I feel like spring is on it's way.

Today I felt a little bit of spring had arrived at my house.  So I decided to do make some changes on my blog.  First was to get rid of the snow scene header picture with  the falling snow. I know it's a little early but it brightened up my day browsing through my files of flower pictures to share some with you. I hope it brightens your day.

Just a week ago we had snow and were waiting for the snow plough to come to clear the road outside of our house, and today we had blue sky, which always makes me feel so much happier.

The view from the garden.

All the bare trees waiting for their leaves to start sprouting.

I  took a walk around the garden to see if there was any sign of growth after it had been under a blanket of snow. To my surprise I saw the green tips of the tulips sprouting, much earlier than usual this year.

This is what they'll look like when they are in flower.
A dwarf variety (sorry I don't know the name) which stay in flower for a long time. 

Our son & his lovely wife used to live here before they moved to Denmark, her own part of the world .

These little tulip bulbs were planted by them almost 15 yrs ago.

A pretty bunch of pink tulips to brighten up the table.

This picture was taken at one of our favorite walking places, part of the lake is still frozen.

 Even though spring hasn't really arrived 

I hope my little bit of early spring 

will cheer you up as much as it has for me.

A bientot

Barbara Lilian.

Some snowy scenes in France

We've had several snow falls this week on and off and our forecast is more again this weekend .

I know it's winter and we should expect snow, but I just wanted to show you a few pictures.

Isn't this fantastic

I found it on Pinterest.

The 1st blanket of snow.

Our House from a distance.

La Petite Maison terrace.

Our farming neighbour from the next hamlet.
Hope he comes past our house to clear the road.

This picture was taken from the balcony.
Two young Deer looking for food.
Hope they hide tomorrow, as it's the day of the local Chasse/hunt.

Couldn't resist showing you this one
for all my lovers of Paris.
I found  it on Pinterest.

Hope you enjoyed sharing my snow scenes.

If you have snow keep warm.

A bientot 

Barbara Lilian.

French wine and comfort food

Does the weather effect how you feel.?

A while ago on my post I've been tagged, I mentioned I was a sunshine girl, so as our weather has been awful, with grey skies & rain for weeks, I'm feeling at my lowest. Even if the sky was blue, I'm sure I would  feel better, I need some sun.

As we can't do very much about changing the weather, my other half took over today and did the next best thing for me.

                                                  First some warmth  from our wood burner.

Maybe some Glogg / mulled wine

                                         The wine was  Beaune  from the Bourgogne region

 He  said he would cook dinner and open a nice bottle of wine to drink with it.

Our friends from the Bourgogne ( our daughters mother in law ) brought us some wine from Beaune which we usually save for a special occasion  and seeing me so miserable he opened our gift.

This was how it came gift wrapped with a sommeliers apron on it
Only the French could gift wrap like this.

I bet your wondering what our comfort food was ?

Nothing fancy but just good comfort food  'Toulouse sausages & mashed potatoes.'
 for a cold wet miserable day.

served with a very nice glass of Bourgogne wine. 

And do you know what ?

It did the trick.

What's your comfort food.?

A bientot

Barbara Lilian

New Year and New Thoughts.

How have you started off the new year 2013 ?
I'm full of new thoughts and new ideas for making changes for this year.

A few years ago we put our property up for sale, and then house prices dropped, so we forgot about selling. Now after a family get together and listening to the thoughts from our son and daughter, we feel now is the time  to try selling again  and move on to pastures new.

My mind is working overtime thinking about painting everywhere white and to 'declutter'  as the TV house  programme advise.

Hubby was away yesterday and I spent the afternoon browsing through some of my favourite magazines to give me some ideas and inspiration.

Whenever we bought property we didn't bother about the decor, it could easily be changed. We looked at the size of the rooms & how that could be changed if needed, then the view. Now however the agents  seem to want it all spic & span. 

Have a peep at some ideas I found which would certainly fit into the style of our home as it is and we already have lots of pieces similar to some of these, which if given a coat of paint could give the room a whole new look.

Pictures from

Deco de Charme / Maisons a Vivre Campagne.

Country Homes & Interiors.

What do you look for in a property when you are wanting to buy another house ? 

I'd love to hear some of your points of view, it might save us repainting everywhere !

A bientot.

Barbara Lilian

Advent wreath.

The 1st of December is the beginning of  advent leading up to Christmas. This is a centuries old religious tradition, which originally started in Germany and over the centuries as with most things has greatly changed through the different religions.
The wreath was originally made from pine sprigs on which were placed three purple candles and the fourth and final one was white which symbolised Christ.
The first candle is lit on the 1st Sunday of December and each following Sunday another candle is lit, finally the last candle is lit on Christmas eve.

Now in modern times it has become a Christmas decoration of  personal taste, style and choice. but I love the idea of still keeping a tradition, even though the religious part seems to have been forgotten.

Here are a few ideas which I like and  have taken from my favourite magazine.

Have a peep, it might give you an idea and inspiration to make your own.

Something simple and rustic.

Made with pine cones and winter nuts glued to a raffia base.

This one has the candles placed on a plate

with pine cones sprinkled with glitter & scattered around 

and a few specially chosen decorations tucked in between the cones.

Shabby chic.

 A little bit of purple crept in.

( I'm still not sure about purple for Christmas !)

 This one is has a romantic feel to it.

Hope you liked the ones I have chosen and it has inspired you to make your own.

If it hadn't been raining today I would have been out foraging in the woods for all the bits of greenery needed to make my advent wreath, Oh well I still have tomorrow, at least  I've got my candles.

So fingers crossed it's not raining and come back tomorrow 

to see how my advent wreath looks.

A bientot.

Barbara Lilian