Advent.

Closing.....

Dear friends,
I am not saying Adieu, just Au revoir for the moment.

My intention was to close this blog completely,it has been going since 2007, but I'm not sure that I want to let it go altogether. I have thought and prayed about this decision so much.

My husband's health fluctuates, he can be very frail at times, and my days are very much taken up with being near him. A week can be full of medical appointments, running from surgery to physio to hospital and so on. And at other times I am busy doing all the day to day householdey/gardeney things

I have found lately that it has been harder and harder to write, often because life doesn't change and I have nothing of interest to say. I think when the thought of writing a post becomes a worry, it is time to stop.

I will miss my contact with so many of you, but hope not to lose touch altogether.

Who knows, maybe one day a Phoenix-like new blog will appear.

Innocent hats (2)

I have somehow managed to delete the previous post.

Sigh.

However, just briefly, many of us are knitting little hats for Innocent smoothie bottles. When the bottles are sold by a supermarket, with hat, a sum of 25p goes to Age UK, a charity dedicated to helping older people.

I know that over several years over a million pounds has been raised.

I emailed Innocent to ask how much was raised last year, and they kindly sent me these facts.

2014 raised £215,000, enough for

40000 blankets

20000 hot meals

10000 emergency heaters.

It really makes knitting a few tiny hats worth while.

Quilts

Just a few of the quilts exhibited recently in our Church.

To see the stitching more closely you can click to make the photo larger.

Loved these Autumnal colours. This lady has embellished with buttons, lace and satiny fabrics to give shine and interest.

 One of my favourites, but then I love blue and white in any form.

I like the wording that this quilter has incorporated in the design. 

I wish I could say that I came back inspired to start, or even restart, my patchworking.

Days away.

We have been away for four days. We were so fortunate to find a lakeside lodge, one of eight, all disabled friendly, within an hour and a half's journey.

There were ramps, wide doors, a wet room bathroom, grab rails etc.

Anyone who has tried to go on holiday with a disabled person will know how important these things are. Though of course, an able bodied person could enjoy this place also.

Below is the view from our lodge, overlooking this lovely lake where people are permitted to fish.

Having wonderful weather we sat out on the deck and read books, drank coffee and enjoyed time without phones or computers!

 Every now and then we had visitors, of the clucking kind...just checking to see if there were any crumbs.

Often on the deck rails we would see Nuthatches and other birds.

Our lodge was a small one, but with so much space inside. There were bigger ones but we loved this one. Immaculately clean, nicely furnished with good quality curtains and furniture, pretty crockery and a super kitchen recently renovated. Having a dishwasher and a washer/dryer made me very lazy!

 Although we didn't use them, there was an indoor pool and a games room free to use.

The current owners took over two years ago and have spent so much time and energy bringing this lovely place back to a superb standard.

There were hanging baskets and flower planters everywhere, just adding a special touch.

But for me, nothing could compare with that view.

Busy week

The week has flown by.

Family were down staying nearby, and brought these exquisite flowers. I don't think I have seen such amazing coloured roses before.

A very beautiful sunrise the other morning, not terribly well photographed through my bedroom window.

Carpet fitters last night and this morning came to remove one carpet (the last of the previous owner) and bring in a lovely new one. 

Furniture moved in and out by our extremely helpful family, who have sadly gone back to their Manchester home now..

Here's a bit of the sitting room, no longer floored in dull grey-green, but in fresh pale carpet...Sea Breeze by name, wonder why?!

I'm very happy with it. The room looks lighter and brighter.

Changing colours.

These Hydrangeas are all from the same bush. I am always amazed by the changes in colour as Autumn arrives.

 Back in the Summer the bush produced beautiful blue flowers.

Just two or three are left, mingling with the amazing ruby red of the others.

This is how it looks today.

You can just see one or two of the light coloured flowers hiding.

Soon the flowers will be completely over.

Maybe I'll dry a few.

Hydrangeas are very much a flower of Cornwall, and most gardens have at least one bush. The colours range from pure white through to the darkest blues and pinks.

Lovely plants.

Jelly jars.

Seventeen little jars of glowing jelly.

Marleen asked if I would share the recipe.

Way back in September 2008 I did a sort of photo 'tutorial', but I cant find a way to link it so that you can pick it up straight away.
http://frenchvillagelife.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/apple-jelly-day.html

But like any jelly making you just need a big preserving pan (you can see mine in the photo) in which to boil the fruit, a jelly bag to strain it, and preserving sugar to add to the juice. I put 1lb sugar to 1 pint juice.

Bring it to a rolling boil and after about 10 - 15 minutes the set will be starting. Fill lots of warm jars, and wait till it cools to eat!

Crab apple time.

Guess what I'm doing this weekend.

Once again Crab apples have fallen off their branches, rosy red and gleaming. These came from a friend, and sadly many of them were windfalls and not too good.

However, I have two large pans boiling and tonight they will be strained ready for the juice to be turned into jelly.

Jelly here, for US readers, is a lovely clear jelly, not a jam.

We eat this with chicken or pork.

As a child it was always a treat when my Grandma made Apple jelly and we had a slice of bread with the shivery ruby jelly. So tasty!

A cottage in Brittany.

Following slightly in the footsteps of Magali, whose blog tells us all about the renovation of her Breton cottage, I thought I would go back in time and show you our first cottage in France.

We bought this in  Brittany in 1995 as a holiday cottage...somewhere to run during the school terms and holidays.

It did not look at all like the photo.

Poor cottage had been lived in for years by an elderly bachelor and was decidedly scruffy.

But...the most amazing thing was that it had a modern bathroom, put in, I think, by the council. That made it all possible, as we knew there would be much renovation to do.

In those days there were no programmes on 'the French Dream', no magazines full of advice, there were few solicitors who knew how to deal with a property buy in France, and we had to struggle through all sorts of hoops concerning inheritance laws, tax payments in another country, et al.

However, we bought it and in May 1995 rushed over at half term,buying two white plastic chairs from the nearest supermarket, and took possession.

The cottage was at the end of a lane in a small hamlet known as 'Le Vieux Bourg' (The old village), slightly separated from the newer village which was within 3 minutes walk. There was one tiny shop in a front room, a post office, a Dr's surgery, and naturally, five bars.

In a village of 1200 people.

When I can find some more photos I'll tell you how the 'dream' progressed.

The Mikado

Japan came to Truro this week, in a production of The Mikado.

One of Gilbert and Sullivan's best known works, it was performed by the National Gilbert and Sullivan Company.

 The costumes and settings were very attractive, and there were some lovely voices in the company.

The well known 'Three Little Maids from school' song.

As my husband says, one is either a Gilbert and Sullivan person, or not. He is. I'm not terribly!

We always have good seats in the Truro theatre, as a front row on the entry level is kept for disabled people. It does mean that all the other theatre goers are at risk of tripping over walking sticks, wheelchairs, electric chairs and crutches. 

And a Guide Dog. 

But it's all taken in good spirits.!

Vacouver storms.

Sunday evening means a call to my daughter in Vancouver, and I was surprised to find that the line was unreachable.

It wasn't until she emailed me this morning that I knew of the devastating storm that had hit Vancouver and Vancouver Island during the weekend.

Around half a million people have been without power. Trees have been falling on houses, on cars, on roads, with nasty accidents as a result.

In addition to my daughter and grandson, I'm thinking of people such as Lorrie, Honora, Christine, Joanne and many others who live in that area.

Thoughts and prayers are with you all.

A new shop in Truro.

My favourite shop in France has come to Truro.

When we lived in the countryside in Brittany it was always a treat to have a day out in Vannes, the nearest 'big city'. I always made a stop at Loccitane, sometimes just going in to breathe their scents of the creams.

The company began with one man in 1976, who had a market stall where he sold his distilled lavender products and Marseilles soap.

Over the years the company grew, using new plants, always organic, for their perfumes. Lavender, peony, rose, angelica and almond are some of the many perfumes.

In 1990 a barge was used for distribution around the areas in Provence, but it wasn't long before worldwide stores began to open..

Stores opened in Paris, followed by New York City, Hong Kong and Japan.

Something I like very much is their commitment under the Loccitane Foundation, to support blindness, in particular partnering with Orbis. they also feel very strongly about the emancipation of women and have opened literacy centres in Burkina Faso. It's good when world wide corporations look beyond themselves.

Returning to Truro, where the open day was yesterday, I managed to pop in, was greeted with wine and chocolate and given a free gift!

This dear little hamper.....

.......contains all sorts of lovely tiny samples!

I may just have to visit the shop again!

A new plant.

For my garden this is a new plant.

This is Ammi Majus, a relation of the wild Cow Parsley which grows in all our hedgerows.

Photo from Sarah Raven

I planted it amongst roses and just let it ramble. It is so delicate and looks a bit like a little soft cloud mixed with the pink of my roses.

I think I shall try to grow it from seed next year, as I'd like to have lots more.

It goes well in a flower vase mixed with Sweet peas......but, it can cause slight irritation to the skin, so best handled with gloves.

I think Ammi has become a bit of a 'fashion statement' flower this year as it has featured in many magazines lately.

But I love it just because it is pretty and delicate.

A giveaway win.

 I won a very sweet giveaway this week, from Frannie.

She is a young lady with  a delightful blog called

Authentic Virtue

http://authenticvirtue.com/

There is a lovely journal, some dear little duckling pegs,

a photo frame which will be filled with a nice shot of my husband, some sticker jewels to use for card making,

and some very pretty hand made cards.

Thank you Frannie!

Here's a last August rose for you.

Her name is Dr Jo and her perfume is gorgeous.

Tomatoes.

Just thought I'd show you.

Now they are all in the freezer, having been made into a lovely thick tomato, onion, garlic and basil sauce.

More are clamouring to come out of the greenhouse already.

Another birthday.

August, the month for birthdays...

three grand daughters, one daughter, one sister in law,

and most importantly, one wonderful husband!

(who is indeed a very fine vintage (1933).

Clematis.

My header photo is of Clematis Etoile de Violette,

which has suddenly decided to produce a beautiful spray of flowers.

Birthday!

Another birthday comes round!

My inbox is full of the most delightful cards and wishes.

We have friends for a simple lunch.

I don't know what I've done to deserve the presents and cards that have arrived in the post. Such a lot to be grateful for.