Happy Skippy Purchases

I wanted to share with you some of the things I brought back from France.  The toadstool above is a salt mill found in a beautiful little gift shop in Ruffec and is my new most favourite thing ever.

1. A 1950's vase found at Emmaus, Ruffec where my aunt now works.  It is a charity depot that opens at 2.30pm on the first Saturday of the month, to say it is a elbow jabbing fight to the good stuff is an understatement but happily I've had many a car boot and jumble sale experience and could shove as good as the next person.
2. Another Emmaus purchase, I was in a queue to pay and spotted this little beauty at the last minute, it's been a slow burn of appeal on this one but it is fast becoming my new favourite serving dish.
3. Emmaus again!  This is a slightly chipped but beautiful little glass perfect for a snifter of Pineau des Charentes the local tipple.  Somewhere between a sweet wine and a Cognac I do love a glass of Pineau and now have the perfect glass to serve and enjoy it!
4. Tulip egg cups, these were a present from my aunt, any guesses where it is from?
5. Lovely, lovely enamelware pan, yep you guessed it Emmaus again the pans that I've had for years have started to break so I've decided to collect enamelware pans, we have a lovely butter coloured pan already, I'm not fussy about them matching, life is too short to be all matchy matchy.  Happily all of my Emmaus purchases came to an astonishing 3.20 Euros that's about £2.60!!
6. Toadstool cookie jar, this was surprisingly NOT an Emmaus purchase but from the little gift shop in Ruffec if I could take you all there I would because I know that each and every one of you would find something there that you would love.

Sad that we have had to come back to cold and rainy England especially with the various bits of sad news that have rocked our little world recently.  But you must not dwell on the things you cannot control but focus on the good things still to come so we're already planning our trip next year this time we're taking a couple of Brummies with us...

Pigga

I know many of you will probably roll your eyes at the indulgent nature of this post, but bear with me.  Little Pigga was killed by a car last week, it's really sad.  I know she was 'only' a cat, but I spent 9 years with this little beasty and I loved her a lot.  She was my first cat and the best I could have asked for, at 13 she was turning into an old maid but she was well loved.  To quote my friend "she was as crazy as a snake... you know, good crazy" and that's true.  

Thanks little Pigga, miss you x

Fabulous Fake Flowers

Fabulous French Fake Flowers at their best.  I am all for a vibrant flower display real or fake.

A Random Assortment of French Loveliness

1. In the village of Aigre for a festival in May each shop in the village had the portrait of the shop owner painted on their window.  Apparently some were removed as soon as a polite amount of time had been observed...  This one was my favourite.
2. Yep this was my sat nav, and do you know what?  This and a map got me there just fine thank you.
3. Max the dog.  A new addition to my aunt and uncle's household, he made light work of the squeaky toys I bought him, he's a strong little beast but cute as a button.
4. Naff-o birthday cake made for my brother's birthday.  Nom nom.
5. Super hot evenings playing cards by candle light, on this particular night we waited for a thunderstorm to roll in, it arrived around midnight and was quite a show.
6. Decorations for my dad's birthday.
7. Yay!  Neon plastic cups!
8. Everything ready for our celebration meal, we cruelly made dad wait for his present until after dinner, after which he scuttled off to play with his new iPad.  He is a very happy 70 year old, in fact we haven't heard a peep out of him since.
9. Cake, lots of it.  Sadly I couldn't eat this one but MozzyMr enjoyed it.

Interior Details

MoMa has a knack for the details especially when it comes to interiors, these are just a couple snapshots of where we have been staying in France.  Of course we came along and spread our stuff far and wide and the quiet, calm, tidy equilibrium has been well and truly shattered. 

Blooms

France is awash with flowers at the moment, predominately roses and poppies, they're everywhere and they look amazing!  The roses in the pictures above are all in my mum's garden and the courtyard at the front of their house in France.  They smell amazing and are exactly what roses should be.

Birdhouses

A collection of birdhouses to be found in Tusson, France where MozzyMr and I have been celebrating family Birthdays and soaking up a little sun...