Planning for Paris...and...A Patio Tour!

It was so nice outside early this morning that I decided to have my morning cappuccino on the patio and do a little planning for my upcoming trip to Paris with my grandson! Won’t you join me?
(Update...We are now back! Click here to read about our first day in Paris and to see my plan for visiting Paris in seven days! More to come!)

I am using my favorite frenchy placemats…half price from the gift shop at Château Élan…a nearby resort and winery…and napkins from market day in Cavaillon, France several years ago. The milk glass sugar is a Goodwill find for 88 cents and I got the creamer for the same price!

But what is special is this lovely sugar shell…a gift from my sweet bloggy friend Babs at Upstairs Downstairs! Isn’t it lovely? She knew that my favorite vintage silverplate pattern is Vintage from 1847 Rogers Brothers dating back to 1904! Just look at the details…little tendrils curling all around the handle and even into the bowl of the spoon! What a wonderful treasure!

In the background you can see my latest invention…candles in vases! lol It is so hot here that I often have to keep a fan going when I am on the patio…even at night…and this keeps them from blowing out!

I am not the only one having my morning drink! Kitty loves to use the little water feature as her personal drinking fountain.  I love the sound of the water…so tranquil!

In a month or so, it will look like this! The blooms appear overnight and last only one day. Pretty, huh?

Did you notice that my shabby picnic basket planter is back this year? This is how it looked by mid-July last year! The begonias seemed to love it! It got so big that I had to buy it its own little shabby table.  A link for how to make it is on my sidebar.

Kitty has something else to show you. I try to pretend that my patio is a little corner of France, so I have planted Provence lavender in a big pot! I love the way it smells! It has just started to grow.

Also very frenchy…my rooster planter filled with sweet potato vines! Did you know that the rooster (le coq gaulois) is the French national symbol? Yes…so powerful that it can make the sun rise! The planter was a gift from my mom many years ago.

Now this one you are either going to love or hate! lol No frenchy patio is complete without an escargot! This guy is huge! He came rusted and has since lost an antenna, but I love him anyway! You can put a candle inside and he casts interesting patterns of light!

Also back this year is my flower pot man…but he got tired of standing, so he is seated this time! His moss rose hair is just beginning to bloom! He will have an impressive head of hair in a month or so!

On the other side of the patio you will find a little conversation area. It’s very pleasant to sit here late in the afternoon and watch the goldfinches feed! Notice the cushions? They match the placemats…also half price from Château Élan! And…see the fence in the background?

I have just had it stained…finally! You may think I am strange, but I like the natural color of old wood. However, the fence needed to be stained so that it would last longer. The color I chose is called Dark Gray by Behr. It was as close as I could find to the color of aged wood. That’s my lace cap hydrangea, which seems to have survived the process and should bloom soon.

I always have dark purple petunias on my patio. I love the smell and only the purple ones seem to consistently have it. They remind me of my grandmother’s front porch, where she had two huge planters filled with them!

I also always have hanging baskets filled with torenia, since it attracts hummingbirds! I love the purple variety.

This one is new for me, though. Pretty, isn’t it? It’s called celosia and the little tag said…prefers warm, dry conditions and easy to grow in any soil. Hmmmm…we’ll see! My berm will certainly test those claims! I’ll keep you posted!

Now, if you will excuse me…I need to get back to my planning. I am getting so excited! I have read Rick Steves' guide book cover to cover to be sure not to miss anything and even created a little spread sheet (The teacher in me still lives! lol) for the places I want to be sure to see. It’s not my first trip, but it is for my 10 year old grandson, so it has to be really special! It won’t be too much longer now!
Update! Be sure to join us here to read about our first day in Paris and stay tuned for more about our Paris adventure!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my patio!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for the Summer Deck and Porches Party
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures on Mondays
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring
Kara at Elements Interiors for Whassup Wednesday
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Cats As Decor...Starring My Staff!

Tonight my staff and I are joining a special party at Funky Junk Interiors where Donna has asked us to feature our pets in our decorated homes…to do a special photo shoot starring our best decorating buddies so as to always have a record of them and the role they play in our lives. So I am pleased to join her this week as a tribute to her special little friend Beethoven.

However, in my case, a special photo shoot wasn’t necessary since my staff insists on participating weekly in my posts! So, I am sharing some of my favorite photos with you tonight! Sometimes they allow me to be a little artsy…

…and sometimes they seem to question my decorating choices…but I never have to coax them to join in. They insist on taking part…especially our co-host Baby Kitty! That big boy sees my camera come out…

…and he starts to pose! He’s a regular superstar!

However, no one has a prettier face than our little super model Isabella…

…who began her career as a mere kitten…setting up this photo herself…

…as well as this shot for Cats in Sinks…a website about cats…in sinks!

She has also contributed her own ideas about the decor…and how it should be used!

A little more serious and less eager to be photographed is our CEO Ozzie, who does allow the occasional photo…such as this one where she offers some lovely contrast!

However, she prefers to remain behind the scenes, keeping an..uhhhmmm…eye on all of my projects…such as my feeble attempt to create this stencil!

 But all of us here at Plate Addict know that the absolute queen of posing as decor is our own Kitty, who will sit quietly for hours striking a pretty pose such as this one…

…or serving as an inspiration for color choice…

…and helping to create some of my best vintage-inspired designs such as this one…vignette avec chat! I have to admit that my blog would not even be possible without them! So tonight I dedicate this post to my staff...

 ...and wish to thank Donna for reminding us to cherish our little friends and the time we spend together. We are sending her some special furry hugs that only a cat can give!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure to head on over to Donna's to meet more of the special little furbabies of Blogland! And if you would like to read more about my staff members and how they came to be on the Plate Addict staff, please check out the About My Staff tab under my header or click here. See you next time! A la prochaine!

Frenchy Love...Favorite Goodwill Hunting Finds!

There they were…calling my name! I saw them across the Goodwill store as I came in the door! I couldn’t believe my eyes..a pair of beautiful frenchy urns! I practically ran over and scooped them up. Oh, my! Aren’t they lovely? And what I really like is that they aren’t identical. And best of all…there was a pair of them! My friend Linda at Nina’s Nest can tell you I have a thing for pairs!

Look at the detail! Each of the little paintings on both of the urns is different! None of them are alike! Sooo…what do you think? Hand painted? Do I dare to believe that? And they were only $15 each…maybe a little more than I like to spend, but well worth it!

And that’s not my only great find! Just look at this little doggy clock! Isn’t it gorgeous?  Once again, fabulous details! And he was only $9.00! I think his original price was much more than that.

Look at him! Isn’t he cute? Now I know you are wondering what my staff must think…bringing home a dog…

…and this should give you some idea of Baby Kitty’s opinion! lol

He is much too preoccupied with the flock of birds feeding on my front lawn to notice! Or perhaps he is feigning indifference!

Sooo…what to do with a wonderful doggy clock and two fabulous frenchy urns?

You put them on your mantel! I stacked the urns on some vintage books to give them some presence and centered the vignette around the wreath planter that I found a few weeks ago. My home is not formal and I like the contrast of the chippy white planter. I have also added my little frenchy boy that I have shown you before…another GW find at $3.00.

In fact, the entire vignette is made up of thrifting finds! Not bad, huh? That’s my kitchen that you can see in the reflection. In fact, I need to head in that direction to find a few catnip treats. Maybe that will help me get back in Baby Kitty’s good graces!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my mantel!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures on Mondays
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring
Kara at Elements Interiors for Whassup Wednesday
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

French Country Outdoor Living...and...A French Inspired Tablescape

The time I spent living in France left me with some wonderful memories…especially those long afternoons and evenings spent with friends, lingering over beautifully prepared meals served in their gardens. So when I saw the latest issue of the French online magazine Campagne Décoration, I was thrilled to see some lovely outdoor spaces! This old farmhouse really speaks to me! It reminds me of the home of a dear friend in France.

I love this one! Doesn’t it looks as though Renoir and his friends are just out of sight? What a beautiful setting…lunch under the dappled lighting of willow trees! This is the garden of the summer residence of the French author Alfred de Musset.

I love the textures in this photo! Nothing adds to the ambiance of a French garden like old stone walls and the ornate curves of a vintage garden bench!  What a nice place to rest after a little gardening.

Oooh…but this one looks so much more comfortable! Could you sit and read for hours on this wrought iron banquette? I love the fabrics on the cushions!

What a wonderful little space for a cup of morning coffee and a croissant! I want that table with the curvy French legs and that copper lantern!

You don’t have to be in the country to have a picnic! How about enjoying some time along the Seine River in Paris? On my list of things to do when my grandson and I are in Paris in a few weeks is having a pastry while sitting along the quai of the Seine!

And here’s my favorite…the courtyard of an ancient farmhouse in Provence where I spent a week during my retirement trip to France! (Click here to see more!) Oh how I would love to be able to recreate something like this at my house! But…I don’t have those stone walls, creeping vines and wonderful Provençal blue shutters! Sigh! 

Then I saw this one! Maybe I can’t recreate the garden, but I can create my version of this tablescape! Just maybe I can transform my patio into a little corner of France!

And voilà…here it is! I had to take a few liberties based on what was available, but I think I have captured the essence of it. I actually already had most of what I needed, so I only had to do a little Goodwill hunting. You may recognize the placemats and the Bordallo cabbage plates from a spring tablescape that I did two years ago. Hmmm...note to self...check into buying some French bistro chairs.

The glasses came from the clearance aisle at Home Goods…$3.00 each…and the napkins were a GW find…6 of them for $2.50! The cheese plates are from Crate & Barrel and were also a thrifting find…only $2.00! I pulled out some of my favorite old silverplate and set the table à la française...French style...with the tines of the forks and the bowls of the spoons pointing down. The monogram or family crest is customarily located on the back of the flatware in France.

Their centerpiece used fresh figs…nowhere to be found for me…so I used limes and a bouquet of fresh flowers from the grocery store! In the background, you can see that my shabby picnic basket planter is back again this year! I’ll have more about that later! Just add a few candles for ambiance...
(Hint: For a quick and easy color change, I wrapped mine in matching scrapbooking paper. Of course, be careful as you would any time you use candles.)

…and there you have it…my French inspired tablescape! My sister is coming over later today, so I think we will have lunch on the patio and enjoy the wonderful weather we have been having!

Our co-host Miss Kitty, who is the only mother on our staff (other than moi, of course), would also like to wish a wonderful Mother’s Day to each of you! May your day be filled with family, friends and fabulous food…that you didn't have to cook!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my tablescape!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Judy at DIY by Design for the Outdoor Cooking and Dining Blog Party
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures on Mondays
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Swing into Spring
Kara at Elements Interiors for Whassup Wednesday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
Jill at French Cupboard for Voilà! French Inspiration on Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Rachelle at Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!