My Grama's Soul

When I started blogging I was on a mission to learn the computer.  You know.....being able to download pictures and find my way around the web.  Well I've accomplished a little bit of that; but with all this time on my hands, I'm not sure which direction I want my blog to take.  Usually I jump into something with both feet, and blogging is no exception.  It seems as though I have taken sort of a shotgun approach and have posted about a little bit of this and a little bit of that. So with that said, here is what I am thinking.  Since this blog is dedicated to my deceased maternal grandmother; perhaps I should begin at the beginning and relate what I know of my French ancestry.   You know......first things first. That post will be next. Blessings to all of you ladies out in blogland Jo

On a recent shopping excursion (before I broke my foot) I ran across this fabulous frame. Now, mind you, I was not so sure what I was going to do with the thing; but I knew it had my name on it. I found it at a sweet little shop called Domestic Bliss while they were having a huge relocation sale; so I got it for a song! I have been collecting crosses for sometime and decided to simply plop  one of my larger ones in the center.  I think I like the effect; but I do move things around a lot, so we will see. My second treasure I found at a little shop called Not Too Shabby.  It was originally painted white, but you know my thing with color.  So....I had her paint it black and decided to use it like a piece of art in a little corner niche in my home.  I moved this little baby around quite a bit before I found a place for her.  This little find was also quite inexpensive, as the shop owner had obtained it at a California flea market.   Oh......I do so love making something out of no

Please look at the beautiful journal I obtained from Meri at Imagimeris . It is completely handmade and beautifully assembled. She made each of these beautiful roses that adorn the cover.  She amazes me with the ability of her talent. She inserted decorated pages throughout the journal with pockets and little places for notes and anything you might want to cherish and save. Of course, I will never use this journal.  It is MUCH TO BEAUTIFUL to write in. It will be displayed among my other things as one more beautiful piece of art obtained from all you beautiful and creative ladies in blogland. Here is wishing all of you the best. Blessings, Jo

At last report, we were anxiously awaiting our reunion with my husband's college and childhood friends.  My foot was in a Darby boot and I was attempting to be the "hostess with the mostess".  Well, we pulled that off; everyone had a great time and we got caught up on years of news. I got through the weekend fairly uneventful knowing that I would see an orthopedic surgeon at 9 a.m. Monday morning. My husband went with me to hear what the doc had to say.  We arrived on time and were ushered right in.  To be told that surgery was not necessary as I have a condition called  Freeburg Disease.  Whatever THAT IS!!!!!  Anyway, I left the office wearing this little beauty. I know, it looks like a boot one of the soldiers from "Star Wars" would wear.  Anyway, I have to wear this little beauty for six, YES I SAID SIX, weeks.  UGGGHHHHHH!! Whilst attempting to stay off my feet as much as possible. So, as I said, I am busy watching the clock.  One day down......

 First of all, I want to apologize for not visiting many of you these last few days.  It seems my life has not gone as I had planned.  What is the old saying??  "You plan...God laughs"!! Anyway, we are again expecting company for a short visit beginning this Thursday, yee gads that is tomorrow!!  My sweet husband has invited 4 of his old high-school buddies and their wives for a little golf and catching up.  You must understand; my husband has not seen several of these men for 43 years!!  How we all will recognize one another I will never know!  (o: (o: O.K. so I have been fluffing and planning and fluffing and planning....you get the idea. THEN: You guessed it; I have fractured my middle toe and I also have something called osteonarcosis.  (sp??)  I don't know how or when I broke this little sucker, but it has been hurting for about two weeks and finally it hurt so bad that I had to get it looked at. X-rays were taken and an MRI was done and sure enough......N

We have lived in our current house going on 9 years.  Since my sweet hubby retired, we have moved and remodeled often, so we wanted to make sure we would stay here for a while before we did any work on this current house. About 3 or 4 years ago, we decided that it was time for us to tackle some of these projects in this house that was built sometime in the l970's. We tackled the kitchen first, since it was original to the house and was old and a little funky.   This kitchen is not very big, nor is my house, so we did add on a little space at the far end. This is how it turned out.   A bowl full of color, just what we like!! This kitchen makes me smile each time I walk through.   It is a pleasure to cook in and to eat in!!!  I think that should be what it is about, don't you?? Blessings dear friends, Jo 

As I have mentioned before, my lineage is from a long line of French Huguenot's who immigrated to Virginia in l700.  That story I promise I will share at another time. But the gist is I am a French lady who loves color in her home.  I know the French do too! Look at this ceiling in Versailles, it is full of color; as was all of the palace.  Many of the artists working on the building of Versailles were French Huguenot's.  Anyway, I digress; my love of color. Color is truly an expression of who we are and what we enjoy.  Orange is the color of creativity and red is the color of passion and so forth, at least so I have read somewhere. Today, I'm sharing just a few shots of my home to inject some color into a blog written by a lady who loves everything French!   For all of you out there who LOVE color; let's start strutting our stuff around blogland and show how truly beautiful ALL COLORS can be! Blessings dear friends, Jo

   Here is my dogeared copy of ALICE IN WONDERLAND.  I have no idea when it was published, because there is no publishing date inside its cover.  This is actually the only PHYSICAL THING I have left from when I was  little girl; and we all know that was some time ago.  (o: (o: The illustrations in "Books of Old" , LOL, were usually in black and white, at least mine are. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was reading that story from cover to cover. I was an avid reader then and I read this book several times. I can remember the characters coming alive in my imagination and actually finding a few of them a little scary.  But, I didn't mind because I thought Alice was such a hero and so adventurous. Oftentimes, this small book would be less frightening than the real world I lived in........so I was always grateful for the escape. I am so VERY DELIGHTED that Tim Burton has released this new movie, and that Johnny Depp is the star.  No one can be mo