Sunday 28 September 2014

Tea with Mary





One of my embroidery friends Mary
has an enviable collection of tea cups
most of which belonged to her mother.





This cup is  called Summertime
made by Royal Weston in Stoke-on-Trent, England.


I recently read that drinking tea in the afternoon
had it's beginnings at Woburn Abbey.
During the late 1800's Duchess Anna Maria
wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford
complained of having that "sinking feeling" 
in the late afternoon.
This was remedied by a strong cup of tea
which took her through until dinner at 8pm!





I'm joining 
Judith for Mosaic Monday
Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday
Ruth for Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Bernideen for Tea in the Garden





Thank you all for visiting and for your kind comments!
Welcome to my new followers.

Merci à bientôt
please be kind to one another!



 Shane 











Sunday 21 September 2014

Vézelay Abbey, France




When I was in France one year
I was part of a school trip to Vézelay.
I've posted about it before here
so I am keeping this post brief!



This is the Abbey and Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene
built in the 12th century.
There are so many small towns with
significant and magnificent abbeys and churches
all through France.

Today I'm joining
Beautiful Sunday
and


Thank you all for visiting me.
Enjoy your week!

Take care and
be kind to one another.

Merci à bientôt



Shane












Friday 19 September 2014

Mincher Garden - Good Fences




We have several gardens where I live
considered to be gardens of
national significance.

Mincher is one such garden.
I visited in Spring about three years ago.
These photos are just to whet your appetite
Mincher has much to offer the
enthusiastic gardener!




I'm joining Theresa for her Thursday meme



Thank you to everyone who visited and left
your sweet comments on my previous post for the
Around the Word Blog Hop!

Merci à bientôt
be kind to one another!


 Shane 







Monday 15 September 2014

Mosaic Monday and Around the World Blog Hop



Photos taken on our trips to France over the years.



I have been invited by my friend Barbara of

to take part in this

"Around the World Blog Hop".

Barbara and I became friends earlier in the year through 
another blog party.
I was delighted to see a blogger from France taking part!
It's no secret I am enamoured with all things french -
one could even think it was fate 
that brought Barbara and I together!

Barbara's blog is about everything I enjoy and then some.
She gardens, is a very talented artist
and has a beautiful gîte for rent on her property!

If you are planning a trip to France contact Barbara!

Please pop over to her blog and say hello
she would love to meet you!

Chateau d'Ancy, A village lavoir, A gate bell, Chateau Fontainebleu.

As part of this blog hop I have four questions to answer!

1. How does my writing/creative process work?

Because I've joined several weekly blog parties
my posts relate to the topic or genre of the party.
Every Monday I join Judith of Lavender Cottage
for her party, Mosaic Monday.
I enjoy photography, editing photos and making mosaics.


I also join Donna's "A Personal Photo Challenge"
once a month.
Donna gives us a topic and provides tips and advice
on helping us to meet her challenges.
It's great fun and a good way to learn more
about taking good photos.

Photo taken by me of my granddaughter skipping up the steps at Fontainebleu Chateau - France!

2. Why do I create what I do?

Very simple - mostly for my granddaughters.
I enjoy creating and making things for them
so they have a little piece of me with them in France.

On my side bar there is a photo of a
Nursery Rhymes boardbook I made for my eldest
granddaughter when she was two!
It's been read and played with by three little ones now
so it is getting a little tatty!
I've always enjoyed creating things.



3. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don't really think of my blog as having a particular genre!
Four years ago I started blogging 
because my daughter was living in France
 this was a way of keeping
in touch with each other.

My posts are usually photo heavy with limited writing.
I'm always aware that we have a small
window of opportunity to grab the reader's interest.
There are so many amazing blogs out there
and we are all like butterflies
flitting from one blog to another to see
what everyone is up to
while we sip our morning cup of tea or coffee!




4. What am I working on now?

I have several projects on the go including
an on-line class of Nellie Wortman.
I'm making a fabric and lace book
about my mother.

I'm also finishing a Miss Maggie Rabbit
a pattern I bought on-line from Posy Gets Cozy.
It's a Christmas present for my youngest granddaughter, 

I have always had an interest in patchwork
and I have joined a class at my local patchwork shop
Patchwork Passion on English Paper Piecing.
I'm making a Brigitte Giblin pattern
of a little hexi bag!

(My cousin made the bag on the left - I'm making the same one)


I'm hoping you're still with me because.......

now it's time to introduce you to 
two other New Zealand bloggers
I would like you to meet!

has been blogging since 2007.
She has a beautiful blog and writes it
from her home on Waiheke Island.
Carolyn's was one of the first blogs I joined
and we both say we will meet up one day!



If you're a teddy bear lover then you are in for a treat
as she makes exquisite bears and this one is called
Miss Emmanuelle Avatar!



My second New Zealand blogger is

Julie lives on a farm and has a large country garden.
She also has a cottage in her garden full of
tempting goodies she has made!
From angels to gollywogs and much, much more...
she has an amazing talent with needle and thread and
this is what I won in her Giveaway a while back.



I also invited my dearest friend Dagmar of  Studio D
to join us - she accepted with great excitement

even though she is due
to leave on a cruise in a couple of weeks.
However, she has since had to decline due to
family circumstances beyond her control.
Please pop over and meet Dagmar
you will love her blog
it's full of colour and joie de vivre!
She is one of the sweetest people I know.



Thank you Barbara for inviting me to take part
and thank you to both Carolyn and Julie
for bravely accepting my invitation!

They will be posting on Monday 22nd September.

I'm sorry you couldn't make it Dagmar
if you would like to join in later
that would be great too!



I'm joining Judith for Mosaic Monday
please pop over and see what everyone's
posting today - we would love you to join us!
If you need help with making mosaics
I'm only too happy to help.



Merci à bientôt
be kind to one another!

♥ Shane 












Saturday 13 September 2014

Personal Photo Challenge - Motion





September's photo challenge topic set by Donna
is movement.

I took these photos in France in a village during the
Fête de la Musique

it was a very lively performance from the
local marching girls!

To see more photos visit Donna here
if you've got some photos with movement
why don't you join in too!

Thank you Donna for hosting!





Wishing you a happy weekend
thank you for popping in and 
leaving your kind comments.

Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane x










Thursday 11 September 2014

La Seine




I took these photos in France last year.

On the way to visit the old medieval market town of 
Provins
we passed over the river Seine.

Maybe not looking quite as romantic as it does in Paris
 it was still the Seine none the less!





I'm joining Theresa of 
Good Fences
Thank you for hosting Theresa!



Thank you all for your comments and
WELCOME
to my new followers - it's lovely to meet you!

Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt



Shane













Sunday 7 September 2014

A Village Church in France





My youngest granddaughter
was baptised in this village Church in
France.

As part of the Sunday service
she was welcomed into the community
by the congregation.






I'm linking this post to Inspired Sunday
thank you to the hosts.


Thank you all for your visits.
Enjoy your week!

Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane












Friday 5 September 2014

Daffodils - it must be Spring!




1st September in my neck of the woods
heralds the start of


SPRING

The fruit trees are clothed in glorious blossom
deciduous trees are bursting into leaf
spring bulbs are in bloom
Spring is an awakening
a sign of new life
and new beginnings




After the grey and dreary months of Winter
we welcome the arrival of this new season!





We have turned the corner...
and I am happy to say
"au revoir August" 
until we meet again next year...
God willing!





Wishing you all a happy weekend

I'm joining Trishie for Floral Friday
Nick for Floral Friday Fotos
and
Liz for Fresh Cut Friday


Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt



Shane 



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