gentle country living

This home, spotted in south east England, demonstrates the universal appeal of elegant and comfortable living.  A gentle mix of antique and contemporary pieces, an english touch with generous curtains and florals....

 

 

 

 

light pouring in through wide windows, comfortable seating ...

a large and bright kitchen, almost certainly the hub of family life

 

 

 

 

light is a feature here, breakfast at this table has to be good

 

 

 

and the same comfortable approach continues into the garden, with the space laid out in 'rooms', and plenty of scattered seating.

 

 

all photos thanks to Wealden Times

thought for the day

A friend gave me a lovely gift this week.  The note she attached to her present was written on a sheet of paper above this wonderful quote by Thorton Wilder.

After a week that has found me slowing down to rest and reflect, I found the words very welcome.

May we all be conscious of our treasures this weekend.

Notepaper from Sugarboo Designs

time to re-invent yourself?

We all come to turning points in our lives, often provoked by a change of circumstances:  getting married;  a new career; a divorce; a change  of health; simply moving house ....  there are many situations that provide us with  an opportunity to re-invent ourselves.  

Some of you may know that I started writing this blog at a turning point in my life.  My youngest child left primary school and suddenly my role as a full-time hands-on mum became part-time.  It was a shock! 

I found myself at a loose end.  A friend introduced me to the world of blogging.  I quickly began to enjoy the writing and the interaction with readers, never for a moment suspecting all the other doors that the blog would open for me.

 

Because that is surely the beauty of a period of change.  We find ourselves being gently coaxed, or even outright shoved onto a path we hadn't planned to tread.  From there it is up to us how we react.   Keep looking forward, eager to discover new territory and new friends.  Or continually looking over our shoulder, regretting the familiar places we left behind and longing to get back.

photo by Jeanne from Collage of Life - thank you Jeanne!

 I've noticed that it is easy to see life in 'sections'.  To each part of our life belong particular pleasures, particular joys, particular duties.  The more we manage to live each stage of our path to the full, the less regrets we have when we move onto the next step.  

I'm not in a hurry to grow any older, nor to move on from this 'section' in my life,  but I do have a growing list of things I am looking forward to doing in about 20 years time.

 The bottom line is  we only have one life.  And only we can live it.  Family and friends may shape us but they can't live our life in our place.  And it's not because we re-invent ourselves that we leave them behind.  The more fulfilled we are, the better a person we can be for them.

So how do you feel?  Are you already at a crossroad?  Do you feel you are ready to reinvent yourself?    then I would humbly say "go for it!".    Change can feel scary or exciting, it's up to us.  One things is for sure, unless we walk that new path, we'll never know where it's going!

Thank you for reading me, hope your week is going well.

bright autumn bouquet

Autumn has definitely arrived here, with gusts of wind bringing in the colder temperatures, and the garden making a final bid for attention with the brightest colours of the season.

Forget soft blues and pinks, this season is not for sissies! 

 Be brave with reds, oranges and yellows.  

Rules disappear and you are allowed to mingle flowers with apples, blackberries and elderberries.

These bouquets should come with a health warning "to be used with moderation!"

Wishing you a bright and cheery day!

!! merci !!

Well it feels like it should be a milestone, although I'm not totally sure what it means....


I have never asked anyone to click on my page,
and unfortunately I don't have that much time to visit other pages but...

yesterday I reached 10,000 likes on my facebook page for the blog!

  

      .   .  T .  H .  A .  N .  K  .  .  . Y . O . U  .   .

 My facebook page is where I get to share the bits and bobs of everyday life here.

Hundreds of images I snap during my day, fleeting moments;

pictures I've seen elsewhere and loved and wanted to share.

If you are one of those who have clicked me a 'like', then thank you so much;
without your encouragement none of this would have ever seen the light of day.

And to thank facebook for their savoir-faire, I intended to add a little share button here,

 but hey!

 I simply didn't manage that one - further proof that we can enjoy technology
without understanding the first thing about it!

So my friends, from this fb-illiterate but grateful blogger

merci!

or did I already say that?!

do you have enough 'me-time'?

Most women spend more time looking after the people around them than taking care of themselves.  That's not philosophy, it's just a fact.  It is built into us somewhere, we're genetically programmed to  tend.  That doesn't mean that men don't do their share too, but it does look like it's easier for them to detach themselves and .... go for a run, or watch a match or sit down and read the paper ....

I have noticed that French women really understand the importance of a little me-time.   It is part of the culture that they will find the space in their busy  timetable to take care of themselves too.  Their me-time is often spent doing some sport; having lunch with a girlfriend; or an appointment at their salon de beauté.

So today, on a breather between guests and appointments, I checked into our tiny local beauty salon and got a simple manicure.  Forty minutes of soft music, plump pillows covered with fluffy soft towels, easy conversation, the lovely smells of the perfumes and creams all around me.  No gel, no false nails, no fancy colours, just a quick tidy up and clear nail varnish, but I emerged feeling very good indeed.  I have even resolved to do this sort of things more often!

What do you like to do for a quick pick-me-up?

the giverny loot shoot

 Yup, Giverny is where I went to shop today, the fair started in the streets before dawn and I was there, flash light in hand, looking for goodies. and when the sun came up and I needed a pause from brocante I slipped into the gardens of the impressionist museum and immersed myself into my favourite 'white garden'.

Here are a few things I saw at the fair but didn't buy, that includes the little pup above, he was so cute, tied up to a vendors chair, but really really wanting to trot down the street after us!

 

 And here is what I did bring home, pharmacy bottles, unused old linen; a cool leather postman's satchel;  a silver plate water pitcher;.............

 a length of unused dishcloth fabric, dated and perfect for a table runner;

this perfect sized bottle dryer, that I actually found for a friend visiting from Australia;  

and behind it the most amazing roll of 19th century wall paper.... 

this wallpaper is rather wonderful - scratching my tiny brain for ways to use  - what would you do with it?

more white flowers when the going got tough!

 the sweetest egg carrier;

 a pile of old school books and notes from biology lessons, dated 1903!

I have my favourite out of this lot, but tell me please, which is yours?!

bucolic french countryside

A large part of my blog, and my life actually, is all about seeing the beauty around me.  Not everyone will appreciate the attraction of a herd of dairy cows, but these girls stopped me in my tracks as they meandered down to drink in the river.

Another month or so and they'll be kept in barns for the winter, so nice to see them enjoying the sunshine and green grass.

Wishing you a happy weekend,

 may you also enjoy a little unexpected beauty.

And look at this!   Linda, of the blog All new at 62, was inspired by these pictures, and sent me a copy of her lovely drawing - quite wonderful - thank you Linda!!