Normandy staycation

During the "summer" months we prefer to enjoy the delights that Normandy has to offer and save our more far flung travels for when the weather is not so good.

We like to take what we call "staycation days", visiting local beaches, exhibits and the like.

We always enjoy eating outdoors 

but sometimes even the best laid plans go awry

 and we end up drinking our coffee and nibbling on a croissant or two inside the car 

instead of on the beach.

Luckily the weather was fine yesterday

 and we were able to enjoy a delicious lunch of moules & frites 

at a popular seaside bistro.

Linking to Judith's Mosaic Monday @ Lavender Cottage.

God's Fence

In most small villages and towns in our region you will find a "calvaire", 

a monument erected by the inhabitants which depicts Christ's cruxifiction.

The calvaire above is situated by the roadside

in the tiny "hameau" (hamlet) of La Folie, Normandy.

 I particularly like the rustic fence of interlocked XXX at it's base.

Joining TexWisGirl @ Run*A*Round Ranch Report

for

wide open fences

wild, wind born colza a.k.a rapeseed seems to have taken over this empty field where horses once grazed

 In rural Normandy there's no shortage of fences as you can see 

even if a piece of ground is lying fallow there'll be a fence around it.

The ubiquitous hay bale seen through a plain post and rail fence

The driveway leading up to this equestrian facility has fields on either side.

It looked so picturesque that I trespassed inside, just a little, to capture these shots.

After taking my shots I turned around

 and on the opposite side of the road spotted this old piece of fencing

 almost completely hidden by the weeds and overgrown hedges.

and finally because I live in Calvados, home to the wonderful breed of Normandie cows,

a very important fence which keeps this young lady and all her girlfriends 

in their field and out of my back garden.

You can probably tell from my photos
 that I've been monkeying around with that PicMonkey gadget again this week.
Still not got the hang of it yet but it really is fun to play with!

Joining TexWisGirl  for

Good Fences @ The Run*A*Round Ranch Report.

summertime - raspberries & tea in the garden.

The lazy, hazy days of summer are finally here.

This week I've spent my afternoons glued to the television
watching amazing tennis being played at the
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon.

golden raspberries, so sweet I eat them straight from the canes

The heat is on, literally and figuratively.

Who will win the mens final

Andy Murray 

or

Roger Federer?

Today is Sunday so no play today.

Instead a chance to enjoy another of my summer time favourite things
tea in the garden, next to the potager which is thriving.

courgettes; parsley, chives & thyme; herbs & raspberry canes; mesclun salad leaves

How are you spending your afternoons now that summer's here?

Joining Judith @ Lavender Cottage
for Mosaic Monday

Percherons

I often stop to chat with this beautiful pair of white horses

whilst out walking with the SP and M'selle Fleur.

I think they are French Percherons.

The website of The Equine Society of France Percheron 

tells me that there are two types of Percherons.

The white e trait Percherons are used for heavy duty work on farms.

The black or dark grey e diligencier Percheron used more for recreational and sporting events.

Last Sunday I actually had my camera with me, 

they posed so artistically and seemed to enjoy the extra attention.

I think you'll agree they are simply stunning.

Joining TexWisGirl for Good Fences @ Run*A*Round Ranch Report

2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt - First Round Up.

with chief scavenger Rinda @ Gallo Organico
for the

 2015 summertime photography scavenger hunt

SCAVENGER HUNT LIST

1. A bouquet of flowers

2. An ornate door knocker

3. A person walking a dog (or other animal)

4. People playing a board game or card game

5. Architectural columns

6. A metal bridge

7. A turtle

8. Someone "plugged in" to social media 

9. A tent

10. A college or university

11. A cellular tower or television satellite dish

12. A public restroom, bathroom, or toilet

13. A merry-go-round or carousel

14. A traffic signal

15. A flag pole with at least three flags on it

16. A panoramic view, taken while standing someplace high in the air

17. At least two people wearing matching outfits or uniforms

18. An overloaded truck, car, bicycle or other vehicle

19. A ticket booth

20. A natural body of water

21. A photograph of you with a sign reading "2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt". Note: you may not use a substitute for this item.

If you find something on the list too difficult, you may substitute one of the following items for any one item on the list, except for Item #21:

Alternative A: People eating outside

Alternative B: Someone holding an umbrella

Alternative C: A rocking chair

#3 person walking a dog

#15 a flag pole with at least 3 flags on it

#9 a tent

#18 cousin Colin's overloaded car ready for the return trip to UK

#2 & #5
ornate door knocker & architectural columns

#12 a public bathroom, restroom or toilet

# 20 body of water

#21

Linking through to

Mosiac Monday

I Spy

Friesians stand and stare

As I pause at the ancient gate

To stare back at them

Linking to Good Fences hosted by TexWisGirl

@ The Run*A*Round Ranch Report

Flower Power

For Mosaic Monday this week

 a delightful bouquet of Normandy wildflowers.

hidden in the hedgerows

unseen in the forest

flowering in the field

Linking this post also to
Our World Tuesday

cherry blossom haiku

seen through a window

cherry blossoms float across grass

drifting in corners

joining Judith @ Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday

with images captured through my bedroom window this weekend

and my first haiku

cherry blossom time

This week despite cooler temperatures

 (or maybe even because of ?) 

our ornamental cherry tree has blossomed into magnificent glory.

I spent some time earlier today arranging some branches into various vases.

Then even more time photographing the delicate pale pink flowers.

another hour or so playing with the images on picmonkey

before finally creating some mosaics using picasa, picmonkey and photoscape.

Linking to

Beverly @ How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday

and

 Judith @ Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday.

bon weekend!

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

spring trilogy. #1 Plants

Regular followers will know that every spring three things happen here at the Presbytere 

to mark the season.

 #1. New plants for the potager.

When the sun starts to shine this girl's thoughts turn to the garden and all things veggie.

This morning I played in went to the garden centre.

This afternoon I got my hands in the dirt!

The plants that I bought were all pot bound with straggly white roots emerging from the bottom

 so into larger pots they had to go.

Sean the Gardner will be here on Friday to prepare the potager 

ready for planting out these beauties.

Courgettes/zucchini 3 varieties

cherry tomatoes

choux bruxelles 

(sounds so much fancier than brussels sprouts)

and

Belle de Fontenay early potatoes.

To add flavour to the herb garden new ciboulette/chives and persil/parsley plants

will go in alongside the thyme and rosemary which have overwintered just fine.

Have you been out planting and got your hands dirty yet?