Junkin' with Candy the Junkin Queen... In Wimberley...

The weatherman had predicted 100% chance of rain today for our area... and though Candy lives about 1-1/2 hours away from where I live... in Texas... we're in the same area... So I called her this morning about 7:45 a.m. to tell her I was leaving and heading to Wimberley (Candy lives in Wimberley where the Market Days are held)... I told her it was raining buckets in French Lique...but according to Candy... it wasn't raining in Wimberley... "yet"...

Let me just say that it rained on me for the next 75-miles... But it was worth the trip... Candy forgot her camera... so I was designated "photographer for the day", which I failed at, miserably... but here are a few shots I thought you'd enjoy.

Not long after we arrived, we wandered in to one of our favorite little shops and Candy found something she really really loved...

Wall art made from baby doll parts and architectural salvage... I'm telling you... this is right up Candy's alley...
She was especially fond of the "Blue Baby" with his one pink arm... Now these little beauties ran from $35 to about $50... a little pricey for the ever thrifty Candy... besides... she has all this stuff at home... except for the baby doll parts... So guess what we spent the rest of the day looking for? Yep, baby dolls and baby doll parts... I think Candy bought 5 or 6 little baby dolls... all $3 each or less... So don't be surprised when you begin to see these little "Edward Scissor Hands" proto types showing up in Rock Candy...
We probably ventured into 100 little shops today... I always like this one, and I adore the sign on the front of their roof... Candy and I often find back issues of cottage and romantic design magazines here...

and today was no exception... I think Candy picked up a couple of issues of Romantic Home... I know what you're thinking... you're thinking "isn't that Candy just the cutest thing in her denim hat with the flowers"... yep... I think about 15-people stopped us to tell Candy how adorable she was... and she was... and is... (Dixie smiles to self).

Now this would be a good time to tell you that Candy is about to celebrate her 53rd birthday. Don't tell her I told you, but it's a week from tomorrow... October 11th. Remember, mums the word! "wink-wink"...
Before long, the rain came to Wimberley and cut our little junkin' trip short... good thing too... my old bones were rusting...

So what did I buy...? well, I guess you'll just have to stop by sometime next week and see.. Since I was the official photographer today, I couldn't buy and photo at the same time... now I'm off to sink my weary bones into the hot tub and relax... it's been a busy day down here in French Lique...

Shabby Chic Interiors... my new read...

I arrived home this evening to find that my friends at Amazon.com had shipped my new book to me, just in time for a rainy weekend... If you've read my blog for very long, you know I love my books... what you may not know is that I LOVE my Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic books... I own every one... and I love to read them and look at the wonderful photos over and over again...
Ms. Ashwell's latest edition (her first in 5-years) is Shabby Chic Interiors My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets. I think that this book will become my favorite among the Shabby Chic editions. The front cover really says "it" for me... a vintage pink upholstered settee; pewter chandelier dripping with clear and pink crystals; table lamps with creamy white shades trimmed in pink ruffles and lots of crystals... and big poofy pillows of vintage fabrics... just beautiful.

The first half of the book is full of photos and information about Rachel's L.A. house... and I have to say... "I want that!"...

I, along with photographer Amy Neunsinger, am in love with this big bowl of pink hydrangeas... photographed here...

and here on the dresser with the vintage dolls...

I adore the floral wreath laid around the neck of this vintage mannequin...

and how sweet are these frilly parasols...

and finally, from Rachel's workshop... a beautiful vintage chandelier sitting on a shabby blue green pew... now that is shabby chic! Want more? Well you're just going to have to go out and buy the book... I mean really-really buy this book!

So Rachel and I will spend some time together one weekend soon, listening to the rain and day dreaming of what the ranch house might look like someday, down here in

French Lique...

ps... just hoping the rain will hold off long enough for me to join Candy in Wimberley for some serious junk treasure shopping... wish us luck!

Share a Book, or Two, or Three...

Earlier this week, I did a portfolio review with one of my clients... the only client whose home I go to, to meet with her. Mrs. W is 79 years old and she is handicapped. Her husband became my client first. A robust cowboy, "born and raised" right here in south Texas. Two years ago, Mr. W passed away from cancer, leaving Mrs. to fend for herself. She has a couple of adult children, but they both live out of town so she doesn't see them except weekends. I think she spends a significant amount of her time alone. I see her about every 6-months. Each time I arrive at her home, she's already unlocked the door; so I knock and walk in. She always has an opera or a symphony playing one of the great composers... her favorite (and mine) is Debussy. I think she plays Debussy when she knows I will be there.
This week, she was complaining that she hadn't been to the library in several weeks because her children didn't come on Saturday... they came Sunday instead and the library isn't open on Sunday in her small town. I asked her what kind of books she likes to read, and whether she prefers the written page or an audio version... "Oh I like to read everything, especially if it's full of murder and mystery!"

Lucky for Mrs. W, that's just my kind of book too! I've got stacks of books that I've finished... stacks in the living room, stacks in my office, stacks in the bedroom... Ricky frequently makes suggestions on what to do with the stacks of books, "Why don't you take those to the Goodwill?" or "Why don't you sell those on eBay?" Both of those are fine ideas... but for some reason, I could just never bring myself to part with my treasures in either of those fashions...

Tonight I told Ricky... "I've decided what to do with those books... I'm going to give them, a box at a time, to one of my clients who likes to read but doesn't have the money to buy, nor transportation to get to the library"... Ricky thinks that's a great idea! (I didn't have the heart to tell him that Mrs. W promised to get them back to me as soon as she finished reading them...).
Looking for ideas on sharing a book, or two, or three... down here in French Lique...

The Etsy Shoppe is Now Open for Business!

My crafty sister has made a beautiful apron for my booth in Geronimo... but while I'm waiting for it to arrive in person... I'm listing it in my new Etsy Shoppe...

The fabric is Robyn Pandolph Wild Rose Farm Pink Roses on Jadeite... a beautiful fabric from my favorite ebay fabric seller, Susan at Urbangardens.

I buy the fabric, my sweet sis does all the work, and then I sell it! Not a bad deal for 2-sisters living nearly 600-miles apart.
This is a photo of the back... a big bow sash... I love it!
So if you'd like to buy a beautiful handmade fancy bib apron...
just link right here...
and visit Dixie's Etsy Shoppe...
with handmades by Lili Angelique... aka Dixie's Little Sis...
and that's what's happenin' today down here in French Lique...
Thanks Sis!

Too Much Work... Not Enough Weekend...

When I was younger, I kept house like a woman on a mission. Every Saturday was a housework marathon... Before the sun set, the house would be spotless (not that it was ever very messy)... Every bed freshly made, every dirty sheet washed; floors vacuumed, swept, mopped and waxed... Laundry washed, folded and put away... everything organized... no clutter... no dust bunnies... but then...

I turned 50 years old a few years back... the youngest daughter flew the coop... I married Ricky and life changed.

Nowadays Ricky and I can manage to find something fun to do with every spare moment. We like to travel, so we do. We like to go out to dinner, so we do. We like to go to auctions and junk sales.. and you guessed it... so we do. Heck, we even went out this week just to celebrate the fact that it's raining again!

This weekend I told him that it was housework weekend... to which Ricky replied "Huh?"... Ricky doesn't get housework weekend... we don't have them very often... and I realized that I really don't much care for them myself anymore. What use to take me two hours, now takes me a day. I get sidetracked too easy... I take breaks... I stop to make a nice chicken salad... and then I have to eat a sandwich...

I mean... a girls got to keep up her strength doesn't she? So this weekend, there was just too much work and simply not enough weekend. I may have to bring in recruits... Merry Maid sounds good... what do you think...? How about a chicken salad sandwich and a glass of iced tea... we'll sit out on the porch and talk about it... down here in French Lique...

When I Think of You...

It rained all weekend while we were in Dallas. The sunshine didn't peek through, not even once. It reminded me of when I first moved to Dallas in 1983. It was late July... it was hot... it never rained. I had moved from the southeast, where it seemed to rain every week, year round. To move to a place where it never rained caused me to fall into a deep depression. I was a young mother then, with two young daughters and a husband that worked too many hours. I was alone in a city where I knew no one... and no one knew me; a city that never rained...

Then late September came, and with it... the rain. It began to rain the last week of September 1983 and didn't stop until mid-October. It rained buckets and buckets of rain. I finally came to understand why there were so many parks in "flood plains"... when it rains in Dallas, those flood plains become creeks and rivers. Everyone that I had come to know in the previous few weeks, became moody and depressed... too much rain. Me... I was happy! I felt joy! Ahhhhh... Rain!

Mark Graham for The New York Times

This weekend, it began to rain in Dallas. It came down in buckets. The roads flooded, lawns flooded... flood plains became creeks and rivers. The rain flooded me with memories of being a 20-something mom, with two little girls at home and a husband that worked too many hours... The girls are all grown up, and now the 2 are 3... the husband is married to someone else but still works too many hours, or so they say... and me... the Rain still makes me smile... and feel joy and happiness...

so Dallas, when I think of you, I think of Rain...

and yes... the Rain has even come to us... Down here in French Lique...

Random Thoughts...

Today is 9-11. Eight years ago today, most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news of the twin towers... first that an aircraft had stuck one of the towers... then, a little later, another plane. I remember that I was in my office listening to my radio and working when the news broke in. I thought "a second plane, that couldn't have been an accident"... Then the news that the U.S. was under terrorist attack... My first thought was of my own family; if they'd heard the news; if they were okay. I will never forget that day, and where I was, what I thought, how I felt. Remembering is a good thing...

and now... the random chatter...

Since the end of my summer bloggy break... I've really not had much to talk about. My work schedule has become quite hectic thanks to some stock market improvement and positive economic news... so days previously spent lolly-gagging (is that a word?) at home, are now spent in the company of clients and potential clients. My enthusiasm for my work has returned, and I've been very, very busy.

Things at my booth at Blue Hills are going well too. Last month I made almost enough in sales to pay my rent... not bad for a first month. This month, not only will I be able to pay rent, but I'll even have some extra take home money... now that's what I call S-U-C-C-E-S-S... (I'm channeling my inner cheerleader...).

My middle daughter and her hubby purchased their first home last month, and this weekend Ricky and I will travel to Dallas for the "Blessing of the Home" and an open house party. While neither Ricky nor I like Dallas that much, it should be a quick and fun trip. I can hardly wait to see the new house, and of course my daughters and grandchildren...

Rain.... yes... we're getting some significant rain in south Texas right now.... The weatherman said that we were behind 40-inches for the past two years. This week we were blessed with about 3-inches... only 37 more to go! The rain makes the temperatures drop... today's high was 82... but next week we'll be back to the low 90's... and all those temps better than the 60+days of 100-degrees or more this past summer... Ahhhhhh.... Autumn.

I can't leave without sharing a photo can I? Here are a couple of Teacup Chandys for sale in my booth. (thanks for the inspiration Sally.)

Vintage Rose Teacup Chandelier

Vintage Franciscan Desert Rose Teacup Chandelier

So now you'll all caught up with what going on, down here in French Lique...

Wordless Wednesday

Join Heather for more Wordless Wednesday...

I won! I won! French Garden House Soy Candle! Merci!

Is there anything more delightful than winning a blogger giveaway (check it out here)? Something really special that another chose to share? I love when the package arrives...

FRAGILE HANDLE WITH CARE... must be something really special!

all swaddled in this beautiful tissue paper... what could it be?

It's a beautiful Soy Candle from Lidy's special line...

and so beautifully packaged with a note and a little cup of real tea...

a true delight for all the senses.. and you can buy one if you'd like, just visit French Garden House...
I love my new candle fragrance... thank you Lidy, from down here in French Lique...

Hooked on "Cal-Lee-Forn-Ya"...

There's no way to go on vacation and not come back "Hooked on California". These aren't photos of the California that most people think of when they think "California"... but they are California for me...

Beautiful tall, soaring trees...

right in your own back yard...

A fantastic vacation home in the mountains...

or a pretty red barn at a dairy farm...

guess I can see why there's all those "Happy Cows" trying to get here...

Or maybe you'd prefer a pretty Victorian in Wine Country...?

Or maybe a little dip in the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean...? I'm more of the mountain kind of gal myself... and though I'm back home in Texas... I guess I have to admit... that I'm Hooked on California...

Now visit Julia at Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is hooked on this week... and thanks for stopping by and visiting us down here in French Lique...

I want that!

On Sunday, Ricky and I took his #2 daughter Jen, out to dinner for her birthday. We take our adult children to the restaurant of their choice for their birthday... just to give us the opportunity to spend a little time alone with them, talking and catching up with their life... On this birthday... Jen chose Saltgrass Steakhouse... excellent choice...

When ordering our drinks, I asked for a flavored ice tea... my waitress rattled off the list that they served... I chose Decaf Ginger Peach.

My tea arrived in a tall 16.9-ounce glass bottle (accompanied by a nice glass of ice)... bottled by The Republic of Tea... I guess I've been hiding under a log or something, because I've never had this tea... cost... a heaping $4.75 per bottle (about 2-glasses)... I could have had a margarita... but oh my! was this some delicious tea.

At the end of the meal, our waitress saw that I'd peeled the label from my tea bottle... "you can buy this tea on line", she shared... and so...
When we got home, Ricky got on line and found my tea... and while the bottled tea was $4.50 each if you bought a case... the tea bags were much less expensive and right up my alley. I skipped the pretty Republic of Tea container with 50 tea bags for $11.50... and went right to the bulk 250 tea bags for $40. I love a bargain... and I love a delicious tea.

Now, I think it's time for a nice glass of decalf ginger peach iced tea... or will I have it hot? decisions-decisions... down here in French Lique...

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...