I've Been Tagged

Yes, I have been tagged by Judy from Gracious Southern Living to tell 7 weird or unusual things about myself............so here it goes!

1. I got married at 17 and we have been together for 43 years.


2. I love game shows on TV......especially Deal or No Deal and Who Wants to be a Millionaire.


3. I almost drowned as a child of 6 years old but was saved by a man who saw me fall in the water (it was at night and I walked off the dock).


4. I am obsessed with Auburn Football......waaaaaaaaar eagle!


5. I love decorating magazines and books and I never throw any of them away (I have thousands!).


6. I love to shop at thrift stores and of course I love a BARGAIN!


7. I had two imaginary friends when I was a little girl and they went everywhere with me!

Company's Comin'!!!!

FOUR OF US........

MY FRONT DOOR.....WELCOME!!

WHEW! I am pretty tired 'cause I have been in a flurry getting ready for company!

My precious four SISTERS are coming to town (our hometown) for a four day GET-TOGETHER! It is AMAZING how much you can get done when you HAVE to get it done! I have totally cleaned everything from the fridge, to the carpets and windows (thanks to help of my sweet hubby) and even did a bedroom redo! It has been FUN and I am really GLAD I had a reason to set myself in MOTION! We GIRLS also have a lone brother who will join us for the FESTIVITIES.

We have several things planned and I am sure there will be IMPROMPTEAU events also! For sure, we will watch AUBURN play tennessee on Saturday and we might even take in a movie (The Women). Lots of laughter and lots of memories shared as we gather together for shopping, eating and frivolity!

I am so BLESSED to have such a wonderful family and I thank GOD for His provision. Our mother is already in HEAVEN, but I am sure she will be here in SPIRIT with us because she absolutely LOVED it when we would get together and have fun. What a very special mother she was to us!

I will give a full report on Monday and post new pictures too!

Okay, back to my work..............my food menu is next! ANY IDEAS????

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,LIZZIE!!!

My beautiful granddaughter, elizabeth, turned six years old and we celebrated at CHUCKIE CHEESE!! What fun! Lizzie as we often call her was 'beside herself' to say the least! Her little friends were too.......what "kiddie heaven" this PLACE is for sure! FUN,FUN,FUN!!!............and the thing about it, I think MIMI had the most fun of all!

It's FALL in Victoria, British Columbia....and is it EVER!

Thought for this Thursday, I would give you a glimpse at what FALL looks like at BUTCHART GARDENS in Victoria, BC..........It takes my breath AWAY! How about YOU??

The CHANGE of SEASONS always remind's me of the LORD'S FAITHFULNESS to us as HIS people. In all this worlds convulsions, in all temporary distress and DANGER, We can remain calm, collected and BOLDLY say with CONFIDENCE,"I know GOD is here and ALL this is working for my GOOD!" Therefore, we will NOT FEAR, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried in the midst of the SEA' the the waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling and YES even though the STOCK MARKET plunges!!! Our GOD is ALWAYS FAITHFUL!

Have a WONDERFUL day and THINK on THESE THINGS!

My Best Friend is an AWESOME Designer!

I want to share with you my friend, Pam, who I think is extraordinary. She is extraordinary because she is an overcomer. Life has given her some really bad breaks but she has never been one to give up or to fold; she has kept her eyes on the prize!

She is also extraordinary because she is a self-taught designer. She has made a wonderful living for herself and her children when the chips were down by using her God given talent and in turn given all the Glory to Him! Following photos will show you a small part of what she can do and I promise to show you more when I take some more pictures (of her own fabulous home too).

She is also extraordinary because she has been a friend when I really needed a friend!

She listens, she cries with me, she gives excellent advice and shares of herself in ways that I cannot explain. "A friend loves at all times"..........Aren't I so blessed to have such a friend?

Now for a peek at her extraordinary talent !.......The first pictures are of a house she recently did for a friend. It was a total renovation of an older home and she was project manager from the ground up!......It is so fabulous and definately should be featured in Southern Accents for sure.

The second set of photos are of a home she did for a local magazine and she was asked to handle the project without fees and with a very restricted budget. She said she would not do that again, but the finished product was wonderful in spite of the restrictions financially.

As usual, these photos do not show just how gorgeous these rooms are, but you get the idea!

This is a diningroom done for a magazine showhouse......she had limited funds for the project and wasn't paid for her services, so I thought this was great!

The main room with antique wooden clock! So good looking!

Breakfast room overlooking the waterway....beautiful view!

The Twin bedroom with iron beds and plaid coverlets....

Loved this wall grouping.......

Hope you have enjoyed my cameo of my precious friend..........there will be more about her in the future........I promise!

I Love to FLUFF!

Here's the little darling relaxing on the Loggia.

Recently I got a call from my son who was in a panic! He needed my help ! He had

moved into an apartment as a newly divorced 40+ year old. As it usually happens, he got very little of the furniture and goodies that it takes to make a house a home, so to speak. He was having a very important guest to come for a visit and he needed my "expertise" in getting the place in order! I told him , "Sure, I love to FLUFF!"......Then I began my search for items to take to begin my makeover of this typical wifeless man's place!

I only had a few days to do my magic and I knew I better get busy. I scoured all my regular haunts......thrift stores, TJ Maxx, Homegoods, and of course my attic!

I filled up my car with everything from lamps, to rugs, to pictures, accessories, plants, and room fragrance sprays! When I arrived at his apartment, he came out to help me lug everything in and he laughed and said, "Goodness gracious, Mom, I certainly didn't expect this!"

Well, I rolled up my sleeves and got my diet coke and went to work. Three hours later the transformation was complete and my son could not believe his precious little eyes. He said he did not think he was in the right place! He loved every bit of it , but most of all he loved that his mom did it for him! It warmed my heart that he asked me to help him in his hour of need and I was delighted to do it for him!

The guest came and went and he said the visit was a huge success and he felt like the KING of his castle! He said he was going to kick back and enjoy his new pad!

That made me feel even better.

Who knows I may just start my own business of FLUFFING......maybe I will call it... "Mom's Fluffing Service"...............I'm going to bed....I am FLUFFED OUT!

Welcome to my English Country Home

The Diningroom with English slate floors.....
View of Livingroom with 1927 Steinway grand piano............
Another View of Livingroom ............

Family Room with fireplace set at an angle
Curved staircase in the Foyer...framed lithographs from England
Dining room..........

English Secretary in Mastersuite
Master bedroom with a bay window
Breakfast room.............

Another view of Den with window seat.

My Orange Powder Room............
My computer corner in Kitchen with handpainted wallpaper.

The Foyer with Italian commode and bronze statue.

My Country English home was built in 1967 and designed by a wonderful architect, the late Jean Atkins, whom I fortunately got to know when we bought the home 11 years ago. She was living across the street at the time and she and I became very close. She was such a talented lady and had such elegant, fine taste. She was an avid antiques collector and taught me so much about them and I was fortunate to have been her "student" before she passed away. The Steinway in the livingroom belonged to her and I bought it and had it referbished and that just tickled her to pieces because that was her favorite piece of furniture. I have several pieces that I bought from her and will be forever grateful to have them in my home.

Like I said , we have been here for 11 years now, and I making plans to redecorate and also to renovate the kitchen. I am going to completely redo the Master suite, but haven't really found the fabrics that I want to use, so I am taking my time with that!

My husband and I love our home and feel really blessed to have lived here. For many years it was my favorite home in our town and I would ride by just to admire it often. I could hardly believe it when we had the opportunity to purchase it and make it our own! God was good to give it to us and we are so grateful to Him. "Every good and perfect gift cometh from above."

Hope you have enjoyed your little tour of my home. The exterior can be seen on my profile page.......someone once described this home as a Fairy Tale Cottage. It certainly does have charm and great curb appeal!

If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and visit me! You are always WELCOME to my English Country home!

YOU GO GIRL!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA and GOD BLESS SARAH PALIN!!!!......I had not planned to make any political statements on my blog, but after last night's history making speech by Governor Palin, I just HAD to!!........SHE NAILED IT! Did she not? Wow! I am so impressed with her straight talk and her genuine love for her country and her fellow man. She is a true public servant who I believe God has raised up for this moment in time for the good of our nation! I am so looking forward to seeing how this all plays out and I have full confidence that she will be our next VICE PRESIDENT!! God's purposes are being spotlighted to the whole world through this godly woman.........and I , for one, stand AMAZED!!
Have a great Thursday all!....................<><

CHARLES FAUDREE, Country French designer extraordinaire!

Inside Charles' Antiques Shop in Tulsa

My Cavalier, Bo, which is like Charles' Nicholas!

Cover of Charles' fourth book coming out in October,08

Charles' wonderful logo...........love it

One of his delightful designs.

Dining "al fresco style" in Jamaica..........Gorgeous!

Diningroom in Jamaica with a 'touch of whimsy' says Charles>

I just love Charles Faudree. I first found out about him in Traditional Home magazine while browsing several years ago. At that time, I was program chairman for our Antiquarian Society and I was looking for speakers.............so I called him! I still cannot believe I was that audacious! He accepted and the rest is history! He actually stayed as a guest in my home which was quite an experience for me. I found him to be as charming and lovely as the rooms he designs. I will always remember him sitting in my kitchen floor looking at the blueprints of my sister's home she was building at the time. Yes, he was sitting in my kitchen floor! I will never forget it!

Charles began his very successful interior design career at a relatively late time in his life. He was living in Dallas at the time and working in sales when he took the plunge and moved back to his hometown in Oklahoma and opened his first design studio and antiques shop. His first home was featured in "Tulsa Home and Garden" and as they say: the rest is history! He has since been featured in countless publications and now is awaiting the release in October of his fourth book of Country French design!

Charles lives in a lovely home in Tulsa with his two wonderful Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Nicholas and Ruby, whom he adores. Myself, having a Cavalier also, gave Charles and I a close connection from the beginning. Charles told me recently he is busier now than he has ever been and has no plans to retire even though there are times he would like to especially with all the travel he does.

Please forgive my very crude layout of photos and such as I am very new at this blogging thing, but I did want to share with you my wonderful story of this charming friend of mine, Charles Faudree! Be sure and look for his new book which will go on sale in October! I cannot wait!