Bits N' Pieces Swap & I Love Lucy!

We returned from our week in New York state and Vermont this morning. What a wonderful surpise to find a box from the super-duper Jen Duncan! Jen is my partner in Jenny at Everyday is a Holiday's Bits n' Pieces collage swap. And...WOW! I was totally blown away at what Jen made just for little ol' me!

This is PERFECT! Jen knows I love to sew and that may fave colors are green and pink! She went over-the-top on this sweetie!

I was soooo excited I just had to hang it in my office/sewing studio right away! The dangling chandelier crystal with vintage wall paper backing was just too too much! I adore the sweet sayings on the wall paper and other lovely ephemera! I just can't stop looking at this sweet and wonderful creation Jen made! She is truly talented!

Aren't these details exquisute? Many many MANY thanks to Miss Jen! I will cherish this beautiful art work always!

On the second to last day of our vacation we stopped in Jamestown, New York after visiting Niagara Falls. I particularly wanted to visait Jamestown because I am a HUGE Lucille Ball fan, particularly "I Love Lucy." In Jamestown you can see the house where Lucy spent her childhood.

It is a simple grey house on a quiet side street now called Lucy Lane. The house is privately owned and restored to how it looked when Lucy was a child. It was a quiet morning when we stopped by so I could take a few pictures. I'm sure the neighbors are used to tourists and Lucy fans like me stopping by!

Then we drove to Lucille Ball Memorial Park.

It is a quiet little park which, I believe, was the site of an amusement park where Lucy worked. We drove the short distance into town where we visited the Lucy-Desi Museum and the Desilu Playhouse. You can't take pictures in there, but the detailed replica of the sets from "I Love Lucy" and the costumes on the display, including Lucy's blue and white polka dot dress were on display. It was a thrill to see the sets and costumes in color. It felt as if I was seeing something so comfortably familiar to me. The "I Love Lucy" show has always been a part of my life and is the funniest, most well-written show and is the standard of all TV comedy, in my opinion.

Last of all we stopped at Lakeview Cemetery where Lucy's ashes are buried with her loved ones. Silk purple lilacs adorn the gravesite.

Her name is on the bottom beneath her mother's name. Lucy's father's name is on the top. I am glad to have visited the birthplace of my favorite performer. It's just one of those things I've always wanted to do.

XXOO, Beth