Minerve

During our month in France last Autumn, an interesting day trip in the Languedoc area of Southwestern France took us to another Cathar village, MINERVE.
The road winds up the valley from the Carcassonne highway, heading toward Minerve, an isolated historic village perched on an island of rock over the meeting of two rivers, the Briant and the Cesse, which tunnel through deep gorges.

The village turned Cathar at the beginning of the thirteenth century, which made it a target for Simon de Montfort's crusade. On July 22, 1210, after a seven week siege, he took the castle and 140 "parfaits" (purified souls) were burnt at the stake because they refused to deny their faith. Little is left of the fortress, except for the candela, a single slender octagonal tower. The village is a hodge-podge of narrow alleys, topped by a simple 12th century church.

Local ladies of the village enjoying Autumn sunshine.

Walking through the river tunnels is possible when the water is low.

Great restaurant where the Sunday luncheon was superb.

Sauntering through the ancient narrow streets. Little museums and shops were numerous.

Many French villages are steeped in history. Stone facades of the buildings, colorful wooden shutters, terra cotta tiles of the roofs, and the cobbled streets, have soaked up centuries of living.

Minerve, an ancient place which captures your heart immediately.

More to life....................

Ever feel torn and shattered because the little every day things of life come to a halt? I'm almost ready to give up computers, it has all become much too frustrating! But then I couldn't blog ~ and how I'd miss you all. If I haven't responded to an e-mail recently sent, apologies, it's gone, I've lost them all! If I don't comment on your blog for a while, more apologies. Meanwhile PC is at the doctor's office for surgery!

Spring brings a lot of work around the house and garden and I need to get it done prior to leaving for England in April.

I promise to make time to visit your blogs as soon as I can.

Hope to be back posting again soon ~ and of course I always appreciate you stopping by and leaving your kind comments dear friends.

Whose Garden?

I'm sure you have 'em too!! The acrobat of the suburban garden, the furry, tail balancing, glittery-eyed grey squirrel. Wire walking, cunning, quick as lightning, eat and chew on everything. If you watch closely you can almost see them thinking, smart little devils that they are! "Let's spend a few minutes getting the hang of this bird feeder; how about lifting the lid off the compost bin for a meal; bread for the birds, no way, it's my lunch and I plan to gobble it all."
"Squirrel-proof" is an unknown phrase in squirrel language.


Took these pics yesterday morning as the sun came up with the promise of a perfect day. Our run of pre-Spring hot days is over, we're now expecting several rainy days with cool temperatures.



This oak tree hangs over our deck and its lower branches have still to discard a few remaining dead leaves prior to new green ones bursting forth. The little broken branch always seems to have a squirrel perched on it munching an acorn or a hickory nut. In the early morning sun he almost looks like a red squirrel, which we don't have here. The surrounding trees are old and huge with dozens of squirrel nests visible high in the branches..............we just know they will be around for ever!

Who visits your garden these days? Do you enjoy watching wildlife?

Dining Room Update

Those who followed my month long visit to the South of France last October know that I fell in love with this apartment where I stayed in Provence. I was directed to La Madone by the words "the most beautiful place to stay in Provence" and was certainly not disappointed in any way. It was even lovelier than anticipated. The young owners have put heart and soul into restoring their home, and apartments, in a gorgeous old mansion in the town of Apt.

These images were taken in the apartment where DH and I stayed for a few days.

On my return, knowing I needed to get moving on the dining room renovation including ceiling and walls, I knew the direction I wanted to go. It had to remind me somehow of those restful colors and the simple elegance of La Madone.
Although Provence is known for vibrant colors, finding this gentle look which feels like stripped down French Country mixed with Swedish Gustavian, was a huge surprise. The mix of soft paint colors on the walls and old furniture, crystal chandeliers, natural linen upholstery and drapes, delicate old oil paintings without frames, old wood frames without paintings..........I fell for it all. Knowing I couldn't find, or afford, 18th century doors and precious paintings was OK. I knew I could mix paint colors and smoosh them on, sand them off, hopefully they would hold my dream. I could shop for little inexpensive treasures at local antiques and thrift shops, and I did!

This was my inspiration board ~ bits and pieces pulled together in the colors I wanted. I usually make a board before I head helter-skelter into a new project ~ it makes it easier to work this way. Below are the before and after pics of the dining room to date. Still have to recover the chair seats and make drapes.


The Welsh dresser with the colors and objects that gave it the UK Country Living look for many years. Loved it while it lasted.


Same dresser looking more sophisticated and French with blue-gray paint. Added old metal drawer pulls, white Mikasa French Countryside china which I already had, tarnished silver purchased at the Aix-en-Provence market, antique French books from a tiny back street used book store in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.


Bird homes, garden inspired items - still loved - but moved to new homes such as the front porch while new treasures take their place.


The sideboard I fell out of love with some time ago so painting it was easy. The old window with the tulips I will always love ~ the French journal pages are just taped over them in case I ever want to change again.

None of the lighting in this room has been changed as it works quite well all being cream colored. These buffet lamps are still nice with their unusual soft damask shades and look good on the dark painted top. Some day, when I find the perfect sized, affordable one, a crystal chandelier will definitely hang over the dining table.


The farm table I am delighted with. The lighter color suits the room and gives a more casual appearance. The chairs? Well you know by now that painting five chairs (yes, still one more arm chair to go but as it stays upstairs I'm not rushing to do it) was a lot of work. They required three coats, a lot of sanding and waxing to get the desired look - country and casual but still nicely finished, not just a 'whitewashed ' look. When the seats are recovered in a darker fabric they should look great.

Thanks for sticking with me while I did this room. Knowing you were also anxious to see it finished kept me going on the dark, dreary, shoulder aching days!
Upcoming projects will involve cleaning up the garden, revamping the front porch, and cleaning the back deck and gazebo now that Spring is just around the corner. I have some garden ideas using old bricks, shutters, a handmade log trellis, dishes and bric-a-brac galore.
See you in the garden.

Birds of Spring

It's amazing how, in just one week, the weather can change the look of the garden drastically. From snow and ice coating the trees and shrubs on Winter wonderland Monday, to what feels like searing Summer heat for "let's clean out the potting shed" Sunday.

The Robins, chirpy harbingers of Spring, cover the lawn looking left and right, then fly to the bird baths for a refreshing dip - they love to bathe family style.

Madame Towhee is cautious, she and her mate backscratch in the dry oak leaves still waiting to be raked from the flowers beds, and then, one at a time, take a quick drink but don't stop long enough to shower.

But the really special sighting was of this favorite, the Eastern Bluebird, who stopped by the porch railing for a couple of minutes as I passed by the dining room window, camera in hand fortunately. I had to stifle shrieks of joy, steady my hand and snap quickly through the glass. How I love these birds whose numbers were depleting for many years in North Carolina. A push to hang the type of nesting boxes they require has been hugely successful and they are back. The family that visits our garden has been coming for three years now ~ it's a good feeling. But, I must be honest ~ they've yet to actually nest in the lovely handcrafted bluebird box I hung ~ maybe this will be the Spring they realize it's a little house waiting just for them, no mortgage required!

................and yes, I do plan to clean out the potting shed this morning, so must away. Hope Spring is on its way to your garden.

Browsing & Buying with Brits!

Perhaps you're familiar with Noel Coward's song with the line 'Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun'. I always chuckle over it because many people do think the English are somewhat eccentric. Be it so, we are also quite a friendly breed. Somewhat reticent at first meeting............well the first minute or so, but give us a chance and then you can't shut us up! Last Saturday I met Sharon while sipping a hot chocolate in pouring rain at SuzAnna's Antiques. After just a 'hello' we immediately recognized one another as being from 'across the pond', exchanged pleasantries, interests in antiquing, thrifting and junking, phone numbers, and planned to meet again. 'Again' was yesterday and not only did Sharon come back, she brought Gail her Brit sister along ~ imagine three of us rummaging and treasure hunting through the ever expanding and more fabulous by the week SuzAnna's.

Being so excited at having fellow countrywomen around, I forgot to check the setting on my camera and just started shooting. Therefore you get these artistic shots in color accent which I think turned out quite interesting. Voila, SuzAnna's new look!

I adore this statuette of a little girl. She reminds me so much of my friend Jeanne who leaves her mountaintop home in Western North Carolina and comes to shop at SuzAnna's. Jeanne is recuperating from knee replacement surgery and we are missing her ~ hurry and get well and get back down to the valley soon sweet Jeanne.

Seeing the old style wood shoe trees made me think about getting out my flip flops, especially with the temps. now in the 70's...........then polishing, stuffing the Winter boots and shoes with stretchers and shoe trees, and putting them away until Fall.


Plenty of glitter going on currently at the shop. Dangling crystals, a personal favorite, on everything from chandeliers to lampshades and candlestick bobeches....and even vintage evening wear and purses. Soon I'll show you what I found with crystals for my front porch!


Love this lamp, and of course the tureen which I had to turn a blind eye to, AND be handcuffed so I couldn't pick it up and carry it to the cash register! No more tureens until after the soup supper......and then only if one gets broken! The lamp has the neatest idea for a shade, a regular one trimmed with beaded fringe and a stripped down bare bones frame placed over it - I love it. Susie then tied a delicate lace scarf around it with a big rhinestone brooch in front. How romantic this would look in a bedroom.


Then there was this adorable lamp for all the lovers of small dog breeds such as terriers. This little Westie guy is, I'm sure, waiting patiently in hopes his Scottie partner will soon show up with a bottle of Scotch!!

Lastly, the linens are just getting lovelier at SuzAnna's. These small pieces spill out of drawers, while back in other areas of the shop there are stacks of linens displayed in armoires and cupboards.

This absolutely beautiful table runner, now gracing my new country table, is a linen gift received from the owners of SuzAnna's, Susie and her daughter Jenny, also Linda their fabulous assistant and in-house decorator, in fact everyone connected with the shop. It was wrapped and tied in lace with a sweet card thanking me for 'being me'. How unexpected and appreciated. Thank you all so much ~ it's perfect in the new French dining room.

Support your local 'junk' shops!

I just know a country dining room in France probably wouldn't have something as silly as a decoupaged light switch! The timeless elegance present in an old room with panelled walls, faded paint, tiled floors, and shuttered windows, wouldn't need a modern bibelot! Instead, the well worn table, and much used china and silverware, would be the center of daily living.



I removed the pretty tulip switch plate to an upstairs location after finding this one in a local shop. I think it's perfect for the dining room so decided it was a small, new item I should buy.


This beautiful metal candlestick, complete with crystals, was a recent find at SuzAnna's Antiques.It looks quite French and, after a good clean, really sparkles, AND it was half the price of the switch plate!


That same day I spied the reeded soup tureen (right in photo) which has joined the tall French shaped one on top of the dresser. I certainly have a penchant for white/cream tureens and my collection now totals eight. Some day a supper soup party will be planned.........or perhaps running a soup kitchen might be good idea in these tough economic times!

Sometimes all it takes to finish off a room are a few inexpensive items found at a local antiques or thrift shop. I believe one needs to develop 'an eye' when shopping in such places because it can look like an overwhelming array of what my DH calls, 'other peoples' junk'. Let's forgive him for that statement, obviously he's not a creative guy but does have many other stellar attributes......and he usually ends up liking the 'junk' I bring home.
While browsing, always remember to look UP. Above your head you may see things hanging........chairs, large framed artwork, garden tools, old stained glass windows, shutters, and of course fabulous chandeliers and other lighting fixtures.


The more often you are able to browse these types of shops, which are akin to the brocantes of France, the more you will be able to spy that perfect little treasure for your home. Much less money will be spent than buying new. Much more love and appreciation for the past will be felt after you shine it up and place it in a special place. I'm convinced that the fabulous people who get up early to shop the flea markets and yard sales, or stay late at the country auctions bidding on boxes of treasures to haul back to their shops, are the people who are recycling the past so that we will have a better future.