When my dear wife Karen informed me that our friends Cathy and Bruce Thomas were staging a seasonal sale at their cottage store, I was all in. And Saturday turned out to be a superb day for the little-more-than-an-hour drive northeast from the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.
I’d been up to their beautiful cottage several times, but for social visits. Cathy is one of the gang for Karen’s annual Girls Getaway. Bruce and I can talk about sports and movies and the world endlessly. Schmoozing with them is a treat.
Hover over any gallery photo for a description. Click on the bottom right photo in any gallery for an enlarged slide show.
Forest Hollow will warm you, outside and in.
This day, Cathy and Bruce had their work spread out for special viewing, in the store and their house kitchen.
She makes jewelry. He makes pottery. Yes, their work is art in my eyes. And a third Thomas joined in for the day. Daughter Katie brought work from her home, and also baked the goodies they put out. The pumpkin-oatmeal cookies were incredible. Yes I had to try one with a cup of coffee.
Karen picked out a pair of gorgeous earrings, with opal, her birthstone. I was happy to buy them as a birthday present.
Inside the store, we found the perfect funky plate made by Bruce. We want it as a spoon rest on the counter next to our stove.
Hanging out in the house, we met other friends who were shopping, too. Bruce couldn’t believe it when I reminded him I was a Jets fan, not a Giants fan. We left richer for the experience.
Click here to view the Forest Hollow site, where the work of Cathy and Bruce is available for all.
Tomorrow: I find my autumn color around the reservoir behind the Thomas house.
Sunday: A reveal of my gifts to celebrate Karen’s birthday week.
Do you have friends who are artsy, and if so, what is their specialty? What catches your eye in the work of the Thomas family, and why? Which is your favorite photo, and why?
Oh bro Mark, do they want to adopt a grandma? I could live in that store and be perfectly happy. My favorite pictures are of the outside though. The colors, the lawn, and I’ll bet the air smells as fresh as it looks. Ah, always in the wrong place at the right time.
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It is fresh as can be up there, sis Angie. But you’d be snowed in from December through March. Really.
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Maybe I would only stay there until early November then bro Mark. I hate snow, but love Autumn colors.
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Better timing, sis Angie. 🙂
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Such a beautiful home and garden! Mine is an overgrown wilderness, sadly.
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But I know you love your overgrown wilderness, Ali. ❤
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Not in my garden though lol!
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That would be my kind of day! Great place to shop.
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I had a feeling you’d like the Forest Hollow art/merchandise, Dora. 🙂
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This is the cutest little cottage and jam packed with gifts, Mark. You could have saved for Elisabeth’s birthday or Christmas gift, something from here, too. 🙂
Your friends look like warm and friendly people, so nice to have had a chance to see them. Great post, thanks for sharing, Mark.
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Robin, thank you for all your kidness. I will be over to your place soon to read and admire you, as always. ❤
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I love artsy! And I can’t wait to see the gift reveal!
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Cooking up the post in a moment, MBC. ❤
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I’m still playing catch up with comments. I hope to see the blog tonight …… 🙂 This is kind of exciting and it’s not even my gifts!
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Tell me what you think when you get the time to go over, MBC. 🙂
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🙂 I think I did…..I’m so far behind right now. I remember seeing the earrings and the Red Lobster dinner… I’m lost in the blogosphere MBM!!!!!
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Me, too, MBC. Thank you for being you all the time, every day. You’re really something special.
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Awwwwww MBM, thank you. ❤
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I like the handiwork one with all the colors and animals!
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Thanks, Kerbey. The Thomas family is in a league with your photograhic art, my dear friend.
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oh, i love little stores like this. how nice that this is all created by your friends. i love the shot outside of the little place with the friendly hug )
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Thanks, Beth. Little stories like these allow me to reflect upon my good fortune in this life of ours. Friendly hugs make the world go round.
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Most of my friends are artsy 🙂
I will check out the link.
“The back spread” is definitely my favorite photo. Fall colors always win me over!
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Their work is really nice, Joey. I hope you like the link. Cathy has etsy set up, too, for buying. AND: Wait until you see the shots I caught for tomorrow’s post. They’ll feed your fall color jones for sure, my dear friend with the artsy crowd. 😉
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What a beautiful place. Talented people too.
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Sort of like a friend of mine in London, Rachel. Talented, you are as well. 🙂
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Looks like a fun day-and a very Happy Birthday to YDW Karen. Gatorette
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Thanks, Gatorette. I hope you are serving up a wonderful weekend at the Florida spread, my friend. 🙂
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Terp-I always do my best. Have a great weekend too! The Gatorette
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Who, what, when, where, and warmth, Mark. Thanks for wowing us with this post. Happy birthday week in adavance to Karen!
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Thank you, Ann. And how! 😉
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What would I do without you, Mark?
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A cottage store…that is so cute! I love so many of the things they have for sale but it was the picture you posted of the pictures hanging on the purple wall that really caught my eye. Can’t wait to live vicariously through seeing what you bought for YDW Karen. Happy pre birthday to her.
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Thanks, Marissa. I’ve been stacking up my reveal shots from throughout this week. 🙂
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Building suspense…
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I love the photos of the store. It looks like it would smell really good, like Patchouli and Jasmine. My sons have a friend whose parents own a glass shop, they make the amazing pieces of glass, vases, paperweights. I would love to own some of it, but it is super expensive and would be another thing for me to dust. Katie and Bruce’s place is beautiful. It looks so serene.
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It’s pretty darn serene, SD. But in the winter the snow gets up to your … really high. 🙂
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Beautiful Mark. Happy Birthday Karen!
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Thanks, Paul. I’ll send along your wishes. 🙂
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I admire anyone who can do anything artistic – and even more so if they can make a living at it. Cathy and Bruce are very talented.
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They are really talented, CM, your eye is right on. Great people, too. 🙂
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Beautiful photos, beautiful people Happy Birthday Karen!!
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Thanks, Willow! Karen will love getting your wishes from the U.K., my friend. 🙂
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I used to be crafty. What a lovely place. You can combine a pumpkin cookie with an oatmeal cookie? I’ll be trying that. They are my daughter’s two favourite cookies.
I like the word ‘schmoozing’
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I think you are still crafty, Rose, with your writing. You know? And maybe I can hint to Cathy that she should get Katie’s pumpkin-oatmeal cookie recipe up on her web page. 🙂
Schmoozing is part of my nature. The word just tumbles freely from my fingers. 😉
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Aww thanks, Mark, Well that would be very nice if Katie was so generous. But sometimes ladies like to keep their secrets. I could always do a little kitchen magicianary. (I don’t think that’s a word )
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I have a friend who is a master at mosaic. She does amazing mosaics!
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It’s really special to appreciate a friend’s special talents. Like writing poetry, for instance. 🙂
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Lol, now we are talking! Thank you, dear Mark! 🙂 I have some new ones posted *wink*
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I will be taking a long look over at your place, Vonita. 🙂
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Thank you Mark.
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beautiful setting for beautiful creations. I love handmade pottery and jewelry!
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Oh, Lisa, this place would blow your mind. My friends’ talents are off the chart!
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I can see I looked close up. Do they ever take their things on the road and do craft shows?
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Yes, they do go on the road to craft shows. I think she announces that on the site. 🙂
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I’ll check it! thanks!
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