ce matin au pré

This morning, walked up early to feed the horses, the sky

looked promising so I took along my camera just in case. 

I'm glad I did, hope you enjoy these pictures?

Click on a picture to get a fuller version.

Wishing you a happy autumnal weekend!

PS.  Still time to take part in the giveaway!

thank you!

Thank you all for your words of encouragement for my new brocante.  It's a big adventure and it's lovely to feel I have friends on my side!!  Thank you also to my first clients, I'm sorry I could only open cyber champagne to share with you!

Don't forget there's still plenty of time to enter the giveaway.

Putting up a couple of new things today like this

and this

and this ...

A giveaway and an annoucement

Thank you for your patience.  this was all meant to happen last week and life just sort of crept up on me, and before I knew it I missed my own deadline so here we are a week later, but who's really counting?! 

So without more ado ...

First of all for my announcement.  I am happy to tell you that I have a new selling place.

My French Country Brocante. 

There's a lot of new stuff up on show and there will be more coming as we lead up to Christmas. in fact until the close of the giveaway there'll be something almost each day. I hope you get the time to have a look around and  tell me what you think.
 

My giveaway is of course a shameless device for getting you to check out my shop!  But it's also a pleasure to offer a gift to a winning reader.  I know it's been said a million times before but I do love to blog:  I love the comments you leave me; I love the fact that people read me from all over the world; I love the special contacts that develop  - unpredictable, but always a real joy;   Thank you all,  thank you.

My giveaway gift is in two parts.  First a gift from my vintage linen in the shape of a  small but pretty French tablecloth, and paired with this is are two Christmas stockings, made from vintage linen and vintage cotton passementerie.   The stockings are part of the new items in my shop, made especially for the Holiday season.  The two that I'm giving away are finished with designs borrowed from Graphics Fairy to whom I pass on my thanks - again!

So here's how it works. 

Leave a comment, and tell me you're a follower, even if you only just joined up, that's your first entry

Tweet or post about my giveaway, or put up my button, come back and tell me : a second entry

Visit my new store and come back and tell me what you think and you have three entries!

I've failed in my attempt to put automatic numbers on my comments so for individual
entries please remember to leave separate comments.

Bonne chance!


I am linking this post to Graphics Fairy Brag Monday
to Marketplace Monday at Finding Fabulous
and to
French Obsessions at Chateau des fleurs

A big thank you to these girls for each providing such a generous show place.


PS  The Brocante buttons in this post and on my sidebar were kindly crafted for me by Julie at Being Ruby.  Thank you Jules!

coming this week

It's not that I'm trying deliberately to be a tease, it's just that I'm less organised than I care to admit and the thing coming this week is taking longer than expected.  Here's another mini taster but I promise it won't be much longer ..........

a family reflection

The quiet house today, Sunday, has made me appreciate how busy everyone in our family keep themselves.  This year is a big year for each of my four children, and I salute their energy, their determination and their sticking power.  Each has thrown him or herself whole heartedly into the challenges facing them this year, at university, on a gap year, at high school and at school.

We can encourage, support and boost  them but only they can decide to buckle down and go for it.

I am grateful to have a husband who sets them a fine example, and that he and I both come from families who taught us the importance of close family support and love.

I've said it here before, but I feel for this coming generation.  They face a future that  can look bleak and discouraging.  They are often criticised, they need more praise, more optimism, more good reasons to hope and plan and hold onto ambitions.

Let us never forget the importance of a pat on the back and a friendly word of encouragement.

The first frost -la première gelée

First heavy frost of the season caught us unprepared.  I better spend some extra time this weekend putting the garden to bed for the winter, I thought I still had a week or two .  At least the sedums don't mind the cold, some roses are resisting as well, and the box can take the frost, but my lovely dahlias have admitted defeat and said goodbye until next year.

coming next week

I am knee deep in all sorts of goodies as I prepare my give away and a surprise for next week......

à suivre........

Un salon contemporain

Here's another French salon for you to ponder.  How do you like this one?  It's definitely more 'designed' than the last I shared with you, I like the proportions.    It's funny actually, because it ticks all the fashionable interior design boxes; right colours, good looking chairs and sofas; neat and tidy, but I don't feel it's a walk-right-in-and-settle-on-down sort of room.

There is a fireplace but I'm having trouble imagining it lit..  There are no curtains to the window, but then, that is a tricky shape to dress.  

I know I've said it before but I think that a 'lived in' look is what does it for me these days, and you can't say that this room looks lived in, there are no dog's toys sticking out from behind the sofa, or a pair of slippers thrown into a corner.........  Am I just getting too picky?

Here's a question for you, give me two elements from this room you'd happily take home with you and two things you're really not comfortable with.  Look forward to hearing your  ideas.

Thank you to Mires Images for the use of these photos.

ce mercredi je mange ... un crème caramel

Well you all did so well on my tarte tatin recipe that I wanted to serve you up another French classic, which also requires easy everyday ingredients.  La Crème Caramel is loved by the French, young and old alike.  the creamy texture, the subtle vanilla flavour to the cream and the stronger caramel is a wonderful combination.

This looks sophisticated but if you follow a couple of easy steps it's actually about the easiest dessert around.  Same game applies this week, if you make the crème, then take a photo and email it to me and I'll add yours to the end of the post and link back to you. 

 Here I'll show you how to make individual crèmes, but actually the recipe is exactly the same if you want to make one big one, it will still turn upside down just as well.

I always make mine with 1 litre or 2 pints of milk.  This will either make one big creme (make in a soufflé dish) or about 8 ramekins.  What makes the creme set is the egg whites, what makes it creamy is the egg yolks.

First make your caramel.  There's nothing easier, 1 cup of sugar in a pan with  half a cup of water and turn up the heat.  The sugar dissolves, then starts to bubble then it will begin to turn golden brown.

You want to turn the heat off when it gets to this colour.  If it gets too dark the caramel bcomes bitter and you'll have to start again!

 As soon as the colour is right pour the caramel into your mould or into each ramekin and swirl it around while it's still hot.  You want the base of the mould covered in caramel.  That's it, you're done with the caramel!

Now for the cream.  Pre-heat your oven to 330F or 180C.  In a pan heat 2 pints (1 litre) of milk with a vanilla pod.  As you know a vanilla pod looks like a long black bean.  To get all the flavour out, split the bean lengthwise and with the tip of a knife scrape out the tiny black seeds, they are what give the most flavour. Heat the milk gently until almost boiling then turn it off and let the vanilla infuse while you mix the other ingredients.

In a bowl mix together 5 whole eggs, 3 egg yolks and 1 cup or 7 oz of sugar.  Pour the vanilla flavoured  milk onto the egg mixture and beat well.

Reach for your ramekins or soufflé dish that are waiting quietly with the caramel and pour the cream mixture into each dish.  Stand them in a deep tray with hot water coming half way up each ramekin or dish, this is a bain-marie,  and pop into the oven.

Bake them for about half an hour.  To see if they are done, insert a sharp knife into the centre of a crème, it must come out clean.  Purists cover the baking dish with foil, I feel that life is too short for that sort of detail and anyway we like our creams to looks a liitle golden on top, or rather on the bottom once they are reversed.

Yes that's right, you are going to reverse these crèmes!  And it's really easy.  Once you're sure they are properly cooked, remove from the oven and let them cool completely.  Run a knife around the edge to release the crème from the ramekin or dish.  Place a soup plate or shallow dish over the top and oup-la flip it upside down.

As the cream slips into the dish it makes a nice sort of schloupy sound.  Carefully remove the ramekin or soufflé dish and voilà !  You have a perfect crème caramel.  Congratulations.

Although I make this dessert quite regularly, I cannot take the credit for these rather outstanding photos.  I borrowed them from Pastrypal,  who I thank warmly.

Here however is a picture of the cream I made on Sunday, just before it was turned upside down.  I was about to take the final picture when the vultures descended and there was hardly anything left to photograph.

Your turn, who would like to send me a picture of their crème caramel?

Bon appétit.

Halloween en France - my very own cimetière !

Halloween is about to happen, and although it's not a very big thing in France, we always think it's a good excuse to dress up and party.

Since I found a wonderful American book on pumpkin carving we tend to get quite excited about green, orange and white pumpkins.  We carve, add candles, make pumpkin soup and grill the seeds in olive oil and a little rock salt.

BUT our piece de resistance for our Halloween parties is our very own cimetière!  Yup, you  heard that right, cimetière  is French for cemetery.  Now how wonderful is this?!

 We are the proud owners of 14 gravestones and the entrance to a family tomb, complete with bent iron railings, and cracked stone pillars.  The gravestones are carefully positioned all over the grass and up lit with candles.  The tomb entrance fits neatly around the smaller door to our barn, leading the unsuspecting guest into a nightmare of spider webs and spookiness.

 I would like to be able to say that I was clever enough to make this, but I have to give all the credit to our talented friend Fabrice Alberti, whose work I've already shown you, and who made the cemetery for his daughter's Angèle's Halloween party when they were still living in France.  Angèle is now a sophisticated young lady in London but I'm sure she'll giggle if she sees these pictures and remembers cutting out the "stones" with her papa.

The day the Alberti family left for the States,  they bequeathed the cemetery to us and for that we are eternally grateful!

I shouldn't say this, but not even Martha Stewart has done anything this spectacular!

Happy Halloween!


PS.  Keep your eyes and ears open this week, I'll be announcing a give away.

PPS  There still seems to be a problem leaving comments on my blog.  Can't get it figured.  If you have difficulty leaving a comment, would you mind taking a minute to send me an email here and explain what happened.  Many thanks, I think I need your help to fix this!

Charlie wrote back!

Since Charlie's first letter I've had lots of e-mails asking where you can find his blog.  To tell you the truth, you know as much as I do.  I have asked him for the blog name, but he seems to avoid the question, for the moment all we can enjoy is another of his letters, this one arrived on my desk this morning....

   Oi Sharon, it’s me Charlie.  I’m back.  How  are yer?

  Just been on your blog to see me little gite in among all your  posh things and I was bit overcome.   How do you like the colour of  the roof?   Nice innit?  I chose the colour cos it makes it  look like we got real tiles up there and not tin.  Cor it don’t half make  a racket when it rains.

   My Gladys did the paint job and what a palaver that was.   I got the ladder out for her (bloke’s got to his bit)  and then she had a hell of a time getting up there.   What wiv 5  gallons of roofing paint and the slippery slope it wasn’t easy for the girl.    Quite worried I was.   One slip would have been €300 of paint down the drain.  Not to mention the damage to all them bedding  plants she put in.  She’d have pulled the bloomin' gutter down too.   Couldn’t stand the pressure.  Went in to put the kettle on and watch the footy

Last week some of me mates came down from London and we went fishing for the weekend.  Fishin’ in France ain’t like it is in Blighty; ever so serious they are.  No drinkin’ during the day and they have a proper lunch wiv wine an’ all.  We started on the beer mid morning cos the lads were getting’ a bit twitchy.   After a few beers they was getting’ noisy.   Makin’ jokes about frogs is not good for the old entente cordial you know.    Things like  “What do frogs drink?”  “Hot croako”    I says it’s all right for you blighters but I’ve got to live ‘ere with this lot so shut up!    Should have seen us.  What a  sight.    

  You got a lot of Yankee  Doodle Dandies reading your stuff ain’t ya.  Some good looking ladies  too.   Not that I’ve got a wanderin’ eye or anything but my Gladys  says she don’t mind me lookin’ at the menu so long as I eat me dinner at home.    She’s a good girl; didn’t moan about me fishing trip and told me  to have a good time.  Not like her at all.  Really taking care  of herself these days too.  She don’t go out in her slippers no more and  she’s getting her hair done regular.  Looking all right she is.  Must be the influence of her French mates.

Seeing those Yankee ladies reminds me of when I got loads of Americans in the back of me cab.   In the good old days when a dollar was a dollar.   They always wanted to take me photo at the wheel in front of Buck House or something.   Course I kept the meter running didn’t I?   Got to make an honest bob or two when you can.  One bloke from New York, nice he was,  rented me cab for a whole day and could he talk?  Didn’t get a word in edgeways.  When I got home Gladys said I had an American accent.

Meanwhile here in deepest France me parlay vooin’ is comin’ along a treat.   Teaching ‘em a few cocky expressions like  “farcissez ca pour une aluette”.  Get it?   Stuff that for a lark eh?   Obvious innit?   Nobody gets it round here though; must be the way I say it.   How about “confiture de trafic?”  No sense of humour this lot.

Anyway the big news is the Mayor has asked my Gladys if she will go on his Consul  Administrayshun.  Town Council to you and me.   He said they’ve got local elections comin’ up in a couple of years and he thinks Gladys will add an  “international dimension to his team.”    Whatever turns you on I  say.    But you know what?  I’ll be a great power behind the throne don’t you think?   The silent one me.  And, if Gladys can swing me a bar  license for the gite, it’s a hole in one.   

So I say go for  it girl.  

Are you a local politico?   Bet you’re a big  wheel in parlimong and keeping it under your hat right?.   Planning to  throw it on the blog when we don’t expect it right?

Anyway, got to dash  now.  Gladys wants me to take her into town for a new frock......................  I can feel another long weekend with me mates comin’ on.

Ta ta for now

Charlie

 Oh dear ...  I'm not sure how long Charlie and Gladys are going to last in their French village, wherever they are.  Sounds to me like Charlie is having the wool pulled over his eyes.  Still, I'm not going to get involved, let's just wait and see how they do.

Le Clos de Mondetour

Here's a wonderful place to stay, just two minutes from our house.  Le Clos de Mondetour belongs to our friends Aude and Gregoire Jeanson.  Aude and I ride together, our girls are friends and our boys play rugby on the same team, so the route between our front doors is well trod!

Although they have lived in the property for longer, it wasn't until five years ago that they started renovating the main part of the building, and by the same occasion created their guest rooms.

The house was originally built in the 16th century, and over the centuries it has evolved.   When taxes were raised on windows, all the large windows  were even bricked up.   At the beginning of the 20th century it became a farm and stayed that way until Aude and Gregoire arrived.

Aude has a great sense of colour, and that combined with the antique pieces of furniture that have come from her family, and the many bits and pieces she finds in brocantes and local auction rooms, she has created a comfortable and elegant interior.

Her guests enjoy a breakfast and sitting room, with doors leading onto the garden.  On the first floor there are two ensuite bedrooms,   I can never decide which I prefer;  this is the red room with the toile de jouy on one wall.  The large windows make the room bright.  I love the way Aude has picked out the red of the toile de Jouy in the antique floor rug, and books.

The view from the side window is totally peaceful,  you're likely to see horses, either Aude's or  those of her neighbours.

Across the landing is the green room, one wall covered in a beautiful green chinoiserie paper, and such pretty light coming in through the bathroom window.

I love the bed heads, the antique bed linen, and most of all , I love the interior shutters.

Now, here's a little bonus that you only get to see because it's me taking you here.  I've been given permission to show you some of their family rooms too!  Their huge living room, with more curtain length than I've ever had to hang!

and a very happy, colourful kitchen, which leads onto the family dining room on one side and the guest breakfast room on the other.

So don't ever say that you have no good reason to visit Normandy.  Don't forget, Le Clos de Mondetour is only 20 minutes drive from Giverny, and just an hour from Paris or from Deauville.  Even better, both Aude and Gregoire speak excellent English,.  Like Mary Poppins it's  "practically perfect in every way!"


PS  I seems that there are problems in  leaving comments here today, I'm so sorry, I don't know what this is about.  If you would like to comment but can't manage please send me a mail and I'll post your comment later.  Thank you.