A Walk in the Countryside

Sweet Pink Tulips

2013-05-22T13:12:00.001-05:00

Do you ever feel a little down or a little sad and just don’t know why? I feel like that every now and then! The last time I had one of those days, my sweet husband bought me some pretty pink tulips to brighten my day!

I added some real greenery from the flowerbeds and some faux flowers! I pulled out my little collection of milk glasses vases to arrange them in. To break up the white on white, I used a silver platter.

The pink chargers, which are just some spray painted gold ones, are topped with Summer Chintz china by Johnson Brothers. I purchased them a couple of months ago at a Goodwill store for a buck apiece!

I used vintage yellow napkins to bring out the yellow in the flowers. The napkin rings add another silver element to the table.

The flatware is a vintage silver-plate that I found years ago.

The beautiful etched stemware was a recent thrifty find at Goodwill, 59 cents each! Amethyst stemware is from Old Time Pottery.

Flowers are just a good pick me up! I’m so blessed to have such a loving husband!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Summer Coastal Mantel

2013-05-20T11:23:00.001-05:00

Well, we’re hitting the 90’s this week so I think Summer is here for us in South Louisiana! The painting that I got last year is out of storage and back over the mantel. It’s so much brighter in here since I repainted the walls in this grayish white color. I think the name of the paint is Mineral Spirit from Behr.

I used the mercury glass that I made awhile back. To see that post, click here. The glass cylinder is filled with sand, sea glass, rope and a starfish. The sea glass is from Pottery Barn, I purchased it last year but they have it for this year as well! The sand is from Home Depot.

I splurged this year and purchased the coral from Pottery Barn as well. Last year while at the beach, I priced it at several different places and they all seem to run about the same price.

The tall lantern is a recent purchased from Hobby Lobby. The driftwood filler is from Pottery Barn. My husband almost had a fit when he heard I bought a bag of “sticks!” I loved how they looked at the store but I’m still not satisfied with how I used mine so I know this lantern will be looking different soon!

Have you started your Summer decorating or still hanging on to Spring!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Project Inspired @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Cloche Party @ A Stroll thru Life

Deep Fried Okra as an Appetizer?

2013-05-17T08:22:00.001-05:00

When I was younger I was not an okra fan! You couldn’t pay me to eat it! As I’ve gotten older, I have discovered the benefits of using okra to thicken gumbo’s and stews but the way I really love it, is fried! Not only does it make a great side dish but an appetizer as well!

DEEP FRIED OKRA

cut okra

meal mixture (equal parts of corn meal and flour)

milk

salt

pepper

frying oil

Soak okra in milk for 30-60 minutes. Roll in meal mixture. Add salt and pepper. Deep fry in hot oil until golden brown.

That’s it, a little messy but very easy and taste delicious!

Sharing with:

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
See Ya in the Gumbo @ Ms. enPlace

On the Menu Monday @ StoneGable

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Back for Seconds Social Part @ Back for Seconds

Spring Flowers

2013-05-14T16:22:00.001-05:00

Hello, everyone! Today’s tablescape was inspired by the flowers in the centerpiece! The purple flowers were a gift from some friends and I mixed in the yellow daises. You can’t really tell in the picture but the tablecloth in a very pale pink in a vintage design.

The rattan chargers gives the table a little texture. Purple dinner plates and green salad plates were topped with a pretty floral plate. I love the details in this plate, from the ladybugs on the leaves to the bees and dragonflies circling around.

The cup and saucers are have the same design.

Amethyst stemware from Old Time Pottery.

I recently found the green napkin rings and white napkins at Goodwill. I have been passing up white napkins because I have so many but there was no way I could pass up the Swiss Dot pattern.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

MAS*H 4077th Backyard Tour

2013-05-13T07:39:00.001-05:00

Source

I love M*A*S*H, we have the complete series on dvd and watch it often. However, I don’t think I’m their biggest fan by any means! Check out this backyard from Rate My Space!

I believe this may be the ultimate fan! This is his actual backyard!

This is a replica of the Swamp, where Hawkeye and the other surgeons bunked down!

Wow, check out the attention to detail! The owner did include a mini fridge and cd player tucked away out of sight. This is where he has his poker games with his friends.

Here is Colonel Potter’s tent.

This is just amazing to me! The series premiered in the U.S. on September 17, 1972, and ended February 28, 1983, with the finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", becoming the most watched television episode in U.S. television history at the time, with a record-breaking 125 million viewers. The series, which covered a three-year military conflict, spanned 251 episodes and lasted eleven seasons. Would you makeover your backyard like your favorite show?

All pictures are from Rate My Space.

SHARING WITH:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

The Laura–A Creole Plantation Part 3

2013-05-09T18:08:00.001-05:00

Here are some pictures of Laura though the years. Originally named after her great grandfather, the Duparc Plantation name was changed in 1874 to "The Laura." In 1872, Laura's grandmother, Elisabeth, divided the plantation, giving half to Laura's father, Emile, 3,000 acres plus the Big House, and, to his sister, Aimee, was given 3,000 acres and the sugar mill. The following year, Emile had a successful harvest but, his sister and mother, wanting to take back his half of the farm, refused him the use of Aimee's sugar mill. His entire crop spoiled, Emile found lenders in New Orleans and, in 1873, built his own sugar mill. To celebrate the mill's opening, Emile asked Laura to invite her teenage girl friends, instructing them to suggest a name for his new mill. Laura's best friend, Lily LeGendre, offered "the Laura Mill." Realizing the opportunity, Emile, in front of Elisabeth & Aimee, declared that his half of the plantation would be called "the Laura Plantation." When Laura sold the farm in 1891 to the Florian Waguespack family, she stipulated that from that sale forward, the name of the farm must be called "the Laura Plantation." Laura was born in 1861 and died in 1963 at the age of 102. After she sold the plantation in 1891, she moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to live with her husband.

This is a view from the back balcony. The building you see in the distance is the Maison de Reprise. It was built in 1829 by Laura’s great grandmother as a “retirement home.” If you did not work for the family business, you did not reside in the main home. So upon her retirement, she purchased a slot of land from the plantation and had this built. After retirement, she lived an additional 30-35 years!

I really hope that one day, before it’s too late, that funds will become available to where this beautiful old building can be restored! This is what the house looked like in 1919.

I scanned it from this book, “Memories of the Old Plantation Home” by Laura Lecoul Gore.

It is an excellent resource for more information about the plantation and Laura’s life. Before her death, she wrote down her memoirs for her children and held in safe keeping by a family friend. The manuscript was not found until restorers of the plantation were searching for old pictures and other documentation. It is an amazing book that gives the reader a glimpse of her own life as well as stories passed down in her family. I purchased the book and highly recommend it! If you click on the picture, it will take you to Amazon, where it can be purchased. Another resource is The Laura website. It also has quite a bit of information, including this info that I’ve shared below!

Laura Plantation was rescued from demolition, not because of its Big House but, because of its remaining slave quarters and what happened in them many years ago. In the 1870s, Alcée Fortier, a young neighbor of Laura's, visited the workers' cabins at this site and at nearby plantations. On his visits, he wrote down stories that he heard the former slaves telling their children in French. Throughout his life, Fortier was known for the passion he had for his native Creole culture and for his special interest in recording folklore that he, as a child, had been exposed to on his family plantation on the River Road and in New Orleans.

Source

As a teenager, Fortier began to collect these stories from former slaves, all lively accounts of Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki, the clever rabbit and the stupid fool. In 1894, Fortier, the president of the American Folklore Society and Dean of Foreign Languages of Tulane University, published his stories, entitling them "Louisiana Folktales."

One year later, Fortier's friend and colleague in Georgia, Joel Chandler Harris, published stories that he had heard in English, tales told by former slaves (whose ancestors were from Senegal) in Georgia and the Carolinas. To great success, Harris published "Tales of Uncle Remus", including his "The Little Tar Baby." Ever since, English-speakers would know Compair Lapin as that rascal: Br'er Rabbit.

To purchase a copy, as written by Alcee Fortier in 1894, click on the picture above. Below is an original slave cabin that remains at the plantation today. It was in cabins, such as this, that the old stories were told!

I hope you have enjoyed this tour of The Laura Plantation. If you missed any previous posts, I have them listed below:

Part 1

Part 2

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Oh, the Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper

The Laura–A Creole Plantation Part 2

2013-05-07T15:25:00.001-05:00

Welcome back to The Laura Plantation! Today we’re touring the dining room and the preparation room.

The table is set with some lovely gold trimmed china.

Gold trimmed serving pieces…

You will see many tables like this in antebellum homes. This is called a petticoat table. As the ladies walked by, they could check their petticoats in the mirror.

This is the preparation room where the cooked food would have been brought in from the kitchen prior to serving the family in the dining room.

This room is much more rustic than other antebellum homes that I have toured. Most have a nice butler’s pantry that also housed china.

Be sure and stop back by on Thursday afternoon! I’ll be posting Part 3 that will include a little more Creole history!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

The Laura–A Creole Plantation Part 1

2013-05-05T15:06:00.001-05:00

Today I’m sharing another plantation that we saw on our recent trip down the River Road. The Laura Plantation is steeped in history and we had a fantastic tour guide to share it with us! It’s not as fancy as Houmas House because it was more of a working plantation. Creole families also believe “business was family, and the family was business” meaning the business could only be passed down only to family. Gender was not a deciding factor either, the smartest, whether male or female, young or old, would be given control. This was definitely not the norm for that time period.

Both Creole and Cajun cultures can be considered as Louisiana's alternatives to the Anglo-American mainstream. Whereas Creole is the cultural life-style that flourished in Louisiana before it was the United States, Cajun refers to the descendants of the Acadians of Nova Scotia (once called Acadie) who were forcibly exiled in the 1750s, placed in internment camps for 10-30 years and who would eventually migrate to Louisiana and live separate from the established Creole and later Anglo elements of Louisiana well into the 20th Century.

The plantation was built in 1804-1805 by Guillaume DuParc, a French veteran of the American Revolution. It was originally known as the Duparc Plantation. It was set a mere 600 foot from the Mississippi River. In order to protect it from sinking, the vertical columns extend eight feet underground in 72 pyramids of brick, touching each other at the base, creating a solid brick flooring. Remember this is eight foot in the ground! All the bricks were handmade on the plantation.

The above picture is a view of the ceiling of the basement or first floor. When the home was under construction, the first thing to go in were the underground pyramids and vertical post. Meanwhile, on the back of the property, workers were cutting cypress for the construction of the home. Everything was measured and marked, numbered and matched-up. It took 11 days to put the house up and not one nail was used. The wooden bolt thingy that is beside the number is actually driven though the vertical wood post that extends to the top of the house.

Source

The color scheme of the 1805 Big House was: ochre, warm red, dark green, cool gray and mauve. These colors are also very popular in the Caribbean, where a lot of people, both black and white, in Louisiana came from. As a matter of fact, over 10,000 people entered the Port of Orleans in 1809 alone. This consisted of both plantation owners and people of color from the recent Santo Domingo uprising. Only the Big House and the plantation office near the sugar mill displayed all these colors. All structures on the farm were painted one of these colors to clearly point out to the illiterate workers the purpose of each structure. At Laura, any building painted ochre meant that someone slept there; warm red was for animals (barns); green was where money or merchandise was traded (store); gray meant storage (cisterns, warehouses); mauve was where daily work not strictly related to the sugar mill and planting was done (kitchens, blacksmith shop). Any building on site not painted one of the colors of the Big House meant that the structure was not part of the plantation business (the Maison de Retrise was a private home and was painted rose & turquoise). I’ll tell you more it a little later.

The color of the house also let passers by know what language was spoken in the home. White homes were English speaking, whereas yellow were French speaking.

Even the plantings around the home reflect a tropical feel. I love the mass planting of ginger!

Now for the house tour! Let’s start in the basement or on the first floor. This area is where they stored food. Perishables were store in large olive jars which were buried in the ground. The outside bottom part of the jars are not glazed allowing the underground moisture to keep the jars cool. The interior and tops were glazed to protect the food. There are quite a few of these large jars in this room with several being originally found in the ground. This area, at one time, housed up to 10,000 bottles of wine!

This is a picture of an office / bedroom. The owner of the plantation, which was usually a women, would conduct business at a desk in her bedroom. This did not always set well with other American businessman. It was quite a few years before the office was separated from the bedroom in order to make guests feel more at ease.

There is just so much history here! I must stop for now but will have Part 2 up and going tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch

Project Inspire(d) @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

April Features

2013-05-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to these fellow bloggers who featured me this month. First, Pamela from My Front Porch to Yours featured Part 1 of the Afton Villa Garden Tour.

Pamela loves thrifting and antiquing like me! She has turned this love into an online store, Finch & Co Designs!

Maria Elena from Our Home Away from Home featured my pelican painting on Tuesdays at Our Home.

I mentioned last month that she was working on her craft room. Well, she is about half done with it and it is awesome!

Michelle fro Ms. enPlace featured my recipe for Crabmeat Au Gratin.

She is a fellow Louisiana blogger who host a weekly link party entitled, “See Ya in the Gumbo.” The name of the party is what first attracted me to her blog. Being from Louisiana, I am always on the lookout for some good Cajun recipes!

Anita from Cedar Hill Ranch featured the Houmas House Tour at The Scoop! This home is where the movie “Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte” was filmed!

Anita lives in Texas and has both a city house and ranch that she shares with us. I still remember this first time I saw her blog, it was a post about an outdoor party that she had! I was amazed at her creativity and have been back to that post many times!

Once again, I want to say a big thank you and encourage my readers to drop by and give them a visit!

Cinco de Mayo Table

2013-05-01T12:22:00.001-05:00

Today’s tablescape is fitting since Sunday, May 5th, is Cinco de Mayo day. In the United States, this day is observed as a celebration of Mexican pride and heritage.

I started with a serape runner from Pottery Barn. I love all the colors! Since I only had two of these striped plates, I alternated them with a solid yellow from the Dollar Tree.

I purchased a lot of these pepper bowls from the Dollar General at the end of last summer for 25 cents each!

The plates, woven chargers, orange napkins and black flatware were all thrifty finds.

Both the smoky glass and the cactus margarita glass are from the Dollar Tree.

The centerpiece was the last thing to go on the table because I didn’t know what to use! I thought of Alycia’s lovely table using succulents and decided to “borrow” her idea! To see her lovely table, click here. I recently purchased several but hadn’t planted them yet, so I just inserted them into a basket. I wrapped them in some burlap to cover the pots.

I had some pepper swizzle sticks that I inserted as well.

Cactus salt and pepper shakers were also 25 cents at the Dollar General!

Have a happy Cinco de Mayo! Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

DIY Oyster Mirror

2013-04-29T10:36:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend! Besides a little shopping, I worked on a few projects around the house. I was able to finish my oyster mirror! I am so pleased with how it turned out! However, I was not thrilled with cleaning the shells!

I ended up purchased a 32 lb. sack of raw oysters. After my husband ate them, I cleaned them! Individually! By Hand! It was a stinky smelly job! I finally figured out that it would be easier to spread them out in the yard, far from the house, and let nature take its course for a couple of weeks! After I finished cleaning them, I soaked them in bleach and water for awhile to remove any lingering smells.

I hot glued them directly onto the frame of the mirror. To finish the sides, I used a large white rope that I had on hand.

Cost of large mirror 50 cents from a yard sale, $30 for a sack of oyster, which my husband loved eating!, and some free rope! You can’t beat that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch

Project Inspire(d) @ Artsy Chicks Rule

Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Houmas House Garden Tour

2013-04-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to Houmas House! The gardens at this plantation are absolutely fabulous!! I was totally amazed when we arrived. As you leave the gift shop, the pond is the first thing you see! Since we had an hour before our tour began, we followed the sounds of rushing water. This was the first of many waterfalls in this area!

The water came down this waterfall and actually flowed under the sidewalk…

and formed little streams! Here is just one of many seating areas!

This is a tall double waterfall!

There is another seating area under the pavilion on the hill.

This is a view of the left side of the house.

Here’s a view of the front lawn, complete with wedding set up! Originally there were 28 live oaks down the alley but after the big flood in the late 20’s, a lot of the trees were removed to make way for the levee system. The alley of trees functioned as a type of tunnel bringing in wind off the Mississippi River and would help cool the house in the hot summer months. Once the levee was built, all the wall was blocked off.

A view from the back yard looking toward the rear of the house.

This next view is from the area of the waterfalls. In the distance, you can see the water spray from the fountain that is in the back of the house.

Another view of the backyard from a different angle.

A view from the right side…

I so hope that you have enjoyed this tour! I know that I really enjoyed taking out these pictures! It was so hard to decide which pictures to use! If you missed the first two posts on Houmas House, click on the links below!

Houmas House & Bette Davis

Houmas House & Fine Dining

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Oh, the Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper

Houmas House Tour & Fine Dining

2013-04-23T18:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to Houmas House! If you missed Part 1, click here. Let’s continue the tour with the dining and kitchen areas.

The table in the dining room is set out in all it’s splendor!

All of the lovely plantation homes in the South has pineapples. They are a sign of hospitality! There is even a brass pineapple on the hearth which you can see in the next picture.

A few pieces of the original china still exist.

As we left the dining room, we walked down the hallway to a large open room which had a few more tabletop goodies!

Has you ever seen a silver barbeque pit?

It does have the look of one doesn’t it? But it’s actually a roast beef server!

This room has French doors that exit to the back porch and beyond to the outdoor kitchen. Here’s a peek though the door. You can see part of the fabulous gardens though the other door.

Remember the original china? They do have reproductions, approximately 600 pieces! The lady to the right in the picture below is actually a server for a wedding that was going on. She was dipping some type of soup or gumbo into cups for the guests.

Did I mention there is an onsite restaurant? Actually, Houmas House is the home of Latil’s Landing Restaurant, Café Burnside, Le Petite Houmas Restaurant and the Wine Cellars of Houmas House. For more info, go to HoumasHouse.com.

Latil’s Landing Restaurant

I hope you enjoyed this part of the Houmas House tour! If you missed Part 1, click here. Be sure to stop by Friday for the garden tour! It is totally awesome!

Sharing with:

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Houmas House & Bette Davis

2013-04-22T12:11:00.001-05:00

Source

This past Saturday, the husband and I skipped down River Road and toured a couple of fabulous antebellum homes. We had an awesome time. We live a little over an hour away from this area but have never visited. After this trip, I wondered what took us so long and, yes, I am already planning another trip to see the rest of the plantations!

The house that I’m showing you today is called Houmas House which is named after the Houmas Indians that lived in this area. The land to build the house was actually purchased from the Indians by the original owner.

This picture was taken in the center hall. On the table is an antique “view finder” from the 1800’s. The mural on the walls is not original to the house but was painted by the gardener! Yes, you heard right! The gardener painted this fine mural of a sugar cane field. To see more of the hallway mural, you can check out Susan’s post on Houmas House by clicking here. Since she recently did a post and I have a ton of pictures, I’m going to try to share different rooms. This music box is from the 1800’s and still works perfectly!

The next one is from the parlor…

with it’s fabulous chandelier and moldings!

And the clock on the mantel, actually belonged to Marie Antoinette! It was purchased by one of the owners at an auction.

the game room…

You might be asking yourself just what does this house have to do with Bette Davis? Well, she’s got her own room here! Her movie, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, was filmed in this home. That’s it in the background.

Source

At the time, there were no other accommodations in this area so she stayed onsite in this bedroom.

This room is now called the Bette Davis room. See the table at the foot of the bed?

It opens up into a desk! Amazing, especially considering it’s a couple of hundred years old! In the corner, there is a cabinet holding momentums from the movie.

The children’s room…

This is the private bedroom of the owner, well maybe not so private since it’s part of the tour!

The gentleman’s wig is from the 1800’s and made of horsehair.

Ok, I’m going to stop here for today. To see more, be sure to check back later this week. I’ll be sharing the dining room and kitchen area for Tablescape Thursday and the garden tour on Friday! The gardens are totally amazing!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll thru LifeOpen House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Crabmeat Au Gratin

2013-04-18T16:54:00.001-05:00

Hello, everyone! Today I’m sharing my husband’s favorite dish, crabmeat au gratin! Several years ago, I tried quite a few recipes for this but there was always something he didn’t like about it. So I compiled those recipes, changed and added some ingredients and this is what I came up with.

Crabmeat Au Gratin

1 stick margarine

1 cup chopped onions

1/4 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup parsley

1 pound crabmeat

bread crumbs

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. red pepper

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cup all purpose flour

13 oz. evaporated milk

8 oz. shredded Colby Monterrey jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter. Sauté vegetables. Blend flour in well. Pour milk in gradually, stirring constantly. When mixture thickens, add seasonings and cheese. When cheese has melted, add crabmeat. Pour into casserole dish or small ramekins which have been sprayed with Pam. Top with additional cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake for 20-30 minutes until cheese has melted and is brown around edges.

That’s it! Pretty easy, huh? Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Full Plate Thursday @ Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
See Ya in the Gumbo @ Ms. enPlace

On the Menu Monday @ StoneGable

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Back for Seconds Social Part @ Back for Seconds

Who You Gonna Call? GHOSTBUSTERS!

2013-04-16T15:00:00.001-05:00

A couple of week’s ago, we celebrated my nephew’s 7th birthday. My sister took charge of planning his planning and baking his cake. As you can see, we got very creative! She used fondant icing to creative this masterpiece!

The marshmallow man is a hand molded rice Krispy treat covered with fondant.

The slime is a sparkle icing that she purchased. Want to know a little secret? The bottom layer is actually a piece of Styrofoam wrapped in fondant! We didn’t need a large cake to feed everyone so only the top layer is actual cake.

The base is just a plastic bowl flipped upside down and glued to the cake board.

The place settings were cut out of poster board.

The centerpiece consists of an arrangement of decorated sugar cookies that she made.

All the guests were able to have one, along with a goodie bag!

The ceiling and chandelier were draped with streamers.

The banner over the doorway says it all! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ETHAN!

Who says my sister isn’t creative? She does! She and I are as different as night and day but I think she pulled off quite a creative little party here! That Ethan was a lucky little boy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Thrifty Mat Cutter

2013-04-15T07:11:00.001-05:00

A couple of months back, I purchased this compact mat cutter from Goodwill for $7.99. We are just now getting around to using it! I say “we” because Hunter actually made the mats for me. I just told him what I wanted and he went to town!

In keeping with my Louisiana coastal style that I shared with you last week, I started surfing the internet for an oyster print. I found all kinds, at all prices! In the end, I went with Zazzle. I have ordered from them quite a lot for invitations and business cards and was always very satisfied.

I also found this crab print as well.

Both prints costs about $35. I purchased the mat from Hobby Lobby using the 40% coupon, which left the final price about $5! I’m not sure about the color though. What do you think? Should I stick with the white maps or paint them? In the past I have painted mats and couldn’t tell the difference!

I will be painting these mats. I picked up the small prints at the local antique store for a couple of dollars.

Hopefully, this week, Hunter will get the frames made and I’ll make a trip to the glass store! If you would like to purchase a mat cutter, check out the mat cutter from Amazon in the sidebar.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Blue Willow & Yellow Tablescape

2013-04-09T17:52:00.003-05:00

Remember how I couldn’t find any yellow tulips before Easter? Well, a nice lady gave me some! Well, it was after Easter but that’s ok! As soon as I saw them, I knew what I was going to do!

Pull out the blue willow dishes!! This combination is one of my favorites!

Blue Willow accented with yellow and white!

So welcoming, so comforting! I was thrilled when I found 12 plates awhile back at Goodwill! A couple of years ago, I purchased a service for 3 at an estate sale for $8 but my mom loved them so much that I gave them to her! Now, I have my own again and if I ever need a large table, I’ll borrow hers! Her set is vintage but I think the plates I recently purchased are new.

Vintage glassware fits so well with this pattern.

As does the 1847 Rogers flatware in the Daffodil pattern.

Thank so much for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Pelican Painting

2013-04-08T18:00:00.000-05:00

In keeping with my Louisiana coastal feel, I found this pelican painting at Goodwill for $3! I’m killing two birds with one stone here! LOL! Since the pelican is the Louisiana state bird and it’s a coastal creature, it is the perfect accessory!

The starfish came from Goodwill as well! I was really surprised that it wasn’t all broke up. The vintage style clock is Better Homes & Garden from Walmart. I have been searching for some old clocks like this and have not come across a single one!

It works well with the urn of seashells! To see that post, click here.

I do have plans for the mirror and hope that I can get it done this week but I have to work on the taxes!! Yes, I wanted till almost the last minute this year! What do you think about this lamp? Does it look good here or should I try something different?

UPDATE: I have completed the mirror that you see in the background! It has now been covered with oyster shells! To see that post, click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Project Inspire @ Artsy Chick Rules
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Working With What You Have @ Emily A Clark
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
May Before & After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick
Thrifty & Vintage Finds @ Dagmar's House

A Coastal Touch

2013-04-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

Since I started blogging last year, I have the hardest time deciding which style I like the best, which one I want in my home. I get so confused!! There is some many beautiful styles that I do love but what do I want to be surrounded with? What style will keep me satisfied the longest? I decided to STOP looking at all the gorgeous inspiration that the internet offers for awhile and think it though! I asked myself, “What do you like, not decorating wise but what are my actual interest?” Well, I love history, especially local and state history. I love genealogy. I love Louisiana, except for the hot, hot summer heat! and I love the beach!

There was my answer! I live in an area in Louisiana that is close to a lot of antebellum homes on the Mississippi River and it is steeped in history that I love so why not reflect that in my home? I live few hours from the Mississippi Gulf Coast so I don’t have to go far to get my coastal fix but I can have a little bit of it in my home as well! So I’m going to bring a little Louisiana coastal feel to my living room!

This little coastal touch was quick and didn’t cost me a thing since I had everything on hand. I purchased this urn a few years ago at a yard sale. I’ve tried planting things in it but it’s just too shallow so I’m going to spruce it up a bit!

Before it was gray with a whitewash finish. I decided to give it a couple of coats of white spray paint.

You can still see a little gray peeking though but that’s ok! After it dried, I used some Annie Sloan dark wax to tone it down some.

Even Savvy said it looks cool! I filled it up with some seashells and now it looks great on the piano!

This is the kind of projects I like, quick and easy! Drying time took the longest! I’ve got big plans for this corner of the living room, I just hope it looks good when I finished! Sometimes what’s in my head doesn’t always work out in person!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Working With What You Have @ Emily A Clark
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

March Features

2013-04-03T16:26:00.001-05:00

March is over and I wanted to say a special thank you to a few follow bloggers who featured my posts.

My rustic Easter Wreath was featured at Tuesdays at Our Home.

Maria Elena recently started up this new linky party and I’m sure it’s going to be a great success! She has a beautiful home and right now she is in the process of redoing a spare room into a craft room. From the looks of some fabulous cabinets that her husband made, it is going to be great! You can visit her blog by clicking here.

My Trash to Treasure Finds were featured at Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.

Linda at Coastal Charm hosts this party each week. She lives on the Gulf Coast, a couple of hours from my area. Linda decorates her home with vintage finds. A lot of her finds can be purchased at her shop as well.

Once again, thanks to both Maria Elena and Linda! Be sure to stop by and visit them! Thanks for stopping by!

Afton Villa Gardens–Part 2

2013-04-01T09:04:00.001-05:00

Hello, everyone! I hope everyone had a Happy Easter! We did, until about 3 pm when the electricity went out! It didn’t come back on until 10:30 that night! A spring storm came though and a small tornado touched down in our little town but, thankfully, there are no injuries that I know of. We didn’t have any damage but we do have friends that lost quite a few trees!

Let’s go back to Afton Villa, shall we? If you missed Part I and would like to catch up, click here. This next picture would be on the right side of the home where the turret was.

As I walked around the rear of the house and come up the left side, this is the view towards the front lawn so the ruins would be to the left. See all the Spanish moss blowing in the breeze?

As I stepped onto the brick sidewalk I turned to my right and shot this picture.

At the top of the lawn, after the hedges, there is a large lawn with a sidewalk leading to sitting area under the large oak trees. This first time I visited, there were chairs set up in this area for a wedding that was scheduled later that day. To the left, you can see some large shrubs and this is what is tucked in there.

The family cemetery! Since there were workers cutting grass in this area, I just took this shot from the opening. This area is totally enclosed by these large shrubs, which are a mixture of camellias, Indian hawthorn, and azaleas.

As you stroll down the walkway leaving the boxwoods, you will come to several little small areas accented with flowers and statues. A big expanse of lawn will open up but to the left leading down a hill is a special treasure!

Unfortunately we had a few late frost so everything wasn’t blooming! Usually, at this time of the year, the trees have white blooms on them and there are DOUBLE the amount of daffodils blooming! There is a rustic trail that takes you down the hill and across the bridge.

I believe there are 100,000 bulbs planted in the gardens and I think the majority of them are in this area. After you walk down to the bridge, you area at the bottom of a hill, surrounded by hills of flowers on all sides!

No, I’m not laying down taking this picture! I’m standing on the trail looking upward which is where the trail will lead. You can see the pathway in this next picture.

Here’s a great picture of Hunter heading up the hill.

At the top of the hill, you can look across to a man made lake that is surrounded by ancient oak trees covered with Spanish moss. The trail leads to this area which is a perfect place for a picnic!

As I head back towards the ruins, across the lawn, I see this sugar kettle to the left. Sugar kettles are very common garden features. You can see a post here, that I did last year.

I don’t know how many people they have keeping this spectacular garden looking so beautiful but I was told the head gardener has worked here for 41 years! As you walk to the back of the property, you can see there work area.

This beautiful old barn is huge! Instead of animals, it houses plants! Now for one last shot that I couldn’t pass up….

The ruins are on the top of a slight rise. Once again, the Spanish moss provides a perfect back drop for this shot!

I hope you enjoyed the tour and if you are ever in this area, you MUST go here! You will not be disappointed! Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Spring Thing Linky Party @ Simply Klassic Home

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Working With What You Have @ Emily A Clark
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Easter Tablescape 2013

2013-03-28T10:23:00.001-05:00

Hello, everyone! Do you remember the rabbit on Alice In Wonderland who say’s I’m late, I’m late….? That’s how I feel! Last week I shared some Easter table inspiration with you because I just couldn’t decided what to do! Well, I just finished about 15 minutes ago!!

I decided to go with a little rustic theme…after about 4 other themes! Awhile back, I purchased a basket from Goodwill.

As soon as I saw it, I envisioned a moss basket similar to the one that Pottery Barn sells. I purchased some sheet moss at Wal-Mart. I really needed another pack but they only had one left but I improvised!

In addition to the sheet moss, I used some regular moss…I think it’s called reindeer moss.

In the back half of the basket, I inserted a glass vase that holds a mixture of fresh flowers and faux greenery. I used the Spring is Here sign, which is from the Dollar Tree, along with some carrots, burlap ribbon and plastic eggs. For Easter, I plan on removing these and using real boiled eggs.

In keeping with the rustic look, I used a burlap runner with rattan chargers. White dinner plates are topped with Bordello carrot salad plates. Pretty floral napkins add a little more color and pattern to the table. The tea glass is from Gorham and the purple glasses are from Old Time Pottery. I removed the lids of the little cabbage bowls and added a pillar candle for a little ambience!

There’s Peter holding the salt and pepper shakers!

1847 Rogers flatware in the Daffodil pattern is always on my Easter table! Over the years, I’ve compiled about 24 place settings along with quite a few serving pieces.

Is your Easter table ready? Do you need some inspiration like I did? If so, you can click here to see my inspiration post.

Thanks for stopping by! I wish everyone a Happy Easter!

Sharing with:

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Let’s Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life

Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Grace at Home @ Imparting Grace

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Afton Villa Garden Tour–Part I

2013-03-24T18:15:00.004-05:00

Source

Hello, everyone! Today I’m sharing a fabulous garden tour! I have lived in this area all my life and a couple of years ago, the husband and I went to the gardens and I was hooked! I’ve been back every year! First let me show you what it looked like before…..

This photo came from an old book called Ghosts along the Mississippi by Clarence John Laughlin. He was also the photographer.

The history of Afton Villa is entwined with that of the Barrows, one of the richest and most prominent families in antebellum Louisiana. Bartholomew Barrow purchased the land in 1820 from his brother William, and in 1839 he sold it to his son, David. David would eventually carve out a thriving plantation empire of some 2,000 to 3,000 acres, which would make him, according to the 1860 census, the wealthiest planter in West Feliciana Parish. Originally there was a two story home that I was unable to find any pictures of, if any exist. After the death of his first wife, David married Susan A. Woolfok. Susan wanted a larger and more glamorous home but David did not want to tear down the original home. He told Susan that she could build another home but the original had to remain intact. In 1849, work on Afton Villa began. It was built around the existing small house to create an imposing Gothic Revival villa of some 40 rooms. It took 8 years to build, as well as the the gardens that covered 25 acres. David Barrow died in 1874 and his wife continued to live at Afton Villa until 1876, when she sold the estate. The house was struck by lightening and destroyed by fire in 1963.

Photo from AftonVilla.com Click on the pic to go to the site where there is also a virtual tour.

This is the front view of the gardens today as it faces the driveway.

Source

Instead of the house, you would see the statues lined up down the front. The driveway is still in the same location. As you come up the steps….

you can see piles of bricks and concrete. Flowers and ground cover have been tucked in open spots. I was so struck by the textures! It’s funny how a pile of bricks can make such an impression! As you walk straight, as if you were going through the front door…

there is a circular terraced area that is surrounded by overflowing flower beds and shaded by trees draped in Spanish moss. This is the view from the back.

In the background, behind the butterfly chairs, you can see the ruins of the old kitchen area.

As you exit the terraced area, to the left is a set of stairs that leads down to the kitchen area, at least I think I remember being told that by a guide on one of my previous trips.

This MIGHT be my favorite area!

It is just so beautiful! Every area is accented with plants.

This is looking up from the kitchen area to a set of steps that were outside the home leading to the upper floor.

Even the cracks in concrete have plants tucked it! And don’t you just love this massive concrete table!

This is the wall kitchen wall from another angle. Since this is the back of the house, I’ll share a picture that was taken in 1938 of that area.

Source

It looks different from the front. Well there were different materials used. The back appears to be all wood and the front is stucco and cypress.

Since I don’t want to overload your brain with too many pics, I’ll finish the tour on Friday. Thanks for much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of the Afton Villa tour!

Sharing with:

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Make it Pretty @ The Dedicated House

Spring Thing Linky Party @ Simply Klassic Home

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
Open House @ No Minimalist Here

Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

The Scoop Link Party @ The Farmhouse Porch
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home
Show Me What Ya Got @ Not JUST A Housewife

Working With What You Have @ Emily A Clark
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground

Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

Fabulously Creative Party @ Jennifer Rizzo

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Winter Blues Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Easter is More than Bunnies!

2013-03-24T13:48:00.001-05:00

Do your children or grandchildren know the real reason of Easter? Do they know that it is more than bunnies, chocolate and dyed eggs? If they don’t, could you please share Jesus’ story with them? Tell them that they can live forever with Jesus!

Buy those babies some candy for their baskets but don’t suppress the real, fascinating truth of Jesus' triumph over death.

Source

On Palm Sunday, Christians celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus in to Jerusalem the week before His death and resurrection. This marks the beginning of Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday. He rode upon a colt of a donkey, which fulfilled the ancient prophesy in Zechariah 9:9. This is the only time in the Bible where He rode an animal.

The people threw their cloaks on the ground and put palm branches on the road before Him. Others waved palm branches in the air. In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness and victory. They were often engraved on coins and important buildings. In Revelation 7:0, it tells us that people from every nation will raise palm branches to honor Jesus. Immediately following the celebration, Jesus’ journey to the cross began.

The crowds refused to see Jesus as He truly was, placing their personal desires on Him instead. They were looking for a military Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel’s independence. Who is Jesus for you? Is He someone whom you want to satisfy your selfish wants and goals, or is He Lord and Master who gave up His life to save you from your sins?

Source

Now, back to the babies! Here are some coloring pages along with a helpful link to Easter stories for children. To print out the pages, click on the picture which will take you to another link where you can print it.

Source

So please, hug those babies and tell them Jesus’ story!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed week!

The biblical account of Palm Sunday can be found in Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19.

Sharing with:

Imparting Grace @ Grace at Home

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

The Scoop Party @ The Farmhouse Porch

A Walk in the Countryside

Sweet Pink Tulips

Summer Coastal Mantel

Deep Fried Okra as an Appetizer?

Spring Flowers

M*A*S*H 4077th Backyard Tour

The Laura–A Creole Plantation Part 3

The Laura–A Creole Plantation Part 2

The Laura–A Creole Plantation Part 1

April Features

Cinco de Mayo Table

DIY Oyster Mirror

Houmas House Garden Tour

Houmas House Tour & Fine Dining

Houmas House & Bette Davis

Crabmeat Au Gratin

Who You Gonna Call? GHOSTBUSTERS!

Thrifty Mat Cutter

Blue Willow & Yellow Tablescape

Pelican Painting

A Coastal Touch

March Features

Afton Villa Gardens–Part 2

Easter Tablescape 2013

Afton Villa Garden Tour–Part I

Easter is More than Bunnies!

MAS*H 4077th Backyard Tour