28 March 2016

Missing but active.

The month of March is nearly over . 



During the first few weeks I was busy Spring cleaning
our little holiday cottage La Petite Maison


for our first visitors.









A little French rustic adornment.
I don't think I've ever seen anyone wear the straw hat, 
but it's there just in case.

The weather was perfect to bring out the Olive tree.



We also had a lot to do outside 
 to make good after the damage from the mini tornado.


The terrace pergola and new fencing was finished in time.
For the first arrival.
Even the tulips that come up every year were in bloom. can you see them on the right ?

I'm still waiting for the pink ones I put in pots to flower. They wont be long I'm sure .
This is what they looked like last year.






March is nearly over, the clocks have been put forward an hour, 
I look forward to the longer days. 

The birds are singing morning an evening

Finding a mate

 To help build their nest


I don't think I've ever seen so many different types of finches 
altogether at the same time, in the garden.
Maybe it's because Mr France has chosen some 
different type of bird food, which he scatters on the ground.


and frantically building their nests.

We even had this visitor in the garden .
Unfortunately I didn't have my camera at the ready.

These photos are images from a source found on internet.
 The Hoopoe bird. 

I'm hoping they'll nest again near us.
We hear them but don't always see them.

There's new shoots popping up all around the garden.
What could be better. I love this time of the year.

I haven't been feeling well this past week. 
A nasty chest infection, which knocked me for six,
it was a pyjama week for me, thankfully it's slowly clearing up.


Now I'm looking forward to some warmer sunny days.
then I can get into gardening again.
Things have been put on hold, yet again. 
I was hoping to get things done 'gardening by the moon '
this Spring, but it wasn't to be. I would have liked to test 
to see if it did make any difference, when things were planted.
or pruned.    Now I'll never know.

Lets hope April won't be full of showers. 

Thanks for popping by
 and if you are new to my blog I hope you'll come back again .

Look forward to seeing you again soon.

à bientôt
Barbara Lilian

15 comments:

  1. Good Morning . . .
    at least it is morning here as I write this . . .
    I wish I was the one to be staying in your little guest house . . .
    So charming . . .
    I hope the tulips have opened and have chased away your sniffles and congestion . . .
    Happy Easter Monday . . .

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy spring !!!...your house looking good enjoy the week love from Holland love Ria x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear friend it looks like you have been quite busy. Your place for guests is so inviting. Amazing tulips as well as birds. Your finches are quite different than ours. The Hoopoe bird is beautiful. Never seen one like this before. Sorry to hear you have been under the weather. Hope you will be back in your garden soon. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's a beautiful morning on the Island -sunshine and birdsong - but I can't help but feel it would all be enhanced if I were writing from a wee stone cottage!
    I hope your nasty chest bug is soon just a bad dream and you are out and about in your garden.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Barbara, your cottage is so charming. I would love to be a guest and stay awhile. :) It sounds like you've spent a lot of time cleaning and making the visitors feel welcome in your home. Wow, that Hoopoe bird is one of the most unusual birds I've seen. It's sooooo pretty with its orange feathers. It looks like a crown of feathers on top of her head. And your pink tulips are lovely. I hope you feel better soon, Barbara.

    Take care of yourself.

    love, ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your petite maison looks delightful especially the terrace with the pergola and pots, I'm sure your guests love staying there. We'll soon be into April and some warmer weather, fingers crossed! Hope you're feeling better now.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It looks wonderful!
    What was that last bird?? Would love to know more about them....
    Happy Spring....
    Nancy
    wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Barbara, March came and went at lightening speed for me too!
    La Petite Maison looks so welcoming for your first guests of Spring.
    You've both been very busy - that storm took its toll.
    I spied the yellow tulips, they're a lovely touch. It's those extras that make some gites stand out
    and ensure return visits and recommendations.
    I love the bird life in your garden, whatever your husband is feeding them - it works!
    I hope you're well on the mend now!
    One of me friends at Mahjong yesterday had a "Tween Seasons" throat and was wheezy,
    I just hope I don't get it!
    Looking forward to seeing your Spring garden dear!
    Shane

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Barbara! Your petite maison is lovely, warm and inviting, inside and out -- And I would wear the hat! :-) March got away from me as well, and so I have high hopes and a few goals made for April. I do hope you're doing well, and are enjoying your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this beautiful holiday cottage Barbara. It is so lovely inside and out. What lucky guests who get to stay here.
    I love all the bids that found their way to your yard. Cutest little things. I love watching the birds that come and feed here and I could watch them for hours if I didn't have other things to do.
    I hope you are feeling back to yourself my dear. I had a bad flu 2 weeks ago that went into bronchitis and I am just now starting to feel myself again. I haven't been that sick in years.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your little cottage is inviting and charming as I'm sure you and Mr. France are! I would love to stay there someday...So the tornado didn't do irreparable damage...You are such an artist in creating this haven...your birds, they know a haven when they see one! Isn't the image that Meg Ryan is supposed to visualize in French Kiss, in order to keep away her fear of flying, a stone cottage? And then, in the end, she gets to live in her stone cottage in France! Hope your pajama days are over!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Barbara, the red dress is the color of the bridesmaid's dresses. Jess wanted them to be short length since it will be a summer wedding. I don't know what I'll wear yet, maybe a champagne color. I just have to wait and see what I find and what fits me hahaha. It was hard to find something to wear when Nel got married. I hope there are more choices for Jess' wedding.

    Happy April!

    ~love, ~me

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hope you're feeling better now.
    Your Cottage is gorgeous. Your friends must love coming to stay. Is that your artwork on the wall, it looks lovely.
    Enjoy the birds and the Spring sunshine it wont be long before your pink tulips are in bloom :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. La Petite Maison does look so welcoming..happy Spring to you Barbara!

    ReplyDelete
  15. It is beautiful from you, nature comes to life, great photos.

    ReplyDelete

I really love it when you leave a note in my comment box, then I know you have popped by. Thank you