OUR DEAR DEAR ELLIE…………..

September 3, 2016 170 Comments

Ellie's HEART

Today is AUGUST 30,2016 and I received a call this morning from a DEAR friend of HERs who is in the KNOW.

The plan was to WHEEL her to the BEACH on THURSDAY, so people could come and say GOOD-BYE.

David her husband had ARRIVED the NIGHT before from PARIS.

Seems that will NOT be happening now.

Ellie has HOSPICE ONBOARD.

It is a MATTER of DAYS………….

THE FABULOUS group of FRIENDS she has are flying in to say FAREWELL.

YOU know who they are SHE never did KEEP those FRIENDS a SECRET!

YOLANDA,DIANDRA DOUGLAS,The BROTHER of MICHAEL JACKSON……..RANDY.The man who drove HER in a RV to ARIZONA to get treatment way back in the BEGINNING.They are ALL FLOCKING there today and TOMORROW as the hearing is the LAST TO GO………..she may not be able to SPEAK but she CAN HEAR !!!

I hung up the PHONE and had a GOOD CRY.

Recently I have been DELETING all my OLD EMAILS as I have about 3,000.NO ONE EVER TOLD ME to DELETE as I went.For some reason I have kept MOST of HERS……..They were short and brief as YOU know if YOU FOLLOWED her BLOG HAVE SOME DECORUM she had to save her breath for GRACIE and DAVID.

I only met HER once BECAUSE I INVITED MYSELF TO HER HOME but we did SKYPE and had a few emails back and FOURTH………..

I thought I would SHARE a few of these personal emails as I know a FEW of YOU would ENJOY!

This is LONG and mayNOT make sense to those who DIDNOT FOLLOW her blog.

HAVE SOME DECORUM.

I just HAD to DO SOMETHING because in THE BLOG WORLD SHE WAS A FORCE……..

PROBABLY ONE of THE BEST BLOG’s in the B L O G – O – S P H E R E!!!

ELEANOR O’CONNELL DECRET passed on AUGUST 30, 2016 at 4:20 in the afternoon with FRIENDS and FAMILY at her side.Her COTTAGE was filled with FRIENDS and FOOD and DRINK as she would have wanted it TO BE.She came HOME for this DAY as PARIS had FAILED her in some way…………..I guess WE her READERS will NEVER get THE REAL STORY.

Which is FINE with ME.

Do you know the FIRST thing I thought about when I received the MESSAGE she had PASSED………….

She had died about the SAME time ( PARIS TIME) and same DAY as PRINCESS DIANA who passed on AUGUST 31, so many years ago.I still remember what I was doing when the NEWS came across the radio.For ELLIE I was pounding out this POST knowing the time was approaching………….I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT EITHER.

I DO BeLiEvE she had 35 THOUSAND people FOLLOWING HER!

Perhaps, you can UNDERSTAND WHY if you read some of our PRIVATE emails below.

On Oct 28, 2014, at 1:17 PM, Eleanor Oconnell <havesomedecorum@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi there hi there hi there! Love the story about your boys at the Louvre.
You are such a good mother. How is the painting coming along? What color did
you decide on?
My mother’s friend Kathy had the antique store, I think it was called a
Kathy Hansen Antiques/interiors, I can’t believe I forgot that the name. I
can’t even remember the street. It was near Harbor high school. I went to Harbor for one semester, I think in 1987 or 1980. Hated it and went back to Marymount in Los Angeles.I was definitely at South Coast Plaza in the 80s! Loved it loved it loved it. Remember that restaurant that was named 40 carrots or something like that.Yes, the redness has gone away thank God. Thank you for your concern. You are so nice. Tomorrow we are going to the Salon du chocolat! Going to go catch up on your blog. XOXOXO

FROM ME to ELLIE

OCTOBER 29,2014 8:15AM:

THE SALON DU CHOCOLAT!!!!!By now you have been and you have GORGED???

Hope you ate TWO for me…………I’m trying to stay off sugar!Not EASY!Do you know even my plain yogurt and baby carrots have sugar!!!!!!!!!!

I was long gone by then when you went to HIGH SCHOOL there……….I just met another woman last weekend at that PARTY I went too in LAGUNA……..who owned an ANTIQUE STORE down by LIDO then moved up off of NEWPORT BLVD……..she was called NOBILI ANTIQUES…….I would think she came on the scene after you had jumped up to SANTA BARBARA!

I barely remember 40 CAROTS…………I think it was downstairs by MAGNIN’s??SO FUNNY you mention that as another BLOGGER I met this weekend WORKED there during MY TIME at I MAGNIN’s in SCP!!!She was a waitress and met HER husband of 27 years there!!!I would not have had the time to eat lunch there during my break so thats why I hardly recall it.BUT IT IS A SMALL WORLD isn’t?I get such a THRILL OUT OF IT ALL!

Did you like my I DESCEND FROM ROYALTY blog POST…………….kind of fun to receive an email from a cousin you haven’t seen in YEARS only to find out she has been tracing our family on my DAD’s side for 20 years!!!!!!!!!!Did you know LADY GODIVA rode horseback NUDE through a village……….?I had no idea…….about her I must read up!She must HAVE BEEN PISSED ABOUT SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!OR NUTS!

Still painting!ANd thats where I need to go NOW!I decided on the FUSHIA after painting two beams……..I liked it immediately but sent photos to THREE DEAR friends……Not that I would listen to them but just to get a reaction and ALL THREE SAID YAY!!!!!!!What bothers me is the color does not flow then to the ORANGE living room ……..But thats okay.I would like to paint the living room YELLOW and do the kitchen ORANGE but that task is TOO BIG for me on my own!TOO Much stuff to move too!!!!!!BUT then it would flow better………..you see my SONS room opens on to the Livingroom……small ranch house I live in………NOT BIG NOT GORGEOUS……..BUT I love the reaction when people step inside!From the outside they have no IDEA what AWAITS……….I must send you some photos for your critique!! I have built this HOME on NO money……thrift shops and consignment shops and working in a lovely shop where they paid me in furniture!!THATS enough about ME for one day!

HAPPY HAPPY the redness has gone BYE BYE………..

FRENCH BASKETEER is talking about me coming to stay with her in BEAUNNE next JULY for a week or so and Hopefully HEATHER FROM ARLES can come up too!I have been following her since almost her beginning………I want to teach HER TO DRIVE!!!If that happens………I will no doubt fly in and out of PARIS…………I will ARRIVE with RANCH DRESSING In the BOTTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BIG HUG………XOXOXO

YOUR CONTESSA in CALIFORNIA!

OCTOBER 28,2014 7:30 AM

Hello!

I just have to tell you I was thinking about GRACIE wondering if you were every going to share a photo of HER just yesterday and TRA LA you did!Then when I came to PARIS with my BOYS and took them to the LOUVRE on A WEDNESDAY night cause they stay open later and less traffic………my destinations were the MONA and the VENUS DE MILO……..I too had the BEST MOTHER MOMENT when one SON trudge on looking for MONA and the older SON was lagging behind……..I turned to see where he was and his mouth was hanging open……and his head was looking up……and around……..HE WAS DUMBFOUNDED by all the BEAUTY!I had told him that the building had been a HOME………it sent chills up and down me and made me teary eyed!I HAD DONE SOMETHING RIGHT!
The other SON found the room with MONA……..He turns at the entry way and calls to me………”MOM< she is smaller then I thought!”I thought how funny as that is exactly my same thought I had at 18 when I saw her for the FIRST TIME!Another beautiful moment for me………………I just had to share that!
Now……..when did your MAMA have her ANTIQUE store……..I know my cousin would know her or your MAMA would know my cousin…………was this in the 80’s?Where did you live in NEWPORT?Did you go to HARBOR HIGH?
I worked at SOUTH COAST PLAZA at I MAGNINS and at SAKS………….about 1980 1981..1982……were you walking around there then?I don’t know why but I feel this need to know where you were!!!!!!!!
Save your breath………..dont answer me………….I LOVED your weekend…………..I adore your HUSBAND…..too!Dont tell him!ANother GREAT POST……..so many people have told me they are FOLLOWING YOU and LOVE YOU!
DID you get the REDNESS taken care of???DONT ANSWER ME!
BYE……..XOXOXO
ELIZABETH

NOVEMBER 11, 2014
I am a PRESBERTIERAN too…….I cannot spell that word and spell check is not getting me!I understand your MOTHER perfectly……………I am so touched by this book I plan to make every single recipe………..just maybe not ALL for TURKEY DAY cause we are just 4.THANK YOU for sharing…………and giving the “COMMONERS” a useful guide!My guess your MAMA grew up in the SOUTH?

SAVANNAH by chance?I do have one question……..on page 3 Ellie is THAT YOU or your MOTHER?It looks just like you the one holding the dog!!But that would make you much older then your siblings………is that your MAMA?You two are IDENTICAL!

In haste as The dentist wants to see me and my teeth…………….LOVE THE BOOK…………..LOOKING FORWARD to the CHRISTMAS book……………..Hoping we have found you a place to go for TURKEY DAY………..is that SALLY PERRIN AMERICAN??Maybe that will work!!!!!!!!!HUGS, to you and your MOM!

XOXO
Elizabeth

NOVEMBER 11, 2014

I’m laughing that you cannot spell Presbyterian even if you are one. Love
you.
I’m so glad you have the cookbook. So exciting. Yes, that is my
mother holding the dog. She is so pretty. Psycho, but pretty. David just
emailed the restaurant at Ralph Lauren to see about a reservation for
Thanksgiving. I think it would be perfect! I have a very exciting day
tomorrow. Stay tuned. XOXO X
I love how the boys room is looking. Did your husband take down the wood? I
kind of liked it! Going to go read your blog right now. XOXO

NOVEMBER 12, 2014

YEP< Thats me a HORRID speller and I get SO frustrated with SPELL CHECK when it DOES NOT GET WHAT I AM SAYING!!!!!!I shall study PRESBYTERIAN……….maybe I will LEARN!
Well, your MAMA looks just like YOU!
RALPHIES…….they only serve HAMBURGERS!!!!!Maybe they will cranck it up a NOTCH for TURKEY DAY?
I asked that SALLY PERRIN yesterday if she was an AMERICAN on INSTAGRAM……..I must go see if she answered me!!!Thinking THATS WHERE YOU NEED TO GO!YOur husband was HAPPY there chatting away………RIGHT!
I cannot IMAGINE How YOU spent your DAY TODAY!!!!
Today my first BORN turns 27……………..HOW did that happen!I’m making dinner and the cake!
My husband didNOT take the wood down because then he wanted to put up wires!Or baskets……….I said FORGET IT I like my wood I have already painted TWO COATS TOO and plus I can HANG stuff from it!His idea was it could open up the ROOM more……….which yes it could but I do not like HIS VISION!!Next up is that BATHROOM!I have got to change out the TWO Pedestal sinks to a piece of furniture with STORAGE and a sink slipped in………….HE wants it to remain as it was with two little BOYS…………………..the things WE go through……..is CUTE his thinking but he NEVER goes in there so I should have it HOW I WANT IT!
I have read the whole book at least twice…………..your cookbook!I love the mention of SWANSON’s chicken stock.LOVE those GREEN tureen bowls………………
LOVE to YOU MADAME ELLIE!
XOXO.

NOVEMBER 14.2014

Oh my God Elizabeth, those are so amazing! If I were to rob you, I would
take those first! They are exactly like Coco Chanel’s! The guide told me
that one of the blackamoors was there to greet you and the other one was
there to tell you goodbye. What else did your aunt give you? Do tell!
Happy birthday day to your son!
Good news. We got a reservation to Ralph Lauren for Thanksgiving. You won’t
believe who secured the reservation! I will fill you in the day after
Thanksgiving. Don’t want to jinx it.
What have you been up to? How’s the painting coming along? XOXO

NOVEMBER 14.2014

OMG ELLIE……I just know in my heart that the TWO BLACKAMOORS I have came
from the same MAKER as the one in COCO’s apartment!I JUST KNOW IT!
MY aunt who lived in MONTECITO had them for years…her daughter my cousin
gave them to me after I wrote a THANK YOU Note for the funeral luncheon and
commented on them!!!My cousin had them at the entrance to the CORAL CASINO
across from the BILTMORE.She had the trays holding an arrangement of
fruit!They were GORGEOUS!I remembered them from my childhood…..anyway I
just had to SHARE that with YOU!See what happens when one writes a THANK YOU
NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Let me try and find some photos…..
WHAT A DAY YOU HAD on MY BIRTHING DAY!!!!!!MY SON KRISTOPHER was born at
10:59 AM on NOV.12th!
XOXOXO
ME

From: Heather Robinson

Subject: Re: DID YOU SEE??

Date: November 14, 2014 at 2:52:02 PM PST

To: Elizabeth Kirkpatrick <iolacontessa@aol.com>

Just heading off to sleep and this made me so happy! Amazing…I hope that Mary made it happen!!!! I think I was too late by the looks of things but I was proud to try. Please keep me posted if you have more info…love to you and for Ellie too…

Below my back and fourth with HEATHER………..SHE wrote to the PR woman TODAY at RALPHS to get you a seat!!!I think she was too late with her request too but I can HARDLY STAND IT!!!YOu definitely HAD A TEAM working behind the scenes for this to happen!Another one of your commentors contacted ME!!!!We had a GREAT CHAT YESTERDAY!!!!!!!She will be pulling MORE STRINGS I HOPE!Lets not break THE SPELL by talking about it !!SO YOU KNOW ZERO ZIPPO from me……..UNDERSTAND!

I am so EXCITED about GRACE KELLY’s SISTER FOLLOWING YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!She has to be up there in years………….

I hope they cook a TURKEY at RALPHS…….he only serves HAMBURGERS from what I saw on the menu that are like 50 EURO a piece!!!!!Tell FRENCH HUSBAND to rob a bank first!

Off I go to see who else has left a comment on YOUR BLOG………….XOXOXO

NOVEMBER 15,2014

I definitely have to see pictures of the blackamoor planters! I don’t think it’s grace Kelly’s sister. She said her mother was Grace Kelly’s sister so that makes her grace Kelly’s niece. Right? I don’t know and I don’t care I’m just so happy to have someone from the family follow me! Going to have an exciting day tomorrow… Stay tuned! XOXOXO by the way, I get a lot of private emails from people who say that they love your comments and the way that you write down your blog. You are awesome.

November 15,2014

OH OH OH……..YOUR RIGHT of COURSE!!!WHY did I think it was HER sister………I read it only 5 times!!!

Whoever she is VERY EXCITING INDEED!

You are having another EXCITING DAY…………TODAY!!!I don;t know if WE your READERS can TAKE ALL THIS EXCITEMENT!!!

You asked about the BOYS ROOM……………I have finished PAINTING……..finally!TODAY we put beds back and chandeliers up and a mirror or two………………….then I will CONSULT with YOU as to what else needs to be done!

I hope I like it………at the moment I think I will LOVE IT!

Thank You for telling me you get emails about me……….I know they all think I’m a KOOCK…….(how do you spell that word?Spell check says this is right!)I write like I talk………I remember when I first started my Blog the GUY I Hired to do it for me basically told me I had to stop writing with so many CAPS and EXCLAMATION marks!!Because it was not correct……..I said, “WHY”, I like it and I am DONE with school…………and it makes for more interesting READ!!!!!

I doNOT get many comments from NEW PEOPLE……………….even my friends doNOT comment!!!I know some do not know HOW to click on the TITLE to go to the site and then comment………I realize that.But I also have explained the comments keep me going……………its a DIARY of sorts for me……..the emails will be gone FOREVER the comments stay.I get at LEAST one person who UNSUBSCRIBES from VINTAGE HEN HOUSE every time I write a POST!Which hurts………I think what have I done wrong……………but I need to let that go……………DON”T I!!!

Question: is DEBBIE OWENS your SISTER?

HUGS,

Elizabeth

PS> will take photo of PLANTER BLACKAMOORS when I take photos of BOYS ROOM……………….They are just Heads……..BUSTS really and they reside beside my bed on either side.

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

Oh my gosh I’m so glad you told me that because I get unsubscribed notices also. It totally hurts my feelings and I feel like emailing the people and saying, “what??? What didn’t you like?” But then I just call them all fat fucks and move on. You won’t believe this but Heather from Habitually Chic UNSUBSCRIBED last week! After she stayed in my apartment the entire summer! Debbie Owens is a really good friend of mine from St. Louis. We met in Paris at a café last year! She is hysterical and like a sister to me. She was just here in Paris a couple weeks ago. Love her. Can’t wait to see your new room!

YES< another THING WE SHARE in COMMON!!!!!!!!!UNSUBSCRIBERS!!!!!

(I HAVE DELETED MY RESPONSE HERE!)

NOVEMBER 28,2014

HELLO MADAME…………

I just have to let you know this was the VERY BEST I have ever DONE!YOur cookbook was a hit with me and MY FAMILY!I cooked for a day and a half…………….I started at 7:30 am………on Wednesday.I had fun…….I cleaned as I went……….I started with the DESSERTS first…….then worked my way back………the HOTDOG buns were BRILLIANT……….the stuffing I cannot eat as I’m GLUTEN FREE but just know I had a TASTE and by the looks of it I know it was a WINNER!

Here are some photos…………for YOUR viewing pleasure………..

I canNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH…………..

I have a houseguest here but will try and ring you later today or tomorrow!Tried just now and it did not go through………I do not think I have the country code in my cell phone………….I WILL FIGURE IT OUT!

XOXOXO

NOVEMBER 28,2014

I feel its too late to call you now!
10 Pm………your time……..will call tomorrow.
Any time better ??
XOXO
Elizabeth
Ps. Heather……wrote to me.Her email said…….GO NOW…RUN with tissues…………Ellie’s POST is UP!
We are ALL so HAPPY this took place……………..and OMG!!!!!!!Do you know the RIGHT people or what!And that comment from ANGELINA JOLIE………is that for REAL or are you just pulling OUR STRINGS??

November 29,2014

Not going through………so MADDENING TO ME!
In my cell phone I have this for YOUR number…….
Now I know to put a 011 in front.
So, what am I doing wrong……….I tried to drop the 0 before the six………I tried with the 0 before the six.
I TRIED CALLING AN OPERATOR and OMG NO real person will come on the line!!!

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
I ate the meal again last night…………….even MORE BETTER…….like my English!
XOXOO
Elizabeth

November 30,2014

Hi there hi there hi. So sorry I have been absent these past few days. I’ve been super sad and grumpy. Would love to talk to you this week. I will ask David how to dial. I will try to call you as well. Do you have face time on your iPhone? We can talk for free if you have it. Otherwise we can also Skype. XOXO

Hi there! We just got a huge delivery that I have to organize. Can we shoot for tomorrow? XOXO

YES!HOpefully, by then I will figure this SKYPE thing OUT!

THANK YOU!

Off for an oil change………..UGH!I would much rather spend my time doing other things!

XOXO

DECEMBER 1,2014

SKYPE

I do not see the S on my computer!
I think it got taken OFF for some reason months ago and never re-installed…………..I just tried to re-install……..it remained at 50% for 20 minutes…….I finally gave up!ME smelling a birthday candle came up……so I am still connected but I cannot call you……….I will ask GIAMPIERO tonight to help me!STUPID COMPUTER………thats my expression when I get FRUSTRATED!

LOveD Your comment on my BLOG today………..made me weep!I wish I lived closer too………I would definitely be on your doorstep DAILY!

(DELETED TOO LONG MY RESPONSE HERE!)

I see I just got an email from YOU………….off I go to read!

XOXO

DECEMBER 2,2014

I am hooked up……………..CALL ME only if you have time today!
I understand if you do not!WE have other days…………..to chat too!Its 8:10 am here……..i will be home until 10:30……
XOXO
CONTESSA Elizabeth

December 2,2014

I GOT The BOOKS I ordered…….all THREE!

IT LOOKS BEYOND WONDERFUL…………

I had to write now hoping to catch you before you go to SLEEP!You lived on LIDO ISLE………….OMG my AUNT lived at 618 VIA LIDO NORD………….my MOTHER lived in 601 the high rise brown building before you crossed the bridge to LIDO!My cousin now lives on SUD………..

I find this all so WONDERFUL………….

Now I received three other books……….that have your name on the order form…………I don’t think it’s your family……something about CHRISTMAS MEMORIES??It is hardback back…….BIG……I got three copies???Do you know anything about them??

THANK YOU……..I will read the entire book this eve.

HOW DOES THE TINSEL LOOK??????SEnd me a pic!

XOXO

DECEMBER 8,2014

ALL RADKO and ERIC CORTINA Ornaments……..collected over the last 30 years……..a few others that are too sentimental to leave OUT!Three Christmas tree TOPPERS…….the red angel my GRANDMOTHER sent me about age 7………the ERIC CROWN……..and a RADKO TOPPER!

I sent this photo so you can see the BLACKAMOUR beside the tree……………..my collection of crowds in the shelving behind.I hate my ceiling!Looks like a TAHOE CABIN…………………….husband did it.

HOW ARE YOU………………..you have NOT updated your comment section so both HEATHER and I are WORRIED.

Give us a sign you are OKAY……………

MUCH LOVE,

XOXOXO

This is the first time I have been on my computer in days. I’m super sick. My voice is really weak so I cannot talk very much. I think I will be better in a few days. Love you love you love you. Your tree is beautiful.

DECEMBER 11,2014

SUBJECT:CHICKEN POT PIE

THE BEST!
TOOK me back to my childhood……I had two helpings!
I use to love the frozen POT PIES!!!
Both Nicholas and GIAMPIERO gave me thumbs up………I was so happy!
I wrote you a Christmas card today explaining there was no temp given for the oven and my sauce came out like a RUE……..SPELLING??!!
Hope your feeling better………….just take a break until the first of the year!!!WE WILL ALL BE HERE!!!!!!
XOXOXO
Elizabeth

December 12, 2014

I’m back! Well sort of. I’m still sick but I’m okay to email today. Tell me
everything about you. I’m going to make the fudge this weekend. I’m not sure
why yours did not set. I will ask my mother. I’m going to stay in all
weekend to make sure I get better. Miss you.

(Omitted my long response here!….Contessa)

Oh my God what’s on your back! Go to another doctor! I’m so curious. Don’t
worry, you don’t have a heart condition, it’s probably just panic attacks. I
am the queen of panic attacks so I know. I have had them since Gracie was
three years old, they stopped for a little while, now they started again,
and this is the first time I’ve ever taken medication. Guess what? The
medication works. I take it twice a day now. I couldn’t get through the day
if I didn’t. I can’t believe I just said that. I’m a total junkie. Actually
I can’t be because my doctor said they are not addictive. Oh well. I guess
I’m not a junkie. I am so glad I’m feeling better. I really didn’t think I
was going to make it through last week. I thought my number was up. Going to
go read your blog today. I will subscribe as well. Because I love you and
because your blog is fantastic. I had a great visit with my friend this
afternoon. We spent two hours talking about food. Tomorrow I have a very
special friend coming over. We have been friends since I was 20 years old.
He is a Swedish Count! He is like a brother to me. I have not seen him since
2011. The last time I saw had we were at a Janet Jackson concert together
with Janet Jackson’s brother. I had ALS but I did not know it yet. I was
having trouble walking and Mr. Swedish Count held my arm to steady me. I
have actually kind of nervous to see him tomorrow because I know he will be
so sad at seeing me this way because the last time I saw him I was walking
and breathing. I will let you know how it goes. I will write more tomorrow.
David is making me go to bed. Bossy pants. Love you.

GOOD of BOSSY PANTS………..YOU need your sleep!
THE COUNT was in the first book……..NON???I remember seeing a photo of him maybe on your BLOG!MY memory……..isNOT what it use to be!
You will have a wonderful visit……….yes, at first he might be struck with the reality of it all BUT IT WILL BE VERY SPECIAL visit!I know it will.

I have made your sisters coffee cake!It looks FAB!!!!!!!!I took a photo before and AFTER………will give GIAMPY a piece tonight to make certain I cooked it long enough and I can serve tomorrow night!I KNOW I KNOW its a coffee cake…….But they will not know that…..I will say its a recipe “I picked up in the FIRST in PARIS!!!!”

DECEMBER 14, 2014

WAS A HIT!

I made it yesterday……..went to BEVMO to buy the CASIS………..$31.00 for a bottle!!!I need ONE TABLESPOON.Good thing I did not send GIAMPIERO!!I of course bought it and the GAL says to me…..it’s good to drink too!I look at the bottle and see its from FRANCE and say OF COURSE IT IS!Am certain I will ADORE IT!Well, let me tell you the OOOOOHHHSS and AAAWWW”S…….I got from the group of people I had last night it was DEFINATELY worth the $$$$$$$$.

I even had a piece……..which I shouldNOT but I did and when all the people left I had another piece!!!!GLUTEN FREE GIRL HERE………

I also served SISTER’s HEATHER’s COFFEE CAKE…………….DELICIOUS!MY GIAMPY, LOVED BOTH!

I can hardly wait………………THE COUNT and his VISIT!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE CONTEST……………

I hope your on the mend!!!!!DONOT GO OUTSIDE!ITS TOO COLD………………..

I have my cat THEODORE or THERMADOR as my GIAMPY calls him on my lap as I type away…………….

Finishing my wrapping today.Perhaps, curling up to finsih my book on SISSINGHURST………I am infatuated with that PLACE!Will take a HOT CHOCOLATE come afternoon and think of YOU!

XOXO

ELIZABETH

DECEMBER 13,2014

YOU went OUTSIDE!

I saw the photo of the PALAIS ROYAL on Instagram………I know your tired of being INDOORS……But that cold air over there is NOTHING what our CALIFORNIA bodies are use too!

BAD YOU!I am scolding YOU cause I am WORRIED…………

How WONDERFUL DEBBIE came and just laughed and sat with YOU!She is a GEM……………

I am sure DAVID is being a SPAZ.My GIAMPIERO would be too………………

Heart Monitor is OFF………3 days early cause I couldn’t STAND it anymore………….try wiping yourself with WIRES hanging down there!The pads gave me a RASH.itchy and pimples………..RED RED RED……….I said NO More.PLus, I haveNOT had another “FEELING” like I did that day.I suppose I will hear back in a few days from my doctors……….if NOT I will RING THEM!SO, I can sound INTELLIGENT!!!

Now……these friends that are visiting……………….I want YOU TO limit YOURSELF.I know how fun it will be for you to see them but DON”T OVER DO!!!!!Perhaps, they can finish up your shopping or bake a few things…………water the TREE!!!!!You know be helpful…………..prepare a dinner…….or two!

Don’t feel bad about the CAREGIVER………….I am dealing with one of those with my MOTHER!

I bought a pair of candelabra’s yesterday…….FRENCH I do believe………I put on Instagram last night!MY code name there is ANTIQUE GODDESS!I had seen them for awhile…….and then it hit me!I can have them on the table and you can see the other person across………….as the candles are high high up!IT’s the same metal as the chandelier hanging above.Of course, GIAMPIERO does not EVEN NOTICE Them last night at dinner!He looks right at them being at the end of the table!I did not light them as I need more candles……………what do you call the dishes that catch the drips?BOBCHE???SOmething like that………..these candle I have say they are dripless……..we shall see!I like the drip look but on these the metal is delicate in some spots and feel I would break eventually!TODAY< I’m off to pick up an ANTELOPE HEAD for the BOYS ROOM!!!!!!!!!!TO TRY……I think it will be perfect!I can take and try for 24 hours without paying………..you know about that I would imagine………I got her down to $295.00!!!GO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOw, I must GET going………I will check all day for a blog from YOU.

BE STILL.

HAVE PATIENCE with your HUBBY………..

Try to get better…….THATS AN ORDER!

LOVE, ELIZABETH

XOXOO

DECEMBER 16,2014

Love this tree! I just read your blog about what you would give your husband. So funny. I am sure David would like it if I just stopped talking all the time. Elizabeth, thank you so much for sending my book to Heather. I’d totally dropped the ball on that because I was sick. I still am sick. I haven’t felt this bad since I got food poisoning when Gracie was in the third grade. I can’t do my blog, I can barely respond to emails, zero energy and to tell you the truth, a little depressed and very anxious. I had to fire a caregiver yesterday on the grounds of stupidity. My other two caregivers are here so I feel a little better. David is being a spaz because he so nervous about me. My friend Debbie had to leave today back to St. Louis. The good news is that we laughed for an entire week… Through all of my sickness.Glad that that thing on your shoulder isn’t bothering you so much. Maybe you should get a second opinion. If it is a tick, very dangerous. When do you find out the results of your heart monitor? I will say a prayer for you. I have two friends arriving tomorrow from New York for a week. Going to try to do a blog today. XOXO X

DECEMBER 16,2014

I promise I did not go outside. David took the picture for me at the Palais Royale. He wanted me to see the Christmas decorations. Don’t worry, my friends who are coming are very conscientious of my condition. My friend Tom is a therapist and like a father to me. My other friend is coming is almost 50 years old with her own children and has chronic fatigue so she knows full well what kind of rest that I need. I haven’t left my house for two weeks. Don’t even think I go out this week. I am interested to hear what your doctor says. Bravo on the candelabras. Unless your husband is gay, he would never notice new candelabras. So all is good. Good luck with the taxidermy. Keep me updated… XOXO

DECEMBER 23,2014

We are doing eggs Benedict as well. Did I already tell you that. David
went to the Bon Marche Grand Epicerie and bought delicious French Ham and
some delicious hollandaise sauce, juicy tomatoes, organic eggs, English
muffins from England!, And I will add shallots and chives! So excited. We
also bought truffle brie cheese, truffle sausages, foie gras, quince
paste, other cheeses and champagne to snack on. Totally fat city. I’ll
probably have a heart attack by Monday. I made three batches of the fudge,
cut them up into little squares and wrapped them into pretty boxes with a
pretty bow and gave it to all of my nurses and all of the restaurants that
let me have taken out which usually isn’t allowed in Paris. The fudge was
perfect. We hired another new caregiver today. He’s really great.
Supersmart. He is coming with us to David’s mother’s house for a week!
I decided the best word for you is “magical.” You are like out of a
fairytale. There are not a lot of people like you in the world and I am so
grateful for you. XOXO X

DECEMBER 28,2014
I would LOVE to know what English major is sitting in the AMAZON office NOT POSTING MY REVIEW!!!
SEE my review below…………
DRIVES ME CRAZY…….I write like I talk and thats what I wanted to say!Will try again………tomorrow.Maybe coffee in hand is better than wine!
XOXO
E

This review is from: A Very Chic Christmas (Paperback)
A SMASH…………after buying her THANKS- GIVING book I had to BUY this one too!Well, let me just say it was worth the $$$$.Everything I have made in this book from eggs to Pork Loin Crown roasts and Spice cake desserts my family has RAVED ABOUT!I the COOK have been SO pleased……………..this book will become a TRADITION in MY FAMILY……..as well as the THANKS GIVING recipe BOOK.Don’t hesitate……………click that button and order now!

DECEMBER 30,2014
Elizabeth! I just got an email telling me that you donated $500! All I could
say was, “what!” I told David and he just couldn’t believe it. Where did you
come from? Thank you thank you thank you. However I need to say that you
shouldn’t have. I don’t expect any donations from anyone let alone a friend
but I thank you very much. Like I said, you are magical. Your heart is so
big. I feel really honored to be your friend. But here’s the thing, you
always go above and beyond for everyone and I’m starting to think you just
might be an angel in disguise. Truly truly truly. Thank you so much from the
bottom of my heart for everything that you give to my life. Wish you lived
in Paris. Can I please have your address so I can send you a formal thank
you. Love you love you love you.

OMG, we just watched a two hour special on all of the hotel particuliers (private mansions) in Paris. It was so amazing I didn’t even want to blink my eyes! It was absolutely incredible. They said that the best hotel particuliers are on Ile St. Louis. You would have loved it. Have you ever seen the book The Finest Houses of Paris. I call it the Bible. You should definitely check it out.

Only one more day here! I’m so sad that my friend is at my apartment in Paris but she has to leave tomorrow so I will miss her completely! Gracie got to see her twice! I am so jealous. She said she will try to return in two weeks though. We are going to go look at two apartments next week. I will send you pictures. I have to make sure the elevator works first for my wheelchair! What did you do for New Year’s? Mine was the most boring new year I’ve ever had in my entire 44 years of life. XOXO

JANUARY 4,2015
Okay let’s start with your husband… Happy birthday to that total babe. Your Pavlova looks absolutely phenomenal. I am so so proud of you and I am so impressed. I love a girl who can cook. Everything else sounds delicious as well. I wish we were neighbors and I could just come over.
We are back in Paris thank God! My friend left beautiful beautiful roses for me. Super colorful happy roses. Why do flowers make me so happy? I can’t stop looking at them.
Prozac sounds a little harsh! You’re not crazy for God sake! The name of the crazy pill that I take for panic attacks is called…Atarax. I call it anthrax. I only take 25 mg and it does the trick. Do you want me to send you a box of them? Or is that not legal? Maybe you can get the equivalent. I don’t think you should take Prozac.
My little kitty cat was so happy that I was home. She slept with us all night. She totally snuggled us.
What are your upcoming plans? I’m going to finish my book I decided. XOXO

JANUARY 15,2015
So glad you liked the pot roast. It’s really good as a sandwich the next day
on white bread with mayonnaise and plenty of salt-and-pepper. You are such a
good mom to make it for your boys. My friend Jenny arrives next week, well,
actually in four days. She has been instructed to bring Fritos so we can
make chili with your chili seasoning packets!
I do not have what’s app but I will get it tonight
yes you would have loved to have had a daughter. I don’t know what it’s like
to have boys, obviously, but I just love love love having a little girl.
Yes my mother emails me all the time, I just do not respond.
I wrote a little thing about you today in my blog. I hope everyone pops over
to see your blog and I hope they adore you like I do. XOXO
I am working on my book, eating really healthy, juicing every day and
getting plenty of rest. I never want to be sick again like last month. I did
go out on Sunday with David. We went to sushi. Then I came right back home.
I am going to go out when Jenny gets here to the Picasso Museum. That should
be fun. XOXO

JANUARY16,2015

Okay, our favorite restaurant is called Josephine Chez Dumonet. Here is the
link:
https://plus.google.com/116357455183936230241/about?gl=fr&hl=en
it is in the sixth arrondissement and one of our favorite restaurants in all
of Paris.
There is another amazing Thai restaurant called Thiou in the seventh
arrondissement.
These are my choices. XOXO Ellie

FEBRUARY 20,2014

Dear Ms. Kirkpatrick,

You SWEET SWEET THING.

THANK YOU from the BOTTOM of my HEART for responding to my query and for doing this LOVELY GESTURE for that DARLING girl.  YOU, my dear unknown friend,  are ALLLLLLL HEART.

havesomedecorum, or rather, THAT DARLING GIRL at havesomedecorum, has become THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE in recent months, and although I have never written a single response to her REMARKABLE variety of HIGHLY USEFUL, HIGHLY VALUABLE, HIGHLY HILARIOUS posts, which, speaking of heart, ARE ALL HEART, I am grateful to you for giving ME and Ms. O’Connell’s other admirers, this GOLDEN opportunity to send her a HINT of how we feel about her.

Now I will stop trying to emulate you with the all caps, because I cannot DO it like YOU do it.  I will just add one last sincere THANK YOU.

However, I cannot, AND WILL NOT, end without thanking you for getting my slothful self to STAND AT ATTENTION while scrolling ecstatically through the many personal photographs of your STUPENDOUSLY and DELIRIOUSLY DELIGHTFUL HOME.  I could have fainted.

Ellie’s birthday card is coming.

Sincerely yours,

Mary Giles
Charleston, So. Carolina

I LOVED THIS!
THOUGHT IT TOO would put a SMILE on YOUR face!
I have a BIRTHDAY SURPRISE WE need to discus!!!
DO you have plans the week of YOUR BIRTHDAY?I need about two hours OF YOU……….and a day that wouldn’t be too BUSY!!!IN MARCH!!!!!!!!
XOXO

MARCH 11,2015
I sent one earlier today but I did not get your notice your too busy so I think it did not go through!
I mailed your BOX TODAY……….be on the look out!
ALso, is your name on the outside of the BIG doors………….for the surprise guest to ring??Or do we need a code like you gave me before.
First gift arriving in ONE WEEK
BOX is second gift and do not open before MARCH 23rd!!!!!!!!!
OKAY?
XOXO

MARCH 12,2015
So excited for the box! Thank you so much for organizing all of that. Thank
you! No I have not moved. Same address. The door code is 4578A. After you
get through the big green door, there is a buzzer to push “Decret.” Take the
elevator to the third floor.
I am so excited that you got a little piggy. You could just pretend that
it’s a girl. My cousin used to have a huge pig that she loved like a child.
Her name was Basil.
So fun for you to have lunch with a new friend.
I have a very special person coming over today. I will let you know who.
Surprise! XOXOXO

MARCH 17,2015
MY goodness what a week you have HAD!!!!!!!
I hope YOU enjoy my surprise………THIS THURSDAY between 4 and 4;30. TEA FOR TWO…………I hope that still works for YOU!Box should be there any day now…………
XOXO
That is the cutest picture with your dog and the little piggy! That view was amazing also!
So excited for the surprise. Yes Thursday between four and 4:30 PM. Tea for two. I don’t even know what the surprises but I’m so excited. Thank you. So sweet of you. XOXO

MARCH 22,2015
I want to be one of the FIRST to send good wishes for a GLORIOUS DAY!
YOU better be sound asleep now as it is still 5:30 pm here on the 22…….
TO GOOD FOOD< WONDERFUL FRIENDS and A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!
AND ABOUT MY BOX!DO tell me it arrived TODAY?????
I have another large envelope of cards from PENELOPE to mail to YOU………….she did more then one card!!!
HAPPY DAY………..
BIRTHDAY WISHES………..off to make a lemon drop and toast to YOU!
XOXOX
E

THIS IS THE MESSAGE ONE WOULD RECEIVE IF THEY SENT AN EMAIL:

Thank you so much for your email. Due to the massive amounts of fan mail that I receive, I will not be able to respond to every email. Just kidding. I cannot respond to everyone because I have ALS and I am limited to what I can do per day. I will try to respond to every email as my health permits. Don’t take it personally if I don’t respond to your email, it’s because I can’t breathe very well. However, I would like for you to know that I read every email and I thank each and every one of you for all of your kind thoughts, words and advice. Keep the emails coming… Reading them puts a smile on my face.

I THINK WE HER READERS ACCOMPLISHED THAT SMILE DAILY!

I would like to THANK

ADRIENNE CARRERE

for HER LOVELY PHOTOS and UPDATES on our BELOVED ELLIE.

THERE WAS A SERVICE or GATHERING of FRIENDS and FAMILY on the BEACH on THURSDAY NIGHT in HONOR of OUR GORGEOUS ELLIE.

HERE is a PHOTO of HER FRIENDS and FAMILY.

GORGEOUS………NON?

WE LOVED YOU ELEANOR

XOXO

170 Comments

Leave your reply.

contessa
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 2:19 PM

VIA EMAIL:

So sorry for your friend Ellie’s passing. I looked her up, her blog, and books. Quite a wonderful creative spirit….and gone WAY TOO SOON.

Someday I would love to browse thru her 2 books on Christmas and Thanksgiving if you don’t mind sharing.

Hope you are well. Life is one to celebrate in every day! Just being alive and well is enough to put a smile on your face at dawn, right?

Ciao,

Lady Di
Allison
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 2:11 PM

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you – not only for sharing cherished memories but for providing Ellie’s “imaginary friends” with a place to mourn together. Ellie shared her life with such openness and courage. She put it all out there. Raw, brutal, inspiring, brave. What a force and what a loss. My prayers are with Ellie’s family and closest friends.

Selfishly, after her passing, I found myself looking for some closure. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed reading your comments (along with Stephen’s, Penelope’s, Heather’s and quite a few others) and reading your blog. From rallying support to taking on the haters, you are magical – a truly generous, thoughtful and kind being. So I just knew you would put aside your own grieving and share your heart with the 99%. (Everyone needs to buy Ellie’s books.) And you did. Thank you again. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.

Love, Allison
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 2:37 PM
  
  I BOUGHT ONE THANKS~ GIVING or maybe TWO and THREE CHRISTMAS and of course the FINAL BOOK THE TELL ALL………..in HARDBACK!I think I WAS the LAST PERSON TO READ IT!!!!!!! I felt I would NEED the BOOK once she left us and wanted to be able to GO INTO MY GARDEN and READ and GRIEVE……………
  WELL,she seemed to RALLY THERE Before leaving PARIS and I thought HECK I better READ THIS BOOK as I may GO FIRST!!!SO, it took me TWO DAYS and left me thinking WHAT A LIFE SHE HAD!THAT ROBBERY WAS SOMETHING!!!!!!!
  When I met HER in PARIS in September of 2014 she had LOST most of THE BOOK on the computer!!!!!!!!!
  SO, she had to START from SCRATCH!!!!!!!CAN YOU IMAGINE…………..
  I was afraid she mayNOT finish it, BUT SHE DID.
  I thought THE BOOK was SO WELL DONE the pages the binding everything!
  I have ONE CHRISTMAS book left to give as a GIFT……….
  Perhaps, I need to send to one of HER FANS………….
  GO TO HER SITE HAVE SOME DECORUM if YOU are interested in purchasing perhaps there are some still left!YOU ALL SAW MY REVIEW for AMAZON who didNOT PUBLISH THAT REVIEW…………I think I need to go check that out!I think I had to re-write withOUT my CAPS and !!!! I ADORE THE BOOKS……..and with FALL in the AIR it is TIME to start cooking from the ELEANOR O’CONNELL DECRET cookbooks!!!!!!!!
  Remember that some of those DOLLARS goes to ALS research………….
  She would be so PROUD if some of her money from HER COOKBOOKS helped find a CURE!
  ALLISON,
  I bet YOU already own them!I realize I should have included that link after the FACT!
  Off to get the THANKS GIVING one out and READ…………many things to make BEFORE the BIG TURKEY DAY!!
  XX
contessa
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 1:49 PM

VIA EMAIL:

Thank you so much for this posting. I felt it was close but it is too soon….I am glad she was
back “home” and the beach gathering sounds perfect to me. Thank you for letting us know.
Olwyn
joanne
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 1:32 PM

My dear Elizabeth,
What a lovely post and tribute. It was wonderful of you to share some of your personal conversations with Ellie.
(I read about her passing on Stephen’s blog Thursday night and was able to comment before we lost power early Friday morning, with no electric for 14+ hours, only to discover no internet or landline. Only restored at 11am this morning. I almost missed the interwebs more than A/C – not really, it was 95 degrees inside my house!)
I revisited her last post and realized I was the last one to comment. A very strange feeling – I wondered if she had read it, as insignificant as my words were. It is amazing and heartbreaking to realize what an impact that lovely and talented woman had on so many of us.
May she now be soaring through the firmament, laughing and twirling her sweet ass off!
xoxo
Joanne
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 2:09 PM
  
  JOANNE,
  I would imagine she SAW YOUR COMMENT as if it became POSTED she would have PUBLISHED them.I have a feeling there are A LOT MORE that did not get PUBLISHED.That might NEVER be SEEN……………
  I DO BELIEVE SHE IS SOARING……..TOO!!
  THANK YOU!
  XX
Karen Persson
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 1:18 PM

So sad, so very sad… I just recently saw her Instagram account when you announced her death on Instagram. I had never of her before but I can understand how she was so well loved. My heart reaches out to you, her family and friends. So sweet that you corresponded with her and also met her.

We must cherish every moment in our lives.

xoxoxo
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 2:05 PM
  
  From the LOOKS of it YOU DO!!!!!!!GREAT video today on INSTAGRAM!!!
  
  SHE WAS A FORCE………and TOLD IT LIKE IT WAS!
  
  SO MANY of US will be TWIRLING, thinking would ELLIE like this……..should I PAINT it LACQUERED BLACK?
  WE MUST CHERISH the FRIENDS and FAMILY……….YOU ARE SO RIGHT!
  XX
- Karen Persson
  · Reply
  
  September 8, 2016 at 12:59 PM
  
  Thank you for the compliment! Yes, we must keep inspiring the world and cherishing our family and friends!
  
  We never must stop! xoxo
Loree
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 12:50 PM

Dear Elizabeth. that was beautiful. I still cannot believe that Ellie is gone. I followed her on Instagram but was too much of a chicken to read her blog regularly. She was so brave and such a fighter. She made me feel so worthless when I was worrying and fretting about stupid things. I feel like she made me feel very humble. She went through so much but now she is free of all the pain and dancing with the angels.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 2:02 PM
  
  DEALING with GOD and HIS DECOR!!!!!!!
  I am CERTAIN she is keeping BUSY!!
  GO back and READ when you have a day or TWO…………
  SHE was a GREAT writer just LIKE YOU!
  XX
contessa
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 12:14 PM

VIA EMAIL: Sorry for your loss. She sounds like she was a beautiful person.
Ms. Mary
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 12:09 PM

A beautiful tribute- thanks for sharing her words with us.
Sending YOU love and {{hugs}}.
<3
DaniBP
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 11:41 AM

I was hoping you would write a post about Ellie. How generous you are to share your emails, which were wonderful! Sending love to you during these difficult days. XOX
Stella
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 11:02 AM

Such a wonderful tribute to Ellie. Am going to reread her blog from the beginning. So glad we met. So glad we are friends.Cheers, Stella.
Catherine Farrington
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 9:02 AM

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for sharing! My heart is absolutely broken, but Ellie is no longer suffering which gives me comfort. Of course she would pick the same day as Princess Di, that’s so Ellie. So wonderful all her friends and family were there to give her the send off she was due. Will miss her, but she will not be forgotten. Love you Ellie!
t
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 8:41 AM

What a dear friend….you are a gem!
contessa
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 7:49 AM

VIA EMAIL:

What a beautiful post….thank you for taking the time to cut/paste your emails to/fro you and Ellie. Ellie was such a a delight and it makes me so happy to see how much you were able to chat and help her have high spirits.

Keep up the good work Lady Contessa….

Teresa
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:24 AM
  
  THANK YOU!
  I think we may have a few problems with the CUT and PASTE at the end it goes into one WORD per LINE?I had that FIXED but hear if you view on your PHONE it still does THAT!SO SORRY, do not know what TO DO ABOUT IT!!!
  I SHALL TRY……….XX
contessa
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 7:45 AM

VIA EMAIL:

I feel your pain – what a wonderful lady she was and will always be in your heart. God Bless – Betty from Ontario,Canada.
Carol
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 4:53 AM

Dearest Contessa,

What a surprise and yet, not a surprise. I have been checking her Instagram post every day to see if there was a new post. Silly me! Only when I read some of the most recent comments, did I realize that something had happened. Thank you for providing some of the details.

Sad, and yet relieved. Although Ellie’s life was short (about 46 years) she definitely lived it to the fullest! You, Contessa, are about the only other person I know who lives with such gusto, and joie de vivre.

I hope others who are holding their breath out of fear or self doubt will take Ellie’s life as an inspiration and go for it!

Group hug – Carol
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:21 AM
  
  GROUP HUG!!!!
  LOVE THAT IDEA………..
  HERE WE ALL ARE………ON THE COUNT of THREE GROUP HUG and a TWIRL!!!!!!!!!
  XX
Anne
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 4:44 AM

“There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning …”

Thornton Wilder

Prayers for Ellie
Greetings to all of you from Germany
Anita Rivera
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 3:47 AM

Dearest Contessa! I am late; I have not had Internet access for a few days and school started on Monday, so my schedule has been WILD!

I never knew Ellie, but I know what you mean about being touched by a few great friends in the blog world. I have been blessed to know, have met and have spoken to many of them. I don’t know what I’d do if a few of them with whom I correspond daily would leave me……but special people have a way of embedding their lives into ours, FOREVER. I am so sorry to hear you have lost your friend, a woman who definitely had decorum. To live with such a challenge and still think of others in such a graceful way, that is unforgettable. PEACE, LOVE and GRACE to all of you who KNOW HER. She still lives in your minds and hearts!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:18 AM
  
  I have a FEELING she will STAY with US for a VERY LONG LONG TIME…………..
  
  SHE WAS ONE OF A KIND.
  
  AS YOU ARE IN YOUR WAY SHE WAS A FORCE.
  
  XX
Maria Anagnostopoulou
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 3:21 AM

Thank you Contessa…
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:16 AM
  
  WELCOME MARIA………………XX
Debbie Owens
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 2:32 AM

Hi Sweet Elizabeth,

Facebook links can be tricky. The link may have worked for you because we are friends on FB. I am going to email you the pictures from the slideshow. I rarely comment on blogs as somehow I mess it up… anyway…I am not sure if you have the ability to drop them into the comment section of this lovely tribute to Ellie. If any of your readers are on Instagram I have the link posted on my profile. I am at “shegone” That might be easier??!! If you aren’t able to drop the photos into the blog your readers are more than welcome to email me and I will send them out. debbiepowens@gmail.com *stalkers pretend you didn’t see that* The pictures were taken over the past 3 years. They are of Ellie, her husband (David), Gracie (her daughter), and Kelsey (my daughter), my parents, and myself. A zillion thank you’s for paying tribute to that sassy spunky blond we love so very much. Her sister is going to post soon. I will email it to you when she does.

xoxoxo
Deb

Thank you again for this lovely tribute to Ellie. It comforts me hearing how many lives she touched. She truly was one of a kind. My mind still can’t grasp that she is really gone.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:15 AM
  
  PERFECT DEBBIE!!!!!!!!!
  THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
  XOXO
Taste of France
· Reply

September 4, 2016 at 2:14 AM

I just picked out a reply and “connection was dropped.” So I will try to replicate.
Thank you for this exchange. I, too, was having Ellie withdrawal. You know, correspondence is one of the pillars of great literature.
Ellie was/is such an inspiration. I would be feeling down, then I would get a Have Some Decorum update and see Ellie relishing life, appreciating things large and small, getting out and making the most. And on top of it she had ALS. She was a slap upside the head to me that my problems were mere annoyances compared to hers. I would try to be more like her, savoring what’s right and good.
It is thanks to Ellie and Heather that I found you. And thanks to Heather that I found Ellie. A virtuous circle? It is so wonderful that you and Heather transcended the masses of us mere admirers and became her friends in real life.
When I first read Ellie’s blog, I went back to the beginning to see what I’d missed. I did that again recently. She is such a good writer that even though I was reading material for the second or third time, I was gripped enough that I stayed up way too late to keep on reading.
I will miss her, but she will continue to inspire me. We all should have an Ellie day from time to time where we make the effort to appreciate the good things in life.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:13 AM
  
  WELL,
  THANK YOU for FINDING ME……….as I so ENJOY your comments!SORRY you had to re~write your comment that is SO MADDENING!!
  I did the SAME thing!
  TOOK me TWO DAYS to READ from the BEGINNING of HER BLOG to the END and that was AWHILE AGO!!!!!!!I AGREE SHE WAS A GREAT WRITER……………I hope they KEEP the BLOG UP so WE her FANS can VISIT periodically!
  IT would be a GOOD place TO go when ONE is feeling a WEE bit LOW…………..
  HUGS TO YOU,
  XX
Penelope Bianchi
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 11:13 PM

Contessa…….just an idea……this is an amazing group of people…..we like sticking together……we found each other here!

You are such a leader….and such a great blogger……I have an idea…..what if you combined…..Here is my idea….

“La Contessa invites you to follow… a “have some decorum” inspired blog”

Repeat some or all of her posts… mixed with yours…….(takes the heat off)…….(where to buy the best blue and white china in Alhambra)
I already know I want to reread all of her posts……they are hard to find…..make sure they are not erased!
So many people came on late….we need time to read every post….and they are every bit as important today as they were 4 years ago! Every single post!
Her book is so so great…..it is just different. It tells a different view of the story!

Her blog is a journal…..and responds to so many others…..to me; the beauty of it is how she responds and makes close friends with so many people all over the world through her blog.

I think this needs to be continued…..and not without guidance. No one is just going to start reading her blog now that she is gone.
You are the girl for the task.. It will be really easy…..(says I ; who am not doing it! ) Honestly….ask permission….and just do a quick intro…explain what you are doing….and start from the beginning…..All her followers…I would bet, will subscribe…..(I missed a year, at least) and I will love reading every single post again. This cannot die……along with Ellie…..it must live on!!!
Contessa……I appoint you!
I love you!

Penelope
ps I am thinking the family will have no problem with this. Of course; I have no idea of any of it! I met Ellie’s mother once at her house at the sale when the fabulous store…..”Circa” closed.

Fingers crossed you will do this!!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:06 AM
  
  WHAT AN IDEA…………
  I can NOT take ELLIE’s place nor would I want TOO.
  I understand what YOU are saying……………
  IN ESSENCE an ELLIE FAN CLUB BLOG!OR BETTER YET A place to come and release some STEAM!
  I think MANY of us are hoping GRACIE will pick it up but as you know she has one MORE year of COLLEGE…………….
  HUGS to YOU for even coming up with this idea…………..XX
Lillian Plummer
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 10:32 PM

So moved by all the emails and background. Ellie touched all her knew her through her blog. Ellie was an extraordinary, creative, gifted soul and to know her was to love her. This is so evident by the devotion from her friends, and you Elisabeth were one of the best. A remarkable post. I will never forget Ellie. Love and best wishes from the other side of the world. xx
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:01 AM
  
  I too am SO MOVED……………
  SHE HAS A FAN CLUB for SURE……………
  Before this even HIT SUBSCRIBERS inboxes over 1,000 people had checked in.They needed CLOSURE and I hope I helped with that……
  ADRIENNE’s photo’s CAPTURED SO MUCH; I think the photos HELPED immensely.
  THANK YOU ADRIENNE AGAIN.
  XXX
MariaTeresa de Bracamonte
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 8:31 PM

My dear Contessa, THANK YOU for this wonderful gift…. I didn’t expect to hear from Ellie Again and I just did, you sharing these precious emails with us is priceless, I’m crying as i write …. to hear her voice again is , I don’t have a word! …. you are giving her the opportunity to talk one more time …. thank you, thank you BEAUTIFUL woman, eccentric and one of a kind, you are a force to be reckon with, a true ORIGINAL, and Ellie knew that. I found you because of her, I was not in a good spot in my life when I found her and she changed me, I think and I hope, she changed me forever, I felt so alone in many ways, so different and all of a sudden all these wonderful people started popping up from the posts on her comment section! I didn’t feel that different anymore, I felt I was HOME, you were so intense and different, original and so special, that’s why so many of us connected from all over the world in a way I’ve never seen before on a blog! We were all passionate and intense, we loved her TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY, we took her how she was, or actually, how she IS! and RELISHED her! We GOT her… she was “As Good As It Gets” in the best sense of the expression EVER! I, as well, write as I talk, I don’t care much about being right, I only write, and now I’m only sharing my feelings …. I know you understand that. Sorry for this long comment, I realize this should have been an email, but I already started… I miss her so much… I regret immensely the many times I stopped myself from emailing her because I didn’t want to bother her, take any of her time, I’m so sorry I didn’t do it, it was out of respect and out of fear…. she was the opposite of that, as you well know… that’s why I’m writing to you now, I don’t ever again want to leave something important like that sitting in my heart, If I love someone I never met, so be it, I’ll have the courage to say it, now I understand better what we mean when we say we are energy, spirit, love… doesn’t matter that the peel, the shell, that surrounds us has never met…. We are NOT that, we are INSIDE of it, and outside of it, we are everywhere, where our heart is…. that’s why I hope I can reach you, like you’ve reached me, I’m giving you a big, fat, long hug and I hope you send me one. I need it. We all need it. All her imaginary friends, the ones that now are finally out of the closet. I love you Ellie, I really, really miss you, I hope you are reading, I know you are, I’m here, chez La Contessa, one of your favorite people, you must be reading and laughing and crying, the way you made us for so long, I love you CONTESSA, thank you for listening
MariaTeresa
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 7:57 AM
  
  EXACTLY!
  She did a bit of this in HER LAST book!She shared some of HER emails and that is what POPPED into MY HEAD!I wanted YOU to hear her VOICE AGAIN……………I thought it would HELP.YOUR Comment is SO SPOT on and STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL to ME!YOU GET ME and I am SO HAPPY ELLIE HELPED YOU!These BLOGS are AMAZING really.WE get SO MUCH from them if we have PASSION and CONNECT!!!
  Don’t be a STRANGER MARIA TERESA…………I am HERE and LOVE to CHAT on the old fashion TELEPHONE!
  A BIG BIG HUG TO YOU,
  XXX
Barb Moore
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 7:17 PM

I want to say too that I love the poem that Lindsay sent to Ellie…Thank you Lindsay; it brings tears to my eyes! I’ll read it again whenever I feel in need of more strength or Courage.

Also To Debbie Owens…I loved reading about your friendship and the crazy visit with Ellie when she was sick. Warmed my heart and made me laugh so hard!! Your Facebook link is not working for me for some reason. Is there any way to share with us those Ellie photos? Thanks in advance!! B.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 8:09 PM
  
  BARB,
  GO directly TO FACEBOOK and SEARCH DEBBIE OWENS……….does that WORK?
  XX
Barb Moore
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 6:52 PM

What a wonderful tribute Elizabeth! Loving, warm and lets us all in on the special relationship you had with our Dear Ellie. Sharing more of her and reading all the comments helps so much with healing. I’m sure our Kick Ass Angel is looking down and is so proud of you!! And all of us. I believe she felt all of our love and prayers when she was alive and can still feel our love now. Gee I miss her!!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 8:10 PM
  
  OUR KICK ASS ANGEL……………….PERFECT!!!!
  FROM NOW on when WE NEED A PRAYER answered LETS PRAY TO OUR KICK ASS ANGEL!!!!!!!!!!!
  XX
Susan
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 5:21 PM

Elizabeth, A beautiful tribute. Thank you for giving us a bit more about our beloved, Ellie. Ellie brought us together with her blog. It does not seem right nor real that she has left us. She will be missed greatly. To Gracie and David, know that our/my thoughts are with you.
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 8:06 PM
  
  WE are a COMMUNITY………of HAVE SOME DECORUM.
  Hopefully, we will all take some DECORUM with us as we LIVE ON!
  Every time I look at BLUE & WHITE china I will THINK of HER.
  Every time some one mentions PARIS……I will think of HER.
  TACO BELL……..DITTO.
  HERMES orange BOXES………DAVID!
  FLOWERS & PERSIAN CATS…….ELLIE.
  BEAUTIFUL NAILS……..ELLIE.
  AND if I hear the NAME GRACE……….my mind will run……wondering how she is coping.SHE had a GREAT FOUNDATION.
  THANK YOU SUSAN…………..XX
Lindy
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 5:06 PM

Elizabeth – Thank you SO much for passing on the information about Ellie’s passing. It has been heartbreaking to lose her and then not to know more than just that. You have filled in a void and given us some peace to know that she was surrounded by family and friends at the end.

And another EXTRAORDINARY thank you for telling all of us about her in the first place. After you originally spoke of her I subscribed immediately to her blog and have been totally enraptured by her ever since. How I will miss her posts!!!!! How I will miss HER!!!! She is (still) a force of nature, a rare and ferociously blazing comet and will be so deeply and truly missed.

Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. As Ellie thought, you have been an Angel.
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 7:59 PM
  
  NO ANGEL here………….just KNEW SHE NEEDED US!
  SHE is up there decorating and tossing OUT the wrong BLUE & WHITE getting HEAVEN PUT TOGETHER THE WAY it should BE!She was a REMARKABLE LADY even if she liked TACO BELL!!!!!!!!!I sent her RANCH DRESSING and PACKETS of powder for CHILI!SHE WAS ALL AMERICAN……………..with a TWIST of GOOD TASTE!
  MISSING HER and HER POSTS……………
  I was saving HER BOOK to read when she PASSED………about two weeks ago I decided I would GO before SHE DID so I read it!WHAT A LIFE……….WHAT STORIES!SHE EXPERIENCED MORE then MOST of us will do in a LIFETIME!
  THANK YOU and a BIG HUG for your lovely comment.
  XX
contessa
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 4:15 PM

VIA EMAIL:

Thank you so much for the heads up. I follow you because of Ellie. My sister had sent me something last week that said that she had passed away. Just put my cross on the mirror I got from her sale. Feel sad but sending good wishes. What a loss and what an evil disease. Not fair! She did more for me in the past 4 years that I can even come to terms with. Will be a huge void for me and everyone else on the blog.

Where has Steven been?

You are the best. Loved your story about returning to your roots.

Warmly,

Maureen
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 7:53 PM
  
  STEPHEN , has done a B E A U T I F U L post FOR ELLIE……….
  POP over to STEPHEN ANDREW JONES. BLOGSPOT for HIS LOVELY FUN BLOG POSTS……..remember to SUBSCRIBE so you get the EMAIL!
  XX
contessa
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 4:12 PM

VIA EMAIL:

Thank you sweet lady for this beautiful blog. Thank you for reaching out to Ellie while she was still alive & being her friend. She was truly blessed to have your personal love & friendship. I love your blog, and love you!!!!
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 7:50 PM
  
  LOVE YOU BACK for just saying THAT!!!!!!!
  XX
  - Penelope Bianchi
    · Reply
    
    September 3, 2016 at 10:53 PM
    
    Contessa, this is right. You were brave and HUGE when it came right down to it…..you were an enormous comfort and delight for Ellie. Brava.
    
    I hope the October happening will happen….many of us want to gather in her memory. I will keep her in my heart…….and try to sparkle in her name for the rest of my life!!
    
    You are who brought that idea!!!
    Brava!!
Jennifer
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 3:21 PM

Thank you for sharing such a touching and true tribute to Ellie. I’m so saddened by the news…but grateful that she is no longer suffering. She really did touch so many lives, mine included. You were very fortunate to have had such a wonderful ongoing dialogue with her. You are so sweet to have shared it and the beautiful photographs of her at the beach. The world will be a little less sparking without her in it.
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 7:50 PM
  
  JENNIFER,
  She had SPARKLE that is for CERTAIN.Let’s ALL try and take a bit of ELLIE with us in our DAILY lives………………XX
  - Penelope Bianchi
    · Reply
    
    September 3, 2016 at 10:28 PM
    
    that is the secret…..right there….Contessa!
    
    “She had SPARKLE that is for CERTAIN.Let’s ALL try and take a bit of ELLIE with us in our DAILY lives………………XX”
    
    That is the answer…..right there! We can all do it!
    
    Let’s all do it! not say we will…….
    
    like Nike says………..JUST DO IT!!!
    
    TAKE A BIT OF ELLIE IN OUR DAIILY LIVES……AND SPARKLE!!!
    JUST DO IT!!
    Then she will live forever through all of us!
Penelope Bianchi
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 3:13 PM

As Elizabeth said to me: “we were a big part of her life”. Yes; her blog followers were indeed. She brought all of our cards back home with her. She loved us all.

I will miss her. I am heartbroken to have missed seeing her one last time. She said she wanted me to come; and she had appointments. Then she was gone. I will always carry that brave girl and her beautiful taste in my heart.
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 7:48 PM
  
  YOU SAW HER SHOP…….and benefitted from HER SALE…………
  YOU EXPERIENCED ELLIE in FULL FORM!!!!!!!
  HOW I ENVY YOU for that……………….LUCKY YOU!
  I did speak with her on the PHONE in her shop CIRCA!
  XX
Janey
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 3:10 PM

Thank you for letting me know. So very very sad. Heather put me on to Ellie several years ago. I hopped over to Lost in Arles and read Heather’s tribute too. I also enjoyed reading Ellie’s emails. thank you. she will be missed.

Elizabeth…or Contessa I don’t know you except through Ellie and Heather, but you seem to be one of the kindest and most generous persons I have ever heard of…..Janey
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 7:46 PM
  
  NOT TRUE………but THANKS SO MUCH!
  XX
Priscilla Pilkington
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 3:02 PM

A beautiful personal tribute to your friend,a great loss. Thank you for sharing. My condolences to family and friends of whom there seems to be a great many. A very beautiful and talented lady gone too soon…..
Edie
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 2:42 PM

Well done! It was a beautiful tribute to the most amazing women. She had a zest for life like no one I have ever met. We all, I think, learned from her to enjoy each day. I was really surprised to learn she was originally from Springfield, Mo. I live in Springfield so that just made me love her more. I looked so forward to each blog. She was one very special lady!

I enjoy your blogs too. I can see why you were such special friends,
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 5:19 PM
  
  THAT would MAKE ME ADMIRE HER even MORE TOO!WE actually lived in a few of the same places I was 10 years older then SHE so our PATHS didNOT CROSS, but what FUN to hear she frequented the same places I DID!
  VERY SPECIAL………..as YOU ARE TOO!THANKS for YOUR COMMENT!!!
  XX
- Penelope Bianchi
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 6:08 PM
  
  Another thing we can do! Remember last Christmas when she asked us to “twirl”? She asked us to twirl like she did in the park in New York! I sent her pictures of me twirling…..she couldn’t even move a muscle….and we were to twirl for her!
  
  Every time you think of her….and her fight for her life….and her love of life, “TWIRL!!” (if you are in a place you can!!!)
- LA CONTESSA
  · Reply
  
  Author
  
  September 3, 2016 at 6:13 PM
  
  TWIRLING AS I TYPE!!!
  XX
  PS. BECAUSE of YOU I FOUND ELLIE………you did a little POST on FACEBOOK!
  DID YOU REALIZE THAT?
  XX
elizabeth@pineconesandacornsblog
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 2:42 PM

Elizabeth,

You are indeed an angel, not only to Ellie and to Heather but to all who are lucky enough to read your blog. Your zest for life, kindness and your “larger than life” make so many so very happy.

I found Ellie through Heather and I LOVED her. I was completely blown away by her genuineness and her candidness. I have never seen a more real person in blog land, until I found you.

I love the fact that you are both, “what you see is what you get” people. You don’t pander to the masses in blogland. Keep it up, it is what makes you special.

This is a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to a beautiful, special, unique and amazing woman. Ellie brightened many lives each time she posted on her blog. I for one was in awe of her spirit and will to live with all of the obstacles that she faced on a daily basis. A lesser person would have given up long ago.

I am sure that her spirit will live on in everyone who knew her personally and those that “knew” her through her blog. She instilled in all of us the idea that “yes life is challenging, and sometimes even shitty but you do not have to settle for mediocrity or for something you do not want”, get out there and live life, love, and love big and if you want something, then by golly you fight to get it, be it a dog, a house in Provence or a flight back to your beloved home to see your family and friends.

Thank you Elizabeth, for being you, an incredibly wonderful, unique and fabulous woman. You inspire me every time I visit!
- Catherine
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 3:51 PM
  
  Elizabeth@pineconesandacornsblog and Desiree,
  I could not agree more with your beautifully expressed thoughts. It is very sad and difficult to grasp the reality that Ellie, with her invincible spirit and sharp wit, couldn’t conquer ALS. I’d always hoped that perhaps she could somehow become the voice or even a miracle breakthrough case, leading towards a cure. I will miss her terribly, and will cherish my emails with her, all her HSD posts and her beautifully written book. Both Ellie and our CONTESSA, along with Stephen and Heather, have brought together such a unique and wonderful community feel I privileged to be a part of… They’ve each made me laugh, cry and everything in between – and have provided so much inspiration and reminders to live life well, as none of us knows how much time we truly have.
  
  CONTESSA, thank you so much for your beautiful written post, and for including your correspondence with Ellie. I’ve been enjoying all your recent posts, but without much time to comment, since the moving plans I mentioned awhile back have kicked into high gear! Too long to go into detail here, but suffice to say Ellie’s move to Provence, and her belief that you can accomplish ANYTHING you set your mind to was a huge inspiration. I’ll email an update soon!
  xo, Catherine
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 5:10 PM
  
  ELIZABETH!!!
  I hope ALL that YOU have said HERE does not GO TO MY HEAD!YOU are SO RIGHT I doNOT pander to the MASSES.I say what I think and SO FAR SO GOOD………NO one has gotten upset with me except the WOMAN who did not understand MY CAPS!I think that is WHY I ADORED Ellie SO very much.She too said what she thought in her words,” She had nothing to lose!”WHY BE FAKE…………in day to day LIVING!THAT IS SO SPOT ON she DECIDED on things and MADE them HER GOAL to ACCOMPLISH……………….and SHE DID IT!!!!
  WHAT can WE LEARN from this?
  ANYTHING is POSSIBLE………almost.
  MUST find a CURE for ALS…………it WILL happen.
  XX
  - Penelope Bianchi
    · Reply
    
    September 3, 2016 at 6:04 PM
    
    Elizabeth IS magical! Ellie nailed it. Here is what we can do…in my opinion. Read again, and reread Ellie’s blogposts. And her books. and keep her in our hearts. She won’t die as long as we remember her bravery and her fabulous taste; and refusal to compromise. What a gal.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 5:16 PM
  
  CATHERINE!!!!
  Dear READERS this is the LADY who wrote to THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA on behalf of ELLIE.SHE drafted a BEAUTIFUL LETTER in BEAUTIFUL SCRIPT and mailed it upon her return from a BOOK SIGNING so it would be on the TOP of HER MAIL!WE were hoping for a THANKS ~ GIVING INVITE…………..
  
  I await YOUR EMAIL!I was in YOUR Neck of THE WOODS recently as you have READ…….KINDA SORT OF!!LOVED THAT EAST COAST!
  
  BIG HUGS and don’t pick UP the BOXES!!!!!!!
  XX
contessa
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 2:31 PM

VIA EMAIL:
It is with a grateful and wee bit broken heart I am writing to thank you for the remarkably beautiful post you lovingly wrote about our angel, Ellie. I have been so sad the last few days as it seems our wonderful world is just slightly less sparkling with that dear girl gone from us.

I had a chance to exchange direct emails with Ellie which I will forever cherish. My connection was my daughter (who is in social media and does some work for Bravo clients.) My darling girl connected Caroline Stanbury (Ladies of London) with Ellie. She was so thrilled when Ms. Stanbury posted on HSD and hence corresponded with us…inviting us to tea at her apartment in Paris and as you so well know, sending such an abundance of love, joy, humor and depth with her words that one believed she could live forever. I only recently started reading comments on blogs (DUH!!!…I’m always just a little late to everything!????) and sought yours out with such eagerness and anticipation. The gift of your fabulous comments consequently led me to your peerlessly outstanding blog. And that, dear one, is how I found the comfort and beauty of your essay about Ellie.

Life is a funny ol thing…we can reside directly next to people for decades with minimal connection and yet, in this enigmatic world of technology, friends unseen touch our heart and soul with the essence of camaraderie, generosity of spirit and boundless kindness. That is exactly what you do, darling Contessa. It’s quite logical that you and Ellie should connect…two beautiful hearts bursting with love of family, friends, beauty, fun, food, art, holidays, books…the components of lives well lived. My error has been not being a vigilant blog reader but, you’ve changed that for me! I’m even taking the time to try to read the comments! It has been my good fortune and blessing that my life -even briefly- intersected with Ellie’s. Please pardon the extent of this missive but be clear that all you write/blog matters. I also feel blessed to have found your site and especially your homage to Ellie.

I send all the gratitude in my heart – to yours – and may only joy, good health and hopefulness grace your days.
Carry on!…in the fabulous, brilliant light you create.

With warmest regards,
Desiree xox
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 5:00 PM
  
  BETTER LATE then NEVER!!!!!!!!!
  YOU ARE HERE NOW………and I canNOT THANK~YOU ENOUGH for this DIVINE COMMENT!!!YOU have given me the ZEST to continue doing whatEVER it is I DO!
  THE ITALIAN still does NOT GET IT.Perhaps, after reading YOUR comment and OTHERS something will CLICK.
  A BIG HUG to YOU,
  THANK ~ YOU!!!!
  XX
Jan
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 2:30 PM

I am sorry I didn’t know her, or read her blog. Ahhh to be so loved by so many!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:54 PM
  
  SHE WAS ADORED…………….BY SO MANY!If you can go back and read her BLOG POSTS……..then maybe YOU will UNDERSTAND this OUT POURING OF LOVE for a GIRL gone WAY TOO SOON……….The name of THE blog is HAVE SOME DECORUM.
  Snuggle up with wine or coffee and TURN THE PHONE OFF!!!!!!!
  XX
Mithra Ballesteros
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 2:28 PM

So very sad. And although the hearing may be the last sense to go, I believe that it’s more accurate to say that love is the last to go. She had all those hearts bidding her farewell. And yours as well. She knew you were magical.
- Kimberly Bringgold
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 2:37 PM
  
  Oh my!!! My dearest Elizabeth! What a touching tribute to such a special lady. I’m so thrilled that I had a brief introduction to Ellie via your fantastic Thanksgiving feast. Your visit with her in Paris will always be a priceless treasured memory no doubt … and from all that you’ve told me about Ellie she was indeed a force to be reckoned with!!! Her spirit and Joie de Vive was contagious … clearly her 35,000 fans, friends and followers adored her. I’m sorry for the loss of someone who not only inspired you in so many ways but who also touched the lives for many other people that will never forget her and who will always keep a piece of her in their hearts! On that note, I too LOVE YOU and THANK YOU for being such a priceless and treasured friend to me!!!!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:52 PM
  
  I THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON MITHRA……………..THANK ~YOU!!!
  XX
suzanna
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 2:09 PM

MY HEART IS BLEEDING…..I love Ellie…..she suffered so much….and fought so hard….
love to you too Elizabeth….we were all there and we all had so much fun on her Have Some Decorum…..XOXOXO
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:51 PM
  
  WE DID INDEEDY!!!!!!!!
  Wasn’t it FUN to go back the NEXT DAY and re-read the comments and see if she ANSWERED or STEPHEN ADDED ON!!!!!!!
  WE ALL have a BIT MORE DECORUM NOW……………and definitely KNOW which BLUE & WHITE dishes to PICK!
  XO
Caroline
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 1:04 PM

Elizabeth, what a beautiful person you are and how you touched Ellie’s life. Such a nice tribute to Ellie here. How we loved her. Wishing you the very best. Xo
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:49 PM
  
  WE waited each DAY for a NEW POST……..didn’t WE?!!
  MANY THANKS,
  XX
Amie
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 1:03 PM

Oh Elizabeth, what a dear dear person you are.
Things just don’t make sense sometimes, do they? I knew this was going to happen soon. I was a new comer to Elle’s blog, but I learned much.
You are a good friend, and this was beautiful.
I could not read it all, I’ll be coming back.
Grace and Elle’s husband will be in my prayers.
My mother died when I was 13, I know the loss and pain.
Bless you.
Your parallel friend inOmaha,
Amie
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:48 PM
  
  AMIE,
  SOUL MATE…………..when you have TWO DAYS all to YOURSELF GO back and READ ELLIE”S BLOG from the VERY BEGINNING!
  YOU will THANK ME………….and LAUGH OUT LOUD and shed a few TEARS………don’t forget to READ the COMMENTS as that is PART of the whole EXPERIENCE!
  XX
Debbie Owens
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 12:29 PM

Lovely blog! Miss her to pieces. Here is a link to some photos I had. I’m not sure if it will work but worth a shot. https://www.facebook.com/debbie.p.owens/posts/10209184745714259
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 1:29 PM
  
  IT WORKED!!!!!!
  ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!
  THANK YOU for sharing HER!!!
  XXXX
- Nicole
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 11:45 AM
  
  Hello! Still reading and absorbing all that is Ellie and her impact on lives here with dear, dear friends (and I count myself as one of the imaginary ones). A wonderful community, virtually hand-picked around the globe as they are drawn to her from her sheer magnetic spirit. Contessa, I did not have your luck with the link, nor by searching for Debbie on facebook! I’d love to see the pictures. Any other way to see them? (There are several debbie owens on fb! And with a “p” brings up no results.) Thank you for your postings and for sharing your wonderful experiences with us. xo ~Nicole
  - contessa
    · Reply
    
    September 4, 2016 at 12:35 PM
    
    WRITE TO debbiepowens@gmail.com……..she will email to YOU!
    I will do NOW!!
    SO sorry it doesNOT work for YOU but DEBBIE has graciously offered HERE IN THE COMMENTS TOWARDS THE END…………XX
- Nicole
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 8:19 PM
  
  Thank you both, Debbie & Contessa! xoxo
- Deborah (aka d2zen)
  · Reply
  
  September 5, 2016 at 8:36 PM
  
  Thank you for sharing those photos, Debbie! Ellie will live in our hearts forever. I’m just another one of the little card-senders. I admired her tremendously … and adore seeing her friends here. I wonder how long I’ll keep looking for another blog from her. Forever.
marci piraro
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 12:23 PM

Thank you so much for sharing these emails with us. I know I am in Ellie withdrawal, it really is hard to believe we’ll never read her blog posts again. Thank you for the group photo at the end but it is so small that even when I enlarge it on my phone I can’t really see the people’s faces.
- marci piraro
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 12:25 PM
  
  Group, not groyp. Ha! The question marks were supposed to be a sad face emoji.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:45 PM
  
  I can ALWAYS fix the typo’s………when you answer on YOUR phone the HEARTS turn to QUESTION marks………WHO knows WHY!You would think by now they would have FIXED THAT!!!Don’t worry……….I can change to MY FAVORITE !!!!!!!
  THANK YOU!
  XX
Jeanne
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 11:31 AM

Thank you, Elizabeth, for this wonderful tribute to Ellie. You really became an angel in her life. What a special gift you have for reaching out to people and creating magic! It was touching to be able to read your private correspondence with Ellie after following both of your blogs all these years. She will be sorely missed! All my condolences to her family and friends far and wide.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:43 PM
  
  I keep hearing that WORD MAGIC!!!!!!!!
  Just being ME!
  THANK YOU for your special comment!
  XX
  - Penelope Bianchi
    · Reply
    
    September 3, 2016 at 6:09 PM
    
    SILLY GOOSE! THAT IS BECAUSE “ONLY YOU” ARE MAGIC!!!
    
    AND IT IS TRUE!!! Ellie nailed it!!!
SAJ
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 10:27 AM

The dahlias in the sand are so beautiful. I’m so glad her loved ones had time together like that. What a beauty Ellie is and what a beautiful spirit she shared with us.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:40 PM
  
  YOU were SO GOOD for HER STEPHEN.
  WE the people who would comment from time to time THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
  FOR those of you who doNOT know STEPHEN he has a BEAUTIFUL BLOG called STEPHEN ANDREW JONES blogspot and has DONE a GORGEOUS TRIBUTE TO OUR ELLIE!
  POP over there………..for MORE Beautiful words and memories………….
  XX
Sandra
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 10:18 AM

Oh , thank you dearest Elizabeth. It was you who introduced me to Ellie. A person never to forget. I will read this over later. Love the email and insight and your deep love for her. Thank you.
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:36 PM
  
  I would NEVER STEER YOU WRONG!!!!!!!!
  I KNOW A GRAND BLOG when I see it!
  XX
Ann
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 10:06 AM

Oh, thank you so much for sharing your lovely correspondence with Ellie. And the photo of her family and friends on the beach. She and I wrote each other for about a year and a half. Sometimes I would just write her the trivia of daily existence but she would say she loved my emails. On her last day I had a terrible foreboding ––I wanted to write how much I loved her but something held me back. So I wrote the latest excitement of my mundane existence. It was about an hour before she passed. Every time I think I am smiling, I break into wistful tears because I just read your emails or Stephen Andrew Jones’s posts. She has touched so many lives!
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:35 PM
  
  YOUR DAILY TRIVIA was a GIFT to HER.WE were her LIFE outside HER FAMILY & FRIENDS.I really UNDERSTOOD that UPON my VISIT to her PARISIAN APARTMENT…..
  IT looks like A LOT of us WROTE and kept HER inbox FULL.
  XX
- Ann
  · Reply
  
  September 4, 2016 at 1:19 PM
  
  Elizabeth,
  
  Thanks for your comment that brought a smile to me. I understood that we were her outside life
  and thought our daily trivia was a gift but sometimes felt insecure about it. I am amazed at how many people her “imaginary friends” emailed her.
  Do you know if Gracie made it back for the Thursday beach celebration? I gather maybe not. I see David (that precious “bunny”) in the beach photo but not Gracie. It must be very hard on Gracie but I’m sure Ellie imbued her with great strength. I’m glad to hear that there may be something in October.
Shireen
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 9:47 AM

Elizabeth, what a wonderful post and tribute to Ellie! Thoroughly enjoyed reading!!! Thank you! Ps. This helps with the sadness…XO’s Shireen
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:30 PM
  
  GOOD!
  XX
stephanie thonet
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 9:31 AM

what a nice idea, elizabeth, to post some of ellie’s emails. on the one hand it’s sad that she died of course, mainly for her family, but for ellie herself i wonder if she didn’t find it a blessing. her spirit is not imprisoned in a body that she couldn’t use any more.
best regards, stephanie
Lindsay Casher
· Reply

September 3, 2016 at 9:24 AM

Elizabeth!! What a beautiful tribute and a treat to get a peek into your unique and special friendship with Ellie! WHAT would she do without you?! I want to be just like the both of you when I grow up! Even though I should be grown up by now! My two fairy GODMOTHERS! Missing our sweet Ellie so much…she was pure magic. My sincerest condolences to her nearest and dearest, especially her Gracie and David. We did love you Eleanor, going to re-read And so it is.. Xx Lindsay from MI
- contessa
  · Reply
  
  September 3, 2016 at 4:27 PM
  
  DEAR DEAR LINDSAY,
  AS you know I received your email and wanted to include it in MY POST on ELLIE.I had already shared TOO much for a quick 5 minute read SO I WILL SHARE it HERE for those who CARE to COMMENT and or READ the LOVELY COMMENTS………….
  YOU HAVE MADE MY DAY by mentioning GODMOTHER’s!!!!
  I’m FLATTERED BEYOND……………AND SO IT WILL BE!
  XO
  
  VIA EMAIL earlier in the week:
  
  LA CONTESSA,
  
  Let me introduce myself…my name is Lindsay and I am in my late twenties and hail from Michigan. I am writing to you to express the sadness and gratitude all of us “imaginary friends” at home have been feeling the last few days mourning our Ellie and the pain and ache we feel for Gracie and David and her dearest loved ones like Heather, her mother, Jenny, Yolanda, and Debbie to name a few. Ellie touched the deepest crevice of our souls and forever changed so many lives with her indomitable spirit, humor, raw authenticity, style, grace and love. Sometimes I felt as though her words and feelings were my own, as I know so many of us did and it is rare to find like-minded souls in this world. How lucky we were to find so many. She created a special community through her blog that has been utter magic to be a part of. Ellie was a kindred spirit indeed, a close confidant and the type of best friend everyone wishes they had. I was lucky enough to have had a beautiful correspondence with her these past few months in which I shared my love and gratitude for her and our last exchange was in June when I sent her this poem entitled “Bon Courage” –a phrase that gave her a great deal of strength. I wasn’t going to include her response at the end, but her stamp of approval and the knowingness that it brought peace to her soul in her last months affirmed my feeling that in the few minutes I wrote this, I was channeling her soul to write this as a gift for her and her loyal friends in the blog world. The poem ends with her assuring us that even in death, she is always with us–she will forever remain a part of us.
  
  Elizabeth, YOU are an amazing person and friend to Ellie. You two were lucky to have crossed paths in this life and I am grateful that her blog led me to you as well. You are simply a joy to follow as you remind me of my late grandmother (only in style, not in age!) because she had the EXACT sense of style and same amount of gusto as you.
  
  Here is the poem, “Bon Courage” …I will miss Ellie so very much, but the indelible mark she has left on my heart and all our hearts is a gift to cherish forever. Feel free to share this with anyone you wish, as I know you her readers would gain comfort from it.
  
  All my love,
  Lindsay Casher
  
  Bon courage
  
  My hands are frail,
  
  My limbs are numb,
  
  Oh, God, I’m coming undone
  
  Have courage, he said
  
  I’m here, my dear
  
  Have courage
  
  But where? she said,
  
  As she cried and cried
  
  Through her bloodstained eyes
  
  I still have my mind,
  
  Yet you’re hard to find
  
  I thought you were with me all of the time
  
  Have courage, he said
  
  I’m here, my dear
  
  Have courage
  
  But how can a God take my body away
  
  Why can’t I live on this earth and stay?
  
  Why did you leave me and go astray?
  
  It is not I who left,
  
  I have been here all along
  
  You are the creator of your unwritten songs
  
  In the blink of an eye
  
  A light turned on
  
  And the brave one started to sing her songs
  
  In her trials she endured
  
  She found her greatest strength,
  
  Were the bonds of love that never break
  
  It was that love that gave her wings
  
  To continue still to follow her dreams
  
  For others to catch like little light beams
  
  I see you now, God, I see you clear as the day
  
  But it was in my darkest night
  
  I saw the stars and I prayed
  
  Have courage, I said
  
  I’m here, my dear
  
  Have courage
  
  She held on,
  
  For the sake of her loved ones near
  
  In the city of lights, banishing all her fear
  
  It wasn’t long before the world caught on
  
  To the brave one’s light
  
  And her will to fight with all her might
  
  You can’t leave us, they said
  
  As they cried and cried in the dead of the night
  
  We all need you here to tell us what’s right
  
  Have courage, she said
  
  I’m here, my dears
  
  Have courage
  
  Eleanor Oconnell
  
  Jun 5
  
  to me
  
  Beautiful beautiful beautiful. You have no idea how much I needed that today. I love you. Thank you.