Dream Country Chat

FRENCH MARKET

Shopping in france is a wonderful experience. Even the omnipresent grocery shop takes on a whole new meaning when you can stock up at an open air old fashioned market.

Colour, texture, smell, it is all there, and you can taste anything too.

From scrumptious fruit and veg in colours that dazzle the eye, to tasty sausages broughtin from the mountains.

Cheeses from mountain farms lend a pungent aroma and a taste all their own.

The seaside comes to town in the form of oysters. Fresh, fresh, fresh with the tang of salt in the air.

For a touch of summer sunshine there is golden honey, bright and colourful, tasty and so, so sweet.

But summer is drifting away and Autumn is knocking at the door with pumpkins to eat and to carve for Halloween just next week.

And of course the old French market van, an image of France in its own right

The best ever mobile shop, charm and shopping all at once.

What price B&Q when you can buy your plants and seeds from this little mini garden centre on wheels.So there you are my darlings, a little walk around the weekly market at St Sever. I hope you are now suitably hungry for the fabulous food of France.

Karon x

FRENCH DAYS

Bonjour mes amis, I am back! I have had a wonderful week in France staying with Ann and getting out and about in the gorgeous french countryside.

Instead of my usual pix of shutters and cakes I thought I would show you some of the local sights, well how I see them anyway. Today we are in Pau, a beautiful city in the very south of France in the Pyrenees.

The mountains are a backdrop to a city of contrasts.

Architecture ranges from the dramatic to the quaint.

Fountains splash in the sunshine and flags flutter in the breeze.

An orange tree brings the drama of the cathedral into a more human light

Inside it is cool, calm and beautiful.

The French even make poo bins more acceptable to have around

There are plenty of photo opportunities, the wide variety of postcards are testament to that.

Then of course you can just look at the view and take your own.

What a backdrop.

That was my arrival, a beautiful day in Pau. We walked, we shopped, we lunched, the perfect start to a lovely week in France. The weather blessed us with sunshine, crisp mornings and warm afternoons. When I arrived the mountains were still in the green of summer. When I left yesterday they had their first dusting of snow.

Karon x

FRENCH LEAVE

Bonjour mes amis, je partir pour la belle France c'est soir!  And for those of you who can't read my badly written French, I'm off to France this evening. Off for a week with my Leviche de Landes soap and salts, wish me luck guys!

I know it is a mad, mad time to skip off to France. I have all those Christmas fairs looming up in just a scant few weeks. But what the hell, I've written out a timetable of work to do when I get back, so all being well should be able to get everything done as planned.

So I'm off to catch up with my bestest buddies Ann and Martin and all my lovely new friends over in Landes. We'll be hitting a brocante at the weekend in search of gorgeous goodies at amazing prices - I hope, keeping the wine trade in business, riding fabulous horses and maybe even selling some soap! Time out of time between the trade stuff (done and ticked off the list) and the Christmas fairs looming up on the horizon.

For anyone that thinks I must be rolling in cash to jet off to France like this, I have to let you down, I ain't no jet-setter. No, I am a Ryan Air gal through and through. My max price on a flight is about £20, this time it is £5.

Did anyone see the Panorama documentary last night about Ryan Air. Wow, the boss seems a bit hyper doesn't he. Anyway for all their extra charges for everything from luggage to check in, I have to say I'm all for them. I just travel with one carry-on bag and nothing else, check in on laptop at home, turn up at airport and jump on plane. I can see how people who have lots of luggage get upset about the extra charges, but for a 'no frills' airline i think they are great. I certainly wouldn't be able to buzz back and forth to France like this if I had to pay 'normal' ticket prices. You just have to wear less clothes while you're away - or like me this time, wear about fifteen layers so you look somewhat like the Micheline Man whilst traveling, and then you have your wardrobe on your back. Slightly hot I admit, but plenty of padding.

I'm so, so glad I 'found' France this year, it is my place of sanity and slow-down, where I can just be me and get myself together. Everyone has their special place, somewhere they love to be. Of course in an ideal world your first thought for special place should be 'home', sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

So here I go, camera poised to bore you to death with yet more piccies when I get back. Miss me while I am gone, I shall miss you.

Karon x

JAM, JERUSALEM AND JOLLY GOOD FUN

 

6.45pm yesterday found me doing a wonder woman style change from dirty jeans to presentable dress, bit of make-up and a welcoming smile. Yes, I was running late for my herb talk at nearby WRI (Woman's Rural Institute) meeting. Luckily the event was being held just down the road, so I was able to fall through the doors armed with my trug full of herbs and Idgy clutching a basket of Dream Acres goodies, almost (but not quite) before the ladies themselves filed in. It was a really good evening. I was there to give my usual herb talk, what herbs to grow, their uses, where to put them, all the usual stuff that I take for granted but others love to hear. I have to admit I am a bit of a talk junkie, when I get into my stride there is just no stopping me. I am always worried that I'll come over as a bit of a nutter as I do get a tad over enthusiastic about my pet projects and favourite herbs.I took a trug full of herbs with me, luckily it wasn't raining yesterday so I could pick a good selection. I'd labeled them all with tags and put them in my old garden trug. It looked lovely and made an ideal prop for the talk. I just picked up each bunch and chatted on about how to use it and a bit of history etc. All the herbs looked suitably lovely and behaved impeccably, that is until we came to my old favourite Lovage. I'm afraid my lovely lovage  was a bit of a let down. It suffered badly from droop, dropsy and downright lethargy. While all the other herbs looked bright and pretty, good old lovage looked less than lovely and flopped from my hand in the manner of a wet flannel. A good workman never blames his tools, hmmmmm who ever said I was a good workman, of course I blamed the lovage for its poor performance and lack of interest. Nothing can make you feel more foolish than standing in front of a room full of strangers with a limp herb in your hand while trying to hold forth on just how useful and fabulous it it. Meanwhile said herb is doing its damnedest to look as weedy as possible and about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
 
Lovage aside, people seemed to enjoy the talk and came up to chat to me afterwords. It was tea and cake (lovely homemade cakes, not shop bought as above, but I didn't take my camera with me so you will have to make do) all the way and so nice to meet all these ladies who really cared about their community and each other. The WRI isn't as busy as it once was, it is dropping in membership. This seems such a pity as  it really is a group that is a force for the good. Okay, so I kept expecting Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French to come bumbling in at any moment a la 'Jam and Jerusalem' but the goodness and fellowship was all there just as it should be. Some may find it twee and old fashioned, I didn't, I found it heartening and refreshing and just what is needed in this day and age.So there you have it, my monday night, a change from my usual sewing in front of Easterners, I thoroughly enjoyed it. What did you do?Karon x

FAIR TRADING

Celebratory bubbles

Pink ones too

and of course celebratory cakes!

Yes, guys the trade fair went well. I am thrilled, stunned and amazed by the orders. Note fashion faux pas - I am wearing exactly the same outfit as I am in the posters. Buyers take pity on me, I can only afford one set of clothes!

After all my stressing after the Harrogate trade fair in the summer, would this one be worth doing etc. I had felt 'burned' by the summer fair and was really worried. Well, I  think people rather liked my goodies at this fair.

My biggest thrill tho' was for my new baby 'Leviche de Landes', my soap and salts went down a treat and will soon be popping up in shops all over the place, from Orkney to England.

All in all it was a huge success, now I have LOADS of work to do, but I am not complaining - FAR from it!

I promise I will update the web site this week and put up all the information on Leviche de Landes etc. I must organise my time and just get things done.

Now like any major celebration night I feel I must do my  'Thank yous'. Should I ramble on, should I sob like Gwyneth Paltrow, no, just a few quick words.

Thank you Rosemary for putting me up (and putting up with me) for the weekend. Great hospitality, great food, and champagne and cakes to celebrate, what a gal you are!!!

Thanks too to Naomi and Isabel for looking after Idgy for me this weekend. I couldn't have done this without you.

And Thanks too to you bloggers who sent me your good luck wishes, it worked.

I am exhausted but happy, now going to organise a work list to get things done.

Karon x

THIRST CAFE AND GORGEOUS GOODIES

 

Thirst is our local coffee shop in Stewarton. Not just a coffee shop, it has a little gallery and also a pottery studio attached that teaches classes. It makes the morning cuppa that much more interesting.

But now it has gone all posh and fab, it sells Dream Acres goodies. Actually my colours go perfectly with the burgundy painted window frames.

It is just a small display but I am hoping it will be popular and sell well.  It was fun putting together the window with Pete yesterday, tho I do think I might have had one cappuccino too many, I felt like the Duracell bunny and fairly bounced about all afternoon. Certainly got more work done, I'm sure my Tweedy Pie production was upped considerably.

I have some exciting news for you, something I have been working on for a while now. Can't tell you now, will tell you tomorrow.....

Karon x

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

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