tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27411884379770551542024-02-18T17:38:24.162-08:00simply-chateaushirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.comBlogger818125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-62416370824176554282018-01-07T04:07:00.000-08:002018-01-07T04:07:45.159-08:00Truffling....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD18TJGh5lU4gciVzsTSEzlVZcTYOjUtA41ultZYy81Bfv6iZWwshMBNeh_O4cIcrucjiLKY33MsKRWZS78TOc3kRskSgmP_DJHiD6G524am37Ct87mE0wGlh1dSzg3sUQj0KVtLeMazr/s1600/DSC_9334_zps8kkbwadc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoD18TJGh5lU4gciVzsTSEzlVZcTYOjUtA41ultZYy81Bfv6iZWwshMBNeh_O4cIcrucjiLKY33MsKRWZS78TOc3kRskSgmP_DJHiD6G524am37Ct87mE0wGlh1dSzg3sUQj0KVtLeMazr/s400/DSC_9334_zps8kkbwadc.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This morning I needed to have some air, do a little truffling and find a little inspiration. A walk around the old discarded factory being used as a recyling centre is always cold but who knows what will turn up!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some of the alleyways are so lonely I felt a little like an "urbex" urban explorer!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVTT8lbhob5HjkUCxCyiHaKFuWJi89ZRX1NPh6dCua1MY_Zxb0i8DQFxHd8b1dym8Vk4zWc7Gkh0EW04gOLiAeNMrI3VNRShOd0DdhaxlYfhu5e7V15MTFykhxJr5zIvbuvuyfh2dbjx_/s1600/DSC_9343_zpsncm59e3g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVTT8lbhob5HjkUCxCyiHaKFuWJi89ZRX1NPh6dCua1MY_Zxb0i8DQFxHd8b1dym8Vk4zWc7Gkh0EW04gOLiAeNMrI3VNRShOd0DdhaxlYfhu5e7V15MTFykhxJr5zIvbuvuyfh2dbjx_/s400/DSC_9343_zpsncm59e3g.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1uR3kTmunKX8SrUkC_7lr5hXeOBTJ3k9WRQ6gowyoxz3NmoIv0b9rz2b0K15ZgRiN8PTyMdNgxb2Lad1WOztQKk4F2vhEQkzslf2voIH5UcPj4Y9dj_4_EafuCi7WV8OvuH1GCySC0fO/s1600/DSC_9344_zpsggveafey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1uR3kTmunKX8SrUkC_7lr5hXeOBTJ3k9WRQ6gowyoxz3NmoIv0b9rz2b0K15ZgRiN8PTyMdNgxb2Lad1WOztQKk4F2vhEQkzslf2voIH5UcPj4Y9dj_4_EafuCi7WV8OvuH1GCySC0fO/s400/DSC_9344_zpsggveafey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>You have to look through the piles of "truc" to see the treasures hiding in the rough.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I wanted to find a space to use that old cast iron chateau fence above but try as I might....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I love this old work bench and I can see that thick wooden top polished for a loft style kitchen.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD64xDfxKEA_BPw2FGWzAG0w4cEAu1KZPUpZNECEekEeojF5W3zEd1F-0ZZmI07vgcklWtbHY2D2lnU1vrSMOSW1oyf8uDanNGMZ54anuIU8aVaYrPnrahan8Zp23L0SdaKn9e4nu_TKOu/s1600/DSC_9340_zpsjymebczv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD64xDfxKEA_BPw2FGWzAG0w4cEAu1KZPUpZNECEekEeojF5W3zEd1F-0ZZmI07vgcklWtbHY2D2lnU1vrSMOSW1oyf8uDanNGMZ54anuIU8aVaYrPnrahan8Zp23L0SdaKn9e4nu_TKOu/s400/DSC_9340_zpsjymebczv.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ83a6IYWZ2dnJ7NpA5-auclrQdL3yqrx7zia0EHwU1RVu4kYYUL8dRcsDEv3YnJmBDFqkG7tdUeDE-T2yLq0QERzG72NNgDHrSobuOorDVFLzaA5hGnV-52dwD9M-QQp4YnAGxJvpuM7x/s1600/DSC_9341_zpsqrmks6rf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ83a6IYWZ2dnJ7NpA5-auclrQdL3yqrx7zia0EHwU1RVu4kYYUL8dRcsDEv3YnJmBDFqkG7tdUeDE-T2yLq0QERzG72NNgDHrSobuOorDVFLzaA5hGnV-52dwD9M-QQp4YnAGxJvpuM7x/s400/DSC_9341_zpsqrmks6rf.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHXzxMEqjQvu2mtE3s-GNTqe_SwZ7r-3wEnVIbMg8NCEqwA8MiUESD0gTUSRxZI29H_t5ibRMHxBA1FL6t6deOXBcsPw1oFtXtII9rF3uzjwSe7sJt2nTMKVZ3DFXYAxSWcOMV4j4mBoD/s1600/DSC_9342_zpsjl719dji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHXzxMEqjQvu2mtE3s-GNTqe_SwZ7r-3wEnVIbMg8NCEqwA8MiUESD0gTUSRxZI29H_t5ibRMHxBA1FL6t6deOXBcsPw1oFtXtII9rF3uzjwSe7sJt2nTMKVZ3DFXYAxSWcOMV4j4mBoD/s400/DSC_9342_zpsjl719dji.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old balconniere window grilles...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkpiGVLUpMkxz7ZyqIoyO8lO0Q_oFYed2vKdwOFXKwHyyu2axINZg9mr2Md6f1OdGy6E0o7Ny79fZOEcSI-Ypr0QwdpF02OK5-5-vOG27vws8lQMw9D774T8qmtkuSGsbO66EouhASzAF/s1600/DSC_9332_zps7akwywlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkpiGVLUpMkxz7ZyqIoyO8lO0Q_oFYed2vKdwOFXKwHyyu2axINZg9mr2Md6f1OdGy6E0o7Ny79fZOEcSI-Ypr0QwdpF02OK5-5-vOG27vws8lQMw9D774T8qmtkuSGsbO66EouhASzAF/s400/DSC_9332_zps7akwywlg.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V4d0DgplRRhPLbhw80vGW3bwKEDKxJQS1S69yPfS0b002HNMSbWoX7eMkpDPy_CuzAIaoO1sQKhpzMJjuCMpTPGxjlk-2p2m3yyHtgB7JdPfZ0v1qJwoxnGP1oapNfyhHA-nBPEnLahI/s1600/DSC_9333_zpsmn6gn9tp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V4d0DgplRRhPLbhw80vGW3bwKEDKxJQS1S69yPfS0b002HNMSbWoX7eMkpDPy_CuzAIaoO1sQKhpzMJjuCMpTPGxjlk-2p2m3yyHtgB7JdPfZ0v1qJwoxnGP1oapNfyhHA-nBPEnLahI/s400/DSC_9333_zpsmn6gn9tp.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>At times like this I wish I still had my shop in the UK and could deal in the larger pieces.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Can I use this old bicycle rack at Le Petit Chateau?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50qcYGJUCwmzJMjh8_RDwY6OduPcWin0h4Mz7KYevzVZaG7FLD30v8eDdu3B89w_AnolIWSIq11RdKA8lXpvHTp398PBIG_j1rAMko_pxAEkFffbHuZIblPm9TLh7O0NUNU3nSDVt0Vt0/s1600/DSC_9350_zps4fm3erzb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50qcYGJUCwmzJMjh8_RDwY6OduPcWin0h4Mz7KYevzVZaG7FLD30v8eDdu3B89w_AnolIWSIq11RdKA8lXpvHTp398PBIG_j1rAMko_pxAEkFffbHuZIblPm9TLh7O0NUNU3nSDVt0Vt0/s400/DSC_9350_zps4fm3erzb.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO9zlveNeCT0249MJJSwpWw0WVCzrjcuPJFHAC_YFrZi6iWNCiZeQLcfgnl7yVpsa1BjcD3fJvwGMal4QySA8bNZZdUb-iFxAhXuX1wenr4gRPU-J-8aLDnubPwJGBQewyrazyuq-B3Qs/s1600/DSC_9351_zpseymdhesd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzO9zlveNeCT0249MJJSwpWw0WVCzrjcuPJFHAC_YFrZi6iWNCiZeQLcfgnl7yVpsa1BjcD3fJvwGMal4QySA8bNZZdUb-iFxAhXuX1wenr4gRPU-J-8aLDnubPwJGBQewyrazyuq-B3Qs/s400/DSC_9351_zpseymdhesd.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old cast iron garden bench ends...</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhH43bfws3TPwow5sMeXdTFD_DvTvqyjJJz9oUukKOTIl0-AMkQQBF1QGz4uXn4OpZM58ioBJNVJ9oQ0ZIghB8lxDqGbCQbqnd9_iwKAsd6LWbGUoNGU37UumzjWDyUeZkwgl9pEf3Ne2/s1600/DSC_9315_zpstk3cnayq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhH43bfws3TPwow5sMeXdTFD_DvTvqyjJJz9oUukKOTIl0-AMkQQBF1QGz4uXn4OpZM58ioBJNVJ9oQ0ZIghB8lxDqGbCQbqnd9_iwKAsd6LWbGUoNGU37UumzjWDyUeZkwgl9pEf3Ne2/s400/DSC_9315_zpstk3cnayq.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Old galvanised guttering....if this high wind continues across the marsh we may need some of this for repairs.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGFjIrwrtwUSRNPz1iMYwgOulnXRNXWp1nRnu0v_50wymEMW3OTQBU8yDa7JEaqQK_oQyiMHhgost03ilvnZV_bhCtD_qaSqFdzuICPlcgfquIgazJUda7pPEzBAkqXIX7cktieOmk8Xd/s1600/DSC_9316_zpskx5bxluj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGFjIrwrtwUSRNPz1iMYwgOulnXRNXWp1nRnu0v_50wymEMW3OTQBU8yDa7JEaqQK_oQyiMHhgost03ilvnZV_bhCtD_qaSqFdzuICPlcgfquIgazJUda7pPEzBAkqXIX7cktieOmk8Xd/s400/DSC_9316_zpskx5bxluj.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Perhaps I should take some home just in case?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnS449jIiqAPSGPumlo8ZOL6ZgVITEeWG_UFm_sOcJI-ElzRvt9MjryuKOkI11FbMVe5b35j6E4EPJpBADyEFcAhwcEPNMvDueZ33aYhGiDV91VJZm27Mb8cEZm8hFH2tMO-OGYKbFC5F/s1600/DSC_9326_zpsl02awlaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnS449jIiqAPSGPumlo8ZOL6ZgVITEeWG_UFm_sOcJI-ElzRvt9MjryuKOkI11FbMVe5b35j6E4EPJpBADyEFcAhwcEPNMvDueZ33aYhGiDV91VJZm27Mb8cEZm8hFH2tMO-OGYKbFC5F/s400/DSC_9326_zpsl02awlaw.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdrcTAWthfAOp46fM1ve8_Rw65mxgfOoeQGZ-Ylf2cjHnPRF20fEVvvDmZ9D0Ev3Gmye9HeynrzNCi7SNLqHJZErSolHFJPPF3hmCJy_FeA3StufAjnG5vKD7QJPMvgjb5fz0QO2iqemP/s1600/DSC_9328_zpsugyyepch+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdrcTAWthfAOp46fM1ve8_Rw65mxgfOoeQGZ-Ylf2cjHnPRF20fEVvvDmZ9D0Ev3Gmye9HeynrzNCi7SNLqHJZErSolHFJPPF3hmCJy_FeA3StufAjnG5vKD7QJPMvgjb5fz0QO2iqemP/s400/DSC_9328_zpsugyyepch+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnNJLnVPLJ_r8kh7ky67TmfYrqkkHXjrRltFIf656kz0nybN7i4AOqZNDhWNxn5Gmu9Eu0k-zQZRSVEwXaDyoxkCo81gwdlLSq1OYa56BL_jKX6Ay6-uQFlENd7FVyevtqXvdZ2GvrvWh/s1600/DSC_9330_zpsj1vyci5f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnNJLnVPLJ_r8kh7ky67TmfYrqkkHXjrRltFIf656kz0nybN7i4AOqZNDhWNxn5Gmu9Eu0k-zQZRSVEwXaDyoxkCo81gwdlLSq1OYa56BL_jKX6Ay6-uQFlENd7FVyevtqXvdZ2GvrvWh/s400/DSC_9330_zpsj1vyci5f.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Uwc69VMSeG2emxAjsUFxYVgz621sGXbogKtbc2OGn43ELLMh3QgdvK96_8J8zO0Nwtf3za5Y3Mkki5Q7BN1vuWbYgJsUVdydTYfRBYmN0WITPUC1mtPBDJCHjVSkdhtlzz6oICf5dmue/s1600/DSC_9331_zpsjzun9jjk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Uwc69VMSeG2emxAjsUFxYVgz621sGXbogKtbc2OGn43ELLMh3QgdvK96_8J8zO0Nwtf3za5Y3Mkki5Q7BN1vuWbYgJsUVdydTYfRBYmN0WITPUC1mtPBDJCHjVSkdhtlzz6oICf5dmue/s400/DSC_9331_zpsjzun9jjk.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Or perhaps I should stop sifting through these " mantiques" and go sort some textiles!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bon dimanche mes belles and if you want to see the photographs larger just click on them.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine....</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-16962408997534015722018-01-05T03:42:00.000-08:002018-01-05T05:00:45.028-08:00The Panini Boys...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6dJYELZYhmx-LqIpT_OtmZdhnll6gfvZrxEaKNNr3maJP5vS4qAmk3_K6trgrCBHb9fsT58MyaMaCFamhWuddPWsx2JiSDB_8DJNke4GkZodlWiadSiYFStiMzOHcfyY4juf3DitXUFk/s1600/DSC_9304_zpsztywbfgt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6dJYELZYhmx-LqIpT_OtmZdhnll6gfvZrxEaKNNr3maJP5vS4qAmk3_K6trgrCBHb9fsT58MyaMaCFamhWuddPWsx2JiSDB_8DJNke4GkZodlWiadSiYFStiMzOHcfyY4juf3DitXUFk/s400/DSC_9304_zpsztywbfgt.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our nearest small market town is Ste Mere Eglise where we went this morning for the Supermarche. I couldn`t help but notice the "guys" are back in residence!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>On the corner of the main street is a small covered seating area where the local monsieurs meet to put the world to right.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>There used to be a panini machine on that corner so of course the guys have been nicknamed THE PANINI BOYS by the local mademoiselles!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you see the Panini Boys all is right with the world!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bon weekend mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>xxxx</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-2450697342583478752018-01-04T04:55:00.001-08:002018-01-04T04:55:23.630-08:00Bonne Annee 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOCsnlNo-Gve5yL27ZqHwSCfLVlVcl0jRAMVZI0fwJnnCfnSzST20XpKdU-YsOAwJvBWSn4vTcnYAjQ7NU1t3DDDqgBC6G0Prx6XK_wALApqgKce12TJ9Vn403aJz_Ykeef2OSIZsfocl/s1600/24294253_1520116941407391_2882509800874788120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOCsnlNo-Gve5yL27ZqHwSCfLVlVcl0jRAMVZI0fwJnnCfnSzST20XpKdU-YsOAwJvBWSn4vTcnYAjQ7NU1t3DDDqgBC6G0Prx6XK_wALApqgKce12TJ9Vn403aJz_Ykeef2OSIZsfocl/s400/24294253_1520116941407391_2882509800874788120_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bonne Annee Happy New Year 2018 from Le Petit Chateau Normandie.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">One of my New Years Resolutions is to stop neglecting my blog!! I post every day on my simply-chateau facebook page but I know that not everyone participates in Facebook.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">We are still suffering from the backlash of Storm Eleanor and the gale is still lashing across the marsh and it`s raining sideways! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I was worried that I hadn`t seen my two resident doves who live in the hazelnut tree for a couple of days but as I pulled up the blind this morning one was waiting clinging to the windowsill for some seeds. The huge stork`s nest that is in the village of Beuzeville has finally been taken by the wind and I saw Monsieur Stork standing in it just a couple of days ago and I hope he is safe. The swans on the marsh are huddled near the gate with their heads tucked below their wings and its grey and very savage out there! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The only highlight is that the hunters boats seem to have gone adrift across the marsh in the night and are bobbing away into the distance......oh how sad ....not...and I should imagine the local wildlife is quite pleased too. The hunters proudly tie their little boats to the gatepost and come back with various poor creatures they have shot. At a brocante last year one dealer had for sale a huge bright pink fibre glass swan boat that must have come from a fairground ride. I was SO tempted to buy it and tie it up next to their boats this year.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The small village that houses one of our local Patisseries had a Christmas house decorating competition this year. Every year Monsieur Patrice has dressed his house with his home made rustic decor including a nativity scene in a glass case and a little Winter scene with a small train running on a track through snow covered mountains. Although a little rough it has always been quite charming. But, this year the whole village joined in and there were some stunning twinkling displays including a huge igloo with a seated light up polar bear inside! I did see Monsieur Patrice standing in front of their display one evening. To be honest he had made all of his own decorations and the others had all been purchased. I have no idea who took the winners trophy but on New Years Eve I noticed the enormous polar bear was missing. Perhaps they had taken it inside to deter New Years high spirited revelers or what I hope is that Monsieur Patrice has kidnapped it and is holding to to ransome!! Who knows what he will produce next year to keep up with the new illuminations.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Of course as usual I have the Winter blues and I am dreaming of Provence in the sun and simply meandering around the brocantes in a Summer dress! This was made worse by a phone call from Tartelette from Oregon this morning trying to lure me away for a truffling trip down South in March. I am looking forward to the brocante season starting again and I can display this.....</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWbu93A5JbZ0TU2Uc1J3eBolu4UijVk0pv1616kFcog9svIlPvU0Gxc8PR0qBxQsuzfnYQDSdRQIZS2YP_R5I8b9eS9vO5DQoSXDFQAp-I8K2VYAiQPYtKZmriattEmndsqx-6LaLXbMw/s1600/8c2ad76c-dce0-4176-8bbe-a279a6cd84eb_zpsflzklg0o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="823" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWbu93A5JbZ0TU2Uc1J3eBolu4UijVk0pv1616kFcog9svIlPvU0Gxc8PR0qBxQsuzfnYQDSdRQIZS2YP_R5I8b9eS9vO5DQoSXDFQAp-I8K2VYAiQPYtKZmriattEmndsqx-6LaLXbMw/s320/8c2ad76c-dce0-4176-8bbe-a279a6cd84eb_zpsflzklg0o.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My longing for the sun is not helped by my friend Andrew who has bought a home in Spain and reports he is in the garden in shirt sleeves checking the progress of his orange crop!</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ted our Spanish rescue dog has been with us for 7 months now and he is such a different boy. When he first arrived he would not look you in the eye and he had suffered a very bad start to his young life. Now, he is totally in control here at Le Petit Chateau and is a total joy to us. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">He was still quite shy in company so when we had our Christmas curry and quiz evening he disappeared to hide on our bed as thirty or so friends arrived for a very raucous ( as usual) evening. The theme was Indian costume so we had various wonderful outfits arrive. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXshtQA-8k2zP7uFEoOCYm45rZZympCuAJWKYL2bs0o7J2x_PGxKIGtg4O0F19SvOY6x8zPcj8Q2A01DVzEr-muW9Xq2qv_LPLlNewOI31xih_JYJxLXkJRLziBlsRGbFRKKEweJtF73mC/s1600/26001414_10156344933651294_7008029155477709393_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="528" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXshtQA-8k2zP7uFEoOCYm45rZZympCuAJWKYL2bs0o7J2x_PGxKIGtg4O0F19SvOY6x8zPcj8Q2A01DVzEr-muW9Xq2qv_LPLlNewOI31xih_JYJxLXkJRLziBlsRGbFRKKEweJtF73mC/s400/26001414_10156344933651294_7008029155477709393_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8c5AIwRfZntEBbKptc-euSHzVOsC524UKFRIJyO3Ied_co16egHt_cFWasGC_LAii92DMM2Jmjl_PaRAq-q4yFUmAwpLplfgDzKAVQhrNA1mh9lVZH2wL_lyUGE8npqw4RHm_eHNVNbK/s1600/26168495_10156344732186294_3769932845265325268_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8c5AIwRfZntEBbKptc-euSHzVOsC524UKFRIJyO3Ied_co16egHt_cFWasGC_LAii92DMM2Jmjl_PaRAq-q4yFUmAwpLplfgDzKAVQhrNA1mh9lVZH2wL_lyUGE8npqw4RHm_eHNVNbK/s400/26168495_10156344732186294_3769932845265325268_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mark is very good at emptying our lounge to make it look like a bistro!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Half way through the night I went up to put Ted`s lead on to take him outside for a break. As we came back into the kitchen I thought he would head straight back upstairs but he turned right into the melee and spent the rest of the evening visiting each table in turn and endearing himself to all. He has certainly moved on. As we speak he is curled on the sofa having a snooze and ignoring the storm.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAwosy2ynumyIQYatYazhkDT-pXMlciTrSsEftXQIQTOnpqjyDFeJAmwfcw7d4SXoo0-fydh2CiO9fz2p6CJzNWnPa0w-7PRHu14bS1FZW85yK0LsQ6csjqGQdcPm6DpMhdvbXR91YXql/s1600/DSC_9209_zpszj65nkur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAwosy2ynumyIQYatYazhkDT-pXMlciTrSsEftXQIQTOnpqjyDFeJAmwfcw7d4SXoo0-fydh2CiO9fz2p6CJzNWnPa0w-7PRHu14bS1FZW85yK0LsQ6csjqGQdcPm6DpMhdvbXR91YXql/s400/DSC_9209_zpszj65nkur.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">At the end of the curry night Mark went outside to switch off the Christmas lights and slipped down the slope into the cellar...this was the result! You can only imagine the comments!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRbnAH_bVTnqaN3a1MBEuF50yjmKuVFxqoHDNL9fcexRS_ZpUamFTREGZ2txSVB-4v4hID_ZGUK3OT0HkTWUpNtJTW33K6eyjo31IWb6WM9vJmAyPtWO4SMxqzYPWqNmGNsoo5oTrN_XT/s1600/26001384_10156345758016294_8197066512026205407_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="533" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRbnAH_bVTnqaN3a1MBEuF50yjmKuVFxqoHDNL9fcexRS_ZpUamFTREGZ2txSVB-4v4hID_ZGUK3OT0HkTWUpNtJTW33K6eyjo31IWb6WM9vJmAyPtWO4SMxqzYPWqNmGNsoo5oTrN_XT/s400/26001384_10156345758016294_8197066512026205407_n.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As with most people after Christmas we feel totally stupified by what we have eaten and as we speak there is a large pot of home made parsnip, ginger and garlic soup on the stove and Mark has ordered an exercise bike ( Oh my ......watch this space!!). I am sure I saw Madame at the Patisserie burst into tears as we drove past without stopping this morning.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoEHmaLohqvyLX9qksfZeTATcZ_vuvNz7erZReCaenkPW0wBMHOIP_PUDA7kCZfxhC4-CvbgLpRAeWqs-TlsGIEn_6LswM6Bvfje60jR6o35FdEFjx_YmudwJF_whoyP9l-s_0-9DAjmx/s1600/25353917_1168295916639498_9151602457735793116_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoEHmaLohqvyLX9qksfZeTATcZ_vuvNz7erZReCaenkPW0wBMHOIP_PUDA7kCZfxhC4-CvbgLpRAeWqs-TlsGIEn_6LswM6Bvfje60jR6o35FdEFjx_YmudwJF_whoyP9l-s_0-9DAjmx/s400/25353917_1168295916639498_9151602457735793116_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">So I am starting to list my latest finds again and digging out the treasures I had stashed away from my December travels. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">If you do use Facebook I have a new Brocante page attached to my simply-chateau page where I am listing some of the attic finds from the boxes I have hoarded in my studio!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I have finally updated my website but I find it such a technical job that I spend most of the evenings trying to fathom it out and get quite excited when something goes right!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Many thanks for all your messages when my grand daughter Sophie was taken so ill. It was a scary time for us all whilst she was in hospital but she is back to normal and will soon be walking. What a relief!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfcD5P3smMxEN0f496Yy0Ec_rJfcBm-fKohz3iJeSyT-AuBY-epXNliD-fFUmHXtB-SYOT3tyZJZWX_LT9gYEvDVLLSm6zvNMcYkjQGCzapfjilsg768i7teFUgpTiNIAEIWoq-pkIX9j/s1600/26165741_1762900607068158_2113666543845531077_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="720" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfcD5P3smMxEN0f496Yy0Ec_rJfcBm-fKohz3iJeSyT-AuBY-epXNliD-fFUmHXtB-SYOT3tyZJZWX_LT9gYEvDVLLSm6zvNMcYkjQGCzapfjilsg768i7teFUgpTiNIAEIWoq-pkIX9j/s400/26165741_1762900607068158_2113666543845531077_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">A la prochaine mes belles and I intend to blog much more....run away and hide now!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">May your year be filled with delicieux truffling escapades!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-88189845445251550752017-04-02T07:37:00.002-07:002017-04-02T07:37:22.542-07:00Ted`s first brocante....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/TEDDY/received_10155232568531294_zpsrxccrixs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/TEDDY/received_10155232568531294_zpsrxccrixs.jpeg" height="640" width="387" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I did my first brocante today.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> I was a little shocked to be rousled from my comfy padded bed in the boudoir so early. </b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> Yes.... I do have 2 beds and have already been referred to as "Teddytwobeds" by a visitor!</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But I<i> thourougly </i>enjoyed it and even if I do say myself I have a very suitable nose for truffling.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Teddy</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Eduardo Earl de Houtteville</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-11762285764479201282017-03-28T01:47:00.002-07:002017-03-28T01:47:32.135-07:00The Prince, the Duke and the candlestick maker......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9216_zpsjvsumasv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9216_zpsjvsumasv.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This wonderful old handmade parchment document found it`s way to me this week.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gorgeous old frothy edges parchment dated 1763.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9217_zpsq6q9mgc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9217_zpsq6q9mgc1.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It is a contract between a Prince who also holds endless other titles, a Duke who again is titled to the hilt and a lowly candlestick maker!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9219_zpsdya2frdm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9219_zpsdya2frdm.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Four pages of wonderful script with amazing signatures.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9224_zpsifot9f2s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_9224_zpsifot9f2s.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It looks as if the candlestick maker was renting a property from the Prince and the Duke.....how I would love the full story behind this treasure!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxxxxxxxxxx</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-12845995274333767782017-03-19T04:13:00.000-07:002017-03-19T04:13:24.709-07:00Spanish Omlette<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh4MPhl_rDk6VlaHZeeq828Srw9G-NLXupOeAkECTVHKxWx39VbKUgfRgr7VrN1DN4AyIPiBDXjlkH_01AfztS0rgVtLS-bAW_2_Y9FxiRpNjVzn6aJC1ecGnhmtY6hTY_3hTuQlUqIjM/s1600/17342988_10212662756990414_8531375768715404999_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh4MPhl_rDk6VlaHZeeq828Srw9G-NLXupOeAkECTVHKxWx39VbKUgfRgr7VrN1DN4AyIPiBDXjlkH_01AfztS0rgVtLS-bAW_2_Y9FxiRpNjVzn6aJC1ecGnhmtY6hTY_3hTuQlUqIjM/s640/17342988_10212662756990414_8531375768715404999_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a message from good some friends yesterday about a little rescue dog in Spain that needed help. 2 years old and going to the kill shelter as he had been abandoned. They wondered if he was for me.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One look at those ears and that was it!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He is very gentle and gets on well with cats so all is looking good.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So......he starts his long journey to Normandie on Wednesday and will arrive on Friday along with another rescue dog coming to our friends.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He will live a life of luxury here at the chateau but we need a name. Any suggestions?</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A la prochaine mes belles</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">xxxx</span></b>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-60569903091759194282017-03-16T05:23:00.001-07:002017-03-16T05:24:50.621-07:00Paris..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb558cvGelhgky_ZEehH0vbcVHm5xn9uhRWRZWOVf3Ju580UUtcw0MMvZO-yK4xVoSUSueTEx_NEPGsmfwL-kj5ZSvB1_L7cqdVwfvvy0BcU__Wi7HJ-S4mNmRvv5EOb7aKhkTyaWLUSY/s1600/17212239_1003214323147659_3628513944717239020_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb558cvGelhgky_ZEehH0vbcVHm5xn9uhRWRZWOVf3Ju580UUtcw0MMvZO-yK4xVoSUSueTEx_NEPGsmfwL-kj5ZSvB1_L7cqdVwfvvy0BcU__Wi7HJ-S4mNmRvv5EOb7aKhkTyaWLUSY/s400/17212239_1003214323147659_3628513944717239020_o.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Truffling with Tartellette from Oregon at the Paris flea markets was just divine. Vibrant and bustling as usual.</b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Warm sunshine and hoards of treasures. What could be better?</b></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4kD6AFVfyKIxYaA049_X4gtg4bk99tTrUNWbBzPH9MrHh95CqDheMksmGRBNNmDm6aHEdETUyOBU_IH5ozi6Uq_zBf4qHDWP-dZ5FXgeu4G9vO23bkFTHwzJHTPRg1FFPSUq3VDHt44l/s1600/17264531_1003212633147828_7486773974030351520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4kD6AFVfyKIxYaA049_X4gtg4bk99tTrUNWbBzPH9MrHh95CqDheMksmGRBNNmDm6aHEdETUyOBU_IH5ozi6Uq_zBf4qHDWP-dZ5FXgeu4G9vO23bkFTHwzJHTPRg1FFPSUq3VDHt44l/s400/17264531_1003212633147828_7486773974030351520_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79LuDLxvbDUy4R55o23WubaCrJMBAc3OB7A-s8J1SOi4q-VCnx8-ZNuB1o2RV1fcQKuKvsf3lIuV6H7At9mgEluc7FUL76Qjtl_2hMwFVAU07Msv0eMrjYLjycHjo2sSvKLM571j7pAi/s1600/17309378_1003213833147708_7483844394130308019_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79LuDLxvbDUy4R55o23WubaCrJMBAc3OB7A-s8J1SOi4q-VCnx8-ZNuB1o2RV1fcQKuKvsf3lIuV6H7At9mgEluc7FUL76Qjtl_2hMwFVAU07Msv0eMrjYLjycHjo2sSvKLM571j7pAi/s400/17309378_1003213833147708_7483844394130308019_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtknL8dtnv-9g4WS7EUnBIC5s2H_5WDeGPQlBSb0d8B13xo4xNyi0MaT5CICEokBegfUhIMtcZS272cFT1W609cutszCCHKe3cHaOgkgbodL-Pnmzo9_RlP7Mg9soddkyEgZV2bpRNQoPz/s1600/17155255_1003850089750749_1488180446801193995_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtknL8dtnv-9g4WS7EUnBIC5s2H_5WDeGPQlBSb0d8B13xo4xNyi0MaT5CICEokBegfUhIMtcZS272cFT1W609cutszCCHKe3cHaOgkgbodL-Pnmzo9_RlP7Mg9soddkyEgZV2bpRNQoPz/s400/17155255_1003850089750749_1488180446801193995_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Supper at Laduree....</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeKqKgc83PdxkljN6IbkrjLvskZiXlxbseO5jT0djWO527gf9XIEeRl0YF_8XxeUCLc_QxznzmAFsDajcNlZZw87lLTZB-E_50LtLVmzs9TU6kKs83Aahn52RktAfFYAReHyffqu6kUkg/s1600/b76dbce6a31c3397f3f683ec4bb8172c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxeKqKgc83PdxkljN6IbkrjLvskZiXlxbseO5jT0djWO527gf9XIEeRl0YF_8XxeUCLc_QxznzmAFsDajcNlZZw87lLTZB-E_50LtLVmzs9TU6kKs83Aahn52RktAfFYAReHyffqu6kUkg/s400/b76dbce6a31c3397f3f683ec4bb8172c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even the graffiti was good!!</span></b></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwStcR1UqxJBWnSjSUXuazOLRgsqXFMABRh-XbJTxMOg6nUndIlkYMUFHXcmKWvjbYVd4Pn4Cqp60Ik4AqeLu8ze_sva7YDvmHEMXASoQeTsqI29Ybbanl9E7GzfyrOxwmJVIubA0hihyphenhyphenv/s1600/17309718_1003209429814815_971292543310573664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwStcR1UqxJBWnSjSUXuazOLRgsqXFMABRh-XbJTxMOg6nUndIlkYMUFHXcmKWvjbYVd4Pn4Cqp60Ik4AqeLu8ze_sva7YDvmHEMXASoQeTsqI29Ybbanl9E7GzfyrOxwmJVIubA0hihyphenhyphenv/s400/17309718_1003209429814815_971292543310573664_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Back home now listing my finds...</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMSxm51c7pg2_2X5vvMJGxMCTAy3hQQM4P1ncK_BpSedDYsmLXx8LdqG3QvhQbm9552ejw6_jQyXK33-wi6YvSqJcEENYTN9S3ecGIeiLYbDJn_deaDnKHy4A9xfGri6qZ_zeLoo4eWZa/s1600/17264276_1004367029699055_1869649974525027223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMSxm51c7pg2_2X5vvMJGxMCTAy3hQQM4P1ncK_BpSedDYsmLXx8LdqG3QvhQbm9552ejw6_jQyXK33-wi6YvSqJcEENYTN9S3ecGIeiLYbDJn_deaDnKHy4A9xfGri6qZ_zeLoo4eWZa/s400/17264276_1004367029699055_1869649974525027223_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But I have had my Paris "fix" and it is always so nice to come back to the tranquillity of the chateau.</b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxx</b></span></div>
shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-74926565082767242412017-03-06T23:06:00.000-08:002017-03-06T23:07:15.179-08:00Paris textile sample book....<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This wonderful antique French textile sample book arrived on the shelf in my Etsy shop today. A rare find to truffle such a wonderful piece of textile history still intact...</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8962_zps2kktss36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8962_zps2kktss36.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLinFPrXNiAa5b-vjlt9KBeI794bvdTy4-TNOS8AKOc4oZ6CoYC_tcXD4LRRHY0rqGrwhWc-naxcB9asdyz2lV_mbwGgQEBTill6nQ3xZbuhhpfXJELN1HUwwbi740RlDpdygzQIZjWzyj/s1600/DSC_8977_zpscoalmale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLinFPrXNiAa5b-vjlt9KBeI794bvdTy4-TNOS8AKOc4oZ6CoYC_tcXD4LRRHY0rqGrwhWc-naxcB9asdyz2lV_mbwGgQEBTill6nQ3xZbuhhpfXJELN1HUwwbi740RlDpdygzQIZjWzyj/s400/DSC_8977_zpscoalmale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroCB4VjsW4kFkr74gH-En2503p1_zrnunIa7mhyphenhyphen5MlakkCFRC46JEdeGVxoeK3WPnPuXwRLvptgPmjhgfOMfdsG_MiYqicp4wxDXqHP-HFJuc6SnZAMtWReRRCyMHV0eHz49c6g_HuJ4H/s1600/DSC_8978_zpsxbuxsdem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroCB4VjsW4kFkr74gH-En2503p1_zrnunIa7mhyphenhyphen5MlakkCFRC46JEdeGVxoeK3WPnPuXwRLvptgPmjhgfOMfdsG_MiYqicp4wxDXqHP-HFJuc6SnZAMtWReRRCyMHV0eHz49c6g_HuJ4H/s400/DSC_8978_zpsxbuxsdem.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMK6uzDsBRI-G0TY1IWHPt_rtfHK6UdaqT5cmokQi4Vr5zKALTBc2BJJBdNOVPW7X-ljDP4LkL20NgaWmk1hyphenhyphen8FRBUsRTwXmIOYmDiE6YdY4HexK6zNlAAjxtphnl3uVpmUc1ZOlJTyCR/s1600/DSC_8979_zpsasqfikme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMK6uzDsBRI-G0TY1IWHPt_rtfHK6UdaqT5cmokQi4Vr5zKALTBc2BJJBdNOVPW7X-ljDP4LkL20NgaWmk1hyphenhyphen8FRBUsRTwXmIOYmDiE6YdY4HexK6zNlAAjxtphnl3uVpmUc1ZOlJTyCR/s400/DSC_8979_zpsasqfikme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A wonderful source of textile history that is brimming with swatches.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>You will find the link to my Etsy store on the right.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxx</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-37222756274912091942017-03-06T06:08:00.002-08:002017-03-06T06:08:41.499-08:00Footloose and fancy free...........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcrAcugOp2KQadG8vRegS37MjSx5fihofZbTsJTwdZpqOOVv-AiCapIxs7OQsgLg4VB7X8Nv5CTqSBI2wh-vMk44ttrn1xCKsgL0bHws5wWwBH80Z-jsMh2pAAWPF-7l_JA_e-Z93GYbe/s1600/P3281866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcrAcugOp2KQadG8vRegS37MjSx5fihofZbTsJTwdZpqOOVv-AiCapIxs7OQsgLg4VB7X8Nv5CTqSBI2wh-vMk44ttrn1xCKsgL0bHws5wWwBH80Z-jsMh2pAAWPF-7l_JA_e-Z93GYbe/s400/P3281866.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
We arrived at the brocante yesterday at 6am in lashing rain and a gale. Whilst waiting for the gates to open we hoped it would stop even just for an hour.</b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But no, it continued and as the gates opened we donned our waterproofs and joined the crowd. Within 10 minutes we were soaked to the skin. It was the kind of rain that runs off your waterproofs down your trouser legs and into your boots. To make it worse it was sooooo cold and when you get to that state there is no point stopping as you simply cannot get any wetter!!</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Some brave brocanteurs unpacked and we bought some treasures despite the storm.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We found a very sweet armoire shaped trinket box and packed it in our bag.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Last night as we unpacked the days truffle haul we realised that the little armoire (which should have 3 legs on each side) had a leg missing on the right hand side but still stood firmly. We decided that we would remove the matching leg on the left hand side and list it as a dolls house confection rather than a boudoir box.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This morning on the way to La Poste Mark made a confession.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>He had been up earlier than me and had decided to remove the extra leg. As soon as he had sawed it off he realised.......</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>HE HAD CHOPPED OFF THE WRONG ONE!!!</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ20qVQ-ErQDpYXZrHWrhaYsRtZr31n9AigR6bWUPrfySGFyYbmJiLmFA4VNTBBN36s6I5GlV2rulrgMP5Ia2YDfId77REkmdBSXNOG16h0MHpwbOomx07h1C50U7ON-zXeU5sgiOrQep1/s1600/DSC_8790_zps6r5chjel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ20qVQ-ErQDpYXZrHWrhaYsRtZr31n9AigR6bWUPrfySGFyYbmJiLmFA4VNTBBN36s6I5GlV2rulrgMP5Ia2YDfId77REkmdBSXNOG16h0MHpwbOomx07h1C50U7ON-zXeU5sgiOrQep1/s400/DSC_8790_zps6r5chjel.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But, not only did he not stop at that point, he continued to chop off the leg we had already agreed to cut off , so, now it has two legs on the right and just one on the left!!!</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I laughed so much I could hardly catch my breath! He tried to fight his corner by saying he had saved the leg he had cut off in error so he could glue it back on.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>He is not going to live this down and I am not sure if it is ever going to be destined for my Etsy shop as a timeworn armoire for a " Maison de poupee". I think it may have to appear at the odd dinner party at the appropriate moment.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>All I can say is thank heavens Mark isn`t a surgeon..........</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine.....</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-90041293952140467592017-03-04T01:43:00.000-08:002017-03-04T06:17:45.967-08:00The Ragondin Brothers.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMFsDUsXFRf0XedDmGPFmFIznOxf1_TmSlQ_TVZkkyKetXFDkynZKFaCSe26PTfpMkgqR7arYHr3lk5YpyiyEGq1zIq9u9Buta-LTnjk3yrbjkrYVAETAzJX4ThbHBeKE2mc4NY083nbR/s1600/c56e95eb2c33f748c1275f350cdea762d0b96b2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMFsDUsXFRf0XedDmGPFmFIznOxf1_TmSlQ_TVZkkyKetXFDkynZKFaCSe26PTfpMkgqR7arYHr3lk5YpyiyEGq1zIq9u9Buta-LTnjk3yrbjkrYVAETAzJX4ThbHBeKE2mc4NY083nbR/s400/c56e95eb2c33f748c1275f350cdea762d0b96b2a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">There are two old brothers that live in our village. One as thin as a willow stick with a black beret so fitted to his head that I think he must have been born wearing it. The other as stocky as a little barrel with mad grey hair sticking out of his woolly hat.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">They live in a tumble down cottage that if you didn`t realise was theirs you would assume it was derelict. In the Winter a small plume of smoke from their chimney is the only indication that someone is there.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">They ride a battered old war-time Mobylette. The kind that you have to peddle to get going and it sounds like a hairdryer. I once saw them driving across a ploughed field with them both clinging on for dear life as the mud clogged their wheels which was a sight to behold!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes after lunch on our way to La Poste we will pass them on the road. The thin one always drives and the stout one clings on at the back usually the worse for wear after a long lunch with a little vin rouge. They wear 1960s type crash hats with leather ear covers and we have always referred to them as "The Odd Couple".</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">We have noticed recently that any communal village jobs seem to be handed to them. Unblocking ditches, hedge cutting, repairing the church gates and more recently trying to control the Ragondin population on the marshland close to the village. So they have been re-named " The Ragondin Brothers".</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Every morning at 5am we hear the moped coming down the lane , past our garden and on to the gloopy mud on the marsh. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">But today on the way to take our parcels we saw that they have had a great forward move in their business. They have added to their company fleet and were very proudly driving a very battered bright yellow van. They are so much like a French Del Boy and Rodney now!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Later in the afternoon they were chopping trees on the long driveway to the large chateau on the edge of the village. Business must be good for the Ragondin Brothers if they now have four wheels instead of two.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Who knows where they will be in a years time!!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">A la prochaine mes belles.....</span></b><br />
<div style="direction: rtl;">
<br /></div>
shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-20340324612328992142017-02-25T10:07:00.000-08:002017-02-25T10:11:27.568-08:00Pirates at the brocante....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbd7WHjMV1iyxaSvSBY1YI0ckJgLctMfv4WglJFxhQUUjyiaXi9uN8_zssA6SuKmqhjvWWLx9ZtMm1zH26JniFgaxHrrhPXF2WEpgDwrb_pZRGQFo4VAz53N9cUtB2qiVbEaX332Ax0r9/s1600/926f20f9a2d43361ca13bd3af946090e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbd7WHjMV1iyxaSvSBY1YI0ckJgLctMfv4WglJFxhQUUjyiaXi9uN8_zssA6SuKmqhjvWWLx9ZtMm1zH26JniFgaxHrrhPXF2WEpgDwrb_pZRGQFo4VAz53N9cUtB2qiVbEaX332Ax0r9/s400/926f20f9a2d43361ca13bd3af946090e.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I am out truffling for a few days to see what I can find.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>This morning was advertised as a brocante starting at 5am, so we spent last night in a hotel close to the venue as it was a few hours from home.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>We had phoned the organiser to check the time and we rose quietly at 4.30 and crept out of our room into the icy morning.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Arriving at the venue there was not a car to be seen and the building was in darkness.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>At 5.10 a sole figure appeared, turned on the lights and then opened the doors.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Then nothing...rien...nada..zilch. We remained in the car with the heater running and only at about 6ish did a few sellers start trickling in.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>We decided it may be warmer inside so walked around aimlessly in the very empty hall as a few early sellers started to carry their boxes in.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Slowly they laid out their neatly ironed table covers and unpacked even slower. More buyers came through the doors and it was clear there were going to be more buyers than sellers.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>One set of Countesses buttons with crowns in my pocket and then a long long wait.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A couple more stands slowly unravelled and a 19th century dog collar, some ticking, lace and a pair of divine trousseau sheets added to the haul.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Feeling slightly better about things I wandered over to an old lady unpacking jewellery at snail pace.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> I stood along with another lady shoulder to shoulder in front of her table watching her treasures emerge from newspaper bundles. All very civilised and calm as we three ladies chatted away and as the seller unpacked, we politely looked at the wares allowing each other to reach " gently" for what caught our eye.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Suddenly a man pushed his way between myself and the other lady so roughly that he knocked the other lady aside. I am not such an easy pushover so adjusted my stance and stood rigid as he tried in vain to push me out of the way of the boxes being unpacked. I held my arms rigid and refused to be rocked as he grabbed and held the paper bundles even before the old lady had unravelled them.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>He tried to grab for a jewellery casket already in my pile but I kept my arms still rigid and he couldn`t get his hands on it.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>And then he made a fatal error. He had heard me talking to Mark in English and thought I did not speak French. As he tried again to push me aside again he muttered " Madam there is no need to push". </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>That was it, I let him have it and wiped the floor with him. A real verbal bashing in my best French and the place ( as it was so empty) fell silent. I remember harping on about him having no manners and if he has to be so cut throat he should have been a pirate!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>He would not look me in the eye and simply ambled away. I glanced after him but there was no wooden leg or parrot on his shoulder.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>There are enough treasures in France for everyone and if you can`t enjoy what is a wonderful trade then you should go do a 9 to five job.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Don`t mess with me when I have got up at 4 for a brocantless brocante!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Needless to say this all caused much merriment with the friends we knew as the coffee stand finally opened and we finally got a hot drink.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Looking at the small haul I am really happy and even if there had been nothing to buy that`s the way it goes sometimes no need to get upset!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A batch of gorgeous period jewellery, a hand written poetry book, a batch of boudoir prints, thimbles, buttons, lace, textiles and some scrumptious silk threads. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>I am on the road for a few days now and have just received a text from a friend asking how the "mooching" is going!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Mooching and truffling shall be resumed tomorrow!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Have a great weekend mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>xxxx</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-81091887157190547262017-02-22T08:13:00.000-08:002017-02-22T08:13:16.172-08:00Faith Hope and love...............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8418_zpst8itocwi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8418_zpst8itocwi.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I found this adorable little mademoiselle`s silver hallmarked ring today tucked into it`s original velour box.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I thought how romantic would it be if a sailor had given it to his little girl as a love token before going off to sea.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8413_zpsw4nob7zg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8413_zpsw4nob7zg.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And then I found this quote.............. .</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129;">.Cross is a symbol of faith, anchor is the symbol of hope and the heart is there for love/charity. Cross and heart are considered symbols of faith and love in the secular symbol interpretation as well, while the interpretation </span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129;">of anchor as a symbol of hope lies in the idea of a safe haven, safe harbour for the sailors in storm, and it is referenced in Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8407_zpspjdvxgtt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pink%20nighty/DSC_8407_zpspjdvxgtt.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9; color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></b></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Coming up in my Ebay store this week.....beautiful...unique and evocative</b>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-54330966401470494682017-02-19T04:48:00.003-08:002017-02-19T04:48:48.754-08:00Hope......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54ODwovF1DiLpMEi9ACa2OL5jChEj7i0RZL1T_n3srdbfhNURuPHDpdsQHZ7jP6ut2o_LuKLS3bRgRCqGXqrMWVuz5fNC-rKRII1O22TpLY-CWHz1PwmKPqSU140DJm4O8np2XR0zTMwt/s1600/DSC_8174_zpsbpsy3rvj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54ODwovF1DiLpMEi9ACa2OL5jChEj7i0RZL1T_n3srdbfhNURuPHDpdsQHZ7jP6ut2o_LuKLS3bRgRCqGXqrMWVuz5fNC-rKRII1O22TpLY-CWHz1PwmKPqSU140DJm4O8np2XR0zTMwt/s400/DSC_8174_zpsbpsy3rvj.jpg" width="225" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtxmfiF-2DKjHwyppsUvOX4h2BnL1D5d5c0pHmbggo8JnlPKzRoCKC1ALNSX6iw5nBamhnk3v1dGiLKuWTyWm_n2BRKjmvW5lwykLK2aV2f2osA_9GhnSAQn9V5YAS-4-UYTytQDWnScq/s1600/DSC_8172_zps4s5mpjqz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtxmfiF-2DKjHwyppsUvOX4h2BnL1D5d5c0pHmbggo8JnlPKzRoCKC1ALNSX6iw5nBamhnk3v1dGiLKuWTyWm_n2BRKjmvW5lwykLK2aV2f2osA_9GhnSAQn9V5YAS-4-UYTytQDWnScq/s400/DSC_8172_zps4s5mpjqz.jpg" width="225" /></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1bDmRCmnXjgq0v51xhi5RFn5IlZsfI8rO9-7f-KeMfLtMnulKJjEbR280wJtM0n474jm9P9R0dBLWUfZxN3L_1dS3rjgpvB0Q_GWsplLYsRUaVbsQgTHRE4F3eJs4eAYCrEbDZrkURw_/s1600/DSC_8173_zpsqzibgz0x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1bDmRCmnXjgq0v51xhi5RFn5IlZsfI8rO9-7f-KeMfLtMnulKJjEbR280wJtM0n474jm9P9R0dBLWUfZxN3L_1dS3rjgpvB0Q_GWsplLYsRUaVbsQgTHRE4F3eJs4eAYCrEbDZrkURw_/s320/DSC_8173_zpsqzibgz0x.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Often the blossoming of the snowdrop is a sign, that the winter is transforming to springtime. Therefore the snowdrop symbolises </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">hope</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">, the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">hope</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> that this winter will finish too, that new warmth will enter our lives.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">This is the carpet of snowdrops on the driveway to Le Chateau L`Isle Marie this morning.....</span></b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-62292870848510503092017-02-18T05:04:00.001-08:002017-02-18T05:04:37.506-08:00For sale our "Petit Mignon".....<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOsIjN06alQALO2rAKz6rlyHVYGuMmgRFrpidwNiFVWePr5dfYj3YKIx6ML-aY9vcfbrzKqzF97EcA2IwFYHEBxrJI4hVw6IKDO4aTN48DKEKMz5B-ak7EPvZQcXeCrRuI4AGeBLq-eE7/s1600/DSC_0275_zpspba05k1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOsIjN06alQALO2rAKz6rlyHVYGuMmgRFrpidwNiFVWePr5dfYj3YKIx6ML-aY9vcfbrzKqzF97EcA2IwFYHEBxrJI4hVw6IKDO4aTN48DKEKMz5B-ak7EPvZQcXeCrRuI4AGeBLq-eE7/s320/DSC_0275_zpspba05k1e.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Coming up for sale this Spring. Our adorable bijou 16th century cottage here the in Normandie countryside. 2 bedrooms and all renovated throughout. A large garden and superb views.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjfS5ckgnA9QL7UFArk8yD8r5yG5zgkigLgBp6dtQlXhKJXQl0JSP3jvmq5y1nSCRk914-_vBdweaCUHSO7zxMvH1-Go2QOrbXthV3ey1vuCZ-gA58uhYunhxuXJ6TIHD41d62po1on4n/s1600/8de524f69e474fa509554952381813626baff33d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjfS5ckgnA9QL7UFArk8yD8r5yG5zgkigLgBp6dtQlXhKJXQl0JSP3jvmq5y1nSCRk914-_vBdweaCUHSO7zxMvH1-Go2QOrbXthV3ey1vuCZ-gA58uhYunhxuXJ6TIHD41d62po1on4n/s320/8de524f69e474fa509554952381813626baff33d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCSWL-EEjYqimgwdMO2GHpHxumi9mZkbcxl-uxN0tdx4rX_rgvcGcP8hSvWinM8JQX13XXJX4wl1kPrVTBWnxwJbEuZ_JnFWl6OST1mx3-EyZQuPm34uZlTBN_9K_FE-uwUS6vQh9A1L0/s1600/9bff106c0bf49e73df5b77b59c4b9041ae9314a7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCSWL-EEjYqimgwdMO2GHpHxumi9mZkbcxl-uxN0tdx4rX_rgvcGcP8hSvWinM8JQX13XXJX4wl1kPrVTBWnxwJbEuZ_JnFWl6OST1mx3-EyZQuPm34uZlTBN_9K_FE-uwUS6vQh9A1L0/s320/9bff106c0bf49e73df5b77b59c4b9041ae9314a7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfPZqqthInIdVrUTaToefdmOjtgjpxqwRv3AlEI7aPO0TA9JDnMiZISxwWPbReAeiwnxP0pBIy7eaTi2SRxsSs-iOEuxaAo23xxI3XSpmF_hUQ1XWq90_HeUh4zVXwHF5suqGAmu53aep/s1600/8332e936e57d036045b9dedb1d553f30e81822e6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfPZqqthInIdVrUTaToefdmOjtgjpxqwRv3AlEI7aPO0TA9JDnMiZISxwWPbReAeiwnxP0pBIy7eaTi2SRxsSs-iOEuxaAo23xxI3XSpmF_hUQ1XWq90_HeUh4zVXwHF5suqGAmu53aep/s320/8332e936e57d036045b9dedb1d553f30e81822e6.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> If you remember it`s the sweet place where our daughter Miss Frou Frou lived. Sad to let it go but new adventures are calling.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />We will of course still be here at Le Petit Chateau !</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>UK pounds £77,000<br />US dollars $95,500</b></span></div>
shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-16766450793649439622017-02-11T06:33:00.000-08:002017-02-11T06:33:14.356-08:00A sad day at the chateau....<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_awTDqQbBDzrZ_XVvQU5-f-b7evLgmdY4bkwAUlayMskKkUKcQTej2D_f6db6TC0m6xKLvWctnw8K1JiPHBB0z1sbRCxyIjJlKnw5MrVZh4EbrkOJrKF9_jC_xaFqwhasrn59nQrScHN/s1600/digs+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_awTDqQbBDzrZ_XVvQU5-f-b7evLgmdY4bkwAUlayMskKkUKcQTej2D_f6db6TC0m6xKLvWctnw8K1JiPHBB0z1sbRCxyIjJlKnw5MrVZh4EbrkOJrKF9_jC_xaFqwhasrn59nQrScHN/s400/digs+after.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I know that I am guilty of not blogging regularly, but, by the time I have prepared my treasures, photographed them and shown them on my facebook page as I go I always seem to run out of time and I apologise for that.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>But for my wonderful blog followers who do not facebook some very sad news.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My beloved "Digger" know by his formal name of Sir Digbert Fanshaw Brownshaw has finally left us at a grand age of 17. What a wonderful long life he had and he was the most loyal friend. I know that many of you have followed his tales and enjoyed his photographs.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>At the age of three in 2003 he was abandoned in a town in the UK and was tied up as though someone had gone shopping. No one ever came back for him and he ended up at The Margaret Green Foundation Trust in Dorset.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We clicked at first sight and although I was unable to take him immediately as he was to be neutered I visited him daily. I was overjoyed to finally bring him home and since that day he has never left my side. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>On the first afternoon he arrived Mark took him a quick walk through the town whilst I stayed at my desk. He slipped his lead and came back to me immediately. After just a few hours with us in a strange town how on earth could he remember where his new home was? Mark rushed home frantic to find him comfy on the sofa. That night he jumped on the bed and burrowed down by my feet under the duvet and I have had warm feet every night since then with him snoring by my toes!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>He moved to France with us in 2005 and has lived a very cosseted life. Like many rescue dogs he was so grateful and has followed my every step. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Every garden party here at the chateau he did "meet and greet" and quite often sported a bow tie.</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>At Christmas he even performed in our party concert wearing little wings and stole the show tripping across the stage looking for somewhere to hide a bread roll he had found!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So at a grand old age of 17 years he has been laid to rest in the gardens here and this morning friends brought us a beautiful pink rose to plant there. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sir Digbert Fanshaw Brownshaw 2000 - 2017.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-10113834800807617182016-10-30T09:03:00.003-07:002016-10-30T09:03:52.201-07:00Diverting a tantrum....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul7XGkINfnurHpJye__ALT0N1ycY29Hxvg4vjltA3tpi-USlxUr4ABqHvao-pZKJhqK3Ic9qbLCKKm6dGdPW0PlBEj7_miSvuzurJjZ-6D4RW3KjpqALGKliOq7YSeVIron2gXu_kgZSl/s1600/DSC_3298_zpsumh0jmao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul7XGkINfnurHpJye__ALT0N1ycY29Hxvg4vjltA3tpi-USlxUr4ABqHvao-pZKJhqK3Ic9qbLCKKm6dGdPW0PlBEj7_miSvuzurJjZ-6D4RW3KjpqALGKliOq7YSeVIron2gXu_kgZSl/s640/DSC_3298_zpsumh0jmao.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I stumbled upon the old man`s stand quite late at the brocante. He was well into his eighties had been a dealer for many years. I can remember seeing him selling in various places over the last 30 years or so. Everything had huge paper labels with his prices scrawled in black ink . The prices were very low to ensure he went home with an empty van and was just getting what he could for the items he had been hoarding. His last outing before retirement.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Most of the items were distressed and damaged but my heart leapt as I saw two full sized plaster altar angels that must have come from a church or chapel. They were placed right at the back of his stand covered in dust. One with a missing hand and the other with damage to the base but they were simply stunning. His stand was a jumble of stock, other dealers,old boxes and packing blankets he had used to wrap his treasures en route. It was a little like an assault course!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Just as I got to the angels he took their price labels off whilst taking some money from a lady I recognised as a Paris dealer. They may have been chipped and timeworn but they were absolutely divine and they had been sold for next to nothing. My heart hit the floor especially when I saw that she only handed over 40 euros for the pair. I asked if she wanted to sell them on and make a quick profit but it was a firm thank-you but no thank-you. She swiftly wrapped them in a blanket and they were gone.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You know that thing that two year olds do when they can`t get their own way? The moment they throw themselves face down on the floor kicking and screaming.....I was close I can tell you...so close! Apparently when a toddler does this you have to divert them, so I decided to divert myself with more truffling.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With a stand like this there had to be something hiding....a sleeper....waiting for me to truffle it out. I started to look through every box and blanket and came up with a few little treasures including some engravings and a pretty 1920s print. He was happy to take my cash and they were so little money I didn`t even barter. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes I can hear you now thinking "she didn`t barter? She`s losing her touch!!" But if I am happy with a price I always remember that the seller has to make a profit too and with prices that cheap I was happy to help him empty his workshop and retire.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Do antique dealers ever retire? Will I still be truffling in my eighties from a wicker bath chair? Will I demand to be pushed here and there at dawn by some long suffering family member? Probably.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This morning I finally got round the photographing the prints and discovered one is actually an original signed drawing and watercolour by George Barbier quite a famous Art Deco artist who was also responsible for designing costumes for the Folies Begere.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TnwNoZBnL0lxFL0amG7e1LXR2od56JKePZ5fmz9Pad5-MIkr-wQuBz7lFvRrxzyCNGIXZ93reJRrukZNi7u9iHsDqTKYO4TiqQuTMCHZwnSNzJrNvtCOfOMG39YnLtdvy2W_u2CtSLDE/s1600/DSC_3294_zpsvch4fobi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TnwNoZBnL0lxFL0amG7e1LXR2od56JKePZ5fmz9Pad5-MIkr-wQuBz7lFvRrxzyCNGIXZ93reJRrukZNi7u9iHsDqTKYO4TiqQuTMCHZwnSNzJrNvtCOfOMG39YnLtdvy2W_u2CtSLDE/s640/DSC_3294_zpsvch4fobi.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I have contacted an auction house for their next Art Deco sale as I believe his works do quite well.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Well that`s one tantrum well diverted!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles and I will keep you posted on the results.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xx</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-76948878014389554192016-07-12T07:38:00.001-07:002016-07-12T07:38:27.841-07:00The writing`s on the wall..............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0273_zpsxnzqr47r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0273_zpsxnzqr47r.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I have never been a fan of graffiti but today I changed my mind!! Visiting a local church I was shocked to see so much graffiti etched in to the stone around the altar. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But then amongst the newer carvings I found these wonderful names etched in the stone with old dates too. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0275_zps5xil1quc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0275_zps5xil1quc.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0277_zpsdhhjvusd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0277_zpsdhhjvusd.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0270_zpsrfvn2avs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0270_zpsrfvn2avs.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0271_zpsc0n8ybzx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0271_zpsc0n8ybzx.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0272_zps74ibonhw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0272_zps74ibonhw.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0273_zpsxnzqr47r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0273_zpsxnzqr47r.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>So timeless and evocative that I had to run my fingers over the stones. I wonder who and why?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Will someone like me way in the future find today`s names as charming?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0274_zps0l6irpwc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_0274_zps0l6irpwc.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxxxxxxxxxx</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-3743574017373879932016-06-10T06:33:00.000-07:002016-06-10T06:35:13.344-07:00The artist at the cafe......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Engrossed in his work at the cafe....</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8586_zpsinufxalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8586_zpsinufxalk.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This young monsieur asked us in broken French if we could look after his bag and equipment whilst he went to order a drink.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When we realised we all spoke the same language we started to chat and he told us that he was travelling by bicycle and drawing as he went.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8589_zps3cigxqxl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8589_zps3cigxqxl.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I was enthralled by the old chocolate tin brimming with the tools of his trade.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We exchanged cards and we left him engrossed.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8587_zpsavys1oqi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8587_zpsavys1oqi.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8590_zpsvvbcyuqd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8590_zpsvvbcyuqd.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When I got home I searched his name.....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Micheal James Monaghan</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8588_zpst0gtlylm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/pentecost/DSC_8588_zpst0gtlylm.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I came up with his Instagram page and this superb self portrait....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbNk5ZzlPtOTAiIzm-Uf4Uh_FpSJfpev4m8Mk4lIshAUvZYLpWk9TKTIwq8khXp7X3GdPeg49KHdDHPWqBsREYKWhRb9R0r7ov7E1QRWwRIFRX7SScxGFFoIDQ-6b-zIHjrw9umg9API0/s1600/13256667_1053551764715166_1183209985_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbNk5ZzlPtOTAiIzm-Uf4Uh_FpSJfpev4m8Mk4lIshAUvZYLpWk9TKTIwq8khXp7X3GdPeg49KHdDHPWqBsREYKWhRb9R0r7ov7E1QRWwRIFRX7SScxGFFoIDQ-6b-zIHjrw9umg9API0/s200/13256667_1053551764715166_1183209985_a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>and this stunning portrait....</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ5j-nWIdl6sQppFnDd4KpzT42oifmCtyz4qZXrDbcOXp1n6N_quWfI1OfLUc1j7Ff5tv5V4dztftyOLRpxsqV2yK6o_MggQOt1KvDOSOQQVxz0bzZl911jqQvl3SICQlsNVVkrrIF7UZ/s1600/2066757-HVEJMIUP-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZ5j-nWIdl6sQppFnDd4KpzT42oifmCtyz4qZXrDbcOXp1n6N_quWfI1OfLUc1j7Ff5tv5V4dztftyOLRpxsqV2yK6o_MggQOt1KvDOSOQQVxz0bzZl911jqQvl3SICQlsNVVkrrIF7UZ/s320/2066757-HVEJMIUP-7.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I hope he found inspiration in here in Normandie. I must have passed by that pink building a hundred times and never paid it any attention! </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I wonder what it would be like to look through the eyes of an artist?</b></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">“He who works with his hands is a laborer.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 21px;">― </span><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/149151.Francis_of_Assisi" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;">Francis of Assisi</a></b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-60549317920561377672016-05-30T10:50:00.000-07:002016-05-30T10:58:57.831-07:00Off with their heads...................<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3_KfzzdWoMJ55DQyeigxJBeuhu0Xnmsmo5qS6-U-S8sFU2c2HMrSdR_GvsXxvISmXdB0omygyH7VYPmyufSP-yKelF1JaafKtVCKzM4F_0p7uCSgfXs9a8XVLSJNkltSHqlEoEJZzzDj/s1600/13260074_831153883687038_4588830119718802125_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3_KfzzdWoMJ55DQyeigxJBeuhu0Xnmsmo5qS6-U-S8sFU2c2HMrSdR_GvsXxvISmXdB0omygyH7VYPmyufSP-yKelF1JaafKtVCKzM4F_0p7uCSgfXs9a8XVLSJNkltSHqlEoEJZzzDj/s400/13260074_831153883687038_4588830119718802125_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>This beautiful old church statue stands in the wood of a good friend where we had lunch yesterday in the sunshine. The head is missing and the moss is now taking over and the look is simply divine.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_LT_ts-9-dUziaXsxdw28trE-OyoZGpaZhuQWxRMv504BE8Ybz8-H4qSRI_uTo0Dfe6KtKlTfj1HQRMSRqN_mo2iwlnUt2U2ktdhiPL1Bo5nr4TkUqJU8NQyJjUuxl3gyC5sZ-fjGF4P/s1600/13267780_831153903687036_4789995857175104431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_LT_ts-9-dUziaXsxdw28trE-OyoZGpaZhuQWxRMv504BE8Ybz8-H4qSRI_uTo0Dfe6KtKlTfj1HQRMSRqN_mo2iwlnUt2U2ktdhiPL1Bo5nr4TkUqJU8NQyJjUuxl3gyC5sZ-fjGF4P/s400/13267780_831153903687036_4789995857175104431_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And then this morning this little monsieur tumbled in to my life!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGrwnmxV-qmelMHxfe-k_i2bigWbbUCWFmU_Wj0kPCDS7LS3du-LCDN5j_jiIXxbnUkJep0So2GBOcT5fbTVLHabY9tjOHxFkiG-vxvCnr5XUZJYZ6x2cQ6-1ElBgJOoFhszE-GpKi4Kb/s1600/13332843_831976936938066_2823184825823639472_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGrwnmxV-qmelMHxfe-k_i2bigWbbUCWFmU_Wj0kPCDS7LS3du-LCDN5j_jiIXxbnUkJep0So2GBOcT5fbTVLHabY9tjOHxFkiG-vxvCnr5XUZJYZ6x2cQ6-1ElBgJOoFhszE-GpKi4Kb/s400/13332843_831976936938066_2823184825823639472_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefAvomMGj_YBtmEQfnB5anX8MK50-ZsUaw9unsZhYBxlKMJnKEEnwM-QHhm91twtxe07Uvr5nOl5jq-370KmIELyitnjnSq2S6YiSCPaj4mQNwVfMI1pETg0v6UOpSUisvvavUiH36XrH/s1600/13312735_831977090271384_5527689458677289932_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefAvomMGj_YBtmEQfnB5anX8MK50-ZsUaw9unsZhYBxlKMJnKEEnwM-QHhm91twtxe07Uvr5nOl5jq-370KmIELyitnjnSq2S6YiSCPaj4mQNwVfMI1pETg0v6UOpSUisvvavUiH36XrH/s400/13312735_831977090271384_5527689458677289932_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDil7BStmG1Xpk9rGjuHhcwDmV7Ce8cAiC0ic-n7lGKqHsLN-n_i8Un6eOvRwtBW0GqBEdSAYuTWJqbhnrcajh38_apT52r9VOS_cd7gbe_kbjflN9nCfHJylApyYQKFRYb1dU0Dzz37u3/s1600/13339531_831976986938061_9199063687423482695_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDil7BStmG1Xpk9rGjuHhcwDmV7Ce8cAiC0ic-n7lGKqHsLN-n_i8Un6eOvRwtBW0GqBEdSAYuTWJqbhnrcajh38_apT52r9VOS_cd7gbe_kbjflN9nCfHJylApyYQKFRYb1dU0Dzz37u3/s400/13339531_831976986938061_9199063687423482695_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> It looks like he befell the same tragic event as Marie Antoinette!! But he can be restored as the neck disc is all intact.</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>He is in my Ebay shop listings tonight.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-88012452209012433322016-05-11T09:30:00.000-07:002016-05-11T09:30:05.962-07:00Charles takes the back seat.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xns62HGmk8ojtBN2VHnJoveYIXOUcn_sD7TLBvNqW9-KvYz8bm1lgi20Yb4fIAsJ5QY718Do8H3aJZjyroESkQuCENbNZnhBAX2zwMa6AK8FDLrxOpX1pTMgyV7FPd8Eepe8STLOQoNU/s1600/13177854_822364567899303_1698626073582785231_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xns62HGmk8ojtBN2VHnJoveYIXOUcn_sD7TLBvNqW9-KvYz8bm1lgi20Yb4fIAsJ5QY718Do8H3aJZjyroESkQuCENbNZnhBAX2zwMa6AK8FDLrxOpX1pTMgyV7FPd8Eepe8STLOQoNU/s400/13177854_822364567899303_1698626073582785231_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Baron and Baroness du Brevands came to visit the chateau today.</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTE8YG40y_Ya6tZoaVNEKx4bBbN2mMZOfXyvHjRI8cp0QVNUeUseB3-07u_I8a7T0g28q-pa7rKRl69e2ni-OBPIgEz-rQNhRPdOEwXDa-l10NuZctlPT0PBbXQJLbqKJx2A5g6BqWRb_r/s1600/13178711_822364521232641_6546446278874275056_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTE8YG40y_Ya6tZoaVNEKx4bBbN2mMZOfXyvHjRI8cp0QVNUeUseB3-07u_I8a7T0g28q-pa7rKRl69e2ni-OBPIgEz-rQNhRPdOEwXDa-l10NuZctlPT0PBbXQJLbqKJx2A5g6BqWRb_r/s400/13178711_822364521232641_6546446278874275056_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Their 1930s car looked SO at home here!!</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1NIYVLZaL_nc4cWSKL8bUo6urkwfvCad7jlfN1acXQjrtNF4F1uo6QeTQHmXR0MMzVVPwzMW2CeVA60pFGErnnORTXAHudt5jMrHpV5XZTgOhq10gfo-uBLgJRrOOA19weDq7TXj28Yj/s1600/13165948_822370091232084_478958601790728524_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1NIYVLZaL_nc4cWSKL8bUo6urkwfvCad7jlfN1acXQjrtNF4F1uo6QeTQHmXR0MMzVVPwzMW2CeVA60pFGErnnORTXAHudt5jMrHpV5XZTgOhq10gfo-uBLgJRrOOA19weDq7TXj28Yj/s400/13165948_822370091232084_478958601790728524_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Even Charles fell in love and tried to get inside!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-kLsJ1Nfm52RSXnaB6C2e7pD-cgu80DE_9_uzBQQ1Hcve-_3P-E09HxaKbCXE5s6Tl8v5-LGrAWjQ2sBPOWhAv3ZQaPBy3I0XKMA48u_QNq0nY7hQjZomEMNUfBkyqMNZqs6a8f7aY0i/s1600/13226908_822370067898753_6693504470139209237_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-kLsJ1Nfm52RSXnaB6C2e7pD-cgu80DE_9_uzBQQ1Hcve-_3P-E09HxaKbCXE5s6Tl8v5-LGrAWjQ2sBPOWhAv3ZQaPBy3I0XKMA48u_QNq0nY7hQjZomEMNUfBkyqMNZqs6a8f7aY0i/s400/13226908_822370067898753_6693504470139209237_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I just hope he is not comfy on their back seat!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gwFasEN0557rvi1MrR2E4B8EjcFQk6pwefVkDpeH7XIhFgnoyYIvlWTUCtH3rAIdT2QAIncGrv6eGcYVvjP8rQKmjK2dH3IKds4tL2UaI60YYcPQ0x1sU3G9KSOc0etDnlHI2tdpqHYV/s1600/13178843_822376974564729_5618870339421796534_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gwFasEN0557rvi1MrR2E4B8EjcFQk6pwefVkDpeH7XIhFgnoyYIvlWTUCtH3rAIdT2QAIncGrv6eGcYVvjP8rQKmjK2dH3IKds4tL2UaI60YYcPQ0x1sU3G9KSOc0etDnlHI2tdpqHYV/s400/13178843_822376974564729_5618870339421796534_n.jpg" width="337" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxxx</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-60421319225863427512016-05-09T08:01:00.001-07:002016-05-09T08:01:24.051-07:00Still building.............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_7203_zpsivlqzawg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_7203_zpsivlqzawg.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_7207_zpsxbzvg4mz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_7207_zpsxbzvg4mz.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seven years ago we stumbled upon our Petit Chateau hidden away on the marsh. She had been sleeping quietly empty and unloved for 10 years. As we made our way through the broken gate we fell in love. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_7215_zpsiwhrl3el.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_7215_zpsiwhrl3el.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>As soon as I saw George the dragon girouette weathervane on the roof I knew the house was for us!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Seven years and one long learning curve later we are still renovating, the concrete mixer is still in use and I sometimes feel we will never be finished. The day that Mark knocked a hole from the main building in to the barn next door we panicked wondering if we had done the right thing. We covered it over with a cupboard and ignored it for a while!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>But looking at a couple of photographs I unearthed yesterday it seems we have moved on quite a lot. We have certainly been good for the local builders merchants!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P1193992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P1193992.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P2225936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P2225936.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I had to learn pretty quickly that if I wanted a certain period piece to be included I had to have it ready as it`s no use turning up with it later. Just like the 19th century iron railing on the salon steps that I arrived home with just in time!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3016182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3016182.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I had quite a stash of old doors just in case!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3046485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3046485.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3046484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3046484.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3046483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P3046483.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>And they were all used too!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>We bought the parquet floor from an old chateau chapel and hand cleaned each piece!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P7301220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/P7301220.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Now THAT was a labour of love!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/IMGP1320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/IMGP1320.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/IMGP1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/IMGP1449.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>From one bedroom and no bathroom we now have three bedrooms with bathrooms, the open barn where the horse drawn plough had been parked became our living area. Even the attic has been made in to a guest room.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/PB142813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/PB142813.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/PB142809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/PB142809.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>It was impossible to get through the brambles in the garden that led on to the marsh but now we have lawns. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The marsh tries to reclaim it quite regularly and the North wind can be too harsh for many plants but in Winter but when the marsh floods and swans swim past the bedroom window it is almost like an enchanted house on the sea. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_3417_zps6sst3qf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_3417_zps6sst3qf1.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The sunrise every morning is stunning .....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_6167_zpssmbrbddw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/chateau%20du%20breuil/DSC_6167_zpssmbrbddw.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The renovation sometimes seem slow and then all of a sudden we seem to have moved on with a jolt. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Will we ever be finished I wonder? </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>George just looks on from the roof top.....</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkoYFyP6ae3lwcAlz4VaChY2-jcV6Z7Q4UJkZZ8FIrhcwnbeyoVWdxVcGSD8830WrblUtQoAMugDSdxiRNODxk2C39idXjcYf2nswXu8yIxUzKeGF2CuMnoYSWJ_skwiQxd3P-KctoMr6/s1600/P6217219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkoYFyP6ae3lwcAlz4VaChY2-jcV6Z7Q4UJkZZ8FIrhcwnbeyoVWdxVcGSD8830WrblUtQoAMugDSdxiRNODxk2C39idXjcYf2nswXu8yIxUzKeGF2CuMnoYSWJ_skwiQxd3P-KctoMr6/s400/P6217219.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxxxxxxxxxxxx</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-14678610931398824352016-04-27T12:03:00.000-07:002016-04-27T13:59:18.281-07:00An old friend lost..............<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BzlXh8wq4RaWQzRMQyYHE-SQpN7ZPKeoesjsGkgCi84K3TiNYS9RfchQW92JHC1viIIcPFNm5qCR9Tzt0h99tDGzQ9Rfnzk3SGyZe4Xbsc4EQoPG0HtkbEFstqdXW5R0Z4wobDVDNy79/s1600/6380739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BzlXh8wq4RaWQzRMQyYHE-SQpN7ZPKeoesjsGkgCi84K3TiNYS9RfchQW92JHC1viIIcPFNm5qCR9Tzt0h99tDGzQ9Rfnzk3SGyZe4Xbsc4EQoPG0HtkbEFstqdXW5R0Z4wobDVDNy79/s400/6380739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Not too far from our home an old chateau lay silent and closed. I could never resist the temptation of passing the big iron gates without driving in. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>I loved walking around the deserted gardens where statues were hidden by the over grown foliage. I always wanted to enter the orangerie but it was locked tight.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvt0fiUS7W8cBSpeE9ArIoiZ_DPLuiRc7tQnUeGvTSxChFdWLAFKUX2H7PpgX6rBEAerW7ke98UPEFr7ooBNeMRUYDOH6nVDZ4e0FdLc67nQwEoBwqB9rz0mhnZjwS_4gm_k6q_j1tlLP/s1600/54868424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvt0fiUS7W8cBSpeE9ArIoiZ_DPLuiRc7tQnUeGvTSxChFdWLAFKUX2H7PpgX6rBEAerW7ke98UPEFr7ooBNeMRUYDOH6nVDZ4e0FdLc67nQwEoBwqB9rz0mhnZjwS_4gm_k6q_j1tlLP/s400/54868424.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">It had the most perfect proportions and I have often wondered what it would be like to peer out from one of the oeil de boeuf zinc top windows.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">In the 19th century it had been a home for an aristocratic family. I truffled a few old sepia postcards around the local brocantes and loved to see how little it had changed.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYTfXmeclEBTnoKb_V-S2Z9WFpYKmnJlmAi5-As1_TDNqPX5EKdhyf6x1JKwJTXDi3MgosqzYpQJ_ii9ziv1pQlclZTHjXvImwE6mkXUDijbbzKYhRON_eXBw3_aY3SY8b6lvoAY9PzKG/s1600/079_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYTfXmeclEBTnoKb_V-S2Z9WFpYKmnJlmAi5-As1_TDNqPX5EKdhyf6x1JKwJTXDi3MgosqzYpQJ_ii9ziv1pQlclZTHjXvImwE6mkXUDijbbzKYhRON_eXBw3_aY3SY8b6lvoAY9PzKG/s400/079_001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">During WW2 it had been used as a headquarters for German officers.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrSOPbf9j3VU3TqdL1g_TlKgk74h9KrPulnL2JPMle1pNFFiTIJmz1l3auVekR-PTO79C1FHYRep57wUrOwhtcCNmplc4-0cX2cWAzpt-KeqeK0kMUWeqXOI82BJdB9B_rX0-z4lzf-qx/s1600/bd03cb10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrSOPbf9j3VU3TqdL1g_TlKgk74h9KrPulnL2JPMle1pNFFiTIJmz1l3auVekR-PTO79C1FHYRep57wUrOwhtcCNmplc4-0cX2cWAzpt-KeqeK0kMUWeqXOI82BJdB9B_rX0-z4lzf-qx/s400/bd03cb10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">After the war it was bequeathed to a local order of nuns and in the 1950s it had been used to give holiday breaks to needy children.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">The doors closed in the 1960s and had remained firmly shuttered.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">I have sat on those steps so many times in the sunshine just listening to the birds singing and it always felt like a wonderful secret hideaway.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">Until, a few months ago the gates closed and a padlock and chain appeared. Soon a very elegant name plaque appeared next to the gates.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">Apparently it has been purchased and renovated.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">I have never seen it since. Sometimes the gates are open but I cannot bring myself to drive through the woods as my perfect dream would be shattered.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">I just hope the renovation has been a kind one.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">A la prochaine mes belles</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">xxxxx</span></strong><br />
<br />shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-2953542922879217192016-04-15T09:40:00.001-07:002016-04-15T09:40:18.967-07:00A guessing game....<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/patisserie/DSC_6390_zpsr4aablr1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/patisserie/DSC_6390_zpsr4aablr1.jpg" height="640" width="356" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/patisserie/DSC_6389_zps7nakngfy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/patisserie/DSC_6389_zps7nakngfy.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A little competition and the winner will receive a simply-chateau brocante bundle of treasures!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The best caption for the photograph will be the winner.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>I will leave it to run until next Tuesday and Bonne weekend!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxxxxxxxxxxx</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-13706321402769161632016-03-21T07:10:00.000-07:002016-03-21T07:49:56.538-07:00I wanted to win....................<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/patisserie/DSC_5136_zpsszvr4itw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/patisserie/DSC_5136_zpsszvr4itw.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I had no idea when I opened my eyes this morning that I would be entering an international sporting event. Indeed I hadn`t even done any training.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>About 11.45, having visited our accountant to sort out some particularly confusing French paperwork, we passed a small local restaurant and thought "Why not" - and so we did!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>An hour later and having enjoyed a wonderful three course meal for less than £11.00 each we turned off the car park onto the road to head home. We had travelled no more than some 30 yards when a rather officious looking man wearing a yellow 'gilet' and carrying a clip board made it clear that we could not continue but had to turn around go in the opposite direction. It was clear we had been 'barriered' in!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Driving along by the side of the canal we soon fell in behind a large supermarket advertising van with an immense video board on the top listing lap numbers. Then a few lycra clad racing cyclists on very streamlined bikes zoomed past us and disappeared into the distance.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We continued on our way eventually falling in behind a small convey made up of cars and a few small trucks carrying spare bikes. We passed various camera men proudly pointing their very long extended lenses directly at us and and a few spectators, some enthusiastic enough to have brought their own seats with them - but no matter how we tried to leave the road we couldn`t do so as all the side roads were cordoned off., and we were simply waved on. I tidied my hair...paparazzi and all that you understand!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>More cyclists began overtaking and then hoards of people sitting on the pavements on their folding chairs. It suddenly dawned on us that we were actually on the course of one of the legs of the Tour de Normandie cycle race taking place that afternoon. I was very tempted to wave but hid my face instead.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We actually drove quite close to our friends Viv and Mike`s house and were desperately hoping they had turned out to watch the spectacle as I wanted to give them the Queen`s wave and watch the shock on their faces!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We started to head back towards the town and came to a traffic island surrounded by gendarmes and more 'yellow' men. We assumed that we would be moved off the course but, again, we were simply waved on. Did they think we were an official vehicle and perhaps Mark was a timekeeper or medic?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WE had already passed the sign arrive (start/ finish) 3 kms - and then we passed the 2 km. sign. It then became very obvious from the growing number of people standing at the side of the road that we were almost at the start point - and were destined to do another lap! I was very tempted to do just that as, by this point, I was getting very competitive and wanted to win!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>At the next side road Mark managed to make a quick swerve, mounted the pavement and managed to squeeze past the barriers before the 'yellow coats' could stop us.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let it never be said that life in this quiet backwater called Normandy is ever without excitement! </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>xxxxx</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2741188437977055154.post-65046206834435192102016-03-20T11:39:00.001-07:002016-03-20T11:39:46.559-07:00A peek around the chateau....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/paris%20stencil/DSC_4963_zpsmoxqr4jy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff312/simplychateau/paris%20stencil/DSC_4963_zpsmoxqr4jy.jpg" height="400" width="223" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM54ki22oORBpCM3MXU_guwA6v4Zr2JGEGTlPfjwTEj1VhSy5KKyK-Tx4ETuBDjn0c1b-V6OisABznHuNEkeOVYBCpyP_jD_wzuw6aIl8yHojdc8OiW_e3u2eutNdFPVlZual6Qnyolrce/s1600/10346308_791302484338845_8112846555011999812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM54ki22oORBpCM3MXU_guwA6v4Zr2JGEGTlPfjwTEj1VhSy5KKyK-Tx4ETuBDjn0c1b-V6OisABznHuNEkeOVYBCpyP_jD_wzuw6aIl8yHojdc8OiW_e3u2eutNdFPVlZual6Qnyolrce/s400/10346308_791302484338845_8112846555011999812_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Just a little peek around the chateau at some of my favourite things........</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKrAxiBLXlTzyKDXbRQ4pC6KVAWWoefL6YX1VbMWiLTvSUfkXSg-j1gTH4tAQ5OTdA_2HDcSCtr4a8Ewx36FJBzFFIl3c1Qy6-giXMGDZ4MTp9bqrVofm43acx6yGBwJtBV6vtngkRjeO/s1600/482_791302601005500_2488023121783988898_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKrAxiBLXlTzyKDXbRQ4pC6KVAWWoefL6YX1VbMWiLTvSUfkXSg-j1gTH4tAQ5OTdA_2HDcSCtr4a8Ewx36FJBzFFIl3c1Qy6-giXMGDZ4MTp9bqrVofm43acx6yGBwJtBV6vtngkRjeO/s320/482_791302601005500_2488023121783988898_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHxzr5cs4MzrnqtsDhDlZrRl240JkJNNDc7NgfOANk31Di8gVQrXJpfUWGB2jqwlk1yX2E0jOdvER2djNxXiJ9XbkLtvdJE9qlCDfbzEi_XTadsp1avRLEd_B3XZ6OtiWsutBF7-ovwru/s1600/1934045_791302631005497_1102991574140864991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHxzr5cs4MzrnqtsDhDlZrRl240JkJNNDc7NgfOANk31Di8gVQrXJpfUWGB2jqwlk1yX2E0jOdvER2djNxXiJ9XbkLtvdJE9qlCDfbzEi_XTadsp1avRLEd_B3XZ6OtiWsutBF7-ovwru/s320/1934045_791302631005497_1102991574140864991_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sCGWvZQR3r88DpEJQ_IMA_qlIYpm5y7GLGe8VWOJ8KNKrKh6nLBtdMNAHNXRrzZO_zQg8J7h34SAPueESCBW0iMPEYN_QS-BN7iq_ikRkVUOGfUn7KamTO8OdQAls05O5Kvw5r6hqzJ8/s1600/1935517_791302574338836_7662728133425239644_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sCGWvZQR3r88DpEJQ_IMA_qlIYpm5y7GLGe8VWOJ8KNKrKh6nLBtdMNAHNXRrzZO_zQg8J7h34SAPueESCBW0iMPEYN_QS-BN7iq_ikRkVUOGfUn7KamTO8OdQAls05O5Kvw5r6hqzJ8/s320/1935517_791302574338836_7662728133425239644_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloPsTsMSTWwI0rYKt93TpQ6JTmPhbqT235gdLPU0-vkD-umkcVism0zE9ktKrWeDSldtxHWYR72_UouU2Bvn3bLmceo6nJNyEdXob0qVN-J5gKR_L_HKqtl5CZ4dW2JBYdV1FafsOgnpZ/s1600/1982166_791302517672175_303573347692906266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloPsTsMSTWwI0rYKt93TpQ6JTmPhbqT235gdLPU0-vkD-umkcVism0zE9ktKrWeDSldtxHWYR72_UouU2Bvn3bLmceo6nJNyEdXob0qVN-J5gKR_L_HKqtl5CZ4dW2JBYdV1FafsOgnpZ/s320/1982166_791302517672175_303573347692906266_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3e_3bSg5Fr4SIBhXD-bDtoc9Kfw0HiwFIUZfzepWzk1WDA93Ul-THXXmiVBitHsi9jIP524kbPQnpOlgJmhsB4Je15QWRd7bC-g_OU8VRetV2fcKn69wUF68rkGkj5meHpetE-v15tKfv/s1600/10346308_791302484338845_8112846555011999812_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3e_3bSg5Fr4SIBhXD-bDtoc9Kfw0HiwFIUZfzepWzk1WDA93Ul-THXXmiVBitHsi9jIP524kbPQnpOlgJmhsB4Je15QWRd7bC-g_OU8VRetV2fcKn69wUF68rkGkj5meHpetE-v15tKfv/s320/10346308_791302484338845_8112846555011999812_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lkzXvOgWOxA9yw60CkbNEdn4XUjJiYJp3ylCkaYdAFpFtIvtsR3eHGo9wHeD7REre7pTjrK9ovFvtq7gvtayyD_qwaEGGFWj1w6bUiPqiNNLhqmv_5FZlFpRPb7cIkeEwdvBgtkmcG5f/s1600/10399747_791302504338843_6668727954971108072_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lkzXvOgWOxA9yw60CkbNEdn4XUjJiYJp3ylCkaYdAFpFtIvtsR3eHGo9wHeD7REre7pTjrK9ovFvtq7gvtayyD_qwaEGGFWj1w6bUiPqiNNLhqmv_5FZlFpRPb7cIkeEwdvBgtkmcG5f/s320/10399747_791302504338843_6668727954971108072_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS6rSoYfu58Jmz9KBwwRFEtdQ-Qg0Coe8MHcGiA4IGQbBrYcC8MKKJOTVBe43V1-GpcizhukVeeNRjf22vfh6cv3LPrUoSWNJZVXNITibBUQVbueu4PEClkTFAXHzVOH_LaJx0gFL2yzH/s1600/10415670_791302697672157_9127989597034776571_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaS6rSoYfu58Jmz9KBwwRFEtdQ-Qg0Coe8MHcGiA4IGQbBrYcC8MKKJOTVBe43V1-GpcizhukVeeNRjf22vfh6cv3LPrUoSWNJZVXNITibBUQVbueu4PEClkTFAXHzVOH_LaJx0gFL2yzH/s320/10415670_791302697672157_9127989597034776571_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqJtvW0aXK8o1NV9w0e5KQjAXPmiW0DkQHSSa_SdbvxECsEIj2I3si92LOllF5a2bdWWk3kYf3K7WjIIeI34SATh9HcMuhfS0_OcBj5ps2jzqIsjoM0MPwuXFMk69OPl0wwkKDo2wgzbE/s1600/12321185_791302587672168_2341932315104099135_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqJtvW0aXK8o1NV9w0e5KQjAXPmiW0DkQHSSa_SdbvxECsEIj2I3si92LOllF5a2bdWWk3kYf3K7WjIIeI34SATh9HcMuhfS0_OcBj5ps2jzqIsjoM0MPwuXFMk69OPl0wwkKDo2wgzbE/s320/12321185_791302587672168_2341932315104099135_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1-c_WxLhcIreRH5lIV8m3baW21nT6No7uhHcu6SX6jnoViRNV4EmCIZR3xCbRCEHR_fizFlZQG0CZOH3dhIANj7XQtVwqLQi-VmDz44Cm5dDSLxcTXrSYYDGvmF3SmirGyoth2I4hBN6/s1600/12523838_791302531005507_2625258148613914681_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1-c_WxLhcIreRH5lIV8m3baW21nT6No7uhHcu6SX6jnoViRNV4EmCIZR3xCbRCEHR_fizFlZQG0CZOH3dhIANj7XQtVwqLQi-VmDz44Cm5dDSLxcTXrSYYDGvmF3SmirGyoth2I4hBN6/s320/12523838_791302531005507_2625258148613914681_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hope you are having a restful Diamanche!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A la prochaine mes belles</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>xxxx</b></span>shirleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13129043458463358005noreply@blogger.com0