In which I return to Wii Fit Boot Camp

After many months of being AWOL I returned to Wii Fit boot camp for more punishment healthy exercise.
Sgt. Major Wii Board informed me that it had been 205 days since I last appeared on parade.
Although I was happy to learn that I had lost a few pounds, since that last training session, I soon realised that my Mini Mii - Em- needed a make-over, so, I updated the hairstyle (and colour!) changed eye glasses, refreshed her lipstick and headed for the track.

As my previous target weight/date had long passed I set a new one and devised a 45 -60 minute exercise programme to do every day.
Beginning with some simple yoga positions, followed by stretching and breathing, moving on to balance training (very important for the over sixties!), step class, jogging and cycling ending with more yoga and stretching.
I may (or may not) keep you up to date on my progress, my hope is to shed a couple of kilos before our visit to the Amalfi coast in April, which I’m assured will call for a lot of walking.
Have you started a new exercise regime this month?
Losing weight and getting fit comes in at #1 on Time Magazine’s Top Ten Commonly Broken New Year’s Resolutions, I have tried and failed to fulfil this resolution myself many times.
This time I'm thinking more "taking care of my health in a positive way" rather than setting some impossible goal which I'll never reach, maybe this is the year I’ll succeed?

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

Friday's Daffs!

Last Friday I posted about the first daffodils that were coming up in our garden and I've tried to post a daffodil shot every day of this first week of 2012.There were 3 when I wrote that first post and today I counted 11, not bad for one week.

Yesterday the weather was so bad I couldn't get a shot but the sun has been out for a short while this afternoon and so out I went, too.
After moving some of the dead leaves that are mulching the ground beneath (alright I've been too lazy to clear them away) I found plenty more shoots and also a few daffodil bulbs that some creature has dug up (possibly a field mouse) and started nibbling on.
I quickly dug a large hole and popped those back in, they'll possibly survive and bloom later in the Spring.
Hopefully my Normandy daffs have cheered up the first few days of January for you, I know that they bring a smile to my face each time I see them, even on the gloomiest day.

If one daffodil is worth a thousand pleasures, then one is

too few.

William Wordsworth

Linking to the
First Potpourri Party of 2012
with Honey @ 2805

Alphabe-Thursday. G is for Gavotte

It's been a while since I've shared pictures of beautiful antique and vintage pieces of Quimper faïence.
For this week's Alphabe-Thursday with Mrs Matlock @ Off On My Tangent I created a mosaic featuring two plates, a tall and slender jug, a bowl, and a two wall pockets, one shaped as an umbrella and the other in the form of a ladies slipper.

What these beautiful pieces all have in common is the hand painted motif of a young Breton couple, captured mid-step whilst dancing a country folk dance called a Gavotte.
These pieces have all been part of our collection at some time but sadly all belong in other collections now!
The Gavotte remains popular in Brittany to this day and you will often see it demonstrated during the many wonderful festivals held throughout Brittany during the summer months.

Beautiful costumes
Festival de Cornouaille  July 2002

Click here to visit the Festival de Cornouaille 2012 website.
If you are planning a trip to Brittany this year you shouldn't miss this wonderful event.

Daily daffodil

Rain, rain and more rain.

It's been raining nonstop it seems since Christmas Day, but it isn't cold so I shouldn't complain.
On New Year's Day we took a walk down by the river but soon discovered the water level had risen so high that the surrounding fields were flooded.
No surprise really, it happens every January.

What made this year different, though, was M'selle Fleur who hadn't experienced flooded fields before.

She's a real water baby, she ran and splashed around for ages.

On the way back to the car we met three young ladies out enjoying a gentle hack, we exchanged several pleasant Bonne Année 's.

The winds were practically gale force this morning when I bolted outside to take my daily daffodil shot.

They were all dancing around in the wind so the shot is a little blurry, I'm afraid.

So, I think I'll be staying indoors for the rest of the day, perhaps I'll even take a snooze with a favourite Ted and this very special hot water bottle, a wonderful Christmas gift from the ever thoughtful SP.

Linking this post to Bunny Jean's Wednesday's Bunny Hop party.

Hope you're safe, warm and dry today, wherever you are.

Daily Daffodil

The daffodil is our doorside queen;

She pushes upward the sword already,

To spot with sunshine the early green.

William Cullen Bryant

(no relation!)

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?