The Egg Hunt was on today, at Lion's Park and an abundance of les adorbles were on hand, racing to fill their Easter baskets with eggs!! It was especially sweet, since this is only the second time I've seen children collect eggs, it was actually very exciting!
However, when I got home, my mom was not well and we had to go to the hospital. So, would you please think good thoughts and say a prayer for my dear, sweet mom?
Thank you!
&
Happy Easter
Love,
Constance
Today was an exceptionally beautiful day, postcard perfect and it was Jefferson's annual Pilgrimage Parade and Tour of Homes.
(Beautifiul parosol, a gift from Mélanie of Le Petit Cabinet de Curiositiés)
The American Girl Book Club donned their hats for the occasion and rode in the parade. Last year the girls took second place and I just found out that they won first place this year!
Michele is the mastermind behind this wonderful club.
And her husband is our handsome driver.
his copilot, Betsy!
Our assistants Charmain and Petra helped in every way!
Here we are ready to roll~
Also lining up for the parade, Dorothy in her Lady Bug Costume. She sat up in the back during the parade. Anna chauffeured the Lady Bug in her Beetle, too funny!!!!
It was fun to ride in the parade. It's the first one of my life.
One last thing~
To all you Mother's out there, especially mine:
Thank you for all that you do
For all your secret sacrifices
For love, unconditional.
Love,
Constance
You're never too young or too old to celebrate with style!
~ Laura's Mardi Gras Brunch ~
~ Diana and Marshall's party ~
Anika asked me if I would like to go on "The Tour"? "Well, of course" I said and she proceeded to give me "The Culinary Tour". It was touching as she pointed to the King Cake, explaining how there was a baby inside that cake!
Which reminded me of these French fèves des rois, one of my favorite collections that Noëlle gave to me years ago. They are hand made figurines which are baked into French King Cakes served during the Twelfth Night Celebration in France. A major one up from the plastic babies, don't you think?
~ Mieko's Party ~
Deborah donning double mask's
My husband and I
Karen has just realized that the baby was her piece of King Cake and you know what that means!!?? Next year, she'll be hosting the Mardi Gras party!
(Illustration from book Rex Rising)
A few highlights from our Petit Mardi Gras Parade ~ 2011
King Eddy
Cesar, my favorite float in the parade.
Caddo Indians
Pharaohs float on a boat
Even the prisoners got to watch!
Thank you for celebrating with me and
Happy Mardi Gras!!
xox
Constance
To see how the most fantastic floats are made in New Orleans, visit Dutchbaby.
They say here in Texas, if you don't like the weather.... just wait a few minutes.
We were bestowed this beautiful winter gift yesterday.
Because no one is equipped with salt or plows for icy conditions, driving and walking become dangerous. Most people just hunker down and stay holed in for a snow day.
Simultaneously, we had an electrical outage and while wandering around with a candle in six layers of clothes, I realize how much I depend on electricity. After a short while when the power was restored we all felt grateful!
A snow day is one of the only times I don't feel guilty reading during the day...and read I did. I devoured the new Fanny Flagg book, I Still Dream About You. It was the perfect book for yesterday.
Hope where ever you live you are having a good day! If you are reading this, at least your electricity must be working!!
xox
Constance
All Dolled Up
& Ready for the Annual Christmas Tour!
The doorways of Jefferson, Texas.
During our American Girl Book Club meeting last Tuesday, we studied Felicity a little girl growing up in Williamsburg, Va. in the 1700's. Michele, who leads the club meetings always makes it fun, informative and magical for the girls and me! This time one of the things she taught us, was how to communicate with a fan.
"Yes." Rest the fan on your right cheek.
"No." Rest the fan on your left cheek.
"I wish to speak with you." Close the fan.
"I desire your acquaintance." Carry the fan in your left hand before your face.
"I am engaged." Fan yourself very quickly.
"I am married." Fan yourself slowly.
"We will be friends." Drop the fan.
The girls learned how to make Tussie Mussies and also created Pomander's out of oranges and cloves.
We even practiced curtsying! Pretty cute huh?
Hope all is well in your world today!
xox
Constance
You might already be wrapped up in your woollies and wearing sock's.....
But here in Texas, I'm scouting out Autumn and know for feel certain it will be here full on soon!
In our tiny town of Texas, the Yucca's have begun to blossom because....
Finally, we've hit our wonder~weather !! These magical few terrific Autumn days which I cherish BIG TIME and do not take for granted!!!
Because my heart feels especially happy!
The turning of leaves and all the colors is a creative and visual feast. Thank you Mother Nature.
I should have been born in Autumn. I'm an Autumn Girl!
Hope each of you reading this, are happy where ever you live, what ever your weather~
xox
Constance
Last Saturday the shop Fashion Revival hosted a Vintage Fashion Show in downtown Jefferson. Marsha Thomas, who runs the Opera House Theatre furnished the collection.
An excellent trio played background music, mainly from the 1930's and 40's.
Here is some of what we saw. A wool bathing gown from the 1920's~
Wool bathing gown from the 1930's~
An evening gown and bag from the 1030's. The chiffon scarf was often used in conjunction with the evening bag, we learned.
Above a bathing suit from the 40's. Although there were no bikini's modeled during the show, my mother remembers her friend wearing one in San Francisco in 1946.
Dress from the 40's.
Bathing suit from the 50's.
Bathingsuit's from the 60's
No, these suit's wern't seen at the show, these are Rudi Gernreich's Monokini's from the 60's.
Here's a hotpants disco outfit from the 1970's
Super glad the days of wool bathing costumes are long gone, arn't you?
Hope you enjoyed this little stroll down memory lane!
xox
Constance
House of The Seasons, Jefferson, Texas.
The Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club celebrated it's 63rd annual Spring Pilgrimage last weekend.
This is a time when visitors are invited to tour four historic homes.
This beautiful home, The House of the Seasons is not just any home, but considered one of Texas' great houses!
It was named for the cupola that sits on top, once used to keep track of ships coming into port.
Each side of the small room has a different colored glass and as you gaze out the blue, you can imagine winter, the green Spring, the red, Summer and the amber looks like Autumn.
Here above, is a view looking up at the cupola from the inside.
The fresco inside a dome, features four maidens representing the seasons. The
colored glass can play tricks and give off different color
illusions, so the artist who did the restoration, had to work for weeks in the middle of the night with a lamp.
Above is a view looking down from the second floor.
and one more.
This is the Purr~son who rally owns the house, Sadie. She sat calmly beside me while I worked as a docent and let me pet her. Truth be told, I felt quite honored, as she is very sweet and a dignified cat.
To learn more about the House of the Seasons, you can link here.
It was chilly and gray on Saturday afternoon.........
but that didn't deter hundreds of bundled up parade goers!
Revelers, who come each year from nearby towns to watch our little Mardi Gras Parade.
Children and adults alike, look forward to seeing the floats, costumes, old cars and catching the "throws", (beads and doubloons and candies)!
This year, the theme was "Texas".
The weather might have been gray, but the floats were bright, cheerful and mostly of the homemade variety.
Deborah and I, donned pink wigs (can you believe her daughter and my mother both had ones to lend)? ;-) and hot~footed it downtown to watch the festivities, armed with our own little arsenal of secret surprise!
On Friday, my mom and I created these little fabric pouches.
Ones that held lucky pennies and motto's, Deborah supplied candies for "our" throws.
~*~
While leaving for the parade yesterday, my mom called out"Spread the Love"!.................
And we did!
