Tea with Two Patriots

Meet Mary Kate

and

Lucy

They've been busy preparing for all the July 4th festivities

and are eager to relax with a cup of tea on the porch.

They've set the tea table with Richard Ginori China

and their favorite red polka dot tea service.

Look at the star spangled 
details of this beautiful china.

Lucy chose a chocolate 
cupcake for her teatime treat.

Mary Kate has her eye on a cherry cupcake.

What flavor would you like?

It's very hot here this summer,

but they've picked a shady spot on the front porch.

Shall we join them?

All ready for the neighborhood 4th of July Parade,

Mary Kate has on her special star spangled dress.

She is very patriotic and most proud to be an American.

Lucy's mom made her dress 
with both stars and stripes.

See that big lone star?

This girl is proud to be both American and a Texan!

Looks like these proud little 
patriots found the perfect spot.

With the red, white, and blue flying in the breeze and

fireworks shooting across the tea table . . .

These two are all set 
to enjoy a patriotic tea time.

Lucy wishes you a Happy 4th of July

and

Mary Kate says,

"Don't forget to fly the red, white, and blue."

"Y'all Come Back Now!"

The dolls and everything on the table were

thrifty finds as well as the table and chairs.

You can read about the make-over here.

Brigitte Comes To Life

When I first saw Linda Ragno's Garden Ladies by Cooper Oaks Design, I was totally charmed. I just had to stitch this lovely flower lady with her basket of lavender. French Country style simply makes me happy. (Click here to read more about this artist and to view a catalog of her designs. Her work is available here at the Needleworks.)

Wall of Needlepoint Canvases @ Needleworks

Stitching is a favorite pass time and yet another passion in my life. I'm one of those travelers who pulls out the yellow pages when I arrive somewhere and check out the needlepoint shops in town. Anyone else out there do this?

I named her Brigitte, and here she is after I stitched the canvas. Every stitch brought sunshine to my days as my sweet Brigitte came to life!

With Brigitte stitched, I shopped my fabric stash and pulled out some of my favorite Souleiado fabrics from Pierre Deux. With only a small remnant of the blue, a patchwork idea quickly began to evolve.

I worked up a plan,

gathered everything together,

and took it all to my friend who is a master finisher.

Voilà, Brigitte completely finished!

With this sweet face and French fabrics,

I decided she must share the upstairs guest room . . .

with another young French lady

who loves to pick flowers from the garden.

Sophie is a handmade limited edition doll from the Fritzi-Contini Collection. She has always been content to while away the days in her antique Thonet rocker, but I thought she might like to join Brigitte on the wicker settee and visit about gardening.

These two were getting along splendidly,

when all of a sudden 
mademoiselles Gabrielle le chat

and Zoé le lapin called 
out from across the room.

They begged and pleaded and insisted that Brigitte join them in their comfy spot atop the quilt on the bed. The work of Ilonka, a California artist, these two captured my heart back in the 1980s. They always seem to get their way with me, so Brigitte happily snuggled in between these two charmers.

But look who is patiently waiting in my needlepoint basket. She hopes to be stitched up this winter and join the other girls in the French guest room. Until then she seems happy to have two little Russian girls to keep her company. I just hope she doesn't let that rooster crow when the sun comes up.

I originally posted about Brigitte here, but reworked this post to share for Kim's Before and After Party this week. Click here to join Kim and see her latest paint transformation. You'll also find a list of others who have a Before and After to share.

Also linking to

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

F is for French Toast

F is for

French Toast

It's certainly no secret among my friends that one of my favorite foods is French toast. If it's on a menu, that's usually what I order when we go out to eat breakfast. So this was one of my Christmas presents this year.

But you can see this isn't exactly what comes to mind when one says, "French Toast!"

No, indeed! So since you've come for a visit I've pulled out some essential ingredients to make us a little treat this morning. Most any bread works for this dish, but I like to use challah bread in thick slices so it's nice and fluffy.

While you're here you may stay in our "French" guest room. I'll just bring up a breakfast tray with a pot of rich fresh ground coffee and a glass of chilled orange juice.

Just for you, I've used French linens. The napkin ring is also French.

F. L. G.

I have a group of French napkin rings that I've found when exploring weekend brocante markets in France. I like to think about who might have owned these little rings of silver and have a bit of fun imagining whose monogram is delicately engraved upon them. This one I think must have once belonged to Françoise Louise Gauthier.

I like to top French toast with a bit of mascarpone cheese and fresh berries.

But I also like to eat my French Toast with lots of confectioners sugar and a little maple syrup. What do you like on your French Toast?

French toast is a rich, sweet dish, so I like to add a side of sausage with mine.

Americans eat French toast for breakfast, but the French like to offer it as a dessert. They refer to it as pain perdu, or "lost bread".

I tucked in the new issue of Phyllis Hoffman's Celebrate Spring for a little reading pleasure.

Enough of my talking, you must be ready to eat. Settle in and enjoy your own plate of French toast. Bon appétit!

There on the bed resting on the pillows are Brigitte, Gabrielle le chat, and Zoé le lapin. You can read about them here.

Please take your time and enjoy your visit. Then click here to check in with Mrs. Matlock and the other Letter F lessons. I'm also linking this to Tablescape Thursday @ Susan's Between Naps on the Porch.

The Power of Pink

Super Molly Girl

Meet Super Molly Girl. She recently arrived in this lovely pink wrapping, actually just stopping over before she headed off to Delaware, her final destination. Notice her pink shorts and the shiny pink ribbons on her outfit.

Back in September for a Metamorphosis Monday, Debbie @ Confessions of a Plate Addict shared a wonderful story about a special project with her grandson, Andrew. You can read about it here. As Debbie said, "At the tender age of six...almost seven... my grandson decided he would like to design a "line of toys" (his words!), superheroes and villains that would appeal to children his age!"

I was very impressed with Andrew's entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to support his fledgling business. I left a comment on that post with a request that Andrew might produce a special order for me.

Super Molly Girl

One of our nephew's youngest daughter, Molly, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia Tcell in May of 2008 when she was 5 years old. Molly is a super hero fan, and we all consider her a super hero in her battle against cancer. The photo above, taken before her diagnosis, is of Molly in her Super Girl outfit.

Super Molly Girl Plan

Debbie immediately replied saying that Andrew would be delighted to design a super hero doll just for Molly, a Super Molly Girl! And he wanted this to be a special gift from him to Molly.

The drawing above is Andrew's original drawing for the design of Super Molly Girl. I think Andrew definitely has a bright future ahead of him!

Super Molly Equipped With Her Own Dual Jet Pack

Super Molly Girl is equipped with her own dual jet pack. She fired up those rockets and propelled herself across country to meet up with the real Molly, who in my mind is definitely a SUPER HERO. Molly is one brave little girl, a fierce fighter who is going to beat this cancer!

Thanks for visiting today. Please leave a comment below so I know you stopped by.

Ana of A Petite Cottage celebrated her sister's last radiation treatment with a stunningly beautiful Pink Saturday post last week. If you missed it, click here to read this heartwarming piece.

Then join Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for a list of more Pink Saturday posts.