New Garden and Home Decor

One of the creative areas of retailing is in the display process. I really enjoy redesigning the displays every few weeks. It brings out my artistic nature. The Cabin is now blooming with colors. Since spring wants to wait to arrive, I have endeavored to produce a "spring-like" atmosphere inside the Cabin. We have a small replica of a fairy garden in one area, complete with a log and "door" to their kingdom. Straw flowers line the path. Here's a picture of some of the characters waiting for you.

                                             I promised a picture of a nest building wire cage.

A Nest Building Helper Cage

Are you watching the birds? It seems their singing is louder now. Maybe it's my imagination, but I really think I hear more of them. I have learned what a tufted tit mouse sounds like from one singing right outside the upstairs window. He has been very vocal today, even with the gray, cloudy skies. Maybe he is trying to "sing" in Spring!

I am making a nest building helper cage. Take a small wire cage you would use for hanging suet. Fill it with bits of string, ribbon, yarn, and even hair from a hair cut. Hang it from a tree branch and watch the birds help themselves. We carry the wire cages here if you are interested in trying it out. I'll get a picture posted as soon as I get my camera down here. Great idea to do with the kids.

Don't forget our Cabin Fever Day is this Saturday, the 26th. We will have some of the craftspeople here to ask questions about the items. Come and enjoy refreshments, flowers, and balloons.

Massarelli time at the Cabin

Today, Friday, is a beautiful day. The Wyalusing Creek is gorgeous with the sun shining on the water. I can hear it calling me to get out my kayak and go for a ride. Caleb and Clare, two of my 12 grandchildren, helped me pick up the many, many sticks and limbs in the yard blown down through the winter. Seems like we had more high winds this winter then in previous years.

Daffodils are coming up. Buds are starting on the forsythia and my new Dogwood tree I planted last fall. Tim says the bees are looking good. Hasn't lost any yet that he's checked. He has 2 more bee yards to go to. The bee keeping classes started with 7 people in the class. Nice group of individuals.


With yesterday's sunshine, Tim and I opened one of the Massarelli pallets. As you can see we have 3 of them to do. The stone statues, wall plaques, fountains, etc. all come packed in cocoa bean burlap bags. Talk about developing a craving for chocolate!








 This is what we found in the bottom of the pallet. Isn't she adorable? Beautifully stone casted. Heavy little thing.

It took 2 of us to pull her out. Reminded me of our dairy days. Come check her out, along with our great garden and home decor.

Our Garden and home decor order arrived yesterday afternoon. 18 boxes with more boxes in them. We finally have all the many boxes unloaded. It is Christmas getting to see everything we ordered.

We are putting in a fairy garden this year, so we ordered a lot of really cool "fairy items." We have doors that go on the base of trees, fairy picks, fairy secret key holders, and this beautiful polystone figure.

The Seed Saver Organic, Heirloom seeds are here ready for you. Some great new varieties to try. Come check out all the new merchandise.

Flooding behind the Cabin

This is Wyalusing Creek behind the Cabin Country Store. Fortunately, we are high enough on the bank that we have never flooded. The power of water is pretty impressive.

Spring floods must mean Spring is coming. Another sign is having Seed Saver Organic- Heirloom Seeds arrive.They came yesterday. So come and in and check out what you might want to plant this year. We have a some new varieties for you to try.

New Technology

The last two days I have been glued to the computer, endeavoring to produce my first QR code for my "Save the Date" card. Success has finally been achieved. A QR code you ask? Yes, a new technology for me and probably most of you. QR stands for quick response. You are familiar with store's barcodes, right? Well, a QR code works the same. It is a black and white square with geometric shapes with encoded text, URL, or other data. It is read by a smart phone.

Imagine the ways one can give out information with these codes. You will be seeing mine on the next "Save the Date" card. It will take you to my web site. I will also be putting one on my new business card with all the contact information. So the information automatically can be added to one's contact list on their phone.

No, I do not own a smart phone. I have trouble with a simple tracfone let alone a smart phone. But they are becoming more popular and I have always liked being on the cutting edge. This summer you will be seeing me in a t-shirt with a QR code on the back. The reason for wearing it on the back? The codes don't scan well on curvatures. Get it?

I answered the phone today, "Cabin Country Store, can I help you?"  "Receiving, please." There was a definite pause on my side as I was contemplating how to answer. "I'm receiving, " I said, "actually I'm everything." The lady quickly responded with,"chief cook and bottle washer, eh?" "Yes," I said,"I do everything, even windows."

We had a good laugh at the fact that she doesn't do windows and that I am it. I've thought a lot about what is required to run a retail shop. How one really does have to be a little of everything- a planner, an organizer, a financial genius ( haven't got that one down yet), graphic artist, decorator, computer wizard (still working on that, too), a visionary, a people person, house keeper, sales person, human resources, and the complaint department. It's amazing I'm still sane.

Fortunately, I really am not the only one to do everything. I have had so much help over the last nine years we have been in business. So many family members and friends have often bailed me out and stepped in to cover as I needed them. I am very grateful. That's why we are still here. Still in business. Waiting for you to come and sit a spell and share some special time with us here at The Cabin.

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