Tales of the Traveling Tote #30 & Giveaway

Hello, tote traveling troupers! Join me as I recount my travels in this 30th edition of the Tales of the Traveling Tote. This past quarter has been mostly a sleeper for me, especially when compared to moving in the last quarter. Winter - a time for resting, rejuvenating, and reorganizing - and that's primarily what I did.

I started pulling out spring decor on February 15th. Starting with the bookcase in the great room, I think it may become my seasonal decor display area. While a few of the spaces within (read: far left) will be stationary Mr. P. books and mementos, I'll switch up the other cubbies. Several MacKenzie-Childs items hatched for spring, both here and on the credenza opposite this bookcase in the great room.

A little neighborhood fountain center and drug store is one of the few remaining non-chain pharmacies in our town. While they're know as a pharmacy, I think they're better known for their throwback fountain dining. Their hotdogs with everything (see south of the Mason-Dixon West Virginia definition of hotdog with everything in this post) are the best around. It's one of our lunch spots we like to hit in our neighborhood, and the decor checks out, too.😉

My local Panoply sister and I have been back into vintage and antique shopping again. We've had a couple of private purchasing situations, as well as estate sales. But the best news to report is we attended our first auction since the pandemic hit in 2020 the last weekend of February. It was like a homecoming, seeing all the familiar faces, making random purchases, and enjoying a West Virginia hotdog, lol.

Auctions are a lot of fun for people watching, and our resident auctioneer is quite entertaining (seen in the far L frame of the above collage photo, sitting at the podium with ballcap). Sometimes we come away scratching our heads, wondering why we even bought certain things, but generally it's all good. I scored a Lalique France signed crystal bowl, handmade pottery lamp and antique Singer portable sewing machine at this particular auction. 

February ended with another outing at our local Arts center for a very entertaining show, Scott Brdalee's Postmodern Jukebox Grand Reopening Tour. 

If you've never heard of PMJ, this is how they describe what you can expect when you attend one of their concerts (from their sponsored event page, as viewed on Facebook):

Now, the wait is finally over and Postmodern Jukebox, the time-twisting musical collective known for putting “pop music in a time machine,” are set to make the ‘20s roar again! Arriving in Charleston on Sunday, February 27th at the Clay Center, The Grand Reopening Tour will bring PMJ back to thrill music-starved audiences, performing some of modern music’s biggest hits in the classic styles of bygone eras. 

As always with PMJ’s dazzling live shows, The Grand Reopening Tour will feature an ensemble of multi-talented singers and musicians bringing Bradlee’s generation-spanning arrangements alive night after night. The core ensemble is often joined by surprise guests to make each concert unique and unpredictable – making for one of the most thrilling live music experiences of this and any other time period.
For a band so deeply rooted in Jazz Age aesthetics – though their time warps have touched on virtually every major trend in popular music, from doo-wop to Motown to hair metal –the coming of another twenties was obviously a symbolic milestone. Ironically, the original Roaring 20s was itself ushered in by a worldwide flu pandemic.

It was a fun show for this music- and dance-loving, Flapper girl!

NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!

The Traveling Totes Tribe is offering another giveaway and Emily at The French Hutch is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Emily's post today will have their name thrown into the hat for an opportunity to win this MacKenzie-Childs luggage tag. It's perfect for a gym bag, or any travel piece you need to keep visible identification on. 

Be sure to check out my other traveling sisters' posts to see what how they spent their winter season 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

Cherry Kay with Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women

Join us again on June 1, 2022 for another edition of Tales of the Traveling Tote.

Thanks so much for your visit. I love reading your comments, and be sure to leave one on Emily's blog for a chance to win our token gift. Stay safe, and Happy March (and soon-to-be Spring!).

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, Zucchini Sisters, French Ethereal SYS, Happiness is Homemade, Traffic Jam Weekend, Katherine's Corner TFT, Eclectic Red Barn TFT, Grace at Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, Our Hopeful Home, Karin's Kottage, My Hubbard Home FWF, County Road 407 Farmhouse Friday