Spooky Wine Tasting

Again, this year, as years past, I planned the Ladies Mt Carmel Society Italian Women's Club annual Halloween party, in conjunction with my mom and my aunt. Being more pressed for time this year, we decided to keep it simpler than some years in the past had been and simply planned a Spooky Wine Tasting theme. 

The first step was to create a buffet area that would go with the theme. The main table was covered in black party table clothes then strewn with some creepy clothe and fall grapevine swags. From there displays were added that incorporated some elements of wine and skeletons, to get that spooky effect. Grape crates were used to create height and battery candles added to the lighting. The food buffet was placed among these vignettes. 

Of course, being a wine tasking, we had to have wine! Labels were found on Pintrest, printed out and taped around the bottles to cover the current labels just to add some more creepiness to the event. A cart was set up near the bar area with a skeleton sommelier to help in deciding which wine to imbibe in.

At the tables, cheese plates were used as centerpieces along with a rubber rat who may want a nibble.

I also created a wine tasting cheat sheet for each guest to use during the actual tasting portion later in the night. I have added a copy of that sheet as well below, should you be inclined to have your own tasting. 

What cute Halloween party ideas have you used? Comment below...

 

Our Lady Mt Carmel Display

So this fall my Mom and I were given the honor of redoing the display for the Our Lady of Mt Carmel statue that is used for the parade mass that kicks off the annual festival. No one had redone this window in years and you can see it needed some TLC. 

The walls were a drab beige color and the floor was indoor outdoor carpet that had a fake grass appearance. Some attempt was made at decorating by placing pieces of tulle at the front of the window but this was certainly not a well decorated place of honor to display the Virgin Mary.

We decided to go to with a feminine look with pink florals and billowy blue satins. We covered the walls and floor with blue satin to give the appearance of the Madonna floating in a heavenly sky. Behind the statue we placed an arbor draped with blue and white chiffon fabrics and a garland of ivy with pink roses. 

We reused the pedestal that was already in the window and added a tall urn on the opposite side to balance the heights as well. More garlands of pink roses and ivy were placed around the base of the statue. I know there is a glare with the glass in the photos but certainly it is definitely an improvement in the display. The new window display is more reverent and heavenly display for the holy statue. What do you think? Comment below...

Sunflower Picking

Nothing signals the change from summer to fall like the appearance of sunflowers, mums, and pumpkins. Yes, I know it is still August but I am always thinking about fall...

This year I visited Maize Valley winery for the first time in Hartville, OH. I was impressed with their grounds and the venue areas of the facility right from the start but you know my heart was stolen when I saw the goats wondering free on the property as well. 

The sunflower festival hosted a few vendors in one area as well as their shop and restaurant being open. I was here for the sunflower picking though and quickly made my way to the hayride that would deliver me into the golden fields. 

A little bit of fall on its way its now cheerily in my kitchen on the island!

What symbolizes fall on the horizon for you? Comment below. 

Little Italy Art Walk

I absolutely LOVE visiting little towns and exploring but even more so when that town is a Little Italy... so when my friend asked me to accompany her up to Mayfield, OH, outside of Cleveland, for an art walk I was all in... I must admit though, I was far more enamored with the quaintness and heritage of the town that I was with the actual art walk. 

Images and statues of the Madonna adorned shop windows with protection and love. 

Street cafes bustled with customers enjoying cannoli and expresso.  Delicatessens served up made to order lunches with outdoor seating as well. We actually had lunch here at Presti's and the panini were divine.... of course, so was the tiramisu!

I just love how the Italian American heritage is always on full display in little Italy towns. 

The main street through Mayfield is Murray Hill and it was littered with little Italian shops and antique stores. 

Of course, no little Italy would be complete without a statue of Christopher Columbus. 

Through my browsing I found a hidden gem that I brought home with me as well... a memento to always remember my day and watch over me at home as well. Granted he needs a little love, maybe some starch to hold his garments in place but for $35 what a find! These dressed Infant of Prague statues sell new in the hundreds and clothes sold separately. This find is a genuine antique as well as being made from chalk plaster. Baby Jesus is definitely going to a good home... I found him a spot of prestige on top of my China cupboard, facing the front door with a mercury dime underneath of course.

What kind of towns do you like to explore? What are some recent treasures you have found in out of the way places? Comment below and don't forget to subscribe for updates. 

Festival Time

 Most years, during festival time for Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Lowellville, I focus on the festivities and the Baby Doll dance more than the reason for the celebration in the first place. After the long year we have all had, I thought it was important this year to focus on the religious aspect of the annual Feast Day and give thanks in everything I am grateful for.

So how did it begin that Italians, especially Southern Italians, became so devout to Our Lady of Mt Carmel? A brief and short history lesson can answer this....

Way back in the 13th century, St Simon Strock, of the Carmelite order, professed to have had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at which time she presented him with a brown scapular. During his vision, Mary promised that the faithful who wore her scapular would be saved. Today on the Feast Day devotees still don the scapular around their necks for the entirety of the festival week. This scapular is seen as both a sign of devotion as well as a pledge to the devotee of Mary's motherly protection. If you go back and look at previous year's festival pictures, you will begin to notice the scapular on the necks of those involved in the festivities as well. 

So how did Our Lady of Mt Carmel become so tied to Italy? She was adapted a patron saint in Southern Italy first in the Calabrian town of Palmi in the 1800s. The town suffered a massive earthquake during which and in warning of the statue of Mary was said to have moving eyes, a miracle that was recognized and affirmed by the Vatican. The immigrants from Italy brought their faith and devotion to Our Lady of Mt Carmel with them to America as well as their celebrations. 126 years later in the town of Lowellville, OH, here we are....

We still take the statue from her place of reference in the front window on a parade through town across the bridge to a mass which is read in Italian. The process itself draws many out from their homes to pin money on her banners in hopes of having a prayer granted for the year. The band plays as the devotees follow the procession to mass. 

Once mass has concluded, the procession continues back to the hall to take Mary safely back to her place of reverent display. Along the way many homes also have become stops along the way, offering wine, cheese, and other snacks for those in the procession. 

The whole day is just magical to experience. I couldn't imagine this magical week in July without this mass and parade any more than I could without a Baby Doll dance. 

Bee Farm

Always looking for something new to do and somewhere new to explore when I have nothing planned, I found an event listing on Facebook for a garden walk tour in Trumbull County. Intrigued, I hopped in the car and headed out to FarmGirl's Honey in North Bloomfield. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived that it was actually someone's home.... I don't know what I had expected but I perhaps thought it would be more of a "farm". I was not disappointed though. The owner raises bees at the back of the property and creates her own honey which was for sale in the front shed turned into a gift shop. The rest of her property was a whimsically decorated scattering of small gardens, all planted with flowers to attract the bees. 

There were areas with ladders made into displays.... areas of useless objects planted into the ground such as the typewriter with succulents popping out of the keys... areas of an old sink as a planter... areas where broken plates created a garden edger even. While it may seem like old junk, it actually was giving these discarded items new life and purpose. Somehow it all just worked and each arbor passed into an area of new surprises. I highly recommend if you see this event posted again that you attend to see the whimsy. You will not be disappointed and the honey is delicious!

Office Revamp

Like everyone else these days, I find myself spending a lot more time in my home office. I use the smallest of my bedrooms as my home office and it was beginning to feel a little drab and uninspiring. Just as with other areas of my home, sometimes it is the smallest of changes that can actually make the biggest difference. I began simply by reorganizing my storage in my desk drawers.... not something you really see but definitely something that made a huge difference in the clutter that was on top of the desk. 

The largest impact I made though was on the small wall area between the entry door and closet door. The only thing that was hanging here before was a bulletin board, nothing very pleasing as my zoom meetings backdrop.... I did not take a before picture but honestly there was nothing to see. 

Some of the items I used, I already had but had not found a home for yet. The two hooks with dog phrases to the right were a gift I got last Christmas. The plaid framed dog photo was found at Hobby Lobby after last Christmas in their sale items. The small friendship quote box also had been a gift. Some items also were antiques I had tucked away as well such as the brass horns and the horse bits and harness pieces. 

A visit to Hobby Lobby for more pieces added in the shelves, the clock, the 3 hook plaque, and the table. I then also added in the personal touches with photos from the KY Derby as well as frame tickets. I definitely am happy with the outcome and have a much more personalized video call backdrop.