Dream Country Chat

HORSING AROUND

I have had a great weekend at Blair Athol Horse Trials. A very picturesque location in the Scottish highlands, and even tho the weather wasn't great on Friday, it cleared on Saturday and the whole place came alive and looked wonderful.

A truly international event, but still a very British affair.

Ignore the mud and admire the elegant dressage rider and beautiful horse.

Horses, horses everywhere..................

Relaxing between their classes.

Ralph in action on Fanta.

ok, slightly different horses in the trade stands.

Lots and lots of trade stands. I behaved very well and just bought a coat for Idgy and a crown for myself . Will explain the latter tomorrow.

A lovely location.

Olympic rider Mark Todd going clear.

Our team.

Not forgetting Yosie, ain't he cute!

A great weekend, muddy but fun. thanks guys.

Karon x

A PRETTY MOMENT

Mr X painted the outside of the house while I was away. He also painted this little rose bush. I think the white spotty-ness looks lovely. This is a single little rose bush that grows at the side of the house all on its own and has been there since we moved in 14 years ago.  I think the white spots add even more character - surely a rare delight to have a speckled rose.

Unfortunately within a matter of hours the rain started pouring down and my poor little rose fell apart completely. Speckled and fleeting, c'est la vie.

Have a great weekend.

Karon x

PAINTING CHRISTMAS

Aha, bet you thought this was yet another Frenchy posting, oh no, this is merely my paint box.

Here is the paintbox open and in action. Whilst you have been taking a leisurely stroll through rural France with my photos for the past week, I have been beavering away on  stock for Christmas. Oh dear the dreaded 'C' word.

After lots and lots of trial and error I have decided to just go for one simple card design this year. Working on the American 'Kiss' system (Keep it Simple stupid) I have gone for a cut out gingham heart to match all the other goodies I do and the little holly and Joy stamp with hand painting.

Will it sell? I don't know, but I like the mix of the fabric and the painting. The texture and the lightness of the water colour. Do let me know your views, I love to get feedback when I'm working on something new.

It is dry today for the first time since I got home over a week ago. at last I can get out and harvest some of the herbs. The garden looks like a tangled woodland and wouldn't be out of place in your average fairy tail. See elves skipping through the dark deep forrest of mint and fairies sleeping in the chamomile. Smells gorgeous but really has to be harvested very soon.

Hey ho, to the garden I go.....

Karon x

FRENCH SNAPS

Today is the last day of my photos from France. It is just a sort of hodge-podge of photos I like that haven't really gelled with the groups I have done over the past week. Sort of snippets of France I guess.

My word for the above photo of the lake - Serenity.

A door bell to make an entrance with.

Diamond, one of Martin's horses. I just loved the look in her eye, calm and gentle. Totally at odds with her demeanor in the jumping ring. This lady is an enigma.

Yes, yes, has to be done, France and grapes. sorry to be so obvious.

A beautiful calm lady at the side of the road. Statues like this really make you stop in your tracks and think. I don't mean that you have to pray or anything (you can if you want tho) for me the beauty of the statue speaks volumes. She stands outside the little sleepy village. She is old and worn, with the patina of age, the crumbling of plaster and the loss of paint. She is truly beautiful.

Like stepping back in time. Shop signs that are works of art in their own right.

Who wouldn't want to stay in a B&B with such a pretty sign as this.

Just baling twine tied up on an old post in a barn. I liked the rustic feel  and the texture of this photo. In real life the twine in bright blue, the black and white really does it a favour I think.

Stonework on the front of a townhouse in Mont de Marsin. This lovely lady is holding up a balcony.

Corner shop, the French even manage to do this in style.

My favourite tree in the paddock outside Martin and Ann's house. This always makes me think of the Lightning Tree from Follyfoot. Showing my age here, do you remember Follyfoot on TV all those years ago. The title music was a song called The Lightning Tree. Well this always comes to mind when I look at this gorgeous tree. Doesn't it look magnificent in the sunset.

Early morning with misty sunlight. The corn (maize) in the foreground is the staple crop of the Landes region and grows everywhere. It stands 2m tall with almost an oppressive air to it. There are new houses here and there and their gardens are surrounded by the fields of maize. You almost feel as if the humans have been lent the space and the maize will take it back at any moment.

My favourite little corner of the world.

Karon x

FRENCH DOORS

There is something about french doors and gates that really attracts me.

Their worn and aged appearance speaks of times past and secrets hidden therein.

Even bright colours in the sunlight speak of interest and charm.

My favourites are the old doors, with peeling paint and rusty furnishings. Have they been opened today? Or was this door closed on the outside world long ago?

 

Gateways, the same as a door, just the door to a garden. You can see the secrets beyond, but still the life is hidden from our understanding.

 

The finishing touch, the strength to lock away the outside world and keep those secrets safe.

The key to my heart. France.

Karon x

FRENCH FLOWERS

You guys are just so darn nice, I have had some lovely emails and comments on my latest batch of French photos. I have to admit, I went a bit mad with the camera this time. Anyway I sorted through the rest of them last night and I think you just have to have another couple of days of Frenchy Pix inflicted on you.

The geraniums were of course in full swing and just about everywhere. I love this set up of pots and pipes to display them, and the blue door just adds the finishing tough.

 

All the texture behind this rose just makes its fragility and beauty all the more stunning.

Even taking away the striking yellow colour of the rose, there is still drama there.

It is the colour all the way on this one. So soft and muted with the blues and purples and pinks just merging into each other.

The wild flowers were a treat. Every field seemed to sport a covering of dancing blooms. This is all so different from a scant 6 weeks ago when I was over there last time. Then the garden flowers took centre stage. Now most have died back in the hot sun, instead the wild flowers are showing their colours everywhere you look.

It's that wall again. I love the peeling paint and plaster with the softness of the flowers.

Not all softness and colour tho. These spiky guys are everywhere and show the tougher side of sunshine.

My favourite flower of all, Idgy in pensive mood by the lake at Hagetmou. Somehow black and white suits this photo perfectly.

Imagine all these flowers together in a bunch. Got it, can you see them, hold them, smell them? Okay, they are yours, my bunch of flowers to you this morning to wish you a very happy week whatever you are doing...............

Karon  x

THE BRICKS OF FRANCE

Push open the gate and enter my virtual tour of lovely old buildings etc in South West France.

I offer you no Eiffel Tower, Louvre or Palace de Versailles. Instead high drama mixed with a rustic simplicity.

 

Elegance and practicality.

Colour and charm.

 

A tactile rusticality that makes you catch your breath.

 
Magnificence on a human scale.

Beauty that is great but still approachable.

And rural rustic charm that just blows your mind.

That is my rather simplistic view of French architecture, how I like to see it. It is beautiful.

Enjoy your weekend.

Karon x

FRENCH BROCANTE

Last week we went to the Port de Lanne Brocante. It is an annual event and lasts for two days taking up almost the entire village. Every street is full of stalls selling everything from old bicycles to vintage fabrics, fabulous furniture to bird cages, and just about anything else you can imagine in between.

I loved the bike with little sidecar. Perfect for taking teddy for a spin!

 

There were fabulous boxes of laces everywhere. I could have spent all day there rootling about and searching out goodies.

Boxes of treasures were propped up everywhere. I loved these glass decanter tops and wish I could have lots for spice lids.

Old toys were delightful and carried you back to childhood dreams.

Lots of old boots and clogs that could tell stories all their own.

And shoe forms by the dozen. I love these and have a couple of pairs at home.

This shop till caught my eye, isn't it amazing.

Here are some of my little buys. Sadly the gorgeous furniture etc was way out of my price range, but I was thrilled to find this gorgeous old fabric lined sewing basket for just a couple of euros. there is also another basket at the back. It is like a fisherman's basket in box shape with lid and long strap.

I bought this gorgeous linen. It is actually old night shirts. They are made with the most amazing top quality linen, just so perfect for making little goodies here.

Here is a close up of the piece of fabric I bought. Did think this would make some fab scent bags. But no, by the time I got home to Martin and Ann's place I had already made it up into a skirt (in my mind at least) so that is the plan for it. Something fabulous for me to wear.

I also bought this little print. It's a Carl Vernet lithograph and I am a big fan of his work. I already have a huge coloured litho at home that I picked up at an antiques fair in Edinburgh about 20 years ago. So when I saw this little picture in a broken frame with smashed glass I just had to have it.

So there you have it. My first experience of real French brocante. I loved it. Like a cross between a car book sale and an antiques fair. Something for everyone. I could have rootled about there all day. Unfortunately it was seriously hot, hot, hot which made even the keenest hunter wilt just a little. Idgy bought some broken toy soldiers and horses, she then spent a happy day putting them back together like a jigsaw and gluing away quite the thing.

Definitely a great day out.

Karon x

MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS IN FRANCE

Hi there, back from France loaded down with photos and memories. Spent last 24 hours sorting out my photos (fun), doing washing (not fun) and filling orders (great). Now feel I am on top of things enough to put fingers to keyboard and give you an update.

I went over to France this time to sculpt horses for a friend, these are the horses in action just the other day. Rural France at it's best.

This is resulting sculpture of one of the above beasties.

This is the beautiful Arni (belonging to Martin) that I sculpted last time I was out there. This time I got his sculpture painted and complete.

Everyone seemed pleased with their models and I was certainly more than happy to be there in France doing them.

Animals were everywhere. Idgy was like the young Gerald Durrel rescuing everything that she could (whether it wanted rescuing or not). At one point she had a baby bird (see above), 2 small lizards(one without tail) and a larger lizard who not only didn't have a tail but only 3 legs. Unfortunately the cats managed to re-stake their claim to the bird and small lizards escaped. however old 3 legs was a great success as a patient and wouldn't even leave when encouraged. He was quite happy with Idgy feeding him crickets and chatting to him.

I went running while I was there and of course felt obliged to photograph the cows. Actually the running was great but I did get myself into trouble when I thought I could take a shortcut home. Ah yes, I remembered riding round a track by the woods when I was there before. So of course thought I would have no problem finding my way to a. the track, and then b. through the woods. Oh dear you just know what happened already don't you. I skipped merrily into the wood and bounded along admiring the trees and flowers and in a world of my own. It was a bit overgrown but I could see the path and carried on. Ended up with my way barred by barbed wire and lots of pigeon houses. Hmmm gone wrong way. Double back and try again. This time I go into the woods  a different way, this is my downfall. Within about ten minutes I am lost. I kept trying different tracks and always seemed to come back to the same fallen log. It was beginning to be like Groundhog Day. At one point I actually made it out of the wood but managed to end up in a maize field. Now the corn is over 6 feet tall and you can't see a thing. Panic had set in by this point and I had visions of Johnny Depp (never a bad thing) in 'Secret Window' and bodies being buried under the corn. Lose nerve and go back to woods.  Woods seriously overgrown and thorns everywhere. I am in shorts and T-shirt so am now liberally decorated with scratches and cuts. I will admit to panic by this point. I just kept going round and round. Anyway eventually I just kept on one track and when it disappeared into the undergrowth I just ploughed on getting scratched to pieces but hoping it would eventually lead me out. It did, but at another place entirely. Managed to find my way back top Eddie's house and landed there literally covered in blood from head to foot looking like I had been dragged through the proverbial hedge backwards and been beaten up by bandits at the same time. Burst manfully into tears. Spent rest of holiday with unattractive criss-cross pattern over legs rather like some macabre fishnet tights.

Anyway, back to the animals. Neighbours farm, isn't this just perfect, no modern techno-farming here. The calm and quiet countryside moves at a pace far removed from the farms round here.

The sounds are peaceful, cowbells, chickens and the buzzing of thousands of busy insects in the flowers.

And here are Bud and Tia doing what cats do best, just posing in the sun.

And the other kitten, Maria, all tangled up in her new toy.

Yes I did take other photos apart from animals, and of course I will bore you to death with them over the next few days. But it was the horses that got me there, so I had to give them the first mention.

Great big huge THANKS to Martin and Ann for having us to stay again and being such fabulous friends and hosts.

More tomorrow

Karon x

GORGEOUS GERANIUMS

I love geraniums, whether they are the brightly coloured flowering variety so beloved of the french, or the highly scented pelergonium type. geraniums do it for me every time.

This year I went for pinks as well as my standard red. I planted them everywhere. In pots, ground and in tin cans too.

I have even planted one in a wellie boot.

Ah geraniums, I love them. Now I am off to visit the french variety for 10 days. I shall chat when we get back and no doubt bore you to death with a few more photos.

Karon x