Old and Everlasting...defined....

Many times we have been asked
"how did you come up with the name
Old and Everlasting?"
I love that question...
Because the answer has changed 
over the years...
Probably because we have changed....
It started out as a simple answer...
 But as the years have gone by we have 
grown into our name...
It was a name meant to be...
Starting out simple...
Old for antiques and
Everlasting for dried flowers...
that explains it...
but it's turned out to be much much more...
*********


OLD...
When we started, the "old" part was all
about antiques...and it still is... but with more depth now...
We Love old things....
Old windows,doors, shutters....cupboards...
Houses,buildings....
they have a certain charm and warmth that can't
be captured in any other way....
The look of Old...
history....
 character...
the marks of wear tell a special story...
********

EVERLASTING...

this word that signified dried flowers
is full of meaning...
an experience or feeling that
lasts..always positive...
something to take with you... 
everlasting...
timeless...
enduring...
The most important part of this 
business for us is our customers
enjoyment...
 To experience the charm of the old....
while presenting the new....
That's what we are all about...
For we also love the New...
It's Fresh,Colorful and Exciting...
Old and Everlasting.....
A blending of Old and New...
intended to bring Everlasting Joy to all
who walk in and out of our door....
We have grown in to what
we are supposed to be...

 And if we were to wrap a box
and call it Old and Everlasting....
How would we wrap it?
And what would be inside?
It would start out Simple and Plain...
 A Recycled Kraft Box...
Sturdy and Practical...
It would be adorned with pretty ribbons..
all colors,textures and shapes...
A Happy Box...
yes that would be it...
And the inside....
well... one never knows what would be 
inside...
For that is the constant charm...
We do know that it will be filled with all
that we Love and want to share with 
all of you...
And because we are all unique and special people
so will our inventory be...
Something for everyone....
Stay tuned for our Springtime Opening
on March 9th!
And one more thing....
A brand new Old and Everlasting
Website....
Fresh and New for you!

And here it is!

www.oldandeverlasting.com

See you soon Everlasting friends!
We'll be back with a sneak peek of
the store....just a little peek for now...
we sure would not want to spoil the fun...
Opening Day March 9th!

A Thief among us....

Recognize this nose?

Evidence of a crime committed....

Could it be PEARL who has a LONG
history of PILFERING?

It matters not what the item is...
whatever captures her fancy...

One day a Boot!

Next day a Slipper!

The foot ware category seems to be a
favorite.
A SERIOUS problem has developed here...

A purse snatcher!
The worst offense....

Sock Stealer!

She is good at this...a toy
and scarf at the same time!
You see we have All Kinds
of evidence from way back when...
placemats,newspapers,eyeglasses,
etc,etc,etc....

And guilt is written all over her
sweet face...
But how could we possibly
send her off to pay for her crimes 
after all the JOY she has given us...
She is a daily reminder of
what is important in life...
Love,love,love,.....Companionship,living in
the moment,not taking things too
seriously,keeping busy, and enjoying
LIFE
...and whatever it has to offer!
Well, maybe not stealing Miss
Pearl...but it's perfectly OK
in our house....
Because you are Perfectly OK 
in our world!
To all you Dog Lovers out there...
Always remember...


They are you Friends,your Partners,
your Defenders,your Dogs...
You are their Life,their Love,their Leader...
They will be yours Faithful and True to
the last beat of their hearts...
You owe it to them to be  worthy
of such devotion....


The Rev. Billy Graham says it best....
"I think God will have prepared
everything for our perfect Happiness. 
If it takes my dog being there (in Heaven)
I believe he'll be there."


Hugs to all the doggies out there!
We'll be back soon!

baggallini blog....

Are you familiar with baggallini?
We will be most happy to share with you
all the wonderful things we know 
about these fabulous bags!
This company was founded by two veteran flight attendants
 who recognized a need for
 functional and fashionable handbags
and travel accessories for women.

And that they are!  For everyday wear or travel, they are the MOST organized,lightweight, and durable line of bags that we have ever
come across! And super CUTE too! Wait until you see all the styles
and take a look inside!
Colors and styles galore ,all moderately priced and sure to please....
And the story would not be complete without a personal
testimonial....
We have been traveling to gift markets for over 20 years.
This past winter a baggallini came with me and
 it will most certainly be the bag of choice from now on!
  It is hands down the perfect handbag! Everything is at your fingertips
and it's such a pleasure to own.

Trust us...you will ADORE it!

So many styles to choose from...
everyday bag, hampton bag, zip and go,milano tote,
criss-cross bag and more....

Look...look....
Fashioned with fun colors inside makes
it easy to find what you need!
Everything has it's place in a
baggallini!
credit card slots,key fob leash,lipstick/pen holders,
and a detachable ID holder coin purse.
  And...Lots of zippers to keep things
safe and secure!
It can't get much better than that!
Or maybe it can...
Did we mention how easy they are to clean?

We just had to let you peek inside
this baby hampton!
Isn't the leaf green interior
marvelous?
So...if you are traveling near or far, or maybe you might be 
needing a new handbag for everyday use...come see what
we have at....
Old and Everlasting...
 A very nice selection of baggallini's
are waiting for you...
See you soon
Old and Everlasting friends....
Remember...
We are OPEN Thursday thru Saturday 10-4
and Sunday 12-4



In honor of Mother's Day....a treasured old photo...



Two Great Ladies here....one being my special Mom Helen and the other my Aunt Sophie...who was our "second Mom"....and Dad to all of us.
Mom is on the right and was six years old in this picture and Aunt "Soph" was ten.
The photo was taken in 1931.
We received this dear old photo this past December...just days before Christmas. It came as a surprise to us from a country neighbor who had a connection to our family when Mom was a child.
There are no old photo albums....nothing to give us much of a glimpse of when they were children. So this made my heart soar...two little girls who I knew as my strength,my life,my angels...
I see them as children now....
Keeping the child within them provides comfort somehow...
Their sweet young faces bring only happy thoughts this Mother's Day.
Missing their presence here...
Knowing they are sisters together in Heaven...



If you look closely you will see this very same prayer book in Aunt Sophies hand. I have kept it safe all these years not knowing the story behind it...
Now I know...
Written in Polish this sweet little prayer book keeps the memory of them close...the memory of two children who grew up to live a lifetime of Love....
Thank you my two Great Ladies....
I would not be who I am today without you....

~Sending love to all on Mother's Day~

An Email Gift....

This Monday morning I had other blogging plans....and then a gift came in an email from a favorite cousin. (-:  Thank you...

And so I decided that it was a perfect day to share it....

It's a beautiful way to start the week...

Some of you may recognize the photos from The "Planet Earth" videos....

They too were a special gift that we received this past Christmas from dear friends...many Thanks...(-:

Enjoy the beauty of it all....

Believe with all your heart....

For You...each and every one...



Yes you are!

In honor of Valentines Day, and because I Love to Inspire and  Be Inspired...

Remember...You are special...

with your own purpose and style...

Enjoy who You are...

Lovingly accept who you are...

Because You are indeed Beauty Full...

 

Be like a Flower...grow and radiate your beauty...
Open up and Bloom...
Bloom for yourself and for others

 

Be Joyful and wear a Smile...
You will Inspire others just by being you! 

 

There is only One You!
God made you a Unique person with incredible gifts...
Give those gifts freely...
"If we did the things we are capable of doing-we would literally
astound ourselves!"
~Thomas Alva Edison~

 

And most importantly Love and accept Love....
There is no better gift than sincere love...
Either by giving or receiving...Love is what it's all about.

 

Share your Heart ,show that beautiful Heart to others...
Anything that comes from the Heart is good and true....

 

Hold dear "who you are" for the possibilities are endless...
Whatever your gifts are they are Perfect when you share them with others...
Be who you are....and nothing else...
One small kindness shown,one compassion felt,one gift shared can bring Amazing results...

 

And always Cherish everything good that comes your way.
For good builds upon good...
Place value on goodness...

 

And Celebrate being You!
Each and every Flower is different....there are no two exactly alike...ever....
Pretty amazing when you think about it....
So Celebrate who you are quietly, knowing that you do make a difference in this world because you are Beauty Full!
Each day you Inspire and Love and Share who you are with your heart and your smile. And that's what makes you worth celebrating! 

 We just wanted you all to be reminded of that... 
Sending Happy Valentines wishes your way. May all your days ahead be filled with Love...



Easy Caprese!



I had the opportunity to whip up a little something for a family get together and here it is!  Really, really easy, and always a hit for those who enjoy an Italian appetizer treat!
Would you like the Recipe?
Perhaps it looks like something you might like....

~Ingredients~
20  Grape Tomatoes
10 ounces fresh Mozzarella Cheese
(cubed or use the cute little fresh mozzarella balls)
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fresh Basil
A pinch of Salt
A pinch of Black Pepper
Garlic Powder
Balsamic Vinegar
20 toothpicks

Step one...make the marinade using the olive oil,two tablespoons of chopped fresh basil,salt,pepper and garlic powder to your liking. Mix ingredients.
Step two...Rinse your tomatoes and add to the marinade along with the mozzarella. Toss until well coated and marinade in this mixture. 1-2 hours. 
Step three...Rinse enough fresh basil leaves needed.
Step four...Use your toothpick and place one tomato,one fresh basil leaf and one cube or one half of a mozzarella ball to finish it off. 
Arrange on plate and drizzle balsamic vinegar if desired.
Options...Additions to the marinade could be Italian seasoning,balsamic vinegar,red pepper flakes.

Experiment with ingredients according to what you like. (-:
 That's the fun of it! 

As you can see I used more than 20 tomatoes and adjusted the ingredients a little.
We gobbled up a couple right away..they are yummy!
Enjoy...

See you later....
Coming SOON....within the next week or maybe two our Online Shopping should be up and running.
Sooooooo exciting!!!!!





Mom's Mitten Tree....

It was to be a simple Christmas we decided....
Our first Christmas without Mom....
Things are different this year...
And I came upon a pair of Mom's sweet little mittens.  And then another pair and yet another...
Over the many years of knitting these precious ornaments the sizes changed. "I love the little ones" Mom would say....I agreed at the time but now for some reason the larger ones have tugged at my heart...maybe because there is more of "Mom" in them..... 
They needed a place to gather this year...all the various shapes, sizes, and colors of Mom's mittens.
A petite tree in a big old crock....Perfect....
And they make me smile every time I gaze at the tree. For they are memories....memories of picking out the perfect yarn,memories of watching Mom's collection grow in a her blue oval box, memories of finding just the right place in the store for them, memories of our customers being so excited to purchase them because Mom knit them. And Mom would smile when they did....for so many years.....
The Love and Memories behind these mittens will never go away. Ever....
They live forever in our hearts....

Always remember that memories are made daily....
Each day brings forth something to treasure....
Our Christmas gifts sit on this dear little tree this year.
And there couldn't be any better gifts....
Standing just three feet tall...it's the Grandest tree of all....

Merry Christmas Mom....
We miss you, and we know that you are with us....
In every memory we have...in all the love that we keep in our hearts...


Merry Memory making to all this Christmas Season......

The Holiday Table...



Traditional Homespun Table Coverings.
100 % Cotton. 
Made in the Mountains of Vermont with the finest USA grown cotton.
These reversible, hand fringed table coverings are sure to make your Holiday Table warm and inviting.
Simply beautiful...



Over the years Old and Everlasting has been known for having a charming selection of tablecloths. These woven cloths have fast become our favorite around here!

It's a line that we have always been able to count on for it's excellent QUALITY,pleasing color selection,and super fast delivery. That's a winning combination for us and our customers! 

So many colors to choose from....

Natural,Sage,Cranberry,Navy,Cinnamon Black,Wedgewood,Red,Evergreen and more....

Many sizes available including oval and round.

~Runners and napkins are also offered to complete the setting~

We are always happy to help in your selection of color and sizes. Due to the natural cotton fiber we suggest sizing up to allow for some shrinkage. If your Holiday Table needs a little something special to dress it up perhaps this would be the perfect thing!
~ ~ ~

Stop by Old and Everlasting for your Holiday needs....

We have lots of goodies that you might enjoy!

For your Holiday Table and surroundings we carry...

 Twiggy lights, Holiday Florals,Candles,Napkins, Dip Mixes,Recipe Books, Music,and the most delicious Salsa and Hot Fudge Sauce...

In keeping with the spirit of  Thanksgiving we are forever Thankful for

our customers. You give us purpose, bring us friendship and laughter,and we are always mindful of your faithful support of Old and Everlasting.

COOKIES for you!

Just in case you missed our Christmas Days

celebration at Old and Everlasting...

The spirit of Christmas filled the air as cheerful shoppers enjoyed themselves. Good shopping,good conversations, and good cookie sampling took place! The store will continue to be filled with a wonderful selection of goods for Holiday gift giving and charming trimmings of the season.

We are OPEN ~Wednesday thru Saturday 12-4 and Sunday 12-4.

*We happily welcome you to visit this holiday season*

 And just in case you missed tasting these famous cookies baked by my cousin Kathy....

 Here are the recipes that she so graciously shared with us. She whips them up with such talent and ease.And they are amazingly yummy! And as she always tells us she removes the calories from the recipes. (-:

Thank you dear Kathy for your many hours of baking perfection!

Enjoy!

Doesn't it seem like you could reach right in and grab one...or maybe two...

*CHOCOLATE FILLED COOKIES*

Dough- 1/2 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup shortening (Crisco)

1/3 cup milk

Mix together well. Add one beaten egg and one teaspoon vanilla. Mix well.

Blend together- 3 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Add to wet ingredients. Mix well.

Divide dough into 4 parts for two 9 by 13 cake pans (or 5 parts for rolled cookies). Roll out between two pieces waxed paper to 1/8 inch thick. Place in pan and trim to fit.

Filling- 1  12 oz pkg semi sweet chocolate chips

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Melt chips over low heat,add milk and mix well. Stir in nuts until well blended. Spread half of the mixture on each pan of dough. (if making pinwheel style spread 1/5 of mixture on each dough square and roll up lengthwise).  Add top layer of rolled out dough. Brush top with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle on additional nuts. Bake 375 degrees 10-15 minutes for flat pan (or 15-20 minutes for rolled pinwheel cookies) or until golden brown. Let cool completely and cut to desired size.

*PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP DROPS*

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin

2 cups (12oz) semi sweet chocolate chips

In a mixing bowl,cream together butter and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour,oats,baking soda,cinnamon and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with pumpkin. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoonful two inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. *For smaller cookies use a teaspoon and adjust baking time.

*SNICKERDOODLES*

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup shortening (Crisco)

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 3/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix butter,shortening,sugar,and eggs. Blend in flour,cream of tartar,baking soda, and salt.

Shape dough by rounded teaspoon into balls.

Mix together 2 Tablespoons Sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Roll balls in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased pan. Bake in 400 degree oven 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove from pan immediately.

Hope you enjoy these recipies my friends. It's a busy holiday season ahead! Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching. May yours be filled with all the things that you love...

Have fun baking,shopping, wrapping,decorating,and spending time with family and friends.

Fa la la la la la la la la.....

The Story of Inge- Glas and Friendship...

In Keeping with Tradition here at Old and Everlasting it was time to begin the task of decorating our Christmas trees. In came the trees,lights,and an ample dose of energy to achieve this mission.
There is always much excitement that goes along with this job as we imagine the
 Sparkling masterpiece when it is completed.





It truly is a labor of  Love to place each glass ornament in it's proper place on the trees and assorted containers for our Old and Everlasting customers.
This year I happened to wonder how many years we have been enjoying these very special Inge -Glas ornaments from Germany. And how many years have we tackled this job with the anticipation of the ooh's and ah's from our customers as they discovered the trees dressed in these enchanting glass ornaments.

So off I went to check my records. I was surprised at how many years have gone by...
I do remember that Christmas season in 1994 that we first introduced the Inge- Glas Christmas ornaments (known as Old World back then).
But there is more to the story....
And more to come about the history of Inge Glas also....it's time for the story of
Friendship....
There have been so many wonderful friends that have helped at the store over these 22 years... each and every season.
 This story is about  Shirley. Our very special friend who has for each of the 17 years decorated our Inge Glas Christmas Trees. Each year with such loyalty and a genuine joy in her heart.
Bless her dear heart for always wanting to do that for us.The Old and Everlasting trees decorated by Shirley are always quite amazing. If the Inge- Glas ornaments could talk they would thank her for finding the most perfect spot to showcase their beauty.
We thank you for your friendship and your dedication Shirl...

And we Love You for your very big Heart...even if you are a bit camera shy....(-:




And now about the History...
Yesterdays craftsmanship,today's treasures, and tomorrow's heirlooms....
" Inge- Glas is a family operated business dating back to the 1500's in Germany that has been handcrafting glass ornaments with skills that have been passed down for generations. All ornaments are capped with the 5-Point Star Crown that is recognized worldwide as the symbol of authentic Inge-Glas craftsmanship as well as German tradition and quality."

Old and Everlasting  is an authorized Retailer of these glass blown hand painted ornaments from Germany.
These quality ornaments made from Antique moulds are fun to collect and pass down from generation to generation.



 Enjoy  the spirit of Christmas and Friendship
 at Old and Everlasting...
We look forward to seeing you this upcoming holiday season....

Ta Da!!!!!!

Our Mom....

Our Precious Gift....

We lost our special Mom Helen on August 12th,2010

Mom was a very important part of Old and Everlasting....

Right from the very start she was working with us and enjoying every part of this business. She brought such joy to us and everyone that visited the store.

Perhaps over the years you purchased a pair of sweet little mitten ornaments at Christmas Time...if you did, treasure them always...they were knit by Mom with lots of love.

I wanted to share with you a poem that I wrote....

We Always Knew....

We always knew how special she was,

her love could move the earth.

Her strength, her smile, her heart of Gold

were gifts to us from birth.

And now we know that she'll be here

beside us every day.

Her sweet and loving presence

will guide us along the way.

Our love for you is forever in our hearts Mom.

We will move forward each and every day with all the gifts that you gave us.

Thank you God for this strong,loving and selfless woman that we were blessed to call our "Mom"