A giveaway from a friend

A charming and talented friend of mine , Un Peu Loufoque (trans.'a little bit zany') is hosting a giveaway.

She is a ceramicist doing all sorts of decorative things, tiles, decorations, cards, animals, no end to her talent.

Do go and take a look at 'Glazed Expression' and read about her giveaway.

One of my favourite pieces of hers is a ceramic heart, prettily decorated with blue flowers, and I have ordered a larger version for a Silver Wedding present, with the appropriate wording.

I would love to win the angel!

Bag swap, and I win a giveaway!

Today I'm very happy.Not only did I have a lovely weekend with my husband home from hospital for two days, but I was also a winner of a giveaway!
This pretty little bag has come all the way from America. It seems that it has made two journeys across the sea, and went back home after the first one. so the owner very generously sent it back to France again.

What lovely things filled it....a big pack of sweets, two quilting discs which I cant wait to look at, and a pack of roasted Carolina peanuts, which my husband has his eye on!
Thank you so much John.





The second was not a giveaway, but a Bag swap, kindly organised by Linda of All Stitched Up. Those of us participating were asked to make a bag that could be used as a sewing bag, big enough to hold fabric, cottons, needles...all those things which we stitchers cart around with us.

Isnt this nice? It comes also from America, beautifully made, with useful pockets inside and two strong handles.


Inside were....three packs of delicious teas, Earl Grey, one of my favourites, English Breakfast and a new one for me, English rose flavoured teabags! Very appropriate as roses are my favourite flower.

That wasnt all. there was a sweet note saying that she had noticed I enjoyed Cross stiich so enclosed.....a pack of Aida fabric, 14 count which is what I prefer, a pack of Bobbins for winding silk onto, and a Needleholder card. this was such a generous gift. Thank you so much Fanny.





And here is the beautiful bag again. Just look at those points!
I shall enjoy using both my lovely new bags.

The one on the right, blue Laura Ashley fabric, is the bag that I made to send to my swap partner. I used a tutorial from Lace Hearts, which explained everything very clearly.

Home for a weekend

Home for the weekend!

My husband is allowed to come home for two whole days this weekend. They must be pleased with his progress.

So I'm busy thinking of tempting little meals to entice him to eat. Food at the Centre is good (Coquilles St Jacques with Provencale tomatoes!)

but still nothing is quite as inviting as dinner at home.

I liked this so much.

'A meal into a feast'...a simple cup of tea made with a little kettle, a China tea bag, two cups and a little milk, all carried into Hospital. Tea for two.

'A house into a home'....the way my husband feels about his home when he comes back from hospital for a visit.

'A stranger into a friend'.....the many many people I have 'met' recently who have been so supportive. I will never meet them in person, but they have become more than strangers.

Ladies who lunch

This nearly resembles the lunch I ordered today, in a small restaurant on the road to visit my husband. His visit home yesterday was quiet, calm and comforting. He loved a little walk in the garden, but was quite happy to sit and just enjoy his home for a short while.

Coming out from our Church service at 1 pm, it was too early to visit, so I decided to have lunch, and found this nice little Bar restaurant. I wasnt especially hungry, so just ordered a salad and glass of wine.
Then watched, as the two dear ladies at the next table..ladies of a 'certain age', enjoyed a full four course meal. As I was seated next to them ('Bonjour Madame, Bonjour mesdames', always so polite), they were finishing large portions of something that I took to be their main course. But no, that was just the entree.
The main course arrived , and with much jolly laughter and remarks about how much they had on their plates, the ladies waded in to beef and fried potato chunks, wasting not a jot as they wiped the plates clean with their bread.
Had they finished? Not likely. Cheese, and then the most enormous dessert, mouthwatering chocolate pie. I would love to have asked for a taste, but being a well mannered British lady thought it best not! They did fail at the last fence and refused coffee. but oh, how they enjoyed their meal...and all eaten without a single pause in their conversation.
I wonder if they meet every Sunday for a ladies lunch?

And today.....

Today it is the Chutney making day. What else can I do with tomatoes that will not stop producing?! Red and yellow, they have all been gathered and put in the big pan with onions fronm the garden, apples from our fruit trees , spices and shallot vinegar.

The whole house is now delicately scented with vinegar-y smells, but with all the windows open i hope it will evaporate. the neighbours must wonder what I'm doing, especially as Chutney is virtually an unknown here.

Busy , busy. Was n't it Little Grey rabbit who had shelves full of exciting things like Cowslip relish, or dandelion jam?? I love little jars full of things in my pantry!

Apple Jelly day.

Today was Apple jelly day. My trees in the garden have been picked clean, and I'd been given a basket of fruit by a neighbour. It's good to have something like this to focus on at the moment.




Apples were chopped roughly, skins and cores left on and in, and put into the preserving pan. Water added to cover the apples.

Next step was to cook them until they became soft and mushy.

It's a bit Heath Robinson-y, but I dont use a muslin bag to strain through, none of them are big enough . I just use a large boiled tea towel, put it into the bowl , and then......

....hang it from the handles of a cupboard, over a bowl, so that it drips for at least several hours, or even overnight.

Later this evening I found I had nearly 3 pints of juice. I added a pound of sugar for every pint, and let it warm through till the sugar was dissolved.

Then I brought it to what the books call 'a rolling boil', just so it is all frothing around. Timed it for eight minutes, and tested it on a saucer which had been waiting in the freezer.

And at the end of it all I had these very pretty little jars of Apple jelly.

When I was a little girl, my grandmother always made Apple jelly for us to eat on thin bread and butter. We love to eat it today with cold chicken, or cold pork, but it is so good whichever way you eat it.

Wheelchair outing!

Today I became a wheelchair pusher, not a job I've ever done before.

It was a beautifully sunny afternoon and the Dr at the Centre suggested that I take my husband out for a 'ride' in the wheelchair.

The grounds are lovely, full of mature trees, a weeping Ash, beautiful Cedars, Maples beginning to change colour, leaves gleaming in the sun.

I thought pushing a wheelchair would be easy. It's not. the last thing I pushed was a pram, and this is definitely different . We lurched down the path, with me frantically muttering, 'keep the brakes on...ON!' Visions of a Monty Pythonesque scenario of chair and patient hurtling towards the trees filled my mind. The paths are smooth, but downhill. Until you turn round and then they are, ah, uphill. Very.

Still, it was a great hour for us both, stopping and sitting on a bench under the trees and just feeling such pleasure at doing something relatively normal together.

Onward

A new start today.

My husband was transferred to a 'Centre de Re-education', which is a centre uniquely for physical rehabilitation and improvement of mobility. There are post stroke people here, but also those who have had accidents, lost a limb, or have any other mobility problems.

The Centre is set in lovely grounds, and overlooking mature trees and lawns. It isnt in the least 'hospitally'. Everyone has their own room, with bathroom, but there are dining areas on each floor, and day rooms. There is a thriving occupational therapy room, where all sorts of arts and crafts can be learnt, though today it seemed to be a riotous game of cards which was going on.

The Doctor came to examine my husband and when I asked how long he would be there, replied,'as long as he needs to be, there is no limit'. How fortunate we are to have this level of medical care here.

I have great faith that he is going to improve under the care of these dedicated people.

How is my husband?

"how is your husband?"
So very many kind and caring people have asked me this. So, just a brief update.

He is still in hospital making a continuing recovery from the stroke. Every morning there is a small Physiotherapy session, and today's involved walking round a chicane! This was , I think, weaving around blocks placed at intervals around the corridor. His mobility is said to have improved to 65%, which is good news.

We now wait for a transfer to a Centre for rehabilitation with intensive physiotherapy, where he will be for three weeks.

I am so grateful for the many messages of support that I have had and for the prayers that have been said on his behalf by people from all over the world.

Oh dear.

Well, the fete could have easily been a non starter. The morning dawned, slightly overcast but sun shining through clouds, and the decision was taken to set up everything outside.
Tables were hauled in, covered with pretty yellow cloths. Very appetising cakes were laid out, books were piled on another stall, Bric a Brac arrived in huge quantities, Raffle prizes were put out invitingly, and everyone collapsed with a sandwich around lunch time.
That's when the heavens opened.
The room where teas were being served isnt all that large, but hastily as many of the stalls as possible were brought in and squeezed into spaces. The nearly new clothing rubbed shoulders with the Craft stall. Face painting jostled for space with the bottle stall. a huge camaraderie developed, the English making the best of a bad, wet, job.
We took just under 1000 euros, which wasnt too disappointing. Forget British weather, French is worse.

and now for something quite different.........

This Saturday is the day of our annual Church Autumn Fair. (this is not a photo of us in France, but I hope our grounds will look much the same).

Preparations have been going on for weeks for all the usual English type stalls. We have Cakes, of course, English books, Bottle stall, Raffle, Craft and best of all, Cream Teas. This is so popular with our French visitors, who to begin with looked askance at the jam topped with a healthy dollop of Cornish cream (shipped in from England), but have learned to love it!

We are fortunate in that we can use the grounds of a lovely Catholic Monastery near our Church, and the Brothers look with interest at all that is going on.

The children who come will see a 'Structure gonflable', which is actually a Bouncy Castle, just for them, with plenty of other games and competitions. Last year we did well, and so hope that this year the sun will shine and lots of friends will join us.