Mother's Silver

My sister sent me a little gift today. Half of our mother's silverware. When my mother passed away several years ago, she had very little to leave to her only two children. But then, we didn't expect anything... she didn't raise us, and we hardly knew her. So this gift from my sister comes to me because my sister wanted me to have it... and I will cherish it because it came from her...

The pattern is a Reed Barton pattern, but I don't know it's name... yet.

It is pretty, with roses and an unusual
curl at the base of the handles. Do YOU know this pattern?

Tarnished and uncared for....
Not surprising, all things considered...
down here in French Lique...

update! Thanks to Mimi at In the Middle of Nowhere, I have the pattern name:

Discontinued Pattern: CLASSIC ROSE (STERLING, 1954, MONOGRAMS) by REED & BARTON SILVER, Sterling Pattern #: 1954
My parents were married in 1954 and I was born in December of that same year. Now we know... this was my mother's bridal silver.

"and bring some for the big kids too!"

I was reading through some older posts today, from previous years, and ran across this one from Thanksgiving 2008. We drove to Dallas for Thanksgiving last year; this year we'll be driving 1/2-mile to Ricky's daughter's house. I think I'll still make "the recipe" and take it with me... for the big kids.

The Post from November, 2008...

I had to go to the grocery store this morning. I've decided to make Marshmallow Treats for my grandkiddos, for Thanksgiving. I called all 3 of my adult daughters this morning for various getting it together reasons... and all 3 told me the same thing when I told them of my culinary surprise... "bring enough for the big kiddos too!" So off I went to the store at 7:30am, to beat the crowds (which I did).

I like using the "original brand name" cereal, not the store brand. I've found that the original is crispier and tastier... and heck, I only make the treats once or twice a year. When I found the "brand name" cereal, it didn't have the recipe on the box. (I later found that Rice Krispies puts the recipe on the inside of the box! Go figure?) The store brand did, but I didn't want that cereal. I knew what the ingredients were: puff rice cereal, marshmallows, butter... okay... got those... but no recipe.

Thank the Lord and Al Gore for the internet! I found the recipe and printed it for future use. So here dear friends, is a link to "The Original" recipe for marshmallow treats. Use it in good health!

and yes... Still thinking about food down here in French Lique...

Cool Nights... Candle Light...

I love when the time changes and we get that hour back that we lose in the spring... getting the hour back also means... getting cooler weather... leaves falling.... nightfall coming a little earlier each evening... Welcome Autumn... cool nights... candle light...

Down here in French Lique...

These boots are made for walkin'... ropin'... ridin'...

I'm joining Deb, the Ladybug from Texas, for her Friday boot party... All Deb wants is for you to post a photo(s) of your favorite boots... so here's mine... well worn, broken-in cowgirl boots...

it's hard to live in Texas and not own a pair or two...

just like this great photo from Pioneer Woman...

and this will be my new pair of boots... I'm givin' them to myself for Christmas from Crow's Nest Trading Company... I love these boots!
So put on your boots gals... and join in with Deb's Boot Party.. just like me, down here in French Lique!

A Repost and Credit Where Credit is Due...

Metamorphosis Monday is hosted by one of my favorite decorating bloggers, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch... If you'd like to see more of Metamorphosis Monday participants, link here to visit Between Naps on the Porch...
If you think you've seen this post before... you have. Yesterday while searching on the internet for another inspiration... I ran across the inspriation for my book Metamorphosis and wanted to give credit where the credit is due... read on...

Original Post
In the beginning, my books were crammed into this little flimsy bookcase and one other similar in my office... the books also resided on the floor, stacked in piles around the room, in the closet... well, you get the idea... though they were loved, they were certainly not cared for...

So, the first step... get the books to the dining room table and sort them... first by subject matter and then by size... and here they stayed for a couple of weeks...
until Ricky put my two large bookcases together... purchased at Target on sale for $80 each... a good buy considering the alternatives... Then I put the books on the bookcase in similar order as they were on the dining table... awaiting their next transformation...
I found a lovely idea in one of the many decorating and organizing magazines I consume each month. For the life of me I can't find the original inspiration; but when I do I will certainly give them credit here... In the meantime, just know that I was inspired by someone else's work...

UPDATE: I found my original inspiration... FLN Sarah Richardson's Room Service in an episode titled Moment's Notice... Now you can see what I saw... and give credit where credit is due... thanks Sarah... you're an inspiration!

I have found that in decorating, like the rest of my life, I'm very eclectic. In the bedroom, I like the serenity of Traditional; but in my pink bedroom, I like Shabby French...

In my office, I tend to lean more toward Traditional with a little French flair, lots of clean lines and organization... and so...

The book project.

You're going to need one of those craft cutting sheets made for a rotary cutter, a rotary cutter, a long straight edge... mine is a metal yardstick... and vellum by the roll. Oh, and of course, some books... lots and lots of books...
I found it easiest to measure the book's dust jacket, and then stick with the same size book when cutting the vellum...
be careful cutting... those rotary cutters are sharp!
I managed to get a little less than half of the books covered before I ran out of the two rolls of vellum. This is going to be a little more expensive than I had originally thought... but look!
Pretty books, all covered in vellum... I can still read most of the titles, but the books... they look so pretty and organized... I like this... I really really like this!
Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday... good thing.. that means I don't feel compelled to run into town and buy more rolls of vellum! It can wait a few days... There is much more to be done in getting my office redecorate/declutter project finished... down here in French Lique!

It's Time... Again...

I spent most of the afternoon today, straightening and re-organizing my home office. I started my office redo back in February... but then things got in the way... I got sidetracked... I think Candy calls it EDG...

Easily Distracted Gal... Yep, I'm one too.

I realized today that it's time for a Blogging Break... I know I just got off one... but it's a lot like a diet... easy to start... hard to continue...

All three of the clocks in my office are set at different times... and not on purpose. This is telling me something... time for a break... time to focus...

So, while I've pre-written a couple of posts for upcoming Blog parties...
Today I begin a Blog Break... Another one...

Time to reset... relax... recharge...

Down here in French Lique...

Jumping on the Bandwagon

When a book or series of books becomes so popular as to cause a virtual frenzy, I try to stay away... think Harry Potter... but peer pressure (every one discussing the book they've read) eventually draws me in... I admit to having read the entire Harry Potter Series to date...

Now enter Twilight. I know... I know... I have fought the raging river of popularity for 3-years...but was finally pulled under... I found the first book in the series at a thrift store... I have difficulty passing up a good bargain on a book...

Now, perhaps, you're wondering what I think about this book. I understand the fervor over Twilight. It's a good story, well told by an author, Stephenie Meyer, that knows how to write. Writing in a first person narrative, Ms. Meyer does a wonderful job describing and defining her characters. Now, while some of the story is way out there (it is a fantasy love story about a vampire), it's spirits you along with the characters... mainly Bella (from whose perspective we read) and Edward, her vampire Romeo.

A good fairytale fantasy for sophisticated (mature) readers...

Enjoying the fairytale, down here in French Lique...

Butterflies Are Free...

I've been trying, for a week, to get a good photo of the butterflies migrating to Mexico via south Texas... It's hard to show you what a butterfly migration looks like and feels like. Since I've been unsuccessful at my photography venture, I'll show you this...

This map shows the migration north and south of the Monarch Butterfly... and there ya go... right through south Texas and back...

and this is one photographers view, not mine, because I don't have the kind of camera it takes to get a photo like this...

There are literally millions of butterflies of all species that take this route... but how does it feel? It feels like Oz... when I walk outside butterflies are everywhere: in the trees, on the sidewalks, in the grass... and when you walk, they flutter around you... all around you. Butterflies land on your clothes, your face, your hair... It makes you feel like you're in a fantasy, and I love it.

I wish I could share the butterfly fantasy with you... down here in French Lique...

A Pink Birthday Party, Happy Birthday Panda

It's time for Pink Saturday at Miss Beverly's How Sweet the Sound. When you finish reading here... pop back over and read more Pink Saturday Posts! A girl has got to have her PINK!

Last weekend was the Panda's 7th Birthday! Her super Mommy, my oldest daughter, took the Panda and her 3 very best gal pals for a pee-wee spa day... and boy did they have fun being all grown up!

The before treatment photo... they're so cute!

The toes... how cute... you may remember another Pink Saturday Post where the Panda did her own Mani-Pedi here...
and pink ponies... with glitter of course!
Then you must have some pink stars on the cheeks... (please note the Hello Kitty tee...of course!)
Once all the girls were done... there had to be a pink runway show.. right!
oh the little Divas!
and then there was birthday cake with all the Pink trimmings...
Then back home in the Panda's Pink room... all this from a Mommy who once told me... I'll never let a daughter of mine wear pink! (I always knew she would!)

Happy Birthday sweet Panda. Grandma and Grandpa love you very much, down here in French Lique!

Climate Change... Blog Action Day...

I decided to join in Blog Action Day today, because I think there is much to say about today's subject... Climate Change.

If you check my reading list, you might find a few odd books on that list. These books might seem to indicate, somewhat, that I'm a little bit of a science nerd... well, I have to admit that I am. Being a pseudo science nerd, I like doing my own research about things like climate change. I like to make up my own mind, and not just jump on the political left or right bandwagon...

Some of my research led me to this site... Climate Debate Daily. I like this site because it offers both sides of the proverbial debate.

Another site I like is Facts About Climate Change. This site is described as "Unbiased climate change information-an impact assessment scientist separates climate change facts from fiction".

Now here is what I know...

The current public concern regarding Climate Change is scientific theory. To understand the debate, you must first understand scientific theory... that is to say, do your homework.

People, especially those financially (and or politically) motivated, like to use scare tactics and/or aggressive arguments to get their point of view across and make you a believer.

and I also know...

Far too many of us are willing to listen and believe the side we want to believe. We often "drink the koolaide" without spending some of our own time and reading opposing sides of a debate.

There is no such thing as a "carbon offset". Don't be that gullible. If you sell something to someone that you didn't use, and then they use it... you haven't saved a dog-gone thing...

Take a little time today to do your own research if you're interested in the Climate Change Debate. I've given you a couple of resources... but there are hundreds, even thousands, out there... so Google till your hearts content!

Then go do something to make this world a better place for the generations to come, and have a beautiful Blog Action Day! I know we will, down here in French Lique.