My Profile

My story begins in California during the 1950s.  I was born in the San Fernando Valley which is located near Los Angeles and I am the youngest of four girls.  Like all typical families at that time, my Dad worked and my Mom stayed home.

Barbara Jones

When I was a young girl, my Mom sewed my Halloween costumes and Barbie doll clothes. Years later when I was married, she created wonderful handmade holiday decorations for my home.  Then when my children were born, she crocheted baby blankets that I wrapped them in to bring them home from the hospital.  My Mom enjoyed crafting these items and they are now family heirlooms to cherish and pass onto future generations.  I still have the clown costume that my Mom made for me when I was a child and both my son and daughter have worn it as their Halloween costumes.

Life was simpler back then and so different from our hectic lives today but I have continued that tradition of crafting to preserve memories of the special events for my own family.  I have sewn my children’s Halloween costumes, created floral decorations for my home, made party decorations and party favors for my children’s birthday parties.

When I look back on my childhood I also remember the great times we had traveling as a family.  Some of the best times involved going to places like Disneyland, San Diego Zoo and Sea World.  One year we drove out to Chicago to visit relatives and we stopped at places like Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.  Another year we drove up the coast to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.  Such wonderful memories to look back on!

Now with my own family, I wanted to create those kinds of moments for my children.  We love getting in the car for day or weekend trips to local places or longer road trips to other states.  We visit museums and zoos or stop at National Parks and historic sites.  Seeing other areas of the country can be a great learning experience for kids.  (Heck, I’ve even learned some American history!)

This lifestyle blog will be my way to share my thoughts and ideas about décor, craft, celebration and travel. Future posts will have tips and ideas for decorating the home, simple craft projects with easy instructions, ideas for celebrations like holidays, children’s birthday parties, weddings and also travel tips with vacation destination ideas. I hope you enjoy my blog and please return  often for ideas and inspiration!

Welcome to “The Enchanted Manor”.  Come on in, sit down and let’s talk.

Barbara Jones

34 thoughts on “My Profile

  1. Dear Barbara, although I enjoyed your commentary about the California Missions, I must make one correction. Your statement: “Mission San Gabriel Arcangel was founded on September 8, 1871 by Father Junipero Serra…” cannot be true, since Father Serra died in 1784.

  2. Ms. Jones, I so appreciate the Presidential Funeral blog! I am doing similar research and find your facts right on point!! I am studying impactful historical processions for purposes of appreciation and understanding of veteran and first responder sacrifices. I pray that my work will united a free United States of America.

  3. LONNIE’S MISTAKE the asterisk. I called you Mouseketeer Barbara because Walt said on camera that everyone who was a fan or watched the show “IS A MOUSEKETEER”, so I cannot be contradicted. Lonnie

    • Lonnie,
      Thanks for the honorary Mouseketeer title – I love it! Yes, I did watch the original Mickey Mouse Club Show and I am also a great fan of all things Disney!
      Barbara

  4. Dear Mouseketeer* Barbara: you really should take a look of the website and memoir of the ONLY original Mouseketer of the 9 who lasted under contract for the original 1955-59 run who has continued, after college & grad school an MA at 20, to work as an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, director and author: books over 25 mags/papers/online – own column, theatre & film criticism, humor, essays, etcetera, books, plays, some TV work, over 24 radio plays produced and aired [500 station syndication], and worked with or for Spielberg, Fosse, Gower Champion on Broadway, Cecil B. deMille [before MMC], as well as Elvis, Ginger Rogers, Roy Rogers, Robin Williams, Sammy Davis, Carol Channing, Dean Martin, Donald O’ Connor, Charles Coburn [before] Hayley Mills, Buddy Ebsen, Jimmy Durante, Dustin Hoffman, Bernadette Peters, Jack Benny [before], Paul Winfield, Shirley MacLaine, and many other stars. That would be me: Mouseketeer Lonnie Burr.
    Put my name into google and my site, since 2000, is easily found. EMAIL: lonniemmc at [unfortunately still] aol dot com.

    • Lonnie,
      I remember you on the original Mickey Mouse Club TV show. That is a great resume and you have work with some of the best people in the entertainment business. Thanks for letting me know about your website and I will definitely check it out.
      Barbara

  5. Barbara, also a great Victorian lover, and much appreciated your information on Queen Victoria’s children. She really changed the lineage and the connection to all European Royal Houses. Incredibly intelligent, strategic woman. Bravo!

  6. HI, I love your blog. I was wondering if you would mind me linking your blog post to a blog post I am currently writing about the Pirates of the Caribbean https://theenchantedmanor.com/travel-pirates-of-the-caribbean-ride-at-disneyland/ I am thinking of putting your blog address down as a source for further information and trivia about the ride, rather then doubling up on content on my blog. I have a travel blog about theme parks http://www.themeparktravelguide.blogspot.com.au
    I am also interested in your pirate photo with the treasure. Do you know whether the picture is copyright free?
    thanks,KJ

  7. Did you take the picture of the initials of Henry and Anne at Hampton Court. If so could I have your permission to reuse the image.

    Thank You

  8. I am writing to you on behalf of Illustreret Videnskab Historie /Science Illustrated History, a history magazine based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    We have seen your picture here:
    https://theenchantedmanor.com//tag/the-garter-riband/
    Of the Garter with ““Honi soit qui mal y pense” (“shame on him who thinks evil of it”)”

    And we are very interested in using the image for our next article. Please let me know if you can allow us the use of the picture and supply us with high res image file on the email address: [email protected]

    Illustreret Videnskab Historie is published in Scandinavia, 3 Baltic states, Slovenia and The Netherlands with a total circulation of 150,000. We will of course mention your name according to instructions.

    If you would like to contribute to our magazine, I can receive high resolution image files via email, as long as they do not exceed 10MB.

    I would very much appreciate a prompt reply to this request.

    Sincerely,
    Sofie Marie

    Bonnier Publications / Historie
    Strandboulevarden 130
    2100 Copenhagen – Denmark
    http://www.historienet.dk

  9. Hello,
    You have a lovely blog and marvelous photos.
    I am working on a small book on Our Lady of Bethlehem’s history, the statue of the Virgin that came to California with Fr. Serra on the Sacred Expedition of 1769 [http://www.traditioninaction.org/History/B_020_Belen_1.html ]. I would like to use your color photograph of the Carmel MIssion [ located here – https://theenchantedmanor.com//tag/travel/ ]- in the book, which would have a run of 2,000 copies. I would be glad to include any kind of credit line or pay a fee for usage.
    Cordially,
    Dr. Marian T. Horvat

    • Thank you for your interest! The silverplate flatware that I use with my china was a great find I purchased on E-bay several years ago. It is 1847 silverplate Wm. Rogers “Guild” pattern.

  10. Dear Barbara: After reading your notes on Presidential Funerals I have a doubt and will like to ask for your help on this matter: Do you know why the half of the horses in the presidential funeral are without a rider ? I’m meaning the horses that carries the caisson.
    From your blog: ” military caisson pulled by a matching set of six horses accompanied by three riders”
    Thanks in advance.

    • Thanks, I’m glad you like my blog.
      I am in the process of creating a second blog anelegantbride.com so please check back soon for more interesting posts regarding specifically about weddings.

  11. I worked @ Fantasyland/Tune Town Disneyland for almost 5 years most of it being in Fantasyland, know Carousel very well, was there the day Jingles was rededicated to Julie and have many photos of Jingles and even introduced actress Julia Roberts and her daughter to Jingles

  12. I just came across your blog…love the travel and celebration history you include in your blogs! Congratulations on your new blog venture! I love it! Hope you and your family are doing well.

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