For those of us who live in Maine the unexpected, when it comes to weather, is always the rule. It is such a delight for us to be somewhere and have the consistency of grand weather for an entire week. This might be pertaining to the unbelievably wonderful sunshine and temperatures outside or the pleasant spring-like surrounding inside the convention center during the Connecticut Flower Show 2010. What a perfect week all around.
When doing a big show, part of the preparations is wondering who our neighbors for the week might be. We can go online and peek at the floor plan to see the lay-out. We might even then check on that neighbor by going to their web-site and getting a glimpse of who they are before arriving. I will admit to some of this detective-like behavior prior to Holly and me driving away, fully loaded (a shoe horn was needed to pack into the Subaru the last bits and pieces) and excited as school children on a field trip.
The travel was perfection. Open roads. Blue sky. Polite roadway companions. Google maps spread out. A couple of rest stops and, tada!, there we were. Easy as that. Downtown Hartford has always put a little fear in my heart so, as our pilot, I was giving myself a mighty pat on the back for a job well done. Of course, the fact that I pulled up behind a van a couples miles outside the city with vanity plates from Maine indicating it was a crafter, made me get in line behind it and hope that they were headed to the same place I was. And, yes, they were. And, yes, they have become good friends during the week. Thank you Prospect Harbor Soap Company for blazing the trail and all the support during the week.
There is so much to tell you about our most recent adventure. I will spread the tales out over more than one blog. The stories of our Maine crafter neighbors who all travel to Hartford because there isn’t much going on in Maine in February. The stories of how Holly & I feed ourselves and give ourselves a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle without leaving our 10X10 “shop” will be coming up over the next few days. And stories of our thoughtful and gracious host who shared her home, her humor and her cat with us. Stand by for a bit of fun and adventure.
You might find a chuckle or two – just as we did.
How will a vintage gal like I am, ever keep up with the incredibly shrinking world? Well, my answer to that might be to have the many friends and well wishers from the near corners of my own town and the far corners of the globe continue to care about and communicate with one another. 
Holly & I have such fun bringing people together in quiet moments of pamper and conversation. Moments filled with a sparkle and sharing. 
Well, between Holly & me, I am afraid we are not very good for the local spa economy – we rarely attend one of these affairs. We would rather “do” a spa. You see, when we do a Spa Day, it is to bring to you a few moments of relaxation with a sea salt soak (feet or hands), a new adventure with milk based facial cleanser, an herbal packed masque followed by our Medieval Magic moisturizers. Aww, it is hard to go home after an hour – be that a lunch hour or an hour off from shopping – of pampering with our great things.
Yesterday, all day, we had the joy of being at a new business on Main Street in Norway, Maine. The Secret Garden is no longer a secret. It has started its business life with a bang. Their Christmas shopping season is over and the winter months are finding them busy with folks who want to add the burst of color and heavenly fragrance of flowers to their interiors. The shop also has an interesting collection of locally crafted arts and crafts and foods to make a trip into the shop an adventure.
While spending our day at the week-long open house at Secret Garden we made new friends, got great connections and had a massage from a brand new friend. Thank you, Pam. Your hands are miracle workers.
Holly & I can bring our 
What a wonderful time of year this is. The short days and long star-filled nights inspire us to spend more time indoors with our friends and loved ones. Whether we imbibe on tummy warming foods, share a bit of liquid cheer, exercise our voice in carols, help in a food pantry or exchange gifts, we find our lives filled with joyous times. Or, maybe, these dark nights find you curled up in a snuggly blanket with an old movie or a sport event on the telly. Possibly contentedly alone or with a loved one warming your feet. However you spend these mid-winter evenings it is a special time.
Holly and I would like to take a moment to send our gratitude to all of you who have made 2009 such a wondrous time for us. We meet someone inspiring or learn something new everyday. We give all our friends credit for that. It is you who make our 
We are taking a few days to be with our own families. And giving thanks for all the small and large things that make up our lives. Holly’s Mom is visiting from her Cape Cod home and making merry every moment while here. We have had a glorious time sharing treasures. Unwrapping each tenderly embellished package to find the surprises hidden inside. The child in us was hard at work even though we looked completely grown up sipping our tea and nibbling delicate cookies during the process. Even Holly’s antique dolls had gifts under the tree – what a delightful time.
This year has brought a small thing into my life. The package is special and handled with incredible care. The package might be small but the love is immense. My grandson, Bryce, brings new meaning to the Holidays and will change us all forever.
Each pack features 3 of our most popular skin care products: 
Merry Christmas and thank you all for a great year—-
That means Holly and I are busy with shows, fairs, open-houses and our regular farmers market. It also means we are in the middle of production. A putting together of our products in a bit of a different way so we can bring to you the very best packaging possible for gift giving.
This is the year when everyone is considering carefully before their Holiday purchases. Yes, taking into consideration not only the price tag but the cost of bringing that gift to you. Our global footprint is something to consider and we at Great Things, Inc. take our carbon footprint very seriously. We are local, we support local and we hope you do to.
Our days of production are filled with lots of tasks that seem to run seamlessly from morning into afternoon and beyond. We have classic Christmas music guiding our occasional conversations that take us back to childhood holidays that were special enough to get Norman Rockwell’s attention. Can we bring back some of those memories for all of you? We hope so by being a simple company that brings to you a simple and pure product. Safe enough to give to even the most finicky on your list.
We will be back to share more of our December adventures with you. First we are going to indulge in a spot of tea.
We have had a stormy over-night last night. The kind of rain that slips in from the south bringing warm (relatively speaking that is) temperatures and a peek of the sun in the late afternoon. Because we have begun to have freezing over-nights the lake water is cold and the air is warm. The results are interesting to say the least.
Just down the road from me along State Road 121, is a gorgeous place where Thompson Lake touches each side of the causeway. Today it made me stop and stare. And luck may have it, I had my little camera with me.
Let me share this awesome moment with you. A raft of ducks flew up out of this mist as I wandered along the roadside. They circled around and landed on the other side of the road not too far from me, actually. Silly birds. 
I didn’t realize how clear the sky had become with the puffy clouds scudding along until I saw their reflection in the water. A very nice moment.
Tis the season for holiday craft shows. Most of us have wandered through these festive events usually held in a large building such a grange hall, church gathering room or even a gymnasium. What fun to drift along with a light hearted group of people whose noses are still rosy from the brisk air outdoors and cheeks warm from the mulled cider offered at the door. Everyone is looking for that perfect hand-crafted item for that very special person. Maybe that person is a great aunt who used to knit and now longs for those cozy items she can no longer manufacture off the end of her needles. Maybe that person is your boss who has everything and you want to be the one who finds the most unique new treasure to add to her collection. Or maybe that person is you. You, who does so much for everyone else and could use a one-of-a- kind novelty to make these days of family, friends and fun a memorable time of festivities and tradition.
We begin to decorate our homes. A bit of the outdoors comes inside bringing the fragrance of the forest and fields into the safety and warmth of home. The twinkle of lights brightens the corners where the long shadows linger during these short days. We rummage around in the boxes of holiday decorations to find that bright and beautiful trinket that brings back memories of times long ago. What fun it all is! The rush of these days that are so fleeting.
Holly and I will be at some of these holiday fairs and open houses over the coming weekend (November 19 to 22). The fun has begun and we are in the middle of it. Maybe you will find your way to one of these very special events and have a cup of tea with us, enjoy the trimmings and find a very special “something” for that very very special “someone” on your gift list. 
These photos all come from Friend’s Corner where the shopping begins! Thank you, Linda at Friend’s Corner and Betz at Common Folk Farm for kicking off this most festive of seasons. 
