Ebenezer's - A Gem In a Perfect Setting

I have been antique shopping at Ebenezer's Gift House on Prospect Avenue in Clarendon Hills, Illinois for many years, but I never took the time to really look at those magnificent window displays, the vignettes throughout the store or Catherine the owner, also an author and illustrator of children's books.

Ebenezer's is located on 14 South Prospect Avenue in Clarendon Hills, Illinois.  It is convenient to the Burlington train from Chicago about twenty miles west of the city.  http://www.ebenezers-gifts.com/

I know, you are going to say this is not your typical suburban window display - no it is New York!  Kitty's son David (who is a professional staging designer) comes in from New York several times per year to do the window displays and stage the rest of the store.

This is the skirt of bows on the lady above, taken from the front window because I was fearful I would break something if I tried to get into the window to take the picture, so I chanced this side shot.

Another part of that wonderful front display window.  I had to take it through the glass because I was concerned about walking around in the very small space in front of the glass.

Please join me on this trip through Catherine's (Kitty's) establishment because it is quite a journey of the old and new all blended into a delightful experience.

This is the other side of the front window with a nativity scene set up on an antique leaded glass window surrounded by figurines.

The building is storefront on the ground floor with two wonderful vintage apartments on the second floor, all decorated in a timeless fashion to display the wonderful antique offerings.

A daily treat or Advent Tree for the month of December

Santas, snowmen, bears - they are everywhere!

This is the candy cane Christmas table with candy canes put over the side of vintage bowls and peppermints in the center with red candles.

You can see how striking this is with a down shot of the table.

This is the Depression Glass Room (tucked out of the way in a long open closet) with all of those wonderful colors of the era.

One of many trees decorated for Christmas

The Party Table

A beautiful dining table set with Gorham China

Green Depression Glass

A Vintage Kitchen

The kitchen Christmas tree

                                

    The two bedrooms in the larger apartment are filled with treasures of the past.

   There are many dresser sets in porcelain, celluloid and Bakelite.

This was my favorite room because it is so unusual.  Catherine's son David stripped off random pieces of the wallpaper that had been applied through the years.  It was like a decor timeline!

The kitchen in the smaller apartment with vintage aprons and tablecloths

Kitty took over another space next door with larger furniture, dining room sets, buffets, etc.  Let's take a look:

My daughter-in-law and I really liked these green leaf trees.

The front window of the adjacent shop

What a great tree with the peacock

Such a creative display on an old hall tree!

A Thanksgiving Table

The Children's Room  with hand painted furniture and handmade stuffed toys

Handmade Baby items

Enchanting selections of children's toys and books

There is so much to see in this shop that it is something to experience over and over. 

David and his mother have made this into an exciting and unusual shop in the heart of suburbia.  Daughter Cathy does the website, truly a family affair.

Around The Garden

I don't think I ever realized I still had a garden at this time of year, but I do!  It is not the riot of color that I have in the spring and summer, but it is a relaxing blend of fall hues with a pop of color here and there.  I think it actually helps us transition without a shock to the lack of growth many of us experience during the winter.

This is Geranium Magnificum.  Many of the perennial geraniums turn red in the fall.

Italian Parsley is one of the few things left in the veggie garden.  It will live through everything but a very deep frost.  Some people cover them with bushel baskets and say they live all through the winter.  I might try this because I love fresh parsley.

I do prefer Curly Parsley on Parslied Potatoes.

I have chives still left and some small onion sets from the seed that are alive and will live through the winter to become strong first onions in the spring.

Henryi, goodbye already, I can't believe you are still putting out blooms on the back arbor!

Pansies in the shed hayracks

Great color, never have seen this sold separately, just in mixed containers

I did a little Terry Evans experiment, holding the camera at my waist for this shot of my daylilies.  I think it works, I have a new perspective of dying leaves.

This is Panicum Northwind, don't think I have ever noticed the little seed heads, but I got so close with the camera I couldn't help but notice.

I will definitely use some of the Limelight Hydrangeas in my holiday decorating.

Sweet Woodruff, extra thick and green this year

Miscanthus Udine, Oh how I hate to cut this down, but it will flop in the snow and be very difficult to handle in the spring.

Halcyon Hosta and PJM Rhododendron, another Terry Evans technique photo from the waist looking down.

A last look at the fully opened cabbages and the totally blooming pansies and kale.  I will be pulling them out while it is still somewhat warm so that the soil doesn't freeze and make it impossible to put in my holiday greens.

I have never had Lobelia last this long into the fall but it is still blooming in with the cabbages.

I don't know what we would do without all of the colorful fall plants.  I have appreciated the cabbages more than ever this year with their slow opening as the weather changes, only sorry I can't keep them longer, because they must make room for the greens of winter.

Okay Rainbow, goodbye already!

Have a wonderful fall weekend everyone!