Tales of the Traveling Tote #27 & Giveaway

Welcome to the Tales of the Traveling Tote #27, and Happy June! Our tales began in 2015, and we are still journaling our tales each quarter. You can go here for my personal travel history with my totes - Miss Luna C and Miss Charley C and Miss Penny.

Before we get started, first I want to do a little Traveling Tote throwback to waaay back in 2015, when Miss Luna C went to the park; what is now our nation's 63rd National Park! The New River Gorge National Park was made official in December 2020, but was originally established in 1978. Check out that fabulous day trip here.

WV's New River Gorge National Park

Since our last tales summary in March, we have definitely been out and about more. We have abandoned clicklist grocery shopping for in-person selecting, and we are eating in restaurants and outside when available. Thank goodness the mask ban is lifted. I thought it particularly silly to wear one into a restaurant, only to sit down and eat with it off, and then putting it back on to walk out. We comply when the establishments request masks.

Anniversary - our first time out!

Bereavements and birthdays with friends

In April I went on an antiquing trip with my Panoply sisters in Cincinnati. It was part of my Vintage Finds in Covid Times post, here. Miss Luna C is especially suited for overnight travels!

We pack our lunch on these outings, but also stop and eat if there's a cafe inside where we shop. Then we go back to my sister's home where her husband always cooks for us!

By May,  I had dinner out with friends again, and we attended an unmasked cocktail party on the lawn of my undergrad alma mater's President's home.  I also caught up on some overdue screening tests - mammogram and dexascan (for bone density). Mother's Day was celebrated with my daughters. The youngest (below, rt) is expecting my first grandchild in late August (a girl!). 

Mother's Day with my girls

Starting the first of May, our outdoor Capitol Market was really hoppin'!. Our Capitol Market has thrived for over 25 years as part of our Urban Renewal Authority's efforts to help sustain our local agrarian efforts and to revive an old rail yard that was once part of our city's original growth. The outdoor market is open year round, and the inside of the former rail station is home to local eateries and shops. It is also the site of our city's visitor's center.

The weekend of May 15-16, my sister-in-law who is a published author participated in one of our city's FestivALL's series of featured artists at the Market. I think Carter Taylor Seaton was trying to snatch my Miss Penny bag as her own by filling it with a number of her published books!

The weekend of May 21-22, I attended a "Summer Weekend Fun" open house at Rosegate Design and Womens Boutique. This is my local boutique where MacKenzie-Childs is sold, the only authorized M-C dealer in West Virginia. You've seen me here before in my travels! Miss Charley C accompanied me on this outing.

Rosegate does not just sell M-C! Donna Compton (the proprietor, far rt in photo below) and her team also provide a nice selection of women's fashion & accessories, baby gift items, skincare, as well as interior design consultations and home decor (including furniture). The website is Rosegate Womens Boutique. 

This event was great fun: sipping wine and nibbling on some great hors d'oeuvres, and then shopping (in that order). With personal shopping assistance, I picked up a new summer outfit of linen and denim (not shown), and a few new MacKenzie-Childs items. It was hard to choose! 

The following weekend Rosegate Design had another sale event, including MacKenzie-Childs inventory. Happy Birthday to me. 😉

NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!

(Update June 15, 2021: Kim at Exquisitely Unremarkable was randomly chosen as our winner by Ricki Jill Treleaven. Thank you to all who left comment entries!)

The Traveling Totes Tribe is offering another giveaway and Ricki Jill at The Sketchy Reader is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Ricki Jill's post today will have their name thrown into the hat for an opportunity to win this MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check single toggle light switch plate . This is a perfect accessory for anywhere in your home (or garage or she shed or......)! 

Be sure to check out my other traveling sisters' posts to see what they've been up to the past few [mostly] spring months.

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box

Jenna with Miss Coquille @ The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply (you are here!)

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie with Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess de Monet @The Sketchy Reader

Join us again on September 1, 2021 for another edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote. 

Thanks so much for your visit. I love reading your comments, and be sure to leave one on Ricki Jill's blog for a chance at our token gift. Stay safe, and Happy June!

Rita C. at Panoply

Parties I Share With: Pieced Pastimes, Love Your Creativity, BNOTP, All About Home Common Ground, All About Home Follow the Yellow Brick Home, Apple Street Cottage, Grandma Ideas,  A Stroll Thru Life, My Wee Abode, Thistle Key Lane, Bluesky at Home, Zucchini Sisters, French Ethereal SYS, Katherine's Corner TFT, Grace at Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, Our Hopeful Home, Karin's Kottage Centerpiece Wednesday, My Hubbard Home FWF, Let's Add Sprinkle Keep in Touch, County Road 407 Farmhouse Friday