"J" is for "Jacquelin Wells" aka "Julie Bishop"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Jacqueline Wells aka Julie Bishop

My mother named me Jacquelin after a childhood friend and I became a Wells when I married. This post is about another.

Jacqueline Wells was born Jacqueline Brown to a wealthy Denver banker/oilman on August 30, 1914. She moved to Los Angeles after her parents divorce and debuted onscreen at the age of 9. She soon became a busy child actress, working alongside Mary Pickford and Clara Bow, during the silent era under the screen name of Jacqueline Wells.

Jacqueline and Buster Crabbe in "Tarzan the Fearless"

Jacqueline took 4 years off from film work in her teens, during which time she attended school and took dancing lessons. She returned to the screen in the 30's appearing in a number of Hal Roach comedy shorts. In 1940, Jacqueline signed a contract with Warner Brothers, and made 84 movies under a name change to Julie Bishop. During that time she worked opposite Buster Crabbe, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Roy Rogers, Laurel and Hardy and my favorites, Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne. In the 1950's, she co-starred with Bob Cummings in the TV series, "My Hero" and also starred as Allison McKenzie in "Return to Peyton Place".

Jacqueline retired from the screen in 1957. Among her many lifetime accomplishments, Jacqueline was a licensed private pilot and a painter. She entertained soldiers at the Hollywood Canteen during WWII and was named one of the 10 Best Dressed Women in Los Angeles. She died from pneumonia on her 87th birthday, August 30, 2001.

******Side note: Jacqueline is the mother of actress Pamela Shoop-Sweeny, whose marriage to Father Terrance Sweeney, a Jesuit Priest in the Roman Catholic Church for 24 years, led to their autobiography, "What God Hath Joined". The book records their trials and triumphs as the first Priest to marry publicly--a self-described "modern day "THE THORNBIRDS" only with a happy ending!

I am linking up with Jenny at Alphabe-Thursday. Grab her button on my sidebar and head on over to her place to read all the other "J" 's for today!

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

Au revoir,

http://www.almovie.com/

http://www.erbzine.com/

http://www.altfg.com/

http://www.wikipedia.com/

Marla's Celebration

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Marla's Always Nesting Giveaway

In celebration of her 200th follower, Marla is hosting a give-away party with a $25.00 TJ MAXX gift card! Please go over to her place http://alwaysnesting.blogspot.com to read the entry rules. Hurry up, the party ends on March 21st!

Marla has REpurposed some pillows. I know you're going to absolutely love what she has done. She is Always Nesting....

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

Au revoir,

"I" is for "ICE"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

ICE is formed when liquid water is cooled below 32 degrees F and appears in nature as snowflakes, hail, icicles, glaciers and polar ice caps.

Have you ever had to "test the ice"?

or skated on thin ice?

Here's a joke in case you ever have to "break the ice"...

What sits on the bottom of the ICE cold Arctic Ocean and shakes?

( A nervous wreck )

Did you know that it would be possible to start a fire with ice if it was carved into a lens shape and then used to focus the sun's rays onto kindling?

Food for thought: If it was ZERO degrees yesterday, and it is twice as cold today, just how cold is it?

I am linking with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Please grab her button on my sidebar and head on over there and read all the other "I" words for today.

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

Au revoir,

"Idus Martias"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

MARS

Roman Calendar: March 15th

A Roman festive day dedicated to the god, MARS, on which a military parade was usually held.

"Beware, the Ides of March"... a phrase best known for its inclusion by Shakespeare in his play, "Julius Caesar", when a seer warned Caesar to be on his guard against great peril on the Ides of March. On his way to the Theater of Pompey, Caesar caught a glance of the seer and joked..."well the Ides of March have come..", to which the seer replied, "Aye, they have come but they are not gone".

Caesar met his death that day, March 15, 44 BC ,when he was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate.

Symbol for MARS

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

Au revoir,

"H" is for "Howdy Doody"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Buffalo Bob and Howdy Doody

Say kids...what time is it?

It's Howdy Doody time,

It's Howdy Doody time,

Bob Smith and Howdy Do

Say Howdy Do to you

Let's give a rousing cheer

'Cause Howdy Doody's here

It's time to start the show

So kids let's go!

All you kids out there in "Peanut Gallery" can sing along....

Howdy Doody was a freckle-faced boy marionette, operated by 11 strings. His face donned 48 freckles--one for each state of the Union. His original voice was that of "Buffalo Bob" Smith.

Residing in the town of "Doodyville", other puppets on the show included Howdy's sister, "Heidi Doody", "Mayor Phineas T. Blaster", "Dilly Dally", "Princess Summerfall Winterspring" (who was later brought to life by actress Judy Tyler) and "Fub-a-Dub" who was a mixture of 8 different animals. The human population included "Clarabell the Clown", originally played by Bob Keeshan, who later became "Captain Kangaroo". Bob also played "Chief Thunderbird, the original "Kowabunga" man!

The show was created by E. Roger Muir and aired in the United States from 1947-1960 on NBC television station. The original "Howdy Doody" resides at Detroit Institue of Arts, but other duplicates, "Double Doody" and "Photo Doody" were made. " Double Doody" was used as a stand-in on stage and now resides at the Smithsonian. "Photo Doody" was used for personal appearances, photos, parades, and the famed NBC test pattern. He was sold to a private collector in 1997 for $ 113,000.

On September 24, 1960, the show ended with "Clarabell's Big Surprise", when "Clarabell" revealed to everyone that she could talk. With a tear in her eye, as the credits rolled, she said "Goodbye kids".

http://www.wikipedia.com/

I am linking this post to Jenny's Alphabe-Thursd ay. Please click the button to her link that is located on my sidebar and head on over there to read more fabulous "H" posts.

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

Au revoir,

I love...BUT... I hate

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

I received my Summer 2010 issue of my all time favorite magazine, Romantic Country, this week. I just love Fifi O'Neal and her eye for style! I love Flea Market finds, I love chippy paint, I love vintage pieces, I love collections, I love salvaged architectural items, I love old and imperfection, I love understated romantic decor. I am a self described "Shabby Chic, Old World, Hollywood Regency, Parisian inspired Junkie" ---HOWEVER---

zoom in for a close-up....

there is something about this new "wrinkled" look that distracts my eye and drives me bananas!! The cover of the magazine is full of all the things that I love BUT, the "wrinkles" in that tablecloth throw me for a loop!

and...this slipcover....

All I can think about is the "tongue lashing" that I would receive if my Mama came over to my house and saw "un-ironed" linens. I grew up in the day of "STARCHING and IRONING". She taught me at an early age--back when stiff doilies were the rage and it was a sin to sleep on a pillow case that wasn't ironed!! My, my, my, the times-- they are 'a changing!

I know. It is weired. I am weird. You ask yourself, now how can a person who loves all the crazy mixture of mis-matched "stuff" that I love, HATE "wrinkles".....

(Maybe it's an omen, maybe it is a subconscious effort to drown out the inevitable--you know...the crow's feet--the neck--the buttocks--the thighs...oh well, that's just a thought)!

Tell me...what is YOUR take on this "wrinkle" thing? Please tell me that it isn't just ME!!

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

Au revoir,

"G" is for Guillotine/Gillentine

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

"The Tale of Two Names"

My grandfather and grandmother, John and Hassie Gillentine and children, circa @ 1920

My father, Voy Rivers Gillentine, standing, second from the right end

Gillentine: The Gillentines were Christ-loving people and were dedicated French Catholics when they lived in that country during the French Revolution. At the rebirth of the beheading apparatus, promoted by a well-respected physician, Dr. Joseph Guillotine, things didn't go too well for the family name, so off to England they went! There they became followers of the Church of England and brought their religious beliefs with them, when in the 17th century they landed in King William County, VA.

In Virginia they remained true to their Anglican faith, and when George Washington called for arms to free the colonies from all enemies, the only Guillotine eligible to go, wouldn't. He was/is called the family draft-dodger!! (Hey, we all have skeletons in our closets!!) As time went along, and I assume out of embarrassment of that association, the French spelling of the family name Guillotine was changed to the English spelling of Gillentine, of which it is known today.

Dr. Joseph Ignance Guillotine

1738-1821

Guillotine: A common misconception associated with Dr. Joseph Guillotine was that he was responsible for the creation of the guillotine. BUT, history dates back to the use of a beheading or decapitation design introduced on January 4, 1307 in Merton, Ireland. In the 1400's, the "Halifax Gibbet" was used with a record of the last execution by use of the machine in 1648 in Halifax, England. In 1564, "The Maiden", which was fashioned after the "Halifax Gibbet" was used in Scotland.

Dr. Guillotine was President of The Chamber of the Province in 1775, founder of the French Academy of Medicine, and Deputy to the French Assembly in 1789. On October 11, 1789, Dr. Guillotine submitted a proposal to the Assembly debate on the Penal Code, recommending "that death, without the accompaniment of torture, and by means of decapitation, should become the sole and standard punishment in France". A fellow physician, Antoine Louis, took the first practical steps towards the creation of the guillotine in France, in keeping with Dr. Guillotine's proposal. It was called "Louison" or "Louisette", but the press preferred to call it the "guillotine" as the sound of that word "had a nicer ring" to it. It is estimated that over 40,000 people died under "Madame Guillotine". I was surprised to see that it's last official use was on September 10, 1977 in Marseilles, France. I thought it became obsolete after the French Revolution!

This is a "G"ory "G"eneology of our family name, but none-the-less, I've always felt a connection to my French heritage. I am of the 28th "G"eneration of the family recorded in the exodus of England to VA. I am certain that as a physician, Dr. Guillotine felt that this method of death was perhaps the most humane. The compassionate gene still remains prominent in the "G"illentine bloodline today. Sadly, although he did not invent it, Dr. Guillotine's name will forever be attached to it. During the Revolution, the guillotine was used only on people with a noble status, all others were drawn and quartered by a horse, burned at the stake, or beheaded with a sword. I shudder to think about the device and pray that it is never used again!

I am participating with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. You can click on her blog button located on my side bar. Please head (no pun intended) on over there and read all the other great "G" words for today.

I am also linking this post back to Amy at http://keepingupwiththeshultzfamily.blogspot.com/

Thank you Amy for the invitation to join in your for "FAMILY FRIDAYS" today!

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

Au revoir,

http://www.wikipedia.com/

www.freemasonry.com

"Voices from the Past" by Faye Witt Moreland (family historian and author)

"F" is for "Foghorn Leghorn"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Foghorn J. Leghorn

A leghorn is a breed of chicken, and foghorn describes his loud, overbearing voice. Both parts of the name suggest the association with "Senator Claghorn", a blustering Southern Politician who was a regular character on the Fred Allen radio show in the 1930's. One of the most famous of Claghorn's catch-phrases was...."That's a joke...I say, that's a joke, son", which soon become one of Foghorn's famous quotes.

Foghorn is a large, anthropomorphized adult rooster with a strong Virginia accent, a "good ol'boy" speaking style with a penchant for mischief. Many of the story lines involved Foghorn and his canine nemesis, George P. Dog, aka The Barnyard Dawg, engaging in one-upmanship through a series of pranks. Unlike other Looney Tunes rivalries, Foghorn is often the initial aggressor out of self amusement and subsequently on the "losing" end of the gags. Foghorn especially enjoyed taking up a plank of wood, while ambling along humming "Camptown Races" (doo da, doo da) coming to the sleeping Dawg with his front half inside his doghouse, picking up his tail and rapidly whacking his exposed rear end.

Even though Foghorn described her as "looking like 2 miles of bad road", his efforts to woo the widowed hen, Miss Prissy, often found him babysitting her bookish son, Egghead, Jr. Quite the masculine role model, those episodes kept Foghorn busy saying "pay attention when I'm talking to you, boy".

Foghorn was created by Robert McKimson, and was a star in 28 cartoons between 1946 and 1963 in the Golden Age of American animation. All 28 of theses cartoons were directed by McKimson in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies for Warner Bros. Foghorn's voice was created by Mel Blanc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/ and http://www.stephen-foster-songs/

I am linking up to Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday. Please grab her button on my sidebar to read all the other great "F" words for today.

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

Au revoir,

"E" is for "Eclair au Chocolat"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

"Eclair au Chocolat"

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup boiling water

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease baking sheet. In saucepan, melt the butter in the boiling water. Add flour and salt all at once; stirring vigorously. Cook and stir until the mixture forms a ball that doesn't separate. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition about 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth.

Put batter into a baggie. Cut a hole in one corner about the diameter of your thumb. Pipe the batter through this hole onto the cookie sheet. Make the eclairs about 4 inches long and about 3/4 inch wide. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and puffy. Remove for the oven; slit, removing any soft dough. Cool on wire rack.

Fill with your favorite pudding mix or fruit filling and frost with a chocolate icing. I filled these with a chocolate pudding which made them really rich--double chocolate whammy!!

This eclair recipe is leavened with steam and is a delicate pastry. When removed from the oven they have a tendency to collapse, so it is best to slit the eclair immediately and scoop out any soft inner membrane of dough. They are so light and crisp that I love to eat them at this stage--YUMO. Exposed to so many delicious desserts, just how do French women stay so skinny?

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday. Please go over to read all the other "E" words for today.

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

Au revoir et Bon appetit!

"D" is for "DIRT"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Dirt

There is red dirt and black dirt

You can blow dirt and you can play in dirt

You can plow in dirt and you can plant in dirt

You can even buy buy dirt-- in bags--pasteurized, or you can get it dirt cheap

You can race on a dirt track and you can be annoyed by a dirt dauber

You can be a dirt ball, a dirt bag, and even a dirt devil

You can be poorer than dirt and you can be older than dirt

You can dish dirt and you can eat dirt

(this is my favorite way to do both)

photo credit: Tammy Hopper http://allrecipes.com

Dirt Cake Recipe

16 oz pkg Oreo Cookies

8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1 cup Confectioners sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla

2 3 oz pkgs Vanilla Instant Pudding mix

3 cups milk

12 Cool Whip

6-8 Gummy Worms

2 new 6" flower pots

2 bunches silk flowers

Line the pots with aluminium foil. Crush Oreos until they resemble potting soil and place 1 cup of crumbs into each pot. Combine the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla. Mix well and set aside. Mix the pubbing with the milk and beat well. Fold Cool Whip into this mixture. Gently fold the pudding and cheese mixture together. Pour 1/2 mixture into each pot. Top with remaining cookie crumbs and refrigerate at least 8 hrs but preferably overnight. Before serving, wrap flower stems in aluminum foil and insert into each pot. Strategically place the worms into the pots. Serve with a wooden spoon or small garden shovel.

I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday and linking back to http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/

Please make a stop over to her place to see other featured "D" words!

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

Au revoir,

The Best of Both Worlds

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

courtesy: www.wikipedia.com

I finally got to watch IT and what a treat! If you haven't seen IT yet, I highly recommend IT to all you bloggers that love to cook.

Inspired by the movie, I got out my Julia Child & Company recipe book. After perusing all the pages, I will quickly tell you that I have NO inkling to challenge myself to preparing all the recipes it contains. However, not-so-much a fabulous cook, I do love making desserts and found a chocolate mousse dessert cake recipe, "La Gateau Victoire au Chocolat, Mousseline" that I have the ingredients on hand and am going to bake.

Since the movie subtly hinted at Julia's desire to have children, I found this postscript that I thought was worthy of sharing. She says ..."I am all for encouraging children to work productively with their hands. The small rituals, like the clean hands and clean apron before setting to work; the precision of gesture, like leveling off a cupful of flour; the charm of improvisation and making something new; the pride of mastery; and the gratification of offering something one has made--have such value to a child".

Even with adults, I think this still applies. I know I certainly love giving and receiving homemade food items.

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

Au revoir,

"C" is for "Crazy"

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

1993 United States Postage Stamp Commemorative Issue

"Crazy", written in 1961 by Willie Nelson, ranks as the #1 Juke Box Record and is one of Pasty Clines's most famous recordings.

Patsy was born Virginia Patterson Hensley in the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA on September 8, 1932. Legend has it that she was entertaining neighbors at the age of 3! Her natural talent and spirit took her to the top of the Country Music Charts in 1962 and her style and popularity has never waned.

Patsy's big break came when she won an Arthur Godfrey Talent Show in 1957 with the hit "Walking After Midnight". She pursued a recording career and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1958 and was awarded Country Female Artist of 1961 and 1962.

On March 6, 1963, at the age of 30, Patsy's career ended tragically when she died from injuries received in a private plane crash near Camden, TN.

In 1973, she was elected posthumously to the Country Music Hall of Fame and her reputation is on record as one of the major female vocalists of all time.

(www.pastycline.com/ and wikipedia)

I am participating in Alphabe-Thursday and linking back to :

http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/.

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

Au revoir,

a little bit of Hope

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Got another giveaway to share with you this morning!!

The Sea Witch, a.k.a. "I Need This, Antiques" and "Musings of a Sea Witch", has opened up a treasure chest and it is loaded with all sorts of French ephemera and assorted French goodies!! I certainly know that THIS sea nymph is excited about it and I'm sure that you will be too!!

If I tried to list everything, I would surely miss something, so swim on over to "A Sea Witch in Paris" giveaway to look at the stash and get the rules for entry to the giveaway. Hurry up, the deadline is February 7th.

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

Au revoir,

A little ray of Sunshine

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

This picture reminds me of why I love the color yellow!

Even though the earth is frozen and quiet, and all creatures, including moi, are hunkered down for a long cold spell of winter, a bright jolt of color warms the soul kinda like....(in no particular order)

sitting in front of a warm fireplace

drinking a hot cup of Campbell's Tomato Soup!

sipping a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows melted atop it

soaking in a tub of Dream Angels Divine....Victoria's Secret Angel Wash

a bowl of Quaker Oatmeal sprinkled with cinnamon and filled with bananas and walnuts

a generous portion of hot apple pie with an equally generous portion of vanilla ice cream

a Burger King Quarter Pounder with Cheese and french fries loaded down with ketchup chased with a Diet Coke

a warm bed with a warm spooning partner and no alarm clock

a pair of fuzzy slippers and velvet plush robe

a hug and a kiss

a sweet note signed xoxooxoxoxo

Well...I think you get the gist...

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

Au revoir,

"Too Cool for School" Retro Clock Giveaway

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Bai Design "Too Cool for School" Retro Modern Wallclock

I must admit that I have spent many an hour watching the time tick by on clocks like this one BUT wouldn't it be NICE to own one?

To find out more about the giveaway and rules for entry, please see Jenny ! Good luck...

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

Au revoir,

A is for Art...B is for Buchwald

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

A & B

I am participating in AlphabeThursday. Sorry, Ms. Matlock, for being late for class, but since the letters A & B are part of the learning curve, I caught up on my homework and am turning in a double assignment today.

Art Buchwald

Originally purchased for a decor prop, "I'll Always Have Paris!" has graced the top of my coffee table book collection for some time. I picked it up the other day and after randomly reading a few entries, my yearning to visit Paris was instantly sparked. I think the word for that occasion is "serendipity"!!

Art Buchwald was a household word during the 50's-60's. A syndicated columnist, he lived in Paris and wrote for the Paris Herald Tribune. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner and a member of the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Letters. His columns were published in 550 newspapers worldwide.

This book of his memoirs was dedicated to his wife, Ann. When he told her about the dedication, she asked him why, and he said..."because Paris belonged to both of us. The book is our story--not just mine. I can't write about my life without including you as the star". Ann passed away in July 1994, before Art completed the book, but he read passages to her during his daily visits with her before her death. She looked forward to "correcting his facts and adding details that he had forgotten".

I laughed, I cried, I read and I dreamed. Art passed away January 18, 2007. Famous for his satirical outlook on life, in his own words his final goodbyes could be summed up in the song, "What's it all about, Alfie?" In my minds eye, I can see him and Ann sitting quietly somewhere around the Palais de Chaillot gazing up at the Eiffel Tower across the river Seine....

"because a beautiful city like Paris has to be enjoyed with someone you love. There is so much to do and so much to see that the magic must be shared. I shared my Paris history almost exclusively with Ann'--Art Buchwald, "I'll Aways Have Paris!" pg 230

I am linking to AlphabeThursday.

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


Au revoir,

Traci and The Queen Bee

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

.....my personal favorite....

Traci's sponsor ...The Queen Bee... is hosting a fantastic giveaway that ends at midnight tonight, so hurry on over if you want to enter for a chance to win.

http://beneathmyheart.blogspot.com/2010/01/stamped-jewelry-giveaway.html

Her unique, sentiment inspired, sterling silver jewelry is absolutely gorgeous. You may just find yourself a little something for Valentine's Day.

Traci is giving a tour of her guest house today. WOW...she and her husband have great talents--just wait 'til you see their handiwork. I picked up a few ideas. I just love the wonderful world of blog....

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

Au revoir,

The Tassel House Giveaway

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

For those of you that love the look of tassels hanging around your house, I have found a fantastic giveaway. For all the details necessary to enter , please visit Susan at

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

You will be referred over to Angela's ETSY shop, The Tassel House, where you will be able to see more of her lovely, handmade tassels. My very most personal favorite is the Black Rooster!! Until January 31st, Angela is generously giving 10% of her sales income to the Haiti Relief via Samaritan's Purse.

I've completed all the steps for three entries and would love to win but would love for you to win as well! Good luck!

Au revoir,

It's Tracie's Birthday!

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

It's Tracie's birthday month and she is celebrating by sharing gifts! She will be taking entries thru Saturday, January 16th, so rush on over to her Petite Maison to see what she's been up to lately AND to wish her a "Happy Birthday". Don't forget to enter her giveaway!

http://mypetitemaison.blogspot.com/

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

Au revoir

Marla's "Always Nesting" Giveaway

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Marla is having a giveaway for her 100th blog post.

The prize is a $25.00 TJMaxx gift card. The winner will be announced on Wednesday morning, January 13th, so you still have time to visit with her and enter for the drawing.

Today, she is showcasing a guest bedroom REdecorating project and WOW....her AFTER pics are of catalog quality! You can read all about her decorating adventures at: http://alwaysnesting.blogspot.com/. Please tell her that I sent ya!

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

Au revoir,