Vertically Verdant!

May 14, 2014

Bonjour mes amis!

Are you shocked to see me here again?  Well, I have complete motivation for blogging now, because I will be making a return trip to France this Summer, and I just about can't wait.  It's got me reminiscing, and writing to all my friends there to let them know I'm coming!

For today though, I want to tell you about something new, fun and beautiful that completely fits in with the...

"French style of Decorating"

...that I love, and it just so happens that I received two gifts recently from my Son and Daughter-in-Love (the Diamond Duo), that will help introduce my post for today...

First, I was given this beautiful Vertical Planter for my Birthday!  That's a real succulent, and I just love the sweet little frame!  My daughter-in-love made this!

Then, this past Sunday for Mothers Day, I was given this beautiful Cage Terrarium with Air Plants!  Notice how they know me so well, since the cage is sporting a Fleur-de-Lis!  The Air Plants are also real!

Today, I want to brag on my Daughter-in-Love (DIL)...

She has started a great new business, and yes, I'm going to shamelessly advertise here for her online business!

www.verticallyverdant.com!!!

Check it out!

It's framed foliage for your wall!

Just over a week ago, I helped my daughter-in-love at a Gift Market for Mothers Day!  I was so honored that she asked for my help.  We had a fun day together.  Don't get me wrong!  It was hot, and we worked hard, but it was so worthwhile to see her excited about her new venture!

We each brought things from home and set up a little booth to show off all the beautiful Vertical Planters that my DIL makes!

The Planters were just beautiful and got lots of notice, especially by the other Vendors!

We're not sure the Market was well enough advertised, because there wasn't a big crowd...

But honestly, it was a great start for doing these kind of Events!  She still sold quite a few planters!

Vertically Verdant is mainly an online business, and they ship anywhere in the U.S.!

But who knows?  Maybe we'll get to do another Market together sometime!

I certainly had a great time!

These Planters make great gifts!  Obviously, I'm very pleased with the ones I've received!

There's the little business woman herself!  She can even take credit cards!

One of the older neighbors nearby came by the booth three times to gaze at the beautiful items.  She kept telling my DIL that her creations were pure Art!  Such a lovely compliment!  She herself was a gardener, so she would know!

Go ahead and click the link to the website...

That's www.verticallyverdant.com!

It's beautifully framed foliage for your wall!

You will receive care instructions with your purchase too!

These beauties don't take much care though!

Such a clever and unique idea!

And she's got more ideas for new creations, so who knows how far she'll go with this!?!

Hmmm...now which one do I want next?

Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

Sneaky American Tourists Strike Again...at the Eiffel Tower!

5/13/2014

Bonjour mes amis!

It feels so nice to be back and sharing with you again.  I really need this today.  It's been a full day of "putting fires out", and I'm happy to relax a few minutes and think on happy times.

I'm happy to be very hopeful for another visit to Orléans, France this Summer.  In fact, when Dr. J got invited back by some Colleagues, I immediately told him that I would be going with him, because "I have people now"!  Yes, I do.  I have friends I've stayed in touch with...and can't wait to see again!

Infact, I even got a virtual cake on my birthday in April, from my dear friend, Eva who still lives in France!  Want to see it?

She can send me a Virtual Cake anytime!  It's Eye-Candy for me, with No Calories!

Today, I have an episode of Sneaky American Tourists for you.  It's from last June when my Dad was visiting us a second time in Orléans, France during our year-long stay.  My Dad and I purchased tickets online, in advance, to go to the Eiffel Tower, and then we got on the train, and headed to Paris.

Since the Eiffel Tower was our plan for the afternoon, we decided to just pick up some baguette sandwiches and drinks for lunch, and find a place to sit and eat, before our allotted time at the Eiffel Tower.  There's a beautiful, shady Park just along the side of the Eiffel Tower with benches and people taking a lunchtime stroll!  The best part was, that we were a bit removed from the pick pockets and ladies who ask you to sign petitions for things.  If you've been along the street by the Eiffel Tower...you know what I mean!

As we sat there eating, we talked over our upcoming visit to the Eiffel Tower, and then I remembered that we would have to go through a Security Check before we went up the Tower.  My Dad had a pocket knife with him, and oh my, what were we going to do?  They would take that away for sure!

Well, my Dad is a pretty smart guy, and he had a plan...

Kind of "Sneaky American Tourist"...

But not in a bad way!

He hid that knife under some bushes, under some leaves, and then we memorized the exact spot in the Park!

And guess what?

After wandering to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and spending a bit of time...

We returned to the spot in the Park...

And there was my Dad's Pocket Knife...

Right where we left it!

Sneaky American Tourists now happy American Tourists!!!  What a great idea my Dad had!  I need to remember this one for the future...

I gotta dash now, Friends!  Some friends are coming by for a little visit, and seeing my Fleur-de-Lis cake from Eva again reminded me that I better go prepare for my visitors!  No fleur-de-lis Cake...just store-bought cupcakes, but hey, three of the four guests are teenagers, and I'm sure they'll be thrilled to just have something to eat, right?

Until next time...
I wish you a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

Pizza and China...

4/21/2014

Bonjour mes amis!

Greetings, my friends!  Wow, has it been a long time...and I have missed being here!  A couple friends have asked me when I was going to get back to blogging.  Trust me...I have had ideas, and have had the desire, but so many other things have taken priority...

BUT FOR TODAY, I'm here, and...

I want to tell you about my Easter Birthday!
Yup!  It was my birthday yesterday...and I enjoyed the entire day!

Last week, a friend asked me what I was going to do for my birthday, and I spouted off that I would be making the usual Easter Dinner...Ham with Cherry Sauce and Cheesy Potatoes...

All the family favorites!

My friend glared at me in disbelief!  WHAT???  You are going to do all that work on your birthday?  You should have your husband make the dinner, and relax, and take the day off, and enjoy yourself!

She had a point!

Special thanks to my "daughter-in-love" for taking these lovely table photos!

After a few days of pondering the upcoming weekend, I sent my husband an email at work with the following Subject Line...

"I have a request to make...",

and the following is an excerpt from that email.  (I'm not copying in all the mushy stuff at the end!)

For my birthday (AKA Easter)...

This is what I would like...given our hectic weekend...

PIZZA AND CHINA!

Instead of the usual Ham with Cherry Sauce (which I know we all love)...

I'd like to request that you make pizza on Sunday afternoon.

We won't have time to have it before then, because of all the goings-on.

I am setting the table with our China, and will make a Salad to go with it...

I am (at this moment) cooking more sausage for pizza...

What do you say?

I will make Ham and Cherry Sauce another time.

I will also plan an appetizer for after Church, while we wait for the dough to be ready...

But, I do have one more small request...

Can you please undercook the pizza a little bit, so the crust is softer?

Just for my special day, PLEASE!?!

This is truly what I want for my birthday...

His response came within five minutes.  "Yes, yes, and Yes"!

So this is what we did!

After a delicious Easter Brunch at Church, and a glorious Easter Service, we went home for my Pizza and China birthday.  While the dough was rising, I was given some wonderful gifts.

Note the perfume!  Dr. J did good!  (After having lived in France for a year, I know the value of wearing perfume as often as possible.  Hubby likes it, and so do I, so perfume is pretty much a staple on my gift idea list!)  I'll share some of the other gifts I received in another Post.

And, I got to enjoy this special dinner at a pretty table with Dr. J, the Diamond Duo, Ms. Emerald, and Jewelius!  My son is making his own Stout Beer now, so he brought some to share, and it was a great addition to the pizza, even though I'm kind of a wine-connoisseur myself!

No one should have been surprised that I requested China on the table.  We never use it.  What better day than Easter (and my birthday) to get it out?  The Pizza was so delicious on the China...cooked just the way I like it.  We spent the day together, talking, laughing, and watching the movie, "Frozen"!

All in all, it was a wonderful day!  Relaxing and celebrating with people I love...

And, in case you were wondering...I'm 39...(that's the truth, and I'm sticking with it!)

Wishing you a "Jewel" of a week!  Hope to see you again soon!

Jan

P.S.  I almost forgot to tell you about how Jewelius surprised me!  When it came time for dessert, he disappeared for a minute, and then arrived with ramekins of chocolate mousse (my young French Son!) that he'd made the night before while I was out.  SUCH A NICE SURPRISE!

Something Sweet and the Treasury!

02/09/2014

Bonjour mes amis!

No sooner do I tell you that "I am determined" to continue blogging about France, and then I am absent again from blogging for another week!  Wow!  Thanks for not giving up on me...

I truly love every minute I get to look back on pictures of our year in France.  I think and dream about what I'd tell you, and then life gets in the way.

For today, I wanted to get a little jump on Valentine's Day, and share some Raspberry Mousse I made last week.  (And don't you love the little French Vase I received from my dear friend?)  Jewelius and I are experimenting.  We ate a lot of Chocolate Mousse in France.  It was always our dessert of choice...though, I do love Creme Brulee also!  Anyway, we are trying out different Mousse recipes to make for a "Cake Auction" for the Youth Group fund raiser at our Church.  (We know, Mousse is not cake, but why not be different?)  I have purchased some antique parfait glasses, and we will make Chocolate Mousse, and we hope they sell well at the Auction and raise some funds!

I'll have to keep you posted about that, and share some Chocolate Mousse pictures, but the Raspberry Mousse is awfully good as well!

In the meantime, today, let's finish up with Notre Dame de Paris!  Last time, I told you about my Dad and I climbing the Towers and enjoying the extraordinary views, but today...

We'll go inside!

I LOVE the interior of this Cathedral!

There's so much to see...

My Dad wanted to go into the Treasury as well.  I think I went in about nine years ago, but not since, so it was nice for me to discover something new again.

There's lots of gold in this place!

I hope you enjoyed the peak at the Treasury...

I so enjoy the Pillars, Chandeliers and Stained Glass Windows at Notre Dame!

I'm going to hope to be with you again this week on my blog, but just in case, I wanted to wish you...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Have a lovely week!
Jan