a giveaway from my store

Thank you again for all your encouragement about the store
and a special thank you to my first clients.

Some people have let me know that it isn't loading properly, this seems to be a question of server compatibility.  If you are using Internet Explorer 8 or earlier, then you may like to try using Firefox or Google Chrome instead.  These are free to download onto your computer, and should improve your browser for other sites too.

Today I am happy to tell you about my first
 give aways from the store.

This beautiful pillow sham, entirely hand sewn and embroidered with the letter M

Later today there will be new linens up for sale in the store.

and the second giveaway is two matching oval dishes, in blue and white transferware,
wonderful as soap dishes or presenting chocolates or biscuits

To join in the giveaway, just take a tour of the store and come back to tell me what you think, if you'd like a second entry then  share the giveaway on facebook, twitter etc.  Thank you!

The winners will be drawn on Friday 2 November at midnight Paris time.

store update

Things don't always happen exactly as we plan ! .....

Thank you so much for your comments and

encouraging words yesterday...

today I wanted to bring you news of a giveaway

but my internet has been down....

ALL DAY !!!    grrrrrr......

and I can't even blame it on a hurricane!

talk about great timing!

this quick message is sent from a girlfriend's kitchen!  :)

I am doing my very best to get back online, and as soon as I can I'll be updating the new store and showing you the giveaway

thank you for your patience

A special thought to all of you preparing yourself for hurrican Sandy, please take care and stay safe

xxx

my new brocante store

I am very happy to announce that I  have a new on line

 store for sharing my brocante treasures!

I've been wanting to do this for a while but there 

weren't enough hours in the day!

I have created a new site, still called

My French Country Brocante

but now it is a site instead of a blog.

There are already a lot of items up for sale, and each
 day this week new treasures will be listed.

Tomorrow I shall bring you a giveaway to celebrate this big event.

If you have a look around, I'd love to know how you find it, and also if you spot anything that doesn't function properly!  :)

Thank you for your generous support,

without you none of this would ever be happening!

   

letters from a doting papa ....

Do you remember the days when people sent letters rather than emails?   Of course you do, and how much more romantic they were.  And what a wonderful trace of time they have left us.

 I was recently gifted four postcards sent by a father to his daughter Lucienne away by the sea  for the month of August 1938 .

From the cards it is clear that she was there for a month, that her papa came to see er every Sunday, and apparently, like so many little girls, she loved horses.

I was happy to discover  a little more.   Her address was at Villa Glaieuls, Ostende in Belgium.  This foundation still exists today.  It was originally created to support the families of soldiers, or for children from needy families who couldn't afford a holiday.  Today Les Glaieuls is still present for children in difficulty.

I tried to weave a little story around these postcards but decidedly I am not clever enough, and it became melodramatic, when actually there was no need.  So I simply bring you pictures of the cards and invite you to imagine your own story around these few words written each week by a papa, impatient to see his little Lulu the following Sunday.

If you are in writing mood and you would like to share a story that fits the images, then please feel welcome to use the comment box below - we would all be very happy to read you!

I wish you all a happy weekend, 

thank you so much for  your kind comments about my post yesterday, 

you really are the best!

PS.  And here to inspire you further, is a photo of the house where Lulu spent her holiday.

 

a beautiful morning in our normandy valley

Stunning is the word that came to mind early this morning; the valley was shrouded in a light mist that augured well for a fine day ahead, a real treat at the end of October.

Shot up to the field early to feed the horses and the dogs had to agree with me that it was just lovely to be out and about enjoying that very special light at the beginning of the day.

Of course Gibson and Ghetto always come up with me, and tear around at breakneck speed .

  No prizes for guessing which one comes back first when I call them to go home  ....

 Couldn't resist asking them to pose in the sunshine this morning,

 but it was asking a lot ... especially of little Ghetto ...

"This is so-o-o tedious, she wants us to sit down again for another picture ... life is just too short for this sort of rubbish..."

"At least let's use the time to see what else is going on.  You look that way and I'll look my side..."

"So what did you see your side?"

 "OK, we've sat here long enough, don't say anything, just creep past her, she won't even notice ..."

.... sigh ....

Love it when the village is emerging from the mist like this;

 the same mist that highlights every detail on our path

 hope you have a sunny moment to enjoy today, thank you for reading me.

the last minute autumn table

Running late last weekend with friends invited over for supper in front of the fire.  No time to do anything fancy on the table ...  I simply grabbed the patissons and mini pumpkins from the garden with a few dahlia heads stood individually in liqueur glasses, some autumn leaves from my neighbour's virginia creeper and some candles in cake moulds stood in moss-filled pots.

As a table runner I found a piece of antique linen with some pumpkin orange ribbons sewn down the center, and that.  was.  it. !

What have you come up with recently for decorating a table in a hurry?

dreamy living in the south of france

Here is the story of a most remarkable 18th century château saved from dereliction by a young couple with loads of energy and great ideas.

The Château Margüi in the South of France was discovered by its present owners, Philippe and Marie: it had been abandoned for half a century and was without heating, without mains water and with ceilings collapsing while the grounds were disappearing behind a  forest of unkempt undergrowth.

Over ten years they have not only renovated the château to create a stunning family home,  but they have also renovated the extensive vineyards, and today produce an outstanding, organic wine.

On the ground floor of the chateau, they ripped out walls and inserted huge windows to create a large, kitchen, dining, living area with a very contemporary feel.

Elsewhere on the ground floor they have created another large space dedicated to music.

Upstairs, there are large, sparsely furnished rooms for the whole family, (they have five young children) that remain beautifully in keeping with the spirit of the Provençal château.

  It would be many people's dream to raise a young family on a property like this, and I love the way they have kept the interior very down to earth and approachable , rather than filling the chateau with priceless antiques.

This view over the rooftops of the property give a feel for the typical south french forest or maquis, that surrounds the château Margüi

If you would like to try their wines you can find all the information here

Photos thanks to Art & Decoration magazine

a very French garden - les jardins agapanthe

Here is a wonderful address to bookmark for the next time you are in Normandy.  A garden that is definitely worth the detour.  Les jardins Agapanthe, home and showroom to a very talented landscape designer, Alexandre Thomas;   a garden to drool over from April to October.

One of the houses in the garden ... love those oeil de boeuf windows on the roof ...

box bushes and vintage garden furniture are to be found at every turn...

 I asked Alexandre about his use of coarse sand all through the garden.  Visually it is very calming and peaceful, but I wondered how it interfered with any planting.

Turns out his soil is quite heavy so he simply plants where he needs to, then recovers the ground with the sand to make it look tidy, and to stop his visitors having muddy feet!

 all the right accessories :) ...........

and if you go in the spring or summer, you get to see many other flowers that I didn't see out this time, including of course the wonderful Agapanthus, that give the garden its name.

and finally if you want to know more, and can't get to visit straight away, you'll love this book, published recently and packed full of wonderful pictures.