Introducing Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine

Hello Friends!

I am so excited to be able to spread the word about
the fantastic new quarterly, online e-magazine being launched by
my beautiful friend Angela at Parisienne Farmgirl!

But rather than prattle on about it myself,
I'll let Angela describe her exciting new adventure
in the short video below...

Doesn't this look just wonderful?

I have to hand it to her,
Angela is an absolute natural on camera, don't you think?
I see a future for her on, oh, say HGTV or The Food Network
in a hosting capacity! Keep that phone close by Angela, I do think
the networks will be calling!

Angela is much more than just a woman
with an unerring eye for style...

She is a masterful cook, gardner, decorator, stylist, photographer,
and has one of the most beautiful families ever.
Most importantly, she is a woman with a heart for God,
and strives to honor Him in all she does.

I'm subscribing, I hope you will, too!
I also hope to be able to squeeze in the time
to contribute to this great magazine myself { fingers crossed}!

Click HERE
for all the details,
and click  HERE to subscribe.

There's an incredible giveaway tied into the magazine launch,
so don't miss out!

Congrats, Angela!
With your combination of talent, hard work and faith,
I think you'll have a HUGE success on your hands!

I'll be back soon with
some yummy eye candy from some
recently edited photo shoots, so don't miss out!

The Magic Returns

I blogged about this exciting event

not so very long ago...

But now I have the distinct pleasure of directing you

over to my dear friend Binky's blog 

so that you can read her fabulous interview

with our mutual friend, the amazing creative visionary,

Carol Hicks Bolton.

This insightful interview will only serve to solidify

what so many of us already know...

that the innovative styles, the one-of-a-kind magic which

is seen all over blogland and so often attributed 

to other designers actually originated with Carol herself.

Click 

HERE

to take a peek into the creative mind of my friend,

Carol Hicks Bolton.

And...

if you just so happen to be in my 'hood 

in the weeks ahead...

I could NOT  be more excited!

Thank you Binky,

for allowing me to link to your fantastic interview!
And while you're over there, be sure to become a follower
of Binky La Faye,
her style, her shop and her blog are my go-to
sources for inspiration

Happy Monday!

Surprised by Romantic Country Magazine!

Those sneaky little tricksters at  

Romantic Country Magazine!

 I just adore the new Editor, Mary Forsell,
so I e-mail her regularly asking her what sorts of things
they might be looking for in the coming issues.

Well, a few months back, she gave me a short list, and among her wish list

was dress forms or mannequins. I sent her a few shots I had taken in Warrenton

this past September, and that was that, or so I thought.

Bless Mary's heart, she had been so busy that she forgot to tell me that

the art department had chosen two of my photos
for the Spring 2012 feature, on newsstands now!

I only found out this week, as I am still recovering from a nasty throat infection,

and had sent the Mister to the store for some meds, yogurt, OJ, and the new issue 

of Romantic Country, as I knew my super talented friend Shell of Bungalow Bling

was featured in the new issue.

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw

that two of my photos had indeed made the issue.

I shot the photo on the top of the page 

at my sweet friend Christie Connelly's

space in Warrenton ( get a blog, will ya, Christie?! )...

 and I shot the beautiful bald headed gal below at my buddy

Theresa Cano's space at Zapp Hall.

The Spring 2012 issue also has inspiring features

on my friends Rebecca Ersfeld  and Tracie Truran,
written and styled by Miss Fifi O'Neill herself!
It's a really great issue, be sure to grab it!

This happy news, along with my antibiotics, should be
the BEST medicine.
Back to recuperating, have a wonderful weekend and a
Happy New Year!

linking with 

common ground for vintage inspiration friday 

french country cottage for feathered nest friday

Learning a New Art

Painting.

I've never been any good at it,
not even a little bit.

I find a lot to admire
in the art of painting, however...

how a bold stroke of red, or the judicious use of just a hint

of pale blue can convey wildly divergent emotions, and depths of feeling.

One can use a heavy hand or light, feathery strokes,

each technique imbuing the work with a

contrasting mood, taking each viewer to a different place.

I'm not planning on learning to paint,

but I am planning on learning a new art.

It's called the art of letting go.

Letting go of 

Worry.

Fear.

Impatience.
Unforgiveness.

Anxiety.

Self-Recrimination.

Condemnation.

Depression.

Apathy.

and most of all,

letting go of

Regret.

I can't change the past,

but with my new set of tools in hand,

I can  paint a bright and cheery canvas on which

to build a happier 2012.

THAT is my New Year's resolution.

Wish me well,
and share your own resolutions
here with me, and us all.

Happy Wednesday, Sweet Friends.

An Ineffable Light

painting: 

Nativity at Night

by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, c. 1490

______________________________

"...the virgin knelt down with great
veneration
in an attitude of prayer,
and her back was turned to the manger....

And while she was standing thus in prayer,
I saw the child in her womb move
and suddenly in a moment she gave birth to her son,

from whom radiated such an
ineffable light
and splendour, that the sun was not comparable to it,

nor did the candle that St. Joseph had put there,
give any light at all, the divine light totally
annihilating the material light of the candle....

I saw the glorious infant lying on the ground naked and shining.
His body was pure from any kind of soil and impurity.
Then I heard also the singing of the angels,
which was of miraculous sweetness and great beauty..."

 From a vision of
Catholic mystic
Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373),
which served as the inspiration for this painting.

May His ineffable light illuminate your path
this Christmas season, and always.

Signing off for a few days, my friends...
With my love and very best wishes for you and yours,

originally posted 

Christmas 2009 & 2010

Christmas Prayers Needed

I am beyond frustrated right now...

My dad is now being rushed back for his FIFTH hip surgery

in 3 months. He keeps having complications, and he's due for

a lengthy hospital stay this time, with multiple surgical procedures

scheduled to help aggressively treat this.

And yes, he will be hospitalized over Christmas...
and New Year's. Beyond that, who knows?

He remains positive, but it's taking an emotional toll...

on him and me both.

Believing for better days ahead...



update

dad came through surgery fine, but he is still facing

several more surgeries and months of rehab.

thank you all so much for your prayers and kind words.

love you ALL!!!

Exciting News and a Giveaway Winner

Happy Monday!

Boy, do I have some thrilling news to share with all of you!

You've heard me rave about her and her marvelously talented

family on this blog many, many times...

And my own home is filled with many a priceless treasure

from their iconic store Homestead, right here in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Well, the end of an era is rapidly approaching.

Homestead is closing its beautiful doors at the end of this year.

However...

 An incredibly exciting new era is upon us!

My sweet and unbelievably talented friend  

Carol Hicks Bolton and her husband Tim

are embarking on a fabulous new adventure,

which is sure to be a feast for the senses.

Introducing the soon-to-be-open

Carol Hicks Bolton 

Antiquites 

 

I got a sneak peek inside the new building as I was doing
a walkabout in town the other day,
and it looks like it's going to be perfection.

Be sure to follow my lovely friend Binky's blog,

as she has worked alongside Carol and Tim for years,

and has an extra special feature planned on the new shop

after Christmas!

Oh, and in other news?

The lucky winner of my

Vintage Rescue Squad 2012 Calendar Giveaway

along with a copy of the new Artful Blogging featuring

my article and photos is

Donna from Brynwood Needleworks!

Congrats, Donna!

I'll be back in a couple of days with a gorgeous house tour,

so be sure to pop back in.

Happy Christmas Week!