MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Local village church (taken last winter)

Thank you so much for all your get well wishes and helpful information on what some of you use to help ease a sore throat. I really appreciated it.


Taken in our village last winter

A week on and I am beginning to feel an improvement in my voice. What hasn't helped is that since my last post I've also had a migraine which lasted 3 days. My cold is still there but with a bit of luck all will be gone by Christmas day. Last year I was ill over Christmas and could not join in. I had a 3 day migraine and had to stay in a dark room, feeling really sick throughout. I certainly did not want to have another Christmas like that again this year!

Alan has been an absolute angel, he's taken Miss P to school and back every day, done all the shopping, he made me drinks, meals, looked after Miss P and some evenings sat down quietly next to me holding my hand (very comforting when you don't feel well..) instead of watching TV or playing F1 on the Wii.


Bought from Hunter Gatherer at the Country Living Fair a couple of years ago. So pretty when lit, unfortunately I have just run out of candles...

I haven't been out all week and have not experienced the busy Christmas atmosphere in the shops and streets. I am very behind on the Christmas front...Today the migraine has gone so I can start watching some TV again and watch something Christmassy whilst wrapping the presents.




Pink Christmas wreath bought for Miss P in Bruges, Belgium

As I shall be busy catching up over the next few days, I am taking this opportunity to wish you all a...

VERY

HAPPY

CHRISTMAS!



A bientôt!

Isabelle X

SNOW!...well a little dusting of it

This morning I was greeted by Alan telling me it had snowed overnight and that he was popping out to take some pictures for my blog (very thoughtful, I thought). That news certainly helped me wake up. I hopped out of bed to have a look out of the window. I confess, I was expecting more than just a dusting but it was still nice to have a little rather than none. Miss P's reaction to it was 'Ooh great, no school' but her hopes were dashed when Alan told her it would require more snow than that before the school would decide not to open.

I have laryngitis & a cold so have been staying indoors for the past few days. That's why Alan went out to take some photos for me this morning. I have had a deep hoarse voice for the past few days but today I am losing it...My work involves quite a bit of talking over the phone so I am taking everything I can so that I don't lose it! Being self employed I can't delegate my work to anyone else and with a deadline to meet I simply cannot lose my voice now...

I've just rang Alan at work to see if I can still be understood at the other end of the line, he said that now I sound like a little old lady...with a sore throat! Oh dear..., not being one to give up, I shall persevere...




Sunrise by the barn


The field opposite the house


Snow covered shrubs


Snow covered heather


Bird bath in the garden


Oh well it's a start, maybe we'll get more snow soon...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Christmas childhood books

Guess who? (Picture taken in Surrey in the late 1960's)

Well it has been a very busy week all round! Unfortunately not much of it being Christmas related. I still haven't written my Christmas cards...

In December, I bring out all the Christmas books including my daughter's. I love the illustrations and stories. They portray idyllic scenes which definitely help you get in to the Christmas mood!




The Snow Children






I've had this book since I was around 7 years old. I was very much in to Martine books as a child.
I thought they looked idyllic and Martine always seemed to have such a great time what ever she did.






The Snowman, I watch this film every Christmas. The music is so beautiful. One of my favourite scenes is as they fly over snow covered villages.


Beatrix potter


Angelina Ballerina


Angelina Ballerina. I like this scene, it looks so cosy as Mother & daughter make mince pies


Advent calendar


I also get inspirations for food and decorating the house from books such as this one.


I also get inspirations for food and decorating the house from books such as this one



Christmas Memories

So can you hear those softest sounds from out the snow filled sky A jingling and as a jangling as Santa’s sleigh glides by? So can you hear feel those joyous sounds as day replaces night A present here a present there and children’s eyes so bright? So do you think at Christmas time of when you were a child When magic and your simple faith had your whole soul beguiled? So when your children have grown up or maybe moved away We should all rejoice with memories of those entrancing days. David Keig

I wish you all a good week ahead

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Looks like Rein..deer

Yesterday we went to Wells to watch the reindeer parade. Unfortunately, it began to rain just as the reindeer arrived on the market place.


I wonder what the little elf is thinking?


One of the many stalls


As it began to rain harder, I decided that popping in to Maddie Brown would be a could idea... Any excuse to look around one of my favourite shops in Wells!


We weren't the only ones to shelter from the rain, not long before the picture was taken, the area was full of people.




Miss P and I enjoyed a little browsing...


As we returned back home, we were treated to several rainbows on the way



It is a very busy time for most of us now, I hope that you are all managing to get your Christmas shopping & card writing done. I haven't written any cards yet...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Ladybirds in December!

My work room is full of ladybirds wandering around.


A little group of them huddling up in the corner of the window. They'd better not get settled too long as the window frames are about to be painted white.


One them flew on to my arm


Another appeared as I was about to make a phone call.

I love ladybirds, they are such pretty little bugs. I am enjoying their company in the workroom, although I am occasionally startled when one decides to fly right up to my ear or face!

SUCH KINDNESS!

I recently received this lovely box full of " Torroncino Siciliani" (nougats) from Michela. The box did look fuller but I must confess that we ate quite a few before realising that I hadn't taken a photo yet! Delicious they are too...
I had commented on how delicious the nougats looked on Michela's Sicilia post. The next thing I knew, Michela sent me some!

Thank you Michela, your delicious gift was very much appreciated and enjoyed by Alan, Miss P & I.



These pretty flowers and card arrived on Tuesday, they were for Phoebe and I as a thank you for having helped M whilst her car was stuck in water down our lane (Previous post). Love the picture on the card!

A bit of sunshine here at last. The ladybirds are loving it today! I hope you are too.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Eventful day!

In the lane that I live in, there is a bridge about 100 yards away from our house. Underneath it, the road has been flooded for the past 2 weeks! No one can get through except for tractors. Luckily we can access the rest of the lane by turning left. It is frequently flooded when it rains heavily.

At around 10am this morning, I looked out of my workroom window as I could hear someone calling out. A lady was calling her 2 dogs. I looked out as I thought they might be chasing after my cats. It turns out that her car was stuck in water under the railway bridge. Poor woman (named M), she was wet and cold. I invited her in and called for help to have the car pulled out of the water. It took quite sometime before anyone arrived on the scene!

She was very concerned that she would be imposing on us. After reassuring her that she wasn't, I said that if something like that happened to me, I would hope that someone would help me.

In the meantime, I put the kettle on, leant M some clothes as hers were soaked and lit the fire to warm up the room. As we waited for help, we chatted about this and that including interior design. She is a lovely person who has it happens used to work for a well known textile company in London and loves textiles!

After lunch, the recovery vehicle turned up and drove M back home.


The car stuck under the railway bridge in our lane today


Sign put up when help finally arrived

This is the 5th or 6th time this has happened in that same spot, this year alone!

Miss P was at home today as she was unwell but it didn't stop her from doing her bit to help.

By the way, the two dogs are safe and well too!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Sweet Sewing Book

I recently spotted this book on Ginny's blog Sweet Myrtle. Home Sweet Sewn is co written by Ginny and her friend Alice. Just the cover alone made me want to buy it! When I received it, it was just as I had hoped, full of lovely projects and beautifully presented.

Here is a taster.





Lovely, don't you agree...

For now, I'll just have to enjoy the photos as I cannot/won't do any sewing or crafting until the decorating has progressed further. Unfortunately, I am one of those people who has to have the "ideal" conditions in order to feel creative and work better. This means that I cannot stand making things with lots of boxes around me in a half decorated room. I just don't like it and don't feel inspired...

Time hasn't really allowed it either, I am self employed and work from home. When my working day has finished, I spend time with Miss P, do the usual housework chores, then work on the house again (clearing/decorating).

Once everything is in it's right place again and the room looks pretty and peaceful, then my creative juices will start flowing again. Until then, I must be patient.

The decorating has taken a lot longer than we had expected. We didn't realise that the first lot of de-clutter would not be enough. A second round was required and I had to be a lot more ruthless this time.. Not easy for me as I am a hoarder. Having said that, I have found the experience quite satisfying. We are also replacing various pieces of furniture throughout the house and it's taking time finding the pieces we are looking for. We are slowly getting there though. It will all be worth it in the end...

By the way, as it happens, Ginny is a having a giveaway. Two author signed copies of the new book. Check out her blog.

I've been meaning to say, thank you for all your lovely emails and comments about the 3d photos! We've had a wonderful response from far and wide.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X