Thank You

How can we begin to thank so many of the great friends and new visitors we have had a chance to meet within this first half year at SWITCH?  


Well, let's start with naming some names. . . 


AdeleAdenaAlAltheaAllisonAllysandra
AmandaAndreaAndyAnitaAnitaAnne
ArmondoArthurAshleyBarbaraBetsy
BettyannBridgetCaniceCarolCaroline
CarrieCaseyCatherineCatherine
CatherineCelineChardelleCherieChris
ChristinaChristineClareCristinaCynthia
DanDavidDennisDianeDianaEileenEileen
ElaineEleanorEleniElizabethElizabethEva
FredFrancescaGloriaHelgaHoward
IsabelleJackJacquelineJanine
JamieJanJaneJanelleJannJeanine
JenevieveJessicaJillJillanneJimJoanJohn
JohnJoyceJuliaJulieKaranKarenKaren
KarenKarenKateKarenKarlKathleen
KathleenKeithKenKristineLauraLeeLeah
LeslieLexaLidaLindaLindaLindseyLisaLisaLizLizLiz
LouanneLynnMaddieMadelaine
MairinMaggieMalMariaMattMarciaMarianMarianneMaryMaryMaryMaryMaureen
MarkMaxMelMelanieMelanieMelanie
MercedesMichelleMikeMichaelNathalie
NatashaNicoleNikNinaNormaPacky
PatPatPattiPadPaulPeggyPeterPhyllis
ReginaRenaRichardRichieRitaSandra
SandyScottShannonSherylSerbanStella
StephanieStephanieStephenSueSueSue
SusanSusanTaraTheresaTifTimTommy
TonyTriciaVinceZara


If you're reading this you know who who are, and we are SO grateful for your support and patronage!

Because you are all so sweet, I thought you might enjoy a few Thanksgiving sweets I recently discovered on the web.  I haven't made any of these yet, but if they look as good to you as they do to me, well, try one this Thanksgiving!  


  

image :Everyday with Rachael Ray

Cheesecake Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes
http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/dessert-recipes/cheesecake-filled-pumpkin-cupcakes

image:BrownEyedBaker

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie with Maple Cream Cheese Filling

http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/09/29/pumpkin-whoopie-pies-maple-cream-cheese-frostin/

image: BakersRoyale

Pumpkin Praline Trifle

http://www.bakersroyale.com/trifles/pumpkin-praline-trifle/




And . . .in 2 Weeks

Mary & I are SO looking forward to seeing you all again at our SWITCH Wine & Cheese, Wednesday, December 7. . . 6-9pm. As always,bring a friend!

Thanksgiving Blessings to all of you and your families . . .

Walls

I have been working on some changes in my living room, (can someone come up with a new name for that room,  please) which includes new window treatments, bringing in some new pieces to change up the space, and finishing up a wall project which I started back in September.


The Wall Project . . . 
This window-filled room doesn't have much wall space to begin with, and the space above the mantle was well, keeping the room kinda boring to me.  Btw, here is the old wall above the mantle . . .when it was red.

Unfortunately, or (fortunately in the end), we had a water issue on that wall due to last season's extreme ice, which blocked the gutters and forced the water into the wall above the mantle.  The result was a water logged wall which had to be replaced.   



But, once the sheetrock started coming down. . . 

I started to see all this beautiful brick and plaster underneath.  Every time the worker took down more of the sheetrock, I was loving the look that was being uncovered.

The bare studs on the sides were exposed as well, (kind of a mess right right here but they cleaned up great), so I had him keep going to the rest of the wall.  

Once that was taken down,  I decided to have him remove the sheetrock above the brick & plaster as well.  Already I was LOVING the juxtaposition of the rough texture above the mantle with the sparkle of the glass chandy.

After the super wide beam running across the top was exposed, I knew there was no turning back to covering it all up again with new sheetrock.  

So. . . now that the old side and top beams have been cleaned up, sanded and holes filled filled in where needed, I am ready to start working on this gorgeous wood.  Maybe just a stain and that's it.  What do YOU think?  I do have to say here that my mason, Bill Falkenstern, thinks I have a hole in my head to expose his usually covered under-the-sheetrock work, but that's OK.  He knows me long enough to know that I get crazy sometimes.  

Thinking back now, I know I was probably inspired by a pic of the remains of an old mansion on the Hudson I visited awhile back (previous post).   The mix of old stone and cement or plaster brings me back in time somewhere I suppose.

Had my eye on this for the last year. . . One of the great pieces we had in the shop is no longer in the shop because I've taken it for myself to use in my coming-along living room. One of the perks of Mary & I only buying what we love!

Here it is in it's new home. . . and it's the perfect piece to combine funky with tradition, don't you think?

 Some of our recent acquisitions for the shop from that great estate sale we snuck into. . . 

Come on in and see what we've got . . . before it's gone!

Here at SWITCH we are so happy to announce that we are now carrying a line of truly amazing jewelry from sisters Zara & Tamika of ZATARA Designs.  Just a peek at one piece for now, but much much more to show you soon.  

  

And don't forget to stop on in on December 7th, 6-9 for our SWITCH WiNe & CHeese Party.  We look forward to seeing all of you!

Have a great day,

Wicked Week

It was exactly 8 days without internet connection here at my house, and despite the inconvenience of not being able to keep up the blog here at SWITCH, there were many who were WAY more put out by the Halloween storm damage than I was, so no real serious complaints going on by me.  But, here's the snow that landed on the leaves that weighed down the branches that pulled down the wires that took away my connection.

And this is the awesome pumpkin sitting on my porch that my daughter Jillanne painted for the Town Halloween event that did not happen on Saturday because of the storm. 

Despite the weather, some people did manage to get creative, dress up and pretend that they were somebody else for the night.   




Here are some cute

Isabelle & Elle

and amazing Halloween costumes I saw. . . 

Lucy & Ricky courtesy of Mairin & Tim 

 The Black Swan brought to you by Maggie

Our planned Wine & Cheese was postponed as well, but Mary & I have rescheduled it for Wednesday December 7th.  All I can say is I hope there's no surprise snowstorm in the works.  As much as I really am a snow girl, this early arrival was a bit too early even for me.  Hope all is kind of back to normal at your house by now . . . 

Mary & I did manage to get a sneak preview (thanks Jack) and go to the most incredible Estate Sale ever on Thursday.  The former home of an actress and winner of the 1952 Mrs. America title, this home was filled with tons of collectibles, antiques and just totally interesting stuff from all over the world.  




Brought back some great accessories to SWITCH for you from there. . .

   
Have a wonderful week and hope you can make it in soon!  BTW, our shop hours are now Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10-4.

Getting Out There

One of my favorite local spots for kicking the leaves around and getting in a bit of an awesome view of the gorgeous Hudson River. . . top of the mountain in Piermont, NY.  

As the chill sets in here in the northeast, I am SO looking forward to getting out the cozy sweaters and cords, cooking again on something other than a grill, and best of all enjoying the beauty and clear air of fall.    The change in seasons makes me feel invigorated. . .  almost like the relief of the first spring day after a long cold winter.   I'm one of those people who couldn't live anywhere but in a place that changes it's look and feel every few months.  Maybe that's why I'm constantly changing the rooms in my home?  Something about switching things up inside and out is what makes me tick, keeps me creative and always interested. 


   

A walk in the woods recharges my inner nature girl soul, and a walking tour like this one that Jack and I did last winter at Palisades Interstate Park offers a special opportunity to see things slightly off the beaten path. 

Millionaires Row . . . the area of the Hudson in Alpine which once was home to the rich and the famous is a fabulous short trail (about 3 miles) overlooking the Hudson. 

For the most part, only the remnants of the foundations of these estates remain, having sadly been razed in the 1930's, but wow, what history and beauty are still there to explore.  Not to mention imagining the lives of the people who once were privileged to live there. . .  John Ringling, circus entrepenuer, Calvert Vaux, co-designer of Central Park, George Zabriskie, flour baron  who sold to Pillsbury, etc.  

  The group checking things out . . . a lower level of 

Cliff Dale, the magnificent estate of George Zabriskie. 

 Some of the remaining beauty of that gorgeous stone construction . . . 

 One of my favorite shots. . . the present in stepped-back time.  It's so nice to be able to go back sometimes. . . 

Every once in awhile we get something special in the shop that brings us back to the past . . . 

 Like these adorable child's schoolhouse chairs, painted years ago in a great prussian blue.  These chairs are heavy, old, and will not topple over.  How many little ones have sat themselves down to do their schoolwork over the years?  Maybe even you!  They won't last long . . . 

Thinking of the snow to come . . . these antique snowshoes would be fabulous over a roaring fire winter mantle.  

Before I forget

 

Save the Date:  Cheese & Wine at the shop on Friday November 4th. 7pm-9pm.  Stop on in and celebrate with us!

Enjoy these wonderful autumn days. . . .