Oh Steve, no relation to the Ducommun Steel people, they lived close where I lived, but in the high-end part of that area. The name Ducommun has a history, it was taken by a group of people who settled in the Switzerland, in the French speaking part. They were Hugenots, Protestants, fleeing from persecution by the Catholic majority in France. They are not all related, it's more like a Clan, Du commun means "the commoners", so even that Francois of the clock may not be an ancestor of the Ducommun family.

My b-day is just before Christmas, so I was lucky enough to get two gift certificates from different family members from a large book store. I went during the Boxing week sales and all hard covers were 50% off, so I got a few, here they are: 1. "Hers: Design with a Feminine Touch." (Jacqueline deMontravel) Actually my mother bought this one for me, I likely wouldn't have choses it myself. But it is interesting, here is a little more on the book: "Design your own beautiful sanctuary in any space, with unabashedly feminine style." 2. "Hand Made Home: Living with Art and Craft." (Mark & Sally Bailey) "Living with paintings, sculptures, ceramics and textiles - almost anything made by hand, in fact - will give your home a distinct personality and originality that is welcome in this age of mass production and stores full of products that are exactly the same wherever you may be." Great book. 3: "Metropolitan Home Design 100: The Last Word on Modern Interiors." (Michael Lassell) You get the idea. 4. "Scandinavian Design." (Lars Bolander & Heather Smith MacIsaac) "A ... tour of the best of Scandinavian Design." 5. "Interiors: The Home Since 1700." (Steven Parissien) This is more of a history or design school course book with many illustrations. Very informative and interesting. 6. "Salvage-Style Projects: 22 Ideas for turning old house parts into treasures for your home." (Amy Hughes). From "This Old House."

I just have a few finishing touch ups to do for my grandsons book and will send it to the printer. It's not a Christmas gift. His parents are fully aware of the book as they've been 'ordered' to send me the vast majority of the pictures. They're just so happy it's over. LOL I added the last of his birthday party pictures to the book and am waiting for the other grandma to give me one thing to add to it. Then my son and his girlfriend will go through the book picture by picture and add anything they want to it. I'll pay for their book and a copy for me. Anyone else in the family who wants one can pay for their own. They're not cheap...... I'm using Blurb to put it together. They also did the maternity book I did last year. They did a fantastic job. :)

It has been an absolutely lovely Christmas, good cheer, good music, and piles of books all around. As for me, I received a book on conifers, one on native plant gardening, and one on American art tiles, each a delight to my eyes. In addition, one darling daughter gave me an Amazon gift card. I am not ashamed to say that I have already spent it, 3 used hardback copies of old favorite novels (2 by Mary Stewart and 1 by Barbara Michaels), along with a book on 1950's sewing patterns. My son also gave me a book gift card to be spent in a bricks-and-mortar store. I am in bliss. Except, of course, that I ate way too much food. Very good food, though. Rosefolly