Twas the night after the TOUR and all through the CITY, not a creature was stirring except Madison the black KITTY.  The cash registers were closed from all the day’s cha-CHINGING making shop keepers happy, jolly and SINGING!
That’s right y’all! The 2012 Holiday Tour of Homes ROCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK last weekend! In High Cotton and Laughing Moon had banner days accordin’ to owner Rhonda Erwin! Thersa Bishop, owner of Belles, Beaux & Gifts said: “Everyone LOVED the tour! It was the perfect combination of beautiful homes, gorgeous weather and great shopping. Saturday was our busiest day in our entire seven years! And, a special thanks to the City of Madison Police Department for doing such a great job!”
Kathi Russell of the Madison Tea Room said, “It was phenomenal! I closed an hour later than usual each day, just to accommodate the overflowing crowds of lovely, happy tourists! A big thanks  goes to those who work tirelessly each year to make this happen for everyone!”
Crystal of JK Linens said: “Our weekend was fabulous! Great weather, folks loved the store, especially our quilts and sheets. Our cherished customers brought in family and friends
Faye Craft of the Madison ChopHouse Grille said: “The ChopHouse had an awesome weekend!” And, honey it goes on and on!
Joellen Artz of LilyBeth’s in Rutledge said they were pretty slow, but some of the tour goers saw her ad and decided to pop over to shop! Joellen says it really helps Rutledge when there are tour sites in the “Small but Special” city! So let’s work on that for sure!
Make no mistake: The Tour Means BIG LOCAL BUSINESS! So we can’t let it stop there y’all! This is where that SHOP LOCAL theme really comes in handy right here at home! Hey and lots of shops are havin’ specials like Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co. and Amelia’s located at 172 South Main Street in Madison are teamin’ up THIS THURSDAY Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. til 7 p.m. for Girl’s Gift Registry Night! What the? OK! Here’s the deal! Pop over to one or both of these fab, fab, fab shops and write your letter to Santa! OR you can do your own ding dang shoppin’ (with your handsome husband’s credit card) and receive 25 percent off durin’ the party! Now that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout! Merry Christmas TO ME!
Oh and Ginger Gardner, owner of Town & Country located at 204 West Washington St., in Madison wanted me to let y’all know that each time you make a purchase at Town & Country between now and Christmas Eve, you can enter to win a North Face jacket! WOW! Oh and the drawin’ is on Christmas EVE and you don’t have to be present to win! Ding dang!
Pop pop POP IT UP! That’s right y’all Elizabeth Collins and the Broughton Artists’ Market Christmas  Pop Up Shop located at 125 W. Jefferson St., in downtown Madison is now open Thursday through Saturday! OK so this pop shop is located right next to the fab Equine Consign shop! Love, love, love it so you can even ride your horse on over there! Plus they’ve got a bunch of workshops goin’ down includin’ this Thursday Dec. 6 Ladies Night with Peggy Martin of Moonvine Designs doing Cold Connections Pendant; Saturday Dec. 8  Family Workshop Clay Angel Sculpture with Chuck Hanes and Elizabeth Collins; Thursday Dec. 13 Ladies Night Pottery with Chuck Hanes and Elizabeth Collins; Saturday Dec. 15 Glass Sun Catchers and Ornaments; Sunday, Dec. 16 Family Workshop Clay Santa Sculpture; Thursday Dec. 20 Ladies Night Activities TBD;  Saturday Dec. 22 Painting Landscapes with Acrylics; and Thursday, Dec. 27 Ladies Night Seed Beaded Bracelet! Oh and you can flat call Elizabeth for private parties or for any questions and time confirmations at 770-367-1203! I’m flat arty with anticipation!
Hey and before I go . . . Our Kiwanis Club is havin’ their  holiday fundraiser – a seven to eight pound Glazed Spiral Cut Virginia Ham for Christmas! Plus 100 percent of the proceeds go to benefit the children of Morgan County! Get that ham y’all! Call Ginger Gardner at Town & Country for more info at 706-342-7702!
Y’all I am FLAT out of time! Plus I still have my handsome husband’s credit card so I’ve gotta DASH like one of Santa’s reindeer and SHOP LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL! See you in a LOCAL SHOP! Ho Ho Ho!