Post Of The Month Club: July

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">It's here, it's here!<br /><br />Time for another</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Post Of The Month Club Meeting :)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Today our Club will meet in a summery space,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">perfect for these mid-summer days</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">(or mid-winter for some of you)</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k9W0mcgfKRRXERK9uAaVMqdk8dpK4VAyomtdc5Y1wjyftq-2Kqsz3pNxthNJBiD_X2qHDo1EOKwzcRYoP-pxE5oXf_AIM8XU4qI7en2hcpn6UbOKOlzC-7P_8uslR661qN4TiwcjRWU/s1600/60873807_amFmTVUm_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c8bd4; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6k9W0mcgfKRRXERK9uAaVMqdk8dpK4VAyomtdc5Y1wjyftq-2Kqsz3pNxthNJBiD_X2qHDo1EOKwzcRYoP-pxE5oXf_AIM8XU4qI7en2hcpn6UbOKOlzC-7P_8uslR661qN4TiwcjRWU/s400/60873807_amFmTVUm_c.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="355" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/60873807/" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">source</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Look, I wore something special for the occasion</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPGgXvmEiwn5O8C6SNvK5_qXGLF4d3Mhe6Z3W1wttjumNzY00YhtD4S53sc23FhAeX4Doe6tRNuyQfROKZeQ1HXunhIelBbcOsZlzH9A9Y9clLrx9bEnr54Vql9BC5jwE_JEovtIWDJg/s1600/65946611_UBURGpCT_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c8bd4; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPGgXvmEiwn5O8C6SNvK5_qXGLF4d3Mhe6Z3W1wttjumNzY00YhtD4S53sc23FhAeX4Doe6tRNuyQfROKZeQ1HXunhIelBbcOsZlzH9A9Y9clLrx9bEnr54Vql9BC5jwE_JEovtIWDJg/s320/65946611_UBURGpCT_c.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/65946611/" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">source</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Here's a drink of sunshine for you</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9WZs82CO2gFlezxQfCjmwdl3UIjPnBi7q6UNmolpT0BBOrSd6esyxhAGk_3pM4frSUqPKx7wHjRJT2X3hoMnC25E_-Iq5VrwnVq3520I63vYovPXEWF6I675JgBg-dnuocdGkFYH5Oc/s1600/60678425_Sw2AgglK_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c8bd4; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9WZs82CO2gFlezxQfCjmwdl3UIjPnBi7q6UNmolpT0BBOrSd6esyxhAGk_3pM4frSUqPKx7wHjRJT2X3hoMnC25E_-Iq5VrwnVq3520I63vYovPXEWF6I675JgBg-dnuocdGkFYH5Oc/s320/60678425_Sw2AgglK_c.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/60678425/" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">source</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">and a little virtual party favor for joining today</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRRcEuco8xBduo1i9g4R2zIcYad8fEwQHyCZqCzcQG7kjiM8KUPOOmWijZxfRerX8p2jYEYAHN_Z07yiMrTnnTxS44vrStEdj2u1dP6wX4hpckUAoYyFO-Hjbx-D8cYTHDQY-atsQ_io/s1600/10944263_1Q6EHmgx_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #0c8bd4; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRRcEuco8xBduo1i9g4R2zIcYad8fEwQHyCZqCzcQG7kjiM8KUPOOmWijZxfRerX8p2jYEYAHN_Z07yiMrTnnTxS44vrStEdj2u1dP6wX4hpckUAoYyFO-Hjbx-D8cYTHDQY-atsQ_io/s200/10944263_1Q6EHmgx_b.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 110, 0); border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">[<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/10944263/" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">source</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">Alrighty then</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;">To our meet & greet</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">- Bloggers, just link up your best post of the month -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>And see, you've already done the work</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">- Share the love by visiting a few other blogs and say 'hi',<br />if you can -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">- Would you like to add my button to your lovely sidebar so more can join the fun? -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Yep, we'll do this the last day of each month</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">- Don't forget to become a follower here too -</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Don't be shy<br />Jump in :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Happy August Blogging, you ray of sunshine you</div><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" /></a><center></center></center><br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=98579" type="text/javascript"></script></div>

Post Of The Month Club: July

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKIt's here, it's here!Time for anotherPost Of The Month Club Meeting :)Today our Club will meet in a summery space,perfect for these mid-summer days(or mid-winter for some of you)[source]Look, I wore something special for the occasion[source]Here's a drink of sunshine for …

Read more »

Smitten

Does it get much better? I think not.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5d0HH1YZ5-6zPxWIt3oo2-6E2cbH7WDm1x60GwFw5RhwXuMWF6iOZboFbXLbYY99ebI9MA0R0pUENhVYfYwQQzfr6oTktAc6MTuajNKOxYY0p_F5sTfClZG08lEKm3lBOIpGDZtN41Bi/s1600/la+cornue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5d0HH1YZ5-6zPxWIt3oo2-6E2cbH7WDm1x60GwFw5RhwXuMWF6iOZboFbXLbYY99ebI9MA0R0pUENhVYfYwQQzfr6oTktAc6MTuajNKOxYY0p_F5sTfClZG08lEKm3lBOIpGDZtN41Bi/s400/la+cornue.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lacornue.com/">la cornue</a></div><br />If you're as besotted as I am, you can choose from one of twenty five standard colours, or maybe have one of the La Cornue artisans create something just for you. Oh, and did I mention they'll also colour-coordinate your other appliances too? All the good stuff <a href="http://lacornue.com/">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Smitten

Does it get much better? I think not.la cornueIf you're as besotted as I am, you can choose from one of twenty five standard colours, or maybe have one of the La Cornue artisans create something just for you. Oh, and did I mention they'll also colour-coordinate your other appliances too? All the goo…

Read more »

Curiosity Shop

It probably comes as no surprise that I love vintage books. My favourites are those on natural history, and I love scouring dusty old bookshops for these treasures. And I guess it's a natural progression that some of my favourite painting subjects come from nature. I'm preparing for a solo exhibition later this year (very exciting! I'll share all the deets soon) and now that I'm almost rid of this rotten flu (three weeks and counting) I've been experimenting with some new ideas. Here's a look at a little watercolour study I've just finished:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZiI4eyoQOXk6v4OAAg6lraPmXygbp7kX89zeGrX6vZ7UTtKnkzrlK2D_r7fLvt1jYxPiNp1dPljcsDm8O22cVJDJfH-O18qGExEZU68T1-81kk2O-KZbFeS20WjJYViCKxfj9-oR5exH/s1600/fuze+butterfly+watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZiI4eyoQOXk6v4OAAg6lraPmXygbp7kX89zeGrX6vZ7UTtKnkzrlK2D_r7fLvt1jYxPiNp1dPljcsDm8O22cVJDJfH-O18qGExEZU68T1-81kk2O-KZbFeS20WjJYViCKxfj9-oR5exH/s400/fuze+butterfly+watermarked.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Petit Papillon'<br />watercolour on paper<br />210mm x 297mm (8" x 11")<br />prints for sale now in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/78643319/petit-papillon-new">Etsy shop</a></div><br />This is the first in a new series, and there are lots more to come. The colours are so gorgeous, and as well as these beautiful blues, there will be vibrant yellows, oranges, black and white - something for everyone. To me, these look best en mass, and I'll be framing the originals with simple, streamlined black frames to really make the colours pop. There are quite a few surprises that I'll reveal closer to the exhibition date (think big, bold and beautiful!), so if you'd like me to add you to my mailing list, drop me a line or message me, and you'll be the first to know.<br /><br />I've found a few pretty pics to give you an idea of how you can use paintings like these to make a real statement.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LLtz-3Z7BWFF3VpLaIDkKhE26XnbSNpKqMcjv7grSrzg6VC6tXjcg4Rh9XXU3lgaoLSUnrGS5n5ShtlYKszko_n888Ln7v4diFCL6onFnIF3vKcEVXjm34LGE8IsmWVwlsmiKnbQhLL8/s1600/decor8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LLtz-3Z7BWFF3VpLaIDkKhE26XnbSNpKqMcjv7grSrzg6VC6tXjcg4Rh9XXU3lgaoLSUnrGS5n5ShtlYKszko_n888Ln7v4diFCL6onFnIF3vKcEVXjm34LGE8IsmWVwlsmiKnbQhLL8/s640/decor8.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://decor8blog.com/">decor8</a> - so pretty</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5idpae-dRAB2AVvD66Uprgae3sWyhsLg7v67b6JoieJuzhFo8MLC0t4D5N0bJwYNU-99lYpsFFUlw86c9Ty2DVB5w8LXnPbjucF78TCGYP7-4yFbMvqvnUXduwo4mW26dkwStQHPPHuco/s1600/ballard+designs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5idpae-dRAB2AVvD66Uprgae3sWyhsLg7v67b6JoieJuzhFo8MLC0t4D5N0bJwYNU-99lYpsFFUlw86c9Ty2DVB5w8LXnPbjucF78TCGYP7-4yFbMvqvnUXduwo4mW26dkwStQHPPHuco/s640/ballard+designs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://ballarddesigns.com/">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RYbZ9BG491IN-9_1nMw7wvVcRvZWF3KiAEUEDKz1tRQTCux3M9-F_buL2SKenU2PiUgSQVUKULmktEfvxkwY5ktxb61eioK9OeVAQMbG16si3f1em9WA280cK_CEQrCnKxIBUR6zoJo2/s1600/by+Daniella+Helayel+on+dailymail.co.uk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RYbZ9BG491IN-9_1nMw7wvVcRvZWF3KiAEUEDKz1tRQTCux3M9-F_buL2SKenU2PiUgSQVUKULmktEfvxkwY5ktxb61eioK9OeVAQMbG16si3f1em9WA280cK_CEQrCnKxIBUR6zoJo2/s640/by+Daniella+Helayel+on+dailymail.co.uk.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">source</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GmpI5Racs3hzp5BTxzwoQbr9vbDN91lJ0EgJ6QtjZdkB1bMsEA9yhBAGiWvcGVJaE3ac-Emj5GH9jMIDkqA633gv6swo5ybKwD55a4RRp6ttMmkN7bd-mPARLAD4NGOuf-yvH1GQSYqQ/s1600/dr-with-butterflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GmpI5Racs3hzp5BTxzwoQbr9vbDN91lJ0EgJ6QtjZdkB1bMsEA9yhBAGiWvcGVJaE3ac-Emj5GH9jMIDkqA633gv6swo5ybKwD55a4RRp6ttMmkN7bd-mPARLAD4NGOuf-yvH1GQSYqQ/s640/dr-with-butterflies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> more restrained and curated</span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyid2hPvy00DanUXzJcXEcaeUDdHeumopZ5KBJEl5a8wss7YAcdRe6xQbE301vJjpEbhx2G5pBL1r8vQ41dQ8_RkxynWKjj1d5vdXDAME5tO34SzdgjBdZBF-wLRTrB5hbjy3ZQ1QUhGU5/s1600/martha.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyid2hPvy00DanUXzJcXEcaeUDdHeumopZ5KBJEl5a8wss7YAcdRe6xQbE301vJjpEbhx2G5pBL1r8vQ41dQ8_RkxynWKjj1d5vdXDAME5tO34SzdgjBdZBF-wLRTrB5hbjy3ZQ1QUhGU5/s640/martha.png" width="510" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">via my good friend Martha....and look, there are some <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/75055615/collected-new-watercolour-painting">feathers</a> too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><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/AVvXsEgPvV189uAd2xlfi2RY0pZJOj6aUb22CwdujelBvdbtLm_rar1jf3txQXXS70UtvNXe-2XHlJuDa3bTP0m5nRY9uVaLMQ3VJV9KRAYUxrUoF0mUS4I6zHx37j0FER-9KLzNDmddCvi52UH5/s1600/sr+gambrel+the+hamptons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvV189uAd2xlfi2RY0pZJOj6aUb22CwdujelBvdbtLm_rar1jf3txQXXS70UtvNXe-2XHlJuDa3bTP0m5nRY9uVaLMQ3VJV9KRAYUxrUoF0mUS4I6zHx37j0FER-9KLzNDmddCvi52UH5/s640/sr+gambrel+the+hamptons.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Now I realise these aren't butterflies, but the repetition and symmetry is what really works here, and those prints could be any subject - botanical, sea plants, specimens....you get my drift. By Stephen Gambrel</span></div><br /><br />Thanks for everyone who emailed over the past few weeks - I'm back in the land of the living again, and I really appreciate your concern. On track again and looking forward to getting stuck in to some new projects - can't wait!<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Curiosity Shop

It probably comes as no surprise that I love vintage books. My favourites are those on natural history, and I love scouring dusty old bookshops for these treasures. And I guess it's a natural progression that some of my favourite painting subjects come from nature. I'm preparing for a solo exhibitio…

Read more »

Going Local: Buy British

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETTVRgPbJGConBSDop00x_B2eGitXBoKXQ5JIu5niiyWALEng47Orh52MHU5g3kvR61Z5otHoIddkXVSjAp0Nf0FSD_cFiwo6N1l6lO9gi-vXOO35-DhuBOur-Bi4HXkj3xXuM1E0JCU/s1600/DSC_0036-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETTVRgPbJGConBSDop00x_B2eGitXBoKXQ5JIu5niiyWALEng47Orh52MHU5g3kvR61Z5otHoIddkXVSjAp0Nf0FSD_cFiwo6N1l6lO9gi-vXOO35-DhuBOur-Bi4HXkj3xXuM1E0JCU/s640/DSC_0036-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Poppies Amongst The Wheat</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Driving through Kansas,<br />you drive countless miles before you see where one farm starts </div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">and another begins</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">It feels very corporate</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Yet in England, farms are small and family-run</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">You easily see the walls or hedgerows that mark<br />where each farm begins and ends</div><div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnmhHfHZnov2PHNivoG_RN77ociXCOVkdXhxQMyPJFnTc2-fpTjpiT3t92ln3YK3tW_RrvowhKAjzpB_TQq5OVmt5NCq_l4gLs-1huAkYm5oLMN2JRhE-cwl0XY9miFvKl83TkfCoZ6I/s1600/DSC_0160-122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnmhHfHZnov2PHNivoG_RN77ociXCOVkdXhxQMyPJFnTc2-fpTjpiT3t92ln3YK3tW_RrvowhKAjzpB_TQq5OVmt5NCq_l4gLs-1huAkYm5oLMN2JRhE-cwl0XY9miFvKl83TkfCoZ6I/s640/DSC_0160-122.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Cotswolds countryside with sheep, horses, and crops<br />(and rain)</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />There is tremendous encouragement to 'Buy British' and 'Grow Your Own'<br /><br />Clearly Will & Kate made an effort,<br />for an impressive number of Royal Wedding elements were British<br /><br />A supermarket giant, Waitrose, has a campaign to support British farmers<br />by offering what appears to be only British produce and meat when possible,<br />bringing the idea of global Fair Trade <i>to a local level</i><br /><br />This helps protect the countryside I have come to love<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavWD7FtnHoE8yOFYdQGQZleCSZn5_K7978OmzLD3AZV5catirY6T-t5SuLcRikXaDDryTft8oAOH2OrkIuGKZUO5jLRdqrjj1lMjqXzARBheHZNHwYR95PaQh-IweGswvit9ML0-Y7Q0/s1600/DSC_0264-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavWD7FtnHoE8yOFYdQGQZleCSZn5_K7978OmzLD3AZV5catirY6T-t5SuLcRikXaDDryTft8oAOH2OrkIuGKZUO5jLRdqrjj1lMjqXzARBheHZNHwYR95PaQh-IweGswvit9ML0-Y7Q0/s320/DSC_0264-1.JPG" width="313" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You often can buy direct from a farmer at the garden gate or at a farm shop</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1wK07Gdx5MX-p5W09mLBXwXr808l3UmbKax5bgZMBD0bJmVAHFuu1SzV3D1KrRU91bfuTkgZl5Br8PEg66bli29X5RHQjr_ehjRCQFwZXHshdGkerqfM_XaQhrn4VV41cR6Z7TCbTtA/s1600/DSC_0381-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1wK07Gdx5MX-p5W09mLBXwXr808l3UmbKax5bgZMBD0bJmVAHFuu1SzV3D1KrRU91bfuTkgZl5Br8PEg66bli29X5RHQjr_ehjRCQFwZXHshdGkerqfM_XaQhrn4VV41cR6Z7TCbTtA/s640/DSC_0381-11.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And because so many things grow well here,<br />the country provides well for itself<br /><br />From beekeeping & henkeeping to gardening<br />many are doing it successfully on a smaller scale<br />in their backyard,<br />more widely than in the US<br /><br />***<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Time for another Post Of The Month Club day - yea! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It is a great way for you to promote your best work</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and meet other fantastic bloggers</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Join me July 31st & Aug 1st</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yep, right here :)</div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae214/HappyHomemakerUK/HappyHomemaker20111-39a-1.jpg" /></a></center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />Ooh, wouldn't this button look lovely on your sidebar?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">You can grab the code from my sidebar :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">All bloggers are welcome to join</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It wouldn't be the same without you!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">(more details <a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/03/post-of-month-club-linky-party.html" style="color: #0c8bd4; text-decoration: none;">here</a>)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; cursor: move;" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

Going Local: Buy British

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKPoppies Amongst The WheatDriving through Kansas,you drive countless miles before you see where one farm starts and another beginsIt feels very corporateYet in England, farms are small and family-runYou easily see the walls or hedgerows that markwhere each farm begins and …

Read more »

A Weekend In The Cotswolds

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I am blessed with the dearest family </div><div style="text-align: center;">that is willing to go on another Mommy Adventure</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This time to the Cotswolds</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7mpL0_eB_fSyiZJdSOF50BiKFX-RRoHlVEGGMjDYqNxYdUh64wwiOcLB6WKVbZMmE3W0hRlYzhhIteCTimExdKP-9wBchicODRuRna3iW2HICriFGwR5p65xct4bzsY6ibVNio6KDN8/s1600/DSC_0155-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7mpL0_eB_fSyiZJdSOF50BiKFX-RRoHlVEGGMjDYqNxYdUh64wwiOcLB6WKVbZMmE3W0hRlYzhhIteCTimExdKP-9wBchicODRuRna3iW2HICriFGwR5p65xct4bzsY6ibVNio6KDN8/s640/DSC_0155-3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Last Autumn we visited the Cotswolds region that spans 6 counties</div><div style="text-align: center;">for our fabulous Feather Down Farms tent-camp experience (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2010/09/muddy-boots-glam-ping.html">here</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This time we were back in search of a special <a href="http://www.ngs.org.uk/">NGS</a> Open Garden in</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ashton under Hill in south Worcestershire</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd read about in my latest <a href="http://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/">The English Garden</a> magazine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3U5JMSOC7INHA2O74ept5YwSkz9ytUuRcdyuVaspy5aPPhFhmSC43QfHv9fU38bY7UzHA7WBTy_Oo-7UKEmU2Vv5zCDoI0WlVSnPsskbpA0Typ1rLVkqHaQF6oFdJ_Bnvfb3w_btYNjI/s1600/DSC_0052-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3U5JMSOC7INHA2O74ept5YwSkz9ytUuRcdyuVaspy5aPPhFhmSC43QfHv9fU38bY7UzHA7WBTy_Oo-7UKEmU2Vv5zCDoI0WlVSnPsskbpA0Typ1rLVkqHaQF6oFdJ_Bnvfb3w_btYNjI/s640/DSC_0052-41.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home built of typical Cotswold limestone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It is a rural area of quaint villages and farms</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y5fH1TVT-ttdYAGa55t1Y8L34NOHd-p-jCIcpFyy_mBynKD1DJR9mMnF7_NdgAEMqwmFyB_ZKFvRsvX-t3SgDSP6_AENqROENF9kTiKcUJaX-MHGItY7-dpOC_F0HlzG7e9PbFqJrvg/s1600/DSC_0370-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Y5fH1TVT-ttdYAGa55t1Y8L34NOHd-p-jCIcpFyy_mBynKD1DJR9mMnF7_NdgAEMqwmFyB_ZKFvRsvX-t3SgDSP6_AENqROENF9kTiKcUJaX-MHGItY7-dpOC_F0HlzG7e9PbFqJrvg/s640/DSC_0370-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical town from car window</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Why go so far to see a garden, you ask?</div><div style="text-align: center;">{ I'd go farther actually }</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, the whole town of Ashton under Hill has pulled together for the past 33 years</div><div style="text-align: center;">to open private gardens to the public (24 gardens this year)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With more than a hundred people in the village involved,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you see folks selling tickets, ice cream, tea, & plants</div><div style="text-align: center;">and assisting with traffic and parking</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It really is a village-wide affair as a fundraiser</div><div style="text-align: center;">for their local church and community center</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you just love it already?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiJLydiCtneB1ZyBO6AdRlomol4Y8gy7HQoCn4t05zhEPgsnCBSlSEi2OEkFyFznX9vnMuJErPGx6-7t-eWrp5T7vRkdqgHMrRYCPRquxqjcQ3MZoU4tDcLI1mNkUOdmWY2Neh1BQtgE/s1600/DSC_0282-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWiJLydiCtneB1ZyBO6AdRlomol4Y8gy7HQoCn4t05zhEPgsnCBSlSEi2OEkFyFznX9vnMuJErPGx6-7t-eWrp5T7vRkdqgHMrRYCPRquxqjcQ3MZoU4tDcLI1mNkUOdmWY2Neh1BQtgE/s640/DSC_0282-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each garden was unique</div><div style="text-align: center;">ranging from formal gardens to meadows</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfDGrJpF99r9cpJFRY-oqwnZWDgym1L_IIv-jsYf9nYsWWYFxkFdXsi-vgbSgX-QIyTqrf852oKhJsMRRSQS8d5j26W1pdjfxICl_bK8zH37LJpzl4uZDAh-VVmgSPN2zj0tYBiS0pgo/s1600/DSC_0294-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfDGrJpF99r9cpJFRY-oqwnZWDgym1L_IIv-jsYf9nYsWWYFxkFdXsi-vgbSgX-QIyTqrf852oKhJsMRRSQS8d5j26W1pdjfxICl_bK8zH37LJpzl4uZDAh-VVmgSPN2zj0tYBiS0pgo/s640/DSC_0294-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">(Below) Curiously it seems common throughout England to buy a bag of compost or manure,</div><div style="text-align: center;">cut a hole and plant into it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C3ELVUBF7Jb1gmJvodnYiBYXIylTfEraPk5B79crZ03DFpnWotezMA7VHUoWV9kOqa6hzQwNAMZnuyjZH82_I2l0QHEY6-82IEKn4STTI584Y5incjSqBjzjlj8X5GpuSFGhwzybDCc/s1600/DSC_0328-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C3ELVUBF7Jb1gmJvodnYiBYXIylTfEraPk5B79crZ03DFpnWotezMA7VHUoWV9kOqa6hzQwNAMZnuyjZH82_I2l0QHEY6-82IEKn4STTI584Y5incjSqBjzjlj8X5GpuSFGhwzybDCc/s640/DSC_0328-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was most excited about this garden (below)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know if it is new, or just new to me</div><div style="text-align: center;">but these <i>swimming ponds</i> seem to be gaining popularity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As it was explained to me, </div><div style="text-align: center;">a California style swimming pool looks out of place in an English garden</div><div style="text-align: center;">but a pond's appearance can be enjoyed year-round</div><div style="text-align: center;">and fun for taking a dip when the weather is warm enough<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Water plants such as water lilies and iris flag are planted in an underwater shelf</div><div style="text-align: center;">Newts, dragonflies, and other creatures hangout at the pool</div><div style="text-align: center;">(no fish)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although there is filtration, there are no chemicals</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They say it is like swimming through fresh rainwater or milk</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH7Kht7iaG9y2O6wC_NotGfG0ewJ5nHddL4wXfhEcK3AbYBZNEqSDOKzeX0FydwR-wnXE-o9i_IoqilfBWbcRQNxt3Cur49geq8atX6TnDjyIEwQpmYOw6oxopZqadiZOWVFUFL1XXXg/s1600/DSC_0334-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqH7Kht7iaG9y2O6wC_NotGfG0ewJ5nHddL4wXfhEcK3AbYBZNEqSDOKzeX0FydwR-wnXE-o9i_IoqilfBWbcRQNxt3Cur49geq8atX6TnDjyIEwQpmYOw6oxopZqadiZOWVFUFL1XXXg/s640/DSC_0334-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artificial Swimming Pond</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sounds heavenly, and I love the look</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{Sigh} It was such a perfectly perfect weekend</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">filled with tadpole catching and delicious local food</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for coming along with me, my buttercups :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i></div> <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Weekend In The Cotswolds

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKI am blessed with the dearest family that is willing to go on another Mommy AdventureThis time to the CotswoldsLast Autumn we visited the Cotswolds region that spans 6 countiesfor our fabulous Feather Down Farms tent-camp experience (here)This time we were back in search …

Read more »

Another Listy-Loo

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">Time to post my ongoing list of differences between</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">the US and England</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n2ZP4_2w0QmsuKuC2YTQy-TifDV1vRZ9z_joKuEAXmHhTXa3hjO_xU0BH0vZcjhyphenhyphen1fcZdcKRC-lsJTJXGyDp5v5V7Bx6742DxiFtR-hMFyDhfP7sBFHJgaWOS0iQ89DHjhxugChoRSU/s1600/DSCN1970-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4n2ZP4_2w0QmsuKuC2YTQy-TifDV1vRZ9z_joKuEAXmHhTXa3hjO_xU0BH0vZcjhyphenhyphen1fcZdcKRC-lsJTJXGyDp5v5V7Bx6742DxiFtR-hMFyDhfP7sBFHJgaWOS0iQ89DHjhxugChoRSU/s640/DSCN1970-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"> There is actually a reason for me to adopt the English accent</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">Automated prompted calls can't understand my American one</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">A Stag & Hen Party is a bachelor & bachelorette party</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;">*</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">'Yummy Mummy' is a common term for a pretty, fit, well-dressed mother</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Many houses have names, <i>not numbers</i> for their address<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswcxoYfRGm9vPbOSfVXHG3UzMyccgHI2p_1r6xka60z1lGC9pvrSMYtlmu2pD5otI59mmYLlubWyiBV5I76Y7WL62INbvuONu23WrKROO1_WI2oWX2xV6LNkpT3dXRdciRTSaMqgFKLU/s1600/IMG_0407-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswcxoYfRGm9vPbOSfVXHG3UzMyccgHI2p_1r6xka60z1lGC9pvrSMYtlmu2pD5otI59mmYLlubWyiBV5I76Y7WL62INbvuONu23WrKROO1_WI2oWX2xV6LNkpT3dXRdciRTSaMqgFKLU/s640/IMG_0407-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Jumble sale = Rummage sale</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Boot Sale = A gathering of cars selling stuff out of their 'boot' (car trunk)<br /><br />*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeTL5t7zZPOwVyNLYlR-daBD3-r5__WKlB2_h95fS27YQP5NlGGzRj19IqoGH82iB1lJNDGnpJItrTxyKpOB7aSyNkkyi1VxmiXBN4gOhKQtT7XhUZl6NdZWlB5xgxBjznmZz3aPK5B0/s1600/London2010+496-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeTL5t7zZPOwVyNLYlR-daBD3-r5__WKlB2_h95fS27YQP5NlGGzRj19IqoGH82iB1lJNDGnpJItrTxyKpOB7aSyNkkyi1VxmiXBN4gOhKQtT7XhUZl6NdZWlB5xgxBjznmZz3aPK5B0/s640/London2010+496-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">All signs are in English only (not in French or Welsh also)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">*</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">There are no fire hydrants here (water tapped into main line under manhole cover)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">Have a wonderful weekend!!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by moi -</span></i></div></div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Another Listy-Loo

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKTime to post my ongoing list of differences betweenthe US and England There is actually a reason for me to adopt the English accentAutomated prompted calls can't understand my American one*A Stag & Hen Party is a bachelor & bachelorette party*'Yummy Mummy' is a common ter…

Read more »

Black + White

I've been laid low with the dreaded lurgy for the past couple of weeks, which, as well as being totally inconvenient, has meant that I've had little energy for anything other than coughing and spluttering (and, if you ask the clan, they'd probably add whingeing as well). But I digress. One good thing that's come from my convalescence is that I managed to find the designer behind a room I've had saved in my files for ages.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3ThU08FbLRTfXoHVH5csY60M0ruK_OwQGyng3FNXWiF-O6gaESQ03EKLeB4HB0cGrPcl5IlvLrr_gtLt1_F0xTspoByvO_UXMFCgCcW4JUDi_BC3jv2wcUqpflWiXkx-zxxoAQk1rXqc/s1600/timthumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3ThU08FbLRTfXoHVH5csY60M0ruK_OwQGyng3FNXWiF-O6gaESQ03EKLeB4HB0cGrPcl5IlvLrr_gtLt1_F0xTspoByvO_UXMFCgCcW4JUDi_BC3jv2wcUqpflWiXkx-zxxoAQk1rXqc/s640/timthumb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.johnjacobinteriors.com/">source</a></div><br />I had a lovely message from Brissie designer and fellow blogger <a href="http://dumonde10.blogspot.com/">Daryl Wark</a>, which in turn led me to his gorgeous blog. As I settled in for a good read, I came across <a href="http://dumonde10.blogspot.com/2011/06/mad-about-more-black-and-white.html">this post</a> on South African designer John Jacob Zwiegelaar (which, coincidentally, Daryl found through Judy at <a href="http://verandahhouse.blogspot.com/">Verandah House</a>), and there was the black and white room I'd had saved for ages. Even better, it lead to this <a href="http://www.johnjacobinteriors.com/">website</a>, which was full of stunning, black & white interiors.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgQWCs3cWwiuzVr1kt0Hdn732Ls3GDx6RiHbUTELDIhUsROvfYd5WAkB0ge93GaaK5cRx80__4TZgPzPGldazvGqKGqGqsw67W1vemhDVin09vb4ximGWql4GtYSvjA6RFNfNB3ZVeuCX/s1600/timthumb+%252817%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgQWCs3cWwiuzVr1kt0Hdn732Ls3GDx6RiHbUTELDIhUsROvfYd5WAkB0ge93GaaK5cRx80__4TZgPzPGldazvGqKGqGqsw67W1vemhDVin09vb4ximGWql4GtYSvjA6RFNfNB3ZVeuCX/s640/timthumb+%252817%2529.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHwdA7eV8dMXqGKtqVvFIVRUyha2wu81L91eneqIUg2k5fRK7v55on27rPgxlW51L7ZokzfKV0an44XbCmGw0Jz91EjN4JTglkh0thkNsQKlf2WE9ezpzUFvI5dPvSsRYpFcSWMARrBmv/s1600/timthumb+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHwdA7eV8dMXqGKtqVvFIVRUyha2wu81L91eneqIUg2k5fRK7v55on27rPgxlW51L7ZokzfKV0an44XbCmGw0Jz91EjN4JTglkh0thkNsQKlf2WE9ezpzUFvI5dPvSsRYpFcSWMARrBmv/s640/timthumb+%25282%2529.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdvZ4miDSJX6llfhlJ2Ws_JiuSc5jd0RlTtPw_JYtUEycDUUxhz3ChlwpEvHPxt_BJOigTlS58ptOPK2aSJA5QGvGO_lY-ut8ILxACeklXzEUMYCLppjfrpmNODRJeNzXueFA6dTkr8JP/s1600/timthumb+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdvZ4miDSJX6llfhlJ2Ws_JiuSc5jd0RlTtPw_JYtUEycDUUxhz3ChlwpEvHPxt_BJOigTlS58ptOPK2aSJA5QGvGO_lY-ut8ILxACeklXzEUMYCLppjfrpmNODRJeNzXueFA6dTkr8JP/s640/timthumb+%25283%2529.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqt3gp2iCeFoJhiin9pxhO7VEFv4dYeJPcgrEdZAa1Q55QWLUoxQlPSRp5bhC2TYdP7xhUpjTQ8XTiHJTNwH2czsxi42GPmjsvdE_JBdoSGz4aeCKR9-hcrh0U1rIflB0pohMXFvQ4DyAI/s1600/timthumb+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqt3gp2iCeFoJhiin9pxhO7VEFv4dYeJPcgrEdZAa1Q55QWLUoxQlPSRp5bhC2TYdP7xhUpjTQ8XTiHJTNwH2czsxi42GPmjsvdE_JBdoSGz4aeCKR9-hcrh0U1rIflB0pohMXFvQ4DyAI/s640/timthumb+%25285%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06jg9PT2IPGR2oJq2NqKNJxcYFpSfJ3PFaim2bXpI0SiEpL1EILWaA3oUk_Wa8lDh7548UzgB0RnovUldHU1dOAUNaRtMtnyHvPaua50EfZxWttRbz4FoB_Ks4AD6oUtVj5rz1y4qeeuS/s1600/timthumb+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06jg9PT2IPGR2oJq2NqKNJxcYFpSfJ3PFaim2bXpI0SiEpL1EILWaA3oUk_Wa8lDh7548UzgB0RnovUldHU1dOAUNaRtMtnyHvPaua50EfZxWttRbz4FoB_Ks4AD6oUtVj5rz1y4qeeuS/s640/timthumb+%25286%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYbk6jpmFYMsEr9Mq24Gwyh-BentPNV-DxrNJkMvMO2VAwx8tbxVLamf1XKwpN_YnpnJn8kw13LwoC2RW0q4hPwVefmKeKPt4_APA-S2kb1tYHkrF9TJdvO6hMqEV8qKRBRr8Iyv4NTI6/s1600/timthumb+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYbk6jpmFYMsEr9Mq24Gwyh-BentPNV-DxrNJkMvMO2VAwx8tbxVLamf1XKwpN_YnpnJn8kw13LwoC2RW0q4hPwVefmKeKPt4_APA-S2kb1tYHkrF9TJdvO6hMqEV8qKRBRr8Iyv4NTI6/s640/timthumb+%25288%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> even the pooch is colour matched</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTXSWTlvyWb85fjSdy60yDCSy-uaIs9LhabZkp6wau6fvEzksYRNmmS7pXiXIkoiMAj0xoE_TLg6NXChvH09ApIV45gjzb4GYzO8K8xaH4Ppd2Pi9Syo3CSS-DTojMiWBynqlVRvg9b6o/s1600/timthumb+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTXSWTlvyWb85fjSdy60yDCSy-uaIs9LhabZkp6wau6fvEzksYRNmmS7pXiXIkoiMAj0xoE_TLg6NXChvH09ApIV45gjzb4GYzO8K8xaH4Ppd2Pi9Syo3CSS-DTojMiWBynqlVRvg9b6o/s640/timthumb+%25289%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_SFh_TnJuyd7AcJksrpRrDAQxjRBxsnJWTHnFXQfLWgM1vEnkbjhMdYGcsd_24dKWFmdNUVvNihKW9vgbHhnM-2R567tXlyXWe5o0-FHk8O5SovLV4GasL0rCk2yGXMx797p29BECM8r/s1600/timthumb+%252816%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_SFh_TnJuyd7AcJksrpRrDAQxjRBxsnJWTHnFXQfLWgM1vEnkbjhMdYGcsd_24dKWFmdNUVvNihKW9vgbHhnM-2R567tXlyXWe5o0-FHk8O5SovLV4GasL0rCk2yGXMx797p29BECM8r/s640/timthumb+%252816%2529.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">all images via <a href="http://www.johnjacobinteriors.com/">John Jacob Interiors</a></div><br />What I love about a black and white (and neutral) scheme is that you can always throw in some colour when you feel like a change, or go completely monochromatic - the options are endless. Take this last room - it would look equally great with some mismatched cushions, an abstract painting or two, and a few bright accessories. I love colour, but my fickle nature means I always stick to a neutral scheme for the bones of a room, and add pops of colour with pieces that can be changed quickly, and relatively inexpensively - artwork etc. Thanks Daryl for the heads up, and seriously, do yourself a favour - head on over to Daryl's <a href="http://dumonde10.blogspot.com/">blog </a>- lots of goodies there, let me tell you. My fave post - <a href="http://dumonde10.blogspot.com/2011/07/keeping-your-old-louis-vuitton-not.html">how to keep your vintage Louis Vuitton looking great...but not too 'new'</a>. Fabulous to the max.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Black + White

I've been laid low with the dreaded lurgy for the past couple of weeks, which, as well as being totally inconvenient, has meant that I've had little energy for anything other than coughing and spluttering (and, if you ask the clan, they'd probably add whingeing as well). But I digress. One good thin…

Read more »

Pheasantly Surprised

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfK6CubFeQdMTcxOO3ptG11M7iHw-mOPFg2IGoHNiHh1BRm5VgkP9W0TAPQE7bffRkZYCcfHZ_bfBP5XRWjX-TeAywQFCNCKsywT5VJAj_vHyqt5Bx5ETqaEOql3iox7lEhhx4Qh7_DY/s1600/DSC_0069-22.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfK6CubFeQdMTcxOO3ptG11M7iHw-mOPFg2IGoHNiHh1BRm5VgkP9W0TAPQE7bffRkZYCcfHZ_bfBP5XRWjX-TeAywQFCNCKsywT5VJAj_vHyqt5Bx5ETqaEOql3iox7lEhhx4Qh7_DY/s640/DSC_0069-22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been surprised by how many pheasants I see running around in the wild</div><div style="text-align: center;">Such colorful gorgeous birds in the countryside</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a very distinct call</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently the Common Pheasant (<i>Phasianus colchicus</i>) was first introduced </div><div style="text-align: center;">by the Romans and Normans in the 10th century as a game bird, </div><div style="text-align: center;">originating from Ancient Colchis (now Georgia).  </div><div style="text-align: center;">It became 'extirpated' (locally extinct) from most of the isles </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the early 17th century due to over-hunting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was a rediscovered game bird in the 1830s, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and has been reared extensively by gamekeepers ever since. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Although 30 million pheasants are released annually, </div><div style="text-align: center;">most survive less than a year in the wild. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is trying to increase the wild population </div><div style="text-align: center;">by researching improved breeding methods.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.4em;"><div style="text-align: center;">Hunting was formerly an elitist sport, and to an extent it still is</div><div style="text-align: center;"> of game birds, hares, and deer. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Fox hunting has largely been made illegal. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Many past Kings and Queens have been avid hunters; </div><div style="text-align: center;">although Queen Elizabeth II does not hunt, Prince Philip does.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9RVAFPqTxaITEsnfPsoRdm2QRQbI70ECMmC4xaw62JAyCOYWFnGhW1IJOjvTvBNIaJV1XEk6kK1wLb3M9fKBXC9CKwXIjIzy4-dYTm1Er0ohQ62O16WqdqA-y9jFCadE8taL9ov54lk/s1600/DSC_0014-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9RVAFPqTxaITEsnfPsoRdm2QRQbI70ECMmC4xaw62JAyCOYWFnGhW1IJOjvTvBNIaJV1XEk6kK1wLb3M9fKBXC9CKwXIjIzy4-dYTm1Er0ohQ62O16WqdqA-y9jFCadE8taL9ov54lk/s640/DSC_0014-51.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fox in our backyard<br />Known for stealing shoes & scavenging rubbish bins</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Which leads me to the interesting topic of UK gun control. </div><div style="text-align: center;">With one of the strictest firearms legislation in the world, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the UK has one of the lowest rates of gun homicides in the world. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Handguns have been almost completely banned for private ownership. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Police officers routinely do not carry a firearm.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly, even Great Britain's Olympic shooters fall under this ban, </div><div style="text-align: center;">who can only train in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands,<br />the Isle of Man, or abroad (namely Switzerland).  </div><div style="text-align: center;">Although the government granted special allowance </div><div style="text-align: center;">for the shooting events for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, </div><div style="text-align: center;">only 5 permits were given to Olympic British Shooters to train in Great Britain. </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- photos by me -</i></span></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/pheasant.htm">Garden Birds</a>, Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Pheasant">1</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_in_the_United_Kingdom">2</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_United_Kingdom#Prohibited_firearms.5B7.5D">3</a></span></i><br /><br />  <a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Pheasantly Surprised

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKI have been surprised by how many pheasants I see running around in the wildSuch colorful gorgeous birds in the countrysidewith a very distinct callApparently the Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was first introduced by the Romans and Normans in the 10th century as a…

Read more »

Trip To France: Provence

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So it was a bit of a stretch to drive </div><div style="text-align: center;">from the Cote d'Azur to rural Provence for a day trip</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But my husband being the superstar he is</div><div style="text-align: center;">drove 3<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1/2</span> hours to get me there</div><div style="text-align: center;">(we got a little lost, so it took extra time)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7zt0T9m5zixxOfphEf1HRKiTTq8w5vtotsuIUjhHFW37Tu6xrWCut31tGZSgYpI4rpxMGdDc2RqV0KzbN3z2TJxfV7JhCMhtNQhq3mz39c8xmZcPTN9yChGmo75eNQuhWQruG5L738E/s1600/IMG_0278-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7zt0T9m5zixxOfphEf1HRKiTTq8w5vtotsuIUjhHFW37Tu6xrWCut31tGZSgYpI4rpxMGdDc2RqV0KzbN3z2TJxfV7JhCMhtNQhq3mz39c8xmZcPTN9yChGmo75eNQuhWQruG5L738E/s640/IMG_0278-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All grown in pots</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To be honest, I was surprised how barren, open, hot & dry this area is;</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've become accustomed to the cozy villages of England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a bit of a shift in my view</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was ready to see what Provence offered</div><div style="text-align: center;">especially photographically :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZShoDZ5mrSKpMpYiZ6a6hYnHf4HBwMtrXz2Y_1uPeB_rYYgx1g2Yt1AAbOXLYlZEs-g71CE_dBzXTmDoLmTYdF47TyRhnDsgRdslatvBfZ9f2pVUnSBlMDkfUN43X2nxjhPACyqJNMw/s1600/IMG_0114-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZShoDZ5mrSKpMpYiZ6a6hYnHf4HBwMtrXz2Y_1uPeB_rYYgx1g2Yt1AAbOXLYlZEs-g71CE_dBzXTmDoLmTYdF47TyRhnDsgRdslatvBfZ9f2pVUnSBlMDkfUN43X2nxjhPACyqJNMw/s640/IMG_0114-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordes</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of the villages were perched on hills</div><div style="text-align: center;">to provide safety during periods of turmoil in the Middle Ages</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EvQDhOvtvAJJxOVdRsI7BquAbVNYGPCR_o1JIeL3iAAsvf8f2S7IJwPlx3HUTj21NhYjULDtYkHB2beCCCBLOygX5Sua6YT8GFjDVuwiT-JiPMnX2pXaXCfA2bP-OgdYPqhLfNvPdjc/s1600/IMG_0116-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EvQDhOvtvAJJxOVdRsI7BquAbVNYGPCR_o1JIeL3iAAsvf8f2S7IJwPlx3HUTj21NhYjULDtYkHB2beCCCBLOygX5Sua6YT8GFjDVuwiT-JiPMnX2pXaXCfA2bP-OgdYPqhLfNvPdjc/s640/IMG_0116-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">80% of the world's lavender comes from Provence</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The lavender is in full swing July - September</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Vineyards, wheat, lavender, sunflowers</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crop land, yes, but no livestock</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsQIkQYZ3QNsx2z3XI6_OVPR9htgxIjlpH1nQWoP0HHL43sGLoK57HCTW38iDl9vlCvnHyXcR3gsPl9d2lVwlgQJKJpH76m70ltlqa9VH5yiIAMiWEC76n0OgELMhPfTI12ReC44YJ8E/s1600/IMG_0197-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsQIkQYZ3QNsx2z3XI6_OVPR9htgxIjlpH1nQWoP0HHL43sGLoK57HCTW38iDl9vlCvnHyXcR3gsPl9d2lVwlgQJKJpH76m70ltlqa9VH5yiIAMiWEC76n0OgELMhPfTI12ReC44YJ8E/s640/IMG_0197-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Bonnieux<br />Lavender Fields (left side)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This home decor inspiration location</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">has attracted people by the bus-loads</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Literally</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of all the towns we visited, Bonnieux was my favorite</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">due to lack of crowds</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2K_6fNFMSteC4hEdDLV9z_Wt1-HhFnXhqXoDq05w1OKnep8H1h_3FZnQ25IUTa6rK9sB_YkFhtGP3AXj1k5T6qeaHQAiQpy9A_imCYL-bKvTMJXb-EaCGcDbKsNxJBTTXwbVeGP3PI-c/s1600/IMG_0281-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2K_6fNFMSteC4hEdDLV9z_Wt1-HhFnXhqXoDq05w1OKnep8H1h_3FZnQ25IUTa6rK9sB_YkFhtGP3AXj1k5T6qeaHQAiQpy9A_imCYL-bKvTMJXb-EaCGcDbKsNxJBTTXwbVeGP3PI-c/s640/IMG_0281-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artisan Village<br />Saint Paul De Vence</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should have researched the road less-traveled</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But it was a lovely road nonetheless</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><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/AVvXsEjIF9LJoDSQ3QydFLNhZ5snATyaa5u7WewOYzQU0j72iVW91ug_tw0JAWiRHSy6e89gQZBYFXlSxhtP5WeByKjDOCroWf511RQY23Ya8TLiDogOMcqVv-Tl9cN13CkKQTa3LLGNunS_SoY/s1600/IMG_0106-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF9LJoDSQ3QydFLNhZ5snATyaa5u7WewOYzQU0j72iVW91ug_tw0JAWiRHSy6e89gQZBYFXlSxhtP5WeByKjDOCroWf511RQY23Ya8TLiDogOMcqVv-Tl9cN13CkKQTa3LLGNunS_SoY/s640/IMG_0106-29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0TSZmhoYMkK3vDwZ8-dKDnlhMgNilVFAtlavjP5ITI-MVB6oqYHPSk8Ym83SVOuCWAl77BAji6O6hugNQyBbF3zGZZtQ1gDvtLWKJYAkI0EOl7o4WFJEupUOhKykR0CgBKytOayrlcs/s1600/IMG_0157-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0TSZmhoYMkK3vDwZ8-dKDnlhMgNilVFAtlavjP5ITI-MVB6oqYHPSk8Ym83SVOuCWAl77BAji6O6hugNQyBbF3zGZZtQ1gDvtLWKJYAkI0EOl7o4WFJEupUOhKykR0CgBKytOayrlcs/s640/IMG_0157-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in Roussillon</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc4I5mWpGF5LnbHqJxmw6uJrqMuoBO7lYiLaTOlD9TastbI3BK7W7z6dFLZIhgl_rGMXGXHDaC5y-BEM5FVQdRdcAp-PGJeaLHXUkoqE-WjGyJPeMgy4wSf5oNj8zf9jW_9A7UbTXp0k/s1600/IMG_0255-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOc4I5mWpGF5LnbHqJxmw6uJrqMuoBO7lYiLaTOlD9TastbI3BK7W7z6dFLZIhgl_rGMXGXHDaC5y-BEM5FVQdRdcAp-PGJeaLHXUkoqE-WjGyJPeMgy4wSf5oNj8zf9jW_9A7UbTXp0k/s640/IMG_0255-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Multi-layered tiled roofs are common in Provence</div><div style="text-align: center;">As are shutters to keep out cold winter Mistral winds</div><div style="text-align: center;">and baking summertime heat</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigB5XuaMUJf5SF905JFNH90uA4JYLL_ZqqJUXf4zoZS9lhKq4mjGtigb3EYYR0X49SIPQ6fO8tApOd16l_KRXy_AdyQD6CzIuuf9Sm1De4BdMWt4v4djQL_aCqB2hnBTvGyqYNfj8DJU/s1600/IMG_0196-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigB5XuaMUJf5SF905JFNH90uA4JYLL_ZqqJUXf4zoZS9lhKq4mjGtigb3EYYR0X49SIPQ6fO8tApOd16l_KRXy_AdyQD6CzIuuf9Sm1De4BdMWt4v4djQL_aCqB2hnBTvGyqYNfj8DJU/s640/IMG_0196-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">If you close your eyes,</div><div style="text-align: center;">perhaps you can hear the background music of the cicadas,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a symbol of Provence</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EbQhG6gu9-TXPqgbfDmiSBkJgP1envDQa7glNK6TBdlnSiQdxVjDXWcLJwlkxET7oX-wZtZKHgXS2CimAKEjZbsmwmP8I87ccfNetOfby3AzEOt53VPnDuOYq6aj0lPkSvA5P3Kdyew/s1600/IMG_0251-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EbQhG6gu9-TXPqgbfDmiSBkJgP1envDQa7glNK6TBdlnSiQdxVjDXWcLJwlkxET7oX-wZtZKHgXS2CimAKEjZbsmwmP8I87ccfNetOfby3AzEOt53VPnDuOYq6aj0lPkSvA5P3Kdyew/s640/IMG_0251-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Have you grabbed your glass of wine yet?</div><div style="text-align: center;">You cannot miss the flavor of the area</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl7hbBgOw_BHkNDlAhqxG6l_HA10stH9c29ZZuAjFv_w6mOdvG_ggg2v5B14Sgq2kTWbHXu-F_6qv_9W7n8F3luAeA-mSruIERtzve9o6mN5-Yy8bEj5pmQh7cwjanUf9tD2sHt4ze3Q/s1600/IMG_0100-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCl7hbBgOw_BHkNDlAhqxG6l_HA10stH9c29ZZuAjFv_w6mOdvG_ggg2v5B14Sgq2kTWbHXu-F_6qv_9W7n8F3luAeA-mSruIERtzve9o6mN5-Yy8bEj5pmQh7cwjanUf9tD2sHt4ze3Q/s640/IMG_0100-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And although the land did not provide much color</div><div style="text-align: center;">The human prints definitely did</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIeaDVDVQlpeENbt9bC6Ig4L_-B-vVRnGBn9ib6TEdc1jg6ObxLmmEcXUJDiDIgz7C0gMf7QJWbiFEP6wtQA3WW4jE55-G0j6l_pdU5Tea5CcpcV24VEG5jGM8wzDYhdT0nLiGdUXCLM/s1600/IMG_0225-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIeaDVDVQlpeENbt9bC6Ig4L_-B-vVRnGBn9ib6TEdc1jg6ObxLmmEcXUJDiDIgz7C0gMf7QJWbiFEP6wtQA3WW4jE55-G0j6l_pdU5Tea5CcpcV24VEG5jGM8wzDYhdT0nLiGdUXCLM/s640/IMG_0225-23.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Not to mention </div><div style="text-align: center;">fresh produce sold everywhere</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yum</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLmXDtkMWUny_dnPiSUAbJF4RvA7J2jY-bBOPjB08kvDeRUzLhjOy-131aU_9UEw3fbcJyXDinop6W0DDQvImDUDbJmQjEt83JWRfjkooozUL74v9c49uUSlZIne0Zgs2Ps_Hr3Ewxww/s1600/IMG_0303-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLmXDtkMWUny_dnPiSUAbJF4RvA7J2jY-bBOPjB08kvDeRUzLhjOy-131aU_9UEw3fbcJyXDinop6W0DDQvImDUDbJmQjEt83JWRfjkooozUL74v9c49uUSlZIne0Zgs2Ps_Hr3Ewxww/s640/IMG_0303-24.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh Radishes & Lettuce For Sale At Market</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I'd like to return in Spring to see </div><div style="text-align: center;">the flowering almond & cherry trees</div><div style="text-align: center;">and fields of poppies</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Provence,<br />my camera & I will be back</div><div style="text-align: center;">one day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- all photos by me -</span></i><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i><br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Trip To France Series</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Part I: Monaco & A Royal Wedding (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/07/trip-to-france-monaco-royal-wedding.html">here</a>)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Part II: Cote d'Azur (<a href="http://happyhomemakeruk.blogspot.com/2011/07/trip-to-france-cote-dazur.html">here</a>)<br /><br />Linking to <a href="http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.com/">Modern Country Style</a><br /><br /><br /><center></center></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Trip To France: Provence

Posted by Happy Homemaker UKSo it was a bit of a stretch to drive from the Cote d'Azur to rural Provence for a day tripBut my husband being the superstar he isdrove 31/2 hours to get me there(we got a little lost, so it took extra time)All grown in potsTo be honest, I was surprised how barren, open,…

Read more »