Childhood Memories

As a kid, I loved candy!

Actually, I haven't changed much in that department...I still love candy!

One of my most vivid candy memories
was at Christmas time, when my Mom would buy
Gingerbread candy aka sponge candy for me.
It is quite an unusual melt in your mouth treat,
having an airy and crunchy texture,
with the slight taste of molasses,
even though there isn't a drop of molasses in it!

Displayed in a wooden barrel in the shop,
it fits appropriately into our gingerbread theme!
Isn't it funny how the simplest things
can bring you back to days gone by?

Does anyone else remember this candy?

Annies Angel Fundraiser 2009

Each year we hold a fundraiser for Annie Walsh,
a sweet local teenager who is currently on the
waiting list for a double lung transplant.
For the past few years we have offered angel ornaments,
but this year the manufacturer was unable to
supply us with them, so we needed to go back to the drawing board.
And that is when it "hit me"!!!!

I remember this story like it was yesterday.......

Earlier this year, Annie's Mom,
Sue was visiting Brown & Hopkins.
It was a rainy spring day.
Sue had left the store, only to return an instant later.....

She went over to our front window and grasped an item from it.
She held it to her heart.
"I have to have this.", she said.
"I tell my kids all the time that this is what 'it's' all about....."

The item was a country plate with the following words...

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Tears came to my eyes. As they are right now as I write this......
The saying is so true.
They say when you have your health, you have everything.
I also think, in light of so many struggling in the world right now,
the saying is even more meaningful and powerful.

I presented the idea to Sue, and she loved it!

So, this year we are offering this 9" Dance in the Rain plate,
complete with a sentiment from Annie's Mom on the back of it.
The plates are in limited supply, and are available for $14.95 each.
A portion of the proceeds goes directly to the Annies Angel fund
to help Annies family with her medical expenses.
This item will make a wonderful gift for everyone!
A reminder to everyone that life is as good as you make it!!!!
Plate stands to sit or hang the plate will be available.

We will take orders over the phone at 401-568-4830
Or, you may make your purchase when you visit!
Key tags may not be punched for this since it is a fundraising item.

Thank You!!!

It's Funny How Life Turns Out Sometimes....

When I was a little girl, I always loved horses. How many of you had one of these steeds as a child?
This is a photo of me at four years old....just 43 years ago as of this Friday!!!
OMG, did I just tell you how young I am!!??? LOL

Do you remember riding the mechanical horse at Ann & Hope for a dime?
Oh, a trip to that store, was never complete without a ride on that wonderful pony with the western saddle..... I remember it like it was just yesterday.

As I got older, I also remember how I would make jewelry, or seashell mirrors, or pet rock paperweights, and go around to all my neighbors, and ask them if they would like to buy something. So, I guess you would say that my entrepreneurial skills go way back. It's just in my blood. I love people, and I love seeing them happy with their purchase. And some days, you may visit Brown & Hopkins, and not buy anything, and that is OK too. We enjoy the visit with you.

The other day we had some very nice compliments........

A man said, "I just love coming into this store. It is such a stress reliever!".

A lady said, "In this day and age, customer service is everything, and I always feel so appreciated when I shop here.".

Another said,"This is my most favorite store in the whole wide world!"

And from a child, "This is the best store in the world!".

Comments like those make our day!
Thank You!
Oh, and one more thing......
Since my birthday is Friday,
We will be giving away gifts to
47 lucky winners!
All you need to do is subscribe to receive automatic emails of our blog...
Just fill out the form in the upper left hand corner,
and don't forget to
activate it
by opening the email you receive,
and clicking on the link.
Only active subscribers
will have a chance to win!!!
Winners will be announced in a blog post
by 6pm on Friday!

Letter from Long Ago Customer

I recently opened my mailbox to find a letter penned from Mr. Anthony Duskey of Peabody, MA.......along with a copy of a photo (sorry for the poor quality), but it is the story that is so endearing.....

Dear Brown & Hopkins,

Thought the article from The Boston Globe would be interesting together with a picture showing me at age 5 in 1942 that has a jack rabbit in it that came from your store. I just had to have that rabbit as it was out front along with other stuffed animals! We were going from Rocky Hill Road in Smithfield to Webster, MA. Our farm is now part of North Central Airport.

Through the years, the rabbit and the tricycle are gone, but the memories linger on. By the way, might you still have one of those rabbits?

Sincerely,

Tony Duskey

Dear Tony,

We don't have any of those rabbits, but sure wish we did...it looks like a Steif to me, and would be very valuable today, but probably not as valuable as the memory you just shared with us. Thank you......please visit us sometime soon!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Read All About It!!!

Today's Boston Globe newspaper features a story about

Brown & Hopkins in the travel section!!!!

Here is an excerpt....

"If there's one thing a good general store ought to have, it's a candy counter. And Brown & Hopkins, one of the country's oldest continually operating general stores, which celebrates its 200th anniversary in the historic Glocester village of Chepachet, has a dandy."

"Though typical country-store wares abound, a veritable retail history lesson exists on what McIntyre calls "the wall of honor" behind the cash register, seven shelves some 30 feet long of old-time items that are not for sale, including tins, bottles, and boxes of old fashioned items like Dr. Naylor's Udder Balm, Sen Sen, and Red and blue combination pencils."

Here are some of the photos that Globe writer Paul Kandarian shot during his visit to the shop!

Thanks Paul......

Photos courtesy of Pkandarian@aol.com

Snowfolk ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a funny story about these little guys...............

About 14 years ago, my two sons, then just 7 and 4, were taken to Brown & Hopkins in search of a Christmas gift for Mom (me!).....

Well, on Christmas morning I opened a gift with the most adorable little snowmen!!! And they have been buying them for me ever since!!!! I have quite the collection now, and will show you a pic of mine as soon as I set them up at home!

All of the snowfolk are handmade in the USA!!!! Each have their own little personalities, and jobs......some ski, some collect firewood, while others hold stars and snow shovels! Some have hair, while others have crazy hats!

We are one of a handful of select retailers who are able to carry these, as the lady who makes them wished to semi-retire a couple of years ago, but we begged, and pouted until she agreed to continue making them for us!!!

Come in and meet the snowfolk today! Before they flurry away!

Sticky Situation ~ A Tale from Yesteryear

The Night They Moved The Post Office

Of all the moves made by the Chepachet Post Office, none was more memorable to Robert Steere than the exodus out of our Brown & Hopkins Store to diagonally across the street to the Hawkins' building (now "Post Office Antiques")

Helen Steere Brown wrote
in her book "Looking Back"........

"It was an evening in summer, and Joshua Angell had come up to the village of Chepachet from South Glocester to buy a jug of molasses. Instead of returning right away, he stayed to watch them dismantle the pigeon holes and paraphernalia and move them to the new location. He set his jug of molasses on the floor. It was a hot day and it overflowed.

Bob, who was about 10 years old at the time, stepped into the molasses with his bare feet. Instead of cleaning them off, he walked home down the unpaved road through the village, collecting dust and dirt all the way. Upon arrival, his feet escaped notice, and he went to bed ~still covered with molasses and part of Main Street.

By next morning, both molasses and Main Street had left their mark upon the sheets, and the discovery..................

led to dire consequences which Bob vividly recalled for the rest of his life."

My Summer Vacation

Well, it's not officially my vacation........
and actually I don't even like to say "vacation",
because as many of you know, the last time I went on "vacation" (July 2, 2007) I was left hospitalized for a month and out of work for about 6 months......

Not to be a downer or anything, but I recall saying to Bruce last year, "I missed the whole month of July!", and his response was, "You're lucky you even saw the month of July!" Once again, he's right....LOL

And so this year I vowed to myself to enjoy every moment possible. You really do see life in a whole new light when faced with difficult moments.
I have been stealing days here and there, in between working at the shop,

So here is a glimpse of what I have been doing on my summer "vacation".....

Tea Party with friends where we got to dress up and act silly!

Cookouts with friends!!!!

I actually got to see the 4th of July parade this year!!!!
Here is a link to a photoshow I made
of the parade, just in case you missed it!

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/CT9tU9ZR
Bruce and I hanging out at Waterman Lake.......good food, great company, sunsets and water!
I looooooooovvvvvvvve sunsets!

My great niece Clare is one year old
and she visited from California recently!
She is coming into that fun age....
I don't know what it is about rocks, but I find them interesting subjects for photography......
I have been taking my camera almost everywhere!
Be sure to stay tuned, because we have another photoshow coming up this week of a recent home photo shoot!
And I still like horses, from a distance that is......
This one grazes on the edge of our property, so it's like having one without all the maintenance.

So, how is your summer going?

Little Rhody!!

We receive so many requests....
"What do you have that is made in RI?"

So, we have been working hard at increasing our RI gourmet selection!
How about some RI Red Hot Sauce,
Salt Water Taffy,
RI Honey made by own own resident bees,
RI made Biscotti (aka one of Oprah's favorites!)
or some RI Maple Syrup?

Be sure to check out our new

Rhode Island Cookbook!

Make up some tasty Stuffed Quahogs or some Chili Sauce this weekend!
This is a great gift for a native Rhode Islander now living elsewhere....poor things.
Plus, we've ordered lots of items that you would consider as souvenirs like key rings, spoons, and magnets and local post cards!
Looking for more than a trinket?
And now we also have soy candles
featuring the Brown & Hopkins logo!

As I was doing some research ( aka surfing the Internet),

I stumbled upon a "wicked" good website!

If you are a native Rhode Islander, you will enjoy the many trips down memory lane featured on it. Mine is posted on page 12 of http://www.pagesintime.com/ri/memories.html The music takes you back to the drive-in, the car hops, the sock hops......enjoy!

It's Ancient, but It's Not Too Horrible!

I am speaking about the
82nd Ancient & Horribles Parade,
held each year in Chepachet
on the Fourth of July at 4pm!!!! Nothing is sacred as Glocester locals spoof local and national politics during the famous Ancients and Horribles Parade on the Fourth of July. The parade first wound its way down Main Street in Chepachet in 1926 and, with the help of many dedicated volunteers, has continued to delight Glocester residents (and many others) each and every year since.

I can only imagine what folks will get creative with this year!

It is a fun time for all!
We'll see you at the candy counter from
2pm to 4pm on Friday, the 4th!
After that, we'll be watching the parade too!
Have a happy and safe weekend!

Step Back in Time

We had some visitors today.....
and they looked right at home in this old country store......
Everyday when I come to "work", I stop and think about all the folks of
the past who have walked these same floor boards over the past 199 years...

Big Bear, Kristel and Crow...Thanks for stopping by!

Brown & Hopkins Offers FREE Gift Wrapping...

At Brown & Hopkins, we NEVER charge you for gift wrapping.
It is just one of those things we offer our customers and we LOVE doing it....for FREE!
We received a "funny" phone message yesterday when we got into work on Tuesday...
It seems that a "gentleman" did some shopping on Sunday.
Our wonderful Angela proceeded to ask him if he needed anything gift wrapped.
He mentions in his phone message..."I was pleasantly surprised with her great attitude and said,' Of course...I would love it!'......but then this is where the phone message gets verrrryy interesting (Inspector Cluso voice)....
He then goes on to say that we "wacked him a buck-fifty each" for the gift wrapping, and that we failed to notify him of "this extra charge"......and that maybe if we would let the public know about our "gift wrapping charge", that maybe we "would be in business til 3009......." Can you just imagine how fluffy his feathers are with this comment??? GRRRR
After speaking to Angela, it seems that the "gentleman" must have forgotten that he purchased two bags of candy at "a buck-fifty each", in addition to the two gifts that were gift-wrapped (for free).
So the moral of the story is two-fold.......
1) Don't eat all your candy on the way home, and then inspect your receipt
and
2) Leave your name and number when leaving messages so we may return your phone call. In fact, we encourage you to let us know how we are doing (good or not so good).....we'll return all phone calls. Just like our caller, and all of our customers, I would also like Brown & Hopkins to be around in 3009, so my grandchildrens' grandchildren can buy their own little brown bag of candy.......
Thanks goes out to everyone who visited us over the weekend! The weather cooperated and it was a fun festive weekend! Lots of happy shoppers turned out for the big sidewalk sale.....over 500 satisfied customers! Well maybe 499....

OH, and by the way, we have some great mark downs on some of our curtains this week! Hurry in for the best selection!

Marlie Loves Our Penny Candy Counter!

These photos were sent in by Marlie's Mom, Jill!
Aren't they great?!
Someone mentioned the wax lips in our candy contest,

and Marlie looks marvelous in red.....don't ya think?

Keep those comments coming!

Please scroll down to the Crazy for Candy Contest post,

and hit the word "comments" and you will be brought to the section
where you may tell us a happy candy memory!

CONTEST: Crazy For Candy!

The best selection of old fashioned candy can be found at Brown & Hopkins! Mary janes, squirrel nuts, Boston Baked Beans, red licorice wheels, rock candy, smarties, fire balls, flying saucers, pecan rolls, candy sticks, root beer barrels, ginger drops, candy necklaces, and even Sen Sen.....Do you remember that?????

Everyone that knows me.....

knows I love....no make that looooooooooove CANDY!!
I have always had a sweet tooth......

and I love....in no particular order...

sour watermelons,

gummi worms,

chocolate covered gummi bears (yup, that's right!),
red licorice,

black licorice,

coconut slices......

and dark chocolate covered caramels!!!

And when I look at these babies, I think of that hilarious I Love Lucy episode where she is working at the out of control candy assembly line......I would have loved that job!!!!

But instead...I love my job at Brown & Hopkins!
And ordering the candy is part of my job.....which is a good thing...
Until I make a mistake and we end up with 2000 sheets of candy buttons!!!!!
We thought we could maybe make a chain of candy buttons and stretch it from one end of the state to the other.......

Thank goodness I don't particularly loooooove candy buttons!
But, I do loooooooove these.........

oh, that's right....I have to tell you about the contest!
What is your favorite candy, or candy memory?
That's it, just leave a comment and tell us a little candy story!

We will randomly choose a winner, and the prize is......a huge jar of old fashioned candy!!

Contest Ends June 1 at 5pm!
Just a reminder.....when you post a comment,
just leave your first name, last initial, and your town......
Please.....NO email addresses....
To find out if you are the winner,
just go to this post after 5pm on June 1....
and the winners name will be in a comment!
Instructions will follow.....
Good luck...and Happy Memories!

Aren't All Eggs Hard Boiled?

Happy Easter Everyone!
I wanted to share an amusing story from days gone by....
One morning, my footie pajama wearing son,
then just 3 years old, (he's now 19!)
got out of bed earlier than usual.....
(I was still just waking up).
As I lay in bed,
I hear Sam say from the kitchen...."Oh, no.....",

then I hear, "Ut Oh..."

It was then that I walk into the kitchen
and discover my little Sam

helping himself to what he thinks are hard boiled eggs.

He had cracked two eggs by this time
and was on to his third when I snapped these photos. It's one of those memories that makes you smile.
My kids love hearing about the silly
and innocent things they did when they were little.
These realistic eggs (just $1.95 each)
that we sell in the shop were recently purchased
by a woman as a joke for her son....
She was going to mix them in with her eggs in
her fridge. That is how real they look!
We think they look cute in our little egg baskets.
We hope your Easter baskets were over flowing,

and if not, we are offering
15% off everything*
that you can fit
in one of our shopping baskets
from Monday, March 24th thru Thursday, March 27th!!!!

*very few exclusions