lespark

I live in the sunshine state with one blind cat, two australian shepherds, and my soulmate of 20 years. We are empty nesters now as our son is away at school.

I love hosting parties: small get togethers, huge holiday bashes, family occasions - it doesn't matter the reason. I enjoy creating a warm environment with outstanding food and drink to be enjoyed. With that being said, it will come as no surprise that I like to cook and enjoy wine and cocktails.

I also love to garden and delight in being able to cook with things from the garden. I put up huge batches of pesto and salsa in summer and in the fall/winter I make lemon curd and lemon liquer with the bounty from my backyard lemon trees.

I also enjoy reading, home improvement projects (painting, tiling, etc),

Anything but rap. I am particularly fond of Motown - it just makes me feel good.

I dabble in some mosaic and make cards and really like to experiment with different types of wrappings for gifts. I enjoy browsing the thrift stores to find a treasure (not trash) that I can recycle or embellish to make something else. A friend has recently gotten me started with ATCs and I am planning to get back into collage and assemblage.

Unique things whatever they may be, note cards, candles (especially soy), small pretty paper cocktail plates, pretty napkins (cloth and paper), decorative bottle stoppers, coffe and tea,christmas ornaments, b&w photos, vintage post cards, old keys, ribbons, unique buttons, recipes, craft books, fabric, decorating magazines/articles with lots of pics,anything I can alter (tins, boxes, frames, etc.), art made by others, vintage flatware, anything for the garden, picture books which can be recycled for decopauge, Blue Ridge pottery, and all things santa, soap, flip flops (6-7), butterfly hair clips,

"Country" items such as plaid, chickens, ducks, pigs, etc., hello kitty, kawaii, cartoon & disney characters, lace, kiddie or babyish stationery or stickers, licorice, "cheapy" dollar shop items(I enjoy quality over quantity)