The Greatest Mother's Day Gifts

 Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Thank you, Sammy II and Jeremey, for teaching me the joys of motherhood! God gave each of you to me at a time in my life when I needed you most. Your love has, and always will, sustain me.    

Out of all the best Mother's Day gifts I've ever received from my children, these are three of the greatest!

Kaleb

 Haiven

Emma

AND, a very Special Mother's Day wish to my mom who made all these gifts possible.

Sylvia Kathryn Deckelman Gillentine

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

It's SPRING!

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

AND....mowed the lawn, weeded the grass, put up lattice for red velvet rose to climb along, cleaned up the flowerbeds, freshened up the pine bark nuggets, put out the hummingbird feeders, stained the back patio/deck,

AND....planted a few potted plants, two hydrangeas, two yellow rose bushes, and nine tomato plants,

AND...this is just the first week!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company!

Au revoir,

(photo "borrowed" from Facebook post, sorry credits are unavailable) 

Teddy Bears and Tiaras

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Miss Ultimate Grand Supreme Queen

Teddy Bears and Tiaras

Emma Sue Wells

14 months

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

Who the heck is Foofa?

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Well, let me introduce you....

This is:  FOOFA

and these are some of her friends: Muno, Brobee, Plex, and Toodee

They are characters in one of Nick, Jr's educational programs, Yo Gabba Gabba,  and are brought to life in stories told by D.J. Lance and his magic boom box

It was officially decided on the Sunday before the following Saturday--yes, an astounding six days of which one required an overnight stay at the hospital and another required a 7 hr drive to party destination--that Emma's first Birthday Party was to have the "Yo Gabba Gabba" theme. THAT put Mamaw (moi) in a frantic Internet search because it has been over ten years since this family had an infant having those "firsts" to celebrate in life.

"Yo Emma, Emma...Happy Birthday"

As those previous ten years birthday parties kept REcurring in cycles thru my brain--and in no specific order---Tellie Tubbies, Tweetie Bird, Looney Tunes, Blues Clues, Spiderman, Toy Story, (well, you get my drift) and knowing that time was of the essence, I quickly began a Google search:  Nick, Jr..FOUND IT!!  "Yo Gabba Gabba"... FOUND IT!!...  FREE downloads--tell me this a'int so!!! I've hit pay-dirt!!  An online order for party tableware and a quick trip to Walmart completed the deal. Now, it was up to me!

a Foofa Onesie with the addition on her pink tutu completed her party outfit
(thank you Nick Jr for the free character downloads)

Working frantically, I suddenly REalized that Emma wasn't the only one getting older, as my once steady hands and keen eyesight struggled slowly to complete their tasks.  

 Her very own Foofa cake

and a cake for all her guests

 

 LOTS of presents to open

I am THIS many!!

What else could any girl ask for?

Yo Emma Emma, Yo Gabba Gabba...Happy 1st Birthday !

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit! We love having company.

Au  revoir,

Special Thanks to: Pam Gonzales Cakes and Nick,Jr downloadables

Bonne Annee from Campagne Maison

Bonjour et Bonne Annee from Campagne Maison

I am sharing great news with all of you today! "The Parisienne Farmgirl" is launching an online quarterly magazine that will debut in April 2012. She is super excited about this announcement and is hosting a very, very generous give-away for everyone to enter. Please hurry on over to her blog for all the details and for sign up information!

http://www.parisiennefarmgirl.com/

Be sure to subscribe to the magazine. I did and I am super excited and eagerly awaiting the first issue!!

***************************

Our humble little farmhouse is situated about five miles off interstate Hwy 75, in the beautiful Sweetwater Valley of East TN. Almost exactly midway between Knoxville and Chattanooga, downtown Sweetwater oozes with history and features many antique and specialty shops nestled alongside family owned and operated businesses. As a former Main Street director, I can attest that this town is the epitome of what the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street REhabilitation program stands for!

No, my cottage is not a French chateau and to my knowlege, has no history of French heritage. In fact, she sits 4300 miles from the French countryside, built from lumber that was hewn by hand, on-sight, from trees that were cleared from the hillside almost 100 years ago. She has housed several  families and undergone several REnovations--some good, some bad! But she is filled with a history of hard working people who raised their families to have strong work ethics, strict morals and a desire to contribute to the growth of their community and to society. They desired what I--like you, desire--a home that bids all to enter, "sit a spell", and put a great distance from the hustle and bustle of  LIFE!

Even though it meant selling our home and RElocating over 400 miles away from our children, grandchildren, and friends, we felt compelled and destined to become the caretakers of this property. I knew immediately that she was to become our home in the country, our "Campagne Maison".  I just knew, that I knew, that I knew!!  Even though health issues and budget constraints are making our progress slower than we initially expected,  it is still a "good" satisfying progress. Besides, our work, like life, is going to always be a work in-progress!

As I continue to share my REmodeling adventures with many of you this coming year, I look forward to seeing what inspirations that I receive from reading your blogs and hope that I return a few to you as well! 

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

2011 Southern Angelic Queen

 Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Emma Sue Wells

2011 Southern Angelic Queen

and  Most Photogenic

She won one trophy, two crowns, two ribbons and a Christmas bear.

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au revoir

How can THIS be?

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

How can THIS be? Our "little man" becomes a TEENAGER today...

6th Birthday

2005 Kindergarten Graduation

First lost tooth

the one that didn't get away!

  

 

as that Little Rascal, Alfalfa

(playtime at Mamaw's)

7th Birthday

8th Birthday

practicing his driving skills!

my little Ringo

#4 Rivercrest Colt

Happy 13th Birthday Kaleb!

December 9, 2011

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

One plus One equals One

 Bonjour from Campagne Maison

ONE rusty wrought iron bench/wine rack  +

ONE busted up wooden skid =

ONE new bench (or possible coffee table)

This was a "FREE is BETTER" REpurpose, REfinish, REcycle project. The bench was given to me by my sister and the skid was a roofers discard. I cut the boards at random widths and sealed them with Minwax Wood Finish Special Walnut # 224. I am trying to decide if I want to use it for seating on the deck or take it one step further by sealing off the oxidation on the wrought iron and using it inside as a coffee table. Only time will tell!

I am linking this post up with: http://diyhshp.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today.  We love having company!

Au revoir,

Is she CRAZY??

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

A friend of my sister asked her if I'd be interested in having this 1930's era corner cabinet for the farmhouse.

In need of a good cleaning and some fresh white paint but none-the-less I SAW the beauty.

Who could resist the NATURAL cracklin' white and aqua paint?

There was no other way but to paint a fresh coat of the white BUT the aqua remained untouched.

With the addition of four HALF-shelves, I was able to double the storage space. It worked out perfect for the bottle height of all my craft paints!

Lace inserts for the door fronts and shelf edges....

Some stencils and Graphics Fairy decals

How NEAT is this?

Perfect Cabinet for a perfect corner in my perfect little farmhouse!

In a GOOD way, I'd say my sister's friend IS crazy. But I sure love to be on the receiving end when  "one person's trash is another person's treasure".  I also love it when I get to use my 3 R Rules !

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,

Winner of "Outfit of Choice" The Roarin' 20's

 Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Hello to all my Mamaw's blogging friends! I am Emma Sue Wells and I am 10 months old. I am writing a guest post for my Mamaw today.

A couple of months ago, my Mamaw made me this Roarin' 20's outfit to wear in the "Dazzling Dolls" State Beauty Pageant in Jacksonville, AR.  I wasn't at the farmhouse in TN, so she had my mom take my measurements. This had her a little worried that the outfit may not fit but my mommy only had to make a slight underarm adjustment and it was perfect!

Mamaw even made me a pair of "bloomers" to match my dress (and to cover my diaper). She thinks of everything!

This is a picture of me doing "The Charleston" while I was waiting for my turn to go upon stage.

I know my Mamaw can't wait to see me in my outfit! 

Thank you Mamaw! I won "Outfit of Choice" and  have another crown to show you when you come back to visit!

 Hugs and kisses, Emma....

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today. We love having company!

Au Revoir,

Peace, Love and Haiven's 12th

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

One of the things that we did on our recent trip back to AR was to help Haiven celebrate her 12th birthday. She is my "hippie" ANYTHING WITH A PEACE SIGN  loving grandchild.



P-E-A-C-E



12 Candles



Making a wish!



 How did this happen....nails that match the icing colors on the birthday cake (and this was coincidental)

Haiven celebrated her party at the home of her other grandparents in Wilson, AR. They were gracious to allow us to co-spoil her the remainder of the time we were there.

 Thanks Gary and June!! 

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit today! We love having company.

Au revoir,