Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler.

Bonjour,

As many of you may be aware, it is time for the annual Mardi Gras celebrations. Many of us associate Mardi Gras with New Orleans, where possibly the largest festivities occur; however, many other cities join in celebrating the days leading up to the season of Lent.

New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade
ibtimes.com

If you have never participated in Mardi Gras in a small town, you have missed a totally different experience.  Although the parades may be more numerous and some more flamboyant in New Orleans, the celebrations are equally as festive and definitely more family-oriented in the smaller cities.  Mardi Gras customs can be traced back to Medieval Catholic Europeans, with the  large population of Acadian Catholics in Louisiana continuing these rich traditions in many small parish towns.

Mardi Gras Mummers
visitportarthur.com

Where I live, here in Southeast Texas, through the influence of our large Cajun and Creole population, the weekend before Lent is one long community celebration.  The festivities begin Thursday evening with a "chicken run," or Courir de Mardi Gras.  This event is a parade of costumed participants traveling on horseback, symbolically gathering the ingredients for a gumbo. The parade ends with young onlookers engaging in a foot chase for a live chicken, allegedly to be used in this rich Cajun "soup."

Chicken Run
beaumontenterprise.com

The remainder of the weekend is similar to the typical New Orleans carnival atmosphere consisting of live music, numerous parades with marching bands and beautifully decorated floats carrying Krewe members throwing beads and doubloons, and, of course, lots of food and alcoholic beverages.  However, here, as in many of the smaller cities and towns, the participants often consist of entire families, including young children. The atmosphere is friendlier and less rowdy...I give it a G- or, at most, a PG-rating.  It is a community party we look forward to every year.

Krewe of Aurora Parade
visitportarthur.com 

When I bring my grandchildren to watch their parents participate in the Friday night parade, I will be adorned in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold, but with a FrenchiGrace twist.

I hope you will have the opportunity to celebrate the occasion of Mardi Gras, if only by raising a glass of bubbly or indulging in a favorite food in anticipation of the ritual of fasting during the Lenten season. Laissez les bons temps rouler.

Adieu,

Puppy Love

Amour de Chiot

(Puppy Love)

Bonjour,

It is my hope that all of you enjoyed a joyful Christmas season shared with family and friends. Now we all begin the new year with the promise of a fresh start.

Although it is customary to make resolutions, I rarely do so but instead try to live each day the best I can.  This year my world has been turned upside down because of the little boy below.  This precious Llewellin setter joined our family over the holidays.

Kipling
"Kip"

For a while now, Monsieur has been expressing his desire to own a bird dog.  Having two dogs already and thinking such interest would pass, I failed to take him seriously...until this youngster was presented to me.  How could I possibly say, "no?!"

He truly is the cutest thing, but it has been quite a while since I have dealt with a young puppy and never one this age.  He joined us at a mere six-weeks old and, therefore, is very demanding.  Although Monsieur does assist with his care, the most burdensome part--those nightly awakenings--fall upon me. Needless to say, there has been no blogging nor jewelry designing done by me in recent days.

I am looking forward to more restful days ahead with little Kip and getting myself back into some semblance of a routine again.  I would love to hear how you are beginning the year.  Please do share your thoughts below or via the link above.

Adieu,

Seasonal Frenzy Disorder

Bonjour,

With the Christmas season in full swing, it is difficult not to get caught up in the frenzy of it all.  As a female of the boomer generation, I am programmed to feel I must "do it all."  I must decorate my home to perfection, shop for all the perfect gifts, wrap those gifts perfectly, bake lots of delicious, perfectly-shaped cookies, etc.; and, to be honest, I truly love doing all these things, but the perfection business can be a tad repressive. As I have gotten older, I have learned to slow down and I do my best to try to be satisfied with less-than-perfect. Now I strive to enjoy the special moments, because that is what it's really all about, isn't it?

In that vein, I did take time to attend the party for the local Historical Society members that I told you about last week.  And I did not fret and try to find the perfect outfit (as I may have done in my younger days) but wore something I had hanging in my closet. And, as is usually the case, that fact had no bearing on the experience.   I had a fine time visiting with old friends and the lovely old home was decorated beautifully.

Saturday was devoted to attending Dickens on the Strand where we ate festival food, drank, shopped and saw the "Queen."

A great time was had by all...and I managed to get my annual photo of the grands by the Tremont House Christmas tree...and they were smiling.

I hope you are enjoying the season and finding time to experience those special moments of joy that only this time of year can bring.   I'd love to hear what you are doing.  Please comment below or via the link above.

(And should you need a small gift, please take a look in my shops via the links above.)

Until next time, wishing you many peaceful moments.

Adieu,

Noël

Bonjour,

The Christmas season with all its festivities is fast upon us.  In France, Christmas is called Noël and is celebrated somewhat differently than it is here in the United States.

In parts of France, the celebration begins on December 6, with la fete de Saint Nicolas, when parents traditionally give gifts to their children. On Christmas Eve, children, in hopeful expectation, leave their shoes by the fireplace for le Père Noël, Santa Claus, to bestow gifts. Christmas Day festivities typically begin at midnight, when families gather for worship and a celebratory dinner, le Réveillon, after midnight mass.  Adults usually wait until New Year's Day to exchange gifts.  The season doesn't end until the final celebration on Epiphany, on January 6.

How do you celebrate the season?  The celebration begins for me tonight, as Monsieur and I will attend the first party of the season, given by the local Historical Society for its members and their guests, and located in one of the city's historical homes, the Pompeiian Villa.  It is always a pleasure to tour the home, decorated in all its Christmas finery, and to visit with other patrons dedicated to the preservation of our local history.

The Pompeiian Villa
Port Arthur, Texas

Saturday we will spend the day in Galveston at their annual festival, Dickens on the Strand.  This event has signified the beginning of the Christmas season for us for many, many years.  We started taking our children when they were young, and now they accompany us with their families. It has become a tradition that cannot be missed.  There are vendors selling handmade crafts and food, and the local shops are filled with seasonal wares.  And, of course, all involved are dressed in period costumes and the area is decorated to resemble Victorian England.  I hope to share pictures with you next time.

Until then, wishing you a lovely beginning to the season. 

Adieu,



p.s.  If you may need a small gift for a friend or loved one, maybe an item of handmade jewelry would           fit the bill.   I invite you to take a peek in my shops via the link above.  Merci.

Giving Thanks

Bonjour,

On this day, I pause to give thanks for so many blessings...family, friends, my fur babies, health, enough creature comforts, a loving God...life in a country that allows me the freedom to share my thoughts.

May you enjoy this day with a grateful heart...

...and a full tummy.

Adieu,