Memorial Day

Today we remember and honor those courageous men and women who have served our country to protect our freedom.I am grateful and proud of my father and father-in-law who served in the navy and air force during World War II. 

In two weeks we celebrate the famous invasion of Normandy known as D-Day. It is the 70th year since the event that marked the turning point in the war. There will be several events and commemorations planned in Normandy and guess what? I'll be there! My husband sings in a choir that has been invited to 
perform at some of the 

D-Day venues. 

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We've been catching up on WWII movies to get a sense of what happened there. The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan are two of the better known depictions of the invasion.

St. Mer Eglise is the church where the US paratrooper got caught in the church spires. If you look closely at the photo you can see a parachute with a mannequin hanging from the top. The town has done this to honor the soldiers who came to liberate them. 

The choir has a concert scheduled here. 

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 Scott and I have been to Normandy once before. Twelve years a go I started my antique business and we went to France and England on a shopping trip. Here are just a few pics of our trip. 

The town square in Rouen where Joan of Arc was martyred.

 Rouen Cathedral, the stones are riddled with bullet holes from the war.

 Monsieur Tetelin and me in his antique store in Rouen.

  

This gorgeous boucher table is probably my favorite piece that I bought.

We are so excited for our upcoming trip and I will be sharing our adventures! 

 I like to party with

               Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage

Bamboo Placemats

I've seen a lot of twig and bamboo placemats in

 magazines and blogs and I love the look.

They work for spring, 

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or winter. 

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They can be casual or dressed up.

However, they can be a bit pricey. I've seen them for $10-12 apiece  and I just didn't want to spend that much. Happily, I found some at Goodwill a couple of weeks ago. Six of them for $2.50 each. That's more my budget!

Even though summer is upon us I kept with the warm tones of the bamboo and used my Wedgwood Old Chelsea dinner plates. I received 8 salad plates as wedding gifts and then found 8 dinner plates at an estate sale. The flatware I also found thrifting, it is Hampton Bistro.

I love these chocolate brown linen napkins, they belonged to my grandmother.

I added a sage green burlap runner that I made recently and I still have a few centerpieces left from my daughters wedding 2 years ago.

These are goblets by Lenox in the Antique Brown pattern. Very rich looking.

So there is my summer tablescape inspired by my new

 twig placemats.

I like to party with 

                    Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Friday's 5 @ DIY Vintage Chic

Bouquet of Talent@Life on Lakeshore Drive

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage

French Berry Bowls

 How cute are these? I found these adorable French berry bowls while thrifting last week. 

They are made for the Chambord company which makes raspberry liqueur.

The bowls are modeled after the carafe that the liqueur is bottled in. I'd love to find an empty one of these!

They are perfect for serving berries, ice cream, 

yogurt or cereal.

Isn't this a nice way to start the day?
If interested, 
I'll be taking them to the antique store this week!

I like to party with

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Home and Garden Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage

Happy Anniversaries!

It's a big week at our house. My wonderful husband and I celebrated our 37th anniversary yesterday. Wow!

And I'm also celebrating my 12th year of being in the antique and design business.

 In May 2002 we took an amazing trip to France and England and brought home a container full of European treasures. It's been quite an adventure and I'm still at it. In fact, we head to France in few weeks and I'm sure I'll bring home lots of goodies!  

Since I started selling antiques I've been in several different locations but I've never shared photos of my shops and booths. 

Things are always changing-what's here today will probably be gone tomorrow! I do love this business, come and see my treasures at  Merchant Square in Chandler Arizona.

I like to join

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Thrifty Life Thursday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage

Random Projects

When I woke up Thursday morning I realized that I didn't have any appointments to keep, no deadlines, nothing specific looming on the horizon. My house was fairly clean, laundry done, pantry stocked. A free day! Time to work on some projects! 

Well, this little little project did have a deadline. A friend of a friend is getting married today and Anna called me a couple of days ago to ask a favor. Could I make an etched glass jar for the sign in table? I've only done glass etching a couple of times so I am no expert, but I did have all of the materials at hand. I merely put the initials of the couple and the date on the jar. The guests will be asked to share their wishes written on smooth pebbles and placed in the jar. 

(Yes, a Pinterest idea.)

I learned it's hard to photograph etched glass.

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So as long as my glass etching tools were out I decided to do a project that I had long put off - label my baking dishes. I learned something else. Glass etching doesn't work very well on Pyrex brand glass. I tried twice on one of my 9x13 pans with no success. Then I read online that this process works better on Anchor Hocking dishes. I did have one 9x9 Anchor Hocking dish, and yes, this time it worked. I used Armour Etch brand cream, maybe a different brand works on Pyrex. Like I said, I'm not an expert, but I do like the way this turned out!

Next a made a small coat rack for the new vacation home. This is an old kitchen cabinet drawer front. I gave it a coat of paint, some distressing and finished with some dark wax. Then drilled and screwed in 3 wrought iron hooks. This will go in the back hall.

I love my herb garden and I have been harvesting  armfuls lately! I found this charming purse style basket at the Goodwill earlier this week for $2. I filled it with dried yarrow, lavender, dusty miller and oleander.

And finally, I did a little sewing. I made 2 more pillows to go in the master bedroom of the new house. These should coordinate nicely with the rest of the bedding.

Yay! I love days when I can stay home and have fun! 

I like to join these parties

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tuesday Treasure @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage