Mosaic Monday # 107 - at this time of year

As October draws to a close and with November just around the corner I'm sharing a couple of my favourite things which happen in our little corner of Normandy at this time of year.

Trick or Treat - our neighbours children, taxied around by their patient parents, haunt the village as twilight falls. It's become a tradition to make their visit to le Presbytere the first stop of the evening but they only approach if we leave an outside light burning otherwise they leave us alone. 

We always leave a light burning!

Joyce, Kathryn & me

Alex (10) & Nick (7)

all dressed up for some Halloween fun.

Halloween 2007 we were celebrating my Father's 80th birthday when they came to visit so we donned costumes to greet them. As they left to go a' haunting one of the local kids took our nephew Nicholas then aged 7 by the hand, to his relief we rescued him before they managed to whisk him away.

The nearby town of Trévières holds it's annual Fete des Pommes on the last Sunday in October it's an event we always look forward to especially this year as there is going to be a performance by a group of Breton dancers and I adore traditional Breton music, the pipes and drums have my feet tapping in no time at all.

They also have pumpkins……………..

Those of us who live in Europe had to remember to put our clocks back one hour this morning, as summer time officially came to an end, I know in the US Daylight Saving doesn't happen until next week, hope everyone remembers!
This is my last post as host of Mosaic Monday. 
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as host, each and every one of the 107 posts has brought me good times, friendship and joy and I thank you all for your support.
Next week MM's new home will be @ Letting Go of the Bay Leaf hosted by Angie, see you there! 
Just wanted to mention that there is an error in the inlinkz message, the link will open at 11.00 am as usual not 1.00 am.

Normandy Life

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday alert - fail to prepare, prepare to fail

This quote is one I used often whilst organising events for the Quimper  Club it's a quote I should have remembered when preparing my MM post this week.
Wifi gremlins have struck the Presbytere and we cannot connect to the internet.
I'm using my iPhone now to let you know that there is a problem and unless it is fixed today (our service provider can't be sure it will be) Mosaic Monday will not be happening tomorrow.
So sorry!
I hope to be back later to say as is well and that MM will go ahead as usual.
Watch this space!

Strawberries & cream

Once again this week I've been transfixed by Wimbledon 

which culminated yesterday with an amazing Men's Singles Final

 between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovik.

What better way to celebrate this incredible match 

than with the quintessential Wimbledon treat of strawberries and cream?

The strawberry tart came from our local patisserie and was the SP's choice.

I was in the mood for something a little fancier 

so quickly whipped up a glass of Eton Mess for my afternoon tea delight.

I couldn't resist adding a melt in the mouth raspberry macaron to my plate,

 well it was Wimbledon!

Eton Mess (traditionally served after an Eton College, Windsor cricket match)

 is the simplest dessert to make.

Simply wash & hull some ripe strawberries.

 Break up some light as a feather meringue into bite sized pieces.

Gently mix them together with whipped cream or creme fraiche et voila!

Joining Judith for Mosaic Monday 

@ Lavender Cottage.

early morning in a normandy garden

Whilst waiting for the coffee to drip this morning I was gazing out of the kitchen window and suddenly became aware of how much newness had appeared, seemingly overnight.

I grabbed my lumix and headed out the door to capture the blossoming fruit trees 

and a beautiful blue hyacinth for the soul.

Quote.....

Spring is nature's way of saying "let's party!"

the late, great Robin Williams.

This pretty blue and white variegated primula with a bright yellow eye
could get any party started!

Joining Judith @ Lavender Cottage

for

Mosaic Monday

Back home again.

Hi all,

as some of you might know from FB the Senior Partner and I have been travelling these past couple of months, enjoying a sort of "extended 35th Honeymoon".
We spent some time in Bonnie Scotland, discovering Edinburgh. A couple of days with family in the UK and meeting up with Harry Potter!

More recently we spent 10 days at the Rixos Hotel, Sharm el Sheikh soaking up the sun before winter begins to bite here in Normandy, as it has already in many places in the US and Canada.
I have quite a lot of photographs to sort through as you might imagine.

I didn't want to delay my return to blogging until that was done so have created a super quick collage of some of the beautiful pink flowers from the floral decoration in the hotel lobby and also from a gorgeous arrangement that arrived in our suite one morning courtesy of the hotel.

Meeting up with other like minded bloggers for 

Pink Saturday with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound 

and Judith @ Lavender Cottage  for Mosaic Monday.

Will be back with more travelers tales soon.......

Shadow shots - poolside

As Mother Goose once said - "Home again, home again jiggity jig!!"

and it is lovely to be home again after our wonderful stay at the amazing Michelangelo Resort in Kos, but oh! that infinity pool.........

Early mornings were the best times to capture shadows.

It's going to take a while to readjust to home life and also to sort through the many photographs that we both took.

I know that it is hard to believe but the hotel was almost at full capacity.

There was always a quiet spot to enjoy the sun, read a book or enjoy a leisurely cocktail at the pool bar.

Sit back, relax, it's the weekend.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Mosaic Monday
with Mary

Life in the slow lane

After the excitement of Bastille Day life in our corner of Normandy has been quieter this week.
During the cooler early hours of the day I took time out to appreciate the garden and sitting on the patio reading some new books on my Kindle.
At the moment I'm enjoying reading "Growing Old Outrageously: A Memoir of Travel, Food and Friendship" by Hilary Linstead and Elisabeth Davies.

(I know I said I wouldn't ever get a Kindle, but I finally succumbed and now wonder how I managed to get by for so long without an English daily newspaper).

The Senior Partner, in anticipation of his upcoming retirement, second time around, has splashed out on a new "bridge" camera.

I have inherited his cast off Panasonic point and shoot and have been test driving it around and about.

Joining Mary @ the little red house for another Mosaic Monday.

Bastille Day - petit dejeuner

Fireworks lit the dark night sky at midnight as our neighbours began to celebrate July 14th, Bastille Day.

Since we Brits are a little more sedate we celebrated the special day with a late breakfast of coffee and croissants and a little bit of Gallic red, white & blue.

blue & white hand painted Quimper plates add Breton charm

as does the 18th c Petit Breton on this HB picher,
always a useful and decorative piece.

The delicious croissants were bought fresh from the boulanger's van as he made his early morning round through our village.

the blue and white hand painted Quimper plates each have a nautical motif

the pretty white blossom on these branches has a wonderful perfume,
sadly I do not know what tree this is as it was already thriving in the garden 17 years ago when we arrived in Normandy

bon appetit

Joining the following hostesses this week

the Tablescaper and Seasonal Sunday #161

the Magical Mystical Teacher, Gemma & Rose for Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Mary @ the little red house for Mosaic Monday

Christmas cards, cake and catching up.

Life at the Presbytere has moved into the slow lane this month.
Not for us the hurly burly of Christmas shopping, bright lights and parties, we’re hibernating indoors where it’s cosy and warm and the air is scented by wonderful aromas of baking cakes and pies, mingled with the delicious smell of wood smoke.
Instead of an elaborately decorated Christmas cake, this year, I've opted to bake a lighter, less dense Dundee cake.

Packed with cherries, currants, raisins, cranberries and orange and lemon peel, (soaked overnight in Scotch Whiskey) and simply decorated with whole blanched almonds it will be the perfect light bite to serve for afternoon tea.
Delia’s recipe of course.

We recently had two new wood burning stoves installed, one in the sitting room and the other in the library/tv room.

The SP is in charge of keeping the home fires burning and he has named them Big Bertha and Mini Me.

Outside, a winter’s worth of logs stand stacked and ready.
Cards from family and friends wishing us “Happy Holidays” & “Seasons Greetings” are arriving daily.

I always enjoy catching up with their news if there’s a letter included with the card.
Whose daughter or son has married this year, who has become a grandparent for the first time, or the seventh in the case of one set of friends! Vacations enjoyed; homes bought and sold, sitting quietly with a mug of hot pomegranate tea and a bite of spicy Lebkuchen, whilst listening to a CD of Christmas music, I'm content to absorb it all.
Not all the news comes via La Poste.
I catch up with the younger members of my extended Northern family on Facebook.
Cousin Kay who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May of this year, she had her final chemo last month, posted this on her Facebook page on Friday.

Love you, Kay.

Linking this post to Mosaic Monday with Mary @ the little red house 

and Floss at Troc, Broc and Recup for a Pause in Advent.