Hydrangeas in bloom

This sweet little hydrangea was blindingly white when I bought it at Easter, it hasn't grown one centimetre in size since then but it has changed colour.
Over the weeks it has gradually changed colour and now it is a gorgeous shade of green, au natural, no artificial colouring involved!
I was so intrigued by this that I looked for an answer on google and found an very interesting little article on a website called Gardening Know How.
Click here if you would like to know more.

Out in the garden my white hydrangea bush is thriving, due to all the rain we've been having no doubt.
Before the flowers open completely they have a green tinge.

It is quite possible, as I'm sure all of you gardeners out there will know, that you can change a pink hydrangea to blue by adding aluminium sulfate to the soil.

Joining charming hostess 

Liz @ Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday 

Fleurs de Paris

Last weekend the SP & I spent 24 wonderful hours in Paris.
We drove up to visit the Version Scrap Expo, which was being held at the Parc Floral, Vincennes.

Later we checked into the Hotel Daumesnil located close to the Chateau de Vincennes.

This beautiful florists shop was on the opposite corner to the Chateau, just across the road from the Hotel.

Sharing all these beautiful flowers with

 Liz @ Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday

and

Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound for Pink Saturday.

I'm sure they'd both be happy to see you if you called in too!

The faded charm of pink hydrangeas.

I've been in the wars a little bit this week!
On Monday I was stung by a wasp on my lower left arm, as I'm mildly allergic to wasp stings it wasn't long before the swelling went from elbow to fingers.
As I'd had the same thing happen last year I had antihistamine tablets and cortisone cream in the cabinet so after a couple of days the swelling was starting to recede.
That was until this afternoon (Thursday) when I got stung again whilst in the garden getting some fresh air.
Same arm, just higher up!
Taking no chances I went to see our lovely Dr B-B who loaded me up with more tablets, cream, compresses, alcohol (to cool the arm, not to drink!) and bandages to hold the compresses in place!
I look like the walking wounded and have to stay this way for 10 days.
So, I need some fresh flowers to cheer me up, more than ever which is why I'm ..............................

Joining Liz @Rose Vignettes once more for Fresh Cut Friday.

Even though they are past their summer pink gorgeousness now

 my hydrangeas are still bringing me pleasure.

I'll let them dry out here in the dining room and

enjoy their faded charm for many more months to come.

Joining Beverly too for Pink Saturday @How Sweet The Sound.

Please click on the links to join both of these lovely ladies for gorgeous flowers and delightful pinks, me, I'm staying indoors with a good book until all the wasps have gone.

Fresh Cut Friday with Rose Vignettes

I think I spoke too soon, those gorgeous blue skies are nowhere to be seen today, the rain came back with a vengeance during the night and it's grey and overcast once more.

White hydrangea, pink roses and blue hibiscus

Luckily I picked these colourful blooms from the garden earlier in the week and arranged them quite simply in a Quimper faience vase decorated in the same colours.

The decoration on the vase is known as broderie and is made up of tiny little dots of coloured glaze which are applied to the surface with the aid of a small tool known as a "poire", it's a bit like icing a cake!

Many different designs can be found on broderie pieces, they mimic the elaborate embroideries which we see decorating traditional Breton costumes such as the one that the Bretonne, featured on the front of the vase, is wearing.

The back of the vase is just as decorative.

I find that the coloured glazes contrast beautifully against the dark cobalt blue background.

Joining Liz @ Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday

 where everything is blooming wonderfully.

Tulips.

Yesterday Mr B brought me these wonderful tulips back from the market and so I thought I'd share them with Liz over at Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday and also with The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.


  Tulip Haiku.

Rainbow of Colors

Field of Tulips Never-Ending.

Bright and Beautiful.

~ by Marie M. Daniels

The tulip and the butterfly

Appear in gayer coats than I:

Let me be dressed fine as I will,

Flies, worms, and flowers

exceed me still.

~ Isaac Watts

Bring the tulip and the rose,

While their brilliant beauty glows.

~ Eliza Cook

A Tulip Garden ~ by Amy Lowell.

 

Guarded within the old red wall's embrace,

Marshalled like soldiers in gay company,

The tulips stand arrayed. Here infantry

Wheels out into the sunlight. What bold grace

Sets off their tunics, white with crimson lace!

Here are platoons of gold-frocked cavalry,

With scarlet sabres tossing in the eye

Of purple batteries, every gun in place.

Forward they come, with flaunting colours spread,

With torches burning, stepping out in time

To some quick, unheard march. Our ears are dead,

We cannot catch the tune. In pantomime

Parades that army. With our utmost powers

We hear the wind stream through a bed of flowers.

Many thanks to Felicity for sharing these wonderful tulip poems.

Click here to see her amazing tulip images.

1st March. - St. Davids Day.

St. David (Dewi Sant) the patron Saint of Wales was a monk who lived during the sixth century and died circa 588 on March 1st.

Although perhaps not as well known as Irelands Saint Patrick, for centuries the date has been a National Festival in Wales.
As part of the celebration people wear either a leek or a daffodil in their lapels.

National St. Davids Day Parades will take place today in Cardiff and Wrexham in Wales, as well as further afield in China and New York!

Apparently Welsh Week is being celebrated across the United States.
Click here to go to the BBC News Wales web page for more info.

In honor of the occasion (and because it was my lovely Dad's favourite flower) some freshly picked daffodils from my garden, with branches of forsythia and red buds of flowering quince.

I'll be linking this post to A Return to Loveliness with Kathy @ A Delightsome Life today

and I'll also be joining Liz @ Rose Vignettes for Fresh Cut Friday,

 where there are bound to be masses of pretty spring vignettes to see.



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.