Sunday 29 July 2018

Mosaic Monday # 94 - snap your summer!


Every summer I always enjoy the boost that the Summer Snap Challenge hosted by Sue & Alison @ UK Scrappers gives to my photography and scrap booking mojo.

in a jar; drain cover; steeple.
Here's the 2018 summer challenge list if you feel inclined to join in

1 your new avatar
2 a drain cover
3 spire or steeple
4 windmill
5 soft top
6 a crescent
7 whiskers
8 in a jar
9 tessellations
10 bags
11 naughty but nice
12 a rose
13 in the air
14 entrance
15 match
16 stamp
17 cornet
18 four candles
19 the letter 'O'

20 crooked

in the air; new avatar; red, white & blue

Substitutions
A red, white & blue
B numbers
C wedding

D summer

crooked; whiskers; rose(s)


Sunday 22 July 2018

Mosaic Monday # 93 - those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Bonjour, I've had such a lazy week since our last chat.
Sitting out of the sun in the shade of a spreading chestnut tree on an oh so comfortable Lafuma lounger snoozing and reading books on my Kindle. **
The one and only time I left home during the past 7 days was for a quick trip to the supermarche for essential supplies.
I blame the heat.
Work in the garden has mainly been just watering plants in the cool early mornings or late in the evening as the bats begin their nightly hunt for food, and I did prune some roses one once or twice.
The blue/pink hydrangea is looking rather splendid this year, don't you think?
So pretty that I decided to feature it as my blog header for the rest of the summer.


Once upon a time I used to have a potager and would toil daily amongst the courgettes, lettuces, beans and tomatoes. Now I only have a small herb bed and a few golden raspberry canes to tend to.
I do miss picking fresh salad leaves for dinner in the evenings though.

So, how's your summer going?
Are you out and about enjoying fun activities with family and friends, tending your garden or maybe you have animals and pets to care for.
Just between us - I always hankered after keeping a couple of donkeys in the back garden.
I knew in my heart that it was never going to happen.
Still it might have been nice.

** Completed summer reading list so far**
Bring Me Back - B A Paris
Seven Bridges - L J Ross
The Distance - Sue Folbigg
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
The Second Child - Caroline Bond
Together - Julie Cohen
Redeemer - Mark Dawson
**Still on my Kindle to read**
The History of Bees - Maja Lunde
A Piece Of The World - Christina Baker Kline


Sunday 15 July 2018

Mosaic Monday # 92 - a different sort of Bastille Day

Looking back through my blog post archives it appears that I blog about Bastille Day every other year so since the last post was in 2016 here I am again.
France's National Day 2018 fell on a Saturday, a day when even non sports fans such as myself were glued to the TV watching a blistering semi final match between Nadal and Djokovic @ Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Spoiler alert: Djokovic triumphed!
The total amount of prize money this year is a staggering £34 million with the tournament Champions each receiving £2,250,000.
Nadal and Djokovic were swiftly followed onto Centre Court by Serena Williams who was beaten by Angelique Kerber in the Ladies Singles final which frustratingly clashed with coverage of the World Cup playoff for third and fourth place between England & Belgium, in Saint Petersburg. Russia.
And let's not forget the Tour de France happening at the same time!

Time for tea, I think?

Kate and Meghan may have been seated in the Royal Box but here at the Presbytere we missed none of the action whilst savouring afternoon tea, mouthwatering patisserie, my favourite heirloom china from Nana B and pretty flowers from the garden. 

Sunday 8 July 2018

Mosaic Monday # 91 - searching out the quirky

quirky definition: unusual in an attractive and interesting way
Taking a trip to somewhere new
 often offers up something odd or quirky to capture through the camera lens.
Here are some unusual things that caught my eye recently.

an ancient wrought iron door knocker, how many hands have held this through the centuries?

another hand made piece of door furniture that has stood the test of time

how I wish these rusted and corroded metal shutters had been open!



What's caught your eye this week?

Sunday 1 July 2018

Mosaic Monday # 90 - discovering the Dordogne

Warning: this post is light on words and overloaded with images.
If you enjoy travelling especially from an armchair and love meandering through France well you might want to grab a beverage, get comfy and settle down, you could be here for quite a while.
The road we travelled last week wound its way through several regions of France which were new to us.
Nouvelle Aquitaine; Pays de la Loire; Deux Sevres; Charente and Charente Maritime; Dordogne; Périgord, all such wonderful places to explore.

Our base in the Dordogne was the lovely Maison Asholi, our B & B hosts Beverley & Martin looked after us so well. As experienced caterers they also cooked dinner for us on two evenings, the food was delicious.
On our last night, as they were going out for the evening, they left a selection of delectable eats for us to enjoy al fresco, sitting on the terrace watching the sunset was a lovely way to end our day after visiting Brantôme.