A Garden Party Interrupted

Our First Garden Party started out with a bang. Despite the cold devoted customers showed up 10 minutes before opening, staying in their cars for warmth until we unlocked the front door, lit the luminaries down the front steps and welcomed them in to our candle lit garden escape. Just wait till I post pictures! Hands down it was our best flip of the store ever and I mean better than Christmas and Fall too!

But alas, we must have upset Mother Nature by trying to bring Spring on earlier than she has planned and she let us have it. The warnings about the impending storm started early in the week. Undaunted we pushed forward with our plan, hoping it would swing a little farther north, as it usually does, or turn to rain. Wednesday was a little chilly and it was tough to keep the shop toasty with the stream of customers coming through the front door. Thursday we were swamped with everyone thinking ahead and shopping before the flakes began flying.

I expected a day of replenishing goodies still thinking Saturday would be our busiest so I headed off to an auction in the boonies to find some must haves leaving Janet alone at the shop. Of course my cell phone would not get any reception and incoming calls were bounced right to voicemail so by the time I knew how busy she was it was too late to help. But she was a trooper and handled the rush with her usual grace. How does she put up with me? Thankfully she does as I could not be without her! Weekly customers are relaying stories to me of how she has helped them with decisions and purchases, decorating tips and ideas. She scouts out the most fabulous finds from vintage Victorian statuary to sweet, little bird's nest place card holders (which we sold out of in two days!) She is a gem to work with and I am truly thankful to be blessed with her talents.

Friday we both began the day early, fluffing and moving to fill in holes and bring out new. The flakes began early and our first customers told us how slick it was on their way in to the shop. They shopped quickly (one hour :-) and hurried back to Mount Vernon. Janet left to get home before it was horrible and I stayed to wait for a customer from Powell who was picking up furniture purchases from Wednesday night. She arrived, shopped some more, we loaded her van with the library table, several occasional tables, windows and bags of merchandise. She scooted out around 12:30 when the snow really started coming down. At 2 PM I closed up, school was letting out early and it was clear this was going to be a doozy. Blizzard warning started Friday night and the closed sign stayed on the door/answering machine/website for Saturday too. Can we say Garden Party do-over? Hmm...maybe next week? Stay warm everyone!