Showing posts with label bee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bee. Show all posts

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Traveling Totes # 9 ~ Autumn Fun


Welcome to 
Tales of the Traveling Totes # 9

We have enjoyed a gorgeous autumn here in Texas,

so before the rush of holiday activities begins,

the Courtly Check girls and I want to share 

some of the highlights of our autumn excursions.




Speaking of the holidays ~

I've already opened a Christmas gift!

This year, the Traveling Tote Girls 

planned an ornament exchange.

My package arrived weeks ago, but I waited until now to open it.




Isn't this Scottish Santa adorable?

Thank you, Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry.

You know me well.  This tartan loving girl is 

thrilled with this little charmer.

Our Christmas tree goes up soon, and my sparkly

jaunty Scottish Santa will be the first ornament on the tree.

Aren't surprises fun?





September had us on a jet plane headed to Kansas City

to attend the Annual Meeting of Quimper Club International.





The QCI Annual Meeting is always a much 

 anticipated gathering of collectors of Quimper pottery 

 who have become cherished friends.

In addition to our annual meeting, 

 we enjoyed many special sights in Kansas City.






A short bus trip to Independence, MO took us for a visit 

to see the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum.

I highly recommend all of these attractions 

if you plan a trip to Kansas City.





One of my favorite things to do in any new city

is to explore the antique stores.

Mission Road Antique Mall 

in Prairie Village, KS was a great find.

300+ dealers in 50,000 square feet offered a treasure trove 

of interesting finds, including this booth that featured 

items from the estate of Charles Faudree.




View of Union Station and Downtown from Liberty Memorial


Kansas City is a sleeping jewel.

I think it's fair to say that I

left a bit of my heart in Kansas City!





You might recall that Miss Merri Mac and I 

visited my friend, Phyllis, this summer at her home on Cape Cod.

Phyllis was in Kansas City for the meeting and returned

with me to Austin to shop the fall Round Top Antique Markets.

Yes, we took this east coast girl to shop in the fields of Texas.

Free tickets and tees were an added bonus from Facebook.





Phyllis was impressed with antique shopping Texas style.

 She found so many treasures that she commented

 there was no reason to make a trip to 

 Paris to shop the antique markets.

The Round Top Antique Market is top notch, 

 and yes, the two of us have shopped the 

 French markets many times together,

but I'm not ready to give up shopping trips to France!





October found us taking a day trip to nearby Seguin, TX

for a Garden Club visit to Gretchen Bee Ranch.





We learned much about the work of a bee keeper

 and how the honey is harvested and processed for their shop.




Our New Members

Lunch followed at historic Fritz House

on the campus of Texas Lutheran University.





I was one of the hostesses and used my

collection of bee skep honey pots as the centerpiece.




For dessert, I made these cute little bee hive cakelets

using the Wilton pan and recipe for lemon honey cakes.





More shopping opportunities lured Miss Merri Mac 

and me to the annual Settlement Home Garage Sale.  

Lots of antique and vintage finds to tempt us.





Last on the calendar ~ the annual 

Junior League Christmas Affair.





With the theme Merry and Bright,

the booths sparkled with tempting goods

and tasty foods to help check off the Christmas shopping list.





We left the Christmas Affair in a festive mood,

ready to begin the holiday season.




Just in time for the holidays, the Traveling Tote girls

are giving away a beautiful MacKenzie-Childs tree ornament.

We will offer a MacKenzie-Childs giveaway 

 with each of our next four posts.

Debbie @ Mountain Breaths

will host this month, and to be entered you must

leave a comment on Debbie's blog for a chance to win

the MacKenzie-Childs acorn ornament above.
To Visit Previous Miss Merri Mac Adventures

Just click on number links below. 


#1, #2, #3, #4, #5 # 6, #7, #8, and also
here, here, here, and here.



Next Traveling Totes Adventures ~ March 1, 2017

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Dog Days of Summer ~ A Refresher



According to ancient Rome,
Dog Days of Summer 
last from July 23 to August 24.

Well, I'm here to tell you that
with the Texas heat,
Dog Days
of lethargy and inactivity are still here.

It's definitely the season 
for afternoon naps
followed by a refreshing treat.

Like an icy cold 
glass of lemonade.

Along with a slice of
 delicious Meyer Lemon cake.

~ Lorina ~
Delicious ~ Sparkling ~ Lemonade

Nothing better on a hot summer day
than citrus drinks to quench one's thirst.

Any way you slice it,
this lemon cake is full of goodness.

Tangy with a 
touch of sweetness.

Elegant and Light

An afternoon citrus refresher.

"When are you going to stop talking 
and cut the cake, Mom?"

"I'm ready!"

The Perfect  Refresher
~ Dog Days of Summer ~

YUMMY!

One of the things I've gleaned from watching my "chef" 
is the importance of mise en place, having all ingredients
measured and prepared before one begins cooking.
This practice enables one to cook efficiently and eliminates
the possibility of leaving out a step or ingredient.

Another tip for you when making 
this recipe is to use a spring form pan.
Using a large flat spatula like 
above also allows easy transfer.

You'll find the recipe here
where I originally shared it for
 Cooking With The Meyers.
Silver trays, flatware, plates, and 
vase were all thrifty finds.

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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Napoleon and Joséphine, A Love Story




Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine de Beauharnais 

~ One of the Greatest Love Stories in History ~



Vintage Postcard, dated 1908

Napoleon and Josephine were married March 9, 1796.




It's no secret that Paris has long been my favorite 

destination, and over the years I've collected 

 my fair share of Napoleonic memorabilia. 




 Kathryn Crisp Greeley's new book, 

 THE COLLECTED TABLETOP,

 advocates using one's collections to set a special table.

 I decided to do just that when I selected 

 Napoleonic Memorabilia 

 as my topic for a CAMEO meeting.

 I'm passing along this tip for 

 Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable.

 When you host your next dinner party, gather up a collection 

 to use as a theme.  I found it fun to see my pieces grouped 

 together, and your collection will no doubt spark conversation.





Those of you who follow HFTS might remember the post I shared here about CAMEO, a small antique club of which I'm a member.  

CAMEO
Collecting Antiques and Memorabilia 
and Educating Ourselves

The structure of our small group is such that each member is responsible for presenting or arranging a presentation on a topic of interest to share with the group at one of our monthly meetings.  




~ Collecting Napoleonic Memorabilia ~

My topic of choice last spring.





Napoleon's famous N and bee motif 

show up in many of these pieces.




The pottery pieces you see in the photos 

are mostly French faience produced in the 

last part of the 19th century or the first half of the 20th century.



Small Bust of Napoleon, CA 
Dinner Plate, HenRiot Quimper
Teapot part of Garden Buddies Tea Service, unmarked




Napoleon Ivy ~ As Used By Napoleon At St. Helena ~ 1815
Wedgwood Etruria England

I only have but one demi-tasse cup and saucer in this lovely pattern, though I long to add more pieces someday.  It is Kathryn Greeley's #2 choice in her Top Ten China Patterns.  Now retired, this pattern was that which Napoleon used while in exile on the south Atlantic island of St. Helena.  





Vintage Bronze Souvenirs of Paris Aside a 

Vintage Avon Bee Skep Cologne Bottle




 Vintage Letter Openers Atop 1900 Edition of L'Aiglon, 

 A Play In Six Acts Based On The Life Of Napoleon's Son

Performed At The Knickerbocker Theatre 

 New York, October 1900




Serving a light brunch, I used the opportunity to follow Karhryn Greeley's advice: "Mixing antique collections with contemporary tabletop pieces adds drama and the unexpected."  With my collection as the central focus of my tables, I could easily pull select pieces to share with the group as I presented my topic.




Empire by Walbrzych, Poland, 

 A lovely ribbed and scalloped plate with gold verge and trim was

a  thrifty Goodwill find.  With a name like Empire  

 I thought it most appropriate in homage to Napoleon.




The golden bee textiles are from William Sonoma.




Petite Forks by Sabre of Paris 




MacKenzie-Childs Flower Market 

and Courtly Check Enamel Ware




Salmon Spread with Crackers

Recipe here




Seasonal Berries and Melon 

with Onion Walnut Muffins

Recipe here




The drink table featured 

 items with the bee motif.




Petite French Faience Vase, CA 
Napoleonic Bee Vintage Silk Fragment, c1880



Napoleonic Bee Stems, 
La Rochere of France




For The Dessert Table

 ~ A Touch of Josephine ~



The stack of plates are Sarreguemines transfer ware c.1890-1922, and each feature a different Napoleonic military scene.  These were ironically found on a CAMEO field trip to Fredericksburg, TX.  One never knows where treasures will be discovered.


The red toleware jardiniere is a contemporary piece.





Pair of  Revolutionary Commemorative Plates, PBx, c1880.



 Sweet Little Souvenirs  
Chateau de Fontainebleau, 2011



Vintage Tiara ~ A Gift From My CAMEO Friends

 If you enjoy historical fiction and the subject is of interest, I highly recommend reading Sandra Gulland's trilogy about Josephine.  It's a new look at this fascinating character of French history.

I reviewed each book in the links below.





 For those of you still with me on this 

 lengthy post, I offer you some sweet treats.




~ Napoleons ~

Layers of Mille-Feuille and Vanilla Cream 

Topped with Fondant




Bee Sugar Cookies




Vanilla Meringue Bites 




Perhaps this post will inspire you to begin a memorabilia 

collection of your own on a theme that interests you.


Joining


Spring Party @ French Country Cottage

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits @ Stone Gable
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ Faith, Grace, and Crafts
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Open House Friday @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Be Inspired Friday @ Common Ground
Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm
Festive Friday Fiesta@ The Home Girl
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper
Sunny Simple Sunday @ Sunny Simple Life
Master piece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Tabletop Tuesday @ A Stroll thru Life
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday @ Kathe With An E
Pretty Things @ TwelveOeight
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch
Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Things That Make Me Happy @ Art @ Home
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

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