An Introduction. . . .

I do believe you've seen this little face before but fear I failed to properly introduce you. Previously referred to as "the family dog," this little moppet is actually named Stormy and more like a fourth child than anything else. Initially he was intended as a pet. . . . three years ago my daughter decorated a brown paper lunch bag with dollar signs, stationed it on the entry table, and informed us she was saving for a dog. For if only she had a dog, a pet of her very own, all would be right with the world! That bag sat there for months. The occasional sympathetic visitor would add a contribution to her meager collection but considering the cost of purchasing a dog is well into the hundreds, she was getting no where fast. The local animal shelters were of little help due to the limited number of breeds we could welcome into a family of full of allergies.

In the end it was Pop and Grandma to the rescue! My mom's persistence and my dad's wallet assisted greatly in the adoption of our newest baby. And I do mean baby! I don't ever remember having a puppy. All of my childhood dogs came from a shelter already potty trained and sleeping through the night. The cutest puppy in the world became a nightmare at sundown. Up every three hours to go out, whimpering every time he saw the crate, and outright barking if you put him in it. Weeks later it was my sleep deprived husband who finally ditched the crate and put the dog in bed with us where the little booger promptly curled up in a ball and slept straight through the night for the first time ever! To this day Stormy's favorite person in the house is my husband, although he minds me well enough considering I'm the one who feeds him and takes him out.

I'm also the one who takes him to the groomers and it was definitely time for a visit! Surprise!


Six hours later and another dent in the wallet and this is what we came home with! We actually prefer the moppet look but he sure smells better this way. . . . and remember where he sleeps! All of that grooming was not in vain, however, for he was invited up to visit my parents with me the next day. He has a special stash of cookie treats there and grandma has a very hard time saying "No!" To work off all those extra calories, his Pop took him for a nice spring walk during which I got a special treat of my own. . . .



. . . . a trip downtown to my favorite store ever! The Alphabet Soup is located at 263 Union Square in Milford, New Hampshire. The town center of Milford is adorable and a hub bub of activity hosting numerous festivals, concerts, and more parades than I can count.

Nothing is better, however, than to step through this door!

There are treasures everywhere and for every season. When I decided to have Christmas in July for my mom's birthday several years ago I headed straight to Alphabet Soup. Sure enough I had my choice of feather trees, advent calendars, and Santa paper dolls. The white drawers lining the walls of the shop are filled with the most beautiful glass ornaments and table linens you can imagine. Birdhouses, garden signs, and antiques are scattered everywhere. The very best surprises for me are always held in this cupboard.

It's always so much fun to meet and greet with Lucy's relatives!

These two little chicks absolutely stole my heart. I love their little dotted kerchiefs and can only imagine the gossip their squawking about.

Before I knew it my time was up and I had to leave to catch the afternoon school bus arrivals back at home. . . . but not before I snatched up two cheery cards for some long distance chums. The colors on them matched quite well with these buttons my mom acquired while out antiquing earlier in the week. They were an extra prize for me to take home. She must have known my supply had dwindled from making so many yo-yo flower pincushions recently. Now I can get back to work and put those buttons to use!

All except for these, that is. They caught my eye immediately since they look as if they were made of jadite. Even next to the real thing I'd never guess they were actually made of plastic. I used to have so much of that stuff , we even used it as our everyday tableware for awhile. Once I had little ones around, however, I quickly learned it was best not to use glass dishes. For those of you serious Fire King collectors out here I'll spare you the tragic details of that story. Needless to say, most surviving pieces were either passed along or sold off as a result but I just couldn't bear to part with this little Scottie. He's a real favorite of mine and stands his ground as a family pet of sorts from the safety of his cabinet shelf.