Back on line, did you miss me?

For about a week now our ISP has been playing fast and loose with our internet connection.
For many hours each day, and during the night too for all I know, we have been incommunicado.
You never know what you've got 'till it's gone!

The cows came home to the field next door.

So, whilst the internet gods are smiling down on me here are some of the things that have been happening around the Presbytère this week.

Fleurs first trip to the beach.

Flowers and trees blossomed.

Retail therapy at the garden centre

I've already begun to plant out some of the above seedlings in the kitchen garden at the back of the house.

This year I'm trying my hand at brassicas, (cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli) for the first time, also shallots, chinese leaf and kale.

Watch this space for updates on how they all work out.

Joining the following gracious hostesses this weekend

 Laurie @ Bargain Hunting (and chatting) for

A Few Of My Favourite Things Saturday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

and

Mary @ the little red house for Mosaic Monday.

Click on the above links or the buttons on my sidebar to join these great gatherings too.

Bon weekend à tous......

A Few of My Favourite Things Saturday

The warm spring days we’ve experienced lately have not only brought out vibrant daffodils and wonderful bright yellow forsythia they’ve tempted me away from my cosy fireplace too.
Spring for me always means a return to my attic hideaway, where I can happily sit and blog and also create scrapbook pages without worrying about the mess, surrounded by some of my favourite things.

My Amish 9 star wall hanging which I bought at the end of a wonderful evening in Churchtown. PA. My dear friend Diane & I with other liked minded “tourists” had the pleasure of dining with a delightful Amish family. It was a wonderful experience and one which I shall always treasure.
Diane & I have seen many interesting places together, over the years, since we met in 2000 at the Quimper CIub annual meeting held that year in Washington D.C.

In 2008 we toured the Tutankhamun exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art, then wandered through the galleries, where I fell in love with John Singer Sargent’s “Portrait of Dorothy, 1900”

A few years earlier, with her sister Susan on the way from Texas to the QCI meeting in Chicago in 2005, we took a slight detour and visited the King at Graceland, Memphis, TN.
That was a fun trip!

My Texan Eiffel Tour (a souvenir from the Dallas 2009 meeting).

Last but by no means least my Keep Calm and Carry On notice, a gift from the QCI members attending the 2010 meeting in Savannah which I co-hosted.
I was also presented with a signed copy of Paula Deens book "Savannah Style" which the above mentioned Susan (currently serving at President of the QCI) obtained after standing in line to meet PD when at a book signing in Dallas last year.
Click here to go to the QCI blog and read Susan's hilarious account of that day.

The hub.

Hilton Head is never far from my thoughts.

Miz Geraldine, the rabbit that started it all.
There must be music.

Splendour in the Grass and Sympathique by, a favourite band, Pink Martini.
I have so enjoyed revisiting A Few of my Favourite Things with y'all today (there's that Texan/Southern influence coming through!)
Of course I'm joining Laurie for A Few of My Favourite Things Saturday with this post, hope you'll pop over and visit Laurie and all the other bloggers participating there this weekend.
I never realised before writing this post how many of them are linked to the QCI and the friends I've made through the Club.

To market, to market, to buy.........?

Most Thursday mornings we drive to a nearby market town to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, we take our elderly neighbour along with us, too.
Some time ago he was informed by the "authorities" that he was too frail to drive himself and his licence was duly annulled, much to his digust!
We left in a hurry and I forgot to pick up my shopping list off the kitchen counter so had to try and recreate it in the car as we drove along.
Thank heavens I had a pretty little notepad & pen in my bag.

I don't think I could ever be described as a "girly girl" (I like to think more Wonder Woman than Barbie) but the fluffy purple feathers on the elegant strappy shoe make me smile.
Thanks KE, for this sweet Christmas stocking filler gift that brightens up your big sisters day.

This week, whilst Mr B was "parlaying" with the boucher, I meandered around the stalls to see what else might take my fancy.

Free delivery when you buy 6 chairs, today only.

I came across a woman who now and again sets up a small "Brocante" table and stopped to browse the ancient books displayed there.

I uncovered two antique, school textbooks: Le Livre de L'Ecole printed in 1890 and Lectures Faciles circa 1905.

Le Pont D'Avignon.
English schoolchildren learned this one too.

At just 2.50 euro apiece, I had to have them.

Just a few stalls further along, I found these beautiful tulips.

Back home again, one blue and white Quimper pitcher later, and voila!

Je suis une fille heureuse.

Joining in the fun this week with
Courtney for Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Show and Tell Friday with Cindy @ My Romantic Home
Liz @ Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday
Linda @ A LA CARTE for Junkin Finds Friday

 and
A Few Of My Favourite Things Saturday @ Bargain Hunting With Laurie.

Thank you ladies for graciously hosting these wonderful gatherings.

Victorian Inspired vignette.

I think my style of decorating could be best described as Victorian inspired, English Country.
Achieved for the most part with auction finds, inherited pieces, flea market bargains and contemporary accents.

Chandelier, painting, lithograph and mirror
 all found at the Bayeux Hotel de Vente

Vintage Malicorne faience duck vase,
handpainted with a breton musician on the front.
Souvenir of St. Malo.

Over the years these two books have been invaluable sources of interior design inspiration, they epitomise the look that I aspire to in our home.

From “Victorian Style” written by Judith & Martin Miller -
“covers all aspects of Victorian interiors. Illustrated with over 400 colour photographs, the book reflects the diversity and eclecticism of the period.....”
First published in 1993 and available on Amazon, click here.

From “Classic Decorative Details, author Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill -
“with the help of this book, you can become an instant expert on collecting silver, glass and ceramics, find out how to hang pictures, display leather bound books and make dramatic impact with flowers and fruit”...........
First published in 1994 and available on Amazon still, click here.

Quimper double shoe salt, silver bonbon basket and spoon,
a trio of vintage Famous Five books.

Many thanks to our wonderful hostesses
Courtney @ French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday, and Debra @ Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

The large mirror reflects the staircase seeming to widen the hallway even more

to Laurie @ Bargain Hunting With Laurie for A Few of My Favourite Things Saturday


Copeland Spode Italian plate, HR Quimper card holder,
 Old English, Poole silver dish, the perfect vide poche for my keys.



to Mary @ the little red house for Mosaic Monday who has some beautiful tulips in her mosaics today,

and Kathy @ A Delightsome Life for Tuesday's A Return to Loveliness Party inspired by Victoria magazine.

Click on the links above, or on their buttons on my sidebar, to visit these great blogs and see who else is participating this week.

A Fall Cloche Party.

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  the Queen of Cloches is throwing A Fall Cloche Party for everyone to enjoy.

I'm also joining

 Claudia for Finding Beauty Friday,

 Laurie for A Few of My Favourite Things Saturday

I have to confess that I do not own a single cloche, which is ridiculous especially since cloche is a French word after all.

Still, Marty wants to include everyone, even if we're cloche challenged, and has some fabulous fall decorating ideas to inspire on her blog.

Click here to be inspired by Marty.

This comment had me considering my options:

Don't have a cloche, not to worry, just grab a hurricane or apothecary jar and fill it full of fall fun. They work perfectly too.

So, that's just what I did.

Gathered some bits and bobs together that I picked up last year at TJ Maxx, Michaels and other great stores in the Hilton Head SC. area, (click here to read about Halloween in HH) and a plain glass hurricane, then got busy.

I have to say I'm quite pleased with the results and ready to join in the fun at my very first Cloche Party.

A big thank you to Marty, Claudia and Laurie for being such gracious hosts and don't forget to click on the links above to see who else is partcipating this time.