The Washerwoman

Sunday 20 September 2009

A peaceful few days in France

Last week we were lucky enough to be able to have a few days away at our favourite place. One morning we took a leisurely stroll along the beach, it was deserted as you can see......

Apart from signs that somebody had been having some fun in the sand the previous day
........ this brought back happy memories of hours spent on this beach when the boys were young.

All the houses are closed up for the winter months. This particular house has always been my favourite. It has a wonderful view of the sea and the garden is never very tidy, but in the summer the family usually eat their meals outside.

We drove back through the country lanes, watched by spotty cows in the orchards.

I saw this bench and had to take a photo, I love the way the flowers have grown through the slats of wood.

Another day was (predictably) spent searching for French treasures at one of the biggest Vide Greniers I have ever been to. The stalls stretched as far as the eye could see!

Look closely at what this man has in his arms. It is a beautiful tame fox! He walked around with it on a lead, chatting and showing his "pet" off to anyone who wanted to see it.

Once I was back at the cottage, I couldn't resist a little "photo opportunity" with my finds. I often find that when I am buying stock a theme or colour scheme somehow forms itself.... this time green & red dominated.
Even the way we then set the table for lunch reflected the colour scheme! The green vintage china is from the 1950's/60's and is called Beryl ware. This was the china I grew up with in my parents home, and now my brother has chosen it for his holiday cottage. The white china bowls with vegetable design are French. I bought them for him as a house-warming gift when he bought the cottage.
Next I had a little photo-shoot in the bedroom, the Boudoir doll looks quite at home doesn't she?

..and the lovely old toy horse had a good view of the garden until we brought him home.

This corner of the sitting room looked cosy with knitted "finds", including some balls of wool which I will give to my knitting lady. She is busy at the moment making Vintage style berets for the Winter season.

While we were in the cottage, we discovered these plump house martins nesting in the shed.

and lastly.. the great thing about holiday cottages! Always a very eclectic book collection to delve into. This time I dipped into the Sex Pistols Biography for a bit of a change!

13 comments:

Clare said...

Lovely holiday! Those housemartins look so cuddly!

Dogwood said...

Wonderful photos. I really, really need to get there! All so beautiful and historic. Love that favorite house of yours.

Vintage to Victorian said...

Hi Liz

How ever could you convince yourselves you needed to come home? I think I'd stay!

Sue x

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

That's a lovely post. The house overlooking the sea is spectacular! I would love to set an entire novel around it. It looks filled with mysteries and tales. xx

OhSoVintage said...

What a great few days away. I like what you bought. Your unit at DH in the previous post looks great too. I really must visit sometime....

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Lizzie...how wonderful... couldn't you sneak me in your pocket next time you visit France?!

Lovely to see you over the w/e...so pleased to have made the boudoir babe mine! ;-))

Thanks for your comment on my blog...I thought things were getting a bit treacly on the blogs and that things needed stirring up a little!!

Have a great week,
Niki x

The fabric of my life said...

Lovely piccies Lizzie. As soon as I saw the boudoir doll I thought 'that will belong to Niki'! I adore those spotty canisters. Do you still have those?

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

A trip to heaven and back.. how glorious! I have hankered after a visit to a Vide Grenier ever since I heard about them last year (late developer as usual)..
Love to have met that fox too.. I have a real soft spot for foxes.

Michele x
P.s No not Mr Clark funnily enough.. but Mr Bean.. just as funny!

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Hello Liz

What a lovely holiday! I can picture that house on a hot summer's day with a family having lunch outside.
I have not been over to France this year so far, the longest I've been without going. I do miss not going but have had so many things to do to the house that France has had to wait. Hoping we might go over for Christmas, not sure yet!
Seeing the vide-greniers reminds me how much I have miss it! Can't wait to get more time back. I love foxes, we have a family living close by. I see them occasionally playing when I go walking through the field.
A agree with you about cottage holidays and their book collection. When I stay in a B&B or cottage, the first thing I look at is the book collection! I love it.
Take care
Isabelle x

Clare said...

Thanks for the award! i popped into dairy house at the weekend and bought your child mannequin for my display!See you soon...maybe at the Stroud fair?

Stacy said...

Hi, I came across your blog from Pink Dogwood Blossom and just love it! The green and red treasures you picked up are fantastic ... I have never been to France but dream of going there to shop for vintage items.

Love the picture of the bench.

OhSoVintage said...

Haven't heard of Avington Brocante but I am VERY interested. Could you let me have details please. Will you be there?
Thanks ever so!
Ruth

BusyLizzie said...

Thank you for your kind comments, it certainly is a special place and my new years resolution will be to visit more often & stay for longer!
Lizzie x