Wine Tonight

I am a bit of an oenophile - not seriously but happily. The word oenophile can mean a connoisseur of wines or a lover of wines. I fit nicely into the second category.

That means that I don't stack unopened crates of wine in the cellar. My nose can not distinguish a Granache from a Sangiovese. Nor, do I spend hundreds of dollars on a wine that I will longingly look at, but not drink. No, wine is meant to be enjoyed, and I do love a glass or two with dinner and with friends.

In moderation, wine has a calming effect at the end of a hard day's work. And with friends, we can uncork a bottle and share worldly thoughts around the dinner table.

I select a bottle not because of the price, but by region. A bottle of Chianti or Valpolicella reminds me of Italy and it goes great with pasta. Both wines are from Tuscany, home to Florence, Pisa, and Sienna.

A fine wine from the Rhone Valley suggests to me the countryside of Provence. where grapes have been grown since the days of Julius Caesar. These fruity wines complement veal or chicken. A bottle of the saintly sounding, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, either red or white, reminds one that even the popes enjoyed a glass or two.

For something a little more robust, then select a French Bordeaux or Spanish Rioja. Of course, there are great American wines that come from regions all along the west coast. Most famous of these are the California counties of Napa and Sonoma. There, movie director Francis Ford Coppola has been happily fermenting grapes for decades.

The point of this worldly excursion is to demonstrate that one can stay at home and yet travel around the world for the reasonable price of ten to twenty dollars a bottle. That is, unless one is dining out at a fine restaurant.

Loving wine as much as we do, Traditions Home has surrounded itself with much with which to celebrate wine.

Consider our unique wine furniture made out of old wine barrels. The newest item is the coffee table seen to the right. A great item together or separated as end tables.

There are dozens of items to choose from, including tables, bar stools, a lazy Susan, relish trays, and, of course, wine bottle racks. And, all of these items are made in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Georgia. What will they think of next?

 If you like to show off your selection of wine, then choose from the many styles of wine holders available. We have wine holders that accommodate just one selection or a dozen.

Of course, we can't stop there ... .

We have jewels for the bottles, whimsical sayings, art work of your favorite wine region, ice coolers to keep that favorite bottle chilled, and, even a French bistro table and chairs to sit around while you sip.


 It is all in fun. So, whether you are a girl or a boy who likes wine, Traditions Home is the place to come for furniture and gifts. And, if we are having a party, you just might find we have selected a favorite wine to share with you.

Last Snow Before Spring

Our Wichita Spring Fling is tonight, Thursday, March 8th from 5 until 8 p.m.. If you are out and about stop by for some refreshments and fun. And, if you are in Overland Park, well, that party is yet to come.

Last Snow before Spring

Spring in the air

There is snow, but I don’t care

The flowers know it

The robin knows it

Spring, sing Spring - everywhere

The golden sun warms the earth

Soon old man winter will fade

And in a Holly tree a robin will perch

Nesting with blue eggs laid

While by the garden gate

Or in the Trumpet vine

Keeping guard is her mate

Until a tiny new chirp signals all is fine.

Spring gives us hope

Of something new to share

Spring brings a smile

To hasten away our cares

Let this last snow linger a day or two

Before grey clouds become blue skies.

Yet how will I sing, where will I go?

What will I do? At winter’s last sigh.

Even if the weather is not,

I am ready

To celebrate Spring…

At Traditions' Thursday fling.

I went to the Animal Fair

The Animal Fair

It is not hard to do. If I can do it you can too.

All you have to do is open your eyes and look for a monkey carrying books.

Before your eyes will appear a menagerie

of animals to amaze those who are not too lazy to see.



And, what follows is where my thoughts took me.

We are all children at heart. I don't care if you are two or ninety-two, you just have to keep your sense of wonder and amazement.


A. Nony Muss

I heard this poem, written by A. Nony Muss, when I was a child of ten. Now, much later - how much later doesn't matter since two or ninety-two, we are all children at heart - I came across the silly lyrics again. So, I can't resist repeating them for all you children at heart.

Indulge me a little, try and remember what it was like to be young and to laugh out loud. The story might have been Peter Rabbit or Alice in Wonderland.

Whatever it was, it made you smile.







i went to the animal fair, by a. nony muss

---

i went to the animal fair

the birds and beasts were there

the big baboon, by the light of the moon

was combing his auburn hair.

The monkey he got drunk

and sat on the elephants trunk

The elephant sneezed

and fell on his knees

And what became of the monk,

the monk?

President's Day 2012

Presidents' Day in 2012 is on Monday, the 20th of February. This date is a compromise of sorts, for it was suppose to honor both George Washington's birthday, which falls on February 22nd, and Abraham Lincoln's birthday, which falls on February 12th. In 1968, Congress chose the third Monday in February to allow federal workers a Monday off.

Perhaps, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota symbolizes President's Day best. The project, under the direction of Gutzon Borglum, was begun in 1927, and most of the work was completed during the Great Depression. The granite faces of our four most illustrious presidents face south into the sun as if still watching to be sure that America is still strong. Two million visitors come to South Dakota annually to pay homage to what the memorial stands for.

The name "President's Day" is what the public commonly calls the holiday, a day celebrating all the presidents who have served their country. Actually, it is still officially called "Washington's Birthday", since Congress could never agree on a change of names. I think we can all agree that dedication to the service of one's country is one of the highest callings. This nation has much to be grateful for. We should be thankful to the presidents who have served it so well.

At Traditions Furniture in Overland Park and Traditions Home in Wichita, Kansas,  we are choosing to celebrate the day by having a sale on Stickley Furniture, one of the oldest furniture companies in America and the standard of American Arts & Crafts design. For our sale we are offering 45% off any one piece of Stickley Furniture and 40% off all other pieces.

Stickley Style

You, the customer, can choose from Stickley's iconic Mission collection, or any of the other red, white, and blue styles including Colonial Williamsburg, Traditional, Finger Lakes, Valley Forge, and Metropolitan. Stickley has even given a nod to our British cousins with other collections - English Oak Antiquities, John Widdicomb, and Edinburgh, to name a few.

Celebrating President's Day means celebrating a  tradition.

And we at Traditions Furniture believe that nothing epitomizes tradition better than Stickley Furniture. And that tradition is one of excellence in design and manufacture, backed by a company that is over 100 years old and still growing.


Gustav Stickley

Gustav Stickley and his four brothers burst into prominence at the turn of the 20th century with their American Arts & Crafts design. This style became popularly known as the Mission furniture. Gustav Stickley's simple idea was that furniture should be “honest” and that it should reflect the ideals of the American people with its use of native American oak and cherry wood and in its construction which emphasizes quality, construction, and beauty.

Over the years at its plant in upstate New York, Stickley Furniture has maintained its rock solid commitment to the same ideals that Gustav Stickley and his brothers began. Their motto then, "Als ich kan" or "to the best of my ability" still holds true.

And today Stickley is ever moving forward while looking to the past for inspiration. The new Finger Lakes collection draws on the ruggedness of frontier life and the beauty of nature. American cherry woods from New York combined with a hand-planed look recreate the craftsmanship of the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. The same area where Stickley still makes its furniture. Stickley's unique design in its round pedestal table incorporate a bird-cage pedestal base and the beauty of cherry wood. It is destined to become a classic.

We think that you will agree that any time is a good time to invest in Stickley Furniture. It is destined to be around for a good long time, like America.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day

This year Valentine's Day is Tuesday, February 14th.

My memories of Valentine's Days go all the way back to childhood. The sweet and chalky taste of conversation sweethearts always comes to mind. These classics included "Kiss Me," "Sweet Talk," "Charm", "Dream", "Be a Sport", "Teach Me", "Wild Life", and "Be Mine." Sitting at my desk, I often wished for a dictionary that would help me to decipher the meaning of a saying so arrogant as "Top Dog" or enigmatic as "Help Me". Don't we all remember that Necco, the maker of sweetheart candies beat Facebook to the punch with "Be my Friend" and "Like Me". And, finally, there was the oh so special "I Love You" reserved for the one and only.

Sitting in a second grade classroom, boys and girls spent countless hours deciding who would get what saying. Furtive glances were exchanged accompanied by the low level chatter of excited schoolchildren. Watching over all of us from her desk at the front of the classroom, sat our teacher. For her, we reserved the biggest Valentine and the candy that said "Ur Great". I suppose the teacher forgave the misspelling.

After the momentous decision of who got what was made, the candies were inserted into a self-made Valentine's card. I loved words even as a grade-schooler and always chose my words as carefully as I did my candies. Those deserving poems usually received a variation of something that sounded like, "Roses are red, violets are blue, you are swell and cute too." Those less deserving might receive a similar poem, but accompanied by an ending that was sure to bring a chuckle among friends.

(After all these years, the one ending I remember goes like this, "You look like a monkey, and smell like one too."  This, of course, was too racy for a second-grader to write down and could only be said out of earshot from the teacher.)

Now that I am older, Valentine's Day has a deeper meaning than childhood crushes. Valentine's is a celebration of love and friendship. And what better way to celebrate than with a poem.

My love is like a Valentine,

Caring beyond measure,

Sharing all that is mine,

With memories to treasure.

So, on this Valentine's Day

Be my true friend

In every way

Until the world shall end.

Something is up.

Something is Up

 
Something is up, there is a change in the air. No, it is not the year, nor the season, nor is it politics as usual. Oops, can't talk about that.

No, change is coming to our stores in Overland Park and Wichita. Exciting new products are arriving daily prompting us to spruce things up a bit. And there will be changes to our websites as well. No, I am not going to spill the beans just yet, because we always like a surprise.

We could give you a few hints. That always seems fun. So, look at the images and see if the light turns on. Our changes will be electric.

While you are thinking about this, we want you to be comfortable. Relax in the chair of your choice, stretch out your legs and close your eyes. You know by now that we are the exclusive Stickley retailer in Kansas. You also know that we are the one place to go for Stressless recliners by Ekornes. And we show the best from manufacturers like Century, Sherrill, Vangurard, Paul Roberts, Charleston Forge, and many, many others.

Relax, you are among friends.

Welcome to the Dallas Market

Welcome to the Dallas Market held January 18th through the 29th.

Coming right on the heels of the Atlanta Gift Show, this one is a little daunting. Daunting because there are 15 floors in the Dallas Trade Center alone, not to mention the Trade and Apparel Marts. Still it is always fun to get away and find something new. Dallas, unlike Atlanta, has a better selection of lighting and florals. So, a five hour drive by car down I-35 to the Dallas World Trade Center at Market Center Parkway, and we are here.

Fine art fills up the many walls of our two stores in Wichita and Overland Park. I have always thought of art as an easy and inexpensive way to travel. So, here is a preview of some of the artwork you can find at Traditions Furniture.

Enjoy the trip.