Merry Christmas to all of our blogging friends and readers!!!!!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas!!!!! We survived!!!!!!

Above, a picture of the Hotel De Ville on Ile de la Cite...Our Christmas card to you.

From Maryanne , Robespierre, Mick, Mattie, Murph, Maize and Mojito.

Joyeux Noel!

Some French Holiday Cheer and a request,

During this xmas season, and Beadboard being busy, Thank God, it's been some long hours and few days off for Robespierre and me. We are grateful our shop is busy and our "Carrot" at the end of the long and hectic holiday season has always been a trip to Paris for market in January. We are hanging tight this year and don't know yet if that will be possible.

So, I'm digging out some xmas pictures of Paris to share with all you wonderful readers and bloggers and to ask a favor. Especially you wonderful French bloggers! We would like to know if anyone knows of anyone who has an apartement available for lease in Paris in January...

We have lined up some tentative ones through an agency, but had a not so good experience last year, the tub didn't work in the bathroom, I had to do some cleaning upon arrival, a sink didn't work and the bedroom sprung a leak......Luckily ,we know how to enjoy ourselves and had a great time...........So, email us at the shop beadboardupcountry@sbcglobal.net if you have any ideas....The pictures here are Berthillion the wonderful Ice Cream shop of Ile St Louis, A little cafe on Ile St Louis that serves their Ice Cream(above) and the wonderful Moroccan Restaurant Mansouria, on Rue Faideherbe. ( Middle Shot) Thanks!

Country Homes for the Holidays in Chappell Hill

For two days each year the village of Chappell Hill, Texas opens up it's doors so that people can come through and see beautiful "country" homes. It is sponsored by the Chappel Hill Historical Society..

This year the homes on the "Country Homes of Chappell Hill Holiday Home Tour" did not disappoint. They are WOW, GO SEE THEM.

Seven properties are spotlighted this year from a quaint German Style home from the 1800's, to a ballroom on a ranch featuring gorgeous art and a catering kitchen.


First Up the Diamond 9 Ranch, A Tuscan style Villa with wonderful hosts that like to cook and entertain family and friends.

The spectacular outdoor kitchen all decked out with....






Nutcrackers! Of course! Also a great view.

Even in the cold this beautiful outdoor kitchen was warm and toasty.

Next was the Living Springs Ranch. One of the owners have a design background and she chose sophisticated copper colors mixed with white throughout the house. I love the backlighting behind the reindeer in the bookcases.

The copper tree with the cinnamon poinsettias were gorgeous.

My favorite the outdoor living area with the wrapped garlands.....Just beautiful...I also have to say the designer/ owner had an "over the top" chandelier that was a decorated xmas tree in the gold copper and white... I got a picture of it but it didn't show the detail....It was extroardinary.

This is the wall of the Knolle-Schroeder 1868 House. It's unique feature was the stenciling on the wood of the original two room house done in the 1800's.

How cute and cozy is this???????

I love the chamber pot under the bed.

There is always one home that takes xmas decorations very seriously... That would be the Kenjura's Sen Dom ("Dream Home"in Polish)

The kitchen is cozy and christmasy with little red cushions on the barchairs and great Gingerbread stencils on the refrigerator. Now THIS looks like a great place to hang out for the holidays.

This is entrance to the Halo House on Golden Heart Ranch. The Halo House is a Ballroom /Gallery on the on the beautiful property. I took this picture from the guest bedroom on the upper level and you can see the bedroom reflection here. The entrance features a copper angel in a fountain with marvelous limestone pavers. Note the stained glass windows...

The inside view of the entryway that was the first shot in this blog with the raised Carrera marble floor flanked by a knotty pine facade.

The central seating area in the ballroom. The fireplace had Chinese vases mixed with nutcrackers......

MY favorite room in this place the very functioning catering kitchen. Black and white tile flooring with Carrera marble countertops and delicious delacacies from our own

Brenham Old Town Bakery.

An overhead shot of the ballroom. with two of three chandeliers and

gigantic ornaments hanging from each one.

Who made all of this happen? The home Tour Diva, Dale Raimey with the help of Shannon Webb and the wonderful docents who volunteered to staff the homes. All proceeds go to the Historical Society of Chappell Hill. Dale Raimey also runs a great country boutique in Chappell Hill called The Bluebonnet House. The tour will continue Sunday Dec 13th from Noon to 5 Pm. Tickets available at the Rock Store, Main St Chappell Hill.

A Glimpse of a Beadboard Xmas

We try to make Christmas at Beadboard fun and magical for our

customers and friends who stop by the shop during the holiday season.

These are two of our favorites.... The very talented John Beland, guitarist who has played with many of the greats..(To many to name) and Pauline Wilbraham, a Brit expat who lives in a charming country house in nearby Chappell Hill.


A little blurry, sorry, but a pixie fairie in a black Juliska compote.
Her feet are wrapped like ballet shoes.



One of the shop's display tables featuring Tea Forte...




Another table with OUR signature sheep. We have sold these since we opened and they have graced may a holiday buffet table in these parts!

Our new VERY WHITE sofa....I found these red ball pillows that are made of felt roses.

Very Christmasy...

Our window with the fairies, glass fibre balls and Bloemboxes with Amaryllis.

I just love these little guys flying around.......We call the balls xmas "Bubbles".

Where did the snow come from??? Houston of course!!!!!

Happy Holidays!!!