Window Glass

I like to set glass in my front windows to catch the light.  One of my collections has a permanent place in the dining room window...my pretty Blue Birds of Happiness.  Not all of mine are made by the famous Terra Studios, but most of them are.  I've found them all at thrifts and yard sales. 

Here is what the window looked like for quite awhile.  I love the blue glass pitchers also.

Recently I decided to change it up a bit and while in Hobby Lobby found two items for my window.

These pretty little glass tiles.  

Dragonflies are very special to me!

There were two patterns and since I couldn't decide which one and they were 1/2 price...

I got both!

So these are some of my new favorite things along with some of my old favorite things! 

Sharing at 

A Favorite Thing

Sunny Simple Monday

Seasonal Sunday

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

My 'Favorite' Helper

If you are a Cat Mom like me, then you know how much they love to be a part of everything you do!  When I'm working on a new tablescape, I often do it in stages, take a break and then look at it again to see if I like it or do I need to 'tweak' it some more.  Sometimes 'someone' just wants to help!

Or just take a nap!

Thanks Charlie! 

I want to send warm Mother's Day wishes to all the Mom's out there! 

A Big Hug to my Mom in Texas and

Hugs to my daughter Sara who is such a great Mom to my sweet Grandson!

Wishing you all JOY,

Linda

Linking to

A Favorite Thing

Seasonal Sundays

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Bon Appétit

One day a package arrived at my house

It was from a blogging friend

Just a little 'surprise' for me said

Susan @ My Mother's Apron Strings

Susan is this incredible baker who makes the most amazing food ever!  She also makes these adorable aprons and has a give away each month for one.

This is the April giveaway apron!

She is also the maker of the apron that is on a journey,

 The Sisters of the Traveling Susan Apron

I am sister #8 and I must say I loved my time with the Apron.  

It is still traveling and is with Finding Home who blogged about it today!

Susan and I have become good blogging friends and so when this package arrived at my door I was so excited to see this..........

My very own special apron! 

Susan said when she saw these fabrics she knew she had to make this for me! 

 I love it of course!

This will be me in September

(well without the blond hair and the killer body but you can't have everything!)

J'Adore Paris, J'Adore this apron and J'Adore Susan!

I can't thank you enough for this special surprise! 

I promise to get a photo of me wearing it! 

I'm joining 

A Favorite Thing

Sunny Simple Sunday

Seasonal Sunday

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

J'adore Paris

Paris

If you are a regular reader here at 

A La Carte

Then you know that my oldest daughter gifted me a trip to Paris.  I've decided that 2013 is the year I will go!!   I am so excited as I start to plan this trip! 

I have started this year with a new favorite thing!

 This amazing sign was made by my good friend and fellow blogger Jenny Matlock!

She has a great Etsy shop

Off on my Tangent

Where she makes great signs.  You can buy from her samples or she will do a made to order as she did for me! I asked her to make me a Paris sign and requested pale pink and black, after a few emails back and forth she had it!

It came out better then I could have dreamed!

I love it.  Pale pink with a charcoal Paris and an Eiffel Tower....Perfect! 

This is going to hang over my bed as I dream about my trip to Paris!

 Thank you Jenny! 

As I make plans I will be sharing some of that here on my blog.  

This is a trip of a lifetime!

  

I was in Target the other day and saw this....

Isn't it just too cute!  In the dollar spot at Target, of course I got one for me...but I also got one for you!  Well one of you! 

 I will be adding little items to it monthly as we lead up to the trip.  I'll do a giveaway before I go and one lucky reader will get the bag and contents AND I will buy them something in Paris!  

Paris Update~January

My cousin was planning to be my travel partner on my trip, but unfortunately it's not to be.  A few weeks before Christmas she went to the Dr about a persistent cough.  While there he realized she had Afib and Immediately sent her to the hospital emergency room.  She ended up spending almost 4 weeks in the hospital and there were some touch and go moments.  She is home now but wearing what they call a 'life vest' that monitors her heart.  She cannot drive yet and since this appears to be a long term problem has reluctantly decided she cannot go on this trip.  I will miss her company but have decided I will continue my plans to make this trip in September! 

My first big decision will be where to stay.  I am looking at staying in a studio apt so I can have a small kitchen.  I will be staying at least 10 days so this seems a good idea.  Anyone who has been to Paris and has recommendations please share with me.  I am open to all suggestions!

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A Favorite Thing

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Wising You JOY,

Linda

Some Favorite Things

I love Christmas and all the fun and bling that goes along with it.  I have long been a lover of Christmas socks!  Yes you heard that right.  I love my Christmas socks!  I wear them almost daily from Thanksgiving until New Years!  Over the years I have collected quite a few, some I buy and some are gifts.  They last a long time when you only wear them a couple of times a year!  Ho Ho Ho!!

 Here are the Santa socks

 With this pair being my favorite!

You lift the cuff to see Santa's undies...

A gift from a friend who understands my wacky sense of humor

 This pair is fairly new with Santa and Reindeer!

 Of course I have Cat Christmas socks!

 I wear these all the time!

Here are the snowmen, snowy socks

I really like this pair in purple and pink and only $1

So not only do I love Christmas socks...I love Christmas jewelry! Yes I do!

I have a couple of  bracelets

I love this silver snowman one 

I have Christmas pins!

This cute cat one was a gift and one of my favorites!

These two are from Hallmark and pretty darn old!

And my favorite jewelry of all

EARRINGS!

 Cat earrings, also a gift and I truly love these

 I bought these dangle snowman earrings on a whim but I wear them often and get lots of comments...they really are cute!  

You can't go wrong with lightbulb earrings and of course my dressy snowflakes!  

So there you have some of my Christmas Bling!

I am joining in these really fun parties!

A Favorite Thing 

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Joy to all,

Linda

A New Favorite Thrifty Christmas Thing!

Last week I stopped in a thrift store and could not resist this cute Santa!

Santa hugging a couple of polar bears just makes me smile!   

For $3 I brought him home

I think I'll put hime here on top of the desk with my JOY plate!

Looks good but what about adding

My IKEA lantern with a red candle! 

Now I love it!  

I'm sure I'll 'tweak' it as I continue decorating but for now 

I really love my new thrifty Santa!

Sharing the Joy at these parties 

Thrifty Things Friday (yes I know i'm late)

A Favorite Thing

Sunny Simple Sunday

Seasonal Sundays

Linda

A Favorite Thing at Mom's House #3

This week's Favorite Thing is very special

My Dad, who passed away 7 years ago was a Iowa farm boy who always loved the outdoors, gardening and hummingbirds!  They just fascinated him!  We always had feeders around and Dad would spend hours just watching them.  This is the last good photo I took of him before he got so ill and then passed away!

My Mom keeps this on the mantel in her home!

We had given Dad a potting bench for his birthday and he loved it.

Many years ago my Mom made something very special for her husband

In 1990, long before my Dad became ill,

this appliqued quilted wall hanging was a gift to him

I think it is so well done and it was a favorite thing of my Dad's.  It was in his nursing home room until the end.  Now it lives once again with Mom.

I also love hummingbirds and think of my Dad when I see one!  So today, this is one of my favorite things at my Mom's house! 

Joining

A Favorite Thing

&

Sunny Simple Sunday

Hugs, 

Linda

A Favorite Quilt

I thought since I was here at my Mom's house I would share some 'favorite' things of hers!  We are downsizing and went through a couple of closets yesterday.  This was in one of them.

This applique quilt....

All the squares were done by different ladies in Mom's quilt group many years ago.  Mom put it together and had it machine quilted.  

It is gorgeous and guess what?

It's now mine!  Mom is giving this beauty to me!

Thank you Mom for this lovely quilt.  I will use it on my bed this winter and treasure it forever!

I'm joining 

A Favorite Thing 

and

Sunny Simple Sunday

These photos do not do it justice!

Hugs,

Linda

Hot Sunday In The ATL

We are in the middle of a heat wave! 

I mean Hot, Hot, Hot-lanta!

Not much to do but sit under a fan and take it easy.  I've been watching some of the Olympic Trials in 

Gymnastics, Swimming and Track & Field

I'm really looking forward to the Olympics this year!

I did start putting Red, White & Blue in the cubbies.  This Statue of Liberty (found in a thrift shop) is one of my newest additions.   I saw this great monument back in the 1970's in my one and only trip to NYC!

Maybe I'll get there again one day!

I love this new Texas mug!  

Being my birth state I add Texas items to the R,W & B cubbies!

Souvenirs from my trip to Canada and a wish for a wonderful Canada Day for all my friends up there!

I just finished celebrating my Birthday 

(it takes the whole month of June you know)

Yesterday I received a present from a lovely Canadian blogging friend!

Two Pink Gooseberry Cinderella Mixing Bowls!!

I am so thrilled!  France at Passion Of Milkglass Collecting found these gorgeous bowls and said she would send them to me for my Birthday! 

What an amazing and wonderful friend! 

France I love them and you!!

I had one Pink Gooseberry and now with the two she has sent me I almost have the complete set! 

I hope you are staying cool and enjoying this first Sunday in July!

I'm joining 

Seasonal Sunday

and

Sunny Simple Sunday

Toujours,

Linda

Birds In The Cubbies!

I am going to re-do the cubbies for 4th of July but before I do I thought I would show you a few pictures of the birds that have landed in the cubbies~

Looks like a flock!

This vignette features some of my Marjolein Bastin collection

I really love this Couroc tray

Say Tweet Tweet!

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Seasonal Sunday

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Sunny Simple Sunday!

Toujours,

Linda