Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

Summer Sunshine

Something totally new and fresh to brighten your day!

Please tell me what you think about my new website and new blog location.

Lots of Little Babies

What bliss!

This little guy was welcomed into Minnesota Mom's joyful world!

What joy!

While more little footprints are on the fridge at Colleen's house!

What sweetness!

A sweet little sister for big sister Abby to enjoy the journey with!

Please stop at these mother's virtual homes and welcome these little darlings into the world! They are the life's blood and joy of our tomorrows.

I'd Like to Know What You...

enjoy seeing or reading when you come to this blog.

With the new liturgical year beginning this Sunday, I'd like to focus on all the right things. There's a lot of stuff out there on the Internet and in Blogland. Of course I know this little spot is my little spot in the gigantic web of things but I'm still curious as to what you're looking for when you come here.

Do you come looking/hoping for:

• book reviews
• curriculum suggestions
• homeschooling thoughts & experiences
• photos of our going-ons
• family updates
• nature studies
• food ideas & recipes
• my erratic menu
• Book Walks
• Baked with Love articles
• spiritual insights
• the liturgical year & Catholic living
• Cajun folklore/traditions/history
• Author Fiesta updates
• booklists
• Quotes
• News on my books
• writing info
• homemaking & mothering
• my not-always-weekly Daybook
• Others  
• All of the Above  :)

I'd really like to know what you enjoy when you take time out of your busy day to come here and visit.

Please comment in the comment section or, if you rather, email me personally at caygibson@bellsouth.net 

Thank you for visiting and sharing your thoughts and insight.

I Want...

...yeah, I know, my parents taught me to never say "I want..."

"I need" was (is) a different thing entirely.

But I really do want Mary Ellen's new blog banner. Isn't it cute?

Tales from the Bonny Blue House

Can I Cry on Your Shoulder

I just spent my lunch hour writing a truly soothing Home post about Shabby Chic.

And lost it all with one failed click into cyberspace.

Whaaaaaaaaa!!!! I want to have a good cry.

But there are lessons to finish and I must drop children at dance and Adoration hour.

There is no way I can entice my mental faculties enough to pound up another post in the time I have left. The post was pretty long. And now it's gone...gone...gone...

Another reason that writing on paper with a pen is better for recording our thoughts and dreams and plans.

Everyone is Invited!

What do our children think is more glorious and exciting than a birthday party?

Christmas. That's about it.

I love planning and throwing birthday parties for my own children. And I love good children authors and parties, so this idea really blew my party whistle: Semicolon Author Celebration

I've always thought it a delightful fancy to observe children authors' birthdays.  I'm just not consistent enough to remember to check the dates beforehand.  Lucky for me (and you) the job of party planner has been filled by blogger Semicolon who will be observing and celebrating children authors on their birthdays in a blogosphere-wide celebration!  How cool is that?

All friends of children authors are invited.

The first party is already popping balloons and drinking kool-aid toasts to Charlotte Zolotow.

You can read more about her Author Celebrations here and see the schedule for upcoming Author Celebrations (all scheduled on Thursdays). This way your children can really stay connected with the authors they visit and study at Author Fiesta while celebrating with a little cake and punch to make it sweeter. :)

Party Hat Tipper: Lissa

*****

I just wanted to include a picture of our own family cake and celebration last night for my wonderful husband's upcoming birthday:

Happy Birthday, honey! We love you!

I Hear Ya!

I can relate very well:  Stay-At-Home Mom??

The only difference between my writer friend Kimberly and I is that she actually IRONS clothes!!!

Permanent press, anyone?  :)

Emma's Tea

Oh, Emma!  Thanks for sharing your Tea at Somerset with us virtually. It all looks soooo good!

The girls and I want an invitation to your next tea party.

For anyone interested, my friend Emma used Alice Cantrell's delightful Tea and Cake Book for the feast of St. George.  And what a feast it was!

Edible Flowerpots

I can't believe I thought I didn't have anything to contribute to the Simply Lovely Flowerpots Fair over at Susan's.  I missed another fun fair again because of my forgetfulness!

Jessica's delightful little Flower Pot Cupcakes reminded me of a party craft/favor we made a couple of years ago at my daughter's birthday party.  It's a very simple, fun, yummy activity to do and perfect for parties. 

It'd also be perfect to make these in May during the month we honor Mary, our Blessed Mother.

First you set out your cute little flowerpot:

and put an Oreo cookie in the very bottom of it (to keep the pudding from ozzing out):

then give each child a container of chocolate pudding to add to the flowerpot:

Crumble some Oreo cookies and let the children sprinkle that on top of pudding, then add some colorful candy sprinkles on top (Jessica's idea of green tinted coconut for grass would work wonderfully too):

The finishing touch can be a simple colorful lollipop that the child inserts in the center of her flowerpot.  I found these flower pops  at Party City for only .39 cents a piece:

And there you have it. 

A beautiful little flowerpot of sweetness!

Loveliness Springs

Alright, so I missed the Loveliness of Laundry fair.

Loveliness of what? you ask.

Yes, I said "Laundry!"

Go here to see how Colleen and lots of other ladies did indeed turn it into something lovely:  Simply Lovely Laundry

But there are more lovely fairs coming up this lovely spring:  Splendor of Spring and I know one fair I won't miss out on: 

"Simply Lovely Picnics (May 28):  As the days lengthen and the air warms, let's spread our blankets and gather our families around them for the sweetest kind of simple nourishment, a picnic.  What's in your basket? Who's on your blanket, and where are you gathering? Darcee will be your hostess."

Mom and I just talked about picnics today while site-seeing the new family park in Lake Charles and then, upon arriving home, I found this invitation from our Little Flower's Girl's Club leader in my email box:

"Cay, I wanted to let you know that we are doing something a little different than the Little Flower tea this year.  We will have our mother daughter "tea" at M's house.  The girls will make themselves a little floral headpiece to wear during our crowning of Mary procession.  Then we will have an old fashion picnic.  M and I are both too exhausted to do anything more (they're both pregnant---one with twins :) ).  Each family will bring their own picnic and blanket to spread out. Everyone is bringing a dessert.  The girls will still dress up and take pictures. They may want to pack play clothes for afterwards.  Also if you want you can bring a baby item to be donated to the prolife people.  C will see about getting them to New Life Counseling. Hopefully the weather will be beautiful and the girls will have a great time.  God Bless!"

So stayed tuned, friends, for some lovely pictures of Little Flowers having a May picnic and please pray that we do indeed have beautiful weather...and that no one gets sick.  :)