Should old acquaintance be forgot........

FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE

Outside my window... it is cold and wet just as it has been for days, no White Christmas for us in Normandy this year.

I am thinking... that although I've been sad this year, losing Mr Ben was very hard, there has been much to enjoy. Our Kos vacation being the highlight.

I am thankful... for my wonderful husband and the happiness he brings me.

In the kitchen... for our celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner I’m serving twice baked smoked salmon soufflés followed by the SP’s historic steak frites. You can find the souffle recipe from Sara Buenfeld by clicking here.

I am wearing...comfortable warm clothing; corduroy pants, brushed cotton tunic and my favourite shawl collared cardigan.

I am creating...my last scrap book layout for 2013, the photograph is of me aged 4, in 1954 sat on Santa’s knee in his grotto at the Co-op Stores, King Street, Oldham, Lancashire, UK.

I am going... downstairs very soon for afternoon tea and the last of the homemade mince pies, Delia’s recipe of course.

I am wondering...if the wood burner has warmed the sitting room, ready for tea time. I'm sure it will have.

I am reading...One Thousand White Women, the Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus, for the second time.

I am hoping...that 2014 will bring peace and contentment.

I am looking forward to....a second visit to Derbyshire, UK in May and time spent with family.

I am learning……. patience and acceptance, que sera, sera.

Around the house...there are two new couches sitting on the new fitted parquet floor in the newly decorated sitting room and a brand spanking newly installed Falcon stove in the kitchen.

I am listening to.....a CD from Classic FM; Schubert's Trout and other chamber music favourites.

A favorite quote for today...”Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow” – Anon.

One of my favorite things...a new diary full of clean empty pages.

A few plans for the rest of the week: a walk on the beach at Vierville-sur-mer with Roger and Fleur a New Year’s Day tradition for the Bryants, and if the rain keeps falling look for me in front of the fire reading a good book.

Happy New Year to all my friends and followers, may 2014 be the year that all your plans, hopes and dreams come true.

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!

Sunday walk.

The weather is still dank and dreary, grey skies and no sunshine.
Nevertheless, we enjoyed our walk through the Normandy countryside this morning where I found some interesting trees to photograph.

Back home, the wet weather isn't dampening the spirits of our daffodils, thank goodness.

They are beginning to brighten up several flower beds now, beautiful Heralders of Spring!
bon dimanche.

Linking to Mosaic Monday @ the little red house. 

Mary has a wonderful vintage themed mosaic today that everyone will enjoy.

Pink Interlude

What makes a perfect pink interlude?

Book: The Postmistress - Sarah Blake; Tea: Taz - Vanilla Rooibos; Hand knitted pink and white striped mug mat: wonderful gifts from Pondside.

Mug: Cath Kidston.

Joining Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound

for

Pink Saturday

Copycat Mantlepiece

This morning, inspired by a photograph from my Homes & Antiques magazine 2012 calendar, I decided to create a new look for the mantlepiece in the room we lovingly refer to as the Library.
Even though our fireplace isn't as elaborate as theirs, in fact it's very plain indeed, and my mirror isn't oval or silver, it's rectangular and gilt (!) I collected a few bits and pieces from around the house and set to work.

A pair of chinese blue and white vases purchased at auction in Hungerford, Berks, UK over 30 years ago, some pieces from my Nana's wedding china, a vintage French pewter candelabra and a small Bristol blue vase.

Once all the Christmas decor has been packed away the clean surfaces left behind give us the opportunity to rethink what goes where and try new looks.
I think I like this new mantlepiece but I may tweak it in the coming days, I usually do tweak things once or twice!

What about you, have you been tempted to try a new look or do you always prefer to maintain the status quo?

Joining Mary @ Boogieboard Cottage

for

 Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

for

and a new party hosted by

Shannon @ Cozy Home Scenes

A Transformative Year of Delight and Discovery.

Sarah Ban Breathnach wrote the book "Simple Abundance" in 1995 and a copy of it has been on my bedside table for over six years now. Some of you reading this post may possibly have a copy, I've personally gifted it to several friends over the years.

If you would like to visit SBB's Simple Abundance website there is a link on my sidebar.
For the first couple of years I read a page every single day, in the following years I dipped into it now and then when I felt the need of some support.
For some reason I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a year of change for the Senior Partner and I, there's talk of moving back to the UK maybe this year maybe next, and our planned visit to Hilton Head, SC. in October could well be our last.
As I said there's a feeling that this year may be different, we shall see!
So, I'm turning to Simple Abundance once again on the first day of January, a month full of new beginnings, so that I can be reminded that "the authentic self is the Soul made visible", I feel sure it will help me to face the challenges as they come up.
On a lighter note...............
Some who commented on my last post were surprised to see daffodils in our garden at Christmas/NewYear.

Although it will be several weeks yet until we have wonderful displays such as the one above, most of the flower beds have signs of life and look like this,

and there seems to be at least one impatient daffodil appearing somewhere in the garden every day.

Sheila @ Starshine Through My Windows  saw her first snow fall in November and is, like many others, only imagining daffodils on New Year's Day.

Her comment has prompted me to take a daily daffodil photograph in order to share a little bit more of Normandy Life with my blogging friends.

Here's todays little guy.

There are years that ask questions and years that answer.

Zora Neale Hurston.

Joining The Tablescaper, with this first post of 2012, for Seasonal Sundays.

A weekly gathering where we share what's happening in our own corner of the world,

why not join us?

Glacé fruit topped Christmas cake.

Last month I blogged about baking Mary Berry's Victorian Christmas Cake.
Click here if you missed that post or would like the recipe.
Since then I have given the cake a little tot of whisky about every 10 days or so to keep it moist.
When it came time to decorate the cake I first warmed through 2 tablespoons of apricot conserves with 1 tablespoon of Calvados apple brandy.
(What can I say? It's a boozy cake!)

Abricots, poires, clementines, prunes, figues, tranches de citrons, tranches d'oranges and bigarreaux.
Apricots, pears, clementines, figs, slices of lemons and oranges and cherries.

I brushed the cake quite liberally with the conserves and then artfully (!) arranged some glace fruit and pecan nuts before brushing once again with the remainder of the conserves until all was beautifully glossy.

I purchased the fruits glacés from Les Fleurons d'Apt a wonderful online emporium full of Provencal foodie treats.

This will be the last post of 2011, whew! hasn't this year just flown by?

Like many of you, I'll be taking a short break away from blogging until the New Year.

Until then dear friends and followers may I take the opportunity of wishing you all 

A Very Merry Christmas

and

 A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012.

Christmas Open House Tour Part 2 – Festive.

Welcome to the second and final part of the Presbytère house tour.

In the library the tree is finally decorated and the dining room table is looking festive.

I began with a pair of table runners overlaid with silver and gold chargers.
The china is Rosenthal "Classic Rose".

The red napkins were a TJ Maxx purchase the last time we visited Hilton Head, SC. and the white napkins are from the Spode Christmas Tree range, as are the coasters beneath the stemware.

The stemware is vintage Baccarat, bought at auction in Bayeux several years ago. I think the pattern is Harcourt.

The green English pressed glass dishes are vintage too, I’ll serve one of our favourite appetizers in these; avocado prawn cocktails with Marie Rose sauce, very 1970’s!

I kept the centrepiece simple, a large white candle inside a plain glass hurricane surrounded by a faux wreath embellished with faux white poinsettias and gold accents.

I love Christmas Carols, singing along to them when playing CD's at home or, even better, going to a Carol concert and lending my voice (not good!) to all the others, an opportunity that I rarely have living as we do in deepest rural Normandy.

When our house & pet sitter called to let me know that she was available for a few days due to a cancellation, the Senior Partner and I quickly agreed that a long weekend back in the U.K. was just the pick me up we both needed.
Herefordshire is a favourite place of ours to visit and so we decided to head back there and experience it during the festive season.
I saw on line that the Goodrich Village Choir the “Roaring Megs” would be appearing at the Hostellerie in Goodrich on Friday evening. There was mention of open braziers, hot chestnuts, mulled wine, sausage rolls and mince pies whilst the lovely choir entertain us and bring the whole spirit of Christmas to our doorstep.
I booked a room and dinner for two, tout suite.
Then I read in the December issue of "Herefordshire Life" magazine that an Advent market and Carols for Shoppers would be taking place Saturday morning in the grounds of Hereford Cathedral, and that the Ledbury Community Choir would be performing at a Carol Concert in Ledbury on Saturday evening.
After a few minutes spent on google I'd found a lovely apartment for two in the centre of Ledbury, a beautiful little town steeped in history, and booked it for Saturday and Sunday.
So, there will be carols, shopping, good food and wine, carols, a seasonal client meeting for the Senior Partner, did I mention carols, and a rare opportunity for retail therapy with a friend for me.
As we’ll be on the overnight ferry back to Normandy late Monday, a cosy cabin to ensure a good night’s sleep in case of a choppy Channel crossing has also been reserved!

Isn't that enough to make anyone feel Festive?

Joining Jenny @ off on my tangent

for Alphabe-Thursday

I'm sure there will be lots of festivity happening this week in blogland

 as we celebrate the letter "F"!

Christmas Open House - Part One.



Bienvenue!

Welcome to the first of my Christmas Open House posts.

As you enter through the double front doors 

Colonial Williamsburg

Byers Choice Carolers

 are waiting to welcome you

with a ballad or two, a cup of grog and a choice of seasonal fare.

This year the mantlepiece in the library has a new look,

but still traditional!

Meanwhile, in the dining room,

Bavarian Santa presides this year over Spode "Christmas Tree" china tea things.

He has his eye on those mincepies, I can tell.

The other Santas can only watch from on top of the mantlepiece.

In the window,
The Byers Choice Salvation Army Brass Band and Choir

sing Christmas Carols to entice

Shopping Carolers.

However, the Shopping Carolers seem to have been waylaid

decorating their own tree.

Maybe they think they're in the Rockwell painting of

Stockbridge, Massachusetts?

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of  my favourite Christmas vignettes

and will stop by again to see more displays soon.

Joining the Tablescaper

for

Seasonal Sundays.

Click on the link to take a look at

more seasonal delights.