Shopping in the Village on Sunday afternoon...

The Village of Wimberly. Texas that is... I posted a few offerings on Blue Monday... here are some of the other pretties that I saw... and or bought... bet you're wondering what I purchased aren't you???

The entry to some of the shops... Garden Gate...

Oh my! A Christmas sale greeting as I walked in the door!

Little song birdies called me over to visit...

Bunnies-bunnies everywhere... reminded me of my pal Dana at the Stone Rabbit... wouldn't you just be in Heaven here Miss Dana??? tiny little Easter eggs at River House... Be gentle * Be patient * Be wise... I try to be all these things... don't you?
Beautiful handmade beeswax candles from Lynchburg, Virginia... in a pale pink... maybe I should have saved these for Pink Saturday? also at River House...
and just a couple of doors down was a little shop called Chick-a-dee, which turned out to be my favorite! Look at this kitchy little pink plaid purse and matching spike heels from the early 1960's... I can just see my mom wearing these!

They also had many old books... look what I found Muse...
and wouldn't this just look lovely on my front porch... I think so... sorta tongue in cheek humor ya know...

loved this antique biscuit jar... but not the price... $58... ouch! and a little basket of vintage hankies... $3 each... what a bargain!

and I loved these little dolls... do they still make them? I had many as a little girl, given to me by my Dad. He purchased them as he traveled, and then brought them home to me! and vintage flour sacks... they were so pretty don't you think?
These three little lambs greeted me at the entry of a store, as I was leaving... I didn't get to stop, but I took their picture anyway... so I'll remember to go back... So, what did I buy on my shopping in the Village trip last Sunday... well here's a hint...

But I must get back to my office decorating... did I tell you Ricky put the flooring in tonight... it's beautiful!... anyway, come back Friday morning... by then I'll have some pics of what's in the bags... I think you're going to like them... and no, it's not the biscuit jar!

Exhausted, but lovin' it, down here in French Lique!

Wordless Wednesday - Winter

If you'd like to join Wordless Wednesday, post your picture on your blog - today's subject "Winter" - then link to your post via Mr. Linky below. Have a BLISSful Wordless Wednesday!

Winter

declutter - decorate update...

I didn't want you guys to think I had suffocated under all the clutter... I'm still alive and well... What I had hoped would take 3-days looks like it is going to actually take 5-days plus a few evenings... I've mostly cleared the room... there was no where to send my desk and computer - I still have to have my computer for work - but the desk is on wheels, so easy to shuffle around....

So far, cleared the room, cleaned the walls and woodwork, prepped the walls (filled in nail holes etc.) painted over blue paint with Kilz, painted over Kilz with pretty yellow paint. Pulled up he old carpet and padding. Prepped the sub-floor for the new flooring.... I ran into a problem with the flooring - Home Depot had discontinued the flooring I wanted... I had to make today (Tuesday) a shopping day... I did some on line research this morning and went into town (yep, that's what we call it out here in the country), purchased my flooring, had Ricky pick it up and will start putting it in tomorrow evening after work.

I think my expectations may have been a little too high... I have a fabulous chair that I wanted to move into my office from another room, but I'm not sure it is going to fit! I have a new piece of furniture to pick up; once it is in the room I'll know if my chair that I love will fit, or, if I'm going to have to go chair shopping?!

In the meantime, most of my books have found a home on the dining room table. All organized by type of book and size; I have a really cool surprise for you to see (regarding the books) once the room is complete. I've promised to post my completed project on Metamorphosis Monday, but... I can at least show you the book piles...

Things are looking good for a successful declutter and decorating office project, down here in French Lique!

Blue Monday... from Sunday's window shopping...

Goodness! It's Monday already! Time for Blue Monday, hosted graciously by Miss Smiling Sally! To visit Sally, and other bloggers of her Blue Monday, link to Sally's blog here...


Sunday, Ricky and I went to an estate auction in San Marcos, Texas. After looking around a while, and being the losing bidder on a couple of items, I decided I would wander down the road a bit to The Village of Wimberly. There are lots of little shops there that I've never visited... so Sunday was my day for some window shopping.

The first little shop I went into had this pretty little blue robin, which reminded me of Sally's Blue Monday...

A few doors down, I found this cute little blue and white clock... and there it was again... a little birdie reminding me of Sally's Blue Monday...

But when I found these little blue sweethearts... I knew I had to get back home and change my Blue Monday post... because some things are just too kitchy not to share... Feeling a little blue, but in a very good way, down here in French Lique...

I've been tagged... help... I'm stuck under all the clutter!

The beautiful Miss Kathy at Welcome to Mimi's Garden has tagged me for this post... thank you Miss Kathy... and if you are reading this... consider yourself tagged - especially you Mr. Chris whom I adore but know absolutely nothing about! I know you're reading this, as you read all my fodder... ;)

Name five things in your purse (backpack or wallet if you are of the male persuasion):

dog treats, reading glasses, lipstick, cell phone, business cards

Name five things in your work room:
computer, TV, Books, empty wine glass, clutterclutterclutter (I'm decluttering okay!)

Name five things you've always wanted to do:
Own a cabin in the woods, retire young enough to enjoy it!, take a train ride in Canadian mountains, spend a year in Ireland, be a "Blog of Note"...

Name five things you're into:
working, blogging, reading. family, worshiping the Lord (and not in this order!)

Name five bloggers to do the tag:
this is the hard one... so I tag any who would like to play.. as I am now off to do a couple of things in my decluttering mode!

Trying to become the Queen of Decluttering down here in French Lique...

Pink Saturday... A tribute to my little sis...

Welcome to Pink Saturday in French Lique... If you'd like to see other Pink Saturday posts, visit Miss Beverly's Blog, "How Sweet the Sound" by clicking on the Pink Saturday here...

My little sister, whom I adore, likes to sew. One of the things she likes to sew for me... aprons. I buy and send her fabric (enough to make 2 or 3 aprons), and she in turn makes an apron for me. Here are two that she's made for me in pink... the bright pink with large florals, she gave me for Christmas last month.

Sometimes she even remembers to sew in her little tag that says "Handcrafted by Lili Angelique"...

This one she made me years ago... I wear it all the time...

and then... I sent her several yards of different pink fabrics that I love...

and this was my reward, my Christmas gift 2008. Beautiful isn't it?

and a few weeks before Thanksgiving, I asked her for a special favor. My sweet sister came through for me and so...

this one, made especially for the Panda from my very favorite pink teacup fabric... a gift delivered by Grandma (me) at Thanksgiving. The little yo-yo pin (on Panda's upper left bib), my sister made long ago and matches the apron I wear every day. For years, I just kept it attached with a safety pin to my apron. I decided to attach it to the Panda's apron before I gave it to her, so that a little bit of me would be with her every time she wears it.

Pretty pink aprons, sisters and grandaughters... that's what I'm thinkin' about on this beautiful Pink Saturday... down here in French Lique.

The China Cabinet Declutter... a success!

Let me preface this post by saying... I can't tell you how many times I've searched the internet for help with organizing my china cabinet. I was looking for something practical, with pictures (I'm a visual person); because I wanted it to be organized, but also pretty. Until now, I had absolutely zero success... and then one day...

Browsing though magazines while getting my monthly hair highlights at "Bernie's Mane Event" last month... I came across the February 2008 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. Inside I found a piece on organizing your China Cabinet. "Bernie (short for Bernadette), can I borrow this magazine...?"... Bernie replied, "Take it... and don't bring it back." (that's Bernie!)... and so I did.

sorry the photos of the magazine aren't so good, but I think you'll get the idea...

Finally, last weekend, while putting up Christmas, I took time to follow the instructions and organize my china cabinet. Wow! Looks great! I couldn't believe how much stuff I was able to get in there... and when I get my office organized and redecorated this weekend... I'll move my Lladro into my new curio in my office, and my china cabinet will be perfect!

Why can I never remember to do the before photos????!!! Ah, well!

and while I was in the kitchen/dining decluttering mode...

I finally convinced Ricky that we could let go of this 30-year old set of everyday Corell. Yep, 5-piece place settings... 10 of them for everyday... going to Goodwill this weekend. Goodbye old friend; you survived the tough years, now it's time to retire from this household and move on to greener pastures, where someone else will love you for the next 30-years... everyday. And thank you Organising Queen for the encouragement & inspiration to declutter!

I've already done my Pink Saturday and Blue Monday posts, and scheduled them to show up on my blog on the right day. Why you ask? Because for the next 4-days I'll be organizing and redecorating my home office. That means, limited access to my computer. I'm going to take the before pictures today, and hopefully, post the before and the after pictures early next week!

Dreaming about being decluttered and organized in my home office, down here in French Lique!

Greetings from Amazon.com

I get emails from Amazon and Boarders a couple of times a week. They are so kind to keep me abreast of new offerings in print that I might enjoy. I like Amazon the best; their prices are better and you get free shipping for orders of $25 or more... so I never-ever pay shipping!

A week or so ago, my friends at Amazon sent me an email... "Hello Dixie, We thought you might enjoy these..." and they were right.

Yesterday my printed treasures arrived. I haven't had a chance to do anything but a quick flip through, but I'm so excited that they are here... I thought I'd share at least the covers with you today... more later on the inside...

oooooh-la-la... what inspiration may I find in here?!

I can hardly wait to have some time to see what I can create... wearable art... the best!

and this one... a Valentine from me to me... I LOVE reading LOVE Letters... I've already peeked, and I'm thinking... cozy chair, poodles, blankie, cup of tea... and thee...

The joy of new books being celebrated today, down here in French Lique...

A Milestone or a Bump in the Road... 100th post "celebration"?

(sorry about the cigarette; the photo was too irresistable not to use!)

I'm not sure about all this celebration for the 100th post thing... so I just thought I'd go ahead and get it over with... and here's what I'm thinking about...
I like to write therefore I blog...

just in case someone, somewhere might be interested in listening to me...

and let's face it... it's pretty anonymous... both from the poster and the reader point of view...

I have no idea if what I write has any meaning to anyone else... (and I highly doubt that the world awaits my insights...) But sometimes when I write something, I make myself laugh a little, so I hope it has the same effect on you...
I've decided to skip the celebration of a 100th post. Instead I thought I'd just say "thank you" for stopping by my blog every once in a while; for reading, and then taking the time to leave a comment or two... YOU are Unique and Special... to me.
It takes courage on the part of the writer/poster... and sometimes on the part of the commenter, to put words out and hope that someone will receive them.
Blessings to all... Have a Blissful Day. Sending you each a little sunshine from down here in French Lique...

Wordless Wednesday... Favorite Thing - well, other than my family and my church of course... are my...

If you'd like to join Wordless Wednesday, post your picture on your blog - today's subject "Favorite Things" - then link to your post via Mr. Linky below. Have a BLISSful Wordless Wednesday! Favorite Thing...

Tablescape Tuesday... black, white and green continues...

It's Tablescape Tuesday, hosted by the extremely talented and gracious Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch"... There are so many talented ladies that post the most beautiful tablescapes... I hope you will visit Susan's blog and visit all the folks posting a tablescape today!

Sunny Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to set a simple table for a light meal outside. Last Sunday it was about 65-degrees and the sunshine warmed the porch up just right. I set out this pretty black and white earthenware from Stafford, which I picked up for nearly nothing at Marshall's after Christmas sale.

Several ladies did tablescapes with black, white and green last week, which inspired me to use green in this tablescape. This old metal table and chairs was a freebie from a friend that moved out of state a few years ago. Free, yes free... couldn't pass up a bargain like that! The pretty lace tablecloth is actually not lace at all... it's vinyl for outdoor use! You wouldn't know, even close up! My chair pads are a black and cream Waverly toile from JC Penny, but I bought all 4 on eBay for $35.00!

I accented my black and creamy white with a few pieces of green depression glass purchased from a special friend whose antique business was closing, and a couple of vintage 1960's tumblers purchased at an estate auction for me, by Ricky, a few years ago.

Oh, and I can't forget my Eiffel Tower metal candle votive... I am going for a French feel here ya know! And my black and creamy white water pitcher from Hobby Lobby... I normally use it as a vase in my home office!

I used black cloth place mats to show off the plates and black & white napkins (purchased at Dillard's after Christmas closeout for $1!).

I adore this transferware pattern of farm life and the horse pulling the hay cart... a perfect plate for a country house.

Added a little French Cafe' Paris coffee cup, and sat it on a green depression glass saucer.

Perfect country table for a perfect sunny Sunday afternoon, down here in French Lique...

and don't forget to comeback tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday... click on the sibebar link for instructions... tomorrow's theme... Favorite Thing...