I Passed!!

Eee Gads - is that me??? I guess that is what I look like after spending 3 days in the HOT, HOT sun on a HOT, HOT asphalt parking lot taking the motorcyle endorsement class! What you can't see is that my face is beet red... even SPF 55 wasn't enough this weekend. The picture was snapped at the end of the final FIVE HOUR session on the motorcycle, and the car thermostat said 102 when I got in at day's end. They require you to wear jeans, long sleeves and boots. I don't own a pair of boots so I had to borrow my hubby's - and three pairs of tube socks. Talk about adding insult to injury....aack!!

I have wanted to take this course for several years now... and finally did it. The class is sponsored by Team Oregon (http://www.teamoregon.orst.edu/) and is awesome! They provide the motorcycles and helmets.. you provide the endurance. I am proud to say I passed both the written and skills parts of the class with flying colors. I still have a lot to learn, but now I can ride my 1966 Lambretta with the confidence I didn't have before. I even enjoyed learning how to ride a "real" motorcycle!!

Country Sampler website

I just logged on to the Country Sampler website and it has been updated... here is a link to the "extra" photos of our home:

http://sampler.com/issues/issue.aspx

Click on the number "3" above the picture (the photo shown is customer Linda Harris' living room). So fun! Enjoy!!

Fall 2009 Country Sampler arrived today!!

Well I thought it was coming out soon... but I was still surprised when my UPS man dropped off a 10 pound box of Country Sampler magazines today!! Woo hoo!! The pictures of our home and the article came out great... I am so pleased and honored to be part of my favorite magazine! Of course now that I see everything there are some things I would have changed or done differently.. but all in all I am very happy (it's just the perfectionist in me....) Remember when you are looking at the pictures, they were taken the weekend after Easter and it was unseasonably hot (about 85 degrees) that afternoon. We are sweating to death on that scooter ride!!

Also in this issue is customer Linda and Joe Harris' reproduction saltbox home in Albany, OR. Wow... their home is so fantastic. Linda is a "purist" when it comes to Colonial style decor and she does it exceptionally well. In my home I like the more modern blend of old and new.. but to me, it's "all country" so it's all good. I love country decorating and I just cannot get enough!

I dont think the magazine has hit newsstands yet... even the CS website has not been updated with the new issue yet. This baby is literally hot off the press.

Our 15 minutes of fame is now official!! Thanks for being excited with me :>)

Sidewalk Sale Success!!

I was so anxious to have the annual sidewalk sale behind me; now I just can't believe it's over! Wow... what a whirlwind weekend. Friday I hauled everything I'd priced from the backroom to the front of the shop, then Saturday morning we gathered at 6:30am to start setting up. With 4 people, we still only finished at 7:55... only 5 mins before the sale started!! I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but the tables stretched from the alley on our south all the way past the police station on our north.

It was a busy day... lots of people came and we sold over 600 individual items... WOW!! It took no time to break it all down... but I vowed I was taking Sunday off and just enjoyed being home.

Today (Tuesday) I created a larger clearance area in the back of the shop.... and put out the clearance Fall goodies. I LOVE FALL!!! I'll put the Christmas clearance goodies out in a few weeks (it's still wayyy too early to look at Christmas!) There are still good things left!! Here are some pictures....

Painting the New Location

Boy, you sure forget how much painting hurts! I think if we remembered how sore we get, we would never repaint anything. We spent a couple weekends readying the walls at the new shop location.... we have one more loooong wall to do over 4th of July weekend. I am loving the new colors! The main color is called "Rich Georgia Clay" but I have fondly nicknamed it "Yam." I also painted an accent wall "Brick Fleck." I've never painted a red wall before .. I love the way it turned out. That's the hubs with paint roller in hand.

Don't you love the way they name paint colors? It must be fun to be on some of those committees. One of the reds I loved was called "Red Longjohns." I wonder if there has ever been a color named "Dust Bunny" or "Soap Scum." Now that would be funny!

Can it be the end of May already?

Wow.... where does the time go. I've heard people say that it gets worse as you get older... well there's something to look forward to, huh?

This Sunday, May 24th, was my niece's 20th birthday. Here is a picture of her with her 120 pound dog "Charger." Seems like just yesterday she was a tiny baby.... and now she's all grown up. Since my husband and I don't have children, our nieces and nephews are even more special to us. Lauren has brought immeasureable joy to our family! Happy birthday sweetie!!

Country Sampler Fall Issue!

Sneak peek of the cover!!

As you might already know, my home was recently photographed for Country Sampler Magazine and was supposed to be featured in the Fall 2010 issue. However, I learned last week that we've been officially moved up to this year! The magazine will be published in mid-July, and I've ordered a couple dozen copies for the shop. If you don't already subscribe, won't you consider purchasing your issue at Buttermilk Junction? It will be priced at $4.95 - that's less than you would pay at the "big boxes."

Also featured in this issue will be customer Linda Harris' lovely Saltbox home. Her home is spectacular... and I have a hunch her Fall decor is sure to be a real treat!

New "NetBook!"

Have any of you seen one of these cutie pie computers? Oh my gosh.. this is the neatest thing! It's made by Acer, and is top rated by both Consumer Reports and PCMagazine. I ordered it at costco.com... don't you love CostCo? (oh that's a post for another time!) Anyway, I took a picture of this little NetBook next to a basket of lemons so you could see how small it is. It weighs less than 3 pounds. I've been having a lot of fun using it while watching tv ....or if I just need to look something up or check my email I don't have to kick the hubs off our main computer. We do have a laptop as well, but it weighs a TON and it has a humongous screen and a noisy fan... nothing you'd want sitting on your lap while watching tv. See.... sometimes electronics CAN be fun!

Monday, Monday

I LOVE MONDAYS!! It's truly my "day off" from the shop and usually, most of my housework has already been done the day before. Most of the time it's my run-around day... today is not too different. My neighbor (who also happens to have built our home!) is taking me to a local remodel he is working on where apparently there's some "good junk" available for the taking.... can't wait to see what that's all about. Then I have to meet the UPS man at my shop around 10am as he is delivering my new Acer Netbook this morning! Can't wait to try that baby out!! After that, I do have some errands to run and I am sure the day will fly by as usual.

I did manage to snap a few pictures this weekend of the house... some updates and changes I've done since the Country Sampler photo shoot. They asked me not to post pictures of the Fall decor (even though I did take a bunch...) but I wanted to post some of the changes I've made. The next two projects at home are to repaint our master bath (sooo not looking forward to that) and to repaint and redo all the wall decor in our office. I never take pictures in there because it gets so messy... hoping to change that sometime this summer. ANYHOO.... I posted a new album on my WEBSHOTS site... please locate the link on the left side of the blog and you'll go right to it.

Hope your Mother's Day was wonderful! We spent the morning with Lee's mom and the evening with my folks. Very simple and relaxing and just the way we like it :>)

~C

The Country Sampler Experience

I just can't believe it's all over!! Phew... what a whirlwind! The photographers (Donna and Philip... shown in the picture at the end of a very long day... and calling D&P for the rest of this post....) arrived at my BF Laura's house Friday night. We made introductions and then Laura gave them the grand tour. They left all their SCADS of equipment in her living room so they would have less to set up the next day. We went out to dinner and had a wonderful time getting to know them. They have shot for Architectural Digest and many other prestigious magazines. They've led very exciting lives.

They came back to Laura's house at 8:30 Saturday morning and were there all day. Laura said D&P moved many, many things and re-arranged things so they were pleasing to the camera. About 6pm D&P brought their equipment down to my place (a mere 7 houses away) and boy did that make things seem a whole lot smaller in the house!!!! These folks do not travel lightly - tripods, computers, cameras, cables, 5 bags of fresh fruit and 2 big buckets of fresh flowers, great big Rubbermaid tubs of props, etc. They toured my house and then went on their way.

D&P arrived for the shoot at 830 Sunday morning and let me tell you... it was exhausting!!! Their minivan did not leave my driveway until 8pm. The only room in my house they didn't shoot (besides the master bathroom) was my office, which I had already piled all my everyday junk in (big box of shoes from by the front door, my coffee maker, toaster, knife block, all my husband's paperwork and junk from "his" baskets, etc.) So by the time all their things were piled in there it was very distressing!! I can see that if you were a person who couldn't handle clutter or your house being turned upside down, it would be very challenging. D&P did say they had a photo shoot where the homeowner had to leave.. she couldn't handle the stress!

The Editor in Chief told D&P that there is a 75% chance that the pictures/story (which hasn't been done yet) will run in this year's Aug/Sept issue... she is pushing to have it ready. How cool would that be???? D&P have already emailed the Editor the rough/unretouched pictures for her to look at. Supposedly there will be a decision in the next 2 weeks... I promise to keep you posted!!!

It's truly surreal to see your home through their fancy lenses!!! It was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me and I still can't believe it came to fruition. D&P told us several times that literally thousands of people submit their houses for consideration and a very, very few are ever chosen to be published. What an honor.

However, I am SICK TO DEATH of pumpkins!! I finally got it all put away last night. I don't even want to hear the words Fall, Autumn, Harvest!!

Country Sampler is coming!!

On Sunday April 19th, Country Sampler magazine photographers Donna Pizzi and Philip Clayton Thomas will be coming to Junction City to photograph my home and my best girlfriend's home! We've been talking about this for months and just set the date several weeks ago.... it is so exciting! I truly feel so honored.

The really interesting part is that our home will be featured in the August/September 2010 issue, so Fall is in the air over here!! The house is adorned with pumpkins, Indian corn, spooky cats, Fall signs and the like... and it's starting to look normal! (now I know I am in trouble...) When I put the Fall goodies out on the porch I know the neighbors will really be talking.

The photographers will arrive on Friday to introduce themselves and have a look at our homes. Saturday April 18th they will spend the day at Laura's spectacular home, which is only 7 houses away from us on the same street. She will be in the December/January 2010 issue, so her house has more of a winter theme right now. Then they will come on Sunday to shoot ours. Sometime later this Spring, Donna and Philip will return to take pictures of our friend Dee's glorious home! She will be the first to be featured, in the April/May 2010 issue.

I'll do another post right after the excitement is over. Happy Halloween everyone! :>)

Christmas in the Country

Oh my goodness... I am so behind on my blog posts! I just can't believe I am only getting to this an average of only once a month. Our Christmas Open House, "Christmas in the Country" was held earlier this month. I love this time of year and how very full the shop is! I am especially pleased with the large Christmas tree in the window.... would love to cart that baby home and plunk it right down in my living room! Some gift ideas for this year: NEW Reed Diffusers in Buttered Maple Syrup and French Vanilla, inexpensive "Gifts to Go" section, NEW seasonal scents in 26oz. jar candles, NEW clove scented battery candle lights, and as always, a full assortment of Irvin's punched tin wax melters in three sizes.

Do come by and shop our Christmas goodies when you have the chance and enjoy the sights and sounds of a country Christmas. Hope to see you soon!

Junction City Harvest Gathering & Quilt Walk

Earlier this month, we participated in the first ever JC Harvest Gathering & Quilt Walk! Quilters from all over our area submitted their wonderful creations and they were displayed at area businesses and at the Historical Society as well as the JC Library. Customers Norma Templeton and Carol Adams both had quilts on display at Buttermilk Junction. While I was out of town that weekend, it sure was fun readying the shop for the event. Above are their amazing quilts....... and trust me, the pictures do not do them justice.

We are definitely planning on making this an annual event!

Fall is here!

I cannot believe it's been over a month since I posted something... that is awful!

Well, it's finally Fall at Buttermilk Junction! Today is the official Open House and the shop is brimming with cozy Fall and fun Halloween goodies to decorate your home! Lots of wonderful scents as well, including my new favorite, Buttered Maple Syrup jar candles. Yummmm.....

I updated my "webshots" with pictures of the shop, as well as posting pictures of my Fall decor at home ... take a look when you have time.

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Fall Preview

Can you believe.... time for a Fall Preview already!?! This week is the Scandinavian Festival here in Junction City, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to test the waters, as they say, with a few Fall products. I even managed to make a few of them myself - woo hoo! I've set out the 2009 calendars that I've received so far... more designs are coming.

If you're brave enough to come out to see us during the Festival, we're planning to stay open late and we'll even be open on Sunday 8/10!

WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING!

Phew.... finally! It was a lot of work, but it's done. You can now visit us at www.buttermilkjunction.com and shop online! I have included all our wonderful Amish Barn Stars, Irvin's Wax Melters, candles, framed samplers - just about everything I carry in the shop!

Do you know someone who would like to shop with us, but lives out of the area? Share our website address with them!

Annual Sidewalk Sale

Just a quick note to announce a change to our 3rd Annual Sidewalk Sale. Since we don't have a luxurious parking lot like we did at the old location, I've decided to change the sale to One Day Only. With the Junction City Police Department and Jail right next door, I didn't want to do anything that might cause our fair city alarm! Ha ha!

Please visit us on Saturday, June 28th (the last Saturday in June!) from 8am til 5pm for a great sale. I've been marking tons of things at 50% off or more... I really do have a lot of great things to put out, so you don't want to miss it.

Hope to see you then!

New at the Shop!

I had such a fun weekend redecorating the shop and adding all kinds of new goodies.... what a treat! Above is a picture of the Americana display at the front of the shop, and above that a picture of the gorgeous new "Made in the USA" woven table squares, throws, and blankets that just came yesterday (of course, one day after I finished all the re-doin'!)

If you click on the link to your left, called "Come Tour Our Home" you will be directed to WebShots, where I've posted all the pictures I took of the shop. You'll find new star-stamped pottery, new bedding on the little twin bed, the "cinnamon pantry jars" I made, new star shaped silicone lightbulbs, etc. etc. Be sure to check it out! Come see us when you can!

Website in the works!

Over the next several weeks, I'll be fine tuning a real, honest-to-goodness website for the shop! It will allow for online shopping, as well as give you first glimpses of new products as they arrive. While I plan to spend all weekend redecorating the shop and putting out all the new goodies, I still hope to have the website up and running for commerce sometime in mid-June.

The website address will be www.buttermilkjunction.com. Stay tuned!

Shop Updates

Lots going on at the shop! Here are a few items of note:

*All sheep figurines and bottlebrush wreaths have been marked down to 50% off!

*Our next First Friday is June 6th - starting at 5pm, we'll have an unadvertised sale, a sweet treat, and be open til 7pm along with other downtown businesses

*The week of June 10th will be our annual Flag Day sale

*Our annual Sidewalk Sale is scheduled to start on June 26th and it'll be a good one!

We have new items coming in by the truckload! Come see us in June for lots of great things to decorate your home for the summer!