My Trip to Bellingrath Gardens

A very warm Southern hello to ya'll,

It sure is hot down here. Several heat records were already broken for the month of June. My poor peacocks are really suffering , not to mention my dogs. we have fans going everywhere.

My friend Cheryle and I took a trip to Theodore, Alabama a few weeks ago. Alabama is a very beautiful state and there is so many places to visit. But the most beautiful is Bellingrath Gardens. Of course the time we went,most of the flowers were not in bloom,but that was OK, it still was wonderful. I'm not going to sit here and type the history of the gardens, so here is a link. http://www.bellingrath.org/ It is a must read. Its very interesting.

The owner of Bellingrath was Walter Duncan Bellingrath(1869-1955) was into everything from the railroad to the Coca Cola company. Every nook and cranny of the gardens was breathtaking. There is a Christmas festival every yr and they say it is just a wonder to behold. Cheryle and I are going to try and go this yr. I cannot even imagine it. Here are a few pictures, but first I must tell you one of my stories.

This was not my first visit to the gardens. Cheryle , my daughter Alexia and I went about three yrs ago. In the gardens are giant bamboo. Well the bamboo looks like prison bars. I wanted a picture of myself in said prison bars, I thought that would be neat. Anywho, took the picture, seen the garden, but by the time we were on our way home, my face started burning. Got home, you could not see my eyes by then. The misery of it all...Moral of it all ...DON"T TOUCH THE BAMBOO!!! And to pour salt on the wound, the picture did not come out!!!When we arrived at the gardens this time.....You guessd it I wanted to take a picture of me in the bamboo, but Cheryle said that I better not go near that stuff...but Cheryle I won't tough it, I promise...I just want to stand inside it...No you are not...yes I am. Of course we were laughing so hard people were staring. Well yes I did get int the bamboo and this time CAUSE I didn't put my face beween the bars or touch it, I was OK and the picture came out to boot!!!

YEA!!! Now on to the pictures:

Now I want to thank a gracious lady that makes some of the most wonderful soaps,lotions and other fantastic products. I use them so I know this is true. Please try them. I recieved an award from Marie of Savon Marie and I did not even know it. I recieved it at the time I took my leave from blogging due to health reasons. I am supose to list 10 items about myself, but I've already did this with another award I was honored to get, so I will not do it twice....I'm going to take my award from Marie and run...LOL. Thank you Marie. I'm not going to pass it, but would like any of my blogging friends to pick this up for all of you deserve it. Its a very nice award.

http://www.savonmarie.blogspot.com/ Please check out Marie

I want to wish all of you a safe and happy 4th of July, watch out for the fireworks. I can tell you a story about that, so can Alexia. Just be careful around them!!!

Now I will bid you adieu

XXOO Marie Antionette

I'm Back !!!

Hello one and all you wonderful people!!! I've missed you all so much. I'm glad to be back. I have been under the weather, but feeling better.I had what I called a near stroke. I'm OK. It did leave me with some numbness in my fingertips of my right hand , but not to the point I can't work or anything. Its just annoying to type for any long period of time. Also my short term memory is rattled I'm afraid. So please excuse any spelling and things like that. I intend to forget how to correct things and I do not want to bother my daughter to much , although she would help me in a heartbeat. She is working really hard right now. God bless her. It seems she doesn't get a break from it. I know most of you are being put though the mill also and know what I'm talking about .

I did have a wonderful visit from the two most perfect house guest ever. Sherry of Eddie Marie's Attic

and her sweet, sweet daughter in-law Chris. My hubby Bill even took off work and took all of us into New Orleans. We had the best time even if it was a quick trip. Sherry took some great pictures and I left the posting of them to her. So if you like, go on over to Eddie Marie's Attic and follow along with Sherry and Chris on their trip to our southern states. She met up with not only me but several other of our blogging friends. Go take a look and find out who. It was a sad day to see them leave. They did stay with me a couple of days. It was just to wonderful.

I want to show you all what beautiful gifts Sherry and her wonderful daughter in-law Chris gave me. First this drop dead gorgeous purse that Sherry made. Its just to fab.It fits me perfect.She knew I was short so she made it to fit me. Its so hard to buy purses, the best ones are so large, it looks like I'm carring suitcases, but this one is just right. Look at the broche !!! And all the pockets.The inside is just as wonderful.Pockets and a beautiful satin linning with bees printed on it. Amazing

This is the back of the purse, isn't it just gorgeous? I told Sherry she should make these purses and sell them. They are just to fab.

Look at these beautiful ear rings and Angel neckless Sherry gave me, are they not precious? The box they came in... ain't to shabby either. Thank you Sherry for all the wonderful gifts you gave me , they will be cherished.

This is Sherry and me siting out in the Gazbeo, I think we can talk for hours.Its really scary how much we are intuned to each other

OK ya'll !!! Look at this.Sherry is actually sucking a crawfish head. The best juices are in the head of this Louisiana muddbug. You don't know what it took for me to get her try this, but once she did...She was unstopable. At first she was convinced that the eyes would come out. But I told her they didn't. I'm telling you, she was eating these crawfish like a real southerner. I asked her ...Are you sure yor a yankee??? Her daughter in-law loved them too. So don't be ascared, come on down. LOL...If you dare. I'll have you sucking these crawfish heads and pinching their tails in no time.

Since this is June, and June is a month for weddings, I thought I would post these two older wedding dolls. I made these dolls, along time ago. But they are still two of my favs. The first one is of course a bride putting away her bridal wear in her hope chest for safe keeping and the second picture is of a bride in a gazebo all decorated for her wedding pictures. This doll vignette was actually used in a wedding as a center piece .

I want to say a special thanks to a special guy...Chris of Designs by CK. He gave me this Renee Award and it means so much to me. A truelly amazing artist. I'm one of his biggest fans and I count him as a good friend. I'm so sorry Chris that it took this long to post the award. XXO

I know this was kind of a short post, but I will try and do better next time.I will try and visit with everyone I know...LOL but it will take me a few days so bear with me. I want to see what all of you have been up to and also see what wonderful things that were made. Till my next post Buy ya'll and May God Bless You...XXOO

Marie Antionette

A Happy Mother!!! & A Furlough for Me!!!

A Happy Mother's Day!!! & A Furlough for Me!!!

I want to wish all my friends a Happy Mothers Day!!! I hope you all enjoy your special day. Its hard work being a Mother. So you all deserve to have fun and rest, do whatever you want.I want to send out my prayers to some of my friends who have children who are ill or recovering from illness. May God bless these families. Now I'm going to tell you all that I'm taking a leave of absence just for a short time.You can't get rid of me that easy...LOL...If you noticed, I have not been visiting as much lately. Thats because I have been under the weather again. Nothing to bad, just something that happens to me now and again. But it does take me awhile to get over these spells I go though. I'm still doing my everyday stuff, just not as fast. However I am very excited because Sherry of http://ediemariesattic.blogspot.com/, and her lovely daughter-inlaw Chris will be coming to visit me for a couple of days in two weeks. This will be a most wonderful time. Sherry and I will take lots of pictures to share with you. I still would love to hear from you and will be reading comments and such. I will also be happy to recieve email. I will answer any of these and comments. My email is tonidolls@hotmail.com.
In the meantime I will leave you with some Mother's Day type dolls that I made awhile back and a Thank you .

I want to thank Pat of http://summersdarling.blogspot.com/ . Pat made me a beautiful pillow for a new old chair I bought at a Antiques mall. The pillow added just the right touch. If you could just see the pillow in person, pictures do not do her pillows justice. Thank you Pat for doing an outstanding job sweetie. When I'm not to poor again because of my new car, I would like another pillow with a Marie Antoinette on it...LOL...This picture also shows the extra goodie she sent me. A beautiful Easter egg , Its just to fab.

Now here are the few Doll vignettes I leave you with to celabrate Mothers Day.

I just had to show you this doll. I call it the ...Outhouse...You can't see it clear, but He has a sears catalog in his arms.Yes I made it myself...LOL...

I want to thank all of you again and I will be back soon, lots of hugs and kissesXXOO

Marie Antionette

Happy Birthday !!! My Very Dear Daughter !!!

I could not think of a better way to celebrate my daughter's birthday than sharing it with our friends here in blog world.

I'm doing this on my own again without her help or knowledge, so there will be no bells and whistles. Some words may even be spelled wrong. You see, She is the brains behined the scenes. Oh I write everything she justs puts in the extras that make my post pretty and elegant. She corrects almost all my grammer. She tells me I use to many commas and such...LOL. But you see, Thats just an inkling of what my daughter Alexia does for me and her daddy. Me mostly. I'm the parent and she looks after me !!!

In this regard I just wanted to show and tell her how much she means to her Daddy and me. We call her Alex !!!

ALEX ! We love you so much, and we are so proud of you. You have become a strong young woman, Yes dear your still young. Without you in our lives, I don't even want to go there. You and I do everything together, shopping ,crafting, laughing and crying. We tell each other everything, well almost everything. I have friends who wish they were as close as you and me. We've always had a bond. I hope in all your endeavers, God will look after you, take care of you. I love you, your daddy loves you. so... HAPPY Birthday to our precious daughter !!!

This of course is a picture of her daddy and me while I was pregant.I was about 8 months along here.

Alexia Antoinette Whitman, born April 8...1973...She was born while my husband was stationed in Beauford,South Carolina, at the navel Hospital.Her daddy was a Marine stationed near Paris Island. I still have her little outfit, shoes and blanket. This is Alex and me when she was 3 months old.

Alex was a daddy's girl. Bill would not even let me bath her by myself at first. Even though I was a registered baby sitter back in the 60's. I've bathed more babies! I didn't say anything to him.After all he was a Marine.

All teenagers go though their , what I call bad years, she was no exception.Hers was heavy metal. Wearing black clothes, high hair, and Heavy Metal music. You know...Guns and Roses, Def Leapard,Motly Crew,Bon Jovi. I took her to so many concerts. Her little friends too!!! She had to have a MTV jacket. Yes I bought it for her, it cost a small fortune. She still has it too.Here is a birthday cake, with her favorite bands and a Black Rose completes it.

Thank God the dark Days did not last to long. All in All, she was a very good teenager. She never missed curfew. Did not get into trouble, not bad anyway.
Here are two pictures that Bill took. The first one is of Alex when she was 5. We were nose to nose.The second is one of us several years later. Bill thought it wouls be kool.Alex is about 20 I think. We are going to take another tomorrow.I hope I did not bore you all. But I'm glad you all came by anyway...LOL.

Now here is a thank you to.

I would like to thank Betzie of http://timenough.blogspot.com/ I bought some of the most wonderful soaps from her. They are gorgeous. The detail is so fantastic, you must buy some of her soaps. I'm not kidding. Thank you Betzie

April, The good and the Bad

April!!! Such a beautiful time, most of it anyway. Its so sad for all the people who are going though terrible floods due to The march and now april floods. We are having floods ourselves. Thank God my house is on high ground but, just a country block its flooded.My neighbor is being flooded. The baracade starts right at my road entrance. Thats how close it is to me. So Alexia's and my prayers go out to all of you who are endanger. Please keep safe and May God bless you all.

April showers do bring flowers that bloom in May... as the great Al Joelson, which by the way is one of my favorite singers of all times and favorite songs, that and the song Beautiful dreamer. Yes I do love the oldies and real oldies...LOL. Everywhere I look its so beautiful. My peacocks all got their new long tails. They are strutting about, calling for mates. My flowers are blooming. We even chanced it, and took out some of the plants that were in the greenhouse. It did turn cool and got down to 42, but I don't belive the ones we took out were hurt.

Since its Springtime , here are some older springtime dolls.

I have been honored to recieved a couple of awards. The first one is from Veronica of http://bumblebearies.blogspot.com/The Sisterhood Award. I am greatly honored because Veronica has ask to adopt me as a sister, how wonderful is that. I never had a sister so I am very touched. Thank you Dear Veronica from the bottom of my heart.I am greedy, because I would love more sisters, so I am going to adopt:

Sherry of http://ediemariesattic.blogspot.com/....She is a very special lady to me. Sweet and lovely. And if you ever get to hear her speak, As I talk to her all the time on the phone, she sounds like an Angel. Her voice is that sweet.

Tracie http://mypetitemaison.blogspot.com/...Another Angel. I would gladly call sister. There are several others, you know who you are... that I adore, but its just to many to put down. Just know that in my heart you are all my sisters.

There is one other I would love to adopt above all things , but that person is a brother not a sister.

Chris of http://www.designsbyck.blogspot.com/...There is not a picture award for you. But I would be honored to adopt you for my baby brother. You have always been so sweet and supportive. I love you dearly.

Here is an award from my newly adopted sister... Sherry of http://ediemariesattic.blogspot.com/

Its the perfect Blend of Friendship Award.We are all a perfect blend and mixsures. You can't do do any better than that, now can you. Thank you Sherry for this award. I appreciate it very much, it came from you.

April is alo a month of renewal so lets all get out there and renew our faith that all will be well with the world. I know this is a trying time for us all. But there is good in this world. We can't let The things that are happening to over shadow that. May God bless all of us!!!

Hugs and Kisses Marie Antionette

PS:I want to thank you all for all your good wishes . I am feeling much better, just a few lingering affects. I'm sorry I could not do the blogging thing much . When I don't visit much, just know its because of reasons I can't help. I love visiting and leaving comments. I wish I could do it more offten.XXOO

A Little of This And A Little of That

Top of the mornin to ya Ladies and Gents!!!
I hope you all have a wonderful Saint Patricks Day!!!

This is truly one of the times that I miss living right in New Orleans. WHY? Because I grew up in the Irish Channel. In New Orleans,they have a name for different areas.I know you all heard of the 9th Ward, because of Katrina. The lower 9th was all but destroyed,its been on National news for years now. Well I lived in the Irish Channel, Lots of Irish people there. We had the most wonderful St. Patty's Day parades there. I'm not even sure if its still there, but there was also a famous cafe bar,called Parasols. All the green beer you can drink and the most delicious roast beef Po Boys. Have any of you tasted a New Orleans roast beef Po Boy? Nothing like them. Tender roast beef with gravy so messy , it runs down your arms, with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, all on a foot long toasted, hot french bread. If it don't run down your arms,its not a good one. Send it back.

During the parade, they throw cabagges and potatoes at you from the floats, They also hand out Green paper roses and carnations, Well... you had to give a little kiss in return of course...LOL...And the most gorgeous horses. I was at one such parade, with my share of roses and carnations ...hehehe. When this one very handsome guy in a green mask on a white horse, just scooped me up and carried me though the whole parade right up in front of him. You can't see my face right now, but I'm grinning from ear to ear. A day I'll never forget.
HERE! is the REST of the story..........

I was on a date with my future hubby Bill, when I got scooped up by the handsome horseman, right in front of him and he could not get to me till the end of the parade. To say he was mad is an under statement. He left that nite to go back to Mississippi. He did not call me for two weeks. You see Mississippi boys weren't used to things like that. Anyway he finally forgave me. And alls well that ends well .
PS The handsome horseman would have put me down if I wanted. But come on now,we're talking about me...LOL.

Now here is a vignette that I made a couple of years ago for a good friend of mine. She wanted a Leprechaun. Let me tell you how I made the wall the Lep. is on.I took a block of wood and I glued those really light weight railroad rocks,that I painted onto the block. That was a fun job, one by one.

Here is another simple doll I made.Not much to her,but Hey!!! I sold her right off. Her name is Erin.


Now I want to thank some very talented and wonderful friends for these awards.The ones with tags,I'm not going to do that part of it, but you all know I love doing tags. If you notice this post is rather short for me. I've had a terrible chest cold, although better, now for 7 wks. And I'm just not up to par just yet. I know alot of you are suffering with this crappy mess. I pray all of you and me get over this soon.

The first award I was honored with is the Angel Award. It was given to me by one of my most precious friends Sherry of http://ediemariesattic.blogspot.com/ She said I was an Angel but she is the true Angel.

The next two awards come from the same person, who also is precious to me.She is one of the most creative people I know.She never stops. I think she creates in her sleep...LOL...You all know her, Lisa Kettel of http://faerieenchantment.blogspot.com/

The first award is the Proximiade Award.This is a very nice award . Here are the words that come with it. I'm so honored.

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. "

The next award from Lisa, is the Kreativ Blogger Award. I don't know how creative I am, but I thank her for this award anyway.LOL.I'm honored that she thinks I am.

want to thank these two beautiful people for these awards.They mean so much to me. Love you both to pieces. My arms are around you both.

There's my old truck, a 1995 Toyota Tacoma. I did not have to get a new truck, and I got to keep my old baby besides. As some of you know I did not want to part with my old truck. It still runs as good as a new one, she may be worn a little but that does happen with age, don't it?

We went to the dealership with all the intentions of getting a new truck, but the newer ones (Toyotas) are made a little bigger and the seats sit lowe to the floor,than the older models.Well I'm only 4ft.11 so you can imagine that my feet won't reach the pedals. I've always drove a straight shift. But we ended up getting this Toyota Camry- automatic.


I thank you all for stoping by.You all take care, and enjoy some of this springlike weather. Maybe soon it will stay warm and not tease us with beautiful days then a cold day in between.
XXXOOO Marie Antionette