A little weekend randomness...

You all know we've been spending a lot of time in St. Louis for hubby's doctor appointments (hopefully, they will be winding down soon), but when we're there we are so blessed to be able to stay with our daughter and her husband, oh, and can't forget Vinnie, the grandpuppy.

Pic of their 100+ year old home taken last Fall.

I wanted to share this guest room that doubles as Erin's dressing room. She has a relaxed eclectic style; mixing traditional, vintage, and modern pieces. She's not a "fusser and floofer" like me, she loves antiques, but isn't into shopping flea markets. She would like her vintage goods and antiques to magically appear for her decor pleasure. (sometimes I'm her "picker") She's not into clutter, piles of junk, or white chippy furniture. What?...I know.

I've told her that if this white set of vintage monogrammed luggage goes missing, 

that it probably came home with me by "accident".

When the Ritz Carlton in Clayton was renovated a few years ago they bought several sets of Birds Eye Maple furniture with king size beds for their guest rooms for a song. 

Aside from the great mix of pattern, color, and comfort, I just love how she's used this tiny children's suitcase  (or doll clothes case?) to corral some of her jewelry on the nightstand.

They are bulldog lovers and over the years they've found some fun bulldog collectibles, that are scattered throughout the house. If you look closely you can see a set of glass dogs that were popular in the '50's. Keith is an "all things tobacco" aficionado, so she also has this wonderful little Dunhill ladies lighter from the 40's here too.

I neglected to take a photo of her shoes on display.

She's a heels kinda girl, and let me just say that

she has quite the hoarding and shopping gene when it comes to fabulous shoes.

photo by Kortni Wu 

(for more great photos click above)

And for a little inspiration we stopped by The White Rabbit (click here for their blog and shopping) LOVE this store! I could hang there all day, but we were on our way out of town so I kept my visit short, but just had to grab this photo of a wall of moss in the garden area. so wonderful.

And one of our fave spots for a relaxed dinner is Pi. "On the Loop". President Obama had pizza there a year or so ago, and he gave it a rousing thumbs up. yummy. This license plate art is hanging on the wall. It's a good sized piece, and since it's reflective, everything else showed up black on this phone pic. pretty cool.

This will be a working weekend, hopefully we can get the pool opened and the patio furniture out and cleaned up. Our other son-in-law is our right hand man when it comes to jobs around here.

Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend.

I'll be here for The Marketplace on Monday as usual.

Come by for a visit in between cookouts and family fun!

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch

xoxo,

St. Louis Visit

Fall is my favorite time of the year to visit the kids in St. Louis. They live in an historic community, close to Washington University. Their home was built in 1904, just after the St. Louis World's Fair. The trees in their neighborhood are so gorgeous and the town is decorated for Fall Harvest and Halloween. 

We did a little antique shopping at Cherokee Street on Sunday afternoon. The architecture of the storefronts and homes is amazing. St. Louis is an old city, first founded by the French in the 1760's. This was a booming antique center for years, but it's been hit hard by the economy. There are still several great stores here, enough for me to find some things of course!

Sunday morning we had a wonderful brunch at the Lemp Mansion.

This was the family home of one of the early large breweries in St. Louis, and is well known for it's history of ghosts and hauntings. They hold ghost tours, events, and parties throughout the Fall, but today we were just interested in the delicious homestyle fried chicken dinner. 

Our daughter Erin and I out front.

(sorry, I take the worst photos, I actually DO have eyes!)

They were renovating the ceilings, and this was in the Dining Room where we ate. Do you see the one black raven at the edge? ...very creepy.

Dining Room

Gardens 

Keith and Erin in the Lemp Mansion Garden.

They've lived in their home for several years and have mostly done cosmetic updates. But they are starting a bath reno upstairs and a kitchen makeover soon. They want to bring back the authenticity of the kitchen that a makeover in the 80's had taken.

She had a cute pumpkin display on the porch, but I never got a photo of it.

I just took a few photos inside, but this was the one I was interested in; their new Restoration Hardware Entry Lighting. The photo doesn't do it justice, as the reflection of light was wonderful.

RH website

Dining Room

The house has 10 foot ceilings throughout, and Erin's mother-in-law made wonderful draperies for not only the Dining Room, but the Master Bedroom and Living Room. (so glad that wasn't my job!)

I did a post two years ago, but this was also 3 cameras ago, so the photos are less than good. We don't get to see them as much as we would like. Springfield is only 3 hours away, 4 if you have to eat and potty. Erin is a sales manager with a real estate developer so her getting weekends free is hard, and Keith is in sales with IBM so they both have demanding jobs. We love them to pieces and they are the best hosts anyone could ask for! 

Hope you'll be able to join in tomorrow for 

Vintage Inspiration Friday

"anything vintage or vintage inspired"

and all your Fall Decor!

xoxo,

p.s. I'm about caught up with the laundry!

Storybook Wedding

I think each little girl dreams of her

Wedding Day

and I was no exception.

Elaborate, or on a budget,

it can be Perfect!

My dear mom made all the bridesmaid dresses,

and helped me plan my special wedding day.

We met in August and we were married December 28, 1972,

almost 38 years ago.

I did a post last December about my

Red Plaid Wedding.

If you'd like to re-live it with me,

click here.

I invite you take a ride in the time machine.

And so began our lives together.

Joined together and kept together by God.

Without Him

we would never have found our way.

We were so young and really didn't know each other very well,

We just knew we were meant... yes,
 ordained to be together.

We have two darling daughters,

that their Daddy has walked down the aisle,

just like mine so many years ago.

And they lived happily ever after...

Please join Stephanie and all the Brides,

old and young,

at

Angelic Accents

for all the Wedding fun!

~~~~~
My 1 year Blog Anniversary Give Away
will end June 30.
Click here to enter!

2 winners will be chosen for Carolyn Westbrook's
soon to be released book.

The French Inspired Home

love,

Debra

(images 1 and 4 edited at photofunia)

November 1974, Happy Birthday Erin

Long before the days of ultrasounds, trying to discover the gender of a baby was left up to the speed of the baby's heartbeat. The doctor had both of our girls figured as boys. Surprise in both cases. These were the days when Daddy had to wait outside in the "waiting room", with everyone else. So Richard James, named after both of our fathers, had really been Erin Elizabeth all along!

I had been 3 weeks overdue, and had tried all sorts of things to get her here. In a nutshell, I was miserable and so big I could hardly walk. Christmas was coming, and I hadn't done any shopping. I had dreams of an eternal pregnancy!

Erin and I in December 1974, visiting Grandma and Grandpa.

(My one and only time to have frosted hair)

Erin and Keith in October 1997,

one of their engagement photos.

She is one of the few people I have met

that looks good either as a blond or a brunette.

2009 on our recent trip to St. Louis.

Erin, myself, and Alyson, last Christmas.

Just a little trip down memory lane

 to wish my beautiful and loving daughter a

Happy, Happy Birthday, "Beanie"!

Love Mom

Junkin' Monday after a Great Weekend

This last week I was able to find a few things

 out and about, and since I haven't been buying

 much lately, I wanted to share the good "junk"

that found it's way home with me.

This old tray with a fruit motif is pretty "shabby",

but I really have a fondness for these.

 I'm adding it to my collection.

Clay finial, not old, but I love the look of it.

A paper mache rabbit, sporting a festive fall ribbon,

and a wonderful old book from 1872 called

"Cheering Words",

which is a collection of poetry.

And this is a really precious gift that my sister-in-law Letty, from San Antonio made for me. She is a wonderful needlework artist, and she stitched this for me "special", because she knows how much I adore pumpkins! She even "coffee dyed" the linen herself.

This was a great weekend! The kids were here and we had a wonderful visit. We enjoyed ourselves at a couple of our favorite restaurants and then Saturday the girls and I did some major shopping at our mall. Shoes were the main interest. I only bought one pair of boots. The girls on the other hand had multiple finds. The three of us hadn't been shopping together in ages and we really had so much fun! It felt like "the good old days" when they were both living at home.

Erin and Keith, Chris and Alyson

Alyson in action!

Erin has to be available for business even on the weekend. She is a sales manager for the largest home builder in the U.S., and is based in St. Louis.

Here she is"Checkin' In".

I'm excited to have some fun things to share on

Junkin' Monday.

So be sure and click on the McLinky over at

 "Cottage Charm and Family Inspiration",

to see the other "Junker's" weekend finds!

Some fun "Junk" and the Kids,

what a great combination!

Debra