5th Anniversary of My Daily Blog + A Request

Wow. Just wow. Crazy to think 5 years ago today have passed since that first blog entry in 2011. Titled Here we go! I don’t think I had any idea what was ahead. What began as a small idea/way to share thoughts & ideas about life, has become such an important part of my life. A gift really. Rarely a day passes that I don’t receive an e-mail, note, phone call or have a conversation with someone who follows along about how they enjoyed a recipe, pondered on a quote, found beauty in a flower image, re-arranged their living room with great success, connected with a thought, set a creative table, or just slowed down a bit to take in the moment. Bringing you all joy is what brings me so much joy. It is a pretty great circle, one that I had no idea would ever be as wide reaching or as meaningful to us both on that very first day. For that I thank you. It really has been such an honor. I look forward to the next 5 years with you all!

So many things transpired in all of our lives these past 5 years. The next few days of posts I will look back a bit and remember some of those times. Memories really can be such a glorious thing, of both the good and not so good. I sometimes think of them sort of like a movie or book of our life. While moving forward is vital, remembering our past enriches our future. Many of you have been along for some of my/our journey these past 5 years–from adventures to here and there, to new shop windows, us getting married, to the passing of a best friend, a new store item favorite, the experience of getting my book published from start to finish, to making a house a home. The list goes on and on.

So now my request. To mark the passing of these 5 years, I would love to hear from you–in the form of a note, card, or letter. By now, you know how much I love receiving as well as sending correspondence in the mail. It does not need to be lengthy, but certainly can be if inspired to do so. When in the past I have received a note or letter that touched me, I have pinned it to the board in my office. As well as turned it into a gallery to the side of my desk on the wall. I would like to do the same with your note. For those of you who have ever been to my shop on First Avenue, and for those of you who have not, there is a long row of Veuve Clicquot bottles that surround the upper shelf where my office sits. They are from both my 40th and 50th birthday parties, which were at that shop. I look at them every day I am there and am reminded of those parties and the friends that attended and it is such an awesome memory. That is what I would like to do with your note. Have it become part of the awesome memory of these last 5 years. I want to pin them around the shops so I can look at them always, as a reminder.

What should be in that note, you ask? Truly whatever you would like. Tell me about yourself. What brings you joy? Tell me about your family, your pet. A favorite recipe tried. A quote that has meaning to you. It can be a sentence or many. It will be the action and thought that counts. From near or far, they will all have great meaning and be very special to me.

I would LOVE to hear from each and every one of you. It will be such a grand gift, which will bring me such happiness. Please post to:
Ted Kennedy Watson
1022 First Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104
United States of America

Now onto a few favorite images from the past few years…