This month marks one year since my official retirement from a 40+ year career in retail…so how did I do this first year?
I really dislike the word retirement! We have to find another way to describe the next phase. I had lots of goals, (on paper) and have achieved many of them. ‘Slowing down’ was never a goal, as the pitch of my day and calendar is full. I [...]
Did you go to Girl Scout Camp? I remember feeling excitement and fear, loneliness being away from home, and liked the new friends I made adjusting to the experience. I loved my counselors and can still remember their names. I remember the smell of the tents and the mosquitoes. It was the north woods of Wisconsin, the land of the vicious bugs! Jumping into the cold lake water with [...]
Main Street in Vinalhaven, Maine, is the center of town and the hub for all activity. It’s also known as Down Street. It is 3 blocks long separated by alleys and water. There is a post office where everyone meets, one supermarket where everyone shops, and a few very creative merchants that are now my friends.
Many people on the island wear Alison Thibault’s hand made jewelry from her Five Elements [...]
Two glorious weeks at Vinalhaven, an island of 2000 acres off the coast of Rockland and is home to a thriving lobster industry. History of the island includes the granite industry which began in Vinalhaven in 1826 and was one of the largest quarrying centers. Granite from Vinalhaven can be found on the Brooklyn Bridge, Washington Monument, Penn Station, etc. There are 320 hard working year round families that [...]
Freshest vegetables gathered from the garden with taste that is to be remembered and savored
Organic vegetables and meat and you know what you are eating because you know what the animals have been fed
Simple cooking methods with great flavor coming from every ingredient
Delicious like it is the first time you have tasted food…ooh and ahhs… express our cooking experiences in Tuscany this month.
And tell me why we cannot eat like this every day, [...]
The Five Most Powerful Women in Retail from Forbes 100 Most Powerful women are to be admired for their influence and impact on the industry:
Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Sam’s Club Walmart Stores-spearheading a collection of programs to increase customer experience and market share. Miucilia Prada, Owner and Fashion Designer Prada- brand image of elegant, crisp style Carol Meyrowitz, CEO TJX- in its 36 year history TJX has only had [...]
Each day in Provence there is a market to find the most fabulous ingredients. To quote the French, “Rather have a little bit of great food than a lot of ‘not’ the freshest. We support farmers we trust to provide us only the best.” Loyalty at its finest.
There is a hierarchy as to positioning of vendors…location-location-location. Some have been in the same place for 30 years. New vendors are [...]
I am passionate about Olives and Olive Oil. I use a lot of it. I try all kinds of brands, and always stop at olive oil stores in every city I visit. Crazy as it sounds, Morry and CJ and I went to a 3 day Olive Oil Seminar and Tasting in NYC this summer. Famous tasters from around the world judged the best olive oils and gave awards. [...]
How women burn calories in France. Spinning… This video is will be worth your time. Will only take a minute. It’s hilarious!
I am off to a cooking school in Provence with Patricia Wells. I purchased her cookbook Patricia Wells At Home In Provence in 1996 when it first was released and have since then wanted to go to her cooking school. I met her last year on a [...]
I now understand the meaning of Carolina Blue having spent 96 hours in North Carolina on the outer banks on Emerald Isle, with 3 of my dearest friends. We worked together 35 years ago as merchants, buyers, designers, with a love of retail and just selling stuff. How the colors of nature influence our choices in business and decorating our homes. We marveled on how the palate of blues, [...]
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