What I learned from my Summer Bloggy Break

Dixie on the shore of North Lake Tahoe... August, 2009

As many of you know... I decided to take a summer bloggy break for the past few months. I still blogged... but not as often... I didn't host Wordless Wednesday... and rarely participated in the weekly Meme's... so how was it? Well, here's what I learned about myself... and this applies only to me; so if you read this post and see yourself... it is completely coincidental... I am writing about me and me only... k?

and Candy... sorry about all the words... you can just look at the picture if you like... ;)

Ahhhh vacation... it's a beautiful thing...

I learned that I don't like the responsibility of a weekly meme... so Heather has kindly accepted the responsibility of Wordless Wednesday... it is hers to manage and do with what ever she likes... now... I can sit back and be an occasional participant.

I learned that I like to occasionally participate in various meme's...and I like trying new ones... but I don't like feeling obligated to do them each and every week... If I have something to say or to show... I will... and if I don't... I won't.

I learned that its not necessary to leave a comment each and every time you visit someones blog... but you should do so every week or so... just to let them know you've stopped by.

I learned that I like being behind the camera much more than being in front of it. I also learned that I need a better camera to take the kind of photos I dream of taking.

I learned that I really enjoy reading Sally's book reviews, and that she has some great book giveaways, and its pretty easy to enter and win... opps! I might should have kept that one to myself?! I'm sending out a special thank you to Sally for providing me with such wonderful summer reading... I've enjoyed every word of each of the books I've "won"...

I've learned that sometimes I just like to look at the photos... and sometimes I like to read the stories of each blog post that I visit... and that I like to read funny and interesting stories about other peoples lives and families... but I also like hints, crafts, how-tos and great ideas...

I've learned that the more time you spend doing... the less time you have to write about it... and that's just fine with me....

I guess you could say, I learned a lot this summer... and one thing is for sure... I love to visit my bloggy friends... and I promise to visit you real soon...

until next time... from down here in French Lique...

(Part 3) A Wharf...well... sorta...

Okay... well, not the wharf you expected... somehow time just slips away when you're having fun... on Monday we had a toss-up... we'd run out of time and we had to decide if we wanted to go to the Winery(s) or go to San Francisco and Fisherman's Wharf... the wine country won... then on our way back, just outside of Truckee (our vacation home destination)... we noticed this...
Perfect picnic weather... but where to have a picnic... Oh... I know...

how about along the shores of North Lake Tahoe...

Ricky had never been to Lake Tahoe... so he was definately up for a picnic here!

and me... Dixie... I love the lake, the wind, the wine...

and a nice impromptu picnic dinner... all on the shores of one of the most beautiful natural lakes in the world... what a wonderful place to end a romantic vacation...

a wedding, a winery, a wharf...

and there you have it... the tale of a romantic California vacation. While we'll miss the cool mountain air in California, we're glad to be home, down here in French Lique...

(Part 2) A Winery...

California Wine Country.... Beautiful... I have to admit, I didn't do a very good job taking photos of the wine tasting experience... so you'll just have to trust me... it was wonderful!

California Wine Country... made me think of Italy... Acres and acres of grape vineyards, as far as the eye could see... the closer we got... the more beautiful...somebody had an artistic vision of the grape vine... First stop... Concannon Vineyard... in Livermore, California (thanks Natalie!)..! and winery... where Paul greeted us, and shared stories of the California Wine Country and it's history... and his knowledge of California wines...
for the $5 tasting fee... you get to keep your glass...
and we bought a bottle of Chardonnay...
then after finding that many of the wineries are only open on weekends... and we were there on Monday... we drove until we found Crooked Vine Winery... home of Stoney Ridge wine...
where Jeanne said we could take a picture of her behind... so I did... and while I didn't take many photos at Crooked Vine... we ended up buying so much wine, we had to have Jeanne ship it to us... via FedEx... a nice little service that we found all the California Wineries offer... the wine closet has been freshly stocked... thanks California!

The beautiful California Wine Country... I think I'll go back one day...

but today, I'm glad to be back in French Lique...

(Part 1) A Wedding....

This beautiful place is Webber Lake Ranch, California... in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains.

This is the place that my nephew, Joe, married his beautiful wife, Jen.

Jen started coming to Webber Lake when she was five. As far back as she can remember, Jen has dreamed of finding the love of her life, and marrying him here.

On Saturday, August 22nd, 2009... the little girl dreams came true. Jen and Joe were married here, with 250 of their closest friends and family looking on...

The white chairs all lined up, waiting for the guests arrival. Sitting amongst the pine and spruce... beside the lake... on a beautiful, sunny afternoon...There were 3 pretty little flower girls... the littlest, my great-niece Jocellynn Renae ... loved spreading the petals... she practiced several times before the ceremony began... and two handsome ring bearers... This little fellow, my great-nephew Ace, (who Ricky describes as one very happy "all boy" little boy) had a little trouble keeping clean and tidy while waiting for the wedding to start... but he did his best! and then they wed...
Could it be any better than this?
What a beautiful dream Jen shared with us all... Then, the reception in the woods... they arrived in style... to the tune of "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" by Kenny Chesney...The best wedding I've ever attended... the most fun... done just like Jen dreamed, just like Jen and Joe wanted... the perfect combination of traditional and rustic charm... Jen married Joe, the love of her life... at the place where she had always dreamed it would be...Happily Ever After...

hugs from French Lique...

ps... drop by on Thursday and Friday to see the Winery and the Wharf...

A Wedding, A Winery, A Wharf....

Ahhhhh Vacation... A Wedding.... My nephew marrying the love of his life in the mountains by a lake in California.... A Winery.... So while we're in California, we'll take a little side trip through Napa Wine Country....A Wharf.... and then follow our hearts to San Francisco and a visit to Fisherman's Wharf....
Looking forward to visiting family and friends, and spending some special time with my sweetie....

See ya soon! back here in French Lique!

Thrifty Thursday... Polishing the Vintage Silver and Putting it Away...

I'm joining Thrifty Thursdays for the first time... because this is just about the best Thrifty Bargain I've ever gotten... and for more Thrifty Thursdays visit Bloggeritaville Thrifty Thursdays here...

I'd been looking for a container to store some vintage silverware that I'd purchased while shopping Wimberley Trade Days with Candy back in March...

and yes... my favorite Thrifty Shopping Place, Goodwill had this little beauty.

A wonderful "tarnish proof" silverware chest! Yes, the price was right, just $3.99. The interior... perfection!

not a smudge, a tear, a stain... just perfect!

Medallion Guaranteed!

So I polished up my vintage silver, just as Bill at Affordable Accoutrements advised. Then I placed it carefully in my new silverware chest.

and there is plenty of room for more... I just have 4-place settings of this beautiful 1947 Rogers Ancestral Pattern Silver...

The perfect place to use my beautiful vintage silver is on a sunny tablescape on the porch.. with my vintage Syracuse Coralbel Pattern China...
So I'm joining in Susan's Tablescape Thursday...

a close up of the 1947 Rogers Ancestral Pattern... I think it's beautiful. I paid about $50 for the 29 pieces.

and it looks so pretty on the porch...

with all things pink and vintage..

Thanks for the inspiration down here in French Lique...

Second Time Around... A Tricycle Gets New Life!

Secondhand treasures are my favorite kind. Diane, at A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words, likes to blog about secondhand treasures every Tuesday in her Second Time Around Meme... Today, I'm joining in and sharing one of my favorite "seconds"... Join Diane and see more found treasures...

Several years ago I found this little rusty tricycle at a garage sale for only $5. I bought it because it reminded me of my grandson, Little Einstein. Then, a few weeks ago, I found this pretty little basket at Goodwill for 49-cents. I spray painted the basket white and then decided... to add some daises left over from another project... and some ribbon so I could tie it to the handlebars of my little rusty tricycle...

It's now in my booth at Blue Hills... and if someone doesn't buy it soon, my daughter says she has "dibs" on it... I think I'm feelin' a house warming present comin' on!

a little tricycle... now a piece of art... on it's second time around...

down here in French Lique...

Dreaming of a Mountain Top and a Cool Lake... Ah... Vacation...

It's been a really really hot summer here in South Texas... In fact, officially the hottest summer on record... more days at 100+ degrees than any year, (46 so far and still counting). We usually have 5-10 days like the 46 we've had so far this summer. It's hot. Have I mentioned how much I dislike the heat?

Donner Lake, Truckee, California

So, thank goodness for my wonderful nephew (my sister's next to youngest), who lives in Truckee, California. He and his lovely fiance decided to plan their wedding to occur in August... near Truckee... at Webber Lake... ahhhhhhh... vacation.... cool weather.... visiting California Wine Country.... only 2-weeks away...

Dreaming of a mountain top and a cool lake... Wedding... Vacation.... departing soon from down here in French Lique!

Dreaming. Setting Goals. Accomplishing. Smile...

For as long as I can remember... and we're talking decades here... I have dreamed of having my own little booth in an antique store somewhere... On August 1st... that dream came true... I found a spot... well...about 100 square feet... in the Blue Hills Antique Mall... and finally just told myself... "go ahead.. do it!".. and I did.

Ricky's daughter Jen, and I, painted on Saturday, July 23rd... (Jen painted the large shelving unit..it was hospital green!) and then this weekend Ricky helped me loading in the "stuff"... and then.. well... who knows... all I know is that French Lique has finally found a home... more photos to come soon! Keep watchin'...

Vintage china and depression glass... along with a few other pretties found while thrifting in south Texas... I have to admit.. it's shabby chic.. but not too shabby. ...and remember my chair from Beverly's Glory B?

Well, here she is, filled to the brim with handmade pillows. I really do love this shabby chair...

So, in case you've been wondering what I've been up to this summer down here in French Lique...

PS... my first sale occurred on Saturday... one of my sister's beautiful handmade aprons... I've always told her they'd sell like hotcakes! Thanks Lili... I love you a bunch... more fabric will be on it's way soon!

PSS... for those of you that would like to come by, Geronimo only has one main road... State Highway 123... and the Blue Hills Mall is on the main drag... come on by! Blue Hills is open every day except Wednesday 10-5, and Sunday 1-5... It's big... bring you walking shoes... and they take cash, checks and plastic!

PSSS.... Pink price tags?! Is there another color?!