my french country home

crisis in the chicken coop

2012-02-01T09:53:00.001+01:00

There is trouble in the village and it all started when a fox stole Henriette's rooster.

Let me explain. Henriette is our neighbour, she would be the wife of the amazing dancing Henri. She has always kept chickens and when we have a cake to bake or a soufflé to put together hers is the gate to knock at. Her eggs are large, fresh, dated by hand and sell like hotcakes.

Her chickens were an even tempered bunch, laying happily until last Christmas Day when a fox snatched her rooster! Henriette was sad, Henri grabbed his gun and went to look for the fox and her pretty hens went into mourning and stopped laying.

By coincidence, at the other end of the village, the young farmer Sebastien purchased some beautiful young chickens as a present for his wife. I know, I know not everyone's idea of the perfect gift but here we have our country values to defend.

Sebastien's chickens turned out to be des poules extraordinaires and before long were laying so well that he was into egg overflow situation. Having heard that Henriette's chickens weren't doing their stuff he helpfully put up a sign outside the gate offering eggs for sale each Saturday morning from 9 to 12.

His eggs are large, fresh, dated by hand and are selling like hotcakes.

In the meantime Henriette has acquired a replacement rooster, her hens are happy and Henriette is back in business. You can see where this is going.

What started as a simple chicken coop crisis has become a diplomatic situation.

As it is impossible to knock at either Henriette's or Sebastien's gate without being seen, the village folk find themselves with divided loyalties. Do we remain faithful to Henriette in which case Sebastien's new found source of income will dry up as suddenly as it started, or do we continue as clients to Sebastien and risk the wrath of Henri?!

Who would have thought that the appetite of a winter fox could cause so much disruption? In the village I hear whispered conversations discussing the merits of the opposing eggs. The shop has decided to have no part in the egg war and has turned to a new outside supplier. Sebastien seems to have some powerful lobbyists, but Henriette has the older generation on her side. All part of French village life.

And me in all of this? I now buy a dozen eggs from both gates!

As if life weren't already complicated enough!

19th century French floor tiles

2012-01-31T22:08:00.002+01:00

In most of the old houses around here if you let your gaze drop to the ground, you'll find that you are standing on an old 19th century decorative tiled floor. These tiles are tough enough to resist to most conditions, and even when walls need re-plastering or the actual floor level has moved, the tiles can be retrieved and relaid straight.

Typically the decorative tiles were laid as a 'rug' to echo the shape of the room. A border around the edge. Today it is possible to find complete 'rugs' of tiles for sale in the most beautiful colours.

It is not unusual in the old houses like ours, to find a decorative pattern used in the entrance hall and the kitchen with wooden parquet, or brick red tomettes laid in the adjacent living and dining areas.

I love the subtle colours of the floors, they seem to bring warmth and whimsy to today's neutral tones. In the bathroom below 19th century tiles have been reworked as a the wall on a walk in shower. Gorgeous yellow with the grey woodwork

Of course some tile patterns are more intricate than others, some designed to impress others to comfort (those things never change!), but to me it's a bonus to find an old house that still has this decorative floor pattern intact.

PS If you haven't entered yet, don't forget the fantastic Diane James Home giveaway, 2 days to go!

light and space in an old French bastide

2012-01-30T23:57:00.000+01:00

If I were to move back down to the South of France with it's beautiful light and gentle living, I would definitely love a house with proportions like these. Tall ceilings, wide open windows, gently light colours. Everything feels calm and uncluttered, the living looks easy.

I love the long dresser in this picture, so great for displaying plates or even lining up dishes for a big family lunch!

The furniture is not overdone, mostly vintage or brocante pieces, the accent is on colour, patina and textures. The bareness of the walls in the sitting room provide a striking set for the two huge orchard ladders.

Fittingly it is the bedroom that is given the most comfortable treatment, with a big soft armchair, and of course the wonderfully simple baldaquin over the bed.

How simple is this table?! Two bench supports and plank table top rounded at the corners. What makes it spectacular is its size.

This is my favourite picture,; I love the grey of the lamp stand against the neutral stone wall. The way the side table height has been raised, and those amazing little vases attached to the lamp - those I want!

Another example of French understatement, less is more. Simple materials, neutral colours, comfort in textiles with looking for anything fancy. The overall effect feels soothing to me - what do you think?

all pictures with thanks to campagne et doecoration

snowdrop sunday

2012-01-30T00:21:00.001+01:00

A 'lively' day here today, so I'll just leave you with a picture

of our first snowdrops that started flowering this week.

Thank you for stopping by.

I wish you all a serene Sunday.

dreaming of the smaller french house for sale

2012-01-29T01:31:00.000+01:00

A couple of readers have kindly written to me explaining that while you enjoy seeing the properties I show for sale, many would prefer some smaller less expensive houses to dream over.

So today let's pretend that we have maximum 200,000 euros to spend on a property in Normandy. We prefer an old house with character, and we don't mind if it needs a little restoration, and total redecorating! Do you agree with these criteria? Good, then here is my selection for you to carry around in your mind this weekend .......

I am showing you one of my favourites first of all, comes complete with a stable, chicken house, pond, large garden, wine cellar and huge attic to renovate

These properties are mostly further west in Normandy than us, often in the traditional Normandy style, that is long and narrow, rooms leading from one into another, usually with several fireplaces.

The beams showing through the structure is also typical of the region, on this house I love the exterior staircase

From the so sweet to the more imposing!

Voila! I have to add that I am not an estate agent, and the agencies have not paid me to show these properties, it's just my pleasure for an in-between-season weekend. If however you want more details on any of the houses, just drop me a line and I'll give you the link.

Happy dreaming!

small is beautiful

2012-01-27T23:44:00.001+01:00

I'm having fun with some old earthenware pots that I found. They must have been hand made, they are tiny and uneven in shape and size, so much more charming than today's industrially produced flower pots.

At the approach to spring it's nice to bring a little bit of outdoors inside. I've been playing around with some early crocus, snowdrops and pansies. What I don't have to hand in the garden can be bought at little expense and shared between the pots.

If I want to take the exercise further then I put together little vignettes using props to hand, like these gorgeous old books I found at the same place as the pots.

Little things, that take a few minutes but make the house feel dressed for the weekend!

Wishing you a sunny weekend, full of flowers and fun!

a Diane James Home give away

2012-01-27T10:10:00.000+01:00

I am delighted to welcome the fabulous Diane James Home as a new sponsor to My French Country Home, and to tell you about her amazing giveaway.

This pretty Peony and Rose bouquet looks as if the flowers have just been cut in the garden but they are actually faux! You have a chance to win this beautiful bouquet, that normally sells in Diane's store for $350.

Diane James arrangements have become a favourite with interior designers, and are to be found in elegant homes around the world. When you visit her store you'll be amazed at the variety of bouquets in all your favourite flowers, and the huge choice of beautiful plants that will look good for years!

Diane James creates the most exquisite faux bouquets with all my favourite flowers as well as beautiful faux plants and orchids. Her natural flair for flower arranging was nurtured when she lived in Europe, where she trained with the experts. Today her twin daughters, Carolyn and Cynthia, have joined her in the family company, and together they form a charming and winning team. In the United States she is a favourite supplier to designer stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus.

If you want to keep up with all their latest news, and see more stylish inspirations, you can check out the company's blog The Buzz

To enter the giveaway is easy. Simply check that you are a follower here, then head over to the Diane James site and browse her shelves. Come back here and tell me which of her products you prefer. If you would like additional entries to the draw, you simply talk about the giveaway on facebook , twitter or pinterest. A separate comment for each new entry please.

Extra good news is that Diane James is generously opening the give away to everyone, no matter where you live!

I will draw a winner in one week, on Thursday 2nd February at midnight Paris time. The lucky girl (or boy!) will be announced the next day, and hopefully will receive their bouquet in time for St Valentine's day.

Bonne chance à tout le monde!

Merci! for the past two years

2012-01-25T23:56:00.000+01:00

This Monday it was two years ago that I published my very first blog post.

If you write a blog you'll remember that emotion, finger hovering above the publish button, then finally you hit it and ... then you wonder what the fuss was all about because nobody knows your blog exists anyway so it really didn't matter if it was a well written post or not!

I digress...

Two years on Monday, and by a happy coincidence, you, my wonderful readers, gave me the best anniversary gift, because Monday I received an all time record number of visits for my little blog.

So today I have to say

THANK YOU MERCI BEAUCOUP THANK YOU MERCI BEAUCOUP THANK YOU MERCI BEAUCOUP THANK YOU MERCI BEAUCOUP

thank you for reading me, for showing interest in what I have to say, for encouraging me to continue writing and showing you pictures from my corner of Normandy. Writing a blog is a life changing experience that connects you with people all over the world in the most unexpected manner. Which is where I also have to thank my husband and children for their encouragement and patient acceptance of my intrusive camera!

You have made me laugh, you have even made me cry! I love reading your mails that share such big moments in your lives; I love reading your comments even if I don't have time to reply to all; I love the unexpected 'secondary effects' of a blog: the new friendships; the new awareness of a worldwide community.

And to every single person who stopped by on my 2nd anniversary, a very special thank you for making the day so amazing. For as long as people are kind enough to come by to see me, I shall be inspired to share more beautiful French houses, favourite French recipes, to chat about my brocante finds and to indulge in some girly and family talk too.

Talking of which ....

don't forget to check out MFCH tomorrow, I have a fantastic giveaway for you!

Bonne journée mes amis!

all pictures taken in the valley, the first at Bords de Scene

French women preparing for spring

2012-01-24T23:38:00.001+01:00

Even though we haven't reached the end of January, there is a deliciously spring like feel to the air. The birds have picked up on it and have dusted off their spring songs. Snowdrops are out in the garden and like every other woman in France I am beginning to think about Spring... and lighter weight clothes... and putting away those heavy jumpers that have so conveniently hidden the fact that in the winter we indulge in a little over eating.

UGH! Some things just have to be said!

So here we go, my insider view on how French women are preparing for the fast approaching spring.

First of all they are moving! Running, cycling, swimming, dancing, riding, walking or going to the gym - it's not what they do but how often. The experts say that 20 minutes a day of movement and exercise is enough to make a real difference. Walking the dog, cycling to the store, taking the stairs instead of a lift, in my case walking up the hill to feed the horses ...it all counts , especially for us bloggers who have too many temptations to stay sitting down!

Next they are drinking water , aqua, de l’eau! Lots of it, for a couple of weeks they forget about wine, champagne etc and drink a couple more glasses of water a day than they would normally. The winter holidays always brings too many opportunities to raise a glass of champagne or indulge in heavy meals, now is the time to repent!

Then of course their food, SIGH .... French women and their food, it is fascinating to see them surrounded by so many great things to eat and still stay slim. It's no secret , they hold back! They are reasonable, a little of everything, moderation, and avoid the carbs and the desserts! Three well balanced meals a day, no snacking, plenty of vegetables and light protein. I see it everyday, French women take their time over meals, they don't skip meals, but that doesn't mean they eat a lot.

One secret I can reveal to you is 'bouillon', light stock, preferably home made not from a cube. To be drunk with a few vegetables and even a little pasta. Delicious, satisfying, wholesome. Effective!

So what do you think? I know this stuff, you know this stuff, we read it every time we open a magazine, but for the French it is simply non-negotiable.

You want to be slim, you work at it. So here is my challenge to you, and to me: let February, March and April be the months that make the difference. Let us feel good ... à la francaise.

Feel inspired

feel French

feel the difference!

PS. sorry about the 'slogans' at the end, I've been watching Mad Men! :)

understated French elegance

2012-01-24T07:52:00.000+01:00

I love the quiet understated style of the Belgian interiors. This house is in France, but near the Belgian border and I have been looking closely at the details.

The rooms are very high, which I don't normally like, but here it seems to work thanks to the clever positioning of oversize mirrors and large, neutral coloured furniture.

In the bathroom another huge mirror has been stood against the wall, giving an exceptional feel to a small room.

The kitchen dining area is my favourite. I love their choice of flooring; the contrast between the rustic table and the ornate chairs; the glass fronted free standing cabinets and of course the stove! Excuse me... the stove?!! What a monster! but just think how easy it would be to cook lunch for 20 with a baby like that in the kitchen!

Plus in the kitchen, I love the collection of cake stands arranged under the island. They'd make for a lot of dusting but they look fantastic.

What does this style say to you?

all photos thanks to art and decoration

brocante hunting in Normandy

2012-01-22T23:23:00.002+01:00

Twice a year, in a town not far from us, there is a massive brocante and antique fair. Dealers come from all over France to show their goods, and it provides a unique opportunity to find so many specialists under one roof.

There are dealers selling silver ware, paintings, old dolls, jewellery, linen and a huge variety of furniture.

I spent some time there this weekend, and made a few purchases for our home. In September I'll be returning to the autumn version of the fair, and if you wish, you can come too.

The American company Tea Garden Travel, has invited me to host a group of their clients for a short stay in Normandy, antique buying and visiting gardens. Accommodation will be in a local château, and the programme will include brocante, gardens, shopping, meals out and an evening at my home. Michele Abrate who runs the company, will be organising the trip. She has run tours and specialised holidays for many years, so I know that my guests will be in excellent hands. It's going to be fun!

So whether your taste be more white lace and heavy linen, or old furniture with patina, or if you dream of taking home an old impressionist painting, this could be the trip for you!

For more details contact Michele at Tea Garden and she will explain how the trip is to be planned.

PS. Just had to share these last four pictures, from a dealer I discovered, they are called Mon Ile Arzon - if you're in Brittany this summer, this is definitely an address to be looked into!

bartabas - a king at versailles palace

2012-01-21T20:18:00.000+01:00

If you plan to visit France this year and expect to stop by at Versailles while you are here, I would highly recommend you crossing the street from the palace and stepping into the .... stables. They are inhabited by a horseman who is a magician, a true artist.

Bartabas stands alone, proud, aloof, enigmatic, he seems to communicate more easily with horses than with men, but the shows he put together have enchanted audiences for years as they marvel at the horsemanship and the art.

He also produces shows in the north of Paris, under the name Zingaro, at his own 'circus' ground, but for nearly 10 years he has settled into the stables at Versailles, and the result is magical.

Many proficient riders would like to be part of his team, but the selection process is ruthless, and the working conditions are unusual. When the new riding teams are formed they find themselves riding for hours, but also taking lessons in fencing (to improve their reactivity); drawing (to help them understand the muscles of their horses) and singing (to improve their self confidence)!

Great attention is paid to aesthetics in Bartabas' productions. The textiles and the colours of the costumes are stunning, and of course the horses themselves breathtaking. They perform to music, with or without riders, against a backdrop^of the high ceilings and creamy coloured stones of the old palace buildings.

You can find details of the shows here, bear in mind that if you can't get into an evening performance, the morning rehearsal sessions are wonderful too.

women in paris with their dogs and high heels

2012-01-20T21:58:00.000+01:00

Today I bring you a little bit of whimsy to set you off for the weekend in the right frame of mind!

These delicious illustrations are by the talented French designer Izak Zenou, who has created his signature style, specialising in fashion illustration.

I love the very Parisian feel to his drawings. His women are tall, long legged and happy. They float around in today's busy world looking happy and carefree, content to be beautiful. And who has never wanted to do that?!

His pictures make me think of my girls, striding out confidently, having fun with their friends...., preferably in high heels and with a small dog in tow! :)

But IZAK doesn't only illustrate, he has also designed a line of bags, scarves and accessories for names such as Celine, Guerlain and La Samaritaine. Today his products and artwork are available at the New York store Henri Bendel.

And the really cool thing is that you can get customised stationery using his artwork! Party invitations, greeting cards, Izak's drawings carrying your message - wonderful!

Wishing you all a whimsical weekend, be it in Paris, New York, Budapest or

Sydney; let us walk as tall as the girls drawn by Izak.

all photos thanks to the Izak Zenou website

blogging - a procrastinator's dream

2012-01-19T22:32:00.001+01:00

Yesterday afternoon had been set aside in my mind to make some cushions. It was cold outside, the dog was asleep, my emails were up to date, the children at school until 6, even the house was clean and tidy. No excuses, I could settle down in my sewing room and have time to make the pillows I have promised my daughter for her bedroom

You can tell where this is going can't you ............. Before I start sewing with vintage fabrics I always spend time checking for marks or flaws, experimenting with complimentary patterns and matching the cuts of fabric to produce the best result.

Well yesterday, the fooling-around-with-fabric took over from the real-task-at-hand and an hour later I was having such fun that I had even got out the camera. So once I had the camera going, I just had to tidy all the shelves and sort the threads, and arrange the pins on the pincushion ..... and lo and behold I ran out of time to actually make anything at all.

But excuse me! ... I do have a blog to write after all.

Yes, that is the advantage of being a blogger, that even procrastination

can be justified if it results in a couple of pictures

I hope your day is going well, and that you - unlike myself - will
finish the day with a tidy list of chores all ticked off, done and dusted.

PS to my daughter: don't worry honey, you'll get your cushions!

dreaming of a house in Normandy?

2012-01-18T22:34:00.000+01:00

Have you ever dreamt of changing lifestyle and heading out to the deepest French countryside to do up an old house and run your own B&B ? I may have the place for you......

This beautiful house is 250 years old , it was originally a Fuller's mill. Its 2.5 acre garden backs onto a nature reserve, and has its own spring supplying fresh water to the whole property;

The house is to be found down a tiny lane in a beautiful little valley. Among the numerous outbuildings, is this stunning old barn that could be converted into further living space.

The main house is not enormous but has an open plan living area with a huge fireplace, a cellar and five bedrooms. There is a tiny maison d'amis with a bedroom and a bathroom plus another barn with 5 more bedrooms and a large work studio upstairs. The property has been run as a seminar centre for several years. The structure and layout are fantastic but there is still scope for improvement and embellishment.

These pictures show the back of the main house, overlooking the grassy slope leading down to the stream. It would be great to add a raised wrap around porch to this side of the building and enjoy the views and sunlight.

This is the side of the house that people arrive to. The garden is well planted and very attractive. The terrace is a great place to eat alfresco.

The extensive grounds are as quiet as they are beautiful. The soil is rich, the garden grows well.

The large barn close to the house was built with five bedrooms on the ground floor and two huge studios above. The property can sleep over 20 people so this space is useful when welcoming groups. With its wooden beams and wood clad walls it is warm and welcoming. Again the potential is enormous.

Back in the main house, the living area with its large wood burning stove feels relaxed and inviting. The windows on the left look out towards the stream.

This long corridor in the main house upstairs serving the bedrooms and bathrooms gives a feel for the overall size of the property. I love the use of the oriental rugs, and the way that antique furniture and paintings can be displayed so effectively.

The bedrooms upstairs are charming, they feel warm and cosy

The sweet little maison d'amis lies directly opposite the entrance to the main house.

vaulted ceilings in the cellar

Today the kitchen is compact and functional, with a walk in larder and storage area behind.

The property is a couple of hours drive from Paris, in the heart of the cheese country. Camembert, Livarot, and Le Pont l'Eveque are just a couple of the famous cheeses made locally. The university town of Caen and the pretty seaside town of Deauville are an hour away, the landing beaches too.

I know this property well. It is up for sale furnished and equipped at around 450,000 euros, I believe there is some room for negotiation. If you would like any other details don't hesitate to get in touch, I'll happily answer your questions or put you in touch directly with the owner.

early this morning in our valley

2012-01-17T21:55:00.000+01:00

Up and about early this morning, another thick frost on the ground, I took my camera with me. All along our valley there are small stone built villages, each with a church. Many villages have a small château somewhere central and they all have an old 'lavoir' or communal washing stand on the river, where the women used to take their laundry.

Of course we have the new builds as well, and they are not always a happy match to the beautiful old stone work, but this morning I could only see the beautiful.

I just love all these tones of winter grey, summer will seem brash after this subtle season. The slight mist in the air, the lack of leaves on the trees, and this additional frost, makes the countryside look as if viewed in soft focus.

Hope your week is going well

Thank you for stopping by!

this week we are eating - poires au vin

2012-01-16T22:01:00.001+01:00

Our local orchards pick their apples and pears in September and store the fruit through the winter, selling the different varieties in a certain order. Some keep better than others, so we have to wait longer for them to be available. We have just got to the Comice pears, my favourite! Big, juicy with a wonderful flavour.

Here is a ridiculously easy recipe for pears cooked in wine, a perfect winter dessert, that can be prepared ahead, looks pretty and feels light!

To make my poires au vin, I normally cook 6 pears. With them I'll need about half a bottle of white wine, about half a cup of sugar, the juice of a lemon and a couple of spoons of home made orange marmalade.

First peel the pears and carefully cut out the cores from the base. I leave the stalks but find that it's a good idea to cut the base flat so the pears will stand nicely in a serving dish.

As each pear is peeled stand it in a saucepan and squeeze a little lemon juice over, to prevent discolouring. Once all the fruit is peeled and in the pan, pour in the white wine, this should come almost half way up the height of the pears. I used a dry white wine, some may prefer a sweeter taste.

Pour in the sugar, again the quantity is a question of taste, and more can be added later. I also add a couple of spoons of marmalade, the orange flavour adds a little zing and the chunks of orange zest look pretty against the pale fruit.

Start warming the pan and let the pears come to the boil then simmer gently for about 20 minutes. You want the fruit to be perfectly tender, but not to fall apart. When the fruit is cooked through, remove from the pan onto a dish and turn the heat up to reduce the wine sauce. You want to obtain a syrupy consistency, that will glaze the pears, but still liquid enough to give some sauce.

I serve the pears cold, but make a warm chocolate sauce to drizzle over by melting some good quality dark chocolate with a little water, sugar and rum. Yum! Hope you enjoy!

but baby it's cold outside ...

2012-01-15T22:52:00.000+01:00

A stunning start to the day today, with bright sunshine and a heavy frost. I left the breakfast table, grabbed my camera and snapped a couple of shots of the box bushes along the driveway.

What a wonderful plant this is, slow growing maybe but so dense and regular in it's shape and foliage. I love the way the frost creates a little white halo around each leaf.

On the lawn the frost was heavy too and the daffodils are beginning to wonder if it was such a smart idea to push their way through the grass so soon! Spring must be on it's way!!

french barn conversion

2012-01-15T00:46:00.002+01:00

All over Normandy there are properties with old stone barns attached. We have one, our neighbours have two, across the road there is at least one more. Our barn above, is used to store hay, put away the bikes, hold parties for teenagers ... it's a pretty busy place, but sometimes barns are converted into living space, and here is a great example.

The beauty of this conversion to my mind is that they haven't gone rustic, the contrast between the modern lines, the comfortable furniture and beautiful design, simply makes it a great place to live without harping on about being a former barn.

These pictures are in my file now, just in case, one day .....

wishing you a great weekend full of projects and plans

thanks to art et decoration for the pictures

authentic french living

2012-01-14T09:52:00.000+01:00

We are lucky here to have many interesting and charming guests come to stay. They seem to enjoy the valley and the French way of life, and often comment on our 'quality of life' or the authentic feel of french living.

Of course it is very difficult to analyse objectively a lifestyle that just comes naturally, but these conversations make me think about elements of our country life here, that give that authentic french touch to our everyday routine. And I have to say that it seems to comes down to attitude and atmosphere rather than furniture and paint colour.

Quiet - The first thing people comment on is the quiet - well yes, we live in a small village, on a very quiet road, in fact as our neighbour has stables, we have more racehorses go past our house than cars!

Time - how can people be busy and active and yet give the impression of taking their time? For me this is just a question of enjoying the moment. There are days when I have to run around in the car, but that doesn't stop me slowing down to enjoy the beautiful countryside, or even screeching to a halt to take a picture.

When I have guests in the cottage, there is plenty of other stuff happening too, but taking time to chat with our guests is up at the top of my list of priorities.

Pleasure - Anyone can find pleasure in their everyday life, finding pleasure is a state of mind, it's not material. For a start we can banish cynicism and open ourselves up to enjoy what we have to hand

Living well - This is not about money, this is about simple living. For example eating the right food and taking the time to appreciate. Eating, seated as a family, talking, sharing. When our children have friends to stay over here at the weekend, the moment they all like the best is breakfast on Sunday morning, at a big table, laid nicely, the fire lit, fresh bread and home made jam. None of this is a question of finance, it is just creating the right atmosphere.

If we have friends to lunch or to dinner, everyone expects to chat over a long aperitif and to enjoy a meal that will last for several hours because there is lively conversation, pauses between dishes and everybody is there to take their time.

If I had to choose one thing that epitomises French living, it would be shopping at the fresh food market. The contrast between a real farmers market and the supermarket is blatant. At a supermarket, I tear up and down alleys with piped music in the background, fill up the trolley with the same stuff each time and get out as fast as I can.

At the farmers market, I forget the list, and instead walk around to see what is on offer. I bump into people I know, chat, the vendors laugh and joke, the goods are laid out beautifully, it is a sensual experience. I walk away with a basket full of healthy food and a smile on my face.

So tell me, which bit of your day will you enjoy the most today?

Hope you're heading for a good weekend, thank you for stopping by.

colours of gardens in the south of france

2012-01-12T21:17:00.000+01:00

A very busy day today, so I am simply leaving you with a couple of beautiful gardens to contemplate. They are all in the South of France, where there is something special in the colours of the vegetation and the light. Here they avoid buys flowerbeds, greedy for water and maintenance and tend to emphasise more the colour of the stone and trees against layers of green . I find the result restful and soothing. And that my friends is exactly what I need today!

Tomorrow I'll have time to chat!

all photos with thanks to sothebys

finding brocante at french auctions

2012-01-12T09:19:00.002+01:00

Have you ever shopped at auctions? There is a sort of thrill to it, as if danger were lurking in the background. Raise your hand at the wrong moment and you find yourself landing a stuffed boa or the complete works of Marx.

Of course buying at an auction is partly good luck. If there's no one else in the room interested in what you like you get a bargain, but just one other buyer with the same taste as you and you may as well pack up and go home.

At the auction house where I spent yesterday afternoon, there is seating space for about 100 people and the others stand around the back of the room. In any case by the end of the sale everyone is standing because the chairs are up for bids too!

So yesterday I found some good stuff, enough to show you a little winter loot shoot. The light isn't good today, so my 'group' shot of the loot shoot isn't brilliant. I prefer to show you more individual pictures.

My favourite pieces are the paintings, the sheets (no surprise there!) the old cigarette cases that would be pretty to keep visiting cards, make up or medication in a bag or on a table.

I'd love to hear if you have a great auction story to tell!
Thank you for reading me.

how to recognise a true parisian man?

2012-01-10T23:17:00.001+01:00

Vincent Cassel - actor

The true Parisian is temperamental! There, I said it, but I think there is no way around it. He can be the most charming and irresistible person you have ever met and he can be arrogant and plain difficult. But maybe therein lies his charm ...

He wants to please and be pleased. He adores the women he meets, but loves it when they adore him too.

Flirting and charming is second nature to him, his compliments are as flattering as they are quickly forgotten.

These pictures are of Bernard Henri Levy, France's best known philospher,

and for me the archetype of the elegant parisien. Seen here with his actress wife.

He dresses well, likes to look dashing, loves good shoes. He can carry off that wonderful air of elegance and ease, smart without looking uncomfortable. He wears a warm scarf tied around his neck in winter, and sunglasses in the summer. He'll wear polo t-shirts but never short sleeved shirts.

He is a gentleman, he holds doors open, and waits for the ladies to be seated before taking his own place. He is happy to joke, but happier still to argue ... about anything; the state of the world; the best way to cook his favourite dish, the merits of the latest film - he is a great conversationalist. Happy to spend time with friends, delighted to enjoy a romantic dinner with the woman in his life.

Vincent Cassel and his wife Belucci

He loves his children, he doesn't feel ridiculous buying flowers, he wears perfume, he enjoys the opera and good restaurants, he knows about wine. He can talk about books, politics, women, food and sport. He is an accomplisher.

If you want to please a Parisian, be sure to have something interesting to say, and to have made an effort with your appearance. Then just enjoy!

Voila! A light-hearted look at le parisien, probably too stereotyped,

but hey ... this is just a blog!

what makes a girl a real parisienne?

2012-01-10T07:20:00.000+01:00

If I say 'parisienne' (which incidentally means a woman from Paris as opposed to 'parisien' which means a man), what image does it conjure up in your mind?

Eiffel tower, baguette, French music, perfect hair? ....

As hard as it may be to generalise, there are some stereotypes that work. As if the women in paris become the archetypes of la femme française. We live in the country, although only an hour from Paris, and it's always easy to spot a parisienne in a dinner here.

Physically the real Parisienne is neat, well dressed and beautifully presented. She likes to stay very slim, and is very careful with her diet. (no surprises there!)

She enjoys Paris, can't imagine life possible outside of the city! She likes to snob the country dwellers but is actually delighted to be invited out of the city at the weekend.

She wears a minimum of make up, often choosing to emphasise either eyes or lips, rather than both. Her hair isn't always perfectly blow dried, often simply caught up in a soft unruly chignon à la Bardot.

She likes to dress well, but that doesn't always mean designer labels. The Parisienne will often mix one really good piece, be it a LBD, a great bag or wonderful shoes, with other more ordinary items from her wardrobe.

She works hard and runs around Paris all day long. She knows the Metro off by heart and is happy to jump on a velib to gain time and get some extra exercise. If she has children, she must find a jeune fille to pick them up from school and help them with homework until maman gets back.

She shops at small stores in her quartier, and in the Parisian street markets for her food. For her clothes she'll have a couple of favourite addresses.

If she's really sporty she'll take part in the race that carries her name 'La Parisienne' a half marathon run every May in Paris.

She loves to meet with a girlfriend for lunch, sitting out on terrace, chatting over a salad and espresso coffee.... and some things just never change!

photos 1 and 4 from La parisienne by ines de la fressange; other photos google

dimanche à la campagne - french country sunday

2012-01-08T23:12:00.001+01:00

I hope you're enjoying a good weekend. Here it's horses on the agenda today, some riding this afternoon but mostly a morning of maintenance. Tidying up the tack room, cleaning leathers, fixing the fence around the field, replenishing hay and water.

Heavy work that has to be done, and once you get started it's really quite nice. This is all part of having your own horse at home. They have to be fed and cared for no matter what else needs to be done. Our horses drink about 40 litres of water a day, and there is no water supply to the fields apart from me and rain water coming down a gutter! No need to go to the gym!! :)

bon dimanche!

french oil paintings

2012-01-08T09:45:00.000+01:00

I was beyond excited yesterday to find a couple of little paintings that I adore. Bringing them home sent me into a flurry of relocating paintings.

I love groups of paintings , united by colour or theme. Whenever I have the chance I pick up small paintings, generally oils, often on board rather than canvas. I have them framed when I get around to it, otherwise they are stood on shelves, between books, behind a lamp. Just can't have too many!

Today I grouped some above the table in our entrance hall, and some others above the tub in a bathroom. Tell me what you think BTW if you think a couple aren't quite straight, you're probably right! sorry I didn't see until the post went up then I ran out of time to reshoot ! sigh ... )

In the bathroom I assembled 10 canvases that are all about water, and happen to be in the same palette.

They started off standing up against the narrow shelf behind the tub, then little by little they crept up on to the wall. It's never that easy to find the right positions straight away, and as these canvases are very lightweight, I just use tiny copper tacks that can easily be moved around.

In the entrance hall it was more difficult. All the paintings are landscapes, in similar colour ways, but some are framed, some not, and some just stood in frames temporarily.

The top picture was my main find yesterday (I love to 'borrow' stuff from the store until it finds a new home!). It's a pretty oil on canvas of a village not far from here.

This little square scene, is the other one that I found yesterday , I just love the shadows falling across the track.

au revoir Noël

2012-01-07T15:38:00.000+01:00

Goodbye to Christmas,

I'll be packing everything away on Monday; our last weekend to enjoy the tree (which still smells delicious!) and the extra colour and sparkle that even our low level decorations have brought to the home.

Rather than show you pictures of me packing boxes - because nothing could be less inspiring than that - I'll share these exquisite pictures of a French home that is just my style, and that also still has the tree in place.

breakfast here please ...
(those are my sort of tureens)

show me a little girl who wouldn't love this in her room!!

or a big girl who wouldn't love this bathtub! :)

adore the aubusson rug at the foot of the bed

I love the colours in the dining room

and I need this sink ... now! oh yes, and the dish towel thing

painted rug on the floor, I can definitely cope with that and ...

the christmas tree under a silk canopy - and why not?!
(don't you think this room could almost be in a dolls house?)

Voila! Enjoy your weekend!

all pictures thanks to campagne et decoration

advice to daphne - a book?!!

2012-01-06T19:27:00.000+01:00

My (imaginary) friend Daphne has been in Versailles since last spring and is really settling in now. She and I have been exchanging notes over Christmas - sounds like she has plans!

Three weeks ago .....

My sweet Daphne

How lovely to receive your invite, thank you, we'd love to come to dinner next week, sounds like you're becoming quite the Versailles socialite.

I'm so glad you put my advice about staying slim into practice, it's not surprising that you're feeling so wonderful and 'petite' , I told you there was no secret! At dinner you'll be able to wear one of those dresses you've been telling me about and show off the new you!

About our conversation the other day ... darling, I know you've been in France for a whole 8 months now, but do you think it may be a tad early to write the definitive tome on the French and their wily ways?? Your Versailles girlfriends may be encouraging , but you know, it's one thing making a few gals laugh over a coffee, it's another to write a best seller.

If you want to test the water, why not try writing a blog instead - I've heard they're all the rage!

Your friend

Two weeks ago .....

Dear Daphne,

I find it amazing that you already have yourself a contract to write! Whatever did you do to get that ... no , on second thoughts, don't tell me, I'd rather guess.

And thank you darling, but flattered as I am to be invited by your 'publisher' to write the introduction to the book; I think I shall decline, I'll be happy to buy a volume in our local book store and be able to say "I knew her once" !

your amie, S

10 days ago ...

Daphne darling,

What’s the matter with the man?! Nobody pays that much for the opening chapter to a potentially-never-sold book about Paris !! - where's the catch? The answer is still no,

with affection and patience, your friend S

8 days ago ...

OK Daphne, it's now official - you've found yourself a publisher with more money than sense. Well good on you gal, and yes, yes, OK , I'll write a short introduction for you, but please don't ask me to get involved in any of your 'on the ground research', I don't think I have the strength.

PS They don't really want you to measure hemlines do they?!

Today ...

Thank goodness Daphne,

So glad you saw the light about the man, I knew it wasn't your writing he was after!! :)

Yes of course I was serious about the blog idea; I think it would be great. You could write about getting to know Paris as a mother with young children and as wife to a successful business man you’ll give us tips on where to shop, where to go for lunch, which hairdressers to use, it would be a ball! You could cover all the chic stuff we country girls can only dream about.

Speaking of which, why don’t you and I have a chic lunch next week to talk about it?!

Kisses, ton amie, S

PS You’ll need to find a good name for the blog – I'll ask around for ideas !

Well! What can I say, sounds like Daphne has more surprises up her sleeve! If you have any ideas for the title to her upcoming blog, or indeed advice on style and content, I just know she'd love to hear from you!

If you didn't read our earlier correspondence, you may like to know that I already advised her on throwing a dinner party; staying slim; kissing; her clothes and saying 'tu' !

Thank you for reading me (and her!) , Daphne and I both wish you a great weekend!

this week we are eating ... French onion soup

2012-01-06T05:19:00.000+01:00

The wind is howling outside here, rain is pouring down, the fire is lit and I find myself with the ideal conditions for serving a hot French onion soup. Not a recipe to be rushed, this soup has to be planned, it will take about 2 hours to be ready - but oh! it is SO worth it! And it's fun because each person gets their own little soup, served piping hot, topped with bubbling cheese. This is serious comfort food!

To make an onion soup for 6- 8 people you will need:

8 large onions

olive oil or butter

sugar and salt

about 2 pints (1.2 litres) good strong stock (chicken works, but beef is better)

glass of white wine

glug of something stronger (sherry or cognac)

a baguette

grated gruyere or emmenthal cheese

First cut up your onions into thin slices, mix with with a dash of salt and a little sugar and cook gently in butter or olive oil (either are good, whichever you prefer). Cook gently doesn't mean fry fast until sizzled around the edges; these onions need time to relax and melt then to caramelise; personally I allow at least 45 minutes.

Pour onto the onions your stock, add the wine. The stock has to be good quality, preferably home made. Some prefer chicken, I like beef for this recipe. If all else fails you can use stock cubes but .....

You want the onions to bubble away in the stock and wine for an hour, over a very gently heat. It's a shame to cook any less than that because this is when all the flavour comes through. Add the sherry, pepper and more salt if required. All this can be done in advance.

When you're ready to serve, make the croutons by slicing baguette thinly and baking the slices in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil until lightly toasted. Make sure your soup is very hot, check the seasoning, then ladle into the individual pots, mugs, bowls, ramequins ... whatever - as long as they are ovenproof.

Lay several croutons on the surface of the soup and sprinkle grated cheese over the top then stand the bowls beneath the grill in your oven. DON'T walk away at this point!! You want the cheese bubbling but not burnt.

This soup is best when eaten very hot, straight from the over. Oh yes, don't expect much conversation from your guests, they'll be too involved in the amazing depth and flavour of this simple recipe!

Bon appetit!

all photos found on google

optimism in the garden

2012-01-05T08:11:00.000+01:00

Although this isn't the prettiest time of year in the garden, it may well be the most optimistic.

January is the time to stay in the warm and plan, to dream, to remember what worked well last year, to forget the heavy work and simply enjoy the prospect of things looking good.

I am not shy to admit that with age I am becoming lazy! I look for easier solutions. That's one of the reasons I use so many perennials in the garden: plant them, water them, a few kind words and they are away!

The snowdrops and daffodils are already pushing through the grass ready to flower in February and March. Last Autumn I was really lazy and didn't lift the dahlia bulbs, but the winter has been so mild that I'm not too worried.

I have to check my books, but I fear I've left it too late to divide any peonies, so they'll have to stay put for another year too.

Very sadly we have lost this wonderful rambling rose, I planted a replacement nearby at the beginning of the winter, we shall see how that gets on.

Of course some perennials are a bit too sure of themselves and can easily get out of hand, like the purple flowering sage in the potager;

others are real show-offs, like these perennial poppies; they brag and stand straight as possible, willing to do anything to draw attention to themselves, blissfully unaware that they'll soon die back and leave a space for someone else to move into.

... and do I have a favourite? well , I try not to let it show, but against our old walls I do love the towering spikes of the delphiniums and foxgloves. Every year I sow and plant a few more, no doubt this year I'll do the same .... and dream a little longer .....

Hope your week is going well, and you're finding time to dream a little too!

feeling young in France

2012-01-04T09:56:00.003+01:00

When my husband popped to the village shop to buy croissants early on New Year's day, he bumped into our neighbour, Henri.

They shook hands and wished each other all the best for the year to come, and talked about this and that. As they parted dear Henri smiled and said that he'd be having a quiet day. "Oh?" asked my husband, "not under the weather are you?", "Non, non, pas du tout", replied Henri, " but I was dancing until 4.30 am, my feet are a little sore" ........... Henri is 94 years old!

What is Henri's secret?

There is no doubt that the simple French life, eating good food and enjoying life seems to pay off. he has worked hard all his life, I'm told he was a "force de la nature" (extremely strong) when young. He still tends his (huge) garden, grows all his own vegetables, chops his wood, plays cards with friends most afternoons and yes, he loves to dance.

He once told me that he wears trainers to dance in these days because it gives him more spring to his step... and I have heard that he glides around that dance floor. His wife likes to dance too, but I think she's finding it hard to keep up.

Henri has girlfriends come and ring at his gate on Sunday afternoons, asking if he's free to go dancing at the village Guingette (dancing tea salon), mostly he says yes, but now and again his wife says that he has to finish his chores first!

All through the month of January Henri and his wife will be sharing the Galette des Rois with their family and friends, Sunday afternoon is a favourite moment of the week for cutting into this delicious almond pastry, seeing who gets to be 'king' and wishing each other Bonne Année over a glass of champagne.

One Sunday afternoon as my girls were riding through the village, they noticed that there were gendarmes stopping cars and inviting drivers to blow into a balloon! Further down the road they met an elderly lady we know, she slowed down the car to chat and the girls told her about the gendarmes. "Oh merci mes chéries, I just enjoyed a galette and champagne with some girlfriends, I think I'll take another route home"!! With that she turned the car around and shot off in the other direction! ... That sweet lady is also over 90.

We are lucky to know these delicious people, among the last of a generation who has seen the village change and grow. We'd all do well to follow their example!

a french address for brocante

2012-01-02T22:44:00.000+01:00

While the brocante fairs are put on hold at this time of year, I have to satisfy my craving for finding treasure elsewhere. Local suppliers are among my favourite haunts, but sometime soon I shall jump in my car and drive to this amazing place for the day.

Up in the north of France, heading towards Belgium is Bruxelles Antiques, where they have taken the concept of a store to a completely different level. The owners, who are also expert in decoration, welcome their clients individually and help them in their choice, To complement the store and encourage their shoppers to hang around they have a restaurant on site.

It looks to me like a great place for a day trip with a couple of girlfriends, or maybe I could persuade my husband to take me there for lunch! But it is over 2 hours from us, he may not leap for joy at that idea!

Voila! A few images to get us dreaming and moving in the right direction at the start of the year. I hope you have some fun projects lined up too!

looking ahead

2012-01-01T23:10:00.001+01:00

A long walk is in order today, but besides that the first day of the new year is a day of reflection, of plans, of optimism and rest.

Here the morning is calm, the discussion gentle, a little light housework to be done by my daughter after her party :), there was a breakfast for 12 earlier on, a lunch en famille and after the walk it will be a book beside the fire for me.

I refuse to use the word resolutions, because I am notoriously bad at sticking to them, but I definitely like to think about directions, projects, hopes and desires.

Tomorrow I shall tell you more about my wishlist for 2012 ..... or maybe not.
Tomorrow is another day.

a worldwide happy new year

2012-01-01T10:54:00.002+01:00

I am lucky enough to have readers from all over the world , kind enough to stop by at my blog. I wish you all a very happy new year, wherever you are, and thank you again for reading me.

bonne année - voorspoedige nuwejaar - عام سعيد - sretna nova godina - З новым годам - xin nian kuai le - pace e salute - godt nytår - head uut aastat - gelukkig nieuwjaar - šťastný nový rok - onnellista uutta vuotta - გილოცავთ ახალ წელს - ein gutes neues Jahr - kali chronia - sal mubarak - bònn ané - שנה טובה - nav varsh ki subhkamna - boldog új évet - gleðilegt nýtt ár - selamat tahun baru - ath bhliain faoi mhaise - felice anno nuovo - akemashite omedetô - 새해 복 많이 받으세요 - sala we ya nû pîroz be - laimīgu Jauno gadu - laimingų Naujųjų Metų - Среќна Нова Година - umyaka omucha omuhle - godt nyttår - szczęśliwego nowego roku - سال نو مبارک - feliz ano novo - С Новым Годом - bliadhna mhath ur - Срећна нова година -

sanad wanagsan - feliz año nuevo - สวัสดีปีใหม่ - yeni yılınız kutlu olsun - unyaka omusha omuhle - blwyddyn newydd dda

2011 hasn't been the easiest year for our world, nobody knows what the new one will bring. It seems to me that all we do can do is live decently, be kind, do our best, and care for those around us. The rest will have to sort itself out. This year I'm looking forward to writing and sharing and learning and making new friends, thank you for keeping me company.

remembering my first french new year

2011-12-31T10:24:00.000+01:00

The first time I spent the New Year in France, was also the first time I was invited to meet my future husband's family, and I was a little nervous. I flew down to Paris, spent a romantic afternoon in the capital before being whisked out to the country home.

The dinner was to be a traditional family celebration, and that is surely the best way to meet for the first time.

From the moment I walked through the door, I was not only warmly welcomed but made to feel part of the party and allowed to help with the preparations!

The French New Year dinner was bigger and more sophisticated than any meal I had eaten in my life! A long table was laid out for almost twenty people, most of whom were already present and busy.

The men were put to opening the oysters, and laying the fires; little girls shown how to lay the table beautifully, the wonderful grandmother was busy making a wicked chocolate mousse, and keeping a careful eye on what everyone else was doing!

I was given easy tasks and encouraged to join in the busy bubbly conversations around the busy bubbly kitchen table. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that there were many different sorts of dishes being prepared, but I had to wait until we sat down to understand what this dinner would be like.

Suddenly there was a change in tempo, and it was declared to be the right moment 'pour se preparer' to get changed and make ourselves look lovely! I had brought with me a LBD and high heels, neither flashy nor casual, I felt comfortable although by the end of the meal I would happily have let the waist out a bit!!

All the girls, from the youngest (4 years old) to the doyenne (the eldest at 84 years old) disappeared and could be heard chatting as they did each others hair, or buttoned up a pretty dress. The men also changed and little by little everyone drifted back down to the main fire, where bottles of champagne had appeared accompanied by tiny, delicious 'amuse gueules' .

The long table was beautiful, candles placed here and there, pretty napkins, sparkling cutlery and three plates in front of each seat. "On a mis les petits plats dans les grands", smiled the grandmère "we've put the small plates on the bigger ones", simply meaning this is going to be a grand meal.

After almost an hour chatting over the champagne, I could sense that speed was picking up in the kitchen and when the lady of the house declared it was time to eat, there was a flurry of people finding their seats while others carried huge platters of fresh seafood, smoked salmon and baked snails to the table. I was advised which sort of bread to take with the oysters, and to squeeze just the right amount of lemon juice over the salmon.

The atmosphere was fun, loving, fairly loud but never out of place. The seafood platters disappeared after a while and the next course materialised as if by magic. Foie gras and paté en croute. This also meant a change of wine, and only then did I notice that as well as several plates ready in front of us, we each had several different wine glasses. We had enjoyed a dry white wine with the seafood, and switched to a sweeter Sauternes with the foie gras.

There was a pause now, a couple of the women busy in the kitchen, and the man of the house called in to carve. Our foie gras plates cleared away, bottles of red wine appeared down the centre of the table and from the kitchen there emerged a magnificent roasted leg of venison, accompanied by two large dishes of gratin dauphinois (potato bake) and two fragrant dishes of sautéd wild mushrooms.

This is the point where I realised that when the French sit down to eat, it is a serious business, and first and foremost they talk about ... food. Everybody was keen to discuss how long the meat had been cooked for, how well the wine suited the flavour of the dish; which variety of potatoes were best for the gratin ... I sat back and watched ... and understood ... and learned ... and loved every minute of it!

We took our time over this main course, people enjoyed second helpings, wine glasses were kept topped up, children started to look a little weary but nobody was in a hurry. In fact just as we reached the end of this course, the clock struck 12 and everybody stood to kiss everyone else in the room and wish each other the very best for the year to come. You can imagine that with twenty people in the room this took a while, but the movement was welcome, and while we were all standing everyone gave a hand to clear away and ... bring in the next course!

Cheese and salad was next in line. Clean plates, same cutlery, and we continued with the same red wine. A stunning cheese selection, and more food conversation until finally it was time for dessert.

Here the children were served with grandmère's chocolate mousse and for the adults there was a magnificent Buche de Noel, not home made but, as is often the case in France, ordered from their favourite bakers.

This happy, family celebration ended at around 4 in the morning, the tables not quite cleared away, but space made for dancing in front of the fire. The next day, I'm glad to say that the meals were much lighter, and there was a long walk in the afternoon. A wonderful way for me to discover family life in France.

a very chic french ski chalet

2011-12-29T20:58:00.000+01:00

If there is a place that I really appreciate great luxury combined with subtle use of colour it is the ski chalet. The place above all others where we want to feel cosy, and cosseted, and secure. We long for heavy warm duvets, hot chocolate beside a roaring fire, plenty of space to share with family and friends; after all a ski holiday is the ideal moment for a high altitude house party!

Bedrooms and bathrooms big enough to have some privacy and sleep well after a long day on the slopes.

The kitchen in a ski chalet needs to be large and open so everyone can get in to help, and taste, and contribute. The sitting room must be comfy and spacious, in these pictures of a French chalet they manage to make a big space feel cosy, using subtle colours and warm soft fabrics.

I love the weathered wood on the outside of this restored chalet. The pine that keeps its golden glow indoors, turns beautifully grey and silver when bared to the elements. Take a look at the wooden tiles used to clad the chimney and the roof.

This chalet pushes the idea of winter luxury a little further with a wine cellar, proof that every body's tastses have to be catered for if the holiday is to be a real success!

all photos thanks to coté maison

what do you do after the rush?!

2011-12-28T23:12:00.000+01:00

I LOVE to have the house full, the children home, friends to visit, dinners to prepare and tables to lay. But part of that pleasure is knowing that when it's all over, even though I continue to be busy, I shall carve out a little bit of me-time.

At this time of year, we often set ourselves challenges in the form of resolutions, but supposing we stopped pushing ourselves so hard and instead indulged ......

Of course it's always possible to run a long scented bath at the end of the day, then sink into bed with a good book, but sometimes it's good to aim higher, to be more ambitious, dare I say greedy even.

Me-time is never easy with four children, in fact for the past twenty years, apart from riding it has been non-existent, but now they are growing up, I begin to see windows of opportunity! :) Nothing too ambitious: I haven't planned a trip to the tropics, or booked myself into a spa!

The me-time I'm looking forward to will be spent painting. I already set up the easel, I found some good canvases and boards before christmas and put them aside. I have a few ideas floating around in my head, but we'll see what happens when the brush hits the canvas! For me, the mere sight of paint on a palette is therapy.

So I was wondering; if I wave a magic wand and give you 3 hours with no constraints of time or money, what would your me-time be? Shopping alone? A luxury facial? Sleeping late in the morning? A long chat with a girlfriend? A walk on the beach?

I'm willing to bet that between us all we could come up with a surprising wide range of ideas.

been and gone ......

2011-12-27T22:33:00.001+01:00

Happy days!

Friends arriving

champagne popping

food savoured

jokes shared

thank-you's exchanged

forest walking

patient horses

tired dogs

happy days

my special christmas greetings to you

2011-12-26T22:38:00.000+01:00

The holidays are here, our house is full.

The family is complete (Ghetto has come home too! YAY!)

There's a turkey in the oven, a Christmas pudding

ready to steam, crackers to be pulled,

fires to be lit, games to be played, stockings

to delve into, gifts to unwrap.

Soft music in the background,
champagne is poured,

perfume dabbed behind ears,

and pretty dresses slipped on.

I won't be blogging for a couple of days; this is a time to

enjoy precious family, but I would like to thank you all.

Thank you for reading me during this year;

thank you for leaving me comments and sending me emails;

thank you for inspiring me to write;

thank you to all those who came to
visit us here in Normandy,

it has been a pleasure and a privilege getting to know you.

Gibson and Ghetto join me and the whole family in wishing

you all a very joyeux noël,

and may the new year be kind to us all.

(PS. the dogs hope you like their very kitsch card - you can't imagine what
it took to get this shot - I should have done a 'making of!!)

our French christmas

2011-12-24T01:24:00.000+01:00

Christmas in France, as in many cultures, is a time for catching up with family, or failing that reuniting with old friends. This year our respective extended families won't be with us, but we will have friends staying and others invited for dinner and lunch.

We like to exchange gifts on Christmas Day and we also have stockings to open on Christmas morning. These have always been my favourite bit of Christmas. When the children were little, the stockings filled by Santa, were left in front of the fireplace on Christmas Eve and discovered at the end of their beds on Christmas morning. Come dawn I had little voices whispering in my ear "Mummy, can we start opening our presents yet, look what Father Christmas brought me!"

In France the Christmas Eve dinner is almost more important than lunch on Christmas Day. For this meal we favour a series of small courses, enjoying food that we don't eat all year round. My favourite on the menu are the home made blini that accompany smoked salmon, cream, dill and black pepper.

Many French families go to evening Mass early on Christmas Eve then return home to share gifts before sitting down for a long dinner. The next day they may join up with the same family members or other cousins, grandparents ... to enjoy Christmas lunch. The most popular Christmas afternoon activity is often a long walk together - good idea after all that food!!

We more or less stick to that here, although I have somehow added an extra dinner this evening, inviting friends we won't be seeing over the holidays.

All these meals, with guests in the house, mean that I do as much preparation as possible ahead of time. I already showed you the chestnut creams that are ready in the freezer; and my proper Christmas pudding was made weeks ago.

But I have also made mince pies, biscuits and mini sausage rolls for those iffy moments at the end of the day when nobody is really hungry for another meal but if I put out a selection of cheese, fruit, and nibbles it always seems to be appreciated with a glass of wine in front of the fire.

So I'll finish writing this blog post early in the morning, wrap a few final gifts. Prepare some individual tiramisus for dinner this evening and probably decorate the fireplace like I did last year.

An enjoyable day, the children around catching up with their friends, listening to music,
an air of quiet excitement. Hope you're having fun too.

Tomorrow I have some special Christmas greetings for you, then I'll sign off for a few days.

Sit down and take a pause

2011-12-22T21:33:00.000+01:00

Sit down and take a pause.

Forget about the to-do list; you know most is done by now anyway. Stop worrying about the meal, the size of the gifts, your christmas colour scheme ..... Sit back and think of all the gifts you have received this year that can't be wrapped in pretty paper.

The laughter of your children; the strength of your partner; the companionship of your closest friend.

Remember those moments that have stopped you in your tracks with their unexpected beauty. A sunset; a painting; a puppy; a bouquet.

This christmas when our world is looking shaky, when times are tough for so many, lets remember the gifts we can give no matter how rich or modest we feel. Lets be kind to one another, pay compliments, encourage, congratulate and say ... thank you.

Take a pause.

a christmas mood board - for the men in our lives

2011-12-22T01:17:00.000+01:00

So I have been asking around the men in my life - not that there are that many of them! What colours would they like to see at Christmas?

I actually started using words like 'mood board' and 'vignette' but they just glazed over so we slipped back to familiar terms like 'colour, texture, objects' and it all just came together. (sorry boys, that was a joke!)

I stuck to dark burgundy, black and silver. A bouquet of black berried ivy, some brown feather baubles from the tree, antique cutlery and candles (what's new?! ). An antique map of New York and dominoes for an air of boyish pleasure, a bottle of wine, a little mercury glass and that was it.

This is my last mood board before Christmas, thank you all for your kind comments about them, I so hope you've enjoyed them and maybe taken some ideas for decorating this year.

Only a couple more days to go and I have a little more shopping and wrapping and baking to do, but I'll be back again tomorrow. Have fun!

when a tree is not a tree

2011-12-21T11:19:00.000+01:00

Do you remember when artificial christmas trees used to be tacky? Not so now ... I just love this simple tree, get it out of the box, unfold and bend as required, add a few pretty decorations and it's done.

A simple, country feel that goes so well in this elegant and comfortable decor, home to an interior designer in the UK. They have this small white tree in the family room and a larger real tree in the sitting room.

Don't you think the unfussy white lines make things feel peaceful and calm? - what most of us are longing for now with only a few days to go before the holidays!

Hope your preparations are on schedule, and your home filled with the smell of baking, the sound of music and laughter.

home made centre piece for your christmas table

2011-12-20T14:46:00.000+01:00

If there's a moment in the year when you can be a little more daring with your flowers on the table it has to be the holidays.

This is the moment when I like to use flowers plus .... other things. A lot of you have told me that you are decorating with white, silver and fresh green this year, so I tried to put together an idea that may fit in, using materials that most of us have in the home already or that are inexpensive to buy.

To make these centrepieces, I used two urns I already had, some florists foam (either already ball shape or cut into a ball from a new brick); wooden barbecue skewers; a bunch of cuttings from a box hedge; a bunch of small white roses, some small Christmas baubles and a bag of ... brussel sprouts!

Start by soaking the balls of foam in water, the wetter they are the longer your arrangement will last. Actually you can increase the lifespan by putting these out into a cool garage each night. Stand a straight branch in each recipient or urn, and make sure they are firm using stones, foam, even plaster if you wish.

Push each ball down onto the stick to create the hole, then take them off again to start building up the arrangement.

After you have put small lengths of box all over the ball, prepare the brussel sprouts. I use these because I love their colour, their small tidy shape and because they last for a long time, even if the roses need changing. Peel off any discoloured leaves, then push a short length of skewer into the base of each, position on the ball of foam.

Start building up the ball, using the sprouts, roses and baubles, with some more box if required, until the foam is completely covered and you have a nice round shape. Push the ball back onto the 'trunk' and check the shape, then cover the base with some beautiful green moss. Voila!

The same idea works just as well with red roses and tiny apples or lichi. Pine cones are good too, but can be more difficult to fix to the foam.

While I was already making a mess I also popped a few white hellebore with some baby ivy into an old soup tureen and surrounded it with moss. Doesn't look spectacular for the moment but it will grow during the holidays.

Hope you enjoyed that, I'll be back tomorrow with something else!

a bright and happy pink christmas

2011-12-19T14:36:00.000+01:00

If there's one thing our whole world needs at the moment it's some bright,

wake-you-up cheerfulness.

The weekend has shot by, but I thought I'd just tuck these pictures in to keep us going

and remind us all that having fun and keeping things light is vital!

May Christmas bring out the pink and happy in each and every one of us!!

all pictures thanks to Art & decoration

a mood board for christmas - the warmth of red

2011-12-18T11:54:00.002+01:00

I had said I wouldn't be doing anything red for Christmas, longing for calm, for sleek looking tones of silver and white. But yesterday, red got the better of me and I threw together this mood board. Trying to avoid anything garish I went for tones of red that border on pink, burgundy or even brown.

I used bronze candle holders, tree decorations, old Christmas stockings made from antique tapestry, and two hand painted beautiful silk fans that I found recently and will be listing soon.

What do you think? Too toned down, or warm and comforting?

Do you plan out your Christmas table, or does it just happen?

I'd love to know what colours you'll be using this year

Another find this week are these little gold edged coupelles for catching the candle wax - love them!

I'm counting on you to tell me when you've had enough of my mood boards!

I'm having fun, so if you don't stop me I'll just keep going until I hear those reindeer bells!

Hope you're having agood weekend

thank you for reading me!

your chic Christmas in Paris

2011-12-16T14:56:00.000+01:00

Today I invite you to imagine that you are living in Paris and that you have decorated your flat for Christmas. Your gifts are wrapped, everything ticked off your to-do list, snow is falling gently on the boulevard outside your window.

The ceilings are high, the rooms full of light, this year you decided to go for a silver and white Noel because it fits in effortlessly with your elegant grey and neutral interior. Your stunning tall gilt mirrors reflect all this French beauty to perfection

Candlelight of course is essential right through to the bedrooms, the spacious sitting room allows for two trees not one, and the table is laid.

Now tell me, who have you invited to share your déjeuner de Noël?

Tomorrow I shall show you my red and bronze mood board,

à demain mes amis!

all pictures thanks to journal de maison

a christmas chestnut cream dessert

2011-12-15T23:22:00.000+01:00

Yesterday afternoon, my daughter Nina came home from school with her friend Laure-Anne. After they came through the kitchen and said hello to me, their conversation went a little like this

L-A: "Nina, why does your mother cook with a camera in her hand?",
N: "Oh don't pay any attention, she's just a blogger!"

This, my friends, is an unavoidable fact of my daily life and a sure sign of a busy blogger, the camera rarely leaves my side!

So yes, I made the Chestnut creams and yes, I took some pictures and yes it was time consuming but that didn't stop it being fun!

Seriously though, these desserts are a wonderful idea for the holidays. They can be done days or even weeks in advance, they look good and taste better.

Here is how I make them, using a recipe from the cook book queen Delia Smith. Here first of all is how her perfect versions turn out,

and here are mine.

Not perfect I know, but home made has its own charms don't you think?

To make eight small or six medium sized chestnut cream puddings you will need

3 oz (75g) good quality dark cooking chocolate

2 tablespoons rum

2 eggs

a 17oz (500g) tin of chestnut purée (I'll tell you later where you can find that)

5 fl oz (150ml)whipping cream

10 fl oz (275ml) single cream

2 oz (50 g) white chocolate

You will make the puddings in layers and freeze each layer as you go. To serve the puddings are turned upside down, so the first layer into the mould becomes the top of the pudding, but I probably didn't need to tell you that!

Queen Delia (and no, I am not mocking, I love her recipes!) recommends using small tin moulds; I do not possess those, so I use my regular ramequins which are slightly larger than ideal

To make the top chocolate layer, melt 75 g dark chocolate and 2 tablespoons of rum in a bain marie. Careful not to let this overheat because the chocolate will go grainy and be spoilt. When the mixture is perfectly melted and smooth, let it cool a little then add 2 egg yolks. Beat one of the egg whites until firm and white, then gently fold it into the chocolate mix and spoon a little into the base of each mould. Pop your moulds into the deep freeze.

At this point I digress from Delia's recommendations. "Is this woman mad?!" I can hear you cry, "how could she dare?!". Mais que veux tu? I'm just naturally reckless.... Delia likes to finish her creams off with tiny chunks of candied chestnut. I find it fun to create dark chocolate shapes/letters for mine. If you want to do like me, this is a good moment to melt the chocolate gently and draw pretty shapes onto waxed paper. If also like me, ~~some~~ an alarming number of your shapes go wrong, it's good to melt enough chocolate to make extra. Once you feel artistically satisfied, put them into the fridge for several hours to harden.

After a little pause during which you can cook the kids' supper, do a little light gardening, or just have a drink, the time comes to make the next layer.

Couldn't be easier. Put half of your pot of chestnut cream into a bowl and stir to soften, then whip the cream until slightly thick, mix with the chestnut cream. Finally beat the remaining egg white until stiff and fold into the chestnut mixture. Spoon carefully into the moulds, being sure to get the same amount in each. We're nearly done ....

There's just time to have another drink and visit a few of your favourite blogs, before putting on the final layer, this is simply the chestnut puree, without anything added. Thick enough to give a third stripe of contrasting colour when the creams are turned out.

The creams can now be left in your freezer until you are ready to bring them to your table. If they are to wait longer than overnight, it's a good idea to cover them with clingfilm.

When the grand day arrives, you simply need to melt the white chocolate in the warmed single cream to provide the chocolate sauce, then decide how to serve them. The most practical way is to present them on individual plates and place before each guest, but if you want some extra fun you could always group them on serving plates and spell out a seasonal message.

And finally, for those of you who have difficulty finding the tins of French chestnut cream, I would recommend popping over to Vicki Archer's new shop and browsing her Sweet Tooth shelves. I've heard she has stocked up for Christmas!!

a mood board for a silver and white christmas

2011-12-14T22:56:00.000+01:00

Many thanks to all you lovely readers who have sent me messages and emails asking for the chestnut ice cream recipe that I hinted at on Monday. The good news is that I am making them this afternoon so I'll be taking pictures as I go - of course! :) - and I'll put the recipe up on the blog tomorrow.

Today I have been playing with another Christmas table mood board. If only life were always this simple! Just set up the lighting, gather together a few goodies that look nice together, choose a suitable backdrop and start snapping!

The theme this time is white and silver (you notice I have still resisted red, but I think that for the next board I'll have to give in).

As a backdrop I used a gossamer light embroidered tablecloth that I have had for years; some silver coloured platters that are useful at this time of year; candles in crystal salt cellars; antique cutlery; white stoneware and a few christmas tree decorations.

Plus of course those feather trees that I adore, but that the rest of the family say look like a drawing by Dr Zeuss - " SO WHAT?! " I reply, I adore Dr Zeuss too!

So here we go just for fun, a few ideas that anyone can put together to create a festive mood on the dinner table or as a vignette

and last but never least, a not-very-good shot of the tree, I'll try to take some better pics today.

I hope you're having fun planning your celebrations, be they a huge family meal

or a quiet dinner for two. Just remember that a little sparkle goes a long way !!

a French family christmas

2011-12-13T21:40:00.000+01:00

Running around today shopping; preparing for my eldest coming home this evening YAY!; posting packages ..... so - for the moment - I bring you some lovely images of a house in the South of France decorated for a family Christmas.

Candles, a tree, a nativity crèche set up in the kitchen, chandeliers swathed in muslin and garlands of green and crimson. A grand setting but a fairly simple approach to decorating. But as you know, true French elegance is always simple!

Many French homes will set up a crèche at this time of year, the little figures used to illustrate the nativity story are called Santons and are collectors gold!

I hope your preparations are going well,

I'll be back soon with more

French christmas food shopping and more christmas decor

2011-12-12T21:58:00.000+01:00

One of the things I enjoy the most about preparing for Christmas is planning the menus and buying all the 'special' things that we don't buy year round.

The two biggest and most traditional meals will be dinner on Christmas Eve, and lunch on Christmas Day. While there are no hard and fast rules about what to serve on Christmas Day, we tend to follow traditions for dinner on the 24th. This means a succession of courses, enjoyed in small portions with complimentary wines and champagne.

Typically the meal on the 24th will include oysters, smoked salmon, foie gras, cheese, desserts, possibly a paté en croute so I get to run around!

For our Christmas Day bird, which will probably be a goose this year, I head to the local farm and reserve the bird, to be collected on the 22nd or 23rd. Many farms in France sell directly to local clients, this generally happens in a barn or outbuilding and despite the old fashioned appearance, sales are strictly regulated and the produce fresh and best quality.

The same farm will also sell their own foie gras, either already cooked and ready to serve or - if I'm feeling like a saint ! - fresh for me to prepare at home.

Oysters are best bought at a local market or fishmongers on the 24th. Some people buy them already opened, my husband is a dab hand at the job, so we put in an order and collect them during the day. There is a choice of size and source, we mostly buy oysters farmed in the Mediterranean at this time of year.

Chestnuts are vital for a French Christmas. many people serve them hot with the roast turkey, or enjoy them candied with dessert.

Most often I buy these tins of creamed chestnuts and make chestnut and chocolate ice cream desserts - totally yummy! In fact if you like I'll give you that recipe later this week.

Cheese is always an option for a fine French meal; personally for this meal, I find it a step too far for what is already a rich menu, so we prefer to keep the cheese for Christmas lunch.

What we won't skip however is a chocolate or two with our coffee. I'll buy ours from local chocolate makers or our bakers who have an excellent home made range. If I were shopping in Paris, I'd head to La Maison du Chocolat and buy works of art such as these!

I promised you a Christmas decoration update, and yes, the tree is trimmed and lit and the door wreath finished but you know what? today the sun is not shining but positively d-a-z-z-l-i-n-g and my Christmas stuff just doesn't look right in blazing sunlight so you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the pictures - I'm sorry, let's put it down to artistic license. All I can offer you are these shots of a little vignette on the fire place, taken with the curtains drawn I may add!

Hope your week is getting off to a good start.
Thank you for reading me.

Christmas wrapping ideas and bringing in the tree

2011-12-11T21:48:00.000+01:00

I can tell you that bringing you daily ideas and up to date news on decorating here is no mean feat!! - I feel like I'm running a marathon! Loving it though ♥♥♥♥

Today I bring you some wrapping ideas for your gifts. Of course in France, the stores are always happy to gift wrap your purchases for you, so it's easy to be lazy. But this year, for the gifts I will have to wrap myself, and to tie in with my no-red-fairly-natural-green-look I like these ideas.

On the home decor front, we bought the tree, or rather the trees yesterday. A huge tree for the sitting room and two baby trees for either side of the front door. Last year I made holly bushes for the entrance, but this year (still tying in with the natural look) I'm using two Christmas trees, stood firmly in pots that still have miniature helichrysum growing to hide the pot rims and add a touch of silver grey. Lights will be added to make them sparkle.

I started making the wreath using helichrysum, sage, black berried ivy and branches cut from the base of the christmas trees. I'll probably add a few silver baubles tomorrow.

The tree has been brought inside and will be decorated and lit this evening. I always savour this incongruous moment when a large tree seems to have sprouted in the room, not yet decorated or adorned, just left natural.

If it were just for me I'd be tempted to leave it natural, or simply with white lights, but when I quietly suggested that idea this morning it did not go down well. Hey ho!

Tomorrow I'll show you the tree and door dolled up,

hope you're having a fun weekend too!

Thanks to All about you for wrapping ideas

a mood board for a christmas table - cream and gold

2011-12-10T19:18:00.002+01:00

Today I start two weeks of non-stop christmas ideas and, I hope, inspiration. Unfortunately it's not snowing here in Normandy, but I added falling snow to the blog just to make it feel festive!

Today's offering: a mood board for a tablescape. As I already told you, I'm not clever at shooting whole tables, but I had good fun today putting bits together around a cream, gold and green theme.

I used an antique soup tureen and soup plates, antique cutlery; crystal knife rests; some cool feather christmas trees I found this week; and instead of laying all this onto a real tablecloth I borrowed a wonderful metis embroidered sheet from my stock.

Hope you enjoy.

christmas countdown

2011-12-09T23:23:00.001+01:00

So I got back from England this evening and the weekend is looking busy, but today is the day I start my Christmas countdown, and I inject some festive spirit into this little blog!

The snow is falling , bells are - almost - ringing, the temperatures are falling fast and I'm eager to have all the family under this roof for the holidays. To celebrate I changed the header to a picture of the house in the snow last year,

Tomorrow I buy the Christmas tree, and we decorate this weekend. And everyday

between now and the 25th I shall be showing a festive idea.

15 jours jusqu'à Noël

the sweetest place to stay in england

2011-12-09T20:26:00.003+01:00

What better way to visit England than in a sweet little cottage in the heart of a chocolate box village, surrounded by beautiful Sussex countryside; gardens to visit; pubs and restaurants to dine at and within easy reach of London if you want to visit a museum or shop.

This pretty cottage has been renovated in signature style by my sister, Nicola, and it provides a delicious retreat for two. Warm, comfortable and of course stunning. The cottage, known as Number 22, is furnished with beautiful antique furniture and paintings.

Upstairs there is a lovely bedroom and bright fresh bathroom, I love this soft blue palette.

Downstairs there is a touch of pink and soft red in the kitchen and sitting room where

a log burning stove keeps the cottage warm and welcoming even in the winter.

and in the spring and summer the pretty garden provides an extra place for

sitting quietly before walking down the road for supper at the excellent local pub.

If you are interested in renting Number 22, you can find all the details right here

silver christmas inspiration

2011-12-08T23:43:00.000+01:00

While in England this week, I was hoping to find some inspiration for the silver and white theme I'm preparing for our Christmas decorations at home this year.

I wasn't disappointed, one of my favourite stores, the White Company, have come up trumps and prepared some beautiful decorations and styling ideas which I shall be putting to work as soon as I get home this weekend.

Now - with most of my shopping done, my traditional Christmas puddings made and storing, and the sudden and overdue drop in temperatures finally happened - I am well and truly in Christmas mood and mode.

All photos thank to the White Company

a beautiful home

2011-12-07T21:05:00.000+01:00

I'm in a fr-e-e-e-zing cold England for a few days this week, visiting with family and doing some Christmas shopping with my mum. One of my sisters conjured up a wonderful surprise for me and provided me with today's post.

I have to tell you that my sister Nicola is an über-talented interior designer, working in the south east of England. Later this week I'll show you the sweetest cottage that she has just finished, but today she invited me to tag along to see a client who graciously allowed me to let me take pictures.

The grounds of the house are stunning, planted carefully to provide year-round interest and give real structure to what is a very large area. Pieces of modern sculpture are used to compliment the landscape design and the architecture of the house and outbuildings.

If it all looks this good early december, just imagine how wonderful the garden must be in June!!

isn't this tree house to die for?! - just imagine the tea parties that could be held up here!

A part of the house is Tudor, dating back to the 15th century. It has been extended several times through the years but always in keeping with the original architecture.

Indoors it was important not not be overwhelmed by the history and size of the house and create a comfortable setting for everyday living.

Nicola had fun creating this family cinema room - and so did the upholsterer who had to follow her specs on the plaid sofa! :)

The pictures speak for themselves, but the lasting memory of this home for me will be the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, a real family home. This is surely what a really good interior designer working with discerning clients is meant to achieve; effortless ease and elegance.

Tina and Marsha's party - by invitation only!

2011-12-06T20:41:00.000+01:00

Oh dear, I'm in a bit of a tiff! I've been invited to a big swish do at the amazingly enchanted home of Tina. Everything looks so grand and impressive I've looked through my wardrobe a hundred times trying to decide what to wear.

Marsha told me about the party, although she didn't really reassure the country girl that I am; her words were:

"We've each received the same invitation to a fabulous Christmas party in someone's beautiful home. The date is December 23rd. Let's imagine it's in Tina's new home, just for a visual treat. But, it's her 1st party in her new home and she's pulling out all stops. There will be live music, carolers, a lavish buffet, champagne passed around by waiters in tuxedos. You know, a very swell party."

A glance at the contents of my wardrobe told me that my habitual attire may be good enough for Normandy, but would most definitely not produce the right effect chez Tina. So ...... I called my personal stylist! That surprised you didn't it?! I bet you thought I didn't even know what a stylist was, but hey, I have lived elsewhere than this valley you know, I am aware of the need to be chic and glitzy when required!

My stylist has bright blue eyes, beautiful hair and legs a mile long ; she knows everything there is to know about fashion, she's 16 years old, she's called Nina, and ... she's my daughter! Take it away Nina!

Getting Mummy [that's me folks] ready to go to Tina's beautiful party, is all about compromise and making her see sense:

of course she thinks she wants to wear shoes like these,

but seeing the size of Tina's home, in heels like that she'd never manage the run from the porte cochère to the salon, let alone the tour that she hopes Tina is going to give her guests ....

so instead, she needs beautiful éscarpins like this from Chanel

Mummy believes that she'd be happy in a dress like this

but I know her, she'd be hopeless in something that floaty, she'd manage to trip over the hem, or dip the ruffle into someone's champagne, in reality she'd be way happier in this little dress (they are both by Christophe Josse)

Jewellry is easy, she only like to wear simple pieces, and her favourite is the bamboo collection by Gucci, she'll be best wearing their ring

and bracelet

the bag could be a problem; she's so used to using her big black Lancel, with the space for everything including her camera.

Actually I think that for this soirée, she'd be better without a bag, she'll feel more comfortable without anything in her hands except of course for the cadeau, but now I have sorted her clothes, I'll let her tell you what she wants to bring Tina as a house warming gift.

Thank you darling, so glad you are there to keep me on the straight and narrow. It wasn't easy to find a suitable gift for Tina, after all what do you get for the girl who seems to have everything?!

I think that in her new home she'll have a lot of wall space to dress, so I thought I'd like to take her a painting, nothing too big, but something feminine that could fit in easily, maybe in her new dressing room.

I wanted a theme that would remind her of the fun she has with her blog and the support and friendship of the many women who stop by to read her. I chose this painting by the impressionist Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida, I thought it looks comfortable and elegant, I hope she does too!

Thank you to Marsha for having created this fun monthly happening, By invitation Only. Shoot over to her blog straight away to see how the other ladies will be dressed for this virtual Christmas party.

crystal for the christmas tree

2011-12-05T19:02:00.001+01:00

This year's Christmas decorations are going to be largely silver and white, with a total absence of red, a new idea in this house, so I hope the children approve!

I've been fortunate to find some beautiful old 'pampilles' or crystal tears, and I'll be using as many as possible on our Christmas tree. The larger pampilles with the additional rosace and tiny crystal bead on the top look beautiful strung from a simple ribbon.

There's no comparison between crystal and glass in the way it catches and reflects the light.