Antiques, Architecture and Aligators oh my!

Lov'in New Orleans

My very favorite thing about New Orleans was all the quaint antique shops and second hand hautes.

  Ideas for your next visit to New Orleans

·        Riverboat Cruise on the Mississippi River

·        Browse the shops and stalls throughout the French Market for souvenirs

·        Listen to amazing Jazz at Preservation Hall

·        Relive history with a Plantation Tour

·        Grab a Coffee and Beignets at Cafe du Monde

·        Discover your taste with Creole, Cajun, French, Soul, Spanish, international cuisine

·        Try on masks and boas on Royal Street

·        Go on a gaiter swamp tour (This is a MUST!)

·        Ghosts, Haunts, Voodoo Tour Walking Tour

·        St. Louis Cemetery by horse and buggy

·        Garden District Walking Tour

·        Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art free on Wednesdays

·        Take a free self-guided audio tour of downtown and the French Quarter with the National Park Service at 419 Decatur Street

·        2 1/2 Hr Cooking Lesson at the New Orleans School of Cooking

·        People watch while you walk Bourbon Street

·        Give a listen on Frenchmen Street for live music

·        Visit Snug Harbor Jazz Club for a jolt of energy

·        Ride the old trolley

·        Taste samples of pralines and hand-made chocolates at Laura’s Candies

·        Listen to live music near the Joan of Arc Statue on Decatur Street

·        Ride the Canal Street Ferry (Free) to Algiers Point and see the New Orleans skyline

·        Join in the parades, they occur nearly every weekend when someone gets married

.        Walk on the wild side with a New Orleans Swamp Tour!

 

·        Hop on St. Charles trolley car to the Garden District

 

 

 ·        Dine at the Palace Café for Sunday brunch with live music

·        Explore Espanade Avenue to view Italianate and Greek Revival mansions

·        Check out the historic Voodoo Museum for fun.

·        Stroll Magazine Street art galleries, jewelry and fine antiques

·        Drink a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s if you dare

.        Eat at an old fashioned diner in the Garden District (Take the trolley to the restaurant.) 


.       Check out the Downtown Arts in the Warehouse District.

I loved New Orleans, maybe I'll see you there on my next trip!

How do you decorate for Easter?

Easter Inspiration 2013

Pull out your box of Easter...and lets get started.  You must know by now that I love the Holidays.  In fact when asked what is my favorite Holiday I always say..."the next one!"

Here are a few photos from my own home decorating.

 Here is a "fix up" of a 1980's Easter Tree.  Many of the wooden bunnies and eggs had fallen off and been lost.  When I found some Wooden Easter items in a bag at a Goodwill thrift store I knew I could salvage this tree as a memory for my girls.

 I have been cleaning out holiday boxes as the holiday approaches.  Here was the before of the Easter tree given to the girls in 1988.  Many pieces were broken or had fallen off so I began by gluing the bunnies and eggs and grass back on the dowel tree.

 Here is where the girls grandmother signed the tree - in 1988!  My youngest daughter Kelsey wasn't even born yet.

I still had eggs and bunnies left over so I drilled some holes into the wooden eggs and added some wooden beads.  Okay this took MUCH longer than I thought it would, so I made only a small garland.

 Here is the garland in the dining room..maybe I'll rework the idea and make more next year.

Of course I like to have Easter all over the house.  In the Nook area I added this Birds nest.  I had found it on the ground while on a walk in our neighborhood.  The broken birds eggs were still inside the nest.  Tragic!  I added:
An old silver pitcher with olive branches from our tree out front.
A "found" bird house made many years ago.
Also pulled in the antique china spice containers.
A cute ceramic rabbit in a pot.
A upcycled cake stand that holds the nest - It's a china plate and single candlestick that I glues together using E6000 - Make one for yourself...directions here: http://jotraveler.blogspot.com/2011/06/odd-pieces-of-china-laying-around.html?q=china
And the old tray I have had for years, and just keep reusing it.
A few years ago, when we moved into this house I made this toile fabric table runner.

I like that all the decorations do not have to be pastels...

This is my oldest decoration and belonged to my grandma Elsie.  It's a gold embellished paper mache' egg and candy eggs from the 1950's.  There is a  scene inside and they were made by my grandma.  The bunny I bought last year at one of my favorite "decor" places...Pottery World in Rocklin, CA

 These are Rosbro hard plastic Easter bunny toys, and some more of those 1980"s eggs (Yep the bag of wooden Easter crafts was quite large.) The bunnies are in yellow and pink pastels.. They measure about 4-1/4" tall x 2"deep. These toys were probably in an Easter basket in the 1940's
These pieces were played with. There are some scuffs and scratches. I'm so glad to have them as they make a cute display.

 Here is a classic bunny on the hall table.  This year I added two chicks, and some eggs in a basket. (More olive branches.)

 I always put out the plastic eggs that we fill with change, hard candy and small erasers, balls and trinkets.  I always put a small duck in for the grandkids to point out.  This is so simple.

This is my table and chairs out front on the front porch.  I added two large ceramic geese, a woven table runner and another glass urn of fake eggs.  This time the eggs are the peach, green and purple's. (Yes the geese are from the 1980's, so glad I didn't throw them out.

 

This is that "chocolate looking" Eater Bunny I got at Pottery World.  I like it in the kitchen too.

 Here is a tray I filled with Eater Decor and use as a centerpiece on the Diningroom table.  There are a lot of keepsakes in the tray

This darling set of children's dishes belonged to my mother.  Don't you just love the pastel rim on the eggshell plate.

 These bunnies were gifts for me for my very first Easter that I hosted at my house.  I made the cake stands by gluing together those china plates and crystal candle holders.

 The white bunny pitcher in the back was old.  I use it or water on the Easter table.  Doilies are from my grandma...

 This cute blue and white book shelve my grandma Ellen painted for my daughter Kelsey's room in the 1980's.  It is a treasure.  It has four pegs to hang things. 

I love how dainty the cups and saucers are..I have a few odd dishes I keep with this set.  Our granddaughter Kiera is getting old enough now that I will have to get them out when she comes next and make up a "Teddy bear tea party."

So now I've shared, now it's your turn...what do you like to decorate with at Easter?
Just added:

 This lovely little feather tree was purchased on Etsy a few years back.  I love how it looks with my Benjamin Moore "Straw" colored walls and odd Eater eggs to decorate it.

 This little tea pot is my spring tea pot of choice.  I received this as a gift more than 10 years ago and love it still today.

 Grandson Beau, checking out one of my Easter cakes...gotta love the color of those "peeps"

 My Mom and Dad with Beau at the Easter table last year.  Miss my dad now ;(

And the real thing I love about Easter, gathering eggs in the back yard with the grandkids!

Bye for now...
Jonelle'

San Diego's Old Town is a source of Insperation

 The Mexican "Style" Makes Me Happy!

I have been reading this book on Traditional Mexican Style.  You can't help but smile when you see the bright colors and bold designs.  While in San Diego for business I took an afternoon to see a friend and explore Old Town San Diego's retail, restaurants and home decor. 

 Colorful blankets are one of the most common buys when collecting. 

 We ate at this wonderful cafe.  We had a nice spot next to a fountain.  They make home-made tortillas here and the waiters wear a wonderful big smile.  They had lunch specials that were quite reasonable, and large portions.


This is my friend Teddy.  She and I have worked together, but what we really like to do it chat about family, home and life.  I always enjoy my time spent with her.  Look at the size of our meal!

The gardens and flowers in Old Town San Diego are beautiful.  I love succulents and these more arid plants.  It really feels like you are stepping back in time.  The stores are fun to explore.  I like the variety and special treasures. Teddy has collected Mexican styled pottery, accessories, textiles and dishes in the 1970's.  It was fun to reminisce and see so many of the same designs and influences coming back in fashion.

 Here are a few succulents I do not have...Richard and I have a special succulent garden where we collect succulents from all over California.

 Here is Teddy leading the way to the shops.  Look how colorful it is with the umbrellas.

 Here are some things I enjoyed taking a look at.  I took pictures to share with you.

Mexican Talavera ceramic tile mirrors and metallic punched tin mirrors.

Also you see sacred heart mirrors prove precisely why Mexico is renowned for colorful and unique tin mirror frames.



I loved these bright and colorful Mexican Talavera dishes.  These hand painted pieces combine influence from both Spanish settlers and native Mexican pottery makers, resulting in Mediterranean style designs. Some of these had bumpy risen paint accents (beautiful) with somewhat more vivid colors and more primitive designs. 

 


 Pottery Tile - The Mexican handmade Talavera ceramic tiles are beautiful. In the 16th century Talavera pottery was introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards. Mexico has a deep history in arts and craft, a country  rich with culture and folklore.

A milagro, (Spanish for "miracle") or ex-voto (from "my vow" in Latin) are small charms, generally made of gold, silver, copper or brass, which the faithful believe are endowed with spiritual powers, which when offered to a saint can heal and help preserve overall well-being. They are also given in gratitude for prayers fulfilled

 The we drove to the Midway and looked at the installation of the newest piece of outdoor art: A giant statue a World War II sailor kissing a nurse -- near the Midway on Harbor Drive in San Diego

 And the Bob Hope Military statues...a "National Salute to Bob Hope and the Military" The statue park cost $1.5 million, and was funded by the port of San Diego, Navy vets of World War II's Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Hope family. The plaza and sculpture were opened the summer of 2009.

My brother Jon loves Bob Hope and listens often to the radio shows.  This statue "garden" had some very real looking bronzed

And the Midway, a real US Navy aircraft carrier (USS Midway)

They are so real like....For more information on the Statues I encourage you to check out http://www.portofsandiego.org/public-art/view-the-art-directory/778-bob-hope-tribute-by-eugene-daub-a-steven-whyte.html  There are descriptions and information about each statue.

Ended the afternoon with a hot drink and conversation before Teddy dropped me back to the airport.  Spending the afternoon with a friend is so relaxing and fun.  I'll be sure to give you a call when I get your way...