A pre-birthday visit to Forest Hollow pays off

/ October 16, 2015

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.

Home and store for artisans Cathy and Bruce Thomas.

It’s home and the store for artisans Cathy and Bruce Thomas.

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.

The back spread.
The front spread.
Private drive.
The store.
House porch.
On the lovely lawn.
Done up for the weekend.

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.

Cathy’s jewelry on display.
Cathy registers a sale in the house.
Daughter Katie brought baby booties that she made.
Cathy’s artistic pieces.
Dishes, bowls and more, made by Bruce.
More handiwork from Katie.

Karen picked out a pair of gorgeous earrings, with opal, her birthstone. I was happy to buy them as a birthday present.

Artsy shot from me with the light of the window.
Bruce’s pottery and Cathy’s jewelry fit so well together in the store.
For closer inspection, anything you pick.

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.

Katie, Bruce and Cathy, enjoying the sun outside the store.

Katie, Bruce and Cathy, enjoying the sun outside the store.

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?

Related posts

56 thoughts on “A pre-birthday visit to Forest Hollow pays off”

  1. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  4. 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.

    Like

    Reply

    • 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. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  17. 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’

    Like

    Reply

    • 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. 😉

      Like

      Reply

      • 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 )

        Like

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.