<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"  Anna is my friend and a doting mother to two young women.  She is sentimental and generous, and sprinkles herself with glitter. I decided to feature her in my first &amp;quot;countdown to mother&amp;#039;s day&amp;quot; blog series because of all that, plus because she collects all those pretty feminine things-   perfume, flowers, picture frames, lingerie, and anything sparkly -- that often make good presents for moms and grandmoms. We met at Cottage Rose, the consignment/vintage shop she and her sister Mary owned. The sisters went into business together after their mother passed away. They realized that life was short and precious, and it was time to start living their dream.  As I got to know Anna, I made my way inside her house and was completely blown away by her massive collection of roses-themed stuff.   Her collections appeared in the April 06 issue, &amp;quot;Everything&amp;#039;s Coming Up Roses.&amp;quot; We had a little celebration party at the shop. I miss Anna in my life just down the road. She has moved away to Cary, North Carolina, a town that often shows up on &amp;quot;best place to live&amp;quot; lists. After 30 years of living the Florida lifestyle, she purchased $1,000 in bubble wrap, and redistributed her collections in her new home.  She gave up the vivid floral wallpaper, and now relies on painted woodwork to make her stash pop.  Her husband Ralph, a retired fire department captain, appreciates the difference, and has gotten into gardening.  On my drive up to North Carolina recently, I was headed to Anna&amp;#039;s house for a home-cooked meal (she is an awesome cook) and a sleepover. My plans, sadly, were derailed courtesy of a wild and crazy weather system. So I spent the night alone in a Hampton Inn with Ruby Tuesday Take out.  Anna is thrilled with her new world. She and her sister Mary rent space in the K&amp;amp;amp;B Consignment Store in Fuquay-Varina, a nearby town. Anna says, &amp;quot;Everyone loves our decorating and our stuff. We go down a few days a week\u2026but it gives me the freedom to stay home and play in the garden and have tea parties with my friends!&amp;quot;  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.countryliving.com/life/a2279/about-anna/>