Coffee Anyone?

I love coffee.  The aroma, the taste, the warmth of the cup in my hand, there are few things more satisfying to me than a good cup of joe.

 I loved coffee well before I was ever allowed to drink it.  When I was around seven or eight, I held a precarious spot within my family. I was stuck in the middle with a slew of older cousins already in high school and too cool to play Bedbugs or Operation, and several toddlers that I wouldn't dare let touch my Barbies. During the holidays, after the meal was finished and the men had disappeared to wherever it is that men retreat to while dishes are being put away, I would hang around the kitchen.  I'd breath in the rich aroma of  the coffee brewing and watch as my mother and aunts gathered around the table cups in hand.  Laughter and conversation seemed to accompany the steaming cups, and I so wanted to be a part of their community.  I learned that if I was still enough and didn't fidget in my seat, they would soon forget I was there.  I would drink in their presence fascinated as they clinked and stirred, lipstick-ringed mugs cupped in each hand.  I overheard a lot in that kitchen, probably much more than I should have! 

In college, I would spend hours nestled in the corners of local coffee shops. Whether reading between classes, or chatting with friends, coffee added flavor to the very ordinary activities of my life. I still find that sharing coffee is synonymous with family and friendship for me.  My favorite parts of holiday gatherings still revolve around the cup.  

If you are a coffee lover or have a loved one who is, you'll love all of the vintage percolators, coffee canisters, and  other finds lying around the shop. 

Oh, and if you happen to come in while I'm working, I'll be happy to share a cup with you. The coffee is always flowing-and complimentary- at Grassy Valley!

"A Wishin' and A Hopin'"

Most every little girl dreams of her wedding day.  Even if just for a moment, to try out what it would truly feel like to be a princess swathed in white surrounded by admirers.  Life marches on, and while I'm sure some of these wedding fantasies do become reality, many white stallions and garden tea parties are replaced by civil ceremonies and simple affairs.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, if I had the wedding I envisioned as a five year old I would have been more blinged out than Elton John circa 1978 and our honeymoon would have taken us to the Panama Canal.  Seriously, change is good.

While my tastes have changed over the years, I don't think I have ever outgrown my fascination with weddings.  I am addicted to shows like "My Fair Wedding" and "Say Yes to the Dress", and although I do not want to undertake all of the stress involved in planning a wedding of Kardashian proportions, I do like to fantasize about what it would be like to plan the party of your dreams with zero budget restrictions.  While mine are the musings of an already married crazy woman, I'm sure many sane brides to be share the same sentiment trying to conjure their fantasies into an affordable, realistic affair without losing the magic that lies within a big dream. 

I don't know how you accomplish this besides making sure that every element you select for your wedding is a reflection of what you love and treasure.  We recently had an event planner come into the shop who was interested in a purchasing a large tobacco basket for an upcoming wedding. I'm always amazed by the ingenuity of those who can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.  Now, I too envision that basket filled with fresh flowers providing a beautiful centerpiece with a little history thrown in.  How perfect that the basket's rough exterior reflecting hard work and labor is part of a ceremony in which two will promise the same diligence to one another.

The basket got me thinking of other antique and vintage items that could lend their charm to a wedding celebration.  I am always delighted to see personal touches and thought thrown into a ceremony. Mismatched vintage china used during a reception dinner, or mason jars filled with wildflowers are both inexpensive ways to add functional beauty to an event.  Why not adorn old windows with photographs that chronicle the bride and groom's history together and create their own personal love story?  

The ideas are endless, and the journey to unleash your creativity may be almost as fun as the main event itself.