A Little Bit More Every Day

The grasses surrounding the bog remain sere and brown, but there in the distance, the faintest suggestion of green tinges the tops of the bushes. Canada Geese in V-formation fly overhead, headed north once again. Blue waters ripple under the whisper of the raw spring breezes. "It's coming," they say.

Heather glows full and pink in manicured yards - cutting the lawns is already happening.

Hellebores nod their pretty heads in the cool air.

And a cheery robin hops across the lawn, hoping for an unsuspecting worm or bug to cross his path. Yes, it's almost spring, in spite of the snowfall yesterday.

And today, in North America, at least, don't forget to "Spring Forward" one hour tonight.

More French Details

I had such fun with yesterday's post on details in Paris and Versailles Palace that I decided to do another one - details at the Petit Trianon. My family laughs at my interest in Versailles. I told them once that if I lived in France I'd have a season's pass to Versailles. For some reason that caused uproars of laughter. I don't care. So I have a few quirks.
This window is in the gatehouse at the entrance to the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's retreat from the formal life of court at Versailles. I think it charming.

Blue and white is my favourite colour combination and this room, painted blue with white details and furnished with blue upholstery is gorgeous. Not everything is white - the parquet floor and wooden furniture pieces provide a nice balance to what could be overwhelmingly matchy matchy.

I think this red ribbon bow accenting the chandelier adds a touch of whimsy to the room. The ribbon matches the red upholstery in this room, the dining room, if I remember correctly. And the colour up towards the ceiling certainly draws the eye up so we noticed the ornate ceiling medallion.

What's not to admire in this photo - a checkerboard floor, not high contrast, but softly grey and creamy white, a stone staircase with that oh, so graceful curving railing, the round oeil de boeuf window, limestone walls - wouldn't you love to sweep down that staircase trailing a long silk gown behind you?

And last, but not least, white roses, full and blowsy with hints of pink deep inside.

Beautiful details are all around. You don't have to go to France to find them. Having a digital camera has made me look at objects in a different way as I try to capture not just memories, but moments and emotions with the lens. What's beautiful in your world today?

Stitch, stitch, stitch

I've decided to stop packing for a week or so or else I'm going to be living in a maze of boxes. The closets are pretty much cleaned out, crafting/sewing supplies are in boxes, bookshelves are empty, all the offseason clothes are packed away and the china cabinet is bare. The pictures are still on the walls, but there's time yet.

So...I'm studying like crazy and stitching when I have a few minutes in the evening.

A bouquet of flowers, a number "3", and some sort of viney-snowdrop-ish square that might get ripped out.

A simple singing bluebird.

And what I've accomplished so far. I'm not following Amy's directions to do the squares one after the other in orderly fashion. I've always been a bit scattered that way. I like the idea of a square here and another one there, and then filling in the gaps. Some squares are outlined already - if I had thread leftover I decided to use it rather than wind it back onto the bobbin for later.

I'm thinking a tree might be next.

There is a growing list of participants on the sidebar of the blog - it's still not too late to join in. I'd like to point your way to someone who started recently. I think Sparks is doing a great job.

French Details

I wrote another final exam today. Another course to tick off the list. This one was Pratique Orale Thematique - an Oral French course. It involved a lot of speaking of French, which I was happy to do. I can now converse on such matters as traffic problems, environmentalism, prison systems, raising children and other esoteric topics. To celebrate, I came home and looked through my photos of France. Details are what struck me today.

This French street sign in Paris is so pretty. The little curve at the top, the neatly placed nails/screw/rivets on the corners, the blue bordered by green with white writing - doesn't it just look like Paris?

Shiny black painted iron work has always attracted me. It's sturdy yet graceful. Curvey stonework, pink geraniums, tall windows and white limestone buildings - ooh la la!

More details. I went walking early one morning, hoping to get into the Luxembourg Gardens. Alas, they were not yet opened (it was quite early - jet lag had me up loooong before normal). But I noticed these fig plants neatly tied up, standing straight like soldiers, each one labeled.

This is one of my favourite photos, taken in the Grand Salon of Versailles. A window clasp, ornately decorated. Whose hands touched this? Louis XIV, Madame Pompadour, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette? The history seen from this piece of metalwork's perspective is astounding. And I love the chippy paint and patina of the years that the caretakers have not "spruced up" and painted over. A bit of wood peeking through and a bit of grime only adds to the sense of years.

Thanks for indulging me in my reverie of French details. Now it's back to Medieval History, Advanced French Composition, and the Literature of Western Canada.

Stitching Along....

Three pretty mother of pearl buttons made for a simple square.

This square was inspired by the sunny days we've been having, but it didn't quite turn out the way I'd hoped. And what's with the wonky jog in the bottom right corner? But I decided to leave it. In the grand scheme of things, it might prove charming. Here's hoping.

And one little tulip-inspired flower. I spent some time today thinking about future squares, what I want to include, etc. I came up with some ideas I'm eager to try out. Some new stitches, too.

Puttering

Although a bit cool today, the sun shone brightly and the temperature was perfect for a little gardening. But first, I wandered around, looking at what was sprouting or blooming. I've been watching these hyacinths from the kitchen window. They are even prettier close up. And so sweetly fragrant. One of my springtime favourites.

This winter has been so exceptionally mild that I've had a constant supply of chives and parsley. This clump looks like it needs a haircut!

Lovely vinca with irises peeking out in the background.

And the raised beds are cleaned out, ready for planting or amending. I won't be doing that this year, since we're moving. But perhaps the renters will want to grow something. I know that my daughter, who will be living in the suite, plans to grow a few things. The beds are ready and waiting. The bushes in the top bed are blueberries and in the back of the lower bed, a rhubarb plant is uncurling itself from the ground.

I'm going to miss this yard. The new one is not fenced and the deer run rampant. In time we'll fence off an area for a garden, but it probably won't happen this summer. I do plan on growing herbs since I've heard that the deer avoid those.

Stitch Along Day 3

Another double spread. I think fat French knots are my favourite embroidery stitch. It took me awhile to learn how to do them properly, years ago. It's not too late to join in Amy's 39 squares project. Just a little 1-inch square every day. It's about all I can manage and it's just right!

Alternate studying and packing continues. I finished the work for one French course yesterday and will write the exam next Tuesday. The rest of this week I'm working on a paper for Medieval History - it's been lurking, unfinished, on my computer. No more excuses. No more procrastination...off to work!

A Hint of Green

Outside my window leaves are uncurling from their winter rest. Branches swell with promise. The overall appearance of the trees is still brown and sculptural, but from a distance, shrubs are hazed with the delicious fresh colour of spring.

To celebrate - a simple leaf.

Little by little

In the midst of this.....

a little of this is wonderfully calming. I joined Amy's 39 squares stitch-along, except mine is going to be 54 squares. So I cheated a little and did three squares at once. No pattern, little forethought. I just chose a palette of tans, greens and blues with a little pink and yellow for accents and began stitching, filling the one-inch squares with colour and pattern. Fun and easy - just the ticket for these days of packing and studying.

Spring Colour!

While the more eastern areas of the continent are being pounded by yet another snowstorm, here spring seems to have arrived. Crocuses smile a cheery greeting and primroses flourish. Last weekend we spent a few hours in the afternoon tidying up the yard.

I'm posting these spring-filled photos with the hope that those who are being inundated with snow will take heart - spring will come!

Artistry on Ice

photo from CBC

Did you watch the ice dancing competition last night? Beautiful, romantic, fun, inspiring - all these adjectives apply to the skaters' performances. One of the top 10, a French skater, I believe, had a baby four months ago. I can't imagine the training and work to be able to skate like that so soon after giving birth.

The American silver medalists danced to the music from the Phantom of the Opera and set the bar high for those to follow. Like other Canadians I was thrilled when Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the gold. Their choice of Mahler's music had me wondering if their dance could hold the excitement of the crowd like the American team had. But it did. Fluidly, confidently and with romance, they skated their hearts out. Tears wet my face by the time they were done.

We Canadians love our land deeply but don't always display it openly. These Olympics have been an opportunity for Canadian patriotism to come out of hiding. During the medal ceremony, Virtue and Moir sang our national anthem with a contagious joy and exuberance. I'm still smiling this morning.

Magazines français!

Last week I checked my "boîte aux lettres" and there was a package from France! So exciting. But wait. The return address showed it was not from the partner I had been assigned in the magazine swap organized by Floss. No, it was from Carole, a blogger with whom I've had some cross-Atlantic exchanges. I thought I had made a terrible mistake and sent MY magazine to Floss instead of to Carole.

Opening the package relieved my anxiety. Carole had sent it as a surprise! How lovely! Here's a peek inside...

The greens are so fresh and pretty - just what I'm craving this time of year. And how brilliant to coordinate the pillar candles with the filler - coffee beans in one, red lentils in the other.

I love all the layers in this living room - the matélesse spread on the couch, the pillows, the books piled on the coffee table, architectural element on the wall, flowers and plants. And the couch is just about the same colour as my own. Doesn't this room look welcoming and cozy?

Thank you, Carole!

But wait, there's more! Yesterday, Floss' magazine arrived!

More delight! Isn't the woodpile behind the table a great background? Makes me want to go outside and take a few photos of my own woodpile. Or set a pretty table there. Or maybe not. It's sunny, but still too cold.

Isn't that row of glassware just the prettiest thing? And again, I'm admiring all the green.

I really like the grey wall in the kitchen. And since I'm going to be moving soon, and repainting will be involved at some point, I'm taking a close look at wall colours. In this spread there's so much to admire - the pots of rosemary, the single rose on the napkin, the coffee pot collection on the table. 

Thank you, Floss!

Be sure to visit both these blogs - these ladies live in France - Carole is French and Floss is British. Creative living is what they do! Their blogs are full of joie de vivre!

Abundance

 

As in years past around the end of December I begin pondering a word for the next year. Last year, it was "new."  Well, new certainly typified last year's experiences - but not in a way I had ever dreamed or wanted. Unemployment was not fun - but it was new. And I learned new ways of coping with difficulties.

When it came time for this year's word, I thought maybe it would be something like "healing" or "grace" or "persevere". But no, the word that kept coming to me as I prayed and read my Bible was "abundance." No way, I thought. But then I started considering the things in my life that I had in abundance. There are a lot of them:

love

family

God's presence

beauty

faith

friends

creativity

hope

And so, I made my collage and focused on what was abundant here and now. I'm so glad I did. Just because my husband now has a job and the future looks brighter does not lessen any of the abundance I already had. The verse quoted on my collage is "You have brought me to a place of abundance." God brought me to a realization that I already had all the abundance I needed BEFORE he provided Tim with a job.

Overwhelmed and Utterly Grateful

This is the view from the front yard of our new house. Yep, we made one trip to Parksville, looked at 7 houses, decided on the last one, made an offer, went back and forth on the price a bit, and finally everyone agreed. Moving date is March 25. This is all very exciting and fast! The house is a project - it has very good bones but needs some work (like replacing emerald green carpet.....). All will be done in time, but not before moving in.

In the meantime, I am overwhelmed with my studies. I had hoped to finish 3 courses by the end of March, but it's not likely to happen. My head just won't stay focused on French debate techniques or medieval history or French partitive articles. I don't know why (ha!). So I'm just going to keep working, and hope to finish the two French courses. Even that is optimistic.

So I probably won't be around here too much. Although I do enjoy a little downtime in Bloggerville in the evenings so saying I won't be around might not mean very much at all.

Signs of Spring

We spent the weekend at a friend's cabin overlooking a meadow with a small lake. Although we didn't spend as much time there as we had hoped, due to house hunting, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Friday and Saturday were dismally wet and dreary. Sunday, however, sparkled with light. We took a rather squelchy walk around the property, up into the woods, along the marshy shore. Although the grasses are still brown and the trees bare, tiny signs of spring abound.

Swelling buds on bushes, croaking spring peepers, and the warmth of the sun all point the way to the changing season. Hurrah for spring!

A Valentine Tradition and News

My first year of college my mom sent a package with her wonderful sugar cookies, heart-shaped and iced in pink. She does a lovely job of icing cookies - much better than I do.

Heart-shaped sugar cookies are a tradition around here, or chocolate cupcakes with white icing and sprinkled with cinnamon red hots. This year, it was cookies. I use my mom's recipe and it always turns out. The cookie dough is just as good as the baked cookies.

We're going away for the weekend, so I passed the cookies out to our children today - except for one package that I'll drop off at our youngest daughter's house tomorrow.

And I have some WONDERFUL news. My husband, who has been out of work since last May (and started a home renovation business in the meantime) has been offered, and accepted a job back in his field. He is excited about the possibilities, and I'm happy for him.

The only downside is that we will be moving two hours north of Victoria. This will be the first move without any of our children. But they will come to visit and I'm thankful that we won't have a ferry ride between us. My head has been whirling with everything that needs doing all of a sudden. I would like to finish these three courses I'm working on before we move, but that will be around the first of April so I'm really going to have study hard. Then there's the packing. I've begun and have four boxes done.

This weekend was planned as a getaway to a friend's cabin. It's an hour north of us, one hour south of where we'll be living, so on Saturday we're going house hunting. We met with a realtor last week and have a list of 7 homes to visit.

We are thankful to God for his grace and faithfulness during these past months. They have been extremely difficult at times. It's a good feeling to be looking ahead with something a little more concrete.