Take up your pen...........

I have plans to write letters as promised.

Some of you will remember the secretary I put in the guest room last year ~ part of the French inspired decorating project? Even before I spent October in France I was already embracing the French look. I've no idea why I'm becoming a Francophile this late in life. To think I lived for almost 19 years just across the English Channel, almost able to see the distant coastline on a clear day, but never made it to France then!

Maybe it's because part of my English family live there now. Much of it revolves around simplicity and the old ways. Living, or staying for a while, in an old village truly makes you see life differently............perhaps writing by hand is all part of the magic.

Pen, ink, sealing wax and seal..............lovely paper, envelopes.

The desk, a lamp to light the room as dusk falls, lavender in glass to perfume the air..........

.............a chair nearby. Take up the pen, the words will come.

My French writing box from J. Herbin

~ Producteur d'encres et de cire depuis 1670 ~

~ Producer of inks and wax since 1670 ~

Hope you have decided to write by hand to someone special.

Winter Dressing

~~~~~~Time for a fashion article perhaps~~~~~~

I've always loved Winter clothes. Moving South many years ago I really missed dressing for the chilly months. Coming from damp old England, then New England where the Winter months could be brutal, I found I no longer required heavy wool overcoats and slacks, itchy turtleneck sweaters and snow boots. But I've missed these. I feel they can be so much more elegant than the basic warm weather uniform that many of us can wear almost year round in the South.

I was always a bit of a 'clothes horse' who grew up with a mother who sewed the latest fashions for me and then taught me dressmaking skills. As years have passed my lifestyle has changed. I now wear more casual clothes as opposed to the dressy outfits I wore when I was a working gal!

Although I didn't visit Paris in October, I did spend a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence. This is one very fashionable city. The shops were wonderful and their Winter offerings were tempting. Only a French woman can wear a scarf and make it look so fabulous. Aix is full of students from all around the world, they certainly knew how to pull neat looking outfits together on a budget, sometimes just adding that fabulous scarf or a knitted hat.

I love texture........knitted scarves, sweaters, cardigans.

I'm really for neutrals when it comes to color - give me black, brown, oatmeal and grey and my wardrobe is happy!

Window shopping in Aix-en-Provence ~ October 2008

I've been kicking myself for not buying a pair of fabulous French boots while in Aix ~ not snow boots, elegant soft leather dress boots in a gorgeous, perhaps unusual, color.

Beautiful boots!

Well I did decide to buy tall leather boots in December. After all there's no rule that says Southern ladies can't wear boots in the sunshine, is there? I'm so happy because with the temperatures down in the single digits at night these past few days, it's not only boots with warm pants tucked in, it's a turtleneck, a cardigan, a soft wool muffler, a pull on hat and a pair of wool gloves that go up to the elbows! Add the LL.Bean faux sheepskin coat and what do you have, a vision from Winter up North of course!

*************

Do you like the latest fashions? Do you even care what's in style? Do you think current styles are mediocre/boring? Where do you prefer to shop for clothes ~ large department stores crammed with racks of clothes and designer brands; small national chains such as JJill and Chico's; locally owned boutiques; Target, K-Mart/Sears and similar stores; thrift/vintage shops?

Pink Saturday

Thoughts of pink~~~~~~~~~~~

Even during these freezing cold January days I have thoughts of my favorite Spring flower. When I flip this switch with the pretty pink tulip switch plate, the dining room is brightly illuminated by the chandelier over the table.

Looking about I see some touches of pink such as the pots I enjoy decoupaging...........

.................and the vintage window with more pink blossoms.

Can you tell I love pink tulips? I even plant them in the garden, my favorite being Pink Impression, a Darwin tulip with a huge deep pink cup, long-lasting bloom, with sturdy stems that hold up in Springtime breezes. I love them with Queen of the Night, the dark purple tulip closest to black ~ will show you some come Spring!

Hope this will be a great Pink Saturday in your town. Even here in central North Carolina we are now experiencing some very low temperatures ~ you will be assured of pink cheeks if you step outside!

Hurry on over see our hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound and get a warm pink feeling by visiting both old and new friends.

Friday's Favorite Family Foto

This photo would have been taken in early 1945. My father was in the Royal Air Force during World War II. My mother left the Air Force to have me and was most likely working as a dressmaker in my home town of Torquay.....................and you can bet your boots she made that stylish dress with the Peter Pan collar just for me!

Notice I was wearing the famous Clark's sandals even at that young age. I remember having them in brown, navy and a deep red, with the non-slip crepe rubber sole.......just like every other British child. I think I continued wearing them until age ten as they were standard issue for kids, then finally put my foot down - no pun intended - and begged for grown-up footwear!

Have to say though, they were very comfortable.

The wall we are sitting on is still there and is a favorite spot to have a photo taken along the seafront promenade.

This is the only photo I seem to have of myself with both my parents when I was very young. I'm guessing it was due to it being wartime.

Visit Deborah, our hostess, at Pictures, Pots & Pens today, just know there are other great family photos to see.

Celebration Giveaway

I can't believe it!

I've just reached my 500th blog post.

What a ride this has been and what a lot of wonderful new friends I've gathered around me along the way! Thanks so much for taking the time to visit, read, and leave your much appreciated comments on my blog. Some of you I've had the great pleasure of meeting in person here in the USA, and overseas in France last October. Perhaps on my next trip home to England in the Spring I will meet more blog friends. To those who've taken the time to share their stories and interests with me for almost two years, thank you. For those who've become new visitors to Across the Pond recently, a hearty welcome and please keep coming back as I just love to hear from everyone.
In two years of blogging my list of friends around the world has grown by leaps and bounds. I try very hard to keep up with everyone, but I have to admit it's difficult.......I must get some sleep now and then! If I've missed leaving YOU a comment lately please forgive me.........and then tell me how to get more hours into my day!

Above, Court China made in England by William Lowe from 1874-1931. This china is translucent and delicate, the pattern colors are dark blue and rust with gilt trim. I inherited part of a tea service from my Mother including the teapot, cream and sugar pots, two cups and saucers and two plates. Imagine my delight when, last Summer, I found several more matching cups, saucers and plates at SuzAnna's Antiques here in town!

William Lowe's trade journal advertisement of 1875

Being born and raised in England I do of course love all things English. Two favorites have to be a good cup of tea and the scenic English countryside.

To thank you for your friendship, I'm happy to share some small British treasures. These will include an antique Court China cup and saucer, the backstamp dates it between 1874 and 1912; a rose pink Irish linen tea table cloth and serviettes; a box of Harrods excellent English Breakfast teabags; and a lovely book about the Cotswolds featuring John Tookey's watercolor paintings. I may also tuck in a little surprise ~ who knows what I might discover just for you in the next couple of weeks!

All will be carefully packed and mailed from my cottage to the winner in early February.

To enter this giveaway celebrating my 500th post, leave a comment on this post only by Saturday, January 31. The winner's name will be drawn February 2 ~ Groundhog Day!!

Restoration for the soul....and dining room

Shades of grey ~ Appartement Chanvre ~ La Madone, Provence.

It's that time of year again. The cottage needs a little TLC here and there. My dh held his breathe and sighed while I trotted joyfully to the paint chip displays in the big box DIY store. Now they are stuck in the door moldings and window frames so the colors can be viewed in the changing light of day and night. These may not be my final choice but they are a start.

Since staying at La Madone in Provence last October, the peaceful shades of grey, the palest hint of blue edged in white have interrupted my sleep and invaded my dreams. Don't get me wrong, I love the warm neutrals of cream, linen, oatmeal too, but as my dining room is a South facing sunny space, I think I can safely try these French shades to change the look of the room without it feeling cold.

I have a great painter who will do this job because it's more than just slapping on a coat of pure color. The 1980's popcorn ceiling has to go ~ big messy job! There is a large crack in the corner wall beyond the hutch requiring attention ~ guess the cottage has settled a bit in her old age ~ and the wallpaper border will have to be removed. There is a chair rail in this room. Several years ago I wallpapered below with a heavy embossed paper similar to Lincrusta which is used a lot in England to hide flaws in old construction. I love this look and have repainted the paper a couple of times. I'm thinking of painting above the chair rail in a very pale grey with just a hint of blue, and the paper below in a shade just a tad deeper. I'm not going for a blue room, just the palest blue grey.

Can my Welsh Dresser change its nationality and become French? After packing away the china for a while, I'm thinking of repainting it French grey which will be a fresh background for my white and cream china. This dresser is in two pieces and the last time I painted it I was able to lay the top section flat on the dining room table making it a much simpler job........I think!

Appartement Chanvre dining area at La Madone, Provence.

The plan is still only in my head right now and I'll let you know when things start moving.

Do you have any redecorating projects in mind for this year?

Time and Thyme again

Like most of us in the Northern hemisphere, I haven't done a garden post in a couple of months or more. My garden is sleeping. Shrubs and plants were hibernating until after Christmas when a sudden warm snap changed things. Here in the Southeast US, lack of snow cover and many days in the sunny 50's and 60's mean we do have a few plants strutting their stuff, trying to impress us.

I guess 'Thyme' waits for no man after all.............it's blooming in the sunshine and even the Sage in this same pot has a few fresh leaves...............I must create a Winter dish with fresh herbs.

Being vegetarian for more than thirty years, I have collected some great recipes including this Winter favorite, Bean & Winter Squash Stew with Chili, Mint and Cream.

Bluebell bulbs - behind the pansies - are already peeking through.

The pansies, ah the sweet pansies. How they love the chilly weather when the sun also shines. They add color to the layer of oak leaves used as mulch. Always deadhead your pansies to ensure many new blooms and spreading growth through late Spring ~ once the heat of Summer arrives, sadly, they leave us.

These bright Violas are happy in their large pot and will grow into a huge clump by Spring.

Unfortunately no hibernating hedgehogs in my garden, but I recall the real one in my childhood garden in England ~ he spent his Winter under the same hedge for years.

Interesting garden notes from the great UK Country Living magazine ~ I was happy to learn that ivy does NOT kill trees. I love the romantic look of it climbing skyward and have to admit I have some in my garden doing just that!
Yes, we must do more to protect our birds, especially in new housing developments where the land is often stripped of trees and shrubs.

All garden photos taken yesterday, January 12, 2009

What's happening in your Winter garden? Is your 'green acre' more white than green these days?