The Arabian Horse Show

 

 

The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

 

As you know, I am in Arizona right now and was able to get over

to the Arabian Horse Show this past weekend. 

It was really something to see!

 

My sisters friend, Noelle, was with us and she is quite knowledgeable, having ridden and competed in horse shows in the past.  It was like having our own personal tour guide.

 

The arena was being set up for the

horse jumping competition

 

 There were many different competitions throughout the week

 

But you could watch them practicing outside

 

The horses and their owners had their own stable spaces and they decked out the front with flowers,furniture,

TV's and bars to make their private guests comfortable. 

Some were quite elaborate. 

All their previous winning ribbons were on display

 

 

 

Behind these elaborate tents would be the private stables.  Some were open

and you could go inside and visit the horses

 

 

 

They were friendly and absolutely beautiful

 

Then of course, before you leave...the gift show....enormous buildings where you could buy anything horse related

and much, much, more...

Horse Related Artwork

Beautiful Western Lamps

My personal favorite booth...Barbed Wire Art

 

Saddles - blinged out or regular

And a wonderful assortment of jewelry

It would have taken a whole day just to see all the booths

 

The Show runs for two weeks and it is relatively inexpensive to get in...just $10.00 for a regular adult all day ticket. 

We were only able to spend a few hours there. 

 I wished I had more time

The Wizard of Odz - A Lamp and Lighting Hospital

I visited an unbelievable lamp and lighting repair

store here in Arizona called Wizard of Odz

 

Row after row of globes....parts....etc.

 

 

They had both new and old globes and parts...

I was in Heaven!

 

 

 

It just went on and on....

 

Their motto is they

Rehang

Repair

Rewire

Restore

Refinish

Remove

Refurbish

 They are located at 1643 E. Bell Rd

Phoenix, Az 85022

602-788-8878

 

 

The Musical Instrument Museum in Arizona

Music is the Language of the Soul....

The Musical Instrument Museum

The artistry, diversity, and movement of musical instruments

from around the world, are on display at this interesting museum 

 

I got a chance to visit this museum this week, and since I am not really a musical person....I can't play any instrument or even sing, I thought I might be bored....far from it.

 

 

The museum includes collections of instruments from around two hundred countries and territories in the world. Some larger countries such as India, China, Russia, the United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and others have multiple displays with subsections for different types of ethnic, folk, and tribal music.

 The instruments have both historic and artistic merit

 

Guests are given wireless headsets to wear throughout the museum. As they approach each display, they can hear the instruments being played, either solo or as an ensemble.

Many of the instruments were strange, to say the least...

But my favorites were the ones that were made out of

 whatever people could find,

Such as these oil can guitars

Or this one made from tin pie plates

 and this one made from a cigar box

 

Illustrating perfectly, the innate nature of music...

that it exists in us from birth and we are drawn to it on a soul level

 

And then there is the Artist Gallery

 

This signed harmonica display

The Lyrics to Pretty Woman, as written by Roy Orbison

A guitar played by Elvis Presley

and John Denver's "This Old Guitar"

Or Taylor Swift's Dress and guitar from a recent concert

 

And then the gift shop....

Where cut up License Plates would be my favorite thing

 



Beautiful Arizona

 For the next few months we will be writing this blog from Arizona.  Linda, my assistant is visiting family there.  

The miracles of modern technology have made this possible

(Warning: the miracles of modern technology

do create some hair pulling but we

got it figured out)

Arizona has many wonderful attributes but one of my favorites is it's love affair with rusty metal

 

These are just a few of the items on my sister, Karen's, property

I'm sure that before I leave, in March,

 I will be showing you a lot more of the fabulous selection

 of rusty metal available here. 

(I always end up shipping home a box of it)

 

Many people ask me if Arizona is

"brown and dry"

The Bougainvillea is always in bloom when I come in the winter.  It comes in many colors, including white, purple, red, orange, yellow, pink and magenta.  Originally from South America, it is sometimes called Paper Flower 

The combinations of desert plants and brilliant flowers always leave me in awe

 

The Cacti are interesting and beautiful even when they are not in bloom

Most of the trees are wispy and don't offer much shade, which surprised me

 

 

  Citrus grows here beautifully and I love going out in the morning

to get an orange, grapefruit or some lemon for my tea

 

Arizona is anything but brown and dry

 

I am extremely lucky

to be able to spend most of the winter here

Sherron is gracious enough to let me go

 (without it jeopardizing my job)

and my sister has a fabulous piece of property

that can accommodate us

(we stay in her  2 bedroom guest house with my Dad....

who actually built it in 2005 - 2006 when he was 76 years old!)

 

I also have a son, daughter in law and 3 grandchildren here, so being able to be in their lives for more than 10 days at a time is a true blessing

 

Random Picks of Everyday Items in Decorating

Using random items in everyday decorating

help you to acheive an interesting and novel look

Signs can bring Interest and color to an area and

 be a vehicle for conversation



For a more cohesive look collections are the ticket

Mix pretty with industrial and/or surprise vintage objects

for an individual style and an interesting home

 

Antique Keys are both fun and interesting to collect

They are also pretty easy to find and come in large sizes

 

 

An old lantern and a model boat

gives you the feeling of a vintage boat yard

 

 

You can sneak an old model boat into almost any decor

 

Decorating does not have to be a daunting task...everyday items are easy to incorporate with flowers, glassware,

silverplate etc......industrial to fancy.

 

 

We Have 4 Winners

 

 

 

      We have 4 winners for our Holiday Give-a-way

Congratulations to our winners!

 

We picked the names out of the jar and here they are

 

Karen Z

Linda B

Susan M

Eunice & Tom

 

You can come to claim your $25.00 Gift Certificate anytime.

Looking forward to seeing you

 

 

That Time Of Year

It's time for our Annual Christmas Barn Sale and Happy Holiday Party

Saturday December 8th  -  9am - 3pm

965 Main Road , Aquebogue, NY 11931

 

Come one and all

We will be serving Mulled Cider and Cookies

 

 

We are collecting warm coats and blankets

for the needy, to be donated to Maureen's Haven

A FREE STOCKING STUFFER to anyone who brings one

 

 

 

 

Free Raffle:  We are also giving away 4 

                    $25.00 Gift Certificates

 

The barn looks beautiful and festive

 

 

 

We look forward to seeing you
Click here to see more photos