District nurse visits.

This photo of a District Nurse was taken in 1895. It makes one

realise just what a service we have in our District nurses, though our lovely nurse arrives in a smart little car rather than in a donkey cart.

Today was my annual Blood test check, when Brigitte, our local nurse arrived

with what seemed to be far too many syringes and vials.

'Hmm' she said, 'one for cholesterol, one for sugar, ......'

Five little glass vials later I was beginning to wonder if I would have any blood left,

but she set me free , and told me I could now have a cup of tea,

forbidden before the tests.

The Health service here is suffering from lack of money, and I would hate

to think we lost her, or her colleague who is equally delightful.

Their day begins early as they go to the elderly and housebound to

assist in dressing and washing. They have a midday break and are often on duty again in the evening to do it all in reverse, putting people to bed.

I sent her off with a jar of Apple Jelly, which I think she regarded as a

strange English concoction, but promised to try it.

Thank you!

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Just a little thank you to all of you who have commented on my new header, I do appreciate it!

It was very simple to do. I gathered a few things together from the garden, found the old Spode bowl that I have had for years, dug out the trug, used the pretty watering can given me by lovely daughter for my birthday, and put it all on the dresser..... took a photo of it all, and down/up? - loaded it .

Old favourites

These are both old, and favourite. Do you remember the Pollyanna books? I believe these belonged to my grandmother, certainly to my mother.

The first two were written by Eleanor Porter, in 1913 and 1915. A friend of hers Harriet Lummis smith, continued with the next volumes. There were many others later, including ''Pollyanna in Hollywood!"

I have five of the books and I treasure them. They are known collectively as 'The Glad Books' because Pollyanna herself was brought up to see the good in every thing, and to find a reason for being happy even in sadness. Today they will be counted as old-fashioned, but I very much like these values.

Autumn

Autumn arrived in my kitchen today.

Walnuts from the tree at the end of the garden.

Shiny red apples from our orchard. Jars of apple jelly ready for the Winter.

Michaelmas daisies from the flower bed.

Tomatoes from the greenhouse.

How fortunate we are.

Feeding the hungry.

For several days we have been watching a tiny Fieldmouse running up and down the Cosmos plants, collecting seed. He fascinates me with his determination, his desperate need to store up food. When he reaches the end of a stem, gravity takes over and he is catapulted downwards. Up he goes again, nothing daunted.

Today, there was not only the mouse, but a flock of the most beautiful Goldfinches. We dont see them very often, but they are seed- eating birds, and Cosmos must be a five star meal, judging by the enthusiasm with which they attacked the seedheads. One hung upside down for many minutes, stuffing his beak with goodies.

How lovely to think we are providing food, and only with self seeded Cosmos. Or maybe they were mouse-seeded?

Lazy sunny day.

It was a long Church service this morning, so we were a bit late for lunch with friends in the village. It didnt matter. The sun was shining, tables were laid outside, and the French contingent were happily drinking their way through aperitifs.....lots.

It was one of those lazy lunches that just went on and on. We moved slowly from group to goup greeting old aquaintances, meeting new people, and coming to rest under a green 'tonnelle' (that's a little marquee). We sat in pretty sunchairs, chatting, talking, and finally drifted in to the house to the super Buffet lunch laid out for us.

Equally super desserts followed, very English Trifle, chocolate roulade and lemon cheesecake. Rather a nice change from the inevitable Tarte aux pommes. Round about 3 o clock one of the Bretons got out his accordion, without which a good Breton is never seen at a lunch party, and played the dancing Breton music . Songs were sung, feet were tapped.

Goodness knows what time it went on till. We left at 4pm, and they were just getting nicely into their stride, fuelled by coffee and Eau de Vie, a very strong liqueur type wine.

Nice Sunday.

(The painting above is 'Lazy Day' by David Hettinger)

Dr's waiting room

We are fortunate to have a 'Cabinet medicale' in our little village .

It's staffed by one lovely Dr, and two district nurses, no secretaries.

It's only recently that a system of appointments has been put in place, and that only

in the evening. So in the morning you wait your turn.

This morning I went in at about 10.30, to wait for a new prescription. The waiting room is approximately 2 metres X 3m, so you can imagine it's a bit of a squeeze. As I knew half the people waiting we went through the usual greetings, kisses, handshakes etc, enquiries after my and my husband's health, and so on. The Dr allows around 20 minutes per patient (yes, that was 20 mins) but the first few went in and came out quite quickly. However, and I knew it had to happen, an elderly couple went in, and 40 minutes ticked away before they came out.

I think my Dr was relieved when I galloped in and said I would only take a minute. But I still had to go through the Blood pressure count, the weigh in and the usual discussion. He is very particular. I came out at 12 o clock, saying to the Dr...'When will you eat?!' At least three more people were waiting to see him, but he didnt seem unduly worried.

I'm sure his lovely wife has a superb three course repas de midi waiting for him, and he only lives next door.

September roses

' Poetry in Motion'

One of the loveliest David Austin roses in my garden.

They go on flowering till the last minute,

and when brought into a room they scent it with a delicate perfume.

Picked today, and delighting us with their beauty.

(click for a larger view)

Communication!

I have just acquired a webcam! It's something I've wanted for a while, and I was delighted to see it in the list of free offers using points from my Server account.

It arrived in a large parcel, but is itself only very tiny, about 4 inches when open. It plugs right into the laptop and, apparently, works straight away.

So far I've had one successful talk with my family in Australia, wonderful to see son and grandchildren, and for them to see us too.

After that burst of energy it has only worked one way. Either I can see me and not the other person, or they can see themselves and not me. Very odd.

I asked someone's opinion, and they replied 'Of course the other person has to have a webcam too..............'

Oh really?!

Cutting up bits of fabric........

I have a friend who creates very beautiful silk pictures. She watched me as I cut and pieced, and then said, "I dont understand why anyone would want to cut up fabric just to sew it all

together again".

Oh, well........! Each to his own.....

These are some 4" squares of vintage Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston, that I recently bought. Then wondered what to do with them.
So, first made a nine patch square.Then cut the square in half.



And cut the halves in half, if you see what I mean!

Rearranged them, sewed them up again....how my friend would laugh, and I now have six pretty blocks to make into a small quilt, maybe for a baby's pram.
I've got some gorgeous deep pink to use for sashing.

I'll be back to show you the result, sometime.

Loofah!

I'm quite pleased with this. In fact, let's be honest...Im VERY pleased!

I was sent two seeds by a friend in Texas, and

not having a similar climate, didnt expect much of a result.

But, over the weeks, one loofah has grown and grown.

The next step is to research the hows and whens of

actually turning it into a Loofah.

But..isnt it great to have actually grown one!

PS, in reply to a couple of queries;

You dont eat them (was that a serious question?!), though they are a part of the cucumber family. They are for washing.

Why grow one.....well, just to see if I could. They apparently grow like vines in Texas, but here in France mine is in the greenhouse.

What a weekend!

Don't just sing the song

Live the life, as well."

This message was hammered out by Bishop Pete Broadbent, bishop of Willesden, at a service in a Spring Harvest park this Sunday.It's easy to get swept away with the freedom of praise and worship....which led by the gospel group, was a wonderful experience.

But then we have to go back to our normal lives and live out that which we have learned.

This weekend we stayed with friends in the Vendee region of France. This couple

have a ministry within a 4 star holiday park nearby called Le Pas Opton, which is owned by the Christian company, Spring Harvest. Here holidays are held to refresh the mind and spirit of all who come, families, singles, grandparents.....whoever.

Guests can stay in tents or mobile homes on site or there are villas which will house up to 12 people. A restaurant, surrounded by terraces, is a place where one can sit, eat, drink , chat. Flowers are everywhere and the site is beautifully kept. The programme is totally optional, there are times of worship, groups for young people, Bible studies etc, but one could simply come for a holday without taking part in any of the activities

Our friends , a pastor and his wife, are on duty for a good part of the day within the park, and minister to the young voluntary staff, as well as to anyone with a need.

They took us to the Saturday night Gospel concert, which IDMC, a 24 piece gospel group from London was leading.

The group was formed in 1994, has done tours in the UK and abroad, and were the guest artists at the wedding of Luciano Pavarotti in 2003. They work alongside various charities, have sung at the Albert Hall and at various 'celebrity' events such as the christening of Geri Halliwell's baby, and at the singer, Jamelia's, wedding.

Followed by the Sunday service it was a weekend to remember. Mingling with the 300 people on site at a BBQ after the service, we met so many who had come for the second, third, fourth time, and would come again. some, for the first time, were encountering Christianity. We came away renewed.

We returned home with the message ringing in our ears....

'Don't just sing the song. Live the life as well.!

Chutney

The house is redolent with the scents of Chutney making.

Tomato and apples, chopped with garlic, onions (all home grown except for the garlic). Then sultanas, spices and brown sugar added.

Cooked slowly for a very long morning, and now put safely into jars for their maturing.

I can't wait till November....so had a little taste.

Salt from France.

Have you ever seen these delightful little bags full of salt? It is a very special type of salt, and here begins a very simple salt lesson.
The Guerande is a region in the Pays de la Loire. Until 1941 it was part of Brittany.It's there that you will find these amazing salt flats where the grey sea salt is harvested. Twice a day at high tide, the water from the open sea flows into the marshes, into the special salt beds. The sun and wind evaporate it until it crystallises. Then it is harvested in the old traditional manner by 'paludiers', as you can see in the photo.

Salt has been harvested here since the Iron age, and in the 10th cantury the monks of nearby Batz Priory carved out the marshes, realising what bounty there was. It brought prosperity to the Guerande area and opened up a trading route.

The grey salt can be bought as coarse or as fine salt. There is a high quality salt known as Fleur de sel, usually skimmed off the surfaces of the salt marshes, and usually by ladies only. Maybe that's why it's so fine?

It is something that visitors search out to take home. Many of the top chefs wouldnt dream of using anything but Guerande salt.

Guerande itself is a small walled town with a medieval part surrounded by ramparts. Access to the town is through the fortified gateways in the ramparts. It's a wonderful place to visit.