I's Mardi Gras Time! Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!!

A Happy Mardi Gras to one and all!!! My beautiful daughter Alexia and I invite you all to our Mardi Gras celebration post. Her And I are in this together...LOL...Of course she is in all my post one way or another. We will have lots of info and lots of pictures. And a couple of Acknowledgements. SO!!! Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!!! That means: LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!

America's first Mardi Gras (found on MardiGras.com, this is only an exerpt)

"The explorers eventually found the mouth of the Mississippi River on March 3, 1699, Mardi Gras of that year.
They made camp a few miles upriver, named the spot Point d'Mardi Gras and partook in a spontaneous party. This is often referred to as North America's first Mardi Gras.
A couple of decades later, Bienville founded New Orleans and soon Carnival celebrations were an annual event highlighted by lavish balls and masked spectacles. Some were small, private parties with select guest lists, while others were raucous, public affairs.
Collectively, they reflected such a propensity for frolic in the local citizenry that historian Robert Tallant wrote in his book "Mardi Gras" that "natives would step over a corpse on the way to a ball or the opera and think nothing of it."
Parades officially began in 1838.
On Ash Wednesday of that year, The Commercial Bulletin read: "The European custom of celebrating the last day of the Carnival by a procession of masqued figures through the streets was introduced here yesterday. "

Mardi Gras was a LOT different when I was a kid growing up in New Orleans- it was a family event. Here's some footage we found on youtube (this is not my footage- I do have some but it has to be converted to digital yet!) that gives a better idea of what it was once like:


Here are a few of my personal pictures from Mardi Gras past- from late 1970's or early 80's, and then there's one from the Mardi Gras before Katrina.

On the above picture, I am standing below the balcony of Patout's on the 500th block of Bourbon Street, across from the world-famous Chris Owens strip club. We had rented the balcony, and my husband took the picture of me down on the street from up there.

Here's a Mardi Gras ball doll I made a few years ago:


And here is a Mardi Gras tree I made last year:

I want to make a couple of acknowledgements- first to Tracie of My Petite Maison:
I want to show you some thing I won from her blog, and she went above and beyond with what she gave! This gorgeous bottle she made specifically for me; also, the Paris picture book and the Porch magazine (which Tracie has some lovely things in, btw) were both wonderful. The tags and antique papers were also just fab- and the whole package smelled divine, what with the real lavener buds in there. Thank You so much Tracie!

Last but not least, look at these gorgeous and sweet smelling handmade soaps i bought from Savon Marie: They were simply the best smelling soaps and so very pretty! I know I won't be able to use them, just to smell and look at! You simply must go and check her out, you won't be disappointed.

Thanks everyone! - Marie Antionette

My Darling Valentine

I would like to wish all of you a very warm and loving Valentine. Just close your eyes and imagine me hugging each and everyone of you.

I want to share a few pictures of my darling Valentine and me, and the first card he gave me. Its old and worn. I take it out alot and look at it...


You know, he never ever signed it. I guess he just thought I'd better know who it came from. LOL... Maybe its a man thing, who knows the working of a man's mind. I don't think I want to know. He did however put a little white card with the alfabet listed on it. He then put beside each letter something he thought about me...


That made up for not signing it, of course. (Note from Alexia about the letter "x" here- Xantippe was the scolding, nagging wife of Socrates. She is in fact best known for pouring a full chamber pot on the poor henpecked philosopher's bald head. The incident was referred to in the Canterbury Tales - the Wife of Bath's Tale, not surprisingly: "The hapless man sat there as still as dead, Then wiped his head and dared not to complain, But said, 'Ere thunder stops, down comes th' rain."

Anywho, We are still together after going on 36 yrs of marriage. No one thought we were going to make it. Even his own family, on our wedding day tried to stop me, every which way they could. Believe me, some were low blows. Good thing I had more class. I didn't even talk back or made any kind of remark. Anyone that knows me can tell you ...thats not me. But here we are, like alot of marriages you have your ups and downs. We love each other, thats what counts.


Here are three theater dolls I made for a lady, that wanted them for Valentine's day. They are for her daughters. She wanted all three done in pink. I think I'm though with pink for awhile. They are all different themes. One is ballerinas , one angels and the other a carousel. The other two dolls are older dolls that I made a few yrs ago.

Guess what??? I've been tagged by My very good blogging buddy,Well after this huge tag, maybe not so good buddy...LOL...Pearl of http://pearlssentimentaljourney.blogspot.com/

Are you ready for this whopper? Here goes.....You answer 46 questions.

1.Are you named after anybody? Yes! My Grandma. Her name was Marie Antoinette. She was French and Spanish. In Honduras she was called Marie Antonia.

2.When was the last time you cried? The other day,You know how it is you start thinking about lost people things like that.

3.Do you like your handwriting?No! Its chicken scratch.

4. What is your fav lunch meat? I love livercheese.

5. Do you have any kids? I have one daughter, alot of you know as Alexia (Genteel Poverty)

6.If you were another person, would you be friends with you? Why certainly.

7.Do you use sarcasm? Look at Q #6!!!

8.Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.

9. Would you ever bunggee jump? Hell No!!!

10. What is your fav cereal? Anything sweet.

11. Do you untie your shoes before you take them off? Yes I do,Call me lazy.

12.What is your fav Ice cream? I love pepermint or vanilla.

13. What do you notice about a person when you first meet them? I notice their eyes.I can tell right off, if they are "off". Its a gift,that has saved me countless of times.

14. Are you red or pink? I am red.Thats all I am going to say.

15.What is the least thing you like about yourself? I don't like the fact that I'm impatient.


16.Who do you miss the most in your life? I miss all my loved ones the same ,but I do miss of course my parents and younger brother. He would be an interesting story, remarkable in fact.

17.Do you want everyone to complete this? I feel this way.i will finish this tag,I like tags ,but this is a long one...LOLI wouldn't get upset or press anyone to finiah this.If they can ,they can,if not its not a big thing,just something to do.

18.What color pants and shoes are you wearing?.None,I'm still in my nitegown.

19.What are you listening to right now? I'm listening to my show, Days of our lives.

2o. If you were a crayon,what color would you be? I love all the victorian type colors ,but my fav is dusty rose.

21.What are your fav smells.All the creames,such as vanilla and lavenders.

22.Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? My hubby called to check on me.

23.Do you like the person who posted this? Oh yes!!!I've been kidding about this longggggggg tag she gave me to do ,but I really think she is fab. She' has always been here for me and I hope we become even closer friends.

24.What sport do you watch the most? Really ,not any ,but If I did ,it would be horse racing or the rodeo.

25.What is you hair color? Well it was dark brown,fading to gray.

26.What is your eye color? brown

27.Do you wear contacts? Yes,only when I go somewhere nice.

28.What is your fav food? I like fried Chicken and cream potatoes.I like a good rare steak with baked potatoes.

29.Do you like scary movies or happy endings.I love happy endings.

30.What is the last movie you watched? The last Templar.

31.What color shirt are you wearing? I'm still in my nitegown.

32.Are you summer or winter? Summer

33.Are you hugs or kisses? I am both.

34.What is your fav desert? Cream cheese pie.

35.Most likely to respond? Respond to what????I will respond to anything ,all of us do.Unless your an idiot.

36.What book are you reading? I am reading a historical romance novel/short christmas stories/with fav arthur Mary Balogh.

37.What color is your mouse pad? I'm not using a mouse pad

38.Where did you watch TV last? In my living room.

39.What are your fav sounds? Outdoors and soft fifties music.

40.Rolling Stones or the Beatles? Neither.

41.What is the farest place you been away from home? I lived in Honduras,when I was little then visited a couple more times.

42.Do you have a special talent? I used to dance really well.

43.Where were you born? I was born in New Orleans,La.

44.Who's answer's are you most looking forward to getting back? I would appreciate anyone getting back to me.

45. How did you meet your spouse?He was a friend of mines date, but she was engaged to another person,who happen to be out of town. He came home early and my friend said,What am I going to do about Bill?,I said I'll take care of Bill for you. And i have been every since. You see Bill was on his last three days of leave ,when my friend met him. He just finished his tour in Viet Nam.

Well thats that ,I'm finished.If anyone would like to do this tag,just pick it up and don't cuss me to much.

I also was tagged by Kris of http://vintagewindow.blogspot.com/.I am supose to name some facts about myself,but I've already done this twice,so I am not going to do it.Instead i want everyone to go and visit Kris,because she has an outstanding blog.There is so many pretties .Kris is also an outstanding person.Friendly and sweet.Lets all give her a hug.Thank you Kris.Hugs and kisses Marie

I want to thank all of you who visited me,and again Happy Valentines Day to all...Marie Antionette