tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85722415360667516102023-11-16T04:59:09.920-08:00my french country homeohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.comBlogger574125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-88734702634854087372011-12-13T04:18:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.862-08:00a French family christmasRunning 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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-33466905211984039862011-12-12T12:58:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.862-08:00French christmas food shopping and more christmas decorOne 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. &ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-77034595295571805472011-12-11T12:48:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.862-08:00Christmas wrapping ideas and bringing in the tree 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 toohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-85750818477938252872011-12-10T10:18:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.862-08:00a mood board for a christmas tableToday 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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-8848407193879692452011-12-09T14:23:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.863-08:00christmas countdownSo 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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-31718369318218299122011-12-09T11:26:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.863-08:00the sweetest place to stay in englandWhat 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. ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-67322752813305565292011-12-08T14:43:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.863-08:00silver christmas inspirationWhile 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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-50476852594251643802011-12-07T12:05:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.863-08:00a beautiful homeI'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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-80304942802264738692011-12-06T11:41:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.863-08:00Tina and Marsha's party - by invitation only!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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-64214789023416199352011-12-05T10:02:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.864-08:00crystal for the christmas treeThis 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 ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-54165790572081130692011-12-04T14:59:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.864-08:00what a girl - or a boy - does on a rainy dayYou remember Dr Zeuss? "so all we could do was to sit, sit, sit , sit, and we did not like it, not one little bit" - well here yesterday it rained, rained, rained, rained and consequently I cancelled my plans for trimming in the garden and, much like the infamous cat, settled down to play with plates.Many bloggers are clever enough to show fantastic ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-59596261288102948212011-12-03T14:52:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.864-08:00French aprons and night shirtsBeyond excited to have found an old mannequin yesterday, having looked for so long! At last I can show off my aprons and nightdresses!!OK, don't laugh, a girl has to take her thrills where she can find them, mine just happen to be in a pile of antique aprons, I've wanted to put them up for sale for a while, but never managed to take a decent picture!The big question is does the ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-74431476545238768932011-12-02T15:33:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.864-08:00'my' country path through the seasonsIf I have scores of photos of the same path, does that make me a geek? No, actually don't answer that, I prefer not to hear the answer! The fact is that I go up this path at least once a day, every day of the year. Daily to feed the horses, often to saddle them, and sometimes just because this is the route I take to walk into the forest.I love the gentle bends, I love the view ofohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-42624750266778939982011-12-01T09:27:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.864-08:00my stylish french girlfriends - Marie-LaureAnother talented and stylish girlfriend has been kind enough to endure my camera and questionnaire - where would I be without them?! Marie-Laure lives along our valley in a beautiful house with her husband and four gorgeous children. The house is typical of the valley, shutters, stone walls, a barn. Sweetly she apologised that being at the start of winter, the garden didn'tohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-59734132151502312662011-11-30T12:59:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.864-08:00looking pretty, feeling fineSomewhere in the middle of the story I am about to relate there is a moral - I'm struggling to find it, but I just know it's in there somewhere.Maybe I should start at the beginning. Yesterday afternoon I had an appointment to shoot pictures for the latest in my 'French girlfriend' series, it was a beautiful day, I decided to cycle the 20km there and back. Had a great time, easyohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-14753507867012498512011-11-29T12:20:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.865-08:00the christmas wreathEvery year I make a wreath to hang on our front door in the first week of December. Last year it was mainly holly, the year before box with apples and silver balls. This year I'm looking for ideas for a simple and natural looking wreath. Actually our main entrance is a sort of double door, so a large wreath hung centrally is tricky. Maybe I'll go for two symmetrical and ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-53915962313678642822011-11-28T12:41:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.865-08:00a french country house to love and care forIf you've ever dreamed of packing up and moving to France, to a truly authentic region, full of history and natural beauty then you'll want to know about this house. Not just a house actually, a former presbytery, dating back to the 18th century and beautifully restored to create a 4 bedroom/4 bathroom home, with room for more on the top floor.The house is in the Cotentin, a ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-26411722135699950242011-11-27T15:10:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.865-08:00sempé - the frenchman who conquered new yorkThis book I lift down from my shelves again and again, just for the pleasure of immersing myself into the poetical, whimsical world of Jean Jaques Sempé, a French artist, who has been drawing for 50 years and who in particular conquered New York with his numerous cover illustrations for the New Yorker.Jean Jaques Sempé has a poet's soul, his characters are small, lost in a giant world of ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-37452913008812697942011-11-25T14:05:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.865-08:00sorting out my dayJust a month before Christmas and there is so much else to be done!I'm sure we're all the same, we open our eyes in the morning and the first thing that comes to mind is THE LIST. Of course we'd hate to feel useless, or even worse, bored, but there are days like today when I'm really not sure how it will all fit in.Many years ago someone told me "if you want something to be done, ask ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-14910132086297358042011-11-24T15:01:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.865-08:00giving thanksWe may have no official celebration here in Francebut that doesn't mean I can't slow down andgive thanks ....for children who still need mefor a strong husband who stands beside mefor friends who make me laugh out loudfor eyes to see everyday beautyand for this blog that brings me so much pleasureand for all you amazing people who come to read meThank you.and, if you are celebrating , then my ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-89361691074347749672011-11-23T10:52:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.866-08:00advice to daphne - staying chic this winterDaphne was thrilled with my advice on staying slim, apparently she's melting away and wants to rethink her 'look', she sweetly asked for my ideas on what the well dressed woman should be wearing this winter. My sweet DaphneI'm so happy to learn that you followed my advice (all except the last bit I hope!) and that the kilos are dropping off, and I wasn't at all surprised to hear that you need to ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-38883018423856062302011-11-22T12:52:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.866-08:00chandeliers and dark paintBeing somewhat obsessed with finding the perfect chandelier at the moment, I was stopped in my tracks by these pictures. Not only are there chandeliers everywhere in this beautiful French family home, but they even used them in most the unusual manners. You don't often see crystal chandeliers either side of the bed.pause to enjoy the view outside this window! What's more they are not ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-37646073158243403192011-11-21T11:39:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.866-08:00cross stitch Paris!Busy busy busy today, putting up new stuff in the store and sorting out thehouse after a full weekend. So today I'm simply offering yousome shots I took in Paris last week. Our autumn here has been very soft and 'out of focus'. Last week in Paris, thesky was low and the colours blended together seamlessly.I shunned the metro, avoided the bus routes and walked from one ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-79036642369634112722011-11-20T13:38:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.866-08:00really the last loot shoot of the year !!! Surprise, surprise, there really was one last fair to go to. Set off with a friend in the dark and in thick fog this morning UGH! Freezing temperatures, literally, but hey this was the very last brocante of the year so we were ready to make the effort.Not a very well assembled loot shoot, but more a quick peak of the goodies I brought back. Sheets, mattress ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8572241536066751610.post-13750362814356748252011-11-19T15:40:00.000-08:002011-12-13T09:35:35.866-08:00christmas gift ideasIn an act of shameless self promotion I thought I'd give you some ideas for Christmas gifts from my very own store. I have selected items for all the lovely people you know and adore! All the prices you see include shipping to WHEREVER you are in the world and, as the big Christmas rush hasn't started yet, parcels seem to be taking about a week to the USA, about 16 days to Australia ohiinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775463365383743101noreply@blogger.com0