French Country Diary - New Years Eve 2018!

This was my 2018 diary.
I've had a French Country Diary for years.
It's more for my desk as it is too large
to carry in a handbag.

I add my family and friends birthdays, anniversaries
and special occasion days.

I also buy a small pocket diary
which goes everywhere with me!
I'm ruled by my diary and couldn't live without one.
I'm also an inveterate list person,
I imagine you may have guessed that if you've
read thus far - bless you!
No longer can I rely on my memory - oh dear!

I use a calendar for appointments
for my husband and I
such as the usual doctor, dentist, hairdresser etc.

Are you a diary person like me?
Or are you like my son who uses his mobile phone
for everything, including his diary.

My love affair with France continues
and on every other page of this diary
are alluring photographs of everything French
which whet my appetite deliciously!

Wishing all my blog friends
A very Happy New Years Eve

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane 

It's the little things that lift our hearts

Hello dear friends
I hope you all had a
Merry Christmas 2018
with your families and friends.

The lead up to Christmas this year was chaotic
for me as I was working most days.
I won't let that happen again!!!

As with most of us, the big decisions
such as
list making,
food planning, 
present buying
lets be fair to ourselves and put it in writing
the logistics of events such as Christmas
falls to us girls!

One evening during the week before Christmas
I arrived home to find a little parcel
sitting at our front door!

My friend Vee who blogs at
A Haven for Vee
had posted on her blog about preparations for
Thanksgiving.
One of the items she photographed 
and spoke about was Bell's Seasoning.
I commented on the colourful packaging
......and as often happens with lovely bloggers
we decided on a small swap,just a card and
a Christmas decoration!

The card was just what I would have chosen
a Nativity scene - the reason we celebrate this great
feast of Christmas.
Plus a lovely Santa, some Christmas stickers and
a packet of Bell's Seasoning!

We spent Christmas with my daughter and family
this year and my son-in-law
was the chief cook!
I will use the Bell's Seasoning next time we
have roast chicken - a treat in store!

Thank you Vee - your lovely parcel
lifted my heart and made me feel special!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Armistice Day New Zealand 2018

This year is the 100th anniversary

of the end of World War 1.

A cross has been planted

on the grass in front of the

Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Each cross represents a New Zealand soldier

who lost their lives in that horrific theatre of War

18,700 poor souls.

I felt an extreme sense of loss

walking beside these crosses

thinking about the futility of war.

We shall always remember them.

I pray that this small boy will never

have the horrific experience of war.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Glimpses of Spring 2018

Spring 
is
waking to the sound of birdsong each morning
and
looking out through my kitchen window
to see my garden coming alive again!

Spring 
is
Rosebuds unfolding into
beautiful blooms

Spring

is

Cherry blossom trees in the park

and

carpets of petals beneath the trees.

Wishing

you all a happy and enjoyable weekend

in your little corner of the world!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

All New Black Sheep Collage!!

Here is a  new collage of the
Black sheep
no one could see on my previous post!......

I've downloaded the Pic Monkey photo editor
but it is taking me a while
to find my way round the program!

I wanted to insert text on the photo.....
I did that however it was in black
which one couldn't see
as the photo is dark!!!

After asking Mr Google nicely
Pic Monkey
obliged with the process
in Steps 1 to 5.
I usually consider myself quite literate
except when it comes to
computer jargon!

I will keep practicing!

Do you have this problem or am I on my own?!

(This was the original photo on the previous post - can you see it now?
please do let me know!)



Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane  xx

Spring is in the air.....

Hello dear friends
It has been so long since my last post
almost a year....
So no doubt you all gave upon me a long time ago!

I have missed you all....
I am on Instagram as some of you know.
IG is not so time consuming as writing a post
and editing photos.
Having said that I have missed blogging
and I hope I can put up at least
one weekly post... time will tell!

Changeable 
weather over the last couple of weeks
sunny and warm one day
cold and wet the next!
…it’s 
Springtime  
in my neck of the woods!

New Zealand Kowhai Tree


Recently I headed up to
Cornwall Park
to find Spring Inspiration
it is one of my favourite places to walk





As you can see by the photo above
the farmer has a flock of black sheep.
They are such characters
in fact very nosey
and race over to the fence as soon as we appear!


Well I won't ramble on or this won't get posted!
Can someone please recommend a good
photo editing program.
I used to use Pixlr but it has changed
and I found it too complicated for me!

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane