Touches of Red

My eye is always drawn to red

I love red touches in decorating

and as accessories like a pashmina

or these burgundy suede brogues.

Are you partial to touches of red too?

I'm joining Magical Mystical Teacher

for

Ruby Tuesday Too

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Paris Fences

The Pont Alexandre

is one of the most beautiful bridges in

Paris

It is a great vantage point

to view all manner of boats, barges and 

the Bateau Mouche excursion boats

on the Seine.

I'm joining Tex for Good Fences

Thank you for your visits to my blog

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Summer Blues

Blue Agapanthus are common plants

in both New Zealand and Australia.

It's a sign of Summer in both our countries.

I took these photos when I was in Maldon, Australia

at Christmas.

In New Zealand 

Agapantus have been declared an invasive weed

by The Department of Conservation.

It is thought it arrived here with soldiers returning

from the second Boer War in South Africa.

It seems growing conditions here are perfect

and they can be found from North Cape

to Stewart Island, the southern most point of 

our country.

Aggies - as they're affectionately called

line the pathway to the house where we stayed.

Needless to say I felt quite at home here

thanks to the gorgeous blue aggies!

I'm joining Jeanne for 

Blue Monday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Red Geraniums en France

A quick post today as I'm working.

I'm joining the girls for

Ruby Tuesday Too


Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt




Shane

Château d'Ancy-le-Franc

Château d'Ancy-le-Franc

Burgundy, France.

I visited this beautifully restored chateau

in 2013

If you would like to know more of the history you can read about it

here

Two of my grandies playing on the path!

I'm joining Jeanne for Blue Monday

Judith for Mosaic Monday

and

Bernideen for BTTCG

Thank you ladies for hosting.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Australian Sojourn

 I took the above group of photos at dusk

it was the most beautiful evening

and the light was quite magical.

It's times like this that I wish I had a camera

with a better lens (or two).

I love landscapes

however with my little Point and Shoot

I get limited results.

I would like more definition and I now know

from what Brian told me

it's all about the lens and the range!

I'm in the process of deciding which camera

I should buy, and weighing up the pros and cons.

I've already asked a few of you

who are keen photographers,

for your recommendations and the reason behind

your choice of camera.

Thank you for your feedback so far.

So please let me know if  you think your camera

is a great one - I would love to hear from you.

This is the main street of Maldon, Victoria

at dusk on a Sunday evening

not exactly buzzing - but I love that!

If you're interested you can see 

my previous Maldon post here

I'm joining Jeanne for Blue Monday

Judith for Mosaic Monday

and

Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer for

Our World Tuesday

Thank you all for your visits

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you all for hosting!

Harvesting the wheat in France

June is a busy time in the wheat fields of

France.

In the countryside where our daughter lives

are thousands of acres of wheat fields.

Each day we were out and about

when we visited last year

we saw farmers driving their huge machines

harvesting the wheat.

Van Gogh was fascinated by this seasonsal activity too

although things were done differently

back in his day.

I've always loved this painting called

Wheat Stacks in Provence

painted in 1888.

The colour and the light are quite magical.

This exquisite painting by Claude Monet

epitomises Summer in the countryside

of rural France in 1897.

An old country house in the wheat region of France.

Both Van Gogh and Monet may have stayed

in such a house as they toured the countryside

painting rural scenes.

I'm joining 

Jeanne for Blue Monday

and

Judith for Mosaic Monday

Thank you for your visits.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Five on Friday

Last Saturday I felt the urge to bake as my son

was visiting us from down country.
My friend Mary is a great blogger
please pop over and meet her at
A Breath of Fresh Air

Mary often has interesting recipes to share.

Recently she made healthy Carrot & Raisin Muffins

 here

her recipe came from Mennonite Girls Can Cook here.

These muffins were a huge success - thank you dear Mary!

On Sunday we drove to Maraetai

 we stopped for a coffee at the local cafe

and sat and watched families having fun at the beach.

We drove home via Clevedon through beautiful farmland.

It's always good to escape the city for a few hours!

Apart from working this week

I've been busy planning our next trip

which includes time with my family in this

little village in France. I can't wait!

I'm leaving you with the little message above

so make the most of 

TODAY

you have only one chance - it won't happen again!

I'm linking to Amy for Five on Friday

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt 

Shane

Love makes the world go round.....

Faith

Hope

  and

Love

and the greatest

of these is

Love

Later this evening I will draw the winner of
my Giveaway for
Vicki's
Grow Your Blog Party.

Bonne chance everyone!

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane