A Dream of a Shoppe...

As long as I can remember...

My mom used to talk about one day having a small shoppe in Historic New Castle, DE.

My mom rented a home in this small town for a while when I was in High School.

And I can honestly say that it was my favorite place to live so far here in Delaware.

Here is a print that I bought for my mom for her birthday before she got sick.

As far as I know, it is still hanging in her dining room - which is actually no longer hers...

But to me, when I think of the place where she last lived and put her decorative mark...

She is still there in my recent memories...

Especially around the holidays!

Check out this video that my mom took a few Thanksgivings ago with the big old Turkey and her little pup Dino. She spoiled that pup (had to spoil someone - she was "hoping" for grandchildren...). Don't worry, he got some of the cooked turkey later that day...

I wish I knew the artist's name...

It has it on the print, but with this photograph, I just can't read it...

I know the woman artist was alive when I bought this from a small shop, but the shop has since closed... And she has a series of drawings like this of the various unique places around Old New Castle. As soon as I find out, I'll update this with her name...

Anyway...

With Thanksgiving being tomorrow...

Without mom here...

We are settling into new traditions, while remembering some of the old...

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be on the TV, even if nobody is watching it consistently, which means it's turned up loud so we can hear it, while we are hanging out in the kitchen making cookies for that night and my favorite thing to make: The Mashed Potatoes...

As a kid - I loved peeling all those potatoes (and shucking the corn in the summer... weird, I know!).

Every year mom would call us when "Santa" arrived for the Parade...

Which of course meant Christmas was officially here...

It's like a month long decorative celebration, good feelings, eating, and finding happiness in your family, faith, and friends...

Maybe this is why too that both times with me being pregnant,

The babies have been due around Christmas...

I still swear that mom has got something to do with the timing of my pregnancies...

Chloe was due December 26, but arrived 3 weeks early...

Riley is due January 13, and if he happens to be an early arrival, that puts him at Christmas...

Well, Christmas and New Years...

I believe that having these two babies around this time of the year is a great way to make it that much better...

To help heal a bit more by having even more to celebrate...

Give me any reason to celebrate - and I'm happy!

Speaking of Celebrating!

One more thing to celebrate:

In a way, mom has gotten her specialty Shoppe...

The My Mom Pattie Etsy Shop...

This picture above is just one of the items for sale...

Winterberries by jewelry designer Marie Dodd...

All of the items in the shop are handmade creations from various artists that are donating their creative talents, time, and materials so that I can collect monies to then donate to various non-profit organizations.

So make sure to stop by and pick up a few items for someone special this holiday season!

Or, treat yourself, because purchasing something from this shop will go towards helping someone else.

Right now, that someone else happens to be small, feathered, and in need of rehabilitation:

Tri-State Bird Rescue, Room Dedication for My Mom Pattie in their new expansion.

Appropriate because my mom always would take in sick or injured animals,

and with her no longer here to do so, it would be nice to have a permanent place in her memory where sick or injured birds can be cared for.

Thank You Mom...