A FRENCH BIRTHDAY PARTY...

A French Birthday Party

My darling Stella had her seventh
birthday while I was in France...

Time to party and eat cake!!!
A special cake as you can see,
made according to instructions
from the very talented
Mise
of Pretty Far West blog.

Please visit Mise on her special

'doll cake link' here and

here for the layout instructions...

you will love reading Mise's blog

she has a wicked sense of humour!

Sweet Jessie was very keen to

get her fat little fingers into

the cake too!!!

I love pressies

and of course with the Kiwi connection

we had  games like 'pass the parcel'

(new to french kids - they loved it)!

Roxy wanted to join in

'musical cushions' too!

a quick drink and......

a handful of these

and back to the fun!

Thank you Mise

for your wonderful cake idea -

it was a huge hit in France!!

Please don't forget to visit

the 3 amazing Giveaways

links on my

right hand side bar!!!!!

Thank you dear friends

for popping in to see me,

you've all cheered me up and

I'm feeling great again!!

Love you!

Be kind to one another

warm hugs

Shane

xox

Linking to SEW MANY WAYS Find a friend Friday

FRIENDS ARE LIKE FLOWERS....

Before I went to France

several friends surprised me

with lovely gifts

and I won a Giveaway too!

Tammy sent me this beautiful

card and crochet doily!

I won these tags in Lilla's

giveaway

Lilla knows how much I love lace

so she included this lovely piece

in the parcel too!

Carole popped in to say goodbye

and gave me this sweet

lavender bag she made

to pop in my suitcase!

French Essence Vicki sent me this

beautiful Diptyque candle

...and when I arrived home a parcel

was waiting from
Two Bags Full Vicki

I had won a prize in her giveaway

a beautiful embroidered teatowel

(not for use - just for admiring)!!!

You are are all so kind and generous

 dear friends and I would like

to give each of you this

sweet virtual bouquet of

french lavender

to say

"MERCI"
from my heart!!!

Please visit their beautiful blogs
click on the name and
a link will come up!!!

*** GIVEAWAYS ***

this month there are 3

amazing giveaways

happening in blogland

that you won't want to miss

from 3 very talented bloggers.

See my side bar for

all the details and links!

Thank you all for visiting and expecially

those of you who come by often

and leave me lovely warm comments,

YOU

make it all worthwhile!!

Be kind to one another

hugs and love

Shane xox

AU REVOIR FRANCE.....

Hello dear friends!

I've finally arrived back home

after two wonderful months with

my family in France!

It all seems like a dream now,
but I enjoyed every moment,
sharing and being part of

my family's everyday life

in a lovely village in France

(pictured above).

 (the older girls going to school)

 The goodbyes at Charles de Gaulle

were sad beyond belief.....

 I'm sure some of you who have

 children and grandchildren
who live overseas

will understand this dreadful emotion...

We all clung to each other,

until eventually my final call came
and very bravely I gave
my final hugs and kisses

and walked through to the customs area -

I turned and waved and for

the last time I saw those little faces,

that I love so much......

(darling Jessie - now 6 months old)

Just to make things worse
I was frisked by a very efficious
french customs lady....

With tears streaming down my cheeks
I made the long walk to E44
and on to the plane.....

which carried me home via Tokyo.
30 hours later I was landing
in New Zealand....

I'm so glad I'm involved with blogging,
I'm grateful for the many friends
I've made here and I look forward to
catching up with you all very soon!

I can't wait to see
what you've all been up to!


THANK YOU!!!! VICKI
your wonderful parcel was waiting
for me when I got home -
it's beautiful and I'll post photos
next time!
YOU really cheered me up! xx

Be kind to one another
love and hugs
Shane xxx