Canadian magazines and coconut lime cupcakes

magazines from H

The magazine swap continued throughout our vacation 

with the arrival of these glossy Canadian magazines 

sent to me by Lorrie and H (a.k.a. Pondside).

Thank you, ladies.

 magazines from Lorrie

One recipe that I couldn't wait to try once we got back to Normandy

was the one for coconut lime cupcakes from style at home.

The frosting was very rich so I omitted the white chocolate 

and as there's only two of us chez nous I halved the quantities.

Seven pretty cupcakes for the SP and I to enjoy this Easter weekend.

Joining Michael Lee @ Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else.

foodie chat .........

Before I begin to share some vacation memories 

 a quick disclaimer - to all Francophones following Normandy Life

 for every reason you love to visit France I probably have a similar one for Hilton Head Island!

The grass is always greener - so the saying goes.

We're just back from our twenty something visit to the Low Country and over the years we've developed certain tastes and habits.

anchors away @ Hudson's

As self confessed foodies some of our long time favourite restaurants include ......

Hudson's on the Docks for their fish and chips

 and Gruby's New York Deli where we like to split a NY Reuben.

We both love to cook and are always 

overwhelmed by the vast array of produce available at The Fresh Market.

Choosing which coffee to buy can sometimes take a while as there are so many blends to savour.

I mentioned in the previous blog post that my fave one this time was 

Charleston Coffee Roasters Organic Sumatra.

This trip we also experienced Whole Foods Market

which has replaced dear old Piggly Wiggly in Shelter Cove since our last visit. 

Searching out where the locals like to eat is a favourite thing of ours to do.

A Lowcountry Backyard

The Low Country Backyard serves up great food. 

We liked the flatbread sandwiches:

 Charleston fried green tomato; crab cake; and meatloaf (the SP's personal favourite).

 The homemade mushroom soup was also delicious.

(We weren't greedy, we dined there twice!)

Another HHI institution, but a new to us restaurant, is Annie O's serving "southern" food.

I tried the tomato pie which was so good.

 I've been all over Pinterest to find a recipe to replicate it. 

I think I've found one that comes close and plan on fixing it at the weekend.

The final place we discovered is a real hidden gem of a place.

The Sea Shack 

which really should remain a closely guarded secret.

The only problem is that last week I wrote a tripadvisor review for it 

and it's already received 256 views!

just looking for another new restaurant to try!

Linking to Foodie Friday and Everything Else with Michael Lee @ Rattlebridge Farm

latest from the lowcountry

 

After the rain came blue skies and sunshine, perfect weather for the St Patrick's Day parade last Sunday.

We enjoyed seeing all the participants, especially the Budweiser Clydesdales.
Wildlife sightings continue.
In the early mornings wild deer make their way along the shore line, crossing through the sand dunes beneath our balcony into the sea pines forest behind.

I even spotted an alligator sunning itself next to a creek close to the golf course yesterday afternoon, no time to take a photograph I'm afraid though.

Today the rain has returned with a vengeance but thanks to my very kind and generous friend, Mary who was my partner during Lorrie's recent Spring edition magazine swap I have the perfect way to spend  the day.

Mary sent me three wonderful magazines, House Beautiful; Country Living and Traditional Home each brimming over with ideas and inspiration to revamp, refresh and makeover a home.

The pretty note card with its shell design inspired me to look around our condo for props to complete my magazine photo shoot, I have the homeowner to thank for the pretty starfish and seashells. Mary also included a lovely tag with a bird motif which I'm sure will appear in one of my scrapbook layouts in the very near future.
Enjoy your day, everyone, wherever you are.
Me? I'll be here on the squishy couch sipping a mug of my latest coffee crush - Charleston Coffee Roasters "Organic Sumatra" bold roast watching the rain pour down and planning a room makeover.

Sunset over Calibogue Sound, St. Patrick's Day 2015

P.S. I can't seem to figure out how to include links to Mary and Lorrie's blogs in this post from my Kindle but there are links on my sidebar that will take you straight to Lorrie's Fabric Paper Thread blog and  A Breath of Fresh Air where Mary has already blogged about the magazine's which she received from me.

Back in the Lowcountry once more............

We arrived on Hilton Head Thursday afternoon to find it looking  just as good as we hoped it would be.

We are easing our way into Island life, our rented condo is on the beach!

The view simply amazing.

Sipping coffee, staring through the rain on Friday

I watched pelicans flying by and a dolphin swimming.

Yesterday morning we went down to the deserted beach.

The dolphin was there again he kept us company as we walked,

 swimming close to the shore of Calibogue Sound.

Sitting on our balcony enjoying cocktails in the evening watching the sun go down.

Sunset on Hilton Head at the end of another wonderful day. 

P is for packing

To paraphrase Robert Browning, this week I've been having 

"abroad thoughts from home".

It's time to go travelling again, methinks.

Next week the Senior Partner and I are heading to the States, 

Hilton Head Island, SC. to be exact.

Now, I know I don't need to tell those of you who live there

that many areas of the US have been experiencing shall we say "challenging" weather recently. 

The long range forecast for HHI during our almost 3 week stay calls for

 rain, T storms, a few sunny days, possibly followed by more showers and rain!

My dilemma therefore is what to pack for all eventualities.

I can hear you all shouting, even as I type, "layers".

T shirts; tank tops; long sleeved tunics.

A cosy, knitted sweater; fleece lined gilet; polartec jacket; scarves. Check.

Chinos; sweat pants; jeans. 

Maybe I should include a pair of cropped pants too for those hopefully warmer days 

and a dressier pair for when we go out to dinner?

Add some comfortable shoes, (I recently discovered TOMS, what a find - love them!) 

and Converse All Star dainty zebra sneakers for travelling in.

Along with all the other more mundane items such as underwear, pj's, makeup & toiletries

 I'll be packing everything in this suitcase.

Well, you know how confusing it gets 

when all those black bags come around together 

on the luggage carousel at the airport!

I hope to be able to continue blogging whilst we're away, though it does depend on whether I can figure out how to use the Picasa app on my Kindle Fire HDX!

Joining Mrs Matlock for Alphabe-Thursday

where the letter P is in the spotlight this week.

Being inspired.

Blogger friends have been inspiring me this week, providing nest fluffing opportunities.

Lorrie @ Fabric Paper Thread is hosting a magazine swap next month.
In readiness I've bought some of my favourite English and French decorating magazines to send but couldn't resist the opportunity of checking them out myself first and noting the new trends and ideas for Spring décor.

The March issue of Country Homes & Interiors is full of inspiration and this little display caught my eye.

I utilised 2 plain clear glass bottles, a vase, a whisky tumbler, a conserve pot
and faux flowers

This is my copycat version, reflected in the antique French country mirror found at auction in Bayeux many years ago, it really brightens up the hallway. 

A few days ago I learned from Lorrie that she will be one of the two partners allocated to me in the swap. Mary @ A Breath of Fresh Air is my swapee, Stateside.
Lucky me will be the receiver of magazines from both the US and Canada.

I "met" Lorrie and Mary through blogging several years ago and I think I've come to know them both quite well despite never ever having met either of them IRL!
Mary recently blogged about the joys of changing loose/slip covers on chairs and sofas, a challenge which I can so relate to. What caught my eye in the post, however, was the stylish “vignette”, for want of a better word, that she has created on the coffee table in front of the couch.
Click here to see my inspiration.
I have been scouring Pinterest for weeks for inspiration on how to add a touch of class to the table that sits between our two squishy sofas in the sitting room, whilst still being able to use it for the occasional fireside petit dejeuner a deux.

The solution of displaying items on a large tray that can be moved to another location, as and when needed, is perfect.

The best part about being inspired by both the Country Homes vignette and Mary's table top was that creating my versions didn't cost a sou because I shopped in my own home.
You know what I mean, looking around the house and picking up pieces from various rooms to see if they display well together in ways you'd not thought of before.

For the table top I began with a vintage French decoupage tray purchased for a few euros at a brocante fair, added a Rene Lalique vase paired with creamy silk roses and other faux greenery; a cute Lladro/Nao puppy serves as a paperweight on top of those decorating magazines I mentioned before and a couple of stoneware drinks coasters, always useful when steaming mugs of tea are to hand.
I'm very happy with the end result, pretty and practical.

Where do you look for your inspiration, I'd love to hear your ideas?

O is for Opportunity

At the start of 2015 I chose “opportunity” as my word for the year.

Opportunity – “a time or set of circumstances that make it possible to do something”.

When a small, unexpected, windfall came our way in January we booked a last minute holiday to Cyprus for some much needed winter sunshine.

Our suite, top floor right hand side

How could we not take the opportunity of seeing such amazing places as Petra tou Romiou, the birthplace of Aphrodite - the Greek Goddess of love, beauty and pleasure?

According to Greek Mythology Aphrodite rose from the sea off the coast of Cyprus, legend has it that the rock in the middle of the three is Aphrodite's Rock.

On a different note ...
Earlier this week a routine check-up with Mr. Daniel, my heart specialist, showed that although my heart is still beating fine, thank you very much, my blood pressure is way higher than is good for me. Dietary changes will need to be made, a more extensive exercise regime begun, tests and monitors were mentioned. 

Hard to see at the time what sort of opportunity this situation presented but after a couple of  nights of tossing and turning I've decided that this is my chance to take charge of my health once and for all, before it’s too late. 

One of the delicious tasting desserts which we enjoyed at the Columbia Beach Resort's Apollo Taverna, could this be the reason my BP is elevated?

I’ll keep you posted on how things go.

Linking to Mrs Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday, where this week we're discussing the letter O.