Mosaic Monday- A Day in Boston

I am participating in Mosaic Monday. Last Fall, I spent three lovely days in Boston and so I decided to use my photos from those daytrips for my mosaic.

I really love Autumn in New England. So enjoy your virtual trip to Boston as seen through my camera lens. You may click the image to enlarge.

For other Mosaic Monday posts, http://www.dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

Nothing Makes a House Cozier Than Cats

"Nothing makes a house cozier than cats", this quote by Gladys Taber is so true. Well for me anyway. I love coming home to my two furbabies. They greet me at the door when I come home.

Molly will be purring so loudly I can hear her the minute I open the door before I even see her. Oscar will hang back a little. He's more cautious, probably from being a street kitty in his former life.



I'm home for the weekend, no big plans to take me away from home for any length of time. So we'll probably hang out on the sofa at some point. As you can see from the first photo, Oscar has already claimed his cushion.

Hoping you all have some cozy time this weekend.

Gryphon Studio, Melrose

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This weekend, I went shopping in Melrose. I checked out a new store called Gryphon Studio. Saturday was the first day of business and the sun was shining on the shop. The owner could not have asked for a better day. The weather was perfect and the downtown area was full of shoppers.



I really like what they've done with the outside of the building. Before the renovation, it was very shabby and not in a chic sort of way.

I've been watching the transformation of the building and eagerly anticipating the shop's opening.



Now, this store adds a touch of elegance to Essex Street.




Kim, the owner, had her family helping her on opening day.



Kim's husband, Mark, told me he bought this fountain from another store in Melrose that had gone out of business. He said it weighed a ton. It sure is a cool display for the tote bags. I think one can never have enough tote bags, I use them for everything.



Wish I had seen this mantel on Ebay before Mark did. I do have to admit it looks nice in the shop.



I couldn't decide if this was the tote bag I should purchase. I liked all of them.



This mirror was also nice.



Wonderful candles with interesting scents for sale.



I met Kim and Mark at Anthropologie one day and Kim said she loved the style of Anthro. I do too, so when I found out she was opening her own shop I knew I would love it.

Another cool display. I love the dog (even though I am more of a cat person).



So which tote bag did I purchase? Take a guess.

If you are in the Melrose area, check out Gryphon Studio on Essex St. Tell them Elaine sent you.

Giveaway Winner

Thank you to the ladies who entered my 200th post giveaway. I enjoyed reading your comments, suggestions and compliments. I am inspired by all of your blogs so it means a lot to me when you tell me you enjoy reading Cafe Chatelaine.

So about the mystery giveaway, it has a New England flavor, of course! First, a jar of body butter in the scent of sea lavender. It was purchased from Martha's Vineyard.



Next, the winner will receive a package of vintage labels, all from New England. I bought these a few months ago at a church antique fair.



There are 8 labels in total.



Next, a Claire Murray La Vie Claire magazine. I love this magazine. When Victoria Magazine stopped publishing a while back I was so disappointed. I missed the wonderful photography. Well, La Vie Claire magazine is a close second. It is so visually beautiful. You need to find a copy and see for yourself.




The last item in the giveaway is Yankee Magazine. I always look for this magazine on the newsstand. It has interesting stories about New England and a great calendar of events.



The names were all tossed in a hat. Last time I used the random number generator my computer got a virus so I didn't want to chance it.

And now the mystery is over, the winner is.....

Nancy @ Fete et Fleur. Congratulations Nancy! Please send me your full name and address info so I can send out your gifts. And again thank you for your kind comments.

What does one have to do to get a drink around here?

Poor Molly. She just doesn't understand. Normally she goes in the bathroom, jumps on the edge of the sink and I let her have a drink of the tap water. But here in the Boston area, we've been under a strict ban on drinking water or a boil water order. There was a huge water main break in the area on Saturday afternoon and thousands of people in 30 communities were affected.



No drinking tap water unless you boil it first. So Molly has been beside herself because I will not let her drink from the tap. She refuses to drink from her water bowl which is a shame since I am using bottled water in the bowl she and Oscar drink from. Oscar could care less. He's used to drinking from puddles. At least, he was before I rescued him.

Molly is a bit of a princess. On Sunday, she sat on the lid of the toilet and whimpered every time I walked past the bathroom. I could take the pathetic crying no more.

I thought that she must like drinking the tap water because it is cold and it comes out in a stream. So I took one of the bottled waters from the fridge and I rested it against the faucet and tilted it so the water streamed out of it.



Molly didn't know what to make of it at first.



But then she gave it a shot.



And she liked it- a lot! She started purring again and no more crying. Problem solved.

Now if they could hurry up and fix the problem I will be just as happy.

Live Event Painting

Have you heard about live event painting? My sister is a live event painter. She is hired to attend weddings, anniversary parties, and other events and she paints the event while the event is going on.



I took these photos of her painting of her friend's son's wedding. She arrives early to the event to paint the background of the painting. This is usually the interior space of the venue.


She takes some photos while she's at the event as she always needs to put the finishing touches on the painting.



She'll ask her clients if there are certain people they want included in the painting and then she will add those who will add interest to the piece. Perhaps someone is wearing a polka dot dress or a hat and they stand out. She might add them to the painting.

Wedding paintings will of course have the bride, groom and their families and the cake.

If you would like more info about live event painting, please email me your contact info and I will have my sister contact you.

And don't forget my blog giveaway, leave a comment on the 200th post and I will enter you in the drawing. The winner will be drawn the evening of May 3rd.

200th post and a giveaway

It's my 200th post. I can't believe it. I finally got here. Some bloggers have reached this point in less than one year but it took me nearly two years.

The blog has evolved for sure. In reviewing my older posts, I realize I have become a very dull girl. I don't do as many posts about places I've been because I really haven't been anywhere of interest. I mean, no daytrips lately. Most of my posts are centered around my home. I also think my blog has not really grown as I had hoped. Was it because I don't post very often? Or maybe the posts just don't interest my readers. Now I try to post every other day but I am not always successful.

So I'd like to ask your opinion. What posts do you like to read? Do you like daytripping around New England with me? Or do you like posts about the condo? Do my posts about tea parties interest you? Or would you like to read more about the kitties? How about my estate sale finds? Is that of interest to you? More photos, less words or vice versa?

You can pick more than 1 category. You can also make suggestions on something entirely different that you would like to see.

You will be rewarded for your input. If you leave me a comment on this post, I will enter your name in a drawing for my 200th post giveaway and I will draw the winner on May 3rd. What is the prize? It's a mystery. I like a good mystery, don't you?

Don't forget, leave a comment, receive one entry for the mystery giveaway. Good luck!