Decoupage

I've always enjoyed painting and decoupaging pots. If you peek in the door of my potting shed you will find several stacks of plain terra cotta pots awaiting embellishment when the cooler weather arrives.

These below I decorated some years ago ~ they move around from shelf to shelf on the Welsh dresser in the dining room.

The one with the butterflies is a favorite. I was pleasantly surprised to see this image in the ad below in a current national magazine. Target will be selling John Derian decorative items during the month of September. He is the master of decoupage ~ cutting and gluing paper images to surfaces ~ his special talent being layering images under glass such as plates, platters, paperweights, coasters, bowls, bell jars, urns etc. I will be checking the Target offers as they often do well with affordable designer items.

Walking to France

Carcassonne, France~2006

Before visiting France in October, I need to get some exercise! The heat of this Summer has kept me indoors a lot. My walking shoes have been left empty by the door and the spare pair in the trunk of the car has probably broiled in the heat! Every now and then I play 'Hampton and The Hamster Dance' - go ahead laugh but I assure you it will get you moving! It will not however provide the same benefits as some serious walking.



Staying here while in Provence.

France......................aah! Think food, of course, great food. Beginning with breakfast croissants and baguettes still warm from the village boulangerie oven, followed by a light lunch to hold one until dinner...........that lovely time when, the foods of France and the talents of great cooks, bring families and friends together for leisurely eating and interesting conversation. Think wine, fabulous wine from grapes growing all around the village where I'll be staying - just take your jug and fill at the co-op for a couple of euros!

My neighborhood running/walking track.

So before climbing the hills of the Luberon which I'll also be visiting on a side trip to Provence, and to have the stamina required for many hours of market browsing so I can bring you photos of all the lovely things to buy..........................I plan to be walking here (Boring? Yes!) as often as possible.

My posts may become sporadic for a while - walking takes time - however I will check in with you now and then. I'm also cleaning out closets and organizing Fall clothing, spending a lot of time on my French homework assignments, trying to keep the parched garden from completely dying on me, making some important travel plans for next year, and squeezing in a little time for some creative projects which need attention.......as well as all the regular household stuff.

Life is busy, but then that's what life's all about, right?

Pink Saturday

"Come quickly Grandma, there's a visitor on the front doormat and I've taken a photo for you".

It had not flown into the glass storm door, thank goodness. This little fledgling was just visiting with its Daddy, a handsome tri-color Eastern Towhee, who was giving lessons on how to find food and take a drink from the fountain.

And look at this Dad.....................packing up the car to take the entire family on a Summer road trip in that big old gas guzzler................bet those were the days of 29 cents a gallon gas!

Hopefully that Mom will soon be out of that ladylike dress with the Peter Pan collar, and into her nifty swimming costume to join these gals who certainly seem to enjoy the beach.

Vintage pink framed prints from SuzAnna's Antiques

***** Hot Pink Saturday in the Summertime *****

Visit Pink Saturday hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for the complete list of participants. Lots of fun pink posts to visit this week.

Friday's Favorite Family Foto

Driving to Spain from the South of France takes you through the incredibly picturesque Mediterranean seaside town of Collioure. Just a few miles north of the Spanish border it has a strong Catalan culture. The beautiful ancient terraced vines in the hills behind the town produce a fine full-bodied red wine and also the tiny sun baked grapes for the famous Banyuls aperitif and dessert wine.
Sharing a short travelogue from a favorite place plus pics of family having fun.

These favorite pictures of my brother, niece and granddaughter were taken when we stopped here for a quick beach breakfast of pain au chocolat and croissants, followed by rock climbing and a whiz around the local outdoor market.

Collioure - June 2006



Collioure's famous lighthouse converted into a church, Notre-Dame-des-Anges.
The medieval streets and the Royal Castle on the distant hill.
Today, August 15, Collioure starts its famous 3-day Summer celebration and the population doubles with visitors coming from all over France. I wish I could go back and join in!!

Deborah at Pictures, Pots & Pens is our hostess for Friday's Favorite Family Foto.

If Walls Could Talk

You move through the shop taking in the array of antique and vintage treasure piled on tables and chests, tucked into corners on shelves, balanced on wobbly chairs. You glance up. There, hanging silently, are the chandeliers, the prisms catching the afternoon sun as it streams through the big open doors. The delicate lighter chairs, waiting for a dining table, swing from the rafters. In the vintage kitchen section, old timey hand mixers and box graters dangle like holiday ornaments.

But don't forget the walls! I especially love the treasures hanging on weathered wood with peeling paint, on vintage bits of leftover wallpaper, on painted brick or natural stone. The walls themselves are treasures too, becoming lovely backdrops for prints and paintings, or for frames holding pictures, mirrors, pieces of tapestry embroidery or photos. Often frames are empty and their loveliness awaits some special treasure you might like to place inside.

All photos of treasures taken at SuzAnna's Antiques last weekend when shopping with my fun blog friends.

Framed smidgen of tapestry to give a room a touch of France.

Such an elegant 'black tie' apron.

Rusty iron ~ shimmering crystal.

The sconce of my heart ~ now on sale, shall I splurge?

What a great idea ~ using the little metal bench as a picture 'frame'.

Very old wedding photograph ~ circa early 1900's by the clothing I think ~ a huge family. Someone should have kept this treasure for future generations of their family.

Friendship

When you are fortunate to meet some of your blogger friends in person it can be a really fun time......and even more special if you can hang out with them at a favorite place!

On Saturday I met up with Deborah from Pictures, Pots & Pens, and Vanessa from Vanilla Lavender - we three have been known to hunt often at SuzAnna's Antiques - and we were thrilled to welcome Jeanne from Backyard Neighbor who came down from her beautiful home in the North Carolina mountains to spend time with us. We enjoyed a great lunch at Cafe Capistrano and then headed across the road to SuzAnna's. Jeanne is an expert treasure hunter, having been in the antiques business for many years with her sisters. I was so impressed at her knowledge of items she picked out. We all had a great time together - hope we can do this again soon.

Deborah, Mary, Vanessa and Jeanne

Sometimes you pick your friends, sometimes they pick you.

~ Anonymous ~

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.

~ Douglas Pagels ~

The Dance Class

My granddaughter Jasmin spent two hours a day last week in a wonderful class named "Art & Dance Extravaganza". The small group of participants built a village of clay, painted and collaged several pieces of colorful art, and choreographed and performed an amazing dance. All the elements came together in a celebration of life. What made it special was that some children were physically handicapped and yet they joyfully joined in. How touching it was to see a loving mother carry her son with Down Syndrome on her back to enable him "to dance".

At the end of the class the teacher and her assistant sat the children in a circle and allowed them to reach into a bag and take out a gift wrapped in tissue paper. Each gift was a smooth pebble with one word carved into surface - Jasmin's word was HOPE. This incredibly patient and talented teacher told the class that this dance was "their dance". Never performed by anyone else, at any other time, or in any other place, it belonged only to each of them. Those words truly touched my soul....................these are words that make a difference in a child's life. The world needs more teachers like this.