Collage of Life

Postcards from a Kasbah...

2012-01-27T21:15:00.000Z

Morocco...Day 4

Nestled into the high Atlas Mountains, an hours drive from Marrakech,

she writes by the window and sends thanks to all who have joined in on her postcard promise.

She is overwhelmed and extremely happy to be thinking of each and every one

as she writes from... 'Kasbah Tamadot'..

More on Marrakech and the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco to come...

Mr. H keeps reminding me that I should be relaxing as I am on vacation.

I can think of no better way to relax than to write to friends...

Sending best wishes to one and all.....

Jeanne xx

PS.. (Tamadot translates to 'soft breeze' in the local Berber language)

images~me

Marrakech on my mind...

2012-01-23T22:23:00.000Z

Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains that are on my mind...

and I have Winston Churchill to thank for that.

Mr H and I are off on an adventure...

a few days break from the chaos of home.

Sunset over the Atlas Mountains by Winston Churchill, 1935 via

via

Last year, we visited Chartwell, the lovely country home of Winston Churchill

and now a National Trust property. Not a grand home by English country home

standards, but a charming home, a thoughtful home.

I adored his art studio where he would let his thoughts roam and put brush onto canvas.

Many of his paintings are still there and in the midst of them all I discovered Marrakech

and the Atlas Mountains. It became a dream destination.

via

It was the publication of a book, by his granddaughter, The Hon. Celia Sandys, that got the ball rolling for me. On a flight to Jerusalem in 2010, I read an article about her then recent book,

Chasing Churchill, The Travels of Winston Churchill. Celia has written five books about her grandfather, with her most recent book (below) made into a three-part television documentary, here. The idea to travel to Marrakech has stuck ever since.

images via

Mr. H, a keen adventurer and lover of surprises,

did just that with this trip. We are in and out, in our usual one week's

travel fashion. Off on Monday, returning Friday...I'll take it, anyway I can get it.

So...dear friends, have you been to Marrakech or the Atlas Mountains?

Any suggestions for us?

Of course, for those of you who have followed me for a while,

you know what is coming next...POSTCARDS.

My postcard mailing list is growing and I am delighted.

I have little notes next to names with interests and the locations of the last postcards sent.

Some of you share the same passion for postcards and have told me your interests...

some are looking for English countryside scenes...some like to use them on their inspiration board... others love colours and happy reminders. I love your notes.

Every little detail helps, I tailor them the best I can. If you would like to join

in the postcard fun, you can write to me with your address jeannecollageoflife@gmail.com.

If you would like one from Morocco, let me know, if you would prefer one from London,

let me know that as well. I buy cards in twos and threes and have a wide variety.

If you would like a surprise, let me know that too.

Someday, I will make something of this passion of mine.

Perhaps I will think on that one when we settle in Vietnam at the end of the year.

I have lots more for you, The Brown Paper Book Club is taking shape too...

By Jove, I think she's got it....

2012-01-21T11:48:00.000Z

Actually, it is more like... By Jove, I think he's got it. If you caught my post earlier in the week (here) you will know that I was befuddled and confounded by two crates that arrived from India. With garden shears and pliers in one hand, a slight hammer in the other, I attempted the impossible and gave up within minutes. It was clearly mission impossible.

The next day, as luck would have it, our handyman, George, popped into fix a few things around the house. This is one of the perks of living in what I affectionately call as 'the rental'. You get a handyman who you do not have to pay for.

With a smile, a twinkle in my eye and a 'poor maiden' down and out look, I enlisted the help of George. It started with..."Could you tell me what I need to open these crates?" Curiosity got the better of George. Seeing 'India' written on top he wondered what was in them. He knows us well, often commenting on the wild and exotic objects around our house.

Lovely George, in his charming Eastern European accent...his next question..."Would you like me to open them for you?". She smiles. My friends would say I was being a 'cheeky devil'...poor unsuspecting George. In fact, that was the case.

It took a crow bar, two hammers and more muscle (he is a strapping young man) than I could have mustered to pry the planks loose from the crate. We were both intrigued and impressed by the packing. We thought it would never end.

It looked like I was giving birth...

to two small elephants.

The first to arrive...the beautiful Alice. A soft touch,

she is magnificent in her perfectly cut semi-precious stones

and weighs..a lot.

Then came the second....

Meet Albert (below,right). Kudos to Miss Claire for suggesting his name.

It is perfect. He is slightly larger, a bit bolder in colour

and as you can see from the photo below...

quite anxious to get in the house

And here they sit...Alice is front and center,

facing the front door, next to our entry table.

My friend Lisa, a wise woman,

says it will bring us good look and prosperity to do so.

I like the sound of that!

Albert has taken up his rightly spot (below), next to my favourite chair.

I even managed to get my tea cup...within reach. Clever Albert.

Oh Happy Days!

Best wishes to one and all for a lovely weekend!

From Jeanne, Alice and Albert. :)

PS..Many thanks for

your birthday wishes to Christine.

She is over the moon!

Sweet 21....

2012-01-18T13:00:00.000Z

I am sending a shout out to my daughter, Miss Christine,
for a deliciously Happy Happy Birthday!
She turns 21 today and she is one excited girl.
I on the other hand, am wondering where the time has gone...

Christine has her own theory on turning 21 and has turned her fingers to keyboard...

"The number '21' has been my lucky number since I can remember. I distinctly recall informing my kindergarten 'crew' that I would be living alone, married and all grown up by the time I turned twenty-one. I also recall telling them that I would live in a castle and be a princess, so i might have been a bit of a dreamer but the foundation was there! "

"Okay, so I might be classified as an adult in all major areas of the globe come midnight, but what is it to be an adult anyway? Must i relinquish my love for puddle jumping in my bright, pink Hunter wellington boots? The immature giggle at all that is inappropriate? If so, I will stay the way I am please. "

"Bring on the responsibility. I don't expect being an adult to be a breeze. Just like I don't expect life, no matter how old you are, to be a breeze. Life is windy. Windy, rainy, sunny, snowy...a bloody weather extravaganza if you ask me! I make no promises that I shall wake up tomorrow and be filled with a sudden sense of maturity. "

"Twenty-one or not, my life is going to be far from boring. I shall make mistakes, complain, laugh and chuck a tantrum once in a while. Growing up is over-rated. Remember when you were young and couldn't wait to hit double-digits? Yikes! I can remember getting rather upset with my dad as he annually informed me that he would like to place bricks on my head to stop me from growing. Joke was on me though! Welcome to the life of the shortest of four, despite being the second oldest."

If there is one thing my daughter is not short on it is words...she loves to talk,

she loves to write and most of all she loves to laugh...she is one of four lights in my life

and I am so very very lucky to have her lighting my way.

Lilly and Rose is a project Christine is working on,
it is her own creation and I love all that follows...especially her thoughts on pearls...

"My love for pearls started from a young age. We all have memories of hiding ourselves in our mother's closets. I was one who tended to stick my nose in the jewelry box. Placed next to classic scents such as Channel No 5. and Shalimar, my mom had a gorgeous collection of jewelry. Filled with timeless pieces (which she still dazzles in today), pearls have always been an ever-present item in her individual sense of style. To say 'like mother, like daughter' would be an understatement. The woman dresses in crazy caftans and purple palazzo pants - and i adore it. Matched with my current love for leopard print, the two of us are an unstoppable duo!"

To my
Pretty in Pink Puddle Jumper
in Leopard Print...
I send beautiful wishes for a wonderful 21st year.
May it be filled with all the promise and dreams
you have always hoped for.
From your
Purple Paisley Palazzo Loving Mother
xxx
:)

Minding my M's and Finding Alice...

2012-01-17T13:27:00.000Z

In our family, when someone is in trouble, we say BT.

That means, Big Trouble.

It is serious stuff when those two letters are used and I am ready

to scream them from the rooftop.

It is what I am feeling at the moment...but I am not sure who or what

to direct my frustration towards. I could direct it toward myself for saying yes,

I could direct it towards Mr. H for agreeing with me or I could direct it

towards the company that shipped these crates to us

as they have rendered them impossible to open!

Ok..a hammer, pliers and garden clippers may not be the wisest of tools to

open these monsters but it is all I have and I am desperate to get inside of them.

I guess I should mention that together they way 220 kgs (484lbs).

They have travelled a long way...from India...bringing back memories
of an October afternoon at the Taj Mahal
where Mr. H and I celebrated 25 years of marriage.

We were under the spell of....

The Story of Love and the Taj Mahal

...when we happened upon a shop with a collection of charming

marble elephants inspired by the designs of the Taj Mahal.

We fell in love..or perhaps I did.

We had a choice of sizes and from there a scene from

Little Red Riding Hood ensued. One was too small (left),

one was too big, but the middle sized one (right) was perfect.

We bought two and had them made to our specifications.

His and Hers.

Where will they go? Mr. H will choose his spot.

My elephant is going next to my favourite reading chair,

with a stack of books upon her, where I imagine, if I get it just right,

a cup of tea will sit within my reach. I have decided to call her Alice.

We are like to name objects in our family. :)

My only problem...is that I can't find her..as I

CAN NOT OPEN THE CRATE!

Where is Mr. H when you need him??

He seems to always be travelling when these

sort of situations occur. My children know better

than to get mixed up with Mom and her master plans.

So here I sit, having left my pitiful hammer

sitting on top of a crate..with barely one nail pried open.

I have lost count of how many nails have been placed on the lid to secure it.

I am now thinking crowbar, ax...and wondering if any of you handy,

thrifty sorts have any ideas??

Of course, then I have to get it out of the box.

As Charlie Brown would say...

via

I am having an M moment and my Muse has left the house!

So..any hoo.. how is your day going?

Embracing Your Muse...

2012-01-15T16:12:00.000Z

I woke this morning to words of inspiration from Daily OM and have been thinking on them all day. When that happens, I know it is time to share. Today I am pondering creative inspiration and the muse within us. I must have known this was coming when I took the photo above on a recent visit to Dresden, Germany. I couldn't resist this statue, it spoke to me about life and the importance of embracing it all...today she is my muse.

Perhaps the following will inspire you as well, I hope so!

Embracing Your Muse...
Inspiration is an intangible yet inseparable part of the creative process. Nearly all creative possibilities are related to the muses that inspire us. The ancient Greeks believed that all creation, whether artistic or scientific in nature, was motivated by goddesses who served as the literal embodiment of inspiration. These were the Muses the givers of the creative spark. We still rely on muses to drive the creative process, though ours may take a diverse range of forms. People we meet, intriguing ideas, movies, books, nature, and cultural ideals all have the potential to awaken our imaginative minds. When we are touched by our muses, we understand viscerally that we are capable of producing our own unique kind of greatness.

Many people move through life unaware of the presence of their muse. This lack of awareness can be compounded by the fact that we may have one muse that remains with us throughout our lives, multiple muses that inspire us concurrently, several muses that come and go as necessary, or a single muse that touches us briefly at specific moments. You will know that you have found your muse when you encounter a force that makes you feel courageous enough to broaden the range of your creativity. The presence of this force will erase your self-doubt and motivate you to give your thoughts and feelings form. Should your muse continue to elude you, however, there are steps you can take to increase your chances of falling under its inspired influence. If you surround yourself with people who support you, keep a pen and paper handy, immerse yourself in culture, and brainstorm frequently, you will soon reconnect with your muse.

Once you have identified your muse, embrace it... by giving yourself over to the creative inspiration it provides. No matter what you are moved to create, you will find that neither fear nor criticism can penetrate the wonderful bliss that goes hand in hand with the act of taking an idea and turning it into something the whole world can enjoy.

You can learn about Daily OM here.

I receive messages like the one above, daily.

It can make all the diffence in a day. :)

Best wishes for an inspiring week!

Jeanne xx

A Woman and her Craft: Margaret Olley

2012-01-14T13:23:00.000Z

Margaret Olley 1923-2011

via

Australian readers happening upon this post will recognise the work of national treasure,

Margaret Olley. She is a legend in the Australian art scene and much missed after passing

at the age of 88 in July 2011. She is best known for her vibrant oil paintings of interiors and still life. Hers was an eye of beauty. A free spirit, she wore many hats...an artist, philanthropist,

property developer, mentor to young artists, intrepid traveller, keen theatre and opera enthusiast..

she had a simple philosophy on life and her paintings were a means to celebrating that life.

She was an intrepid traveller, filling her studio with artifacts from her travels to New Guinea,

Indonesia and many other countries, calling herself "the original bag lady."

A friend said she went out of this world just as she pleased. "She went the way she wanted, with paint still on her fingers, cigarettes stubbed out and off to bed after a full day of painting."

I life well lived and so many who have benefited from it.

A toast to Margaret Olley!

To coincide with the work of Margaret Olley, I have combined a magazine article from Australian House and Garden. Her work inspired the 'domestic vignettes' featured below.

"My paintings are about celebrating life"

Margaret Olley

Red Hibiscus (1978)
via

Australian House and Garden

Yellow Room with Lupins (1994)
via

Australian House and Garden magazine

Still Life with Mandarins (1975)
via

Australian House and Garden magazine

Yellow Tablecloth with Cornflowers
via

Cyclamens and Apples (2005)
via

Australian House and Garden magazine

Sitting Room Evening
via

Still Life and Rushcutters Bay
via

Margaret Olley, a woman and her craft.
Photographed by Michael Amendolia 2010
via

Happy Friday and Best Wishes for
colourfully inspired weekend!
Jeanne xx

More from the Collage of Life series,
'A Woman and her Craft':
Artist, Kate Mears
Textile Designer, Charlene Mullen
Artist, Aida Tomescu
Women and their Craft
A Room for Arts and Craft
A Woman and her Garden

You Tube: NewsOnABC
Decorating images viaAustralian House and Garden magazine.
Styling Matt Page/ Photography Maree Homer

The 'M' Word: Part 2

2012-01-10T14:27:00.000Z

I recently had a look at my blog stats and noticed that the second most popular post since the start of Collage of Life is 'The 'M' Word'. It is a post I created whilst driving on the long stretches of country road in the English Lake District in 2010. I played a game with my family. They were to think of all the 'M' words associated with the word Mother. The game was quite revealing. The original post is below.

I have my own 'M' word. It is the one that shall not be named and one that women all over the world can relate too. Since that game in 2010, it is has never left my mind and obviously has peaked curiosity with the number of visits to my blog to find out what it is all about. To my 'M' word list, I have added two more words... MM = memory madness.

Here is why...

Scene: Think tranquility of a Spa room. Think pedicure and soothing warm waters swirling around your feet. Think peace, quiet, calm...this is where Mrs. H was hiding for an hour in the Christmas rush.

Action: Mrs. H phone rings.....

Mrs. H thinks...where is phone? With assistance of beautician she finds it. She was sitting on it.

Mr. H calls to say he is running late and needs to change his dental appointment, can I handle? Secretly Mrs. H wonders why Mr. H does not have the dentist on his phone list...but agrees to handle the matter.

Mrs. H stares off into distance in wonder ... It's coming, it's coming... it's not. She forgot the name of the family dentist . Shock horror.. .the family dentist...of two years!

Mrs. H madly scrolls thru phone contact list again and again for name recognition. Finds dentist, oops, wrong one, his practice is in New Zealand (must make note to remove from list). Mrs. H can feel a wave of heat emanating from the foot bath..at least she things that it what it is.

Mrs. H worries.. what is happening to her memory?? Desperate measures are required.

Mrs. H calls home and asks son to go to kitchen, look at list above phone, and ask what she wrote next to the word 'Dentist'. Son passes on name and phone number and she quickly enters it into her phone contact list. Phew...smart woman, she anticipated that this may happen. Mission accomplished...almost.

Mrs. H is mindful and realises that she is unable to make the call after all and texts the number to Mr. H suggesting he call and add it to his contact list. She wonders if her memory madness syndrome is contagious.

Mrs. H also wonders...if this 'MM' ever happens to you?

Have you experienced the 'M' word? If so, I would love to banter...you can write to me at jeannecollageoflife@gmail.com , as clearly, I need too. I have been researching the 'M' word and would be happy to share books, links etc.. we can talk 'M' words together. :)

The 'M' Word.. post of 2010 and the most popular post to date (scroll to bottom of page) are at the bottom of this post...........

The 'M' Word

Last week while driving thru the English Lake District, I got to thinking.... as you do when you are driving for hours on end. My thoughts started with muffin, muffin top to be exact. I thought if I wasn't careful what once was mini and has moved past regular would soon be large. I know some of you out there will know exactly what I am referring too. This thought of course then rolled onto the most dreaded 'M' word of all....menopause. It is to early in the morning to continue along this train of thought but then I thought of mother and foolishly blurted out to all that we should play the 'M' game.

Everyone was to list all the 'M' words they associate with mother.

Are you ready?

From 10 year old son: maid, mental, mischievous and mistress (?..yes, I know)

From 16 year old daughter: mayhem, money, mischievouss, misleading, moving, madness

From 19 year old Miss Tine: silence...she is no fool.

My 20 year old son will read this post and be thankful that he was missing in action on this one.

From Mr. H: magical, marvelous, merchant, moonlit, majestic

My questions:

Are son and daughter mischievous and mother is totally mystified?

Are they on to me and know that deep down mother is indeed most mischievous?

What does Miss Tine really think?

Was Mr H thinking of said mother or the view of the majestic countryside?

Last one from me...

MATRIARCH

Graphics

www.fromoldbooks.org

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/

www.wikimedia.org

www.edupics.com

Most popular post to date :

Paris in Winter... am I crazy?

Most definitely and having fun too!

A Cozy Nook and a Happy Weekend!

2012-01-08T13:26:00.000Z

This is suppose to be a post of another colour and topic

but this is all I can manage for the moment.

My days seem to be filled with form after form for our

impending move to Vietnam mid-year.

Young love and a baby blue Smith Corona

2012-01-03T23:00:00.000Z

We enter a house by the sea in the early1970's...and open a door to a bedroom where a young woman sits before her beloved baby blue Smith Corona typewriter, tapping her heart out. She hits the return button on the typewriter as swiftly as she types, feelings had to be expressed, emotions explored..life was unfolding before her, she had so much to say. Her journal was a collage of thoughts and sentiments, her own and others. On this occasion she was writing about broken hearts and typing a poem she discovered, written by another 17 year old girl, who felt as she did...someone who also understood the trials and tribulations of love..the inevitabilities.

Fast forward to 2010, while unpacking from a recent move, the woman who once owned a baby blue Smith Corona discovers a file and in it are all the pages she typed as a young woman. The 'ping ping' of her typewriter is now a distant memory...the collage of her thoughts in her journal have since turned into a collage of life on her blog. She adds the poem to her blog, a sweet memory of young love.

You have probably guessed that the young woman was me and how I loved that baby blue Smith Corona. I haven't thought about it in many years... until today. I received a note this morning from Teri, a fellow blogger, who discovered my post, she had also saved the same poem and wrote to tell me about it. I was so touched that I have not been able to stop thinking about it all day. She wrote to say she found the author via google and wrote to tell her about the coincidence. I was delighted.

The title of the poem is Inevitabilities...how appropriate, all these years later. We both had a wonderful trip down memory lane. For me, it is another kindred spirit discovered through blogging. What a great way to start the new year. My sister would say 'it is a sign', perhaps it is. I have spent the afternoon searching out and reading those journals...reading myself at 17...37 years later. It has been quite an adventure.

I send my thanks to Teri @ Quinceberry (a thoughtful writer and talented artist) for making my day and to Jean Grasso (Fitzpatrick) for writing a poem about young love all those yeasr ago. Kindred spirits indeed.

The post I wrote in 2010...

Young Love and Austin America

Posted 30th April 2010

by Jeanne @ Collage of Life

I am still unpacking, months on from our move and have started on my past. All those years ago, in my mid-teens I used to write and collect poetry and verse. This one goes all the way back to the early 70's. I could never bare to part with it and would like to share it with you. I do not know where it came from, I credited the author and all I know is that her name was Jean and she lived in New York. Most likely it was from a magazine because it was the 70's and we had limited options back then. My how the world has changed!

INEVITABILITIES

a memory is but a dream

too tangible to hold

like a snowflake that has glistened and sparkled

floating

gently

through

the

air

only to melt

into icy cold water in the palm of your hand

leaving no hint of past lacy whiteness

and if in ten years I have forgotten

how much shorter I am next to you

or the middle name of a boy I call "Cav"

I will remember all that is important

because

between leaves of English verse, a pressed orchid

a pair of white Levi's on some other, worthy boy

or a yellow Austin America glimpsed from

a strange corner (different faces inside)

will bring alive two seventeen-year-olds

unspoken dreams and promises

fingers entwined in quiet moments

soft I-love-you's whispered in the transiency

of a summer evening

(I marking time with the crickets song until

autumn and Yale abort you from our world)

and the familiar contentment will rest aside me

as I remember the times I needed you

and you held me so tenderly

when I cried for those huge realities

even you could not change

although you would have if you could

so I will remember

and shed a tear for two

and shake a fist at the sky

for whatever it is

that melts snowflakes

By Jean Grasso

17 years old

1970's

Tarrytown, New York

USA

Note: I have written the poem as I typed it all those years ago.

There you have it, young love. I wonder what happened to Jean and the boy with the middle name "Cav". For those of you who like me, were unsure what she meant by Austin America, I discovered that it is a car fashioned by the designer of another favourite of mine, the Morris Minor.

Built by the British Motor Corporation and designed by Sir Alec Issignois and Pinin Farina who also designed of the Morris Minor and Mini. The Austin America was exclusive for export from the UK to the USA and was sold from 1968 to 1972. Approximately 59,000 were exported to the USA with production ceasing in 1974. Short but sweet. For more information you can go to Austin America.

ORIGINAL POST HERE

Top image

Bottom and reference to car here~image

Twinkle..Twinkle..Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:31:00.001Z

A rainbow of colour over London.

Happy New Year to one and all!!

images~me..via satellite :)

Just you and me in London...

2011-12-30T23:39:00.000Z

A little whimsy today as I look back on a few photos I took in London yesterday.

My daughter, Claire and I set out for an afternoon to the Tate Modern gallery.

Her first visit and I was only to happy to introduce her to it.

I wrote about our visit here.

As to the photographs...if you were alongside me, we would have...

Looked out to a view, standing inside the Tate....

We would have then moved to the outside terrace and discussed the beauty

of St Paul's Cathedral on the city skyline.

Exhausted by the collection at the Tate, we would have walked along the Thames,

looking back to catch the skyline lighting up for the evening.

Along the way, we would have remarked on the beauty of the twinkling blue lights above and

the little fine feathered fellow walking towards us.

We would have stopped, just to stare at the magnificence of the London Eye

and Big Ben popping up to greet us.

Lastly, before crossing the street to the train station we would have smiled

at the genius of Annie's Cafe on wheels where the food is "Freshly made just for you".

We would have then wondered about Annie, who she is, how she came about

to owning a cafe on wheels and where her travels take her day to day.

From there we would have caught the train out to

Surrey where a full house was waiting for us. :)

Well that was fun, I should take you along more often.

Where would you like to go next??

If you are feeling in the mood for a little artistic expression...you can join me here.

Betty, 1988 by Gerhard Richter
image via Gerhard Richter

Best wishes for a very Happy New Year!!
May it be filled with peace, love and joy throughout the year!

Jeanne xx

Farewells and Daffodils

2011-12-29T10:49:00.000Z

I walked down our stairs yesterday to see my sons bags sitting, all packed and ready to go. My heart skipped a beat, had that time really come already? It seems like yesterday, that we were watching him in his ceremonial whites, as he graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. I can tell you though, for all my maternal sadness, he was one young man who was ready to go. He was what Mr. H would say, 'a mighty happy chappy' because he had heard the magic words from Qantas....'You have been upgraded to Business Class'. I drove him to the airport and had him all to myself. We talked about his new home in Darwin and what he could expect. The conversation then moved onto more important matters...visits from me. I gave him a list of interests... art galleries, shopping, spas, tours of the Kimberley, Katherine Gorge, Arnham Land...just a few things. I imagine now, he is flying somewhere over the Bay of Bengal on his way to Australia. I take heart as I think of our move to Vietnam in July and the distance it is to Darwin. Far closer than where we live in England...I think he is going to see me more often than he thinks... :)

So..here I sit this fair morning...trying to make sense of it all. My desk has been in disarray for weeks...travelling has a way of doing that to you. I have woken these past few mornings feeling more like my usual self. This morning my first thought.. 'she is back'. I just have to figure out what that means... :)

Perhaps it was the sound of birds outside my window.

They have been having a right ole time of it these past few mornings..

right in tune with all the Christmas festivities.

I then glanced out my kitchen window with coffee in hand to spy

this little bit of sunshine...on December 28th...

has Spring arrived in England??

Lastly...thru my kitchen window, I can also see our sunroom

which is closed up for the winter. On my shelf, sits a few of my old paint brushes.

I haven't touched them in years.

Maybe when we move to Vietnam, I will pick them up again...

Best wishes for a lovely day

from still sentimental in Surrey.

Jeanne xx

PS... I just realised my umbrella from India is sitting behind Patrick's bags.

My little way of staying with him. :)

images~me

Through the Woods in Irish Tweed....

2011-12-27T13:34:00.000Z

It was one of those days...when you walk in silence so that you can admire the beauty around you.

We ventured through the woods, down the lane, over the pass, across the fields and past Polesden Lacey. This National Trust property is a 30 minute drive from our house and a beauty in all seasons.

The picture below is of me... if you pass me in the woods in winter, you will most likely find me in my favourite Irish Donegal tweed hat and scarf. One woman, one dog, one camera...walking in the woods, trailing behind her family..taking pictures along the way. Crazy lady is more like it. There are very few photos of me as I seem to always be the one taking them...except for today. :)

Following the light...

2011-12-26T11:44:00.000Z

This is the first I chance I have had to sit in peace and quiet today...with only 30 minutes before the close of Christmas 2011. It has been a wonderful day and I hope you were blessed with the same. I have been thinking all day on the homily given by the priest at our Christmas Mass. He spoke about a pilgrimage he took to the West Bank town of Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. He described his passage through the church, the birthplace of Christ, where he kissed the star that marks the exact spot where Christ was born. I smiled as he spoke because I was travelling with him through my photos. I was walking with him side by side. I visited the church last year and was in as much awe of this holy site as he was. The image above came to mind, in a church that was filled with tourists, I wanted to find the peace that I felt at that very moment. I looked up and followed the light... just before the door I noticed the hearts. I found my picture. This is a message to simply say that I wish for you all..love in your life, peace in your heart and happiness throughout the coming year.

Happy Holidays to one and all...I hope you are able to share it with people you hold near and dear. Thank you all for your very kind Christmas wishes, I feel very fortunate and honored to have so many wonderful friends around the world. I look forward to reading and following your stories into 2012. :)

and with that, I say goodnight...

Jeanne xx

Sentimental in Surrey

2011-12-24T15:27:00.000Z

She sits in her favourite comfy chair, with her daughters around her, for their annual Christmas movie night. Time seems to have slipped by so quickly, so frantically...these past few weeks. It is nice to 'just be'..if only for tonight. I am especially contented tonight for having spent the day in London and best of all to have spent it over a long lunch with a very dear friend. Mr. H calls her my 'oldest friend'...a phrase that she and I are aghast over. We like to say that it the longest lasting friendship of our lives. We met when we were 14 year old. She was the 'new girl' in school. I recall seeing her in the distance in the coolest pair of purple bell bottom pants I had ever seen. I knew at that moment we were destined to be friends. It has been a friendship that has lasted 40 years and today we laughed, giggled and cried...just as we did all those years ago. I think I just had one of the best Christmas presents ever..in fact, I know that I did!

Speaking of Christmas...I came across this porcelain figurine in a shop window in Dresden earlier in the week. It is the sweetest little thing....with a very dear price tag (Euros). No surprise as it is the very finest, a Meissen, entitled Girl with Skates . It reminds me of my daughters...sentimental fool that I am.

Speaking of sentimental... you can see twinkling lights and raindrops falling over Sloane Square, here and view the exquisite jewellery designs of Pippa Small, here.

Ahh... sentimental thoughts of friendship, Christmas, twinkling lights and raindrops on this Friday night in Surrey with one of our annual Christmas favourites... Holiday starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. You can enjoy the scene below, here. :)

Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant in 'Holiday'

Image from here.

Sending you best wishes for a lovely Holiday!

Jeanne xx

Say it with red and fuchsia and....

2011-12-23T19:36:00.000Z

Can we just say it with red?

I say, grab bunches of deep reds,

kisses of fuchsia, blushes of pink,

dashes and lashes of green...

whatever grabs your fancy

and have a merry time arranging

bright beautiful holiday bouquets.

and while you are at it...if you have a love for the colour green, as I do...

wouldn't this be lovely for the holidays....

Just a quick post for a little holiday inspiration.

It was just the ticket for me...hope it did the same for you.

Images 1-2 Carolyne Roehm

Image 3 Best Wedding Bouquets

Image 4 Martha Stewart Weddings

Image 5 Hearts and Flowers

Image 6 Branca

A Saxon Christmas

2011-12-22T23:08:00.000Z

On this day...views from Dresden, Saxony, Germany... a view to Bruhl Terrace, birds in flight over the Semper Museum, Christmas Markets, the first cantata in Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BMV248) and an angels call. After a whirlwind tour from England to Australia to Germany and back to England...we are home. One of the best places to be. I hope to bring you more of our travels to Dresden...with a list of things to see and do if you were ever to visit. More of that when life settles down, until then...

An Artist's View...

Brühl Terrace alongside the Elbe river in Dresden, Germany.
Comparison above to a painting by Bernardo Bellotto ( 1722-1780).

Looking up at the Semper Museum in Dresden.

Sunset over a Christmas Market

Christmas Spirit...

A woman in red, with her own unique style, bravo!

With music in my heart, Bach's Christmas Oratorio...

Lead by John Eliot Gardiner and performed by the

Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists...

and an angel's call for a joyous holiday...

Golden angel sitting atop the Dome of Kunstakademie Academy of Arts in Dresden

FROM MY HOME TO YOURS... WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,

PEACE, LOVE, JOY...AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR.

Jeanne xx

images~me

Video~ You Tube

Holiday Gift Ideas #4: for Armchair Travellers

2011-12-17T14:05:00.000Z

Greetings one and all...just back from Australia with all sorts of travelling ideas for you! I am thinking big comfy armchair, a cup of tea...or a glass of wine and a great book. I have a few books that I recently discovered, some old, some new. There might be one or two here, that may interest you. :)

From Paris....
If you looked at my travel bookshelf you would wonder why I would want to add another book on Paris. It is just too hard to resist..they are all so special. Paris by Janelle McCulloch is filled with wonderful photography and what I like best...inspirational destinations...bookstores, vintage boutiques, galleries, garden, shops, neighbourhoods... A list is not essential when in Paris, but when time is of the essence it surely helps. You get all that and more in Janelle's book.

Image and interview with Janelle HERE

To Italy, France, Greece, India and Australia...
If you have not discovered Carla Coulson, you are missing the works of a brilliant photographer. When I picked up Carla's recent book, Chasing a Dream, I admit it was difficult to put it down. In fact, I did a spin around the bookstore and went back to look at it again. If you love photography and travelling the world...by armchair, be sure to check out Carla's book.

Image and review HERE

From backpacking across Europe, Australia, England, USA.... at 50../
To be honest, I think this is my fifth copy of 'Gang of Four' by Liz Byrski. I seem to purchase it with every trip to Australia and pass it on to a friend as soon as I return home. I love this book, it is one of those feel good, coming-of-age (at fifty) kind of stories. Four friends, each on a journey, the kind that could easily happen to you.

Book review HERE, image HERE.

To France and Australia....

I discovered Australian author, Alex Miller, with 'Journey to the Stone Country' and was compelled to read all his books from that point on. Sometimes you find an author that 'speaks to you' and there begins the journey. Since moving from Australia, I have fallen out of step with his recent novels. I picked up 'Lovesong' and wished for more room in my luggage for 'Autumn Laing'. I am sure it won't be long before it finds it way to a bookshop in England.

Images and information on the novels by Alex Miller HERE

From Chennai, India to London/Devon.....

I attended a dinner on a recent trip to India. I entered the room not knowing a soul and left with one of the most enjoyable memories of my trip. Amongst the many fascinating women I met that evening, was Ruth Khanna. We talked about life, work, family, careers and dreams. Ruth had recently written her first novel, Paper Boats, and I knew from the moment she mentioned it that I had to read it. I finished the book last night and it left me wanting more. I take that as a good sign and look forward to telling Ruth all about it.

Ruth Khanna's review HERE

To India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, Vietnam, The Philippines, China, Korea and Japan....

What better way to travel than through food! I love Charmaine's curry pastes and marinades. They were regular features in our pantry when we lived in Australia. With our recent travels to India and impending move to Vietnam, I think this book will make a nice addition to our cookbook collection.

Visit Charmaine Solomon's website HERE

Lastly....while we are talking travel, I was absolutely glued to Australian, Maeve O'Meara's SBS TV episode of French Food Safari (available on DVD) on my flight from London to Sydney. It was worth every minute!

Read about Maeve and her Gourmet Safaris HERE

AND.....I just discovered Maeve's Vietnam Gorgeous Safaris.

A big YES from this side of the world. Who wants to join me?? :)

I think Maeve is fabulous! Go Maeve!

There you have it, put a woman on a plane round trip from Sydney to London and

she will come up with all sorts of suggestions...of the travelling kind.

I hope you found something of interest here....maybe a gift idea for you or a friend?

Either way, I send my very best wishes for a wonderful weekend....

Happy Holiday Planning!

Jeanne xxx

On the road...a country town in Australia

2011-12-13T05:43:00.000Z

From the Southern Highlands of Australia.

I could not resist...it took travelling all the way to Australia (Bowral, NSW)

to come across the little book fellow above. Such clever Aussies. :)

Across the road, from this book shop....a cafe, filled with well read books

... a book lovers dream. A peaceful spot...with plenty to read..someday.

My cameras were packed away, so, I had to 'make do' with

my phone and Instagram. It's been a whirl wind tour..

rainy days, sunny days, beautiful gardens, quirky little shops,

fantastic 'flat white' coffees which this book lover ADORES..

Speaking of books, I have so many new ideas...can't wait to share.

A few here...Paris by Janelle McCulloch... Carla Coulson's new book, Chasing a Dream ...

fantastic Asian cooking by Charmaine Solomon, Bill Granger and one that is at the

top of my Christmas wish list....Indochine, Finding France in Vietnam by Luke Nguyen...

I found them all in a bookshop HERE.

Off and running again...until next time...

time traveller....

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000Z

Etsy

It is December, the clock is ticking and I am off again. This seems to be the way

with the month of December in our family. Moving house, moving countries, graduations,

celebrations...remembering loved ones. It is a momentous month..my biggest challenge.

Presents to family and friends, spread from sea to sea, are on their way. Teachers gifts,

baking, decorating and Christmas trees are all accounted for. I have a few more presents

to go and I managed to sneak in one for me while writing this post...the necklace above.

It is to mark the passing of time with my family, remembering that no matter where I am

or what I am doing, there is nothing like the time spent with them.

Two weeks and counting until Christmas...just a few more things....

a trip to Australia, a celebration, a visit to a Christmas Market

in Germany and then....back to England for Christmas.... HOME (for now). :)

Just two more weeks....ready...set..go!

Before I go...

I want to send my sincerest thanks

for the very kind comments left on my last post.

My boys and I are most appreciative. You are the best!

Best wishes...

Jeanne xx

A family of time travellers in Botswana.
image~me

one happy mama...

2011-12-07T03:00:00.000Z

Is there an age when you should stop referring to your youngest child as your 'baby'?

I am sure if I read the latest in child psychology books I would find this is a big 'no no'....

but I can't help it. He is my youngest, my baby and he is turning 12 today.

Connor is nearly as tall as me....I am 5'8"....

He has celebrated seven birthdays in Australia, three in New Zealand
and two in England.

He will enter his teenage years, next year in Vietnam.
He looks at the move as another adventure.

Connor likes to keep track of how many countries
he has travelled to over his lifetime, at the moment he is 12 for 12.

He is American but has never lived there, I hope someday that he does.

He calls Australia home.

He loves to read... especially history books.

Connor and our dog, Tika, have swum through life, side by side.

They do everything together....

Over the weekend, he asked his best friends over for a sleepover party.

We took them to see 'Hugo'. I could not think of a better film,

it was enchanting, the type of story he loves.

source

Tonight, we will celebrate his birthday at his favourite Chinese restaurant.

He loves Beef with Oyster Sauce. :)

My baby....

Happy Birthday Connor!

From my youngest to my oldest...

In five more days, I will see my eldest son....Patrick.

He truly is all grown up.

He will graduate from Royal Military College, Duntroon, in Australia.

Patrick on left

One happy mama...am I.. :)

Sisters, Mary Poppins and Gift Ideas #3

2011-12-05T11:38:00.000Z

It is easy to shop with my sister...I don't have to go very far. Carole lives in South Carolina and I live outside of London...not very far at all. Like me, she moves around a bit and like me, she likes to stay active. It did not take her long to find her way into a business opportunity called Thirty One, selling signature purses, totes and storage solutions to help organise ones life.

Coming from a family of six children, all close in age, my sister and I know all about organisation. My mother made sure everything was in it's place...she was a talented interior designer and artist who was forever decorating our family home. Let's just say, over the years, we had a lot of 'stuff'. All these years later, we are our mother's daughters...with lots of our own 'stuff' and the need to organise it all. My sister found the perfect calling in Thirty One...and I am still dragging my 'stuff' around from country to country...adding as I go.

When my sister referred to her 'Mary Poppins' bag ( Cindy Tote), I was all ears. She then went on to describe Picnic Thermal Totes, Large Utility Totes and when she mentioned that she could put her crock pot in the large Market Tote and manage to keep it warm on the way to school...I was amazed. I am still trying to figure out how my crock pot works and she is whipping up meals for teachers luncheons! Wonder Woman and her Wonder Tote is more like it. :)

So....because she is my sister....and I love her dearly...I am writing to say, if you are still on the hunt for some fun Christmas gifts or if you need a little organisation in your own life, Carole is your woman...she will have the answers to any question you may throw her way. Stop in and say hello...tell her that her big Sister...Jeanne, sent you. :)

My amazing sister...Carole.

A message from Carole.....

Hi!

My name is Carole and I love Thirty-One! I love that it is a faith based company that encourages and inspires women to become their own boss. I love that the name is based on Proverbs 31 (each one is as inspiring as the next). I am a stay at home Mom who likes to get involved in my community and help others. Thirty-One offers me a chance to do what I love~shopping! and helping others to shop. Are you looking for the perfect gift? Are you looking to put more order in your life? Feel free to call or email me...just click on the link HERE.

A sample of what you will find...

There you have it....a few more gift ideas for the holidays.

More holiday gift ideas for home and garden HERE, for homemade ideas

have a look HERE and a few more of my personal favourites HERE.

Happy Holiday Shopping!!

Holiday Gift Ideas #2: Homemade

2011-12-04T08:49:00.000Z

I have been a busy little elf.....

Mr. H asked Mrs. H why she went to bed so late last night...

Mrs. H replied.... "ummmm"

Mr. H asked what she finds to occupy herself until 1:00am?

Mrs. H replied.... "Oh...this and that, I was a busy little elf"

and smiled before quickly departing for the morning school run.

Mrs. H was minding her Pinterest last night.

Shhhhhhhhh........ :)

This little elf has a few Christmas ideas for you.

The above is "Quick Bread in a Bottle".

You can find the recipe here.

You can view the rest of my homemade

Christmas finds and much more

MORE HOMEMADE IDEAS HERE

source

Off to start working on my ideas...hope you find some too.

Best wishes for a lovely weekend to one and all!

Millie, Glenda, Jacqueline and a few books

2011-12-01T21:12:00.000Z

I want to say thank you to three lovely ladies...

Thank you to Millie @ The Laurel Hedge for her post and words of encouragement

on our move to Vietnam next year. Millie is 'woman extraordinaire'...she and her

industrious MOTH entertain and delight us all. She posted this fantastic video clip...

Millie's post: HERE

Vagabond Vintage Vietnam 2011 from Arthur Thompson on Vimeo.

Thank you to Glenda @ Gg-notes on the journey for her Part I and Part II posts

on the things she loved about living in Vietnam when she was a young girl. I now have

lots of great suggestions of things to see and do and I will be sure not to miss a single one.

I am still keen to know more as Glenda lived there during the Vietnam War.
She never ceases to amaze me with her life stories. She is a very special woman.

Glenda's posts: Part I HERE Part II HERE

Thank you to Jacqueline @ Beauty in the Ordinary for carrying The Brown Paper Book Club

idea one step further in a post. Jacqueline received The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais in the post from her friend, Petra, and once read, she plans to tie it up lovingly in brown paper

and string and send it on it's way to her sister, Victoria. I love the way Jacqueline

thinks about life, we share many interests, expat life being one of them.

Jacqueline's post: HERE

In the spirit of friendship, caring, sharing and reading...

I would like to send two books on a journey to two readers. If either book interests you,

leave a comment below and I will reply with details. I will send it to the first request

and ask that the book be forwarded to any others that are interested. There is no urgency,

read the book at your pleasure,...just knowing that one day, it will be sent

to another is enough for me.

To my readers, two books ready for travel from my home in England to yours...

The Guernsey, Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

A series of letters in 1946, back and forth from Guernsey to London,

weaving the tale of a Society that will warm your heart.

More HERE

Daphne by Justine Picardie

Daphne du Maurier..the Cornish Coast, Rebecca,

London... a fifty-five year old literary mystery...intrigued?

More HERE

Have you shared a book recently?

If you would like to add the name of the book to the list below,

I would be delighted to add it on. All I need is the name of the book,

and the country that it resides in at the moment.

Books that are currently travelling the world

with the Brown Paper Book Club...

Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs by Linda Olsen with Julie in Scotland.

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais with Jacqueline in Canada.

Making friends, caring, sharing and reading...is there anything better?

With sincere thanks to Millie, Glenda and Jacqueline for being such wonderful blogging friends!

You have made my world go round and round. :)

A Bookcation..for one

2011-11-29T14:33:00.000Z

Would it be such a bad thing to pack up your books and tell the family you are heading off on a bookcation? Just you, a stack of books, a journal or two....and your laptop...maybe the phone, I am still deciding on that one. Maybe then...one could finally get caught up. Because I want to....I really really do. I have been searching out books for gifts and there are so many beautiful books that I would love to hold in my hands and read. Instead, I will pass them on to another...happily but longingly.

Now for the destination for this bookcation...Let's see...reading on a sandy beach or by the fire in a deep arm chair. Tough decisions.....which would you choose?

That lounger in the photo above is looking pretty good to me..... you can read about it here.
Perhaps a sign on a door would be easier... Do Not Disturb...on Bookation, but only if that lounger comes with it. :)

An imaginary life...

2011-11-27T11:24:00.000Z

An imaginary life...

She looked upon the vase, remembering a special place by the sea. At first glance she knew she would cherish it for years to come. It inspired her to write. When she worked alongside it, words unfolded like the swift movement of pages in a well read novel. It inspired her to create. Bouquets of flowers fell gracefully from its hold as she sketched each elegant curve and dip of the arrangement. With the vase by her side she could hear the tide flowing in and out, feel the sea breeze against her skin and the warmth of the late afternoon sun on her back. It was there to remind her of a special place by the sea...her home.

The above is the life I imagined as I took this photo. I am far from the sea, in fact I am sitting in my favourite chair, by a roaring fire on a down right chilly evening in Surrey...but it is still fun to imagine.

My English Life.. a journey that never ends

I recently came to a conclusion. I have been finding my way in England for nearly two years now and have decided that it is a journey that never ends. I write about my favourite parts of England and my travels throughout at Finding My Way...in England. I will write on that blog

for as long as we live in England. At the moment that it looking like June 2012.

Until then, the life of Jeanne...in England, as she sees it.....

Through the looking glass at Petersham Nurseries in Richmond...

and a walk down a 150ft (50m) long herbaceous garden path...

you can find the path here

Sending you very best wishes for an inspiring weekend...

perhaps by the sea?

Jeanne xx

image~me

Love and Happiness...

2011-11-24T10:47:00.001Z

Hoping your table is filled with love and happiness on

this fine day. Happy Thanksgiving to all that

are celebrating this occasion around the world today!

I am off to stuff the turkey! :)

Jeanne xx

image: Bon Appetit

the bus stop....

2011-11-23T15:10:00.000Z

A bus stop in reflection...

Three mornings a week, my son, our dog Tika...and I set off to the bus stop to wait for the school bus.
It would seem an ordinary occurrence. But for me it is not, it is special. I have taken to bringing along my camera, taking photos with each visit, to mark the moment, record the sights, remember the pleasure of being with my son as we sit in the bus stop...waiting...and talking. We talk of this and that, what happened yesterday, what is on for the day and sometimes we just sit peacefully, together, with Tika nuzzling in between us. It all happens in just a few minutes, but they are precious ones to me.

Once my son is safely behind the school bus doors, Tika and I set out into the woods. A heavy fog has been sitting on Surrey these past few mornings. I half expected Sherlock Holmes and his dear Watson to come tumbling out of the forest this morning...there was a moment....

I then turned to the rising fog and mist around us... in colour.

I walk in these woods every day, I have collected endless photos,

in all types of weather. I wonder if I will ever tire of them..

maybe some day, but not yet.

As to the photo at the top of this post,

it is our bus stop....in reflection.. :)

Thinking of those of you who are busy planning, cooking,

and decorating for your Thanksgiving meal. It is hard to think

about anything else. For me, all I could manage was the bus stop....:)

Best wishes to one and all!!

images-yours truly

Diane...one more time..in red

2011-11-21T09:39:00.000Z

A little Diane love from Fashion Foie Gras..a great site, you can check it out here.

My kids would be saying right now, "Mom, you are not writing about Diane Keaton again are you?"

To which I would say yes, again. I just love this ad for Chico's. I just spotted it in The Oprah Magazine.

We do not have the fashion store, Chico's in the UK...so I missed this one. Love the red, love the black turtleneck, love the glasses, love the gloves..love the umbrella...just love the thing's that Diane does. Ok...I will stop now, but...really, she looks great, don't you think? :)

Chico's

I am thinking on red..

Anyone else doing red this season?

On my Christmas wislist...read by Diane..

AUDIO CD listen here

and more on Diane...
Happiness Moments and Something's Gotta Give
Tissues Barometer and Father of the Bride
Making Friends and Thinking Diane
A Country Ride and Baby Boom
Diane and Reading Glasses
Diane Style

PS..

Thank you all for your wonderful words of

encouragement for our move to Vietnam next year!

So very much appreciated. :)

Packing Decisions....

2011-11-16T18:36:00.000Z

source

Thinking about my English bike (notes on my Love Affair here) and if I would have any luck riding it on the streets of Ho Chi Minh. My guess is that anyone who has been there would think I was dreaming....

I am going to have to decide whether to take it with us to Vietnam. We plan to put most of our contents in storage and ship it to Australia where we plan to move after our posting in Vietnam. The bike is on the list. Should I or shouldn't I take it with us to Vietnam? I think I should... Adventures on my English Pashley bike..in Vietnam. There is bound to be at least one opportunity, wouldn't you think? I may not be brave enough to tackle the ambitions of the person in the photo above...but I think a flower basket shot on the back of my bike might work....

source

I wonder if our dog, Tika, would ride in it.... :)

Decisions, decisions....should I take my bike or

pack it up for the next stop on the Expat Express?

What say you?

My Pashley :)

Holiday Gift Ideas #1: Home and Garden

2011-11-15T10:18:00.000Z

Looking for gift ideas for the holidays? Me too. Maybe we can get organised together.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing my Holiday Gift Ideas. A few tried and true
and somethings new. My goal is to have my shopping done by December 8th....
(Mr. H and I are off toAustralia for my son's graduation). I say I will plan early every year,
maybe this will be theyear I actually do it. This post is kick starting me into action.
If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them! We can all shop together!

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO FROLIC IN THE GARDEN....

William and Son
Wellington Boot Key Ring

A tad extravagant...but so cute!

View here. PS..while you are there
scroll thru the items at the bottom of the page too.

The Making of the English Gardener

by Margaret Willes

For serious garden enthusiasts, a history on the English Gardener.

View here.

The Ten-Minute Gardener's Vegetable-Growing Diary

by Val Bourne

(Flower Growing and Fruit Growing Diaries also available)

Pithy, practical and purposeful- a handy diary.

View here.

Wooden Birdhouse with Patriotic Banners

From Plow and Hearth

If you have a weakness for bird houses ( I do)...or

know someone who does... this might be a nice addition.

View here.

FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE KITCHEN....

Bill's Everyday Asian

by Bill Granger

In my books, Bill gets it right every time. An Australian,

with lots of charm and great recipes. This one will be a must.

View here.

Back to Basics Apple and Potato Peeler

From Back to Basics

This is the ultimate kitchen device. My kids love it.

We have been apple addicts ever since. Great for the

lunch box! View here.

Mafter Exopat French Nonstick Baking Mat
From Mafter

Christmas cookies are baked to perfection on a Mafter Nonstick Baking Mat.

In my mind, they are one of the greatest inventions ever!

Details here.

GETTING IN THE MOOD...FOR CHRISTMAS

Thymes Frasier Fir Candle

For me it starts with the fragrance of Christmas..in our family it comes with this candle.

When we miss the fresh scent of a Christmas tree....we start here.

The H. Family Favourites....Charlie Brown and The Rat Pack

If you grew up with Charlie Brown, you will love this compilation. A classic!

For me there is nothing better than a little Frank, Dean and Sammy,

crooning over these family Christmas favourites. View here and here.

James Taylor at Christmas

Every one of these songs is a gem. Nothing better than James Taylor

over the holidays. You can view the album details here.

YOUR COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS TO THIS POST...

From Elizabeth @ Pinecones and Acorns

Adopt a Nudo olive tree and reap the benefits... read here

All things lavender from the Pelindaba Lavender Farm....read here
From Donna @ Starkey Hollow
Jim Brickman A Christmas Celebration CD..here

From Sunday @ Ciao Domenica
Heath Ceramic little bud vases here

..................................................

Be back soon with more ideas.... I have a few DIY coming up too.

How about you, any Holiday Gift tips you would like to pass along?

We would love to read them!

Another favourite...James Taylor singing 'River' by Joni Mitchell :)

images noted in links

Magic Carpet Ride and 'The Housewife'

2011-11-13T12:27:00.000Z

Sending you wishes for a Happy Weekend with a little story......

I can't say I am an expert on oriental rugs, except that I love them, in all shapes, colours and sizes.

But...what we don't need at the moment is more rugs. We have a few rolled up waiting in storage for our next move in the hopes that we will have rooms big enough to fit them all. When Mr. H suggests that we should probably think about downsizing now that the the kids are off to college and Vietnam is in our future, he gets 'the look'. The one that my kids really don't like, the one that says "HELLO! Are you from another planet?" I admit it, I am in downsizing denial...but I will save that topic for another day.

When we were travelling through India last month, our guide asked if we were interested in rugs. Antennas up, I thought...it wouldn't hurt to look. That was my first mistake. Upon arrival we were graciously welcomed by a very chatty fellow and taken into the world of rug making...by hand. Our gracious host then went on to tell us all about each carpet, where it was made, how it was made, who made it..... the sales pitch was well and truly underway. Let's just say I now have a fine appreciation for handmade rugs. The skill and time that is required is beyond what I could have ever imagined.

Our tour ended in what I refer to as Aladdin's cave. Mr. H and I sat side by side, he with his Chai tea...me with my bottle of Kingfisher beer (it was a hot day)....and then it began. It was as if carpets were flying in mid-air. What appeared to be an army of men descended upon us, rolling out one after another of beautiful rugs. I was expecting a magic oil lamp to appear at any moment. Mr. H sat nervously sipping his tea...as I enjoyed the cool crisp sensation of my beer. At this point, I was thinking...maybe we could use another rug..... I was mentally moving rugs from room to room in our house.

It was then that my euphoric state was broken. Our host was telling us about his most popular rug, 'The Housewife'. Mr. H sat silently, Mrs. H could feel that cool beer in her hand warming by the second. The eyebrows arched...'the look' was upon our host. 'The Housewife? I asked, why would you call a rug 'The Housewife?' I was thinking... so now I am a rug! He obviously did not have a House Minister in his life! More on the story behind the House Minister here.

It sounded incredulous to me.....'the look' was taking on new proportions. Sensing my confusion, he quickly went on to explain that this particular rug was his best seller, it was just the right size, it could easily fit in a hallway, an entryway, a library, a study, in front of the hearth....it was the perfect travel rug. Ok, I admit, he got me on the 'perfect travel' rug. My hard stare turned to reflection. I was thinking of my state of 'downsizing denial' and that actually....this size rug would come in handy. Maybe I could let go of one for two. I had the perfect spot and Mr. H knew what was coming next. I could see the relief on our hosts face.

Mr H and I were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary...25 years of wedded bliss and wouldn't it be nice to have a 'his and hers'. I popped off my shoes and had a wander over the rugs...dreamy is all I can say. The House Minister Esq....was sold. He picked his favourite and I picked mine.

On our doorstep in England this week, a package from India...his and hers. 'His' is in the master bedroom and 'Hers' is before me, in the study. Every time, I walk upon them, I think of 'The Housewife' and India...a story to a rug.

Mr. H on the left, Mrs. H on the right...mine is a bit bigger,

after all I am the House Minister....Esq.... :)

Happy Days my friends...best wishes wherever you are!

Marching Heroes

2011-11-11T13:28:00.002Z

For heroes marching around the world, those who have come before us

and those who stand by us today. May we always be thankful,

may we always remember...may we never forget.

You Tube

For my son:

Proud Moments in the Southern Hemisphere

Tales of a Homemaker

2011-11-10T07:43:00.000Z

source

On our recent trip to India, I had an interesting discussion with our guide. I have been mulling it over in my mind these past few weeks and am still smiling at his suggestion. We were having the idle 'getting to know' you sort of discussion and I knew a particular question was coming. Do you work? What do you do?

I am being honest with you when I say that I dislike this question...intensely. It started with our first move overseas. I have a love hate relationship with travelling. Love the travel, hate the paperwork associated with it. When the little box comes up on the custom forms, asking me to fill in my Occupation, I hesitate, the pen wavers, and then I go on to fill in what I have been filling in for the past 25 years... 'HOMEMAKER'.

Why this term? It was given to me, on my first trip into Sydney in 1986. I had left that box blank. At that point I was newly married, moving to Australia, having left my career behind in the USA. What was I? I had no idea. The customs officer said I needed an answer, he could see I was confused...I was realising at that moment that I could no longer define myself...in a single word. He found the answer for me and wrote it down, HOMEMAKER. I have filled in HOMEMAKER begrudgingly ever since....that is until now.

I explained my situation to our guide ( because I have a habit of doing things like that) and he replied..."Mrs. H, in our country we have a much better expression, it is one we hold great respect for, we refer to our wives and mothers as a HOME MINISTER". I did not hesitate for a second... Prime minister, Finance minister, Foreign minister, Health minister, Culture minister, Information Minister....surely there was room for a Home minister. I often live in my own world....blogging being a perfect example of that, why couldn't I be a HOME MINSTER?

Our guide went on to say that is a 'most revered position' and is shown great respect within his culture. I declared my love for India at that point and started to wonder if I could throw 'Esq' onto the end of my title. In Britain it is 'a title of respect for a member of the English gentry ranking just below a knight: placed after the name'. In my world, delusions of grandeur were running rampant....Jeanne H. Home Minister Esq. Move over guys, I am coming in. That might not look half bad on a calling card. :)

...and guess what?....when we left India and it came time to fill in the entry cards into the UK....I wrote HOME MINISTER (Esq. might have been pushing it)...and have been declaring my new found title within our family ever since. Any guesses on how many ways they will use this term in the form of Christmas gifts this year??

For those of you are relating to this post, I leave you with one I wrote nearly two years ago to the day.
How ironic is that? At this point in time, I had been a blogger for all of two weeks. I wanted to start a Dear B ( blogger) series...relating to aspects of life. I wrote two posts, the one below and another entitled Packing 101. I did not think there would be much interest so I stopped writing them.

Interestingly as well, I was preparing for the move from New Zealand to England at that time...not unlike where I am now, preparing for a move from England to Vietnam.

A post written two years ago....from a two week old blogger..

Dear B....Happy Homemaker
November 3, 2009

Every once in a while my mind goes into overdrive and I find the only way to 'get it out' is to write. I wasn't quite sure how to transfer this energy into my blog but I had a thought. One of my pet peeves in life is the Passenger Information Card I have to fill out when I travel. When I married 23 years ago, I was a happy career woman who left it all to follow her husband on an expat adventure. On our first trip to Australia, I had to fill out the PIC and left the section for 'Occupation' blank because I didn't know what to fill in. I had just married, I was moving to a new country and had no idea what I would do when we got to Australia. The Immigration Officer was not happy and asked me to fill in the card. I looked at him blankly; he looked at me quizzically and he wrote in HOMEMAKER. I was flabbergasted...I wasn't ready...

All these years later and the label has stuck. I filled in the card last week and will do it again this week. Here is my Happy Homemaker (above). I guess this is me, for now. Somehow I can relate. What follows is a letter to B... to express my anxiety and frustrations of the day. The good news is I always feel better when I do this...helps to clear the mind.

Letter #1

Dear B...

Help! I am using this blog to help 'shape the thoughts that stir within' and the thoughts do 'runneth' over.

I started this Blog two weeks ago and I think about writing day and night. I have so many writing pads around me that I don't know which one is for which. Is the pink journal for last week's thoughts or this week or is it the blue one? When I take my daily walks I look like a tech psychopath. Camera in one hand to take photos for blog, voice recorder in other to make instant note of thoughts in my head and a mobile phone..well, just because. Juggling all three with a bottle of water and a dog on a lead is not an easy task!

I have changed the photo on my blog and am in despair. I had my favourite pink flower photo...but I love my photo from Papua New Guinea. Am I a pink girl or is my true colour orange??? I love interior design, but I love photography too and then there is travel and all those beautiful blogs to look at. What about books and reading and all the wonderful blogs for that and then there are recipes and more blogs for that and I am now at the point where I am afraid to look at anyone's blog for fear of finding another to add to my list. To follow or to add to blog list, that is the question!

I have mountains of paperwork, I leave on a trip overseas the day after tomorrow, I haven't unpacked from last weeks trip and I am still contemplating how I am going to fit a King size possum blanket in one of my suitcases. That's another story but I wont' go there now.

My friends and family are worried, I fear an intervention may be in the works and here I sit.... hysterical yet happy as a clam...I'm writing:)

From

Harried but Happy Homemaker

Image

Best wishes for a fabulous day from

Jeanne H...Home Minister Esq. :)

PS..Sorry for the length of todays post..

there are days when you just have to get it out...don't you think?

Vietnam Bloggers Tour?

2011-11-07T23:04:00.000Z

Today I am doing a bit of forward thinking. I am laying the groundwork for our move to

Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) next year and decided I should first see where it is actually located. I am not sure why I thought it was an island...I now stand corrected. It helps to get your geography in

perspective when you are making a move. :)

image

Mr. H handed me an enormous document to read that will tell me all I need to know.

Being a visual person, I like to look at the photos first and read the copy last.

This document does not have photos...so...I decided to find my own.

I admit, I went for the nicest photos first but it is early days...

I am getting myself motivated and to do so...

I have to do it my way. :)

image

I don't know about you...but I am starting to think Vietnam will be

an interesting place to live. I also think I am going to need lots of visitors

to show around. We can go sightseeing, take cooking classes,

take the cameras for a spin, do a bit of spa hopping, go shopping in the markets.....

how does Jeanne's Vietnam Bloggers Tour sound? Any takers?

If you are interested in following me as I start my journey for our move next year to

Vietnam you can pop up to the top of the page and click on EXPAT LIFE.

Tomorrow's post ...

Back to India on a magic carpet ride....and

a few words on the 'housewife'. :))

Expat Life: Spin the Globe and a Postscript

2011-11-06T07:46:00.000Z

"Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" (Theatre of the World) c. 1570

We are spinning the globe at the moment as we await news on our next assignment overseas. Rather, my head is spinning as we await the news. This is all happening a bit too soon for me. We are only coming up to two years in England. It will have been our shortest posting so far. So here I sit...waiting to spill the beans. I have been here before. I nearly blurted out six months ago that we were moving to Central America...but we are not. I nearly blurted out three months ago that we were moving to Switzerland...but now we are not. I nearly blurted out two weeks ago that we were staying in London...but we are not. Can you see my point? Until we know for certain....

It is Friday, the day when most news is announced. Mr. H is coming home early. What could it be this time? I have an idea, but I can't say for certain. To help keep my sanity, I am playing a guessing game with my friends on Facebook. I provide a few clues and they give me their guess. It has been an interesting trip and a lot of fun for me. Care to join in? Here are the clues so far....get ready to play 'spin the globe' to see where the H's will live next...

Clues....

Mr. H is thrilled...Mrs. H is speechless

The country has red in it's flag

English is not it's first language

On the globe, it is a long thin country bordering an ocean

It lies between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer
Another clue coming shortly, any guesses so far?

Before I sign off for the night, I want to thank you all forseeing me through the week with your thoughtful comments. I have closed down one blog, merged another and have changed my look countless times. It has helped to keep me 'grounded' and your comments have made all the difference.

For that I send a big thank you!

Best wishes for an adventurous weekend to one and all!

Jeanne :)x

POSTSCRIPT:

UPDATE... are off to Vietnam ( Ho Chi Minh) in the latter half of 2012.
Thinking on Vietnam and Asia..food, travel, silk, antiques,
photography, voluteer work...the list is starting. :)

My first thought went to this movie..if you are just waking up, Good Morning!

image

The Brown Paper Book Club

2011-11-03T10:47:00.000Z

I am coming to you by way of a post I wrote on one of my other blogs,

entitled The Brown Paper Book Club. I am closing down the blog and bringing

a few ideas over to Collage of Life.

The Brown Paper Book Club

This idea started with a secret passion of mine when we lived in New Zealand. I joined

Trade Me, (the NZ version of E-Bay) and spent many hours reading the used book section,

looking for a little gem. Once I found the book for me, I placed my order. A few days later,

a brown paper parcel was sitting in my post box. I loved finding that little brown package

and still treasure those books...

You know what they say about the little things in life...

this is one of them for me.

So....now I am wondering, if maybe this is something I could do with a few other kindred spirits.

I am thinking of books that leave a lasting impression on us, ones that touch us, help set us

on a new path or simply leaving us wanting more. Who knows, a book you recommend

could make all the difference to someone, somewhere, someday.

When I posted this idea last month, several people responded and have been waiting

for the next step. It has taken me some time to figure it out...and by jove, I think I've got it!

I started 'My Shop Around The Corner' via Amazon ( see top of page) and within it I have

a section devoted to The Brown Paper Book Club. I have added books that have special meaning

to me and welcome suggestions from you. You can visit my Brown Paper Book Club Shop here.

We participate by reading and passing our favourite books along. How you choose

to pass them on is up to you. Personally, I love the good old fashioned way. I have one

ready to go to a reader, Julie, in Scotland. I have asked that when she is done

to pass it on and if for any reason it needs to come back to me, that is fine too.

The book I am recommending is 'let me sing you gentle songs' by Linda Olsson.

You can find it in my Shop under the title, 'Astrid and Veronika'.

This book was Linda Olsson's first novel and I loved it! Linda was born in Stockholm, Sweden and now resides in Auckland, New Zealand where I came across this book. I hesitate moving it off my book shelf but would gladly send it thru the hands of willing readers of the Brown Paper Book Club.

"In a wintry landscape in the Swedish countryside, the paths of two women cross. One bleak March evening Veronika, a young writer, arrives in a small village in pursuit of stillness and solitude to enable her to come to terms with grief and loss, and to complete a novel. Her arrival is silently observed by Astric, her elderly, reclusive neighbour, who in the safety of her home guards dark family secrets and personal tragedy. As the icy winter gives way to spring, the two women are drawn together. Against a backdrop of changing seasons, they embark on a tender and unusual friendship. What happens will change the lives of both women forever. "

It is on it's way, the first in The Brown Paper Book Club.

Care to join in the fun?

All you have to do is leave the name of a book that has special meaning

to you...and I will add it to list. An easy way to share your favourites.

PS... you might just take care of a few Christmas gifts in the process. :)

Happy Reading!

here.

images via Jeanne @ Collage of Life

My Shop Around The Corner

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000Z

I am not certain if I should call this procrastination or exploration but either way

it has been fun. I created 'My Shop Around The Corner' at Amazon. That is what it will

be called until I come up with a brighter idea. :) It is purely for fun and is filled with all the

things that inspire me.. books, photography, music...I am hoping a few things will inspire you too!

Jeanne's....Collage of Life Inspiration

Categories:

My English Life in TV/Cinema

My English Life in Books

Travel Books- France

Travel Books- Adventure

The Brown Paper Book Club

Expat Life

Photography Books

For Gardeners

Have Camera Will Travel

My Music Playlist

Sounds of Christmas

More to come.... :)

You can find it all at the top of this page under

'My Shop Around The Corner'

and ....here.

PS..if anything, I discovered a definite 'theme' to my interests. :)

image..via me and my mac