Saturday the 14th

Elaina and I wanted to try out a new grocery store that opened in New Bern called "Publix."   I had a feeling it was going to be pricey as far as groceries go, but those kind of stores tend to have more variety of items than we can find in Food Lion or Walmart.

They carry a low calorie kind of ice cream-like item by the brand name of Halo Top that Elaina likes, so we bought that and a few items that just looked good.  It's a beautiful store and has all kinds of immentities, but too pricey for our everyday kind of shopping.

Of course, since it's in New Bern, they have to have their own Bear out front like most bigger businesses in New Bern.  
(Swiss Bern = Bear)

Well, because we were in New Bern, we also had to stop at Andrea's Attic Antiques on Trent.  This is one of our favorite places and I refer to the proprietor as our "Southern Gentleman."  He is a nice man with a truly southern accent.  Not just southern, but more of a refined accent, thus, my nickname for him.  Heard today that he used to be "in insurance."  He has maybe a hundred framed art pieces throughout the store and he is very proud of them.

(This one is labeled 1920s Mission at Santa Barbara, CA $495)

He buys complete estates and keeps the store packed with antiques. Today he was excited to show me a quilt he had just purchased for the store.  He had me help him open it up completely to show it to me.  He was proud of the fact that it was a North Carolina flower design.  He made a point of saying it was not a Pennsylvania Dutch pattern, but was truly a North Carolina pattern.

(The top quilt on the right is the one. Priced at $295.
It was very big!)

I didn't find anything there for me to buy today.  That doesn't mean I didn't see anything I wanted!  Like I said, it's packed with antiques of all kinds and if he was giving them away, I'd gladly take them!

It was a nice day to get out of the house and see new things.

Etsy in December 2016

December 2016 has been my best month for selling on Etsy, EVER.

Here it is the 20th of the month and I have had 13 sales. (14 items) Last December I had one sale.  It was a good one, but just the one. 

I have been trying to learn more about selling online and I guess some of what I've learned is paying off.  I've learned that you absolutely have to connect on other social media like Pinterest and Instagram.  I think those two have given my shop more exposure. (Thanks to my daughter for her social media expertise.)

That's done by "pinning" my own items to Pinterest boards, and posting pictures of my for sale items on Instagram using hashtags that are popular with other people who love vintage items.  
Like:
#vintageshopping
#fleamarketfinds
#vintageinspired

If you've ever wondered what kinds of things I sell, or what kinds of  vintage things people buy on Etsy, here's my December list of items sold:

Vintage Button Brooch

George and Martha Creamer and Sugar

Will Rogers Bio Book

Vintage pot holders

Embroidered Cloth

Art Deco Vanity set

1971  Cloth Calendar

Toy Iron

Children's Muffin tins

Amish Pepper Shaker

Embroidered Cloth

Mother of Pearl Tie Tack

Vintage Anne Diary

Hankie filled with Lavender

Am I making a living?  Far from it.  So far still a hobby, but who knows.  It may come in handy some day.  Here's the link to my shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PicketfencesVintage

Here's my Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/picketfences3

Here's my Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/Picketfences3

Another trip into Burgaw, NC

I found out earlier this week that Stover's Auction House in Burgaw was having a one day tag sale today, so I made plans to go.  Since it's almost an hour away, I planned on leaving home at 7:45 a.m. It's best to get there early and sign in, so you're one of the first to get in.

We had a hard freeze last night, so it was 27 degrees when I went out to my car.  My car was covered in ice.  I used the scraper on my windshield, but it didn't do much.  I finally had to back my car up enough in the driveway so that the sun shined on it before I could leave!  I didn't get to leave until 8!

Such pretty little ice crystals all over the car.  

 I got to the auction house and there weren't many people there this time.  They had mostly furniture and some china pieces but nothing I was interested in to list on Etsy.

If you've read a previous post, you know I've been to Burgaw before.  I decided to stop at Fremont Antiques and see what they had.  It's a very nice store and I have bought something there each time I go.  So, I did so today too!  I bought 5 items that I can turn around and sell on Etsy for more than I paid for them.  

Fremont Antiques is in "Historic Downtown Burgaw."  I noticed today that the shop next door is actually an old fashioned department Store!  Imagine that.  Reminds me of the SQR store in Anaheim, where I grew up.

Fremont Antiques

Harrell's Department Store

Over the door Harrell's reads Established in 1903

Burgaw is a cute little town with lots of old homes, a huge courthouse (Pender County Courthouse) and a typical statue of a historic person in front.  The downtown area appears to be trying to revitalize, with coffee shops, cafes and other businesses.

Oh, and I saw this sign in the antique store. I thought it was appropriate for North Carolina, with all the hunting that is done here.

Anyway, it turned out to be worth the trip into Burgaw even though the auction house wasn't successful.  Hunting for vintage things for Etsy is my job for now.  (It's a good thing I enjoy it!)

(At noon, the temp. was 39, and now at 3:15 it's 45. Trying to stay warm.)

End of November

Well here it is, the end of November.  December will be here in two days.  Hard to believe.

Elaina cooked a great Thanksgiving meal for the two of us.  She made a wonderful cranberry sauce this year that had crushed pineapple in it.  It was so good!  We made soup with the leftover turkey.  

Our weather has been very different this fall.  First we had very warm days earlier in November and since then some cold days and a few freezes over night.  We wake up to see the lawns covered in white. However, today has been another weird day.  It's in the 70's, very humid and windy.  We have been very concerned about the fires in the western part of the state and in TN and have hoped
that moister air would help, and some rain, but the wind would definitely not help. News from that area today is not good.  So sad.

Because of the warm weather, the trees didn't start changing color at their usual time.  Now, everywhere you look, the trees have reds, yellows, and orange colors.  So pretty.  But it's also starting to look a little "bare" since the leaves are really starting to fall.  The only ones keeping the forest looking like forest are the pines (and there's a lot of pines!)  

Over our back fence

across the street

Today I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel with my Life Group ladies. It's the last meeting until the new semester starts.  Then I went to the USO and helped decorate for Christmas.

I helped with these two areas, but there was a lot more decorating going on.  There was at least 5 trees being decorated at the same time.  






After that I drove over to the church to pick up our tickets for the Christmas program. They are free tickets, but you have to have them ahead of time or you may not get to go, since the congregation is so big.  There's several showings but still, you have to have your reservation. 

I'm still selling on Etsy, with a sale or two every month.  Looking for a job of course. Still don't know what will be happening, but I"m trusting that God has something for me.  Most jobs I've had in the past came from "word of mouth" rather than just applying all over the place.  Hoping that happens soon.

Light Sisters' Retreat 2016

Well, Light Sisters' Retreat ended on Saturday with a trip to the Jacksonville airport.  So sad to see it end!

We had a great time shopping for antiques and enjoying the beautiful Eastern North Carolina countryside and the great beaches and state parks.  Thanks to Elaina, we didn't have any trouble finding where to go and how to get there.  

One of the highlights last week, was a visit and tour of Marine Corps Air Station New River, where Elaina is a Family Readiness Officer.  We met and shook hands with her Commanding Officer and the Sergeant Major of HMH 366, helicopter squadron, the Hammerheads. 

Aviation Memorial out front at New River

We always hope for cool Fall-like weather, every retreat, however usually in California, we have warm-to-hot weather in October, our usual month.

So, this year, we figured being in Eastern North Carolina, in November, SURELY we would have cool Fall-like weather.  Uh, Eastern North Carolina had the warmest November 1st since 1950!!!  Sorry sisters!  I tried.  

On Friday, we planned on taking a ferry to Cape Lookout, which neither Elaina, nor I had done before.  There's a lighthouse there, and a great place to go shelling, and to see the wild horses.  We drove an hour and a half to get to the ferry, in the rain, believing that the rain was supposed to stop by 10 a.m.  We were told at the ferry that the rain wouldn't be stopping anytime soon, and the wind was going to be so strong that the ferry wouldn't be running in the afternoon.  So disappointing to have to cancel that adventure, but we were given a refund on our ferry ride.  Maybe next time.

I found several items in the antique stores that were low-priced enough that I can list them for a higher price in my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/PicketfencesVintage?ref=hdr_shop_menu

I think we all had a good time, including the non-Light Sister, brother-in-law Ron.  We have good restaurants in the area and we tried several of them!  He got to have some fresh seafood.

So thankful that my sisters (and Ron) were willing to come here to see me and find out why I love it so much.  Thankful for Elaina's willingness to be tour guide extraordinaire!

USO Volunteer Dinner

Last night I attended the USO Jacksonville Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.  It was a really good dinner, catered by the Carolina Ale House restaurant here in Jacksonville.  It was a typical Eastern Carolina menu:

Barbecue 

(in NC that means pulled pork, with a Carolina style sauce)

macaroni and cheese

coleslaw

 a potato side similar to scalloped potatoes

and a roll

The president of the USO NC was there and spoke about the past two months and how busy they were for the USO. When there were riots in Charlotte and the National Guard were called, the USO had to set up a mobile unit, and then again after Hurricane Matthew when the National Guard came out to help they had to set up another USO unit.  He said within 8 hours, they had a unit set up to help take care of the needs of the National Guard with the help of Walmart and Harris Teeter (a grocery store) Amazing.  He said Walmart and Harris Teeter said, "just come in and take what you need."  So they did.  Bottled water, sunscreen, wet wipes, socks, etc.  

He had very nice things to say about volunteers and said they couldn't do what they do without us.  The USO is "The Force behind the Force."  They gave out awards according to how many hours of volunteering you have done.  Many people have hundreds and hundreds of hours of volunteering.  I only have 43.5 hours, but would like to do more.  If I get a job, that may not be possible, but who knows.

I received these items:

a t-shirt, water bottle and a personalized letter from John Falkenbury, the president of USO NC

Normally, it would be volunteers setting up for events like this, so, somehow they got it all set up without us!

Mr. Falkenbury reminded us that if you give to the USO National Office, it stays there, but you can give to the USO Jacksonville and it stays right here in Jacksonville.  The NC USO is a charter of the National USO.  The Jacksonville USO is the longest operating USO in the world, operating since December of 1941!

Other USO's were opened during other wars, but closed down when the wars ended.  This one has never closed.  It's a neat old building too.  It feels like 1941 when you step inside.

In other news, my sister Sue and brother-in-law Ron are due here Saturday night!  My sister Dorcas will arrive on Tuesday afternoon. So excited!  We're going to have fun, and we're not going to talk about politics or elections AT ALL!  Hooray!

I have fun places to visit on the schedule and of course antique stores are the main ones! Hope they can handle all the "country folkiness" of Eastern North Carolina!

Flooding and Beautiful Fall Weather

I just listened to Gov. McCrory's press conference for today.  He has been very good about reporting what's happening in NC since Hurricane Matthew.  The Neuse and Tar rivers and maybe more, are still not at their highest level.  They will continue to rise until Saturday, a week after the hurricane.  The flooding of the rivers is because of the immense rain fall that happened across the state.

There are 3800 people in shelters either because they already lost their home, or they had to evacuate and are still waiting to hear if their home will be spared.  Very sad.  Again, so grateful that we are fine here.

On another note, shelling at the beaches is great after a storm or in this case a hurricane.  Elaina and I went to Fort Macon State Park  and picked up a few shells. 

Well, not just a few.  I have more than I know what to do with right now.  The beach was just covered in shells, small, medium and large.  Also many, many horseshoe crabs washed up on the beach.

Horseshoe crab

 When I say there's lots of shells, I can't even begin to explain just how many.  I can't walk barefoot (I have tender feet!) on the beach down by the water.  It's too "crunchy."   When the waves come up and cover a huge pocket of shells, they makes a crackling sound unlike anything I've heard before. 

Anyway, we had a good time picking up shells.  So sorry for the people of Eastern North Carolina who are still experiencing the effects of Hurricane Matthew.

The Day After the Storm

We ventured out in town today, finally being able to get out of the house.  We saw many trees down, traffic lights not working, and stores that are usually open on Sunday, that were closed.  I have never seen Walmart closed before until today!  I don't know what the problem is, but maybe it's electrical.  If your computer system is down, makes it kind of hard to do business these days.

There's still  emergency situations going on because the rivers are still rising.  The pictures are amazing.  People who evacuated their beachfront homes and went to higher ground, found their hotel rooms under water and not able to get home.  Rescues were being done for people who thought they were getting away from danger. Just a crazy situation.  People in towns with rivers like the Tar River and others, are having to evacuate even today.

Here's a couple of pictures of the New River near the USO.  The water level is really high, but not overflowing, at least not yet.  The USO is open tonight for their movie night for single Marines.  They get about 30 Marines in for snacks and a movie.  Gives them something to do on a Sunday evening (especially if there's no electrical power in the barracks).

 

I'm still feeling very grateful and thankful that we have been just fine here during this hurricane. Sorry for all the people who have flooding still happening in towns all over North Carolina.

Hurricane Matthew Oct. 8, 2016

5:30 a.m.   woke up to the sound of rain on my windows which means the wind is blowing

11:00 a.m.  the wind is blowing quite hard and is whistling around the house.  The rain is coming in sideways, and every whichway. The siding on the house is very noisey. Elaina said some people in Jacksonville have already lost power.  Uh oh.  She had me fill the bathtub with water in case we need it for toilets, etc.

11:25  Tornado warning given and flash flooding warning for our area.  Matthew isn't even here yet.  Watching weather channel and getting weather alerts on my phone.  We get "emergency broadcast" reports on tv.  Tornado is moving away from us now.

Later in day:  more wind, more rain.  flooding in areas of town and some power outages.  Ours went out for a little while, but came back on.  So thankful.  There's no flooding in our yards, or the street.  Rain is definitely a problem because we were already soggy from previous rains.

9:15 p.m.  Wind has picked up quite a bit.  Expecting possibility of losing power again as Matthew is due here around 10-11 p.m. Came upstairs for the night, so I don't have to climb the stairs in the dark if it happens.  Matthew is a category 1 right now.  The wind is really whistling tonight.  I think now it is sustained wind, rather than just gusts. A very different sound.

9:00 a.m. Sunday  So grateful that all is well right here. We didn't even lose power. Many, many problems all around us though, in Jacksonville, Swansboro, Topsail, New Bern, etc.  Rivers expected to continue to overflow, roads washed out, power lines down.  Fayetteville has severe flooding.  We still have gusty winds here and we will stay secure at home.  Winds can gust up to 50 miles per hour.  Elaina has many friends in the area that are sharing damage to their homes and power outages.  Even saw  on line of areas of our old neighborhood that had flooding and power outages. Again, so grateful that we fared so well.  (We have one gate that looks a little worse for wear)

I'm going to do some sewing today and continue getting ready for company in 3 weeks!

Hurricane Prep

Well, today is October 7, 2016 and we are getting ready for my first hurricane.  Matthew that is.

We have heard so many different reports about the effect it will have on us right here in Jacksonville, it's been hard to know for sure what we should do. (For me anyway)  Today's report was a little more ominous.

My wise and experienced daughter has been through hurricanes before, and it's her opinion that we should stay right where we are. We don't have to be anywhere for the next few days anyway (all weekend church services have been cancelled).  It can also be a problem if you leave the area; it's happened before that people have trouble getting back home because of closed roads, etc.  So, we are staying put.  She has to be at work on Tuesday!

I'm glad that we are in this house for this though, because the old house on Brookside had 12-15 tall trees in the backyard.  Each thunderstorm we had there was a little scary.  Here, the big trees are outside the fence of the yard.

We have been stocking up on groceries, water and gas in our cars though because there could be problems getting to those things for days, and if we lose power, we need to have food we can eat without cooking and plenty of supplies like toilet paper!  We just got home from Walmart and it's obvious everyone else is doing the same thing.

I'm sure I will be writing again probably after Sunday to report on my first hurricane experience!