Sunday 30 March 2014

Market day in France



I visit this market each time I'm in France
it's in the nearest big town
from the village where our daughter lives.



It's a very lively food market held on
Monday mornings until midday.
Packed with people from all the out-lying villages.
There's lots of noisy banter from stall holders
and the delicious combination of aromas
is memorable to this day.
There are live chickens, ducks and geese
but I didn't see one frogs leg
(apart from the people whom my husband
irreverantly refers to as 'froggies')! 



The fresh fruit and vegetables come from local growers
with cheeses from cheese makers all over France.
The bread is made by local artisans
and oh how I wish you could taste it.
People leaving the market
have 4 to 6 baguettes under their arms
and baskets full of produce!




Somehow I've picked up a nasty bug
which has developed into bronchitis.
Maybe it's the air conditioning at work,
 however I saw the weekend doctor today
and I'm on a course of anti-biotics.
 Only one more week of full time work - yea!


Today I'm joining Karen
for the last Sunlit Sunday party.
Thank you Karen for hosting
over the last few weeks - I will miss it!
I've really enjoyed taking part each week
and I'm sorry it's come to an end.


I'm also joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Hoping you all have a very happy week

 Take care and be kind to one another
   Merci à bientôt



Shane








Sunday 23 March 2014

Autumn morning sun casts soft shadows



Officially Autumn arrived here on the 1st March
however temperatures were still relatively
higher than usual, especially in the evenings
when only a sheet was needed while sleeping.

But as the month has progressed
we are all commenting that there is now
a certain freshness in the mornings
and a nip in the air in the evenings,
and a mohair blanket has been added to the bed.

Soft sunlight creeping into our living room
this morning made for much warmer tones
than the bright ones of Summer.

March, April and May are wonderful months
to holiday in New Zealand.
If we are on your 'travel bucket list'
I suggest you come at this time.
The South Island where the 
great Southern Alps mountain range is
can be a little cooler than in the north
during these months
but not freezing as it is in Winter!


I'm joining Karen for Sunlit Sunday
(sadly just one more after this
why don't you join us for the last two)
and
Mary for Mosaic Monday




It's Sunday already and I've had a relaxing weekend.
I even managed an hour in the garden
this morning, dead heading the roses
and cutting back the tired looking perennials.

I'm ready to face the new week ahead
and wish you all a happy week
doing whatever you enjoy doing most!

Meantime I will focus on my vision of a trip
to France later in the year
to play with my grandies again! 

 Take care and be kind to one another

   Merci à bientôt
love

Shane







Saturday 22 March 2014

Last rose of Summer...


Photo taken April 2013 Nancy Steen Rose Garden, Auckland, New Zealand




ROSES

You love the roses - so do I. I wish

The sky would rain down roses, as they rain

from off the shaken bush. Why will it not?

Then all the valley would be pink and white

and soft to tread on. They would fall as light

as feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be

like sleeping and like waking, all at once! 

                                                                            George Eliot



I'm joining


The days are flying by so fast now I'm a working girl!
My energy levels have reached a low  point
by the end of the week!

The weekend is all about relaxing
easing into the day and doing little bits
of everything....
from cleaning and cooking to
time in my garden
with phone calls to friends
and visiting you my bloggy buddies too!
 
My birthday was last Wednesday and my
husband's the week before
so last night we celebrated with dinner at our local
Italian cafe 'Bosco Verde'!

Thank you all for your visits and thoughtful messages.
Special thank yous to Patty and Suzi for your
sweet "on-line" cards

♥♥♥  you both made my day ♥♥

I will be visiting you all again
very soon!

Take care and be kind to each other

   Merci à bientôt



Shane





 

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Note Card Party March



Great!
It's time for Vee's Note Card Party
for March 2014.
As you all know by now
I'm back working full time.
By the way that's great as it means
I have the opportunity to
save my pennies
to get back to France
to play with my darling grandies!!



It was this time last month that I started
back as a working gal!
I was so busy that I missed Vee's February party
so I decided to prepare my post
for the
March Note Card party
well in advance! 


Do you recognise these images?
I'm sure those of you who visit my blog
more regularly will 
as they've all been on my blog before 
apart from the photo below of the
purple bouganvillea flowers.
I photographed this when I was in the
Bay of Islands recently!




The softly coloured purple leaves
are paper thin - so delicate
and beautiful
perfect for writing a note to my daughter.

She knows Russell in the Bay of Islands
really well...
our wider family have a wonderful
beach house where we have all
stayed and shared some
lovely holidays together.

Thank you dear Vee for hosting
my favourite party....
I made it this month - phew!!!



Please visit Vee here
we would love you to join us.
Vee has inspired me to print off my photographs,
I make my own note cards now.
My family and friends appreciate
the personal touch!

 My note card box cover for March.


Thank you all for your visits and sweet messages
I will get around to visiting you all
very soon!


Take care and be kind to each other

   Merci à bientôt



Shane

 

 





Monday 17 March 2014

Celebrating my Irish Roots


I'm celebrating my Irish heritage today!
My darling departed father
was born in Limerick, Ireland.
God bless his soul!



For sure he had the gift of the gab
which he used to good effect
when he got his law degree and
much later when he was made a Judge.

I still miss
his Irish smile
his wise counsel
keen wit
and riveting story telling.

He was a 
lover of books
tramping and the outdoors
flora and fauna
and
a generous advocate for
less fortunate souls. 




So today I tip my hat to the Irish
for their sense of fun
and love of the written word
to their wonderful writers.
I particularly enjoy stories by
 Colm Toibin.



I'm joining Mary for Mosaic Monday


Take care and be kind to each other
   Merci à bientôt



Shane

 

Bíodh lá iontach!

 

 

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