LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL...

Mardi Gras, 

in French,

 means Fat Tuesday,

 reflecting the last night 

of eating rich and fatty foods 

before the start of Lent, 

as per Wikipedia.

At Gold Country Cottage, 

in plain English,

 and because I am writing this on Tuesday, 

it means bright colors 

that don't necessarily go together and 

feasting on fatty foods 

for the last four months and

 having not much of anything else 

to show for it.

I have never participated 

in Mardi Gras

 but I have seen pictures and 

they bring to mind 

bright colors and 

shiny objects of celebration. 

 I know 

the time of year for Mardi Gras 

is long gone, 

but the bright colors 

of the zinnias 

is what 

prompted this post.

 

 When days seem too dark,

 something bright and shiny 

is needed to relieve the burdens

 that feel too heavy 

for our shoulders 

to bear...

...so,

 "Laissez le bon Temps Rouler", 

Let the Good Times Roll. 

 "Oui, cher",

 and we are featuring

 some good times 

in the kitchen

 this week.

Because 

there is nothing new

 to feature around here, 

I'm trying to make things

 interesting and pretty, 

working with what I have on hand, 

so here's to making 

the best of what 

we have.

I ordered this

 slice of watermelon 

from Antique Farmhouse last year. 

 Watermelon is a 

quintessential sign  of summer and 

since summer is here in full spirit, 

I thought I should

 drag it out and 

put it on display.

Watermelon accessories

 abound on top of the kitchen table.

  It seems that everything 

is here except

 the real thing.

We did not get much

 of a choice of zinnias this season. 

 The plants were not the right size 

nor the right colors. 

 We got mostly orange,

 with very short stems, and

 all the long stems were hot pink.

  A combination of colors, 

which I really don't mind,

 especially when associated

 with Mardi Gras, 

but for this decor scheme,

 if I had my choice, 

I wouldn't have picked them.

  However,

 along with some garden greens tucked in,

 not a bad decoration.

The wreath 

that I brought home before shutting down 

is placed hanging on the blackboard.  

I love the look of a blackboard 

when it is used 

just as background for something else.

  Words of wisdom 

are always appropriate

 but sometimes it is just as nice

 to be seen

 and not heard.

The tiniest of white pitchers 

just to add an additional pop 

of the curious colors

 across the room.

When one 

already resides in a kitchen 

with a 

congregation or confusion 

of chickens,

 does adding one more 

really matter?

I had one little square canvas

 left over from painting 

all the Santa's, 

so I am taking the liberty 

of showing you my 

latest creation - my attempt

 at creating a masterpiece. 

 Now, believe it or not,

 this one was not traced, 

there was not one line of pencil work

 before I picked up the paintbrush. 

 This all started out

 in my head,

 came through my hand, and 

ended up on the canvas.

 I am quite pleased 

but, of course,

 not totally satisfied,

 but I don't think

 it is such a

 bad job.

I really want to thank 

all of you

 who read my post last week and 

left very thoughtful comments for me.

 

 I hope that you came back 

to read my answers, 

but if not,

 just know that I appreciate

 everything you said and 

take it all to heart.

 

 We all have our beliefs. 

There can be no one else's words 

that can change mine or yours. 

 Hopefully, 

it is all food for thought and 

the only way 

to really get our personal

 beliefs across 

is to 

vote.

Continue to be 

smart, 

safe

 and wear your masks.

...Judy...

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and

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