French Lique, Texas... 2009 A year in Review

This year, I am again joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for her "Year in Review" Party... so come on in and join the party... look at the pretty pictures and travel down memory lane... then drop back by Cindy's and see who else has joined the party!

January

I began the new year with a renovation of my home office...
the before...

and the after

celebrated my 100th post

(sorry about the cigarette; the photo was too irresistable not to use!) I did a little sunny winter tablescaping with Susan... and decluttered the china cabinet...

In February I gave a tutorial on covering and organizing your books... mine still look great!

Did a little Pink Rodeo posting on Beverly's Pink Saturday...

I visited with my daughter KJ, on a sunny porch coffee-scape ... In March, I looked for and found Mrs. Lahoma Herron...

I met and became fast friends with Candy of Rock Candy and her best friend Terry...

I invited you to join me
on a marvelous shopping trip through our local grocery store... HEB...

In April, Candy and I invited you along with us to Wimberley Market Days and our very first thirfting trip together...

and we were all introduced to the sweet little Bella... baby granddaughter of Trash Talkin' Deb... born a little early... but celebrated her first Christmas this year surrounded by wonderful loving family and friends...

In May, the Swine Flu fear overtook us all... but it didn't keep Candy and me from shopping Wimberly Market Days again!

Ricky's spring garden produced in abundance!

Then I ended the month celebrating at Rhondi's Porch Party...

In June... I started painting everything on the porch creamy white!

Then joined Marty for one of her fun Cloche Parties!

In July, though I started a little Bloggy Break... I still had time for "junkin" with Candy and Terry... this time in Geronimo, Texas...
and following Spencer's instructions for her Easy Peasy Teacup Candlesticks...I made this...

In August, I rented a booth... at Blue Hills Antique Mall in Geronimo, Texas...

and traveled to California... for a wedding, a winery and a wharf...

In September... I posted 9 times... none of them very interesting or noteworthy... I must have been continuing my Bloggy Break...

Then in October.. yep.. you guessed it... more junkin' with Candy in Wimberley... this is getting to be a habit!

In November, my sister sent me "my share" of mother's silver... we didn't know the pattern name, but Mimi did... Classic Rose by Reed & Barton... thank you again Mimi...

and I finally got around to decorating my booth for Christmas... about a month late... but better late than never!

In December, I celebrated my 300th post with a giveaway of my favorite things...

and I celebrated my 55th birthday... thrifting with Candy and Terry...

and celebrating the Lord's birthday on Christmas day... with a wish for joy and happiness to all of you... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Dixie and Ricky...

Down here in French Lique..

Blue Monday with Jen at J.Nichelle....

Today I'm joining Sally for Blue Monday... For more Blue Monday posts visit Sally and see who's playing along!

Today I had to share this treasure that I purchased from Jen at J.Nichelle. Jen creates the most beautiful vintage holiday treasures you've ever seen! Just look at this sweet beauty! (Sally, I know you'll be coveting this one!)

Jen will be soon be creating Easter and Wedding themed treasures and posting them in her Etsy shoppe and on Ebay... so drop by her blog and look at all the beauty she creates!

Thanks Jen. I love my new treasures down here in French Lique!

White Christmas in North Texas...

My sweet grandkiddos had their very first White Christmas this year... It began snowing on Christmas Eve....

and Romeo with dog Daisy and Mom in tow went out with his light-sabor to play... it was cold!

Then on Christmas day, Panda and her brother little Einstein built a snowman in the front yard...

Their first White Christmas in north Texas... a beautiful childhood memory!

alas... no snow for Christmas down here in French Lique...

ps... thank you darling daughters for sharing the white Christmas photos with me and Grandpa... we love you!

Wishing you and yours a....

Merry Christmas from Dixie and Ricky...

Down here in French Lique..

Happy Pink Saturday... It's A Wonderful Life...

Today I'm joining Beverly for Pink Saturday. The theme is to share a holiday/special tradition... and I even found a colorized photo with some pink... When you're finished here... drop by Beverly's How Sweet The Sound and join in the Pink Saturday event!

Since I was a young child, each year my family has watched "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.

In the early years, we had to watch whenever one of the 3 networks aired the movie. My sister would scan the weekly newpapers' TV Guide each year, beginning around Thanksgiving, looking for when the movie would air... we didn't want to miss it!

In later years, we bought VCR tapes so we could watch whenever we wanted to. Now... a nice DVD spins the original black and white version in my player every year... and soon... a Blue Ray version will be my own!

Wonderfully uplifting and heartwarming... (weren't Zuzu's petals PINK?!)
One of my favorite family traditions is watching "It's A Wonderful Life" at Christmastime... with my wonderful family...
Down here in French Lique...

A birthday wish from Lahoma...

Today I received a hand painted birthday card from Lahoma.... Do you remember Lahoma? If not, you can read about her here...part 1... and then here.. part 2.

Lahoma paints birthday and Christmas cards every year... for over 300 friends and family... and now I have been added to the list!

How sweet to be added to the group of people this wonderful octogenarian paints cards for each year. How sweet to have found such a lovely friend... in the twilight of her life... still enjoying painting and her family and friends...
Happy Birthday!

God Bless and Keep You

Love, Lahoma

Thank you Lahoma, for the best birthday wishes ever... from down here in French Lique... on my 55th birthday...

A Wonderful Day of Celebrating, Thrifting and Friendship...

Little did I know when I arrived to meet Candy and Terry in Wimberley yesterday morning... they had decided that it would be my birthday celebration day. It was a delightful surprise... a day filled with celebration, shopping local thrift shops, with two sweet friends I'd met through this medium we call blogging...

Candy bought lunch for us all at a local San Marcos eatery that Terry recommended... while we ate wonderful chicken salad sandwiches Candy entertained with stories from her childhood; being locked in a closet by an elementary school teacher because she was talking too much... imagine that!

and then later... Terry treated us to dessert at a pie shop in Kyle... we were hungry (again) from our thrift shop excursion... Camera shy Terry brought gifts for both Candy and me...

A sweet book of thoughts... the package so pretty I hated to open it...

and Candy gave me homemade wild grape jam... and a bottle of wine... custom labeled...
If you look closely you'll see my profile photo screened beneath the words...
"Aged to Perfection"... thank you sweet friend...
My thrifting finds... An adorable little garden hat, which I'll add new ribbon and silk roses to before putting it in my booth in Geronimo...

A little Eiffel Tower Souvenir that Candy spotted for me...

...this funny set of Fractured French coasters
(or ash trays... but they are coasters to me)...

and a pretty framed print..

of Le Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Paris...

A set of 4 pretty Italian styled napkin rings...

A stack of old books from the resale book shop... total cost... $1.50...

A sweet girl with her pets... this art piece made by Terry... from their booth in Wimberley...

One of Candy's wonderful pin cushions, also from their booth...

a gift for someone special...

A bunch of old silver... only $1 each.. I'll clean them up and see what happens... I do have something in mind...

A mighty fine stack of junk... errr.. treasure... from a wonderful day of thrifting shopping with two of the sweetest gals in Texas... Thanks Candy and Terry... you made my day!

Blessings, from down here in French Lique...

We Have a Winner... Drum Roll Please! (It's Blue Monday)

I've been celebrating my 300th post this month by having a "Favorite Things" Giveaway... and I'd already decided that I'd post the winner today on Sally's Blue Monday since I was giving away these pretty ice blue rhinestone jewels... The perfect combination... Sally and Icy Blue Rhinestone Jewels...

and so, with no further adieu...

The winner is.....

my spread sheet says...

Yes, Mrs. Magpie herself... Sheila at The Quintessential Magpie. If you've never had the chance to visit her wonderful blog... please do. You're in for a treat! (you all know Magpies are prone to feathering their nests with shiney things...)

Now you know Sally is moving into her fantastic new home today... but jump on over and visit her and Blue Monday at Smilin' Sally's place....

Well... that's enough Bloggerland Celebrating for me for one month... Now I'm off to Wimberley for a Girls Day Out with Candy and her best friend Terry (two of my favorite gal pals!)... Enjoying the good life... Down Here In French Lique...

300th Post and a Giveaway... A few of my Favorite Things...

Final Update: Saturday 12/12/2009... A giveaway of my favorite things wouldn't be complete without a beautiful apron made by my sweet sister, Lili Angelique! She's been making aprons for years, and this style is my favorite. A simple bib apron with pockets galore; made just for Christmas with green holly, berries and pretty Cardinals!Here's a close-up... I'll let the winner fill in their gift label...
Giveaway closes Sunday 12/13 at 6pm CST... so don't forget to leave a comment, become a follower and/or post about my giveaway on your blog! The end is near!

Update: Friday 12/11/2009... One of my very favorite things, a vintage wind-up clock for your bookcase or desk...! and yes, of course it works just great!

Update: Wednesday 12/9/09... You want more? Well, I do have a lot of favorite things... so here ya go... a pair of my favorite things... Birdie Salt & Pepper shakers... a fancy take on the Target White Birdies... these are my favorite... from Pier One... don't they just look "tweet"! UPDATE: Monday, 12/7/09... I thought I'd add something festive today for my 300th post giveaway... How about this pretty Venetian Mirror Photo Frame... for a 5"x 7" picture... maybe a holiday snapshot of you and your sweetie?!I told you this giveaway would be some of my favorite things...
and a pretty pair of vintage candle sticks... I love this pretty set... don't forget to stop back by later this week... I promise to add a few more items!
..........
original post...

After a year and a half... I've reached a milestone... 300 posts... There have been times when I wasn't sure I'd make it. Now, here I am... celebrating... so I thought I'd give away a few of my favorite things...

This is going to be a "build a give-away" so keep stopping back by every few days!

Vintage velvet millinery... violets...

Vintage rhinestone jewelry... in this case... ice blue for Christmas... a necklace, a bracelet and a pair of drop earrings...

Silk roses and tea stained tags...

A book about French Dreams... full of beautiful French photos... you knew there'd be books and things French didn't you..?

and Martha Stewart Christmas... circa 1989...

How do you get this bounty of vintage and new?
Follow this blog... 1 entry
Leave a comment on this post... 1 entry
Tell about my giveaway on your blog in a post or on your sidebar... 1 entry (feel free to borrow a photo for use on your blog...)
The giveaway closes on Sunday, December 13th and the winner announced on Monday, December 14th.
Every couple of days, I'll be adding a few little things to the give away... so come back to see what's new... and thank you... for stopping by and visiting... for leaving comments to let me know you were here... and caring about what might be happening...
Down Here in French Lique...