GOLDIE HAWN…………………..IN ACTION!TIME TO FLY THE COOP GIRLS……………………..
TIME TO SAY GOOD~BYE……………AGENT FORTY~THREE!
I ADORE YOU………..
HEN HOUSE 20 LAFAYETTE CIRCLE LAFAYETTE,CALIFORNIA 94549.
WE will be OPEN on Monday, Tuesday ,Wednesday,and FRIDAY.Our very last day is SATURDAY!The merchandise is dwindling………….the TADAH is definitely gone…………our desk is FOR SALE………..and just about everything else.Even the light fixtures you all wanted so bad years ago……………I have convinced the ITALIAN HUSBAND that a container isNOT needed but perhaps a storage unit is required!We shall see…………I will make the decision on TUESDAY!I like the sound of GOING, GOING, GONE…………better!
Both my SONS have returned home after 7 years and 5 years…………….I just learned that this is the BOOMERANG generation.So,I truly believe everything happens for a reason………..I need to be home now to cook and clean and Yell just a wee bit to keep some order!I have missed that MESS, so much and honestly my MESS right now at HOME is bigger then theirs!Do you know I have one SON that cooks dinner for us when I ask and another that offers to HELP his MOTHER move items……..and make deliveries.Maybe I did something right after all…………….this will be fun……………….RIGHT?
Penelope Bianchi says
Contessa! You did everything right! You raised wonderful boys! I know you (in real life); not only “virtually”!
And I knew and loved your “Auntie Mame” here right down the street!
You have wonderful instincts; and a wonderful husband and two wonderful sons!
This is a great story! Please keep telling it!!
Penelope
La Contessa says
Thank ~ You Penelope……..you have put a smile on my face.You also will be happy to know I’m headed to PASADENA soon!!!!!!!I will give you a full report!Any suggestion as to where we should dine?
XXX
Mala says
You did it ALL right… You’re a great mother!!!
La Contessa says
MALA!
I have a book for YOU!MY GREEK LIFE will bring it soon.Thank You for your opinion of me!GREAT???Thats a BIG word……..!!!
XXX
Penelope Bianchi says
Where are those birds???
YIKES!!!
La Contessa says
THAT BIRD and others are at SAFARI WEST in SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA.This gal, named after the actress escaped on the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE as she was being transported North!She even snooped around our jeep a bit……….of course I wanted to take her home with all the other animals………Look the place up. Might be a fun place to go when you visit your Brother-in -Law??We slept in tents!Tents with the most beautiful bathroom!A branch holds the light!Our tent over looked the lake with one black swan and many ducklings!Right up your alley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
xoxox
Oneyda Perez says
As always the Contessa makes my day. I wish you well!
La Contessa says
Oneyda,
I too wish you well and hope you make it back to the BAY AREA soon!All my BEST!
Katharine says
My goodness, it’s the end of an era !! The Bay Area won’t be the same without the Hen House. Getting back to tending the family will be a comfortable transition before you start doing Contessa Vintage Tours to Europe !! 🙂
contessa says
I LIKE THAT IDEA………..VINTAGE as in me!!!Start making a list of things to do and places that are a MUST SEE!
If any of you are heading to ITALY this summer this is your GAL to pick you up and drive you around TUSCANY or the AMALFI COAST!She is an AMERICAN from CALIFORNIA and has lived in FLORENCE longer then she has lived in the STATES!This is your GO TO GAL!Send me a message and I will give out her e-mail address!
XOXOOXOX
khamly says
hi there! just bought a desk from you today! i bought it for my niece who loves vintage furniture (she’s 11). i am sure it will make her summer when she’s sees it! sorry to see the hen house go. i’ll probably stop in one more time before you really close the coop and possibly possibly buy something else! will read your blog and look forward to seeing what you are up to next. best wishes!!! khamly
contessa says
THANK ~ YOU KHAMLY………..I hope YOU do stop one more time!Things are going but I keep pulling out new stuff from the back!
Jane Audrey says
How I wish I had one more chance to browse the treasures of the Hen House before the doors close for one last time – speaking of which even they – the doors had charm and character as I remember one day being left to close the store for my dear friend and creator of the Hen House – Contessa Divino – “All you need to do to ensure the door shuts and the lock slips into place is to lift it here, wiggle it there and then hit the lock with the hammer and Voila it will close” – of course I use creative license here but it was something along those lines and somehow I managed to get those old doors locked and secure. It was the ultimate for me to work “at the coop” on a couple of occasions as it gave me the chance to inspect every delightful detail at my leisure!
I had many lovely conversations with Elizabeth on my first few visits to the Hen House but our friendship was sealed when I delivered a freshly picked bunch of roses from my garden knowing she was someone who would truly appreciate the stunning pink roses the size of bread and butter plates.Little did I realise I had delivered them on May Day one of Elizabeths favourite days.
I would often head to downtown Lafayette from Walnut Creek telling my family I was going to Trader Joes and find myself pulling into the Hen House car park thinking just 5 minutes. I would skip in the back door with such a wonderful feeling of excited anticipation and 5 minutes would become 1/2 hour without a second thought!!!
Thank God for the large brown paper bags from Trader Joes that allowed me to quietly bring my treasured finds into the house undetected!!! Not so with a favourite purchase – a concrete rooster that was loaded into the boot of the 66 Mustang by the Contessa and I – so large I had to declare him! He happily resided in the garden in our garden in Walnut Creek but now sits proudly upon my kitchen bench in Melbourne Australia as he would in Elizabeths home – Casa Magnifica.
I met a wonderful friend through the Hen House and I am not the only one. Elizabeths open warmth and genuine interest in people is so special and unique these days as I’m sure so many who have had the pleasure of the Hen House experience would agree. From our initial meeting our friendship has grown to include many adventures, birthday celebrations and a surprise trip by the Contessa and another darling friend to my home town of Melbourne . Even here she made quite an impression and has since had Australian friends and their children to stay.
I can safely say there is a Hen House find in every room in my home and I can still recall the thrill of the find of each.
There is no doubt Lafayette is losing a charming store with the closing of the Hen House and the sign with the delightful words “Open Most Days ” no longer applicable but there is no doubt the Contessa’s creative spirit will appear in another wonderful way.
I am thinking of you Elizabeth.
With love Jane Audreyxoxo
contessa says
DEAR DEAR JANE AUDREY!
This brought real tears to my eyes first when I saw the length of the comment, second when I actually read it!I have read it three times now because I keep missing words because of my tears!!!After scolding YOU for never leaving a comment this takes THE CAKE!I can recall telling you about the door……..love the hammer part and the funny thing is today thats just about true!I also, can recall you saying I told them I was going to TRADER JOES, I best get going and there we would be not wanting the moments to end!MAY DAY!You mean to tell me that first bouquet you did not know it was MAY DAY? I always thought you had known!Dear Reader,I want you know there were other MAY DAY bouquets delivered by “OUR” MILKMAN!You see we shared a MILKMAN who was SWISS and well one fine day my husband answers the doorbell to him in his beautiful blue shirt holding the MOST colorful BOUQUET…….the MILKMAN is fast to say this is from the LADY ON NEWELL STREET!!!!!!!!!!!We have had some special times……..and there will be more!MANY MORE I PROMISE!I best stop tearing up and writing and get myself to the coop as I have clients picking up large items today.You are a TREASURE and I adore YOU JANE AUDREY……….xoxoxo
Penelope Bianchi says
I have met (and of course, love Elizabeth!!) I never have seen this store!
EEEK!!
This is a real loss! I have read all the comments! This is so, so SAD!!
Perhaps you will open another! This is my favorite thing about “blogs”!
they bring together “like-minded” people…..but particularly “like-minded people”!!
Penelope
Heather in Arles says
I am sending love and strength to you as you end your run at Hen House–what happiness lies ahead at home! I know it…you are such a great Mom–they are lucky, lucky to have been born by you.
xo
H
contessa says
I thank ~ YOU HEATHER……….and you only know me from the blog world!That means so much to me.
xoxoxo
sue says
Hello…. see..I made it !!!…I’ve loved receiving your newsletters..cheered up many a dull work- day.. and just found it all so nostalgic, and I MUST say ..how super it is have met up again after all these years.. you look great and your enthusiasm is really infectious ..love it..I’ll Always remember you stopping to pick up discarded wine demigiani when you were living in Florence … and other stuff !!!! you had such an eye ..
Hope to see u in Venice !!Would be wild to have a meetup with our friends. Take care, baci + abbracci, Sue
contessa says
Oh Sue,
I still have those old DEMIGIANI in my garden!I have looked at them many times and think I really should sell them(They are very HOT here in AMERICA now!)but NO!I cannot do it such fond memories!DUMPSTER DIVING as they say………..!!My Italian family probably horrified by my sounds of,”STOP,did you see those bottles!”GO BACK!!!!!!!!!!!I have to say those ITALIAN years were some of the BEST years of my LIFE!I cherish all of you and those memories……………UNTIL VENICE!We shall make some more memories!VA BENE??
XOXOXO
Jody Brettkelly says
Oh my gosh _ I’ve got to run in there toot sweet, I am just about to head to Sonoma so am panicked – will I get there???/ I can’t believe yo are closing down your store – I did not realise that!!!!! Where was I when the memo got send out? You will enjoy having your boys home so much
Weezi says
All you lucky shoppers…..I never had the chance to visit my sister-in-law’s wonderful shop as I live all the way across the USA. Sounds like 12 years not only brought you sales but something even more precious…..all these treasured friends that probably won’t go away when the doors “hanno chiuso”!!!!
contessa says
I HOPE NOT!
MA CHE BRAVA TUA ITALIANA…………..XXX
Diane says
Mama, I hope you keep coming back to the feelings and imagery captured in this blog to remember what a magical place you created in Hen House. Like Alice stepping through the looking glass. . . Long after that lovely old house topples over, there will still be those young and old who will recount their wanderings through the layers of time, whimsy and roses. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous world that has spawned so many memories and dreams. I’m feel so lucky to live in your shadow down the street. . . thank you for the treasures!
contessa says
Tis a good diary of sorts………this web-site/Blog!………………thank ~ YOU for being down the street!
XOXOXO
Jill Kamler says
Here’s to the beginning of a new era!
Love,
Jill
contessa says
OKEY~DOKEY!!!!!!!!!
Moving slowly today as I finished moving stuff out last night!Tis done………all gone,no more.
maria at inredningsvis says
I LOVE your blog:) You seem to be an amazing woman with so much lifes spirit an talant.
Check out my blog….If you want to see a beautiful Swedish country styled house:)
have a great week dear
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(sweden)
contessa says
MARIA,
THANK YOU!I will go now for a viewing of your blog!Any SWEDISH country home would be a feast for my eyes! xxx