At what cost is Freedom?

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Kaleb Wells and 1863 Civil War Soldier REenactor, Jonathan Shields

Tennessee Valley Railroad

We traveled into Northwest Georgia on Saturday via vintage rail/train from Chattanooga, TN to historic Chickamaunga, GA. We rode through the 1858 era Missionary Ridge Tunnel which is almost 1000 feet long. It was dug by pick and shovel and black powder explosive, as dynamite had not been perfected at that time. It took two years to complete, which was said to be a great accomplishment! We also learned that parts of the movie, Water for Elephants, was filmed at that location.

Through our attentive ears and teary eyes, we learned in great detail from Jonathan's "first person account" about the great Civil War battle that took place there in 1863. Over 34,000--not just Confederate or Union--but AMERICAN soldiers lost their lives in only 2 days!

"Chickamauga National Military Park was transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service in 1933 and, while close to 1,400 monuments would be built to mark the battlefield contributions of the Union and Confederate veterans from the states represented in the battle, not one has ever been erected to mark the contributions of the Tennesseans who fought and died at Chickamauga.

Unlike other Tennessee National Military Parks, there is no National Cemetery on the Park’s grounds. All of the soldiers left on the battlefield, with one exception, were buried in other locations.

Before it became a park, the forests of Chickamauga remained untouched, but not for any environmental or historical reason. The gunfire that raged on the battlefield was like a steel curtain that tore into every tree on the site. The bullets embedded in the trees make cutting them dangerous. Lumber mills in the region never accept any timber from the site of the battle".

Chickamauga National Military Park is open daily and offers a variety of activities.
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers various group and charter trips

http://www.battleofchickamauga.net/history.html
http://www.tvrail.com

Beastiest

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Call of Duty: Campagne Maison-Mission I

My grandson, Kaleb, is spending a couple of weeks with us this summer. Needless to say, he is a very active 12 year old with an imagination outta this world! Not only is he very skilled at all of the Call of Duty war games, he writes his own case scenarios. Best part is, I am an Army nurse and a very important character in his current novel. I'd say that makes me the "beastiest" thing alive!

"beast'iest" (adj) Of, pertaining to, or like-- better than the best, way over the top, cooler than cool, badder than Leroy Brown

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

Au revoir,

When the Battle's Over

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

(note the crown atop her head)

A circular piece of the rusty arbor fell off during the winter months and I noticed that the DH was inspired to use his creative eye at design...not bad for a beginner!

The first thought that entered my mind when I saw that he had made a crown for my Angel was the gospel song by Isaac Watts...

"Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease,

while others fought to win the prize, and sailed thro' bloody seas?

Sure I must fight if I would reign, Increase my courage Lord,

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by Thy word.

..And when the Battle's over we shall wear a crown,

Yes, we shall wear a crown....."

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

Au revoir,

Happy Father's Day 2010

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Mr. Campagne Maison

Happy Father's Day 2010

Father to Sammy II and Jeremey; Grandfather to Lauren, Kaleb, Haiven, and Emma

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

Au revoir,

Braggin' rights!

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Today I picked my first ripe cherry tomato!

My mom and sister have over two dozen tomato plants covered with tennis-ball size green tomatoes, all the while I've been waiting in anticipation of seeing the blooms on mine transform themselves into the coveted treasure.

But today, as I was walking by my tiny cherry tomato plant, much to my surprise, look what I found!

Now, I can lay claim to braggin' rights by harvesting the first ripe tomato!

Ahhhhhhhh, I love it when "Underdog" puts on his cape and saves the day!

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

Au revoir,

2011 Osceola Heritage Musicfest Queen and Miss Hospitality

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Emma Sue Wells

4 months

Miss Hospitality 2011

I can't believe she is growing up so fast!

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

Au revoir,

Levee at Osceola, AR

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

The word levee is from the French word levée (from the feminine past participle of the French verb lever, "to raise").

Artificial levees require substantial engineering. Their surface must be protected from erosion, so they are planted with vegetation such as Bermuda grass in order to bind the earth together. On the land side of high levees, a low terrace of earth known as a banquette is usually added as another anti-erosion measure. On the river side, erosion from strong waves or currents presents an even greater threat to the integrity of the levee. The effects of erosion are countered by planting with willows, weighted matting or concrete revetments. Separate ditches or drainage tiles are constructed to ensure that the foundation does not become waterlogged.

Levees are usually built by piling earth on a cleared, level surface. Broad at the base, they taper to a level top, where temporary embankments or sandbags can be placed. Because flood discharge intensity increases in levees on both river banks, and because silt deposits raise the level of riverbeds, planning and auxiliary measures are vital. Sections are often set back from the river to form a wider channel, and flood valley basins are divided by multiple levees to prevent a single breach from flooding a large area.

( my childhood home was to the immediate left of this pic )

(KEEP IN MIND THAT THE LEVEE HEIGHT HERE IS APPROXIMATELY 52 ft)

The Mississippi levee system represents one of the largest such systems found anywhere in the world. It comprises over 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of levees extending some 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) along the Mississippi, stretching from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to the Mississippi Delta. They were begun by French settlers in Louisiana in the 18th century to protect the city of New Orleans. The first Louisianan levees were about 3 feet (0.91 m) high and covered a distance of about 50 miles (80 km) along the riverside. By the mid-1980s, they had reached their present extent and averaged 24 feet (7.3 m) in height; some Mississippi levees are as much as 50 feet (15 m) high. The Mississippi levees also include some of the longest continuous individual levees in the world. One such levee extends southwards from Pine Bluff, Arkansas for a distance of some 380 miles (610 km).

**These pictures were taken yesterday by my brother from atop the levee close to our childhood home place. I have only seen the river this high once in my lifetime. Please join me with with your thoughts and prayers for this area of our Great United States.

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

Au revoir,

**photo credits: Voy Gillentine

THE Ring

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Replica of Princess Diana's, and now Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, wedding ring

In 1981, I purchased this replica via mail order advertisement found in a local newspaper. I wore it for awhile then retired it to my jewelry box where it has remained all these years. I suspect that is why it is still in pretty good shape!

In celebration of the Royal Wedding, I thought I would wear it--along with my tiara, whilst sipping tea and watching all the wedding festivities on the tellie. (It is officially 4 a.m. April 29, 2011 and I am starting the celebration in grand American Tradition first--Coffee and donuts.....)

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

Au revoir,

Name Above All Names

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

J E S U S

Name above all names,

Beautiful Saviour, Glorious Lord...

Emmanuel,God is with us,

Blessed Redeemer...

Living Word

El Shaddai

A local farmer planted this across the side of a hill down the road from the farmhouse. I could not get a bird's eye-view perspective for the picture but its impact is truly amazing! How appropriate for this Easter season.

"From the rising of the sun until the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised" Psalms 113:3

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

Au revoir

April in Paris Giveaways

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Chelle from "French Charmed" is hosting not 1...not 2...but 3 giveaways this month!

Please go to her blog: http://frenchcharmed.blogspot.com to review the rules for entry. There are several entry options to choose from and the items are going to be great!

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

Au revoir,

Here's MY Sign

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

RE-purpose, RE-finish, RE-cycle and RE-think the possibilities! An old twin bed headboard went

from this:

to this:

A couple coats of left over Country White paint, vinyl lettering, and sealer made the total cost for this project $ 25.00. A tree was saved and a discarded object found new life!

I would like to say a special "THANK YOU" to Lorrie at http://fabricpaperthread.blogspot.com/ for her expertise with the French language. She is blessed with many talents and I am always inspired by her blog posts. If you haven't visited with her, please do--you won't be disappointed!

Linking back to Mary's "Boogieboard Cottage" at: http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/ , for Masterpiece Monday.

Joining in Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at: http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

Joining The Shabby Chic Cottage with Gina for Transformation Thursday at:

http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2011/04/transformation-thursday-oh-how-far-weve.html

Joining Cindy for Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-and-tell-friday

Come join me and meet some amazingly talented people!

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

Au revoir,

What Happens at Grandma's...

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

The picture on the left was taken of my son, Jeremey, on March 7, 1980. The picture on the right was taken of his daughter, Emma, on March 17, 2011. The outfit was given to Jeremey by his godparents and was what he wore home from the hospital. That was "back in the day" when the sex of the child was little more than an educated guess from the doctor, the mother's intuition, or a needle dangling from a string--all of which Mother Nature proved wrong in this instance!

....and here she is in a couple of her daddy's t-shirts

Emma is going to be the typical little girl that loves playing "dress up", as she was a real trooper for me that day!

I love keeping family history alive and try to stress the importance of it to my children and my grandchildren. Just being able to dress the grandchilden in their parents clothing brings back so many treasured moments from the past!


Little Miss Emma and I already have a pack......"what happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's"......

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse today. We love

having company!

Au revoir,

What A Difference a Day Makes!

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Emma has gained 3 lbs 9 oz in 7 weeks

What a difference a day makes!

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

Au revoir,

Spoiling time

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

I'm headed back to Arkansas to get me some more shuga!! It's been eleven years since we've had a baby in the family and it's really difficult not being able to be there to spoil this one the way I did the other three. It's NOT like she doesn't have anyone else THERE to spoil her, BUT--they aren't MOI!! I'm certain all you other grandparents understand.

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

Au revoir,

Daffodils

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

"Daffodils"

I wander'd lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed--and gazed--but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

written in 1804 by William Wordsworth

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

Au revoir

The Ugly Duckling

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

I recently purchased two of these gorgeous yellow Ginger jar lamps at a local thrift store for $4.00 each. Seriously, I really hated to paint them as they were in excellent condition! But I had an "itch" and I had to scratch it!

One shade was still wearing a condom (as HGTV's Doug Wilson would say) but a quick removal of the entire ORANGE (well I am in TN where everyone bleeds UT Orange) shade material gave way to artistic liberties.

A little tweekin' with a flourish of baubles and beads, a coat of white paint, a glaze mixture of metallic silver and gold applied over an Elmer's glue crackle medium, topped off with a shade recovered with brown Zebra print turned

this Ugly Duckling

into a Beautiful Swan..

The most difficult thing about this REfurbish project was finding the brown Zebra print material--thank goodness for Hobby Lobby!!

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

Au revoir,

Big Brother

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Kaleb and his little sister, Emma

She has the best big brother!

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

Au revoir,

Our little Emma

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Our family continues to grow and we are being blessed beyond measure. Kaleb has a little sister ...

Emma Sue Wells

5 lbs 3 oz

19" long

January 20, 2011

Emma was named in honor of her maternal grandmother. She is my 3rd granddaughter and my 4th grandchild. It has been 11 years since we've had a new addition to the family. I am wondering just how long the new mother will let me stay and spoil her!

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

Au revoir,

I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

When our family gets together, you never know what we will "make" our Mother do! Mom is 88 years old and this is the first time that she ever sat on Santa's knee! This just proves that one is never too old to REcapture the joys of childhood.

I sincerely hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday and want to wish all of you a very Happy and Blessed New Year.

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

Au revoir,

Enamel Name Sign / House Number Giveaway

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Yes, I've been busy-but happily busy! Finally after waiting four weeks on the installation, I have carpet in the master bedroom. We've been patiently walking around, over, and on bedroom furniture--well, most of you have been there, so there is no need to explain! There should be medals for those of us who "live" in a home during the RE-modeling process.

Moving right along....I was catching up on my favorite bloggers, Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage, and found out about a generous give-away that I want to share. Hurry up, as time is running out to enter.

http://theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/2010/11/enamel-name-sign-house-number-giveaway.html#comment-form

Good luck on your entries!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

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

Au revoir,