YES! Here we are again, back at the cottage, and this time for a few months, until August really, when we go back to the UK for Stefan and Ashley's wedding.
So whats been happening in the UK in between our France trips? Endless medical appointments for me, and a very scary period where we almost lost our darling Poppygirl to the most horrific hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. I restocked Etsy again, and was fairly active on IG, which is so much easier and quicker than blogging, bad me. I also did lots more research into the Bizouard family history. My goodness, what a story. I didn't bring the folder with me, but when I go back to the UK in August, I'll certainly do a long post about what I found out.
In the meantime, here is whats been happening in beautiful France since we got back a couple of weeks ago. The weather until yesterday and today had been absolutely glorious, sunny and warm, but the very strong winds blowing up the hill through our garden were still icy cold, so not much garden work had been done.
We went out for a couple of lovely meals, one in the bistrot by the lake -
to celebrate our wedding anniversary,
and one with our friend and neighbour Ad at our favourite little local epicerie/viennoiserie/post office/bar/bistrot/pizzaria, where Gil makes the most amazing, delicious pizzas -
This is the Arroux, which flows right through the village a few metres away from the shop.
Went shopping a week ago and found this really gorgeous, enormous quilt which is perfect for the cottage, I think. Well, Hector definitely approves! -
While I have the computer on ( doesn't happen very often at the cottage, lol ), I'll prepare another couple of posts I think. If I don't, I probably won't open the laptop up again for another couple of weeks :-).
For now though, toodlepip xxx
We got back Friday night from spending a week at the cottage. We had gone to check up on the cottage to make sure there was no winter damage, no critters had taken up residence etc. and all was fine. And snowy :-). How we all love the snow in the countryside! Untouched, fields glistening all around us, looking so pristine ..... until our dogs start going bonkers in the snow. They love it.
It was very cold in the cottage when we first arrived, but once the heating was cranked up, a fire built and blankets distributed, it was so cosy. It was great catching up with friends, eating freshly prepared pizza at the tiny village bistrot/bar/shop/bakery, sitting by the fire after being out in the snow and just enjoying the peace and quiet.
We had some really beautiful sunsets and sunrises as well when we were not in the middle of horizontal snow storms or thick mist
A week of course was nowhere near long enough, but we had some important appointments to come back for, among them a masterclass in macaron making! But more about that in the next post :-).
Toodlepip xxx
It is bitterly cold this morning here on the Channel coast, so I am cheering myself up with another look back at France 2017. Done April, so its May next :-). Be prepared for a whole month's worth of photos, lolol.
May 2017, what a wonderful month it was. Our youngest son drove out to visit us very early on in May, he loves the cottage and being surrounded by all the peace and quiet of the countryside so much. The dogs of course, were very happy to see him
The mornings were often very misty and with an eery atmosphere
Our closest neighbours, the Charolais cows, were enjoying all the fresh new greens
and I was enjoying the first flower on my newly planted peony
while Hector was enjoying his first outing on his lounger
10th May, and we planted out some brassica ( and boy, did they turn out great! )
The weather was pretty good and by the middle of May, the grass and wildflowers were growing like crazy. I adore the daisies
Every day, the view from the cottage presents a different scene, always beautiful
and our Poppy girl loves nothing better than sitting in the lower field, admiring the view and watching the world go by
whilst Hector sorts out the settee and plays at being a couch potato
Mind you, they both like their creature comforts. They don't mind sprawling out on the grass
but they do prefer their very own outdoor beds, lolol. Hector has his own lounger, and we had to build Poppy her own sandpit bed, because she kept laying down on every bit of freshly dug ground in the veggie patch or flower beds
Flowers, aaah yes. I don't have a flower garden, our so called garden is more of a field, lol, but I do have a couple of new rose borders and I do love my flowers in pots and baskets. Some of the roses first
another newly planted peony
and my beloved antique flower trolly, flower bed and pot plants
My potted herb garden by the front door
One of the great delights of being at the cottage, sitting outside with good friends, enjoying food, wine and great views
oh, and being able to hang huge pieces of knotted lace on the washing line in the garden, can't do that at home in the UK
Love love love salads for lunch, of course eaten under the trees in the garden
Some of nature's beauty collected to be admired indoors
And I leave you with these amazing shades of green on one of our trees