Thursday, April 30, 2009

Parisian Goodies






This looks like a cool place to check out while in Paris. I love the silver chocolate pots, french bowls and other fun goodies spilling out the door. And there are 5 boutiques around Paris, so we are bound to "trip" over one!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Family Visits

We had a wonderful visit with mom and dad! Time always goes too fast when we are together. I am always a little melancholy after they leave, because I know it will be a while until I see them again. 

My sweet mom cleaned out one of my closets while she was here! Aren't moms the best? I took a load of clothes to the thrift store yesterday. Coats that DH and I wore pre-Savannah to the Grand Canyon, a bridesmaid dress I wore years ago, a Joan Vaas outfit that I loved and worked hard to buy, a skirt I wore to my Grandaddy's funeral....so many memories. 




Monday, April 27, 2009


"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."

                                                    
                                                  -Anna Quindlen

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Main Street, Marathons and Choral Performances

We have had a fun filled weekend! Mom and Dad came in on Thursday and Mandy came in Friday afternoon.  We played Mexican dominoes and I am proud to say Mom won, not DH. He has called for a rematch.  He says we all talked too much and he lost his concentration....right!

Saturday morning Mandy slipped out quiet as a mouse around 4:50 am and drove down to run in the 'Music City Marathon.' When we all decided to get up, Dad mixed and rolled out beignets for us all. Delicious! Mom said these were the best he had ever made. I think we say that every time! Mandy had a great run even though it was a scorcher of a day and was able to come back to the house and go with us to the Main Street festival.  Sav found a pair of earrings and the rest of us just browsed.  It was so hot!

Mandy left for Memphis and we hated to see her go. She promised her little ones she would be home in time to go with them to Dairy Queen.  She has grown up to be a smart, strong, beautiful mother and wife.  I am so proud of her and know Charlotte is too! We are all going to have a blast in Paris!

Today was a good day of worship and then tonight mom, dad, Mr & Mrs. C, Julie, Jax and John D all came to here Sav's choral performance.  It was incredible! They just have one more performance at the University in May and they will be finished for another year.

Today is Jodie's birthday...Happy Birthday dear friend! All five of us sang 'Happy Birthday' through the speaker phone onto her cell phone voice mail, she is going to crack up or cry when she hears it. Hope it makes her day brighter!

On to Monday! I am keeping Mom and Dad here until Tuesday...wish I could keep them longer!


Thursday, April 23, 2009

A Cottage Garden Story




I just had to include these photos of Jodie and her lovely cottage garden. Her garden is featured in the April issue of 'Tennessee Gardener' magazine.  It's a sweet article written by another of our friends, the 'Cracked Pot' gardener, Cindy, who also blogs and has written a book herself. Cindy and Jodie have been friends for years and years and Cindy knows all the hard work Jodie and Tom have put into their garden. Both Jodie and Cindy have such giving and loving hearts and I am so blessed to have them as my forever friends! Many a table, wedding and friends have been given flowers from this little peaceful setting. One of my favorite parts of the garden is a trickling water feature made from a grist mill stone.  Jodie has place beautiful pebbles and rocks from her travels in and around. There is even a stone that I love to touch that Tom brought back from the area where David fought Goliath when he visited the Bible lands!

 My pictures do not do the article justice and the garden right now is even more incredible! Just check out those 'Lady Banks' roses that Jodie shares with me and are on my kitchen table as we speak! Well done girls!!

A Main Street Weekend





Lovely day here! My mom and dad come in tonight and Mandy comes in tomorrow night for her "Music City Marathon". 

Saturday we plan to go to the "Main Street Festival" here in downtown Franklin, Tennessee. It's always a lot of fun and after so many years, we have favorite booths we have to visit. From handmade pottery to handmade jewelry to live music and great food, there is something for everyone to see! Maybe even a country music star!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Precious Little One


Yesterday was a day of "preciousness". Is that a word? Baby Justus came and stayed with me while his mommy and sister attended a school Spring program. He was happy the whole time! I just marvel anew at such a little miracle. His little fingers were always moving and reaching for something new to discover. 

Thank you Mindy for letting me cuddle with your precious one for a little while! Thank you Hannah for telling me what songs Justus likes to have sung to him!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Little Dorrit




Last night we had to rush home after Savannah's wonderful chorus performance so I could see part 4 of 5 episodes of Charles Dickens' Little Dorrit. You know how I do love a period piece! I thought DH was making every 2 minute story into a 10 minute one! He can really talk a lot when he wants to, and when I want to get home.

BBC one is also planning a new release of Jane Austens' Emma for 2010. Can't wait!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Latest Paris Reading List





Associated Ladies of Lipscomb Fashion Show




On this glorious Saturday morning, I enjoyed the annual "A.L.L." fashion show. Kimberly invited me, Susan, Nancy, Lynne, Sherry and Melissa to gather around her festive table and oooh and aaah over the Belk Spring/Summer fashions. The table decor was a mint julep cup with bright carnations. Very happy!

Kimberly gave me the most adorable birthday presents! Bright pink and green metallic passport covers for our upcoming trip, a travel log with maps for Paris/Milan/London all in a precious little french pot! I love it!! 

We all had fun catching up, laughing, giggling and had a GREAT girls day out!

Friday, April 17, 2009



PHYLLIS HOFFMAN
speaks and signs 
Southern Lady:
Gracious Spaces
Tuesday, April 21st
7:00 pm
In Southern Lady: Gracious Spaces, Phyllis takes readers on a tour of gorgeous Southern homes featuring treasured spots for retreating from the world and finding solace. In her warm, encouraging voice, Phyllis explains how to employ a personal touch to craft and embellish a space that's both inspirational and functional. Phyllis recalls how she developed her own personal style-and how you can develop yours.

Davis Kidd Booksellers, Nashville, Tennessee
Are we going to go Kimberly?

Harvey & Azalea Decorate Their Bedroom




Harvey and Azalea wanted to share the two new pieces of art hanging on their wall in their room. Harvey chose the blue and of course Azalea chose the pink.  They love that they are right at their eye level and can enjoy the fellow doggies having their tea, while they have their dinner.



I just had to show you my beautiful HUGE white "bleeding heart" plant! It's gorgeous this year. Jodie brought down some lovely "Lady Banks" roses from her garden for my table. They are a happy, sunny yellow.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

I have my window raised and I love hearing the birds singing and the dogs barking (not mine this time) outside. The weather is gorgeous here and it truly feels like Spring.  

DH and I bought a push mower yesterday at Costco and he put it together and cut the yard. It looks wonderful! He said he really enjoyed doing it too. We have had a yard service for years and DH decided he would start cutting it again himself. Last night he said it had been years since he had walked every part of our property. He felt like he had been missing a part of being involved in work around the house.  I thought that was sweet and I noticed there was more of a spring in his step. I hope he still feels that way in July and August when it is hot, hot, hot around here. When he does something, he does it 110%. 

I called mom and dad yesterday and invited them up for a visit. I was hoping to head down to see them in May when Sav got out of school, but DH said June would be better with the Paris trip coming up then. So I knew I could not go the whole month of April and May without seeing them. Mom and Dad both got on the phone and we had to synchronize out date books. Mom and her sister, my Aunt Betty, have planned a trip to southern Florida to check out some orange grove acreage they both own and need to go see, so we had to work around that. They always have church work going on like us too and then they always need to see if Les and the kids (or her dogs) need them. Well, we finally found a date at the end of this month when it works for all of us and they will get to hear Sav's chorus sing on a Sunday night. It would be perfect if Les, Todd and the kids could come too! It's good to have it down on the calendar and I can look forward!

Having been home most of the winter, I am getting the travelling bug. Les and I have started text messaging each other travel ideas and tips on what to take (and not to take) on the Paris trip. It is going to be crazy fun going with my daughter, sister and long time friends, who we are comfortable and silly with! France is not going to know what hit them when we Southern women invade! They'll love us!

 

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A Comic Jane Austen?


Marvel Comics has come out with a 5 part Pride & Prejudice. I guess if it encourages someone to pick up the real thing, it's a good thing? From the pictures I have seen, it looks a little harsh. I'll stick to the real thing with a helpful dose of imagination!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Fun











































Julie, John and Jax had us over for Sunday lunch and an Easter egg hunt.  Lots of fun! 

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!
































"Up From the Grave He Arose!"

Saturday, April 11, 2009