Welcome to the Fall edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote. A special shout out to Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box who has kept our group going and totes traveling all these years. It is with a heavy heart that we let you know that our beloved tote friend Jenna passed away in October. I enjoyed many of her recipes, art tutorials and her rhymes. My home has some of her artwork and sweet Christmas gifts she made. Please keep Jenna's family in your prayers as they celebrate her life in December at her daughter's home in Alabama.
I'm sharing our mid-September evening and a visit to Mackenzie-Childs. It seems like September's beautiful weather was ages ago, but we both enjoyed a sunflower event under the stars. It was sold out, and everyone got to make sunflower bouquets while enjoying light snacks and listening to a band. Joe's bouquet was voted "best" by some young ladies that appreciated his effort. It was so sweet of them to stop by our table and let him know.
The sun felt good that evening :-)
I'm also sharing a trip I took to Mackenzie-Childs in Aurora, NY. They were decorating the retail store for Christmas that day, but we did get to see some Fall decor. I took this trip with three friends who had never toured the beautiful farmhouse, and they were in awe. We booked the farmhouse tour for 11:00 and the production tour for 1:00. As a collector, the production tour was interesting observing the artists creating some of the pieces I already own.
We got to see a variety of pretty pumpkins while touring the farmhouse during spooky season.
The candles were very cool, and if I entertained for Halloween, I would get these. Since Halloween was on a Friday this year, we went to a fantastic adult party after passing out candy.
Christmas is coming.
Here's my favorite thing to look at when I visit Mackenzie Childs....the house of miniatures. My friends were in awe of this too. I can't wait to take my granddaughter when she's a little older.
The links below will take you to my Traveling Totes friends, and be sure to visit Jackie to put your name in for the giveaway.
Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Bookish Dilettante
Our next publishing date for the Traveling Tote will be on January 15 as we are starting a new posting schedule and will only post three times a year. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! I'll be back in January to share my upcoming trip to festive NYC!
Debbie, the sunflowers under the stars event looked truly special. Omg, 16" of snow?! You & Joe definitely got your workouts shoveling that....five times! The Aurora tours are something I know I'd enjoy, and hope to do that someday. RIP, Jenna. I hope my sister meets her in Heaven. She'll know her by her tote.❣️
ReplyDeleteDeb, this is a lovely post to start my morning. I'd love to visit the MKC Farm House in the fall, and the Production Tour is one I long to attend. Thank you for sharing all the photos of the Farm House, inside the store, and the Doll House. It is my favorite as well! To see our special pieces created in such miniature is amazing.
ReplyDeleteSweet, thoughtful tribute to Jenna. I will certainly miss your beautiful friendship! Her art will live on in her memory, and I'm grateful to have some of her art to admire and cherish. Yes, her recipe shares were great, but it is her rhymes that stay with me and make me smile in delight. She was such a talent!
Merry, Merry as we head into the holidays. Love seeing the snow photo! Stay warm!
Our group has certainly lost a dear friend - we will miss Jenna and all of her inspirational posts. Nothing like visiting M-C in the fall (i am sure your newbie friends were in awe!). We missed the storm while in Ohio, and thankfully a neighbor shoved 8-10" out of our driveway! Enjoy NYC - I missed going this year!
ReplyDeleteAlways sad to lose a blogging friend..:(Snowed again here yesterday.Might be a long winter;)
ReplyDeleteHow fun the sunflower event was. Lots of smiles. Wow, that is a lot of snow. You certainly got a work-out. I so enjoyed seeing MKC Farm House. Seeing so many treasure is so fun. I hope to visit one day. I love to see where your tote carried you. A lovely tribute to our dear Jenna who will be greatly missed. Her recipes, decor and rhymes are something I cherish. Happy holidays.🎄
ReplyDeleteWe all miss our dear friend Jenna, she was such a beautiful and gifted artist and friend. It's hard to believe she's gone!
ReplyDeleteDeb, your sunflower event under the stars sounds delightful. I'm still amazed at the snow you have already had. So beautiful. Your trip to Aura to the MC store looks like such fun. I am wondering what treasures you took home with you! Happy December Deb.......
Oh my! That snow made me quiver in my boots, but you saved me with all of the fantastic photos of the MC Aurora farm. So many beautiful rooms that someday I hope to see in person.
ReplyDeleteSo sad to lose Jenna. I told my husband how glad I was to have purchased several of her pieces. I would always save her cards too. What a beautiful person whose art will always remind me of her.
Thank-you for your sweet tribute to Jenna. The photos are great! I would love to visit Aurora and the MacKenzie-Childs farmhouse during either the fall or Christmas. The decorations were fabulous, and your photos were so much fun. You received a lot of snow for so early in the season! Merry Christmas, Deb!
ReplyDeleteI will miss our friend, Jenna. She was such a creative, sweet soul. Thank you for the tribute to her.
ReplyDeleteYou did have a busy Fall, and now you’re busy shoveling snow!! Happy December to you my friend ❤️
That snow! Love the pic that Joe took of your tote bag :) We had 10 inches on Saturday and another three inches on Monday night! The temps will dip close to Zero tonight. This is looking like the start of a loooong winter. Love all your shots of the MacKenzie Childs shopping trip and so sad about losing lovely blogging friend.
ReplyDeleteI love snow! Beautiful photos.
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