Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Tales of the Traveling Tote #31 and Giveaway

Hello, readers! Today is the 31st quarterly installment of the Tales of the Traveling Totes group. Not sure how it all originated? Start here. Want to see all of the prior tales? Go here

The past few months for me have been quite busy with home and garden, mostly in routine, at-home activity. I will begin with the most recent (and most significant!) event for me and my tote, which occurred mid-May. Miss Lola is seen below in our city loft, making her final farewell. We closed on the sale of the condo! Thank you for any and all prayers, positive vibes, and well wishes for this to happen!
Making it official, I went to the DMV, toting Miss Charley, and had my license changed for the new address. I waited nearly seven months to do this for the address because I knew I would need to have a new picture license taken for my mandatory 5 yr renewal due in June, so it was killing two birds with one stone. We all know how the wait at the DMV typically lasts, so yea, I waited to do both at once.
In late April, we traveled to Dayton, OH to celebrate my oldest sister's 50th wedding anniversary. Aren't they adorable? Their wedding in 1972 was intimate, with just parents and witnesses for each present. They've lived a good, quiet life together, raising two sons. We attended one of their sons' weddings, set in a Homemade, Barn Style in 2015.
We only stayed overnight for the [mostly] family gathering, in a Marriott property. This particular Marriott layout always cracks me up because the 'desk' setup is in the living space, and faces the bed. There's a glass partition between the desk and bed that makes it look like a doctor's office.
Early in April, a friend and I were getting excited for spring. A local small retailer (Food Among the Flowers) held an open house that had a fabulous charcuterie board layout. The proprietors did a nice job of making the layout fit their theme, and it was a nice way to jump start spring with all the garden goodies they had available with a discount that evening.
Back in March, my local Panoply sister M and I drove to Cincinnati to visit Panoply sister J for a buying trip for our antique booths. This photo was taken as we were packed and ready to come back to WV. It did not include sister J's haul!
However, sister J did very well in her shopping. The photo below shows a gorgeous flame maple side table on the left. The table on the right is one of the pieces of furniture I purged during our downsize in 2019. Aren't the pair a beautiful couple?! This one's a keeper for J, not to be resold.
And, last but not least, I have been enjoying time with my grandbaby while mama has been on a regimen of getting healthy again by running. Our neighborhood is the perfect place for her to run, so I typically get to see Baby J at least once a week while mama runs after work. The photo below is in her own backyard. She loves the water!
Life is good!


NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Kris Vavra!

The Traveling Totes Tribe is offering another giveaway and Patti at Pandora's Box is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Patti's post today will have their name thrown into the hat for an opportunity to win this set of MacKenzie-Childs Parchment Check coasters.  

Be sure to check out my other traveling sisters' posts to see what how they spent their spring 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
Cherry Kay with Miss Carrie Ann Hall @ Entertaining Women

Join us again on September 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 Patti's blog for a chance to win our token gift. Stay safe, and Happy June (and soon-to-be Summer!).

20 comments:

  1. The Grand baby one got to me, I am so jealous! She looks so sweet Rita!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congrats on the sale of your condo Rita, I know that is a big relief~ errands like going to the DMV are never fun and now you've got that behind you! I'm glad you have been able to do some fun sister shopping and how wonderful you get to see your sweet Baby J regularly, she's adorable! That charcuterie board is a show stopper for sure. Happy June and I hope you have a wonderful summer with family, friends and fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Rita,
    I finally took some time while drinking my morning cup of coffee to enjoy your blog posts I needed to catch up on! You've been so busy and the addition of a photo of your sweet little granddaughter is the cutest!! Your sister's "50" year anniversary is truly something to celebrate. Hubby and I celebrated "45" in April. My how the years fly by! Keep enjoying those flower beds.....I miss gardening in the north. Florida gardening takes a bit of getting used to.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rita, I'm in awe of how much Baby J has grown. She is so adorable! I know you love spending time with this cutie. You are a wise girl to get your DMV appointments coordinated, but doesn't surprise me. You are one of the most organized and efficient women I know. Love seeing your sister and BIL's wedding photo. How special to celebrate them. Enjoy your garden in the months ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am getting ready to put my home up for sale! Moving is such a pain! Now the place is empty and all my stuff in storage. Cleaners come soon and then the listing!

    ReplyDelete
  6. So happy you got to go to Ohio a few times - that table was a great find for your sister! I love to see photos from the 70's - those years were great times!! And ooooh, that sweet granddaughter of yours is so precious - lucky you that you get to see her so often! So happy the condo is behind you and you are enjoying your new lovely home! Happy Travels this summer!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so happy for you that you've closed on the condo so you can now get busy with all the other plans you have. That can be so stressful! LOL, isn't is a good feeling when we can kill two birds with one stone, it feels like we save ourselves a lot of trouble. I know you were happy to travel to Dayton to celebrate with your sister and BIL. Fifty years is a milestone and blessing. Yes, they look adorable. I think it is wonderful how you get together with your Panoply sisters for your buying trips. How special you live close enough to baby J that she's a regular visitor. Special times. Thinking of you and wishing you and Will and baby J a very happy summer........

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy 50th to your sis and brother-in-law! It would be my 52nd anniversary this month 😞
    You’ve been busy, Rita, but the happiest is Baby J! Isn’t she a doll baby?? How fun to live close enough to enjoy her and watch her grow. Happy summer!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post, Rita. I love the photo of your sister and hubby at their wedding. Happy belated wishes to them. 1972 must have been a good year. Mike and I will celebrate 50 years in July.

    Rita those tables are beautiful and yes they do make a lovely pair. And your precious baby J is certainly growing. She is a beauty with her gorgeous eye lashes.

    Enjoy your summer, Rita. It is really getting warm here.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Little Baby J is too adorable. How fun she loves the water too. Looks like you scored some good items for your booth. Your sister was a very adorable bride. Loved the picture of the two of them. Have a good week. xoxo Kris

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'd say every journey was a worthy one! And loads of fun -- weddings, babies, antiquing... what's not to love! And you got plenty of use out of your traveling tote!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can tell the two of you are sisters. Fiftieth anniversaries are so special. The charcuterie boards are really special. Sound like you had a great time. And that glorious baby girl is not only beautiful, but she is such a sweet happy baby girl. You are truly blessed! CherryKay

    ReplyDelete
  13. That glass partition between the table and the bed sounds funny.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Rita, sorry I am running late in reading and commenting. I am so happy the condo has closed, and I know you are relieved. I love the wedding photo of your sister and BIL. The flowers and food shop sounds perfect and the charcuterie looks delicious. I must say that Baby J is the star of this post. She is beautiful and I know you enjoy keeping her while Mommy runs.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congrats on the sale of your condo Rita! I always enjoy your sister excursions and your sweet Baby J regularly. They are only little once! That charcuterie board is right up my alley. I hope you have a wonderful summer!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations on the sale of the condo. We know you are thrilled to get that checked off your list! Your trips sound like fun. Congrats to your sister and her husband on their 50th anniversary. Time really does fly! The sweetest pic is of baby J! She's a little doll! Clara❤️

    ReplyDelete
  17. Happy June Rita, I’m sorry I’m late visiting, we were out of town for Memorial Day weekend and I’ve been playing catch up for two days. I can’t get over how much you look like your sister, those family genes run strong! Your expression sitting at the desk in your room cracks me up. 😊 Congrats on selling your condo, I know it must be a relief. Baby J is such a cutie, what a treat to keep her. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congrats on selling your condo! That charcuterie spread is amazing. Baby J is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm sorry to be late again! I have had company!
    You have been busy as usual. So special to celebrate your sister's 50th. I know it meant so much to have family come.Your antique travels and finds are always interesting and enjoyable.
    The open house event charcuterie board was huge! Looks like a fun event.
    But the star was adorable Baby J! So fun to have her so close by to spoil and enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Aw! I'm so happy to see Baby J! She is so cute, Rita. You are truly blessed, My Friend!

    ReplyDelete