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

 

The French Edition {HDYGG}

I haven't joined in with Manneskjur's How Does Your Garden Grow? for quite a while but wandering around the in laws' garden today in France I couldn't resist snapping some pics and posting them here.

A quick back story - the in laws bought a pretty much derelict house in France some years ago and have slowly and painstakingly converted it into a habitable home. It is still not finished and sadly we will never see it fully complete as they have sold and are returning to England next month. So, this week I visited with the children for the first, and last, time.

Here is the beautiful garden that they transformed from a mass of overgrowth.

Daisies, marigolds, dahlias, a lone sunflower, roses, hydrangeas, cosmos and geraniums in window boxes.

Just beautiful.

I'll be linking up with Manneskjur...

x x x