Stashing.....

My fabric purchases drop dramatically when I'm in Florida for six months since I don't have a "local" Fabric Mart Fabrics store to visit for one of their remarkable store sales.  (But there's 20% off the website now for those not near Sinking Spring, PA..Fabric Mart Fabrics)  But somehow I seem to do some stashing at the once a year Dillard's Department Store clearance sale (every sale item in the store is another 50% off.)  On January 1 there were dozens lined up and at 10am they rushed through the doors and ran to the purse section.  I heard that a woman pushed her way to the Coach purse sale stand with the electronic cords and just hugged all ten or twelve cords and purses in her arms.  I've bought wonderful purses there in the past....but I refuse be a traveling advertisement for your brand so acessories like Coach and Louis Vuitton merely make me smile and long for a royalty check.  However, in addition to a weakness for fabric, I have a serious weakness for shoes.  This year's sale was no exception.  I scored big time at very little prices....I mean, hey, $6o for those brown Ralph Lauren boots with the cool straps and the rest were far less.  Here's the haul:

No, I don't need boots in Florida but since we'll be moving back north later this year I think these will fit in very nicely with a fall and winter wardrobe back up in Maryland.  I dislike being cold and I can enjoy warm toes in wool socks while wearing something mildly stylish.  
And a few more to enjoy here and now:

I'll close with a picture from our New Year's on the beach....last Gulf sunset of 2012 and an enjoyable evening with friends.  

Last sunset of 2012

One of the special treats that I wasn't able to capture on film were the dozens of Japanese sky lanterns being lit and sailing upward on breezes out over the Gulf of Mexico.  A quietly magical way to bid farewell to a year that I was glad to see end.  Here's hoping that 2013 brings goodwill and good health for all of us.