It rained on our parade!

THE WEATHER wasn't the greatest, but the crowd still turned out. We had a good time watching the annual Parade of Lights Friday night. Suan from Les Belles Antiques had her little light up reindeer antlers on and helped to keep folks off the street during the parade. Note Santa on the float, he had his umbrella handy.
One of our customers came in shopping and tried on the little hat you see in the last picture. It looked so cute on her, but she resisted and didn't buy it, so it's still available.
These were taken with my new camera, hopefully I'll get better!

(click on picture to make larger, then try clicking again to make even bigger)

Oh Boy look at the plaza now!

WOW and wow again! I didn't go to the shop yesterday and ran over this morning real fast and look what has happened to the Plaza, they put the Sod in.
Look at the last post about our SALE and the Parade. Now you have another reason to shop Niles , a peek at the Plaza. It's so beautiful and their not done yet!

After Thanksgiving in Niles

The 3 days after Thanksgiving is open house time for the shops in Niles. Most are decorated and are full of wonderful, unique items that you won't find at the malls. MY FRIENDS AND I dealers are all having some kind of SALE in their booths and will have signs posted to let you know what they have on sale.

If you come on Friday, I suggest you come early, park some chairs on the sidewalk and shop during the day. Then stay for the Spectacular light parade that starts at 6:00 pm. It's a Niles Friday after Thanksgiving tradition. Can't come on Friday then make sure you come on Saturday or Sunday and have a fun, relaxing shopping experience. Don't fight the crowds, come shop NILES!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner

Sometimes I go to Martha Stewarts site and click on crafts. I found this really cute Turkey that you can print out and use for decorating your table.

Go to here and click on Make this craft, then print it out. Would be fun to make with kids.

Drawing

WANT TO WIN THIS? You can come in the store and enter or leave a comment on this blog. The drawing will be December 15th.
The Big Santa book and Santa ornament are new, but the Raggedy Ann Book is vintage. It's all tucked in a really cute giant red cup that's as big as a bowl.

Framed Vintage Post Cards

At almost the price of a greeting card you can give a vintage postcard from the early 1900's framed in a beautiful vintage looking frame. These are actual postcards NOT copies. There are several to choose from including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday and Greetings. I love to read the backs of these old postcards and think about the people who wrote them. Things have sure changed with telephones, computers and cell phones. I can't imagine not being able to talk to my daughters who live in different states almost daily. How those folks must have missed their friends and relatives who moved away, and the only word you'd get is a postcard or letter ever once in awhile.

I'm Back...........

We had the best time visiting our kids in IL. the time with them is always too short, but we made the best of it and packed in as much Grandkid time as we could.
Now that I'm back I've been pricing and rearranging areas in the store. That is one of the things I enjoy doing at My Friends And I not so much the pricing, but the rearranging. It's really a pleasure to work with all the cute stuff we have. I also re-did the windows. The Big Ol' Santa is sitting in his place of honor in the window. He's not for sale, but for enjoyment. Mary, dealer #14 made his soft sulpture head a long time ago and we put him back together, head, coat, pants and boots in that order almost every year.
Hope you come see the windows and admire him.

Look what I found!

We went antiquing again today and I found all these 1960's Raggedy Ann books. They are really cute! Some of them are going into my collection of Raggedy Ann books and the rest are going into the shop for sale. BUT one of them (not sure which one yet) will be in a basket DRAWING from November 15th to December 15th in the shop.

NOW HERE'S THE DEAL

Visit the shop and enter the drawing and for another chance to win leave me a COMMENT on this post. I'll add your name to the drawing that way too.

Fun time in IL.

We went to the cutest little town Antiquing yesterday. I found a few treasures and enjoyed looking at the older buildings and houses. Even went down a street named Niles. The last 2 pictures are of an old paper booket that I bought. It has flip strips on the pages so you can change the pictures. Kellog's made it in the 30's. Love these little old towns here in IL.

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We're in IL.

Yep that's right we are here in Mohomet IL. visiting our Daughter and Grandsons (of course our Son-In-Law too!) We will be back in Fremont on the 12th hopefully with some new goodies for the shop. I will be adding pictures I took today when I can use my Son-In-Law's lap top. This computer doesn't have a slot for my XD card.
The big talk and concern around this area is the Oct. rain, which was record amounts and the fields of feed corn and soy beans still too wet to harvest. Every shop we went in today talked about it. I guess they can't weight the corn wet, so it has to be dry or taken to a place that drys it, which is of course is a added expense to the farmer. But those places are too busy to take new customers. It's something we in the bay area don't even think about, but the poor farmers here are losing money everyday they can't get their fields harvested.
Looks like the weather is going to be dry for a few days so maybe they can get their crop in.
Keep checking back for those pictures I mentioned and more on my IL. adventure.
Carol