A Walk in the Countryside

Patriotic Table for the 4th of July

2013-06-19T15:54:00.001-05:00

I finally got around to doing a table for the 4th of July! I pulled some of last year’s clearance items that I found in addition to some yard sale goodies! The bear….

and the candleholders were from Hobby Lobby last year at 90% off.

The tablecloth, which is really just a long piece of fabric, and the napkins were from the same yard sale this past spring. The white flatware is by Gibson.

Red placemat is from the Dollar Tree. Large white ironstone plates/chargers are vintage Homer Laughlin. The red square plate is made by JCP. The clear blue plates were purchased from a little gift store a couple of years ago. Their shape reminds me of the flag blowing in the breeze!

The champagne glasses are from Goodwill. They are kind of unique in that the top is glass and the red is plastic! The blue goblet is from the Dollar Tree. Our store hardly ever has this color in stock so I got online and ordered me a case!

I thought the table was a little overloaded with patriotic touches but Savvy loved it and said it’s one of her favorites!

Oh, there are the centerpieces! I’ll be telling you a little more about them in a few days! Thanks for stopping!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

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

Our New Antique Booth

2013-06-16T16:52:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday, everyone! It’s been one month since Hunter and I opened up our very own little booth at the local antique store! You wouldn’t believe how nervous I was! We went back and forth trying to decide if we wanted to do it probably for about 2 months!

So many questions and fears were racing through my mind! Would we sell anything? Would others like what we had?

If we did sell anything, could we keep it full? I finally realized that I was overthinking it….as usual!

So, we took the plunge and have been pretty successful our first month out! At least, I think we have!

We are still in those first baby steps! We have changed some things and still plan to do more as time permits. This past week we added another shelf for display and need to bring it some smaller items.

Some of the furniture pieces are not what we expected to sell either but so far so good! We’ll just have to see how it evolves!

Do any of you have booths? If so, do you have any advice for this newbie?

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

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Affordable Linens at Dirt Cheap!

2013-06-14T09:17:00.001-05:00

Are you always on the look out for linens at a good price? I am and I’ve found a very good place to find them! I rarely pay regular price for any of my table linens. In the past, I purchased at Marshall’s, JCP, Pottery Sale in the the clearance section and, of course, yard sales and Goodwill! I have found a few at Goodwill, but if it doesn’t look new, I usually don’t bother with them. Because at our Goodwill, a tablecloth is $5 and right down the road is a Dirt Cheap store!

Our Dirt Cheap is very messy and this turned me away for a long time! I don’t like to dig but after I started discovering the great deals on the linens, I became hooked! The most expensive price you will pay for a tablecloth is $5 and they gradually get marked down to $1, usually within a couple of weeks. The majority of the table linens that I have purchased were originally from Target. They are new but are sometimes out of their original packs. My mom has purchased quite a bit of the Shabby Chic line there for her bedroom. A couple of weeks ago, Savyy wanted a lighter weight quilt for her bed and we found a white Shabby Chic for $10 for a queen size!

Here’s a just a few examples! I still have linens that I haven’t used yet!

This first table has two matching table runners that were purchased for $2 each.

On the Screened Porch

The bright yellow patterned napkins in the Blue Willow table were either 50 cents for a dollar each.

Blue Willow Table

Both the tablecloth and napkins are from Dirt Cheap on the Modern Tarnish table! I have the tablecloth that matches the napkins as well!

Modern Tarnish

I actually have several sizes of this tablecloth from the Hospitality Table. After I purchased the first round one, probably for $5, they reduced them down to $1 so I purchased some larger ones. You may remember the yellow napkins for the Blue Willow table.

The Hospitality Table

Both the napkins and tablecloth, on this Tee Time table were “Dirt Cheap!” I also have the tablecloth that matches the napkins.

Tee Time for Father’s Day

If you would like to see if there’s a Dirt Cheap store close to you, click here. Have you found any good deals lately?

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

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Dining at Destrehan Plantation

2013-06-11T15:50:00.001-05:00

Welcome back to Destrehan Plantation! There is a bounty of food laid out for your pleasure! Faux food, that is! The first couple of pictures are from the kitchen inside the home on the first floor. This is probably where they assembled the food for serving since there is also a kitchen that is unattached to the home.

Now, on the dining room. I don’t have a lot of pictures of this room because the light was not good. Also, we were with a group of very young couples who seemed to want to rush though so I didn’t get as many pictures as I wanted to!

Homes built this early on where not as fancy as some of the later built homes. Plus, we have to realize that in 1787 there weren’t any furniture stores to buy from! On the other hand, for this time period, they were lucky to be so close to the Port of New Orleans where they could have items shipped in from France.

The rest of the pictures are from the movie Interview with the Vampire, which was filmed here at Destrehan. I’m pretty sure this is Louie’s home, where the vampire Lestat, played by Tom Cruise was having dinner with him.

This is Lestat again after Louie sets fire to his home after informing his slaves that he is the devil!

Did you know that Anne Rice actually wrote the book, Interview with the Vampire and that she is a native of New Orleans herself? Brad Pitt must have really liked the area himself since he and Angelina Jolie also own a home here. Hmmm, I think there’s another post in here somewhere!

If you click on the pictures, it will state you to the original source. If you missed Part 1 of Destrehan Plantation, click here. Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

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

Destrehan Plantation House Tour

2013-06-10T07:13:00.001-05:00

Source

I’m sharing another home tour from the River Road trip that my husband and I took a month or so ago. Today, we will be visiting Destrehan House. This plantation is really the main reason that we took our River Road tour.

In the last couple of years, I have gotten really interested in genealogy. While researching my husband’s family, I discovered that this gggggg great grandfather was the original owner of the indigo plantation. Robert Antoine Robin de Logny had the home built in 1787. Robert and his wife had three children Pierre, Jeanne, and Marie Celeste. My husband’s ggggg great grandmother was Jeanne.

Robert passed away in 1792 . As was the custom back then, the property went up for auction. It was purchased by Jean Noel Destrehan, the husband of Marie Celeste. Destrehan was involved in politics and was well known in the area. Thus, the plantation went from being called the de Logny plantation to the Destrehan Plantation.

In more recent years, Destrehan Plantation has been known for it’s role in the movie, Interview with the Vampire. Louie, played by Brad Pitt, was the plantation owner and he burned it down early on in the movie.

And that’s not all. Brad Pitt has already filmed another movie here called Twelve Years A Slave. It is an upcoming historical drama that will be released later this year. Ok, enough about history and fame! On the tour!

To me, this is very unusual! A granite bath tub and it’s original to the house! Most of them from time period were metal!

I hope you enjoyed the tour! Be sure and stop by on Wednesday for Part 2!

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

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Noritake First Blush–A Thrifty Find

2013-06-07T07:23:00.001-05:00

I know, I know! I said I wasn’t going to buy anymore dishes BUT I just couldn’t pass them up! Last weekend, while thrifty shopping, I stopped in at a few yard sales. I found a large set of Noritake china for $35. I fell in love with the sweet floral pattern. After a little price negotiations, I came home with the set for $25!

The pattern is called Noritake First Blush. It was made from 1976 to 1982. Replacements.com has it listed at $14.99 for one plate! So I think I got a really great deal!

It has a few serving pieces, such as this platter.

On the another find…. I have been wanted an Oreck vacuum cleaner but didn’t want to pay the high price. I’ve used one before and have found that they work really well on hardwood floors. Most upright vacuums just blow the dust around but the Oreck just sucks it up!

Well, I just one! Instead of paying $300 or more, I pay $1!!! The lady said that it has been stored in the garage for years and that it worked when they stored it. She didn’t like it because she had all carpet and it doesn’t have a real wide suction area.

After getting it home, I wiped it up and plugged it end. It had a new bag already in it and it started working immediately. It worked like a charm! I still can’t believe she only wanted a dollar for it!

That’s just a few of the finds I found last weekend. Have you found any treasures lately?

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

Tweak it Tuesday @ Cozy Little House

Tips, Tutorials, & Tidbits @ StoneGable

Spring Party @ DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Galvanized Beverage Server

2013-06-02T14:15:00.001-05:00

Hello, everyone! I wanted to share a simple way to spruce up a galvanized tub and use it as a beverage server. I purchased a plain galvanized tub last summer from Old Time Pottery for $10 with the intentions of using it for just this purpose. Galvanized tubs can also be purchased at places like Tractor Supply or Farmer’s Co-Ops.

Hunter removed the two galvanized handles for each and enlarge the holes. I simply inserted a piece of rope on each end and knotted it on the inside. I found the iron bottle opener for a dollar, half price at Hobby Lobby. We had a few Coca Cola openers mounted in the outdoor kitchen but my husband wouldn’t let me have those! It was simply screwed in and secured with washers and nuts.

It’s a perfect size container to hold individual bottles or 2 liter bottles, as I did. I found that using 2 liter drinks for larger functions is less expensive than buying individual drinks. Individual drinks were too wasteful!

When not being used as a beverage server, I use it as a container for a fern!

This was just perfect for our outdoor, casual Memorial Day fish fry! It kept the drinks cool while providing a convenient way for the guests to serve themselves! Do you use anything special for your beverages?

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

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

Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch to Yours
Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

Sweet Chocolate Birthday Table

2013-05-28T17:36:00.001-05:00

A couple of week’s ago, Savvy turned 16 years old! I asked her how she wanted to celebrate and she chose to have a family dinner. Can you imagine a teenager turning down a party?

She couldn’t even decide on a theme! So I picked up a pretty bouquet of flowers and just kind of went from there!

I arranged them in this deep rose vase that I found at a yard sale last summer. I placed it, along with the 4 votive holders, on an oblong silver tray for the centerpiece.

The place setting started out with a white round placemat from the Dollar Tree. It’s topped with a silver tray, which is either from Goodwill or a yard sale. I’ve been collecting this size to use as plate chargers. The green dinner plate is from the Dollar Tree and the smaller white dinner plate is vintage Buffalo China, which was in a $3 box deal from the auction. Topping it all off, are the “chocolate” salad plates. I purchased them at a yard sale last summer but I have seen them, or one’s similar, at the Dollar General Store. I used pink napkins to pick up the color of the dots on the plate.

I chose the 1960’s Danish Modern flatware because the details on it mimics the design on the salad plates. To read more about that thrifty find, click here.

Well, maybe not exactly, but close enough! The brown or “chocolate” handles fits in perfectly!

Clear iced tea glasses and pink wine glasses complete the table. No, she isn’t getting any wine…maybe water!!

What she is getting, is chicken pot pie! Yep, that was this year’s request. She loves it and wanted me to make 4 batches but I trimmed it down to 3! She wanted to make sure we had leftovers! To see the recipe, click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Thrifty Things Friday @ The Thrifty Groove

Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters

Open House @ No Minimalist Here

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
Thrifty & Vintage Finds @ Dagmar's Home

DIY Oyster Candle Holder

2013-05-28T06:28:00.001-05:00

Hello, everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day. We had an impromptu fish fry and, boy, did we get some fantastic weather for it!

I planned on having a different post for you today but I accidentally deleted my photos. But never fear, I have a back up! Awhile back when I was working on my oyster frame mirror, I used the leftover oyster shells for a candle holder. I first saw a candle holder similar to this over at Uptown Acorn. Ron is a big fan, too, and has lots of oyster décor in his home. To see my oyster mirror post, click here. To visit Ron at Uptown Acorn, click here.

Hunter purchased a box deal at the auction and there was a set of wooden beach ball paddles and I used one of them as the base. I glued two rows of jute string around the base to have a finished edge and then started gluing the shells. I set the vase I was using in the middle as I was gluing as a guide. I wanted to make sure it would fit when finished!

I added some sand and inserted the candle! Such a fast and easy project!

Here’s a quick peep at the Pottery Barn inspired lamp that I did last year. For the summer season, I put in some sea glass and driftwood. To see the PB inspired lamp, click here.

I love the blue!! Don’t look at the messy room in the background! That’s the screen porch that is currently being renovated into a sunroom. I’ve been begging my husband to get back to working on it! I promised him that if he would just get this room finished, I’ll never ask him to close in or add on another room, ever!

Have you been busy with any projects?

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

Share Your Creativity @ It's Overflowing

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 a piece!

I used vintage yellow napkins to bring out the yellow in the flowers. The napkin rings add another silver element to the table. Both are yard sale finds!

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
Thrifty & Vintage Finds @ Dagmar's Home

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

A Walk in the Countryside

Patriotic Table for the 4th of July

Our New Antique Booth

Affordable Linens at Dirt Cheap!

Dining at Destrehan Plantation

Destrehan Plantation House Tour

Noritake First Blush–A Thrifty Find

Galvanized Beverage Server

Sweet Chocolate Birthday Table

DIY Oyster Candle Holder

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!

MAS*H 4077th Backyard Tour