Another busy weekend here with yet more visitors from the UK! It is so lovely to see old friends and catch up with all the gossip from home, but it is also nice to have our home back to ourselves!!
One good thing about lots visitors is that we get to go to all the lovely parts of Brittany over and over - and never get bored with doing so! There are some pictures to show (surprise!!) but I'm afraid they'll have to wait until the washing machine stops and the ironing board goes away which will mean that mound of laundry that always appears on these occasions is finished!!!
So, before I disappear to get stuck in, have a look at some of the great give-aways that are in blogland at the moment!
Elaine at Faithful Quilter is giving away a selection of Civil War fabrics and there are also the most scrumptious Reproduction fabrics on Lurline's blog. Don't know why I telling you about these two actually as I really, really want these for myself !!
Sarah at Don't Look Now has a quilt waiting for the lucky winner and last but not least Frummie is giving away 2 yards cuts of co-ordinating fabric!! Phew!!
Good Luck everyone !!
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Did you see it ?
If you clicked on this yesterday to enlarge it,
............. you would have seen this smiley 'face'
Don't ask me how it got there, it must be a trick of the light or something, but how amazing!!
Last day today to join the Friendship Bag Swap! This little one is the Charmed Gift Bag from Moda Bake Shop
............. you would have seen this smiley 'face'
Don't ask me how it got there, it must be a trick of the light or something, but how amazing!!
Last day today to join the Friendship Bag Swap! This little one is the Charmed Gift Bag from Moda Bake Shop
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
You might remember this post back in April when a couple of sheep appeared in our neighbour's garden - well, we've been having a little trouble with them eating my plants through the fencing, so, to overcome the problem we invested in some wooden paneling which could double up as wind-breakers when the wind comes howling in off the fields.
Now I am not a lover of great expanses of bare wood, and as they were put into position too late to buy any climbing shrubs, I decided dig a few sunflower seeds out of the wild bird food that we buy , pop them in the ground then wait to see what happened - Well, this is what happened :-)
Panels are 2 metres high, so these monsters must be well over 3 metres !
So no matter what the weather for the next few weeks, I've got my very own rays of sunshine!!
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
That's what sunflowers do!
Helen Keller
1880-1968
Now I am not a lover of great expanses of bare wood, and as they were put into position too late to buy any climbing shrubs, I decided dig a few sunflower seeds out of the wild bird food that we buy , pop them in the ground then wait to see what happened - Well, this is what happened :-)
Panels are 2 metres high, so these monsters must be well over 3 metres !
So no matter what the weather for the next few weeks, I've got my very own rays of sunshine!!
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow.
That's what sunflowers do!
Helen Keller
1880-1968
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Another Day Out! (Long Post)
It is such a long time since I blogged about the beautiful Brittany countryside, sad to say our experience at St Lunaire made us very cautious about new places, but now I think it is time to move on and get back to exploring our lovely surroundings!
So - let me tell you about our Saturday visit to l'Isle de St Cado, and one of the most photographed cottages in Brittany!
St Cado (or St Cadoc) was a Welsh monk who, during the 6th century , founded an oratory and later built a monastery on a small island in the River Etel. Local folklore also has it that he was responsible for the small bridge that joins the island to the mainland -and this was done by striking a deal with the Devil!
The agreement was that, in exchange for building the bridge, the Devil would claim the soul of the first living creature to cross it, St Cado agreed to this and overnight the bridge was duly built. However, St Cado (being a very clever Welshman!!) rose early next morning and sent his cat, Lacha, across the bridge , thus cheating the Devil out of his payment !! Well - that's the story anyway!
The island from the river bank, you can just see the bridge far left of the photo if you enlarge it.
Over the centuries the original buildings have disappeared and were eventually replaced in 1832 by a church and a 'Calvaire' or 'Crucifixion'
There is also a small 'fountain' or well on the beach that is only usable at low tide!
This island is a mini paradise of winding streets with street signs in Breton
and pretty cottages painted in traditional colours
Some of them complete with statues if the Saint himself !
and if proof was needed as to his origins - well, this says it all !!
Ooops!! Almost forgot! The most photographed cottage in Brittany !!
Now that's what you call a seaside home !!!!!
You cannot buy a multi-view postcard or calender in Brittany that doesn't show this little cottage, and easy to understand why !
Our day at l'Isle de St Cado was really worth the effort and one that I am sure we'll be repeating over and over with our friends and family! Unfortunately, the afternoon became very overcast and the photos are a little dark because of this, but if you can bear to look at more (including some of inside of the church) try this link
So - let me tell you about our Saturday visit to l'Isle de St Cado, and one of the most photographed cottages in Brittany!
St Cado (or St Cadoc) was a Welsh monk who, during the 6th century , founded an oratory and later built a monastery on a small island in the River Etel. Local folklore also has it that he was responsible for the small bridge that joins the island to the mainland -and this was done by striking a deal with the Devil!
The agreement was that, in exchange for building the bridge, the Devil would claim the soul of the first living creature to cross it, St Cado agreed to this and overnight the bridge was duly built. However, St Cado (being a very clever Welshman!!) rose early next morning and sent his cat, Lacha, across the bridge , thus cheating the Devil out of his payment !! Well - that's the story anyway!
The island from the river bank, you can just see the bridge far left of the photo if you enlarge it.
Over the centuries the original buildings have disappeared and were eventually replaced in 1832 by a church and a 'Calvaire' or 'Crucifixion'
There is also a small 'fountain' or well on the beach that is only usable at low tide!
This island is a mini paradise of winding streets with street signs in Breton
and pretty cottages painted in traditional colours
Some of them complete with statues if the Saint himself !
and if proof was needed as to his origins - well, this says it all !!
Ooops!! Almost forgot! The most photographed cottage in Brittany !!
Now that's what you call a seaside home !!!!!
You cannot buy a multi-view postcard or calender in Brittany that doesn't show this little cottage, and easy to understand why !
Our day at l'Isle de St Cado was really worth the effort and one that I am sure we'll be repeating over and over with our friends and family! Unfortunately, the afternoon became very overcast and the photos are a little dark because of this, but if you can bear to look at more (including some of inside of the church) try this link
Friday, 7 August 2009
Bag Lady
It's been a bit difficult to get stuck into anything big the last few weeks with all the 'comings and goings' in our lives at present, and the result is the appearance of a number of small items!
Firstly, a tote, using Moda's 'Sonnet' collection charm pack
complete with 2 LARGE inside pockets!
The original Penny Surges pattern ( gift from my friend Jeannie - no blog, but thank you Jeannie! ) has an envelope pocket on the front but the fabrics are so lovely, it's a pity to cover them up - so no outside pocket on this one!!
Then, a trial run of Rachel's tutorial for the Friendship Bag Swap, made from a few left over 'Sonnet' charms
This was just so much fun and turned out so cute I couldn't resists making another one
Made from some of the selvages I've been saving (don't ask!!) , bright and cheerful and just the right thing to fill with sweeties - a little extra gift for DGD's birthday on 28 August !!
Forgot to post this yesterday (!!) and just cannot persuade Blogger to let me change the date - Must be some secret I'm not aware of !!
Firstly, a tote, using Moda's 'Sonnet' collection charm pack
complete with 2 LARGE inside pockets!
The original Penny Surges pattern ( gift from my friend Jeannie - no blog, but thank you Jeannie! ) has an envelope pocket on the front but the fabrics are so lovely, it's a pity to cover them up - so no outside pocket on this one!!
Then, a trial run of Rachel's tutorial for the Friendship Bag Swap, made from a few left over 'Sonnet' charms
This was just so much fun and turned out so cute I couldn't resists making another one
Made from some of the selvages I've been saving (don't ask!!) , bright and cheerful and just the right thing to fill with sweeties - a little extra gift for DGD's birthday on 28 August !!Forgot to post this yesterday (!!) and just cannot persuade Blogger to let me change the date - Must be some secret I'm not aware of !!
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Special Day
Today is International Friendship Day, so a good day to say 'Hello' to everyone !
One of the greatest things about blogging is that I have got to know so many people that I would not have otherwise, and I am very happy to call you all my friends!
I'm off to join this
so why not come along too - what better way to share friendship!
A True Friend is Good to find
One of the greatest things about blogging is that I have got to know so many people that I would not have otherwise, and I am very happy to call you all my friends!
I'm off to join this
so why not come along too - what better way to share friendship!A True Friend is Good to find
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