKER OF THIS CAR?

MY FAVORITE PICK UP TRUCK

HAD TO SHOW A SECOND VIEW, LOVE THE GREEN AND WHITE TIRES

ANOTHER BEAUTY

A FABULOUS ANTIQUE FIRE TRUCK, NOTICE THE BIG LADDER

WHAT'S THE 4th WITHOUT STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE?

A TRIBUTE TO THE RED, WHITE & BLUE

BABSIE ENJOY STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

BZ ABOUT TO TAKE A BITE

THE CHURCH HAD A QUIT SHOW!

QUILTS WHERE DRAPE OVER THE PEWS....FABULOUS

EACH ONE BREATHTAKING!

A FRIENDSHIP QUITL THAT WAS SIGNED BY EACH LADY IN INK

A LITTLE PRINCESS , CAMERA SHY, HOT AND STICKY, BUT ENJOY A  ICE CONE!


THERE WERE LEMONADE STANDS AND A CHICKEN BBQ OF COURSE. .......  NOT TOO BEE MISSED PIES, BLUEBERRY OR STRAWBERRY WERE BEING SOLD  TO TAKE HOME FOR YOUR FAMILY GATHERING LATER IN THE DAY. THAT'S THE NEXT BLOG STORE........ A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.