Shadow Shot Sunday/Echoes

In Tribeca some berries were catching the light under blue scaffolding.

This photo seems to echo Summer Kitchen Interiors' one.

Yesterday afternoon we walked up to 39th Street since I wanted to show R. the fabric district Frances had told me about. Big mistake as we passed right in front of Macy's which was a mega-mob scene. 

Beckenstein's on 39th Street has a wonderfully retro window. The car reflections reminds me of Sweet Repose's car shadow today.

There is no actual shadow in this one -- just the ghostly retro shadow of a shop that once was.

On 39th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenue, there is a heaven of glorious fabrics.

Many of the shopkeepers are Indian. We are thinking of the people of Mumbai.

I must thank Heyharriet as ever for hosting ShadowshotSunday and making the super collages.

Go to her site for the ever expanding and enthusiastic roll of Shadow Shotters.

This week I'd really like to thank her for  her very kind plug for my little book.

Bloggers rule!

Come Fly Away With Me: Vicarious Vacationing

We're all thrifty here at The Thrift Shop Romantic. I mean, if there's a way to have big fun on little money, we know all about it, right? So that's why today I'm taking you on my Thanksgiving trip to the Florida Keys...

And you'll never have to pay a dime for airfare... You won't have to worry about accommodations... And the food? It's a feast for the eyes and totally skinny on the wallet...

Are your bags packed? Well, just blink, and we're there!...

Ah! Here we are in Florida. Just feel that balmy breeze! And what do you know?-- it's Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving means you folks, and my dad and I will all be going to the Whale Harbor Inn for an amazing buffet dinner....

Because, ya know, it's hard to bring turkey and all the fixin's on that plane. Airlines have gotten so restrictive about what you can take in your carry-ons. (I hear the turkey gravy can only be in three ounce bottles.)

Well, no worries here, because the turkey is all you can eat...

But if turkey's not your thing, there are more seafood options than you can shake a crab claw at...

And don't forget the dessert! Key Lime pie and flan are just two of the choices...

I simply can't move, can you?

Courtesy of the Whale Harbor's helpful fun house mirrors, here are Dad and I before we ate, all nice, skinny and svelte...

And here we are after eating, fat and a bit blurry... Overindulging will do that to you, I guess.


So let's all go outside to walk it off. And gosh, what a view!


And we meet some local color...


And some more, er, local color...


The next day, we drive to Miami for a bit of antiquing and thrifting. Our route is through the Everglades...




Our first stop is Homestead, in an area of historical buildings and quaint shops...



There's a wide variety of things, including Depression glass, furniture, Victoriana, and even 70s retro finds. (I'll show you what I uncovered on this week's "Treasure Box Wednesday" post. You are, um, too busy finding great things of your own to see what I got.)

Heading up further, we hit the Goodwill thrift store, and the Antique Mall Y'All (I will never tire of that name).

Then, exhausted, we have a bite of dinner and head back South to the Keys.

The next day, we get up early to go garage saling and hit the local flea market! I uncover a few other goodies that I'll unveil on Wednesday (you negotiate for your favorite collectibles). And then we head to the Florida Keys version of Sea World, "Theater of the Sea"...

Here we see some very friendly dolphins...

Encounter the introspective and whiskery sealion...

Chat with some feathered friends...

And give a solemn nod to our elders in the deep...

And then we head home. Me, I am winging my way northward as we speak, back to the world of snow and gray skies.

I hope you all enjoyed this little virtual vacation with me! I'm always glad to have you along.

Come Fly Away With Me: Vicarious Vacationing

We're all thrifty here at The Thrift Shop Romantic. I mean, if there's a way to have big fun on little money, we know all about it, right? So that's why today I'm taking you on my Thanksgiving trip to the Florida Keys...

And you'll never have to pay a dime for airfare... You won't have to worry about accommodations... And the food? It's a feast for the eyes and totally skinny on the wallet...

Are your bags packed? Well, just blink, and we're there!...

Ah! Here we are in Florida. Just feel that balmy breeze! And what do you know?-- it's Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving means you folks, and my dad and I will all be going to the Whale Harbor Inn for an amazing buffet dinner....

Because, ya know, it's hard to bring turkey and all the fixin's on that plane. Airlines have gotten so restrictive about what you can take in your carry-ons. (I hear the turkey gravy can only be in three ounce bottles.)

Well, no worries here, because the turkey is all you can eat...

But if turkey's not your thing, there are more seafood options than you can shake a crab claw at...

And don't forget the dessert! Key Lime pie and flan are just two of the choices...

I simply can't move, can you?

Courtesy of the Whale Harbor's helpful fun house mirrors, here are Dad and I before we ate, all nice, skinny and svelte...

And here we are after eating, fat and a bit blurry... Overindulging will do that to you, I guess.


So let's all go outside to walk it off. And gosh, what a view!


And we meet some local color...


And some more, er, local color...


The next day, we drive to Miami for a bit of antiquing and thrifting. Our route is through the Everglades...




Our first stop is Homestead, in an area of historical buildings and quaint shops...



There's a wide variety of things, including Depression glass, furniture, Victoriana, and even 70s retro finds. (I'll show you what I uncovered on this week's "Treasure Box Wednesday" post. You are, um, too busy finding great things of your own to see what I got.)

Heading up further, we hit the Goodwill thrift store, and the Antique Mall Y'All (I will never tire of that name).

Then, exhausted, we have a bite of dinner and head back South to the Keys.

The next day, we get up early to go garage saling and hit the local flea market! I uncover a few other goodies that I'll unveil on Wednesday (you negotiate for your favorite collectibles). And then we head to the Florida Keys version of Sea World, "Theater of the Sea"...

Here we see some very friendly dolphins...

Encounter the introspective and whiskery sealion...

Chat with some feathered friends...

And give a solemn nod to our elders in the deep...

And then we head home. Me, I am winging my way northward as we speak, back to the world of snow and gray skies.

I hope you all enjoyed this little virtual vacation with me! I'm always glad to have you along.

Jane in Winter

When we lived in Morocco, and the days were growing shorter, I started thinking about my childhood in England. 

In those days I loved reading and wished real life was as exciting as what happened in books.

So I started writing a story which combines elements of both what really happened and what should have done. 

My heroine, ignored by her brother, manages to have an adventure on her own and travels to a mysterious kingdom deep under a lake.

In writing the book, I drew on elements of all kinds of classic stories: Grimm's Fairy Tales, Beowulf (all bad creatures have lairs under water!), folklore: the four elements -- earth, air fire and water and so on. 

Several young people in Morocco, among them Leonora Brebner, Nikole Cairns and Maria Thornhill, were my first readers. Their enthusiastic reception  pleased me enormously.

Then I had to make a cover.

I took out the water colors my daughter gave me, and old photos and prints. 

Thorndon Hall in the print is Myrtle Hall in the book.

The little cottage in the photo is the house I grew up in. 

I think the story is best suited to  8-12 year old readers, but grownups will enjoy the descriptions of food and life in the days before video games and cell phones. 

I have just finished writing Jane's next adventure called Jane in Spring. This will be available soon.

JANE IN WINTER is available from Lulu.com.

PREVIEW THE BOOK

You can read the first ten pages of the book to see if you like it!

The preview is also here (http://www.lulu.com/browse/preview/php?fCID=5179335)

I love feedback so please e-mail me at elizabethwix@hotmail.com if you have any comments or suggestions.