Well... soon it will be a half century. If I have to work that day... I might as well have fun doing it! Come join me for my party at the shop on Sunday, December 9th from 12-4pm. There will be presents for the first 50 customers, refreshments, party hats, and??? With a purchase of $50 (excluding sales tax) you can register to win a door prize of a $50 gift certificate.

Come join Bradford Mercantile for one of the best events of the year in Warren. A shopping, eating and music extravaganza, the Warren Walkabout showcases Warren at its best! Bradford Mercantile is located right next to a free trolley stop for the Warren Walkabout.

I asked her mother if I could give her a beanie baby from my stash of beanies I rescued from a bag my daughter was taking to the Salvation Army. The mom said yes, and that her daughter really likes bears, and cats. I looked through the basket and found a leopard beanie, and went to hand it to the little girl. Well she let out a holler and started backing up and shaking her head no, no. She was clearly terrified.

Bradford Mercantile now has 1803 Candles, a wonderful soy line made from American grown soy beans in the heartland of America. They are clean burning, biodegradable, environmentally safe and made from a renewable resource that also supports American farmers. They are so wonderfully scented I find myself sniffing them throughout the day!

When you look at the gallery photos, if you see a random picture of a rose from time to time there is an explanation for that. Ever since my 49th birthday in December I have received a rose of some kind every day from my husband. It started with a few fresh roses that I thought were multiplying in the vase, and then one day it was a magazine photo of a rose put under the windshield wiper, or a card with a rose on it slid under the door at the store. I never know how or when a rose will appear in my day.

The moral of this story is if you want to open your own little shop be sure you have very understanding and supportive people behind you. Add many months to whatever timing you think it will take, hey, if you get open on schedule great, but be prepared for multiple pitfalls and delays along the way. If it is really your dream hang in there, and try not to take up drinking, because you would have plenty of reason to have one or two, which might turn into three or four.