Field Trip to General and Shoppe

 

Beautiful Christmas tree at General

Recently a friend of mine and I visited two of my favorite shops in downtown Birmingham on Clairmont Avenue: Shoppe and General.  We had a lovely lunch, and I had the best olive oil cake for dessert at General.  I want to find a good recipe for it and bake it for my family.

At Shoppe, we enjoyed seeing the beautiful wreaths and garlands.  They also had a nice selection of forced bulbs and Poinsettias:

General reminds me of a store one would see in Paris.  They stock lovely items from the United States and Europe (I bought some New England maple sugar), and they also have a little café, too.  The fixtures, displays, and vignettes are so lovely:

I love the details on this Christmas tree, especially the blue and white ribbon and the white paper garland.

Speaking of shells....here's today's Chrismon:

The Shell is a symbol for baptism. It reminds Christians of the water that they are baptized in. It is also a sign of Pilgrimage, as Pilgrims to the Holy Land (Israel) would use a shell as a drinking vessel.

I sort of copied my shell from a Pilgrimage sign.

Today's scripture:

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.  When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.  But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.  He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,  for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.  He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Luke 1:11-17

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill

Field Trip to General and Shoppe

Monday, December 6, 2021

A Very Special Fifth Anniversary Edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote *plus* an AMAZING Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies!  

Welcome to my blog, and Happy New Year!

Today is the Fifth Anniversary Celebration of the Tales of the Traveling Tote; this is a very special, one-of-a-kind Tales of the Traveling Tote post.  The Traveling Tote ladies all enjoy MacKenzie-Childs: The whimsy of the line makes us smile, and we actually found each other via collecting MacKenzie-Childs.  As a family, we have enjoyed how MacKenzie-Childs has made our home happy and fun everyday for thirty-one years.  Perhaps my favorite MacKenzie-Childs memories are afternoon tea parties with our daughters.  Our oldest daughter will be getting married next month, and she has registered for MacKenzie-Childs locally at Christine's.

I'm also enjoying making memories with the Traveling Tote Group: You can read more about us on my Tales of the Traveling Tote Page.  I'm honored to be a part of such a dynamic group of women!

So what, exactly, makes this post different from other Tales of the Traveling Tote posts?


It all started a few weeks ago when I received a special package in the mail.

What in the world could be in the large bag?  I didn't order anything large...

...from MacKenzie-Childs!

Let's open it up, shall we?

L@@K!!!  It is a lovely, one-of-a-kind tote!

I am so touched!

I especially like the little red flowers peeking out of the pocket!

Two artists who work for MacKenzie-Childs looked at my blog and created a beautiful tote that reflects my blog and personality.  I think they nailed it!

It matches lots of things in our home!

I love my tote so much.  I love the pretty fabrics the ladies, Joan and Julie, chose for me.  Because of the interlocking squares, I have named my tote Miss Square Peggy.  Isn't she perfect?

 I'm using my tote to carry my art supplies...

 ....and my library books.  Miss Square Peggy will also go with me to my favorite Indie bookstores!

Plus, she even matches my favorite book of 2019!

She's perfect for field trips to my favorite flower markets, too.

I can take her everywhere!  She even has handy dandy exterior (as well as one interior) pockets!

Finlay is curious about my excitement over the tote.

Sorry Little Buddy!  There's nothing in there for you!

I can also put prizes in it from my friends.  My friends spoil me with prizes!

Check it out!  Miss Square Peggy matches my favorite Christmas present, the MacKenzie-Childs Bazaar Coffee Pot.  

Let's take Miss Square Peggy on a field trip, shall we?  Let's take her to where I purchase MacKenzie-Childs in Birmingham:  Christine's in Mountain Brook Village.  I want to see what's new and popular in the MacKenzie-Childs line at Christine's.

Jean Clayton, owner of Christine's, says her customers love the new Royal Check line by MacKenzie-Childs.  

Miss Square Peggy and I like it, too!

The Flower Market Collection blends beautifully with it, don't you think?

I am so grateful for Miss Square Peggy.  I want to thank MacKenzie-Childs and Joan and Julie for their very generous gift.

The other nine members of the Traveling Totes also received one-of-a-kind totes based on their blogs and personalities.  You can see the ladies with their totes in the collage below.

And now it's YOUR TURN!

One lucky reader of the Traveling Tote Blogs will receive a one-of-a-kind tote.

This is what it looks like:

Isn't it pretty!  

This tote has been provided to us (Tales of the Traveling Tote Bloggers) by MacKenzie-Childs, or Aurora Holdings, LLC.

In order for a chance to win this beautiful tote above, please leave a comment on this post.  You will then be entered to win in a random drawing that is officially a sweepstakes.  Please see legal, above.  Winner will be announced January 27, 2020.

UPDATE:  Rhonda, who entered the contest at The Painted Apron Blog, won the tote in our giveaway.  Thanks to all of my readers who entered.  I wish one of y'all had won!  

Sorry, Mustang Sally....I know you love Miss Square Peggy, but you can't enter!

Please visit the other ladies' blogs.  Here are the links!

Debbie with Miss Tassie @ Mountain Breaths

Emily with Miss Lulu @ The French Hutch

Patti with Miss Tizzy@ Pandora's Box

Jenna with Miss  Hello Gorgeous @ The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Gigi @ Life and Linda

Rita with Miss Penny @ Panoply

Sarah with Miss Poppy @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie with Miss Pansy @ Purple Chocolat Home  

Ricki Jill with Miss Square Peggy @The Sketchy Reader

Cherry Kay with Miss Waverly  @ Entertaining Women

I hope you will join Miss Square Peggy and me on our next adventure soon!

Until next time...

Blessings!

Ricki Jill

A Very Special Fifth Anniversary Edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote *plus* an AMAZING Giveaway!

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Field Trip to America's Hometown: Laurel, Mississippi

One of two shops owned by Ben and Erin Napier in Laurel, Mississippi

Happy Tuesday, My Lovelies!  A few weeks ago I went on a field trip to Laurel, Mississippi: America's Hometown.  Laurel is featured in Ben and Erin Napier's HGTV show, Home Town.  On the day I visited, it was overcast, and it eventually stormed before I left.  I'd like to share the highlights of my trip with y'all.

First of all, Laurel is not far from Interstate 59.  Laurel is about 150 miles southwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and about 142 miles northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana.  It's a fun day trip if you live in Alabama or Louisiana, and I plan on returning at some point this year.

My first stop was the Laurel Mercantile.  The shop isn't large, but it is very well curated.  There were several people shopping on the Saturday I visited in spite of the inclement weather.  

I liked the selection of milk glass in the shop as well as the vintage-looking glassware.

The Mercantile sells toweling by the yard (i'd love to think of a creative way to use it) and I also loved the cheerful artwork.

If you need anything for your kitchen, you can find it in the shop.

The Mercantile also has a lovely selection of Farmhouse Pottery.  I have a few pieces of their pottery and love it!  The shop sells pieces from the Laurel collection like the crock, above.

The pillows with the iconic Scotsman truck on them are so cute.  I regret not buying one!

I did purchase Ben and Erin's book.  

The book has a handy map in it showing the area where the homes are located that Ben and Erin have renovated for the show.  

After I left the Laurel Mercantile, I went to lunch at the famous Pearl's Diner.  It was crowded, but I didn't have to wait long for a delicious lunch of fried chicken and vegetables.  Pearl's is famous for fried chicken.  I did not take any photos because there were too many people, and by this time it had started raining.

The next stop:  The Scotsman General Store and Woodshop.

Ben and Erin were still filming this season, but as the light was off in the General Store, I didn't get to see Ben filming in his workshop *sadface*

The General Store sells lots of candy, and other food stuffs.  Ben runs on caffeine, apparently.  I also bought some Camellia red beans because they're hard to find in Alabama.

Big Ben's Blend is very strong, but excellent.  I also bought a mug and a Scotsman t-shirt for trip.

After I visited the Scotsman General Store I used the handy-dandy map from Ben and Erin's book and drove around and looked at all the beautiful homes in Laurel that have been featured on the show.  I also saw Ben and Erin's adorable craftsman-style cottage.  By this time it was raining hard, so again I didn't take any photos.  This is why I want to visit again, maybe during the week, when the weather is pretty.

One final note....Today is Mr. Sketchy Reader and my anniversary!  :D  We've been married 31 years today.  Miracles DO happen!  ;P

Do you watch Home Town?  I love Ben and Erin's designs, and I also enjoy their show!

Until next time...

Blessings!

Ricki Jill

Field Trip to America's Hometown: Laurel, Mississippi

Tuesday, March 19, 2019