Border Imports in St. Francisville

Is it really weekend already? Well then, it is time to show off our pinks, some favorites and do a little sightseeing or shopping. I would like to link with Beverly for Pink Saturday at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

and Laurie for a Few of my Favorite Things at http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/

I found these Royal Stafford plates and soup bowls in Hedgerow pattern, at Homegoods when we went to Houston. Unfortunately, there were only 8 dinner plates and 3 soup bowls, but I really like them, so I bought them. As if I needed more plates, lol. But hey! I sold some white plates and bunny plates in my booth so I can justify buying more, right? They are made in England. Now, I am on a lookout for more pieces. They are mostly pink so they qualify for my contribution to Beverly's party. I also found this 2 tiered serving tray on Ebay. I really like the reticulated edges.

For sightseeing, let me take you to a garden store in St. Francisville called Border Imports. We pass by this whenever we drive to Baton Rouge. When my stepdaughter and her 3 kids visited more than a month ago, we went to Baton Rouge and on our way back home, the kids were getting antsy, so John decided to take a break from the trip and walk around this garden shop with the kids.

There's John guiding my mom and making sure she does not fall, with Zoe following behind.

They had potteries everywhere. This is where we bought our gazebo and the iron swing that's in my secret garden.

Does anybody want a dinasaur or ( is it a tyrannosaurus?) in their front yard?
It looks like he wants to follow Kerri home.

I love these gigantic strawberry planters. and I wanted to take this swing home but I already have one very similar.
But I really want this arbor with 2 benches. I will have to find a level place for it in the backyard. Isn't it pretty? What do you think, paint it black?

I think John likes it too.

Pretty Zoe with pretty Talavera pots.

On our way home, we took a turn just to check out what was in there. We passed by this stack of logs which were being sprinkled with something, maybe water.

I have never seen so many logs stacked up like that.

I bought 2 items from the garden shop. First is this iron candelier. I do not know if it is too big for my arbor but that's where I plan to put it. But if we decide to buy the other I showed you above, it will hang on that one. I will have to sand and paint it first. What type of paint should I use? Glossy or flat? Should I play it safe and use black paint or should I be more gutsy and paint it with some kind of a turquoise, aqua or robin blue color?

I also bought this planter basket. After I refinish and paint it, I think I will hang it on the brick wall in the front porch.
Thank you so much for stopping by and thanks to our hostesses, Beverly and Laurie. I hope you get to visit them also along with their other participants. Y'all have a nice weekend now

and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!!!!

Cinco de Mayo Mesa

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

I took this picture when we went to Costa Maya.

Let's go to a fiesta!

I was going to post our birthday dinner table but I decided to move it for next week since today is May 5th, and it's just appropriate to do a Cinco de Mayo tablescape, so here it is!

The tablecloth is a blanket throw from Mexico. I bought 4 different colors when I was there.

I thought these plates look very Spanish.

I bought the little sombrero when we went to Cozumel 2 years ago and I wanted to use it last year for my cinco de Mayo tablescape, but I just could not remember where I kept it. I finally found it in our hall bookcase, which has always been in front of my eyes, lol. Oh well, at least it feels like it is still new now. I found these candle holders in various sizes at Goodwill for about $1.99 each. I was going to sell them at the store but I could not part with them. I love them too much.

I used 2 different colors of rooster plate chargers, blue and green. Somehow the green shows like it is yellow in the picture but believe me, it is more of sage green. I have different colors of these chargers, blue, green, red and yellow. Do you think I like them enough?

The flatware handles are genuine turquoise stones.

This is the true color of the green plate chargers.

Thank you so much for your visit again.

I am linking with Susan for Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
Linda's Garage Salen Junkin Finds at http://ljm-alacarte.blogspot.com/
Vintage Thingy Thursday at http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/
Sherry's Open House Party Thursdays at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com/
Courtney's Feather your Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Sally's Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

Thanks to our gracious hostesses. You should go visit them when you have a chance and be inspired!

Royal Souvenir Tea

My sister went to London a week before the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate. And so timely for my birthday and hubby's, she sent us some souvenirs for a birthday gift. I guess she saw the dates on the items, which is my hubby and my birthdate.

So for Tuesday Tea, I decided to use what she sent us, plus my teapot that I bought when we went to London.
I had a mocha roll that I bought from Houston when I went there a few days ago and had a lemon green tea.

My sister gave us the souvenir mug and tea towel.

Doesn't the mug go so well with the teapot?

She also gave us that souvenir throw pillow.

Here is a close up. Isn't it pretty? I love the material too and the inscribed date, of course.

My mom was still in bed so I had tea by myself. She has been sleeping in every morning since we got back from Houston. I think the trip tired her out.

I just read my book and sipped my tea peacefully by myself.
Too hot for fire but I enjoyed my tea by the fireplace.

My sister also sent me this. It has a string hanger so I can use it for my Christmas tree during the yuletide season.

Thank you so much to our following hosts who I am linking with today:

Marty for Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Lady Katherine for Teatime Tuesday at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/

Martha and Terri for Teacup Tuesday at http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Wanda Lee and Pam's Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday at http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com/ and http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com/

Sandi's Teatime Tuesday at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/

I hope you get a chance to visit them and their participants

and thanks for your visits!

A Very Simple Refinishing Project

I am linking with Susan for Metamorphosis Monday at
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

and Kim's Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

I had a very small project which has been sitting in the garage for quite sometime. I finally got the energy to work on it.

I bought this little occasional table from one of the other vendors in the store for $12. The finish was in real bad shape but the table itself is still solid, legs are pretty sturdy and not wobbly.

I took it out on the driveway to start working on it. I sanded it really well and then primed it and let it dry overnight.

Then took a leftover paint that I found in the garage and started painting. I let it dry and sanded again and repainted.

I pretty much followed Kim's way of refinishing but of course, I wasn't expecting it to be as good as hers. I had saved one of her blogs showing how to do it and it worked pretty well. Thanks Kim!

What do you think?

I buffed it with Minwax paste afterwards. It went back to the store to sell in my booth. It's ok if it does not sell because I can use it to display small items that I sell there.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Susan and Kim for hosting.