Me No Likey The Duckie

Okay... so I have expensive taste in certain things.... like handbags for instance.  But $345 for a purse is beyond insane.  IT'S JUST A PURSE!!

I was chatting with the store clerk discussing the price of some handbags and how I may consider paying $100 for a well made leather purse, but NEVER even close to the Dooney and Bourke handbag prices.  

"Well, they are VERY well made", she said.  

"So is the one I am now carrying", I said.... "I've carried it for 3 or 4 years and it was more in tune with the $100 price, leather, and until the leather will no longer clean up well I will probably continue to carry it," I spouted at her.

This one in blue also rings my bell.  It's not leather, but it shouts Dooney and Bourke; a brand I will most likely never have the privilege of having hang from my shoulder.  So what if I am a shallow gal.  I LOVE THE LOOK.... so sue me.

Now, Dooney and  Bourke has this logo on many of their handbags.  It's a duck for heaven sakes.  I've always wondered why they would put a duck on such expensive handbags.  It always makes me wanna don my fave-oh-rite camaflauge garb, git my gun and go huntin' for wabbits.  Do not like the duck thingie.

And of course I had to let the clerk know because I'm sure she'll call up Mr. Dooney and let him know so they can get right on changing the logo to keep me happy.

Here's how our conversation went:

Me:  "I don't GET the duck."

Clerk:  "Well, that's just their thing and they put it on all of their purses."

Me:  "I know, but I still don't get it.  Why a duck?  Who wants to spend $345 for a duck on their purse?"

And her response and I kid you not... because she was serious:

Clerk: "It's not made of duck.  It's leather... cowhide."

Me:  "YES... I know it's not made of duck."

(wondered if I had "IDIOT" stamped on my forehead)

Walks away in fit of laughter.

The Blue Ridge Gal

Oh Jenny, Where Art Thou?

Not far from our home sits this quaint little house at 5877 Cloverdale Road, aka the Alt. 220, and each time I drove past it over the past 2 1/2 years of our life in Roanoke I have thought what a great and quaint store it would be.

Evidently those were also the thoughts of old friends Brenda and Michelle too!  Just recently I spied their new sign on the front lawn and although it was a Sunday and they were not open, I snapped a few outside shots of the building and then returned on Monday for a chat and a look see inside.

The duo have been in this business before, then split to go their separate ways, but once again have joined in a partnership to bring us country, antique and primitive decor items.  

I spoke for some time with co-owner, Michelle.  They have been open since November of 2009 but have been waiting for the winter's snowbanks to melt before holding their grand opening which will be  March 25th-28th with refreshments, door prizes and 'one time only' prices.  Locals need to stop by and take advantage of these deals.

Inventory changes constantly and I'm sure with Easter just around the corner you'll find the perfect bunny statement for your home's table scape.

I think Jenny Kincaid Boone of Roanoke.com was sleeping on the job when she forgot to write up this new area business.  *smiles and waves at Jenny*  Just kidding!!

The Blue Ridge Gal

Got Color?

Oh ya... that's a whole lotta color, Baby!  

As you can see for yourself, even while wearing your sunglasses, I have completed the recovering of the four kitchen dinette chairs.  YES... it's a whole lotta color but please understand that my walls are white and the floor is white and I AM BORED WITH WHITE!!  After a much too long winter season filled with more cloudy days than I care to even remember I've decided to inject more color into this otherwise dismal room of, on some days, utter darkness.  Spooky darkness.  Eek.

After bringing home the little black dresser yesterday that I purchased last week, I ended up moving a few of my smaller tables around in the house.  This one was in the family room but has now been moved to the kitchen.  

This is the window where Hubby likes to stand, gaze out over his kingly domain back yard and ponder the meaning of life, so he most likely will not be happy to see his pondering spot occupied by my table.  Oh well... he can ponder elsewhere.  LOL

Since completing the chairs I'm enjoying that now, when I look through the glass tabletop I see color rather than the bland, beigy, off-white of the previous fabric.  I am very much affected by color usage in our home.  Hubby used to say that if I had my way that I would decorate everything with white.  THAT was when we lived in the Southwest and there was always sunlight streaming through the windows.  When living in the Eastern U.S. color becomes much more important for my mental well-being.  

 

I recall that when we first moved to the Eastern U.S., to Maryland in 2000 after living in Arizona for more than 20 years, that I was appalled when we looked at homes to buy.  Every home was filled with so much color that OMG.. My Eyes!  My Eyes!  I just didn't get it, the usage of all. that. color. in one's home.  Now I get it.  

Certainly not every room in your home needs this much color, but if you find that it lifts your spirits when you walk into a room that uses more than just white on the color wheel. Then by all means use it.

I set the table just for these photos.  Hubby won't be able to watch TV during dinner if I were to leave the large vase there on a daily basis otherwise I would leave it there always. Ying and Yang... don'tcha know.

Yep, I'm lovin' the new rainbow of color and the addition of the drop leaf table in my kitchen.  And the best part is that the only cost was for the curtain panel that I purchased on clearance at Pier One and used for the chair recovering.  All other items I already had in my home.  A new look doesn't have to cost a fortune now, does it?

The Blue Ridge Gal

Where I Sit

Karen at This Old House blog has asked us to show the view from "Where I Sit"... so here's my spot.  It's the big brown chair with the imprint of my patootie in it.  Yes, I sit here so much that the chair has my rear form memorized.  

It could use a bit of improvement since I just slapped things on the wall on the nails that the previous house owner had.  As you can see, the picture is hung way too high, but to be honest no one comes into my office anyway so until it reaaaally bugs me, high is where my photos shall remain.

The latest addition to my desk is this little pottery piece of a sea shell.  It was just a few dollars and I had a use for it other than planting anything in it.

As you can see, it holds my blogging cards perfectly.  Love having these cards.  I passed out 3 of them today to store owners that asked for them.  If you let them know who you are they don't mind you taking photos in their store.  AND, it's a way to get your blog name out there into your local community.  

That's enough about my mish mosh of an office seeing as how it really has no style to it.  

Instead, here's a peek at an upcoming post this week... 

The Blue Ridge Gal

A Sassy Conscience

Friday was a crispy, blue sky day here in Roanoke.  These are the kind of winter days we all do our best to take advantage of this year since we've had more than our fair share of snow, although as you can see there's none falling from the sky or lying around on the ground either.  LOVE IT!

So I headed out to a favorite shop, Buy The Season.  It's quite a scoot through town but I enjoy it so much that it's worth the drive even if I'm just looking and not planning on a serious buy that day.  But today I had a plan.  A want.  A need.  Oh, alright... so I didn't need it.  But I reaaaallly wanted it.  And it WAS calling out my name after all.

No it wasn't!!

YES IT WAS.

Wasn't!!

WAS SO.

Not

WAS.

Get so tired of arguing with Conscience.  She drives me nutz!

Too late, Conscience.  He's going home with me and there's nothing you can do about it!  See, they even put the sold sign on him already.  

Why don't you just go strap on your tennis shoes and go for a brisk walk...... you could stand to lose a few pounds you know.

See you Monday, my love!  I'll be back to get you.  I'm making Conscience stay home.

Di

The Blue Ridge Gal