Project 365 #35 {Last week of Summer}

So that's it, Summer is over for another year.

It's been a pretty good one.

Mostly.

Project 365 #35

Day 236 A nondescript Sunday, I explored the garden and found lots of signs of Summer passing - and far too many brambles.

Day 237 Bank Holiday Monday so obviously it rained. A quick trip to the shops and we came back with the Lego Movie. School uniforms all sorted too.

Day 238 Sorting out Wedding outfits today. Everyone had a new outfit apart form me - I had to alter a too-big dress I had only worn once to a wedding seven years ago and the shoes were recycled from my own wedding. I'm so not a girly girl so buying a new posh frock was just wasteful. I love this dress anyway and I scrubbed up ok!

Day 239 A trip into Bath today for some much needed time together. New outfit for the boy sorted and a pub lunch.

Day 240 A bit of a soggy day and the chickens were looking sorry for themselves. I'm not looking forward to the Autumn and Winter with them in the garden.

Day 241 A crazily long journey up to Sheffield today. And then it rained. We survived the family room in the hotel!

Day 242 Wedding Day! My gorgeous niece got married today. The sun shone and she had a camper van to take her to the church within which the girl got to travel too!

Linking up with The Boy and Me...

x x x

Project 365 #34 {Au Revoir}

A week of goodbyes.

Our seven days in France came to an end then it was back home - where I am ignoring the countdown to the end of summer.

Project 365 #34

Day 229 Lazy Sunday in France just chilling in the garden and with sticker books.

Day 230 Flowers from the French garden. The mother in law always has lovely floral displays going on.

Day 231 The flight home and watching France fade away from view.

Day 232 A day to chill out - good to be home though.

Day 233 The Great British Bake Off inspired play today!

Day 234 A walk around Dyrham Park to blow away the cobwebs.

Day 235 Another windy view from the top of Cabot Tower in Bristol - a good spot for head clearing.

Linking up with The Boy And Me...

x x x

 

Limoges {#HDYGG}

I can't believe we are back home again enjoying the remainder of the rather soggy summer holiday.

I'm now counting the days woefully until it's back to work time.

I just know it's going to fly by.

Instead of looking forward I have looked back a bit to last Friday when we spent a hot sunny day in Limoges. In front of the Musee Beaux Arts were some beautiful manicured gardens full of fountains, plants and flowers whose names I do not know - I like to admire but don't learn much along the way!

The last plant had a delicious aniseed scent when I crushed the seeds - Fennel?

Any help with naming will be much appreciated.

Linking up with Manneskjur...

x x x

 

365 #33 {Bonjour}

The fact you're reading this means I have been successful at blogging and posting abroad. Apologies now if any of the photos are misaligned - I haven't quite mastered Blogsy on the iPad!
This week saw us heading to France.

365 #33

Day 222 A quiet day at home and I thought I would attempt some sewing for a change. I had been wanting to try the 'turn a t-shirt into a skirt' tutorial I have had pinned on Pinterest for months. It turned out okay I think.

Day 223 A healthy day before the fear of France and too much cheese and wine. I tried porridge with coconut milk and fruit instead of cow's milk and a vat of maple syrup. I have to say it was rather nice.

Day 224 Flight to France today, just me and the kiddies. It was the children's first ever time on an aeroplane - the excitement was so lovely to see and they were so helpful.

Day 225 Off to see the real France at a local market. The hustle and bustle was great and I loved these dried flowers.

Day 226 A thought provoking walk around Oradour-sur-Glane - see here - followed by a stroll around Rochechouart where I spotted this lovely Renault.

Day 227 Today we had a lovely afternoon in Limoges looking around the beautiful gardens, taking in some culture at the Musee Beaux Arts and exploring the Old Quarter.

Day 228 A chilled Saturday with a trip to the local town for pain followed by an afternoon at Lac de St-Mathieu.

Linking up with The Boy and Me...

x x x

 

Limoges, Limousin {France}

Today the sun shone.

It was a day to explore.

In Limoges, about 40 minutes from our base at the in laws in France, we found beautiful gardens to admire.

Live jazz music accompanied us as we took in the colour of the flowers and enjoyed the simplicity of just playing with the water in the pools and fountains.

The museum - Musee Beaux Arts - was appreciated, possibly more by me than the children.

And time was spent exploring the Old Quarter with its intricate doors and historical exteriors.

It's been a lovely break but sometimes a challenge getting the balance across three generations on days out.

Give and take seems to be the best bet.

Appreciating the outdoors and linking up with Country Kids...

x x x

 

Oradour-sur-Glane {France}

Yesterday I spent a quiet hour walking around Oradour-sur-Glane in the Haute-Vienne area of the Limousin region of France.

This village though is quite unlike any other.

Until 10 June 1944 it was a quiet place far from any conflict occurring in France in WW2.

On that Saturday an SS division entered the village initially rounding up residents for an 'identity check'. This soon changed to an apparent 'search for hidden arms and explosives'.

Women and children were marched to the church, the men gathered up in nearby barns.

Then the killing began; the men were shot - deliberately at low height so as to maim and not kill, that came later with the burning of the barns. The women and children had to suffer gas bombs, hand grenades, machine guns and eventually fire when the church was burnt.

The village was looted and set on fire.

Charles de Gaulle stated at the time that the village was to be left in its state as a memorial...

It was definitely a visit that made me think. Why?

The saddest thing is though that similar atrocities of war are still happening now. Now. In 2014.

To find out more this site here has lots of information about the history before and after the event.

x x x