Celebrating Marriage...

#2 Daughter... and her hubby... celebrating marriage by renewing their wedding vows on their 10th anniversary...

#1 daughter... with her children, my oldest grandson... "skater dude" aka Little Einstein and of course... The Panda...

#3 daughter with Romeo... Auntie K is Romeo's favorite! She's the favorite of Einstein and Panda too!
Little Einstein doesn't like Grandma to blog much about him... but was willing to pose for just a couple of photo's... thanks big guy!

The Panda came to the church gym to help make food for the reception... she was a big help... even with the curlers in her hair!

Look at her go! She was one fine sandwich maker!

and then at the reception, she shared her talent for touching the end of her nose with her tongue... Everyone was very impressed... thanks Panda...

Romeo's best impression of Michael Feinstein...
He looked soooo handsome in his suit... Mama was very proud! He was a very good boy on this special day! (much thanks to Panda for keeping him in line!)

It was a beautiful ceremony... The grown-ups had a wonderful time... and the kiddo's... they played nice and didn't destroy a thing!

I enjoyed visiting my family in Dallas, but I am so glad to be back home in French Lique...

Blue Monday... the Blue Skies of Texas...

Please visit Miss Smiling Sally's Blog for more Blue Monday... this Monday and every Monday! Thanks Miss Sally... you're the hostess with the mostess!

I'm Back!!!

Driving into Dallas last Thursday, I decided to take some photos of the Dallas skyline and a couple of other things truly Texas... After viewing my photos this morning, I realized they'd be a great Blue Monday post... so here ya go... Blue Monday... and the Blue Skies of Texas...

View of Northwest Dallas skyline from I-35N...

A Southwest Airlines plane landing at Love Field in North Central Dallas... The Reunion Arena Tower... a Dallas icon... the top is a revolving restaurant... Reunion Arena is the former home of the Dallas Mavericks...

A Texas flag (a little out of focus... we were driving 70 mph!)... One of my favorite little churches in South Dallas - Oakcliff area... Hope you enjoyed the Dallas skyline and the beautiful blue skies of Texas.

Just trying to catch up now that I'm back home in French Lique!

Pink Saturday... Rodeo Pink

Thank you to Miss Beverly at How Sweet the Sound, who sponsors Pink Saturday every week. Please visit her blog and link to over 100 other participants who love pink and post it every Pink Saturday.

I'm not sure if your PINK Gals know just how much Cowgirls and the Rodeo LOVE PINK! Well, if you didn't know before, you're going to find out here, this week. Welcome to Pink Rodeo Saturday at French Lique, Texas...

Here, a Pink Cowgirl... all ready to do some serious barrel racing... in her PINK!

Of course, sometimes we fore go the traditional Cowgirl Hat for something a little more practical... A PINK "Cowgirl UP" cap! I'll explain "Cowgirl UP" in a minute.

I really like this poster from 2008... "All Our Heroes Are Cowgirls"! It's not really PINK, but I'm using poetic license here... It's a PINK thought...

This is some PINK barkcloth fabric that I gave to my step-daughter #2, which she turned into a great vest for my sweet step-niece. She'll be sporting her vest while showing her livestock at the Stock Show part of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo...

Don't you just love this!

I love the piles and piles of PINK Cowgirl Hats... just sittin' right there for the pickin' at the Rodeo Sale Booths. There is lots of Cowgirl gear, jewelry and furniture. Next week, I'll remember to take my camera so I can get some better pics!

"Cowgirl UP"... second most asked question behind "Where the heck is... "... I digress...

"Cowgirl UP"

Be your own woman, make your own path, and take responsibility for who you are and what you do. Do what you gotta do and don't be scared. To step up to a challenge; to toughen up; to make something happen, as opposed to just complaining about it; taking charge of a situation.

Now, if you're not really a Cowgirl, well, you may not want to use this phrase... 'cause people think you're kind stupid...(according to Urban Dictionary). Just thought I'd let you know the rest of the story...

Think this is a belt don't 'cha? Nope, it's a PINK hatband!

and the grand finale'... my PINK Cowgirl Boots... Yeehaw!

Well gals, that's it. My PINK Saturday post about the Rodeo. The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo continues in San Antonio through next week... So I'll be thinking about, going to, and blogging about the rodeo for the next 10 days... It's okay... It only comes 'round once a year and then I come back down to earth. For those that have told me they've never been to a Rodeo, but would love to... well... (you knew I was going to say this didn't you?)...

COWGIRL UP and get on down to French Lique!

Tablescape Thursday... A Valentine for Lunch...

Tablescape Thursday is hosted by one of my favorite decorating bloggers, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch...
If you'd like to see more Tablescape Thursday participants, link here to visit Between Naps on the Porch... Visit Susan to see more beautiful tablescape posts today!

There is nothing more romantic and enjoyable than a sweet lunch out on the porch... especially in the early afternoon of a sunny, breezy day...

So this is my Valentine lunch... for my Valentine, Ricky...

The dinner plates are my everyday dishes... Lenox Butterfly Meadow Cloud... which is a pretty bone colored embossed china... I just love it's simple design...

and the square luncheon plates are from Syracuse China. I have four of them; the two I'm showing you today are "The Peony" above, and "The Magnolia" below.
The little embroidered linen napkins are from Martha Stewart, purchased several years ago at KMart... gathered in a simple silver napkin ring.
I love vintage depression glass. I purchased this pink "Pillar Optic" water pitcher from a friend when he was closing his antique business, Chisholm Trail Antiques in Converse, Texas. He passed away a few months later at the age of 84. He was a wonderful person and a dear friend; and that makes the few things I purchased from him even more special and cherished.
My little centerpiece is just a simple stone angel... I like this photo because it shows you our American Flag flying in the front yard and our beautiful blue Texas sky today.
the next photo was an accidental photo; but I liked it because you can see my little angel through the wine glass... and those are a bunch of Azalea's behind the pitcher.
I decided to use hot pink place mats on my outdoor vinyl lacy tablecloth to match the pretty hot pink in my plates...

and of course a bottle of my favorite Chardonnay... Barefoot Chardonnay from California...

This photo from the backside of the tablescape... I just LOVE the colors!

I hope you all have a beautiful Valentine's day. I'll be in Dallas with #2 daughter and son-in-law, who will be renewing their wedding vows on their 10th anniversary. The Panda and Romeo are in the ceremony, and I can hardly wait to share their sweet photos with you next week!

Thank you dear Susan for sharing your love of the Tablescape with us all!

Wordless Wednesday... LOVE

If you'd like to join Wordless Wednesday, here's what you need to do...

1. Post your picture on your blog - today's subject "LOVE" .
2. Add the Wordless Wednesday logo (on my sidebar) to your post so others know you're participating.
3. Add a link on you post back to French Lique. (You're directing traffic).
4. Add your permalink and your name to Wordless Wednesday via Mr. Linky below.
5. Post a comment here...
6. Visit other Wordless Wednesday participants. (leave a comment for them so they'll be sure to come and visit you!)

**Please do not link to your blog address... just to your Wordless Wednesday post permalink. This way, even readers next week can link back to your Wordless Wednesday from today.

**Don't establish your Mr. Linky until you've put your post up. (if someone comes to visit you and you don't have your post up, they may not get a chance to come back!)
*************************************************************************************

LOVE

Driving Miss Dixie....

Whew! I've got a long drive this morning... I'm working near Austin today... about an hour and a half drive... which is not that long of a drive I know... but I'm operating on sleep deprivation this morning... I'm an eight hours a night gal, and last night... I got about five... why is that you ask?

Here's Why..

Rodeo! Yep... spent the evening at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo... cause I love pain (the seats are really close together and cramped and we sat there for four hours)! The best part of the Rodeo.. well the horses, livestock, cowboys and cowgirls of course.. but during the Bull Riding, one of those great moments where the cowboy was bucked off and ended up in front of the bull... the bull lowered it's head, nailed the cowboy from behind and butted him up into the air about six feet! The cowboy did a full flip in the air, was butted into the wall, came down on his head and shoulders... (I know, by now you're cringing)... the clowns did their job and teased the bull away... then the cowboy jumped up, dusted himself off, took off his cowboy hat (to expose his handsome chiseled face and sparkling eyes), and waved hat in hand to the crowd to let us know he was A-Ok! I love when the excitement happens and my cowboys are ok...

But the real reason for me willing to sit cramped next to Ricky and a stranger for four hours was this gal... Yep... Miss Reba McEntire... What a voice this little lady from Oklahoma has. She's been at the San Antonio Rodeo eleven times... and Ricky and me... well, we try to be with her every time...

So this morning, with little sleep... I'm drivin' to Austin, Texas... a little bleary eyed... but with my "Reba's #1 Hits" CD in the player so I can sing along with her to pass the time away... while driving Miss Dixie back home to French Lique.

Blue Monday in the Southern Hemisphere

Blue Monday is hosted by the lovely Miss Smiling Sally. Please visit her blog to see who's posting Blue today...

Every morning when I open my email at yahoo, I spend a little time with the "news photo" section. I love photography and pictures. So I just browse to see what's up in the world. This morning, this beautiful photo... taken in New Zealand; the Southern Hemisphere. So, for this Blue Monday, I've picked a photo of the beautiful blue night sky, filled with stars of the South... really-really South...
The following piece is from the Associated Press. I thought it was interesting that New Zealand is trying to preserve their clear starry sky. I hope they do. Maybe, someday, I'll get to see it in person.

"A stone chapel is shown on the edge of Lake Tekapo under the sparkling sky in New Zealand's South Island on Nov. 2, 2007. Tekapo's town folk are on a mission to protect the vast starry blanket spanning their heavens, even as the night sky disappears behind light and air pollution in many parts of the globe. "
(AP Photo/Fraser Gunn) **

Metamorphosis Monday & Decluttering the wires...

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... Visit Susan to see more participant posts today!

Part one of this post... Decorate...

I had a great painting that hung in my old house (pre-Ricky), but since marrying Ricky and moving into his house, the painting has just set stored in the guestroom, behind the bed. It had a very old and tattered antique gold frame. I've grown not to care much for the frame... but hadn't decided what to do... until the home office project...

Once I started my home office project... decluttering and decorating... I knew I had to paint.

Ricky bought me this really cool spray thingy that makes it easier to use spray paint.... no more arthritic finger cramps... works great!

So... I painted the frame... flat black... mmmmmmmmmmm...

pretty woodwork don't you think... ?

let it dry in the sun a couple of Saturday's ago...

Then reframed my beautiful Magnolia painting... Reminds me of my childhood and the South...

and hung it on the wall behind my desk... yep... I think it's going to work right there...

nope... not finished yet... but I'm getting there...

and now part two of this post... Declutter...

While I'm decorating, I'm also decluttering. One of my biggest pet peeves has been the wires. It's the reason my desk use to face the wall... there are just so many wires and they're everywhere!

But then one day at work, the IT gal was in my office installing a new flat screen for the computer on my desk. When she finished, she pulled out some of this stuff and wrapped the cords, then neatly tucked them behind the computer... so neat and organized! So, off to the Office Depot for my search... found it... (it's just a double sided velcro)...

Now the back of my desk looks like this! What a difference. I no longer cringe every time I see it!

these are a few close-ups of my computer cord declutter...

Sometimes it's the little things...

That makes all the difference down here in French Lique...