Heaven on Earth Emporium

A few months ago a new antique store opened in our town and when I went in for the first time I was mesmerized. Donna Blackmon, the owner, has done a wonderful job putting her items in color coordinating displays as well as themes. Some of my friends say there is to much and it is overwhelming but I find myself just standing in front of the different displays enjoying all the items displayed together. It makes me want to buy several pieces instead of just the one. I have so many images that I will post about her shop for several days.

I love white so I am starting with her white collections.

I wish my girls were little again and I could put some of this stuff in their rooms.

I have a linen addiction and I just love looking at work like this. Am I weird? If we didn't have TV and Internet maybe more of us would still be sitting by the fire in the evenings practicing our needle skills... Or maybe not.

How about this collection. Beautiful baby gown, and more linens! I know our economy isn't at it's best but I hope enough people just can't leave her store without purchasing a few items and Donna is able to keep the store she has worked so hard for open!

I will feature different color themes over the next few weeks. If you see something you are interested in that you collect, you can reach Donna at heavenonearthemporium@yahoo.com.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy my images as much as I have.

April 3rd A Memorable date

Today is the 35th anniversary of one of the largest tornado outbreaks in the history of the United States. Our little town of Xenia, Ohio was hit with the largest F5 tornado recorded to that date. Today is a very dark, blustery, rainy day that brings back memories of those days. Most of the time I don’t think about it. But the date does catch me each year. It’s like a birthday of a relative long gone but you still remember. It’s just the fact that the wind is blowing pretty hard today and it is so dark that I am reminded more so today than normal. After experiencing 3 more tornado's in our town (2 of which came with in 1/2 a mile of our home) over the last 35 years I have gotten less afraid. I really am not one to dwell on past tragedies. I prefer to move on but there has been a lot of attention this year about the tornado and I suppose that is why I am more sensitive today than normal.
I am posting a couple of web address' if anyone is interested in some of the stories from people here in Xenia and what happened to them. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/XeniaOH/XeniaTornado/32402574342?v=photos&viewas=1075197503
http://www.xeniatornado.com/

I have no old images of that day but I am posting some images of my cute little town for you to enjoy as it looks today!Even though I was not directly effected in any of the tornado's, life is disrupted and the aftermath is traumatic. So much is lost and services are interrupted. There is also the sounds that bring back memories. Helicopters, sirens. Then there is the darkness and quiet because of no power. I was in the 8th grade when the ‘74 tornado struck and I didn’t attend a full day of school again until my senior year when the new school was finally built. I was at home for the next two tornado's and could hear the high pitched scream like sound they make. The last one, I drove into town just after, not realizing how devastating this one had been. It is ironic that this last one would be the one to finally take the fear away. Many people were caught in this one but survived so I realized that not all tornado's are as bad as the ‘74 one and that you can survive. Maybe it is my age but I am also not worried about my stuff anymore so I don’t freak out about loosing my home. I do still take my photo albums to the basement when they announce really bad storms! I am attached to my photographs :). So here are a few of my town I hope you enjoy. Court House ~ Greene County is the county seat

A train used to run down the middle of Xenia. We have a lot of history with the railroads.

Shawnee Park

Galloway cabin

The reproduction of the old train depot. It is the hub of the bicycle trails that run throughout Ohio on the old railroad tracks.

Old Library built with money donated by Carnegie.

The home of the Greene County Historical Society.

Downtown S. Detroit St.

Downtown E. Main St.