October 1st, It's Fall Y'all.

I've been seeing so many beautiful photos and ideas for Fall decorating that I was inspired to put a few things together myself.

So, I'm linking this post to Rhoda's It's Fall Y'all party @ Southern Hospitality and also to the Plant Some Roots giveaway @ Life at Lakewood .

I bought this chest of drawers at the Auction House in Bayeux about 12 years ago, refinished it and placed it in the entrance hall with a mirror above, which I also found at the Auction House, a few months later.

I stood a plain glass hurricane lamp shaped vase on a pewter tray and filled it with an ivory coloured candle and horsechestnuts which fell from a tree, onto the grass in the back garden.

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Placed a few more horsechestnuts, still with their green prickly cases, in a small English porcelain dish by Wood & Son, added a pair of silver plated pheasants and etched glass votives either side of an Art Deco bronze clock and an antique French pewter coffee pot on a small pewter plate.

I made the table runner from a piece of material left over from the Library curtains.

In the dining room window alcove I placed a shabby chic, red, gold and black papier mache tray which I found at a vide grenier about 7 years ago, and covered it with a deep orangey red and black paisley patterned fringed shawl.

On the tray I placed a vintage red enamel French coffee pot and filled it with some of the last hydrangea blooms from the garden and some bits and pieces from the fields and hederows.

I scattered leaves and conkers from the horsechestnut tree and some acorns too, around three knobbly colourful mini gourds which caught my eye at the produce market in Le Molay Littry recently.
A scented candle in a glass jar, for it's exquisite vanilla scent, an ornate, gilded, rococo wall sconce, placed upside down for interest at the back and an heirloom pocket watch and chain on a wooden stand and my vignette was complete.

A close up of more horsechestnuts in a vintage French pressed glass dish, standing on a Carlisle Ware plate, Burgess Bros, England.
When we return from our US trip, later this month, I should just have enough time for some Halloween displays, I hope.
à bien tôt
Maggie

Tablescape Thursday for the Over 60's.

I'm not sure if this post really qualifies for Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch, but I hope so.

Please join Susan our gracious hostess for more delightful tablescapes today.

When I was a little girl my Nana B belonged to the Over 60's Club. They went on coach trips, played bingo & had beetle drives. Anyone else remember those?

Imagine my horror when 2 years ago my DH became eligible to join "that Club".
In the tiny commune where we live turning 60 meant that he and his wife were invited to the annual "repas des anciens". A luncheon provided for the Over 60's in the salle communale (village hall).
Twice we made our excuses, however this year when Remy "Monsieur le Maire" arrived at our door with the invitation what could we do but accept graciously?

To our delight we had a wonderful time.

The autumnal floral decorations were unique, I think you'll agree.The walking stick arrangement was perhaps a tongue in cheek homage to the occasion?

The excellent seven course luncheon was catered by a local traiteur and the ladies of the village led by the Maire's wife were superb hostesses, anticipating our every need.

Kir Royal et ses toasts assortis
Coupe de crevettes
Saint Pierre a l'oseille au riz
Trou Normand et son sorbet
Rôti de boeuf et ses accompagnements
Effeuillée de saison
Plateau de Fromages
Pêché mignon au coulis de fraise
Corbeille de fruits
Cafe - vin fins
Champagne


By the way I recently posted about a 3 hour lunch that we enjoyed by the sea, the oldies lunch began at 12.30pm and we were the first to leave at 6.00pm.

I hope you have enjoyed this glimpse into the social life of a rural Normandy village, we certainly had fun.

à bien tôt
Maggie

Outdoor Wednesday in the Forest de la Chenesse

Outdoor Wednesday seems to coming around even quicker than before now that the days are getting shorter.

Please visit our gracious hostess Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for more delightful Outdoor scenes.

Even though there is a chill in the air in the early mornings the days are bright and sunny and so it was on Sunday.
After mooching around the Brocante in Le Molay Littry and before attending the Over 60's lunch at the village hall (more about that later this week!) the DH & I took Ben for a good long walk in the Forest de la Chenesse.

When we drove up to our, usually very quiet, parking spot we found lots of people milling around, they seemed to be getting ready to ramble through the woods or go picking mushrooms or both.

Too busy for us, so we drove off to find a quieter spot.

Have you got your comfortable walking shoes on? Is your dog on his lead?

Then "on y va".

The sun was shining through the leaf canopy and all we could hear was the sound of the occasional bird.

Enjoy.

Brocantes galore for Mosaic Monday

Yesterday we visited a brocante/flea market in a local town, ever hopeful of finding a treasure or two, perhaps a rare piece of Quimper faience??
We came away empty handed but I did get some pix of posters advertising upcoming brocantes, I love their retro style.
I'm a little late getting this done for today's Mosaic Monday over at Mary's Little Red House but please do visit our gracious hostess and all the other wonderful mosaic makers gathered there.
à bien tôt

Maggie

Another beautiful Normandy day

It's Outdoor Wednesday so please visit our gracious hostess Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer

Meanwhile.............................

come with me as we drive along the coast road stopping at the fish market in Ouistreham to buy langoustines for supper,

sip coffee at a pavement cafe

take 3 hours for lunch in Courselles sur Mer,

and watch the carousel go round.................... just another beautiful day in Normandy.

your carriage awaits.......
à bien tôt
Maggie

A collection of fèves for Three or more Tuesday.

It's Three or more Tuesday over at Tam's The Gypsy's Corner, a great show & tell party that's a treat for the eyes.

So, today I'm showing off my collection of fèves.

Followers of my blog may have gathered by now that I collect the French pottery known as Quimper faience. Yes, really!

You probably also know that the 10th Annual meeting of the QCI will be taking place next month in Dallas.

Click here to go to the QCI Blog to read all about the fun in store.
I have attended the past 9 meetings, starting with Washington in 2000, up until Philadelphia last year. I even co hosted the 2007 meeting here in France and will be co hosting again next year in Savannah, Georgia.
The meetings are always great fun and a wonderful way of connecting with fellow collectors and meeting up with friends discovered through our shared love of Quimper.

The Grand Finale of these events is always the Farewell Dinner and in recent years each guest has received a small party favour of fèves (epiphany trinkets) as they take their places at table.
In France “La galette des Rois” ("the king's cake") celebrates the Epiphany and is traditionally sold and consumed a few days before and after January 6 (although today in France, it is available in bakeries for the entire month of January). The cake consists of flaky puff pastry layers with a dense center of frangipane, raspberry, apple, and other flavors, as the baker is inspired.

In times gone by, a dried bean was hidden in the cake, and the person who found it was king for the day. The French word for bean is "fève"; however, although beans were replaced in 1870 by small figures in porcelain and, more recently, plastic, these trinkets are still called “fèves.”

The "fèves" are generally produced in theme series, with every possible theme imaginable, including Disney figures, regional motifs, ceramics, antiques, every aspect of modern life, etc. They have become very popular collectibles and can often be bought separately. Any series is generally produced for one year only.

For several years the fèves presented at the Q Club dinner were tiny figurines of Breton people.
In 2008 our gift was a tiny plate decorated with a traditional Quimper motif.

Over the years I have accumulated quite a collection of figurines and I was so enchanted by the little plate last year that I purchased the complete set.

The series of Quimper plates was produced for Epiphany 2008. It consists of ten pieces, each a miniature reproduction of a real Quimper plate, either Henriot or HB. Many "fèves" are titled, and these are marked "Les Assiettes de Quimper" (The Plates of Quimper) on the reverse side.

I believe that stocks are limited but if you would also like to add a set of plates or figurines to your Q collection click here

à bien tôt
Maggie

A Quimper Musicians Mosaic Monday

Bonjour,
You may not know this but I am also what is laughingly known as "blogmistress" over at the Quimper Club International blog.
For Charis' Sunday Favourites I reprised a post that had appeared on the QCI blog back in June.
Written by leading Q expert Adela Meadows it was a fascinating insight into the ever popular Quimper decor of biniou & bombarde players and the history and traditions behind them.
Click here to find out more.................
I got so caught up in the whole musician theme that I created this collage of pictures from my personal archive of Quimper pieces that I have enjoyed, to share with you all today for Mary's Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House.
It's pretty full, so you may want to click on the pic to enlarge in order to enjoy these wonderful handmade and handpainted treasures of Breton heritage.
After you have finished drooling over these beautiful treasures head on over to Mary's where you will see some truly wonderful Mosaics created by a bunch of people a lot more talented than I.

à bien tôt
Maggie