Our Friendship Spans the Oceans....

My heart skipped beats recently....
when I arrived home from work  to find a parcel 
waiting for me by the front door!
Not just any parcel I might add
but one that had crossed oceans to get here.

I was elated when I read the sender's name...
my dear friend
Mary
of
A Breath of Fresh Air

My heart was 'all a flutter'
as I knew I was in for a treat!
I posted about Mary's previous parcel here

When I found Mary's blog a few years ago
I knew I had found a soul mate
who enjoyed many of the same things as I do.

We both share a love of France and all things french
we also both have family living there.

Mary has a love of life which the French call

Joie de Vivre

She is an inveterate traveller and enthrals us all
with her amazing photography and interesting narrative
of  her overseas trips with her husband Bob and friends.

One thing is certain
Mary and Bob will never be short of conversation
when sitting in their rocking chairs on the verandah!

I think I can hear a little voice in my ear...

....what's that? me in a rocking chair.... NEVER!
ha ha!!!!!

Mary dear
you know just what I love...

Vintage Notions

the exquisite vintage buttons and spools of cotton,
ribbons and hand made tatted lace
 vintage cards including the one above
 and lovely old postcards.
I love everything.

Merci,

Never let it be said that distance is a barrier to friendship.

I'm joining
Judith for Mosaic Monday
Wen for Simply Neutrals Tuesday
and
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration

Thank you ladies for hosting!


Be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane

Oh Paris......

Translated the words on the candle read

"You Will Not Kill Our Freedom"

It was left on the pavement

near the scene of the senseless terrorist attack 

 at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris. 

The newspaper's chilling headline translates

"This time it's War"



Words simply cannot describe our feelings
about these horrific happenings.

As my regular readers know
our daughter and her family live in France.

We spoke to her when we heard the news
and she told us everyone is on edge.
The feeling in France is that their border security
has been far too lax in the past.

From what I've heard and read in the news
it seems that Monsieur Hollande
has now taken the necessary steps to address this.
Sadly this is the second such attack on Paris
in 10 months.
I posted about the Charlie Hebdo massacre here

New Zealanders held prayer vigils in towns and cities
across our country
lighting candles and
praying for the 129 people killed
and the 400 plus people injured.

The Auckland Sky Tower
and War Memorial Museum are lit up
in Red, White and Blue in solidarity and respect
for the people of
France

I created this prayer image for my post

following the January terrorist attack in Paris.

Again I ask you to pray for the safety

of my family and every family in France.

Be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane

What's it all About Alfie....

Hello dear friends

I've had a wee break and

this is my first post in almost a month,

hence the title of this post...

"What's it all about Alfie?"

I've lost my 'get up and go'

with regards to blogging.

To be fair, after working three days a week

(at my great age, ha ha)

my energy levels are a little low.

I thought about stopping blogging 

but at this stage I can't bring myself to do that

...you see

...I have made such lovely friends

all over the world

through blogging

and I don't want to lose touch with any of you!

Some of you will understand

as I know you have had similar feelings.

Judith of Lavender Cottage

spoke about it here

Blogging has broadened my horizons

I enjoy reading about your lives,

visiting your homes and hearing about your

children and grandies.

Most of you will be aware by now

my darling daughter and her family

live in France.

They want to come and live in New Zealand

and I pray that this will happen soon

(your prayers would be most appreciated in this regard)!

I enjoy reading posts about your gardens
a special pleasure for a keen gardener like me.
I keep a notebook on hand and
I often jot down planting schemes I see on your blogs
or the name of a new rose.
I bought my rose Pierre de Ronsard
after seeing it on Elizabeths blog
Cornish Cream several years ago!

I'm still trying to track down another rose
Belinda's Dream 
that I saw on Mary's blog A Breath of Fresh Air.


I think you can tell I'm not ready to pull the plug just yet...
I intend getting back to posting once a week....
but I've decided I'm not going to put pressure on myself.

I would love to hear your thoughts
either comment here or send me an email!

I'm joining

Judith for Mosaic Monday

and

Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration

(if Steph has returned from her blogging break)!

Please be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane

Tea Cups Travel the World.....

My dear friend

Stephanie

of 

The Enchanting Rose

has hosted another of her world famous

Tea CupExchange

Parties

I was partnered with

Mimi

of

A Tray of Bliss

She sent me a beautiful tea cup named

Clementine

embellished with exquisite pink roses

of the vintage kind - my favourites

Also in the package were

a gorgeous heart

and

the prettiest beaded lace collar 

both hand made by Mimi.

I just love the sweet card Mimi made

for me as well.

Thank you

Mimi

You have spoiled me with

all these pretty gifts!

I sent my tea cup to

Trisha

of

American Honey Home

and

it was my pleasure to find

the right tea cup for her

Stephanie had sent me an email

telling me Trisha's favourite colour was yellow

so when I spotted this bone china tea cup

in a little antique shop

I knew it would be perfect!

It is a Royal Albert cup

named

Primulette!

I hope Trisha loves it too.

I added some other 'tea related' bits and bobs

with a Kiwi flavour

to give her a taste of New Zealand.

Thank you

dear Stephanie for hosting another

of your lovely tea parties.

I know what a huge undertaking it is

and you run it like a professional!

Please visit Stephanie's blog here

I'm joining Mimi for

Five Star Frou-Frou

do pop over for a look!

Take care dear friends and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane

A Day in Paris.....

Paris

Avenue des Champs Elysees

and a

Bride and groom

all part of

a day in

Paris

the city of love!

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

A visit to Laduree in Paris

On a sunny Sunday in Paris

my daughter and I visited 

a beautiful Ladurée shop just off 

the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.

It was a magical experience
the decor is exquisite and I could easily imagine
Marie Antoinette frequenting
such establishments had they been there in her day!

Such lavish displays of macarons and chocolates
made it difficult to narrow down my selections
of flavours and boxes!

The only drawback was the throngs of other tourists
with the same idea as me....
but that didn't stop me joining the queue
and eventually my turn came around to be served!

If you are a macaron lover and visiting Paris
then I recommend you
don't miss this treat!


I'm joining 
Judith for Mosaic Monday
and
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration.

Thank you ladies for hosting



Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane