Cool Off with Courtly Check

The Dog Days of Summer

Or as the French say,

"Canicule"

In any language, this time of year is

HOT ~ HOT ~ HOT

But I know a place with cool temps and cool things.

Come along with me to . . .

Neiman Marcus' Gift Gallery

And my favorite MacKenzie-Childs' look

~ Courtly Check~

Ottomans, Pillows, and Poofs

Courtly Checks and Courtly Stripes . . .

With a punch of red.

Whimsical Fun!

A fashionable mix for the table.

Delicate porcelain from

Mustardseed and Moonshine, South Africa . . .

Absolutely adore these

fabulous chargers in poppy red . . .

And the Courtly Check covered cake plate

ready to head out to a picnic.

Bowl Full of Sparkly Courtly Check Balls

Organically Styled

Metal Accent Pieces From Donna Karan

A Bit of Asian Influence

Bamboo Chargers by Juliska,

topped with MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check dinner plate,

Mustardseed and Moonshine salad plate in poppy red,

and porcelain noodle bowl with chopsticks by Donna Karan.

Such a clever presentation with the

chopsticks an integral part of the noodle bowl design.

Interesting Layers of 

Color, Pattern, Texture

Beaded Coral Napkin Ring,

Kim Seybert, NYC

Eclectic fashion makes me smile!

I find it all

~ Pretty COOL and Inspiring ~

Tell me, what do you think?

Table styled by the talented Mr. Glenn!

Joining

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Rednesday @ It's A Very Cherry World!

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

"Minou, Minou, Minou"

"Minou, Minou, Minou"

Calling all French kitties

and other felines of Blogland.

To celebrate this big boy!

Baby Kitty

@ Confessions of a Plate Addict

is 8 years old today.

Those of us who follow along at Confessions of a Plate Addict know of Debbie's famous staff and her love of all things French. The days of actual pets living here at HFTS were long ago, but we do love a party and wanted to join in the fun.

The Plate Addict Staff is here and ready to party!

So put on your party hat and join the fun.

Our purrrr-fectly paired aristocats are here.

Lilike, the sweet Hungarian mama cat

and her little Duci are eager to join in the fun.

Our hostess today is mademoiselle Gabrielle, le chat.

She is the essence of French country style.

You can read more about Gabrielle and her French friends here.

Gabrielle has brewed cat nip tea

and filled the party bowls with crunchy treats.

This handsome Frenchy is Monsieur Alexandre.

Mademoiselle Angelique, le chat du jardin,

has a fresh bouquet for Baby Kitty.

Bijou has filled her baskets

with Baby Kitty's favorite crunchy, kitty treats.

Sadly this dearest of kitties arrivied en détresse.

In a rush to join the group

~ catastrophe! ~

Her pretty little head crashed to the floor.

How's that for a "blogging blooper", Susan?

Her wobbly head was an accident waiting to happen!

I think she looks like a piece of MacKenzie-Childs,

but actually she's just a copycat

and was a thrifty Goodwill find.

Not that her pedigree makes us

any less sad about this unfortunate accident.

Angelique and Alexandre quickly rushed to her

aide and put the pieces back together again.

Just like Humpty Dumpty!

So the paw-ty could go on as planned!

Tuna cake for the Birthday Boy.

Solid Light Tuna

Only the best for you, Baby Kitty!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

BABY KITTY!

It's time for a Kitty Cat Linky Party!

Click here to join

Confessions of a Plate Addict

for the big party.

Also joining

Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Summer Cloche Party!

I spied this beautiful cloche vignette in the home of one of my dearest friends, so I snapped a few photos to have something to share for Marty's Cloche Party this summer.

Take a closer look.

Can you see what's

resting inside this beautiful cloche?

A beautiful reminder of the love of a

mother and her bond with her fledglings.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Click the link below to join

Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life

for her Summer Cloche Party.

Also joining:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

La Fête Nationale

Bastille Day ~ July 14th ~ La Fête Nationale

This French holiday commemorates the anniversary 

of the storming of the Bastille on this date in 1789.

Like the 4th of July here in the US,

Bastille Day is a time to celebrate independence; 

the storming of the Bastille represents the 

beginning of the French Revolution.

Patriotic festivities and parades are held throughout the country of 

France and also in many cities here in the US and other countries.

 Paris is the sight of a grand military parade on the Champs Elyées

and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower.

Some day I'd like to celebrate Bastille Day on the Champ de Mars 

beneath the Eiffel Tower and a sky filled with fireworks. 

But here in Austin, one can still celebrate in style with Bastille Day 

festivities at the French Legation. 

This year marks the 16th annual Alliance Française Bastille Day.

Native French men, women, and children living here in Texas and 

francophiles, such as myself, will gather in celebration of this 

historic French holiday.

There will be lively French music . . .

And delicious food, including French crêpes, both savory and 

sweet, and of course a selection of French pastries. 

 Click here to see a complete menu as listed on 

the Alliance Française d'Austin web site.

Face painting, petanque, and other

games will entertain old and young alike.

In the past vintage French cars 

have been on display.

And of course there will be live music

and dancing under the stars.

It's hot here in Texas so ice cream 

is a good way to cool off.

Official Poster from the Alliance Française d'Austin

Proceeds from the Austin event benefit the 

Alliance Française d'Austin's 

Frederique Moinard Scholarship Fund. 

 For tickets and more information click here.

Click here for a previous post on

the historical Texas French Legation.

Happy Bastille Day to all.

Thank you to the following hostesses this week:

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

French Inspiration Thursday @ The French Cupboard

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper