RAFFIA SISTERS

It's all my fault

Yes, it's all my fault that there was nothing blogged yesterday & it's 4:30 in the afternoon and not the normal 8:00 "Lori Post" .  I'm going to be in such big trouble, but, hey, what is she gonna do- fire me? ha!  ---Remember  a while back when I had that weekend to myself - Lori took Kenadie to dad's and I "worked" - yeah, well - paybacks are a *****.  This weekend Lori went to dad's and Anna (and later Seth) came to stay with us.  Now, let me preface that with another heading - "Naughty or Nice".  My sweet daughter has been a naughty little turd for the past couple of months (everybody warned me that 3 was worse than 2) and I've taken to threatening to call Santa (I'm not above it) to let him know how naughty she is (even though, he CAN really see her when she's under the bed throwing a fit) - lately I've walked to the phone a lot.  And a few nights ago she actually saw Santa looking in her window.  And, yes, he was even blue.  -   So... let me just say it was a long weekend in the child entertainment area.  Nice,baking, arguing, pictures, play dough, outside leaves, arguing, mall, naughty, movie, tantrum, pizza,  crying, playing outside,  wounded, crying, ..... you get the picture.  - A lot of this...

And, the Santa threat didn't even help.   But, last night the girls put  this wall decal from the store on the door in her bedroom (I couldn't show the whole thing because it was waaaaaay too messy.) - But,  maybe it will help if Santa truly is "watching" her.  And, guess what,  Lori is staying until tomorrow :-)

 

What's in a name?

Sometimes it 's the sound that you like, the rolling off the tongue........ or maybe it's a  character in a book or movie... or something you found in the 1000 or more baby names.  Most of us have had the struggle of coming up with the perfect name.   I wanted Abby but it was a Seth.... then Mamie, which I was the only one that loved that name, so went to my second choice, Anna.  Kenadie  was from something I believe Lynda read ...but we all thought she had come up with it from a hill in the Valley.  Then there is  another name....that from family.  Seth holds true to both sides with a very long middle name  Seth Richard Charles Kraft.  (I always like to add the third  it just sounds so diplomatic.)

Then there are the girls - both middle named Donn, after our Mom,  Donnee.  Which also traces back to family.....

Last  Friday we laid to rest our Great Uncle Don Shaffner.   My Moms uncle and name sake.  I believe the story goes that she was supposed to be a boy - Don.  So when she arrived it was altered to Donnee.     Mom always held Uncle Don in very high regards.... and I think he her.   When Anna arrived and the name sake continued he was so very proud.  With occasional phone calls to check on "Anna Donn"  letters and presents.    I always though it was so special that he would make a point of remembering Anna's birthday or Christmas, being the ripe young age of 80 something and left widowed after many years of marriage.  

Uncle Don was a veterinarian  in Dillon for many years, served on the board  and helped build the local hospital,  then left his practice to"retire" and ranch.  He truly was a wonderful man.  I was honored to sing "Daddy's Hands" at the service and I proud for his name-sakes to pass on these  strong hands. 

   

 

 

While a very tearful day full of memories, and with thoughts of Mom lingering, there was also something very peaceful knowing that this was a man that had lived a hard but very good life and that there was lots of catching up and laughter up above.   And,  also the pride that comes with a name!  

Just a bit of HIGH DRAMA at the Kraft's this AM....before my regularly scheduled post!

Ok, so the drama simply stopped with me...but!!!!!!!

Must admit I am a HUGE coffee addict!!!!  I swear it is what keeps me alive! A must have from the minute I get up...and unfortunately not a real pop/water drinker so I drink it most of the day.  I do the old fashioned kind...plain old coffee....learned a long time ago that you can get addicted to the fancy kind and it wasn't in my every single day five times a day budget.....soooo

my coffee also has to be BLACK AND STRONG..there is nothing worse than coffee you can see through....and if I showed you my coffee pot you would probably turn down a cup because it totally RUINS the taste if you clean the pot.(are you getting my point!)

So yesterday Brad made the coffee...(finally after a lot of years I am getting him to make it strong enough)  sooo yesterday....yawns all day.... and this morning I know why!  Get up go to  make coffee....and OMG

coffee canister EMPTY!!!! and of course a brief flash through my mind that last time I filled it it was the end of the can.  BUT sitting on the counter was this....

  I keep this around for the evenings when I am dieing for a cup but also want to sleep...so of course the deduction... that was in my coffee yesterday....and it wasn't that I was exhausted but simple running on NO CAFFEINE! (of which you do not do to an addicted body!!!)

So knowing that wouldn't work, I start scrounging through the cupboards looking for something that may resemble coffee....(I always save those little gift coffees  that come in presents just for moments like this.....) and LUCKY DAY I run across this.....

purchased to support out school so I am well on my way to having a cup....which of course in order to have ground coffee one must find the grinder......(of which I never use) so of course you can imagine the once again digging through the cupboards only to find the grinder with no lid....and of course you need the lid to push the little grind button in.  Plan B:  get out the food processor.  Grind a few beans...of course they are somewhat chunky..but hope for the best....brew the coffee... and  yes my nightmare....you can see through it!  so run it back through with more chunks...of which it really doesn't get much better.   Decide to rig the  grinder in hopes of somehow getting a GOOD cup....which means cup held over the top...fork to try to push the little button down (yes, electrical accident waiting to happen!) lift the cup off the top to  quickly ...coffee everywhere!!!! Ok I think you are getting my days struggles so I will stop going on and on (of which I could continue) and get to my real post!!!

On a Christmas note..... yesterday I talked about the tables...today my second favorite thing to decorate.....Plain and simple I love decorating mantels.....and just a quick show before I say goodbye and head to work...(of which I am totally running behind...and the coffee still isn't very good...but no fear Jackie will save my day at the store...(she too is a great coffee maker))

 

 

 
and once again....this one....

Hope the morning found the beverage of your choice which will in turn lead to a HAPPY DAY!

Is it time to eat????

I have to say, I have two things that I just LOVE to decorate.  Probably most favorite would be setting the tables at Raffia..(much more fun than setting a table at home...all the stuff to choose from) and especially at Christmas.....

 

 

and don't forget the chairs...

 

 

Must admit it just makes my happy to think of being able to sit down at a table full of fun decorations and details..... and of course lets not forget the food!

oh and my second favorite thing...well you'll just have to wait and see!

Join us as we Celebrate our Christmas Open House November 2nd through November 7th. You won't want to miss the magic

I get to BLOG!

Just like Lynda missing the whole scrapbook thing...I think it is the same for me with the blogging.  I really miss it when I don't have the time to sit down and ponder what to post and share.  I feel like I am missing out on talking with my friends in some weird way.

I have to admit it has been a bit of a whirlwind week.  Starting last week with the trip to dads...a bit of moving furniture a couple of nights... kids and Halloween... another surprise trip home...(more on that later) and then back Friday night late to get going with the holiday decor.  I am hoping that in the next couple of weeks we will get Dad's cattle worked...moved over..along with him and then things will get somewhat normal again. (whatever normal may be!)

I had a great day yesterday with the  first day of our Christmas open house.  For the past 15 years we have had about the same format.  We learned early on that it would be best that we close on the Saturday before so we could have the whole weekend to turn the store into a winter wonderland.  (and to spare people our disaster as we get things put together...I don't know if you know this but I cannot rearrange and decorate WITHOUT MAKING A HUGE MESS.....I also have this really weird thing about not finishing one area...so needless to say I will start something then go to another room..then come back for a minute... so forth and so on...so then pretty soon everywhere is just a mess!  But thankful that by Sunday night it is usually ready to go. )    So  Monday always brings this huge sense of relief that the mishmash of stuff we order the previous January and then again in June actually come together to make our Raffia  Christmas.  Monday also brings that reminder why we love our stores....I can almost predict who will be in on Monday.... our great customers that have come for the last fifteen years without fail... with words of encouragement and support of our efforts.  It is somewhat like scrap camp.....the dread of the work before soon disappears as you see friends getting together...sipping cider and sharing time just enjoying the moment.  It takes all that dread away and soon changes to the fun and remembrance that people appreciate the little moments of escaping from the real world.  

(as you see I tend to get a bit wordy...when I haven't gotten to  blog!!!)  So without further blabbing I will share some more photos....and please stop in just to enjoy....Jackie has the cider on and trust me you don't want to miss her special cider!!!!  A very Happy Day!!!!

 

 

 

Yes, there is a Santa..... Charlie Brown! Right at Raffia!

We made it...just in time to open this morning for our Holiday open House.  Join us all week as we  celebrate....more tomorrow...... but till then...Here's a bit of Christmas at Raffia

 



 

Happy Day...or is that Happy Holidays!!!!

November Sisters "STYLE"

I went crazy putting product together this month and couldn't decide -  so we actually have a STYLE and  two, yes 2,  add-ons.    Take a peek just some of  "Fall Tradition"...

 

and "Family Tradition"

 

and "Apple Cider"

and I even got to scraplift my favorites - Maggie Holmes & Jennifer Johner- and use some of the fun stuff when I had my "therapy" session the other day.

I LOVE all the warm and cozy colors.   Great paper (most two sided) and really fun embellishments.  Hope they make you feel warm and cozy, too!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Join us as we celebrate

the Holiday Season

with our Raffia Open House

Monday, November 2nd - Saturday, November 7th.

We'll be closed Saturday, October 31st to prepare to give thanks for the seasons' simple pleasures.

And...
just in time for Christmas, enjoy all that is new with Brighton at our Trunk Show - Wednesday, November 11th
10:00am - 4:30pm

May all the blessings of this incredible season shine upon you.

oh, yuck spiders!!!!! ooooooohhhh!

Here's what you'll need:

then you just...

TWIST off top... stick on legs...be sure to count to 8

two dots for eyes...and you officially have a cute Halloween Treats!!!