Autumn or Spring?

Autumn in the garden always has me busy pruning and fertilising in preparation for the colder months and the growth bursts of the following Spring. Our garden rakes and broom are frequently in hand, removing the bright tapestry of leaves that regularly blankets our front path - courtesy of a rampant Boston ivy.  

Withered brown autumnal cast-offs from the deciduous trees that have survived the prolonged droughts of summers past, form decaying mounds that become dangerously slippery if they’re not removed regularly. 

In the rear garden the vegetable plots lay fallow while being replenished by manure and recycled kitchen scraps that have been turned into nutrient-rich brews – a product of the frenetically active our composting worms. 

Despite the cold and wet conditions which now dominate our weather patterns, my mind frequently turns to visions of spring as I read about the gardening activities of northern hemisphere friends........

garden beds in bloom, 

plant nurseries  full of seedlings and potted plants in various stages of development, patiently waiting for a new home.

And what is happening growing and blooming in our garden in France this spring?  If only I knew....................

I'm Not Alone!

A reassuring cartoon appeared in the  Sunday magazine yesterday, 29 April, which mirrored my sentiments  in my most recent blog - I'm not alone. It seems from the supportive emails and comments which I've received last week, that my temporary malaise is not uncommon - a consequence of being over-committed .........with just a touch of middle- age thrown in! Just need to get a balance between what I have to do and what I want to do..........easier said than done. 

Bonne semaine.

Ignorance is Bliss?

It is said that “ignorance is bliss”, to which I can attest. From a person who, since aged 9, used to religiously devour the daily newspaper from front to back, I’ve become a selective reader of the arts, epicure, travel and occasionally the financial sections only. Being confronted daily by reports of grim events over which I have no control is emotionally demanding. And then there’ s the question of where the truth lies. As a firm believer in the multiplicative effect of the power of one, I feel that I’m shirking my civic responsibilities by adopting the ostrich principle when it comes to the news and current affairs, but I feel much happier and more content for it.


However, ignorance has definitely not resulted in a state of bliss when I overlooked the faint tick, ticking of my constant companion, M. Laptop. Unfortunately he ceased to function – permanently – last week; hard drive full and body parts, worn out from overwork. I first noticed his malaise when he was slow to boot up, but it was too late.  Tick…… tick…… gone.

Currently there appears to be some parallels between my life and that of my laptop. My hard-drive is jam-packed – full of facts, useless information, names and faces. I’m certain that its functional storage capacity has been trimmed over the years by intermittent bursts of cortisol. Mid-conversation a word can temporarily take flight . Names, once my forte, are now my “Achilles heel”.

An aching back, clicking joints, an impaired knee, (a skiing injury), and the odd problem with my gastrointestinal tract suggest to me that my body parts are tiring too. Is my dysfunction a temporary condition of modern day living or am I heading the way of my laptop? Better listen carefully for some tick….. tick …… ticking.

When I took this image I was in a state of utter bliss.
I experience the same emotions each time I visit this magical location in Switzerland.

Undergarments

Currently, I seem to have the choice of one of only 2 undergarments.

Time to take stock and prioritize as the demands on my time compound. My French Folly has been an exercise in faith - some may even say stupidity - which has morphed into a nightmare. It's time to turn my back on "my corner of France" and get on with the more pressing demands that command my attention at work and on the family and friends front. I am reducing my time at the computer over the next few months, hoping that my chums in the blog world will understand my temporary blogging hiatus. I love to read your wonderful posts and get enormous pleasure from receiving your comments so please be patient and stay tuned.

Symbols .........

New life kindles feelings of expectation, hope and often forgiveness. A time to "wipe the slate clean" and start anew. Rabbits, hares and eggs, are fertility symbols from antiquity, which herald the coming of new life - for obvious reasons.

“Symbols influence the nature and development of social organization and the growth of culture.”  This is certainly evident at this time of year.

For over 2500 years painted eggs have been given to celebrate the arrival of Spring......and in my case, an expanding waistline during this Period of Chocolate Temptation. For many, religious or not,  eggs have become a symbol of Easter. 

Courtesy Zimbo

In France, the gift of chocolate bells signifies the return of their ringing in churches on Easter Sunday, after having been silenced on the day before Easter Friday in acknowledgement of Christ's death. Children believe that the bells temporarily exit France to visit the Pope. 
The significance of The Cross and The Star of David are universally understood.

Courtesy, Cats and Quilts

The bible has about 15 references to lilies - the Lily of the Valley is seen by many as a symbol Christ.

The sending of “coded messages” through flowers and specific floral arrangements (Tussie-Mussies) were often used in the Victorian era.


In contemporary times, there is a whole industry devoted to logos, because of the power these symbols have assumed.


So keeping with this theme her are some Easter wishes for you ........................

Water Lily flower is symbolic of rebirth, but in addition to its religious meaning, the lotus is also a symbol of all that is true, good and beautiful, representing good fortune, peace and enlightenment. A lotus represents life in general. 

Lavender: Devotion

Camellia: admiration, perfection, good luck gift to a man. 

Dark pink rose: appreciation........ gratitude........ thank you.

Poppy (red): pleasure....... consolation

Sunflowers: warmth......happiness......adoration......longevity.

A whole tree of olive branches to wish you peace.

May the true spirit of Easter touch us all.

House in France: cortisol levels - dangerously high.

Emotions are like a piece of elastic, if they're repetitively over stretched they become fatigued and break. No dramatic "snap", just one tired, limp piece of useless material. Replacement of the spent elastic takes time - if one can be bothered.

 A cottage of the Dordogne (our first trip to France) 

My emotional elastic needs replacement - not due to circumstance beyond my control but circumstance of my making, so please, no sympathy. 

As many already know a renovation company, with offices in France and England, have had the keys to My French Folly for over 14 months, and despite repeated promises and payment, the house remains untouched. But hope finally appeared on the horizon during January this year, when Man of Action was employed by the aforementioned company to work on notre maison. Quotes were received, the budget range provided by the company was grossly exceeded, new quotes were in the process of being negotiated then silence from France -  yet again. Emails went unanswered.

Suspicions were aroused as this was the behaviour of the renovation company owners, not of their employee, Man of Action. After some sleuthing, I unearthed Man of Action's private email, only to learn that he was no longer working for the company  on a part time basis as he had accepted full time employment elsewhere..................

Back to square one. Cortisol levels - dangerously high! Je pense que je suis dans le caca! Time to get out my photographs and employ some positive visualization meditation techniques..............The trouble is that it is difficult to banish two specific pictures which repeatedly creep into my head...........me  drawing water from our well and perched on top of a commode.  Merde!

Currently there is not enough "industrie" happening at My French Folly.

Liquid Gold

Google*

In our parched continent, water is gold.

Despite the calendar advancing to autumn in the southern hemisphere, the garden has been so dry this week that the soil became hydrophobic. 

In one drop of water are found all the secrets of all the oceans. ~ Kahil Gibran

Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.

~ Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Last Wednesday, I surrendered to the unseasonal heat and watered the plants, mesmerized by the jeweled water droplets - clinging to the grass; rolling over the desiccated earth; finding a place to nestle in the leaves of  hardy succulents ……… The simple things in life can give so much pleasure while infusing us with gratitude.

Our bodies are moulded rivers. ~  Novalis   

Google* If you are the owner of this image, please contact me so I can acknowledge your work.

My Mobile Secret Garden

My niece and I share this secret.

This secret garden travels with me.  So old, that the house has long since abandoned it. So quite, that I can hear my heart beat. In summer it exudes a unique, sweet fragrance that placates the nostrils. A vision that defines tranquility. 

Across the adjacent field of bright Derwent greens lies a deserted, weather-beaten shepherd's hut that continues to be serenaded by the discordant sounds of cowbells.

My piece of paradise lays hidden in the Swiss Alps. It's exact location? .........That's my secret

A Secret Garden

If there were a secret garden,

What would it comprise?

Fragrant flowers, a babbling brook, butterflies?

Dragonflies, birds, and bees, there would be all of these.

But most of all, within ‘that place’,

Tranquil peace and serenity await;

Ever there for me and you to relax and renew.

So every morning before you start,

Visit the ‘secret garden’ of your heart.

 By Linda Wall Hall

It is really this green!

Ma Vie Française

We spent an idyllic few
weeks one summer at this 
home in Provence.

My French Life continues to be manic - like an amusement park ride that you willingly take, with great excitement and anticipation only to realise that despite all the promise that it offered before you strapped yourself into the seat, it is not quite what you imagined. 

After a few circuits of the course your emotions are stretched to the point that just you want to stop the ride, but of course you can't until the whole unpleasant journey ends….. in its own time. The more exciting sections of the voyage are eclipsed by its treacherous twists and turns. Your stomach becomes knotted.  Berating yourself for electing to take and pay for this unpleasant experience, silent words are said in hope that the journey instantly halts and you survive it with your dignity intact.

After seemingly forever,  the ride is over.  You walk away grateful for being “in one piece” ………. then a little voice in your head  declares.......... "that wasn't so terrible after all, I think I’ll do it again next year"!

The view from the pool house across to Bonnieux.

When it comes to renovating My French Folly, I'm at the stage of rebuking my myself, with knots in my stomach, wishing for the journey to finish tout de suite ……… with ma maison française et moi, intact and functional. I can confidently say that I won't be  taking this ride again.

My vision has morphed into a French farce in the hands of the U.K. company which is supposedly managing the project. 

Reports from France  last week spoke of action and promise. This week - nothing.

Breakfasts were eaten on the terrace.......... very slowly.

Today is the first of March and I depart for France in June.  My man on the ground in Burgundy has had the house keys for 14 months, and the house still resembles those of its birth date – 1750. Living like an 18^th century woman is just not me.

It's at times like this that I seek solace perusing my photos of France ..........dreaming of places at which I have stayed ..........  imagining the scents of summer filling my nostrils and the fruits of le terroir satiating my appetite. Thank goodness for dreams…..

A few months after we left this beautiful home it was used as a film set.

Eliza Interiors & Design: Giveaway - Vintage Ribbons & Sparkle

Jo from  Eliza Interiors & Design is celebrating her 500th hit on her Eliza Interiors & Design business page by offering generous Giveaways...........creative items made with love from vintage materials. 


Visit Eliza Interiors & Design: Giveaway: Vintage Ribbons & Sparkle:  for details.

Work, Life and My French Folly....update

Courtsey of Warrenski, flikr

I've started the day by eating a box of Lindt linor chocolate truffles - not an auspicious pastime. My visions of regaining my svelte figure are rapidly fading as the pressures of work increase and my work-life balance starts to resemble the letter "L". All work (professional and domestic), no life - the lot of a working mother and wife. I am trying to redress this imbalance, but with little success.
My professional commitments demand that I complete of work during the weekend and on weeknights. And dealing with the public always has unexpected hazards.

I go through phases of employing cleaners who initially manage to impress, but invariably start to take short cuts after gaining my confidence.

The local ironing lady - who will probably be sainted by the ladies of Brighton - insists on using spray starch, which causes members of my family to develop rashes - quite antisocial en masse.

My Scottish heritage prevents me from paying $40 plus per hour for a gardener. Besides, I love getting my hands in the dirt and psychologically don't want to relinquish this task - my green meditation. But it does add to my "to do" list.

A ceiling in My French Folly.

Then there're the renovations of My French Folly to attend to - a self-imposed pressure that has been amplified beyond my expectations by employing (and paying) a project manager who confuses fiction with fact and has a propensity to "go to ground" for months on end. I am constantly amazed by his creative excuses and absolute gall. However, for the first time since purchasing the house in France there is a glimmer of hope that we may be able to be in residence this June, albeit with the work unfinished. I am no longer dealing with the project manager but his newly appointed offsider - a man of action! Within 2 weeks an army of artisans has produced quotes for the renovation work. When they can actually start to put their skills into action has yet to be determined, but at least something is happening at our much neglected maison française.

This unexpected, but long awaited activity has me dreaming of France - with eyes closed and open - decorating rooms that I have yet to see, with copper pots, exquisite pieces of furniture and other authentic French items that I've picked up - for pittance - from brocantes in quaint villages and antique shops that I happen to chance upon while roaming the French countryside. If only dreams (shamefully, quite  selfish) came true............

Parlez-moi d`Amour: St Valentine's Day

"Love  is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning" Anon

"Trying to make someone fall in love with you is about as pointless as trying to control who you fall  in love with." 

Jean Paul Richter

"Love is just love, it can never be explained." Anon

  Parlez-moi d`Amour ........ Juliette Greco

Elevenses: Tagged...I'm " IT"

I haven't played Tiggy since my early school days and the last time I referred to elevenses was when reading Paddington Bear, but I've unwittingly been "tagged" by Chic at Any Age  in a game of Elevenses. Do I play or spoil the fun of the other participants and withdraw from this unexpected challenge?

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What are my options at this late hour of the night? The Husband is asleep on the couch; the ironing basket is perennially full; the Offspring are off doing their own thing; there is a pile of work on my desk waiting to be finished; I'm not a fan of the television and my brain is too tired to conjugate French verbs.
Can one concurrently play tiggy and drink a glass of wine? I'm about to find out.

Firstly, the Tiggy rules

Rule 1. Disclose 11 random things about myself. Tricky.

Rule 2. Respond to 11 questions from the person who tags me.Very tricky.

Rule 3. Pose 11 of my own questions then try to tag someone else. Could blow a fuse here because:

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a) many of the questions I would like to ask have been used by recent participants and

b) not sure who wants to play.

Let's give it a go - the game starts NOW. 

11 random things about myself (Remember some things are best kept secret!)

1. Biggest shortcoming is that I find it difficult to say “no” – even to myself!
2. I relish the company of creative people. They feed my soul. 
3. Music is my sixth sense. Without it I’m not truly living, but I also appreciate silence.
4. A major failing - I didn’t have the courage to go with my passions and be true to myself when younger.
5. A late maturer - I was in my thirties when, I truly grasped the fact that processions and wealth don’t create happiness, they just make your misery more comfortable - my parents were right yet again!
6. Irritated by parents who pander to  their progeny and live vicariously through them. Unconditionally loving a child does not involve incessant indulgence and an inability to set boundaries and say "no".
7. I revere the intricacies and wonder of nature and the strength of family and community.
8. Most valued gift – love of family and friends.
9. Intolerant of religious and political zealots. Nutters with a cause are extremely dangerous.
10. Don’t own a car –prefer to walk or drive Roger, my husband’s beloved Land Rover. 
11. My fantasy; David Suzuki rules the world - fully clothed, but without the tights, the cape and his underpants worn as an outer garment.

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And "no", I don't have hairy armpits, prickly legs and a propensity to demonstrate and chain myself to trees, but I respect the fact that we only have one finite world, for which it has taken millions of years to perfect the balance of nature. 
Responses to the 11 questions posed by Chic at Any Age 
1. What makes you blog? 
I love to jot down my thoughts and had a propensity to do so on scraps of paper. Blogging gave me a platform to record my ramblings  - it's easier to locate my computer than random pieces of paper. What sustains my blogging are the community of interesting and inspiring people I've met as well as the friendships I've forged through my blog.

2. What beliefs sustain you?  
The philosophy of Buddha and the 10 commandments are a good guiding lights, which is not to discount the teachings of other religions. But I'm most comforted by the belief that, in general, individuals are inherently good.  I strongly believe that healthy communities enable the best to be brought out in people. 

3. What is the biggest risk you have taken? 
Buying my first property (on my own) at the age of 24. It was the  mid 1970's and the bank claimed that I was the first single female to whom the company had ever given a home loan.
Second biggest risk was buying a house in France, sight unseen!

4. What does getting older mean for you? 
Getting older means getting closer to the end of life’s conveyor belt (with a wiser head on my shoulders). I'm hoping like crazy, that the speed of this contraption slows downs rather than accelerates as I inch closer to the end! 


5. How do you best relax? 

Relaxation is best achieved by a fusion of music, meditation and walking.(Still convinced that I'm a middle aged hippy?)

6. What is your favourite outfit?  
There isn't one! I favour comfort and natural fibres over synthetics- which extends to my undergarments. (Poor Mr R!). Prefer classic pieces to fashion, love ballet pumps (with almost anything) and can't go past a well cut pair of jeans. But I feel my best when wearing heals and an elegantly cut dress or suit - natural fibres of course. And I couldn't live without my leather gloves in the cooler weather.

7. What is a colour you love/hate and why?
My favourite colour depends on time and place. Am I wearing it, painting it on a wall, covering my chairs, wrapping a present, buying clothing for someone else or for me? At this age and stage of my life, the basics in my wardrobe are black, which I accessorise with colour.
 

8. Whom would you most like to interview?
Nelson Mandela – I would love to cultivate some of his faith, patience optimism and forgiveness.     

9. Who inspires you?

If I were asked WHAT inspires you, my answer would be simple - nature. 
No one person inspires me. Inspiration comes from many directions –  those who are the victims of life's challenges and tragedies yet manage to keep going and raise a smile; people who contribute positively to humanity; a person who can truly forgive when it is contrary to do so; those who give unselfishly to serve others; my parents and family…………

10. What was your most embarrassing moment?  
Most embarrassing? My teenage years had embarrassment on tap! I was far too sensitive and a perfectionist. Glad I’ve grown out of that! (Well almost....)

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11. What would you like your epitaph to be? 
"In her own way, she helped to make the world a better place".

Now to you. A voluntary invitation to play is extended to the following bloggers and also to anybody else who would like to contribute.
classic • casual • home
French Basketeer
La Pouyette
Lost in Arles
my french country home 
Paris and Beyond
PlumSiena
... meine Dinge ...
That's Not My Age
Your Eleven questions are: 

1. What is the object(s) of your desire?
2. Which is your signature song and why?
3. Your favourite quote and why?
4. If you could choose only one fashion icon throughout history, who would it be?
5. What is your one characteristic that you would rather keep hidden?
6. Identify one ritual or tradition that you couldn’t live without.
7. If there were one characteristic about people or the human race you could change, what would it be?
8. What are your passions that sustain you?
9. What is your most treasured possession – why?
10. As Sinatra sang, “Regrets, I’ve a few....” What is your greatest regret?
11. What is your greatest extravagance?

* All photos, except for the image of the water droplet, are courtesy of Goggle images. Please contact me if are the owner of one of these images so you may be acknowledged.