08 January 2014

It suddenly felt like spring today.



My potting bench.


I know a lot of my followers are fighting their way through deep snow,
but so far our weather has been very mild this winter but wet.
Today we actually had blue sky and sunshine,
which is why I felt it was like spring.

I thought I'd do a bit of tidying up, doing things I'd left for another day.
That other day has been a long time coming due to sever back and leg pain
which I now find is Arthritis.

In late October and early November I planted a lot of new bulbs
along with the ones from last year which had been stored in the shed. 
I  thought they had all been planted, 
well look what I found, tulip bulbs which had started to sprout











I'm not able to do serious digging yet, so when I saw this trough with a lonely Pansy in bloom
from last spring, I decided to shove the tulip bulbs into the trough.
and hope they'll grow.





There were still plenty of bulbs left, so they were pushed into this green container.






When I plant things in the garden I usually push a stick in the ground
as I get a bit forgetful these days, it reminds me that I've planted something there.

I thought this pot needed something a little more decorative than a stick or cane.
so I chose my little garden whimsies.





I know spring is a long way off yet.
and I'm sure we'll have  lots more sunny days 
but while I wait for these tulips to sprout a bloom,
these little figures make the flowerless pot look a bit more cheerful.






I hope my sunshine day was able to bring a little sunshine into your day 
what ever type of weather you are having.



à bientôt
Barbara Lilian


31 December 2013

New Year 2014

A friend sent this to me today
and
I'd like to share it with you.




Happy New Year.





I'm full of hope for this coming New Year.
I hope you are too.



à bientôt
Barbara Lilian

30 December 2013

FRUGAL STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY




It will soon be  NEW YEAR 2014

Every year I like to try to do something new.
So 
 I have just signed up to participate in an on line course 
of 8 weeks for still life photography.
you can join too.
But you will have to be quick it starts on 6th Jan -24th Feb 2014


If you're interested   Click Here  and check it out 
@ Cheryl McCain Photography



Last year Mr France bought himself a new camera a PANASONIC DMC- FZ 48
 I have been trying my hardest to learn how to use it, taking photos for my blog.
My camera is also a Lumix-Panasonic DMC-TZ4 which I call an aim and shoot.
No fiddly buttons and just a few menus.

I wasn't going to tell you, I was going to wait and see if I made any progress,
but I'm sure there's lots of you out there,
 just like me,
 who would like to be able to take better photos.

I hope the above link Click Here works I'm not very good at linky things.

 I'm also going to put Cheryl's button on my side bar.

I'm feeling very excited, I can't wait to try!


Wishing  all my friends

A HAPPY NEW YEAR 
2014




I found this on a blog I read today, however I can't remember who's it was.
If it was yours, please let me know.
 I thank you and hope you don't mind me using it.



à bientôt
Barbara Lilian




21 December 2013

My Christmas Decor



My Christmas decorations have been minimal this year.
as Mr France and I will be spending the holiday with our daughter and our grandsons.

No sapin de noel .
a
 few branches collected from the woods, with some of my favourite things hanging from the twigs. 























 Present wrapping time, using my vintage lace.

and
another chance to use the music.





I wish all my friends and followers a wonderful

 Happy Christmas.

Joyeaux Noel


God Jul.



 à bientôt
Barbara Lilian






15 December 2013

Some of my decorations, using the pages of music.








Since all the pondering about defacing the music book
I've had a great time making cards
in fact
many cards, which have all been to sent to friends and family.








Then  I made these cones, which I remembered seeing last year
 in my favourite Danish magazine.


This is my variation.





The cones can be hung from a beam 
or placed on a side table with baubles popped inside,
or if you have a large tree they could look lovely hanging from a branch










 Many years ago I used to make little cushions with vintage lace which I put on our bed
and I have lots of odd pieces left over from my collection .
So it was just the thing to add to the vintage theme of the sheet music.











I also had some clear baubles I'd bought a while ago
and wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them !

I'd seen a few ideas in a magazine, using paper in different colours
 cut into strips and placed inside. so that gave me the idea to use the music.





 I still have a few other ideas for things to do, if I get time.







I hope you like what I chose to do with some of the pages from the book.






As Mr France & I will be spending the Christmas holiday with our daughter and our grandchildren
I haven't decorated a tree this year.
But I've had lots of enjoyment making these decorations, which I'll give to her and have the pleasure of seeing how she will display them in her home.





à bientôt


Barbara Lilian