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,

Finding Jimmy Hoffa and Bret Michaels

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Bret Michaels 2010 'Custom Built Tour' continues to break attendance records, selling out cities from coast to coast all across America. The concert tour is in extremely high demand, with shows selling out in a matter of minutes after going on sale. Bret Michaels' Custom Built Tour recently played to a record setting crowd of 70,000+ people in Boise, ID.

NEW tour dates have been added for cities in Arkansas, Washington State, Mississippi, Texas & back to back nights in Minnesota.

Headlining for Bret's September 16th show in Fayetteville, AR will be this group, Finding Jimmy Hoffa...

Shawn Hoffa, James Hoffa, Jeremey Hoffa, Joey Hoffa, Chet Hoffa, Jason Hoffa

Named the "Godfathers of Southern Grunge" by a local entertainment firm and their fan base, Finding Jimmy Hoffa is well known in their community for combining many hard rock influences ranging from Clutch to Deftones, with deep roots in southern soil, creating their unique musical style. In their infancy, Finding Jimmy Hoffa was asked to perform the following summer at the Osceola Music Festival in their hometown of Osceola, AR, where they opened for Black Oak Arkansas, Jim Dandy, and Buddy Jewel to a large enthusiastic audience.

This kind of response to their original sound gave the band inspiration to record a self produced 5-song EP titled “What Would You Do” which was recorded at Dream Maker Productions. Later that year, the band was on a local radio program when they caught the ears of Massey Records President David Vanlandingham. Soon after, Finding Jimmy Hoffa was a member of Massey Records and in the studio recording their upcoming album “Southern Hospitality”. Produced by Mike Bailey, Finding Jimmy Hoffa was able to create a hard rock southern grunge feel that they felt captured their sound. "Southern Hospitality" is now available online and selected store.

These boys love their music and have worked for years developing their own unique style. I am proud to be the mother of Jeremey, an original Mississippi County Mafia band member.

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

Au revoir,

http://www.myspace.com/findingjimmyhoffaband

www.facebook.com/BretMichaelshttp://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/BretMichaels?ref=ts

http://www.visiblesinphotography/

Zsa Zsa

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

On February 6, 1917, Sari Gabor, better known as Zsa Zsa, was born in Budapest, Hungary. She was crowned Miss Hungary 1936. Zsa Zsa came to the United States with her two sisters, Eva and Magda, in search of movie stardom. However, rather than seek out acting jobs, she sought out wealth and jewels. Zsa Zsa's theory was that "any publicity is GOOD publicity". Married 9 times, her only daughter, Francesca Hilton, was from her marriage to hotel magnate, Conrad Hilton.

Officially known as an actress, she is more famous as an "old school celebrity sex symbol". Zsa Zsa's most famous "act" was from her arrest for slapping a police officer while being stopped for a traffic violation. She was found guilty, spent 3 days in jail, and had to pay over $13,000 in court costs. Aunt to Paris Hilton, Zsa Zsa is now 93 years old and suffering from complications of a stroke that she had in 2007.

In 2009, lawyers found that she may have lost as much as 10 million dollars with swindler Bernard Madoff thru third party investments.

Zsa Zsa's is noted for her many quotes which include:

"I am a marvelous house keeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house".

"Conrad Hilton was very generous to me in the divorce settlement. He gave me 5,000 Gideon Bibles".

"Husbands are like fires. They go out when unattended".

I am participating in Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Please grab her button on my sidebar and head on over to the class room. This is our LAST Alphabet class and I am sure there will be lot's of good Z's and no zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's!

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

Au revoir,

www.wikipedia.com

Yesterday When I Was Young

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

my mom...Sylvia

"Yesterday When I Was Young"

My family was fortunate to have another REunion here at the farm on Father's Day weekend. Our father, Voy Rivers, passed away on March 1, 1981--29 years ago--but his memory REmains with us and his life will always be celebrated as long as there is breath in any of us. As I was looking at literally hundreds of photos that were taken over the four days that we had together as a family, to REunite and REminisce, I was touched to REcall the many blessings that the union between my father and my mother has brought to each of us. The greatest of all these are our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

My mother, Sylvia, celebrated her 88th birthday on Friday, July 2. Although her many trials in life have become a broken REcord to us, she none-the-less brings joy and happiness to us on a daily basis. I think you will agree that she looks amazing for her age. She started married life the early age of 15 1/2 and birthed all nine of her children at home!

This week I would like to share a few of the pictures taken during our REunion. I found myself looking into the faces of a few of my siblings via their children and grandchildren, as well as my own. The strong German jaw line, high Choctaw cheekbones, Irish red hair, and the large eyes, strong brow and nose of the French. We've been blessed with two more new additions to the family this year and there are two more in the oven!

Memphis

Jace

Ethan and Amelia

"Yesterday when I was young

The taste of love was sweet as rain upon my tongue;

I teased at life as if it were a foolish game

The way the evening breeze may tease a candle flame"

Madison

Maggie and Hayden

"The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned--

I always built to last on weak and shifting sand;

I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day,

And only now I see how the years ran away"

Owen

Boston

"Yesterday when I was young,

So many happy songs were waiting to be sung,

So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me,

And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see"

Parker

Conner

"I ran so fast that time and youth, at last, ran out,

I never stopped to think what life was all about;

And ev'ry conversation I can now recall

Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all"

Evan

Haiven

"Yesterday the moon was blue,

And ev'ry crazy day brought something new to do,

I used my magic age as if it were a wand,

And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond"

Kaleb

Mya

"The game of love I played with arrogance and pride,

And ev'ry flame I lit too quickly, quickly died;

The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away

And only I am left on stage to end the play"

Josiah

Sylvia

"There are so many songs in me that won't be sung,

I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue;

The time has come for me to pay for yesterday

When I was young"

I will be linking this post up with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. On Thursday, please grab her button on my sidebar and head on over to class. I'm sure there will be LOTS of "Y" 's in class!

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

Au revoir,

"Yesterday When I Was Young" sung by Johnny Mathis

photo credits: Voy Gillentine

X marks the spot

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

X marks the spot

Dear Ms. Matlock,

I've always thought that the alphabet letter X carried a mysterious air about it and after much contemplation over what to write about X this week, here are a few things that I have to report:

X used by the Romans denotes the numeral 10
X used in arithmetic multiplies or increases another number
X used in legal documents identifies a signature of a person who cannot write their name
X used by movie makers rates violence and subject matter for their audience
X used by mathematicians signifies an unknown quantity
X used in the garment industry declares a size
X used by proof readers deletes an entry
X used on a map marks a location
X used by lovers as a symbol to represent hugs
X used in the chromosomes of our reproductive system determines sex as female
X used in conversation nullifies a position from the present to the past

X is a pretty significant letter!

My pet peeve about the letter X is when it is substituted for Christ, when writing Christmas----that is just taking the letter to the Xtreme!

I am participating in Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday this week. Grab her button on my sidebar and head on over to class. It will be interesting to see what other students will be writing about the letter X today.

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

Au revoir,

W is for 1927 Wedding Gift

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

"W"

Befitting the pages of a well written Danielle Steel novel, the love story between a high fashioned New York Model and a small town landowner/farmer, made its way onto the Society pages of NE AR history. Charles Wood swept Estella out of her high heeled shoes and shoulder padded silk lingerie straight off Fifth Avenue and into his arms and a new way of life when they wed in 1927 and moved to Luxora, AR. Big city gal, small town country boy....

Because I've had my hands busy helping with our annual Family Reunion, I haven't been able to get all the details of this weeks lesson together, so Ms. Matlock will probably make me sit in the corner this week. I do promise, however, to attend to all the details very shortly and write a REAL report of the account. I will have to give my mother time to "reflect" back on her memories and compare notes with me before I commit my writings to stone.

The friendship between Ms. Stella and my mom was unwavering. It resulted in my mom being banned from the local nursing home because she would sneak food and other contraband in to Ms. Wood. Like I said, fodder for Danielle Steel!

One of the things given to my mom upon Ms. Stella's death was a treasured wedding heirloom, the remainder of her Oneida Community Plate Silver Bridal Chest collection. After many years of wishing, hoping, begging and good fortune, Mama handed the heirloom down to me. I really think it was because the silver is engraved with the initial "W" and I am the only child of hers with that initial. Lucky me--or as I would prefer to say---BLESSED!

1921 Grosvenor Oneida Community Silver Plate Set

6 pc Place Setting sold for $ 34.25

My mom, Sylvia Gillentine and Ms. Estella Wood circa 1980

I am participating in Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Please grab her button on my side bar and head on over to class. We are only a few weeks away from graduation!!

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

Au revoir,

V is for Voices From The Past, Papa's Violin

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

modern version of a German Cremona Violin

Voices From The Past, by Faye Witt Moreland, unravels a bit of family history on my father's side, beginning in time of over a century ago. It is written in the 18th-19th-20th century dialect of Itawamba County, MS where John Gillentine's Alabama exodus landed him in the Hopewell community in 1840.

At the age of 14 (1907), the authors father was gifted a maple violin, made in Cremona, Italy c: 1895-1900 from his father. Next to the Bible, the violin was his most sacred possession. His ancestors migrated to Germany from England in the 11th century. It was from his German ancestors that he inherited his love of music, especially the violin. Upon his death in 1948, the violin was stored away until 1970, when it was given to the author by her mother. She had it REstored to it's original likeness and displayed it in her office for 34 years. Unfortunately, a family member stole it and to my knowledge, it was never returned.

This book is a personal treasure to me. The author, Faye Witt Moreland and I are second cousins. I've never had the pleasure of meeting her, but, through her writings I've gotten to know more about my father's family and their way of life growing up in the back woods of Mississippi.

Faye is a retired newspaper photographer/report, a member of the National Federation of Press Women, author of "Green Fields and Fairer Lanes", a Contralto Soloist and landscape artist.

I am linking up with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Please grab her button on my sidebar and head on over to class. We're all about the letter "V" today!

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

Au revoir,

credit: "Voices From The Past" by Faye Witt Moreland

U is for UP

Bonjour from Campagne Maison

Up primarily denotes direction of movement and this song definitely makes your entire body move in all directions. I thought I'd change things UP a bit this week! Besides, I think Ms. Matlock will agree that every good student needs a music class.

"Up!"

It's 'bout as bad as it could be
Seems everybody's buggin' me
Like nothing wants to go my way--
yeah, it just ain't been my day
Nothin's comin' easily

Even my skin is acting weird
I wish that I could grow a beard
Then I could cover up my spots
not play connect the dots
I just wanna disappear

Even something as simple as
Forgettin' to fill up on gas
There ain't no explanation why--
things like that can make you cry
Just gotta learn to have a laugh

When everything is goin' wrong
Don't worry, it won't last for long
Yeah, it's all gonna come around
Don't go let it get you down
You gotta keep on holding on

It's 'bout as bad as it could be
Seems everybody's buggin' me
Like nothing want to go my way--
yeah, it just ain't been my day
Nothin's comin' easily

UP, UP, UP
can only go UP from here...
UP, UP, UP...UP
where the clouds gonna clear
UP, UP, UP,
there's no way but UP from here

UP lyrics sung by Shania Twain

I am linking up with Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday. Please grab her button on my sidebar and head to class to see what's UP!

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

Au revoir,