ROMANTIC PRAIRIE COOKBOOK & FLEA MARKET TREASURES

Hello Everyone:)

I wanted to share some exciting news with you:) By now you may have heard that Fifi O'Neill's new cookbook is out.  The Romantic Prairie Cookbook. But what you may not know is that my family and friends are featured in it!!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't sure if I was able to post pictures from the book but I can tell you that we are on pages160 through 177!!!! We are the beginning of Chapter 6, called Celebrations. And we are in great company too. The book is full of gorgeous photos and delicious easy recipes. Some of the most talented people are featured. Not only their yummy food but their families, adorable children and farm animals and fabulous scenery. It is definitely a cookbook that you will want to keep forever.  I have been having fun getting autographs from family and friends. It will be fun for the children to look back at as they get older.
If you get it, I know you will love it:) Let me know what you think of it if you do.

             I bought mine from Amazon.com, but I am sure book stores have it too.

                   I have been having fun at the flea markets this Spring. Look at that great mirror.

 This little child's stool came from our market here in town. I picked it up when my friend Suzanne joined me one Saturday. We had so much fun and came home with so many great treasures...especially Suzanne;) I love how this little chair is so chippy.

 I fell in love with these little aqua books. I split them up between Nicole and myself. I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone had taken the time to cover each little book with paper:) How cute is that. I added a lace bow and now they sit in my library.

 This is the fabulous lamp you saw in my cart above. I bought it from one of my favorite dealers. It was her Moms. I have a lot of her Moms things. She had great taste.

                                                               Soooo pretty!

                                       Sunday we went to an antique shop and I found another pretty white pillow made of vintage fabrics and lace. As much as I love to sew pillows myself, I enjoy finding old ones from time to time.


What have you been up to? Have you started your gardening yet? I have. Lots more to do but I really enjoy it and plants are popping up every day.

  THANK YOU FIFI AND MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


`Till next time................
~Debra xxx

I'M SHARING:)

HAPPY THURSDAY MY FRIENDS

 I came home with these flowers today and thought they were just way to gorgeous not to share them with you:)

         I put them in an old ironstone spitune and placed them on my French farm table in the kitchen.

          Gosh, don't they just make you want to dance????

                 They made my day. I hope they made you smile:)

'Till next time.........................................
..........................Debra xxx

FABULOUS FLEA MARKET FINDS!

Hello Everyone:)One of my FAVORITE flea markets The Elephant's Trunk opened early this year because of our mild Winter!!!!!!Thank you Mother Nature;) I can not explain how excited I get going to it. I wanted to share my fabulous finds this week:)

 We are going to be replacing our counter / sink area. It is horrible so when I saw this WOODEN AND ENAMEL dish drainer I almost screamed with delight! It is the perfect solution for my ugly counter. Even when we replace it I will probably still use it as I love it.

 It came out of an old stone home and now lives happily in my old barn:) Goosebumps!

 You know how much I love burlap and burlap like things. When I saw this huge reel of webbing, I couldn't ask quick enough for the price. It is stamped;Made in India. I haven't unrolled it so I don't know if it says it through out. I think for now I will just keep it as is. I find such beauty in it:)

                                           MMMMMMMMMM:)

                                    Come on you love it too, don't cha'?

                    I bought this little iron stand from my friends Linda and Jim.  I'm not sure what it was used for. Any ideas?

               It has lots of great detail and is very heavy.  I haven't found a spot for it yet so I thought since

 it is such a gorgeous warm day out today that I would take it out to photograph it.

There's more but wouldn't you know it, my camera battery died. Looking forward to going back to the market. Love seeing my fleaing friends again, chatting and treasure hunting. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!
How was your weekend? Are your flea markets open yet?


Joining Kathleen at Faded Charm today for White Wednesday! Hi Kathleen:) AND http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/. Hi girls:)
`Till next time...........................
~Debra xxx

VERSATILE AWARD - 7 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME:)

A couple of weeks ago the very sweet Carol Bender gave me The Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you so much Carol! You're the best:)

I am supposed to share 7 things with you that you may not know about me:)

So here goes......
I have known my husband for most of my life. We grew up on opposite ends of the street. When he was allowed to ride his bicycle up the street  he was always teasing me. We started dating when I was 15. He was my first love and will always be my true love:)

I have been in the delivery rooms for the births of my 3 Grandloves. They have been the most beautiful experiences I have ever had. With all of that experience,  I now feel comfortable enough to deliver a baby by myself:) lol

I used to obedience train dogs. I started with training my own, then I would go to the dog pound and train the dogs there so that they would have more of  a chance to be adopted. I love animals so much, it  led me to open a little pet shop. A lot of fun and a lot of work.

I raise chickens and could sit outside and watch their antics all day long. Having fresh eggs is always a delicious plus.





Most of our barn (house) is decorated with things found at flea markets, antique shops and handmade items. I don't appreciate 'new' furnishings as much as I do the old. There is just something magical about having little bits of history throughout our home that makes it uniquely ours.

I have a new found infatuation with Sock Monkeys this year. I don't know why. I have never had one as a child.I found one at a thrift shop and fell in love. I'm blaming it on the girls  because that's how I roll:) lol


My daughter Nicole and I own our own on-line boutique called Maisonstgermain.com. We share our love of vintage and are always on the hunt for that special treasure .

Thanks for stopping by today. And thank you once again Carol:) Hope you have a fabulous weekend planned. It is going to be a busy one for us!

`Till next time..........................
~Debra xxx

MORE THAN 200 FABULOUS SHOPS FOR YOU

We have over 200 FABULOUS SHOPS for you to visit!!!!! Thank you to everyone who stops by for some fun.




Welcome to our new shops and shoppers:)


This is where you will find FABULOUS SHOPS that our fellow Bloggers own, every Tuesday!!! Everyone can visit and anyone can link up. Advertisement is FREE!


Why is it FREE ?Well, we know what owning an on- line boutique and etsy is all about. All the work and creativity that goes into it all. We wanted to be a place where you get a break from expensive advertising and just do it for FREE. No catches or jumping through hoops. We won't even ask for your first born;)


All we ask is that you grab the link and/ or button and put it on your blog. This will help in sharing these wonderful sites. This is a great way for your online boutiques, etsy shops, ebay, Bonanza etc. to find the cream of the crop shoppers. For more information, please click the BLOGGERS' BODEGA on our side bar'


 
Happy shopping:)
~Debra xxx

DRIED FLOWERS; I LOVE THEM:)

I love dried flowers almost as much as fresh flowers. I always have fresh flowers in the barn. It is something special that I do for myself. They are not expensive, they smell and look pretty and they make me happy. I love to pick them out, bring them home and then lay them on the island and open the package. Then I scout around to see what I want to place them in. It's a sort of fun ritual for me. I trim the ends, add the powder that comes with them and start arranging:) I use lots of different containers whether it be vintage vases, silver tea pots or old jars,every week is an adventure:)

 When they are past their prime is also fun. I pick out certain ones to dry. It is amazing how many flowers can be dried. I don't do anything special. Just tie a bit of jute around them, trim the stems again and hang. Some times I just place them in containers like the white pitcher above. Just lovely. Pinks and whites always look so pretty.

 Since I live in an old 1700's barn, I am lucky enough to have chestnut beams. They are perfect for hanging dried flowers. The whole ceiling area behind my kitchen island is chock full of dried gorgeousness. When they get to old looking I just take them down and make room for next weeks bunch.

                                         A little bunch makes a big impact.

                         These  yellow roses didn't lose their color and are a cheerful addition near my kitchen sink.

                            A white pitcher filled with lots of different dried plants sits on my mantle.

                          Large Hydrangeas and roses look pretty along side an old piece of tin trim.

                                                                 Pail o'Hydrangea

                                They can be put in or on anything. An old grater holds these pretties.

                                     Do you dry flowers too?  Do you have a favorite to dry? I'd love to know:)

Have a beautiful weekend everyone!!!!!!

'Till next time....................................
~Debra xxx

FRENCH PURSE WITH A TWIST

I have the most creative friends.

About a month ago my girlfriend Robin brought me a fabulous gift. She is an awesome sewer and can sew anything!  She created a special French purse just for me:)!!!!!! I fell in love the minute I saw it.

Look at this roomy beauty with French writing and floral fabric pockets.  It is the perfect size as I carry lots of stuff.

                     Love the style too. Very Boho, don't you think?

                                 The perfect pocket for my cell phone.

 BUT WAIT!!!! Once I turned it around I had to smile even bigger:) She incorporated a fox, complete with vintage earrings that were her Moms and she monogrammed VINTAGE VIXENS on it too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Truly a one of a kind.

                                         Can you believe how adorable this is. I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get so many compliments on it and will cherish it forever. It is one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. It is all about me:) lol Debra Couture.
THANK YOU ROBIN! You are awesome for thinking so much of me to create such a treasure. You know I love it!

Do you have a unique gift that you will keep forever?

'Till next time...................
~Debra xxx