photo du jour - pink rose

this beautiful pink rose bush on the front of the house
grows alongside and over the top of the door which leads into the kitchen
i'm so grateful to a previous occupant for planting roses around my door!

it's looking so lush this year that I decided to make it my new summer header

it's blooming just in time for pink saturday
with beverly @ how sweet the sound

click here for more delightful pinks

photo du jour - aperitif anyone?

on a warm summer evening

 there's nothing better than to sit in the garden with an aperitif

and some nibbles.

you just have to be careful which bowl you dip into!

photo du jour - at the beach

It might be 4 months until I get there but this seat has my name on it.

South Beach Hilton Head Island.

Wordless Wednesday

photo(s) du jour -Diane's mini birthday album

A few days ago I posted some photo's that I'd found whilst looking for some to use for my friend Diane's mini birthday scrapbook album.
You might remember Elvis's pink cadillac?
Diane and I have traveled many thousands of miles together since we met at the 2nd QCI meeting held in Washington DC in 2000.
We've enjoyed several vacations together with our husbands, lovingly refered to as the tag- a- longs, this mini album features some of our "greatest moments".

the front cover

Diane loves to buy Quimper,
here she is at the QCI meeting in Philadelphia with her latest treasure.

The album unfolds to show photo's of D & me at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis,
and D, me & the SP in Texas.
The pull out tag on the right shows D & her DH whilst on vacation with us in Cancun.

The album is a twofer, this is the 2nd front cover.

When you open it you see the iconic Graceland photo of
D & Me & Sister Sue,
above a photo of the SP & Diane's other half
 in San Antonio, TX.

Unfold once more to reveal D & DH on vacation with us in Hilton Head.

Well, today is Diane's birthday and although when I spoke to her just a few minutes ago she hadn't yet seen the gift, she said it was o.k. for me to go ahead and show it to y'all first.

Happy Birthday Diane!

photo du jour - is anyone missing a camel?

When the travelling circus came to a nearby village recently

 they put the horses & ponies, a camel and a dromedary out to graze on the local football pitch!

Not an everyday sight in Normandie.

photo du jour - Monday Doorway

 

This is the main entrance to the 12th century church of St. Marcouf.

Our home which is just a couple of hundred yards away was once the residence of the village priest. The Bishop of Bayeux was a regular visitor or so the story goes and used to stay at the Presbytere, which dates back to the 16th century.

On Saturday afternoon these doors were decked out in wedding finery for la marriage of the Maire's daughter.

It was a lovely day, full of celebrations, blue skies and sunshine.

Monday Doorways with Louis in San Francisco.

photo du jour

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.

Maori Proverb

shadow shot sunday

photo du jour - pink birthday bouquet

“Lean forward into your life...catch the best bits and the finest wind. 

Just tip your feathers in flight a wee bit and

 see how dramatically that small lean can change your life.” 

― Mary Anne Radmacher.

Sharing my beautiful pink birthday bouquet with 

Beverly

@ How Sweet the Sound

and all her Pink Saturday guests.

These photos were taken by the SP using our ipad, afterwards he "sketched" the flowers for me,

isn't it lovely?

photo du jour - birthday cakes

june 22nd is national chocolate eclair day & my birthday!


Joining the Tablescaper once again this week for
Seasonal Sundays.
Why not come along and see who else is participating today.

photo du jour - wisteria

after many weeks of waiting our wisteria is finally in bloom

photo du jour

bucolic normandie

wordless wednesday

Shadow Shot Sunday - Plantation style in Georgia

For Shadow Shot Sunday this week I'm sharing some shadow captures, from our trip to Savannah, GA in 2010.
I rediscovered them whilst sifting through the hundreds of photographs, that I've taken on my travels with Diane, in preparation of her birthday album.

One of the most beautiful places that Diane and I have visited was a private plantation home

 outside of Savannah.

She told me that the chigger infested Spanish moss growing in the old live oaks 

was historically used to stuff mattresses and why

 generations of mothers whisper to their children at bedtime

Good night, sleep tight,

Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

But I don't know? Is it true?

Herefordshire Doors

Whether you're a "toff", a horse or a tea room

you can certainly have a door to be proud of in Herefordshire, UK.

Joining Louis La Vache for Monday Doorways.

Why not fly over to beautiful San Fran and check out more doorways from around the world.

Elvis's Pink Cadillac @ Graceland

Whilst going through my photograph memories of trips I've taken with my dear friend Diane,

 in preparation of a mini album that I'm creating for her (don't tell, it's a surprise),

I came across some from our visit to Graceland, Tennessee in September 2005.

I just knew it would be perfect for Beverly's Pink Saturday gathering @ How Sweet The Sound. 

Remember, for some us, Elvis is still in the building!

Click here to see the scrapbook page that I created from our souvenir photograph 

taken during that special trip.

This new hobby is seriously affecting my blog!

Lunch at Villa Maria, Ravello.
RRR Team Challenge

You may have noticed that I haven't been blogging as often as I used to?

UKS May House challenge

Well, the reason why is, that I have fallen back in love with scrap booking and am devoting all my free time, when not out in the garden, to playing with paper and glue!

Week 1 challenge

Here are some of my most recent lay outs that I created for the May monthly and weekly challenges over at UK Scrappers.

Week 2 challenge

I recently volunteered to take over the running of my team, The Rockin' Ribbon Raiders, when the previous team leader had to step down.

Week 3 challenge

It's been a steep learning curve but I've had plenty of support and encouragement from other team leaders and members of the scrapping community at UKS.

Week 4 challenge.

My latest obsession is making tags and here are some that I did for the May Trendy Tag Swap.

 You may have spotted that tags have started to appear in my lay outs too?

 I tell you, I am addicted to them!

Hope you've enjoying peeking into my craft room today.

What new hobbies have you taken up this year?

Perhaps, like me, you've rediscovered an old favourite?

I'd love to hear how you spend your leisure time?