Today is a lot of things to many but to our family first and foremost it’s a day of celebration - a day of Birthdays for both my Mother in Law and Brother in Law. What are the odds of having a child on own your birthday!?! Here’s a bit about the lovely lady I’m so fortunate to call mom Marge King-Porter.

Marge is wildly creative. I always say when describing her SHE is the original Martha. Marge knows antiques, baking, cooking, decorating, gardening, sewing and how to wallpaper!

She’s prepared countless wonderful meals and birthday treats over the years. She’s a wonderful grandmother who always has something special for our son - when he was little it was a toy as he’s gotten older a special tasty. When we moved into the Chalet she sewed curtains for us. She has an incredible eye for design and details. She loves decorating and still ardently adds pieces and tweaks the design of her home. Until I met Marge I’d never met someone who had a different Christmas theme every year. For the last 26 years I’ve been the beneficiary of lovely christmas decor and ribbons. For many years she gifted me brand new olive green wired ribbon for my christmas packaging. Because unlike Marge I pretty much do the same thing every Christmas - and use the same ribbon. We’ve antiqued together over the years and she was so helpful with the search for a dresser for my husband. An antique we located in downtown Warwick of course!

Images from her youth starting at age 10 month.

Celebrating her birthday holding her grandson in 2011 and 2012.

Wonderful captures over the years.

Her life is centered in the Village of Warwick, NY. She’s a little over an hour from us. In the past she owned and operated antique stores in New Jersey and The (now closed) Clock Tower Antiques Center on Main Street for 20 years. She has frequently decorated homes as well as having her own home on Winding Through Warwick a holiday home tour that benefits the local St. Anthony’s Hospital. She has been involved with Warwick Applefest for many years - helping with various duties from T-shirt Design to assisting some of the 30,000 visitors that attend this annual event the first Sunday in October from the Chamber of Commerce booth.

at the Ribbon Cutting for Stage n Sell 2016

She specializes in holiday and seasonal decorating and has lent her hands and talent to Warwick in Bloom as well as designing window displays for local shops in Warwick.

For a few years starting in 2016 Marge was a partner in two different home staging, estate sale and decluttering businesses. Stage N Sell and Green Mountain Services - she successfully brought her antiques expertise, eye for design and organizational skills to these ventures.

March 2015 Member of Warwick Valley Rotary

A member of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club she was named an Outstanding Community Service winner in 2018 for her many years of local volunteer work.

Being presented her outstanding Community Service award 2018

Sunset at Winslow Benefit Committee Members 2020

Marge chaired the auction activities for Sunset at Winslow a gala in 2020 with proceeds to benefiting Winslow’s Therapeutic Riding Center and the Warwick Valley Humane Society.

our sons first holy communion May 19, 2019 Me, Liam, Marge, Steven, Stan and Greg.

Marge is from Philadelphia and always loves seeing the mummers in Ocean City, NJ

My Mother in Law has many talents but above all is her decorators eye.

Thanksgiving 2023

Christmas 2023

Christmas from a few years ago.

Cheers to 89!

Wishing you joy and much love. Enjoy your flowers from Corwin.

To see more of my Marge’s home click and read: Dynamic Dwelling

Til next time friends be well and I’ll see you on Instagram.

When I looked up the word Birthday the title words are just a few that popped up. Today I’m remembering my mom Rita on what would be her 95th birthday!

Rita taught me what a well-decorated home was. How the right accessories, art and plants transform a space. That a small lamp placed anywhere is always a yes. How to group family photographs enmasse on tables or a wall gallery style. How to turn simple fabric into a curtain swag and the immense enjoyment of shelter magazines. She really had an incredible eye.

I’m tickled to have several inherited pieces here in the Chalet.

Rita in my childhood home hosting a bridal shower for my cousin Sharon 1982

She was a delightful hostess and adored welcoming friends for any occasion. I learned that a meal doesn’t need to be complicated to be the best. She prepared the very best roast beef and her chocolate syrup recipe is fantastic. I was taught how to set an elegant table. How to pick greenery from the yard for an arrangement.

“Rita taught me to appreciate beauty. ”

My love of reading is due to her and our weekly library visits.

Before marrying Daddy she modeled and understood jewelry and shoes elevate any outfit. That you should always have these staples in your wardrobe: A basic black dress that can be worn year round, lined wool pants, leather gloves, a merino wool sweater and scarves.

All things I hold dear I learned from her and I count myself blessed she was my sweet, funny and beautiful mom.

This painting by James Jebusa Shannon has for years held a special place in my heart. It reminded my sister of Mommy, she and I. Our mom had a copy of it.