I just got off the phone with a very special person from my past.  Someone I think about all the time but have never searched out.  As a lot of you know I did not have a very "normal" family experience.  I was blessed/cursed with a highly unusual upbringing.  My parents were good people.  I know they loved me but the combination of my dad's drinking and my mom's illness (terminal cancer) made it hard for them to parent. I was however, extremely fortunate because there were numerous people in my life who stepped up, in many different ways, to help raise me.  There were my parents best friends, the Leochners and McCrearys.  The Leochners had lived next to my folks when they were all newlyweds.  The friendship continued through children (birth and adopted). The McCreary's  through a work connection.  I came to these two clans and grew up knowing I was part of them all but not really understanding (or caring) how. Most of you know my realtionship with to the Mccreary side but little about the Leochner's.  The Leochners included; Two brothers, one sister, their 7 children; Smoke and Thelma (Leochner Grandparents) and Grandma Greta.  I was probably 12 before I realized they were not "really" family.  Same with the McCreary's.  Always friends.  Their daughter Beverly my best friend (one year older), I spent as much time at their house as my own.  We ALL spent holidays together.  Xmas eve at the McCreary's, Xmas Day at the Leochner's or the Diot's (Uncle Larry's baby sister's).  Bev was there through everything, childhood memories, adolescent angst.  A sister like no other.  The Leochners stepped up when I really needed direction.  They took me in for nearly nine months when I was 15.  Horrible age, so much confusion. I had some continuity, some people who were constant in my life. 
Like all things do, these relationships have ebbed and flowed.  Although the McCreary's have become my always family, I lost contact with the Leochners after high school.  I have thought of them often, wished them well and hoped they thought fondly of me.  Truly after all these years I figured I had been forgotten.
Last night I  received an email from their youngest daughter, Jody (3 years my senior), it was WONDERFUL!!!  Not 20 minutes later our phone rang.  My husband looked at caller ID and said "Do you know an L & J Diot".  I almost fell out of my chair  could it be Aunt Janie and Uncle Louis from so long ago????  I answered and a very familiar voice said "Is this Lesli Ann Johnson?"  I answered affirmatively and  . . . . . what a wonderful conversation we had.  She said"  Do you know how long we have been looking for you?"  I thought, "how lucky am I?". 
So my point friends is this, love and connection are hard to come by.  Shared history (good or bad), can still make you feel stronger and more complete.  All of us have folks in our past that are better left in the past.  We also have people we have unfinished business with.  Folks who cared for us and wonder how we turned out.  People who want the best for us and feel joy and happiness when they hear we are all right.  It is a small and effortless thing to just spend a little time reconnecting.  Drop a note to that 10th grade teacher who mattered, seek out that relative you lost track of long ago, let that old friend from college know how much their support mattered at a critical time in your life.  We have all seen "It's A Wonderful LIfe".  I would never presume to have had the effect that George Bailey did on anyone, but, I guarantee you that there are people in MY life that have had that kind of impact on me.  Thank You seems hardly enough.  It is really all I have.  So Thank You- to family by blood, name and circumstance.  Thank you to friends near and far.  Thank you to those I have met that changed my life and those I have yet to meet who will.  I am blessed. I am grateful. I look forward to the New Year and the chances it affords me.   My wish for all of you?  Take a chance, reconnect, count your blessing- every breathing one.     Happy New Year, Lesli and the women of Shabby House

There were a number of requests for the Pecan Toffee Tassies recipe that we served up at the Shabby House this week.

Paula Deen's Pecan Toffee Tassies

No time for more blogging at the moment ... time for more baking.  Now on to Paula Deen's English Toffee!



Thank you, Paula, and Merry Christmas to everyone!



Lori

Ok so we reluctantly tore apart Halloween merchandising early this week.  Reluctantly because truthfully we felt like we just put it up.  We have decided on room themes, unpacked decorations and are starting on Christmas preparation as I write this.  Wow.  On the upside the store will be amazing . . . .really.  I even ordered faux snow (not the plastic kind mind you- oh no- I had to hit the movie special effects sites and actually order the stuff that is cold to the touch and (supposedly) can be made into snowballs).  SO cool  My husband's only comment was "you know that it will now probably really snow here since you spent that money",  buzzkill . . . . . . 
Well, phooey to the naysayers- I say if I am gonna build a Snow Queen Cave in the little shed I am taking no chances - there WILL BE SNOW.  We have plans for a "Dickens Study", "Beachy Xmas Living Room" and  "Clara's Bedroom"  (you know- Nutcracker). 
We have also got a ton of great gift ideas as we didi our own Xmas shopping and just ordered extra of everything for the store  . . ..  .
hey we have great taste right?  We are lokking forward to next weekend and seeing all of our friends.  Come for some wine and snacks and fun. 
WE just today got our very first order on our online store.  We were highly uncool about it, high fives and possibly a victory dance may have occurred.  Hey this is a big deal for us as we set it all up ourselves with no webmaster, design team etc.  We were shocked anyone actually took us seriously . . . . .kidding, kidding . . . .  hip hip hooray for technologically inept women- we ROCK!
So come see us, check out the online store, shoot us an email or comment and most of all have a safe and fun week out there!  Best to all, Lesli and The Shabby Women

Wow I cannot believe it is almost time for school to start again.  This summer has flown by.  We hope everyone has had a fabulous time and enjoyed the crazy weather and (hopefully) some time off.  It is so easy to get caught up in all of our adult lives and forget to take time to breathe!  The other day I was running around like a chipmunk on caffiene trying to catch up on a bunch of household stuff.  I had been pretty cranky with the kids (play outside, play outside PLAY OUTSIDE!!!!) and they had finally after much rolling of the eyes retreated to the pool and front yard to play.  I had just finished grouting the bathroom (yes, really) when I heard this great giggle (you know the kind that makes you smile involuntarily).  I peeked out the front door and my son (7) was lying on the front lawn while his sister tickled his feet with a long piece of grass, they were in their swim suits, sun tanned and happy, eating popsicles and enjoying summer as only children can.  I thought  "to heck with it" grabbed a popsicle and went to join them in all my grout covered glory.  Another lesson learned.  Sun and popsicles are fleeting- grout is there forever.  Take time to have some sugar in the sun and enjoy what is left of our summer.  Hope to see you at The House!  Best, Lesli (and Lori)

We are so ready for summer at the House.  No more rain!  We are dying to get out front and do some landscaping, continue work on our new office in the barn and redecorate the tents.  Is your home ready for summer?  We have some great outdoor furniture just in time for 4th of July.
As for Lori and I we just want good weather so we can kick back on our respective front porches with a glass of wine and a good book with the dulcet tones of our screaming children in the background.
What is it about summer, swimming and siblings?  My kids will be getting along fine until they hit the pool and then it is all out war over goggles, pool toys who can jump the farthest (really??!!??).   At times I almost cannot wait for the teenage years when they will be laying around the pool with their ipods ignoring me.  (almost can't wait . . .still love that they haven't figured out how dumb I am yet! My parents got really dumb the year I turned 12 but apparently smartened up when I went to college  ha ha).
I still get all sentimental when I smell coppertone.  I remember all those summers at the beach- when we used to put on a white t-shirt  so we wouldn't get too much sun, and used the Coppertone with an spf of 4.  Remember coming home with sand stuck everywhere, delirious from all that warm sun and salt water?  Sticking to the car seats, driving with the windows down and thinking it was the best day ever? Times have changed but it is still wonderful to spend the day in the pool or at the beach with breaks for lemonade and popsicles-awesome at any age.  Have great summer and come see us.

So here comes the guilt trip ladies- this event has (literally) almost killed us!  First Lori fell and blew out her knee, then Lesli was so tired she put her groceries away in the wrong place and tried to make Pledge Chicken (instead of using Pam).   Her tables were exceptionally "buttery" that day.  Seriously this will be a great, amazing, incredible, one of a kind event.  Try and come, plan to come- it will be worth it.  We promise!!!!!

Ok so I am beyond excited about this event.  We spent all day at the shop today moving tents around and setting up space for the band and caterer.  I can finally see everything coming together.  This week we are continuing work on the yard and in the tents and it is going to be exceptionally beautiful.  Picture this . . . . .a shaded yard with plenty of fun and unusual seating, a glass (or two) of wine, amazing food, the outstanding music of Pinto Bennett and friends, wandering the grounds while shopping for fun antiques, junktiques and estate sale items, bidding at the silent auction, stopping to play horseshoes, visit, and observe.  Sounds like the perfect evening to me.   We are getting so creative!!  i am especially excited about the stage area which I dreamed about the other night.  Of course the next night I woke up at 3 am thinking "porta potties" and then stressing about A) absolutely no one showing up and only having one bathroom and limited parking.  Guess there is never the perfect scenario.  Anyway, I am off tonight to listen to the Yonder Mountain String Band with my hubby (a date oh my gosh!!!) and have a few glasses of wine, a good nights sleep and I will worry about it all tomorrow.  Hope you all can come!!!!!  Lesli

Hello everyone!  If you have not done so already, please check out the "Garden Party" section on our website.  This will be a blast.  People have been wonderful!  Silent Auction donations have been coming in, catering is going to be fantabulous, and today . .  .the one . . .the only . . . the great Pinto Bennett said he would do a special perfomance for us at the event.  Wow.  The God's are smiling!!  Mark your calendars for May 8th, 5-9 pm. 

We are so ready for Spring!!  This week we are beginning work on the tents- re-arranging, redecorating and adding many new items to jazz them up!  There is a truck and trailer full of stuff on it's way to us from Seattle and we are hoping to have the place all gussied up by the beginning of next week.  We are so over the winter already!
At present we still have one (possibly 2) tent(s) for rent over the summer months.  If you or anyone you know is interested please contact us for more information.  This is always my favorite time of year, things began to thaw, we decorate the tents and yard and welcome the warmer weather.  Come see us soon!!!

OK mother nature if you are listening we are done with the winter blahs.  We want light and sunshine and flowers and at the very least no more mud!!!  We have decided to pretend it is Spring at the House and have moved and redesigned most rooms.  Come check it out and feed your spring fever.  Open 11-5 Tuesday thru Saturday.  Come cheer us up and lets fight the winter blahs together!!!