Our City

In central France, we're ideally situated to set off in any direction and there are countless places one can reach within a two hour drive. I used to be embarrased that living in such a culture-full country, our home city is Chateauroux. As we live the same distance to Limoges, I would always prefer to go there to have lunch and shop. Chateauroux was the place we 'had' to go to stock up on DIY supplies and food shopping - most definately not for anything else. I think I was a city snob!

However, I have grown to actually rather love this place. And wandering about taking photos makes me appreciate it even more. My knowledge of history is poor but if my step father is correct, most of the old buildings were bombed in the war. The result is an ecletic mix of new and old. Lots of 1960's tower blocks mixed in with the old rumbling, shabby, sweet buildings.

I am quite proud to share Gerard Depardieu's home town (the only thing it is famous for I believe!).

Where did September go?

September has flown by and I'm trying to remember what we've been doing.

• Still trying to preserve apples, quinces, chillies etc before they go mouldy
• Making lovely oak shutters for our front windows - preparing for winter.
• Dealing with far too many vintage purchases. I think I need an extra room all to myself..?
• Building fabulous buildings and moving lego towers.
• Trying to deal with Bella's frustration of wanting to move...slowly shuffling on her bottom.
• Countryside walks and foraging for mushrooms.
• Knitting Bella a cardigan only to run out of wool and realise the shop does not sell that colour anymore!
• Sorting winter clothes from the summer ones and being ruthless in deciding which ones to keep.

It is all going too quickly!

The last of summer photos

These are the last photos I have of summer in our garden. It's been a productive summer and there are many aspects on which we can improve next year. More veggies and more flowers. The cosmos were a huge success, which I grew from seed. So, next year I will plant much more and fill all the gaps in the borders. I love the wild-flower garden theme. Now and for the next couple of months it's going to be continuous raking of leaves and conkers from the chestnut tree right outside our front door. Great :(

Also, the raised beds were a godsend. Scott made 3 just outside the kitchen so I could easily access the veg for dinner (or should I say he had easy access to them for making diunner!) and I've made good use of all the carrots, parsnips and beans for making Bella her food. Sam had lots of fun too planting the seeds and watering them.

I can't wait until next year when Bella will out there helping us.

This Saturday I'm grateful for....a little me time

Each week, I drop Bella off at my mum's house (Sam is usually at school) and I take myself off to town to do the weekly shop. I do sometimes squeeze in a little lunch and a wander around the shops. I do love the French brasseries where lunch time is the busiest time as most of French eat their main meal at lunchtime. It's the most activity I see with living in a quiet, small village - and I need a bit of city action once in a while.

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This moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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The English Library

Today we had a little trip out to the english library at a nearby town. We are also members of the french library but it is so nice to go somewhere and talk to fellow brits and borrow books which we can read without tirelessly referring to the french dictionary. It is especially important for Sam to read english books aswell as french books, and they have a small section dedicated to little ones.

Day off Wednesday

In most of France (I don't know about other countries..?), Wednesday is no school day. As Sam is only 3 years old, part of the 'petit' section, a day off is well needed. We let him sleep as long as possible and let him take his time getting ready for his Judo class (2nd lesson today, bless!).

Other than that, we take it easy. There's no pressure, no creative activities, no preaching or teaching. I try my hardest not to shout. It's a day to spend with his maman, daddy and baby sister...c'est tout!

So, we took all his toys into the garden, all his paints on the table (still there) and had a relatively happy day. I think he was missing his little girlfriend, Marie. His teacher had to sneak me into his classroom the other afternoon, where they were sat by themselves - Sam with his arm around Marie...how sweet - he's only 3! Her comment to me was "trop mignon!".

My mobylette

Out for a spin on my old French mobylette (with mobile phone incase of breakdown) today. I rode down to the old castle ruins at Brosse. Trying to make the most of the weather while it lasts. We've had such a great summer, but the end is near and the woodburner is back burning in the evenings.

The days have been so clear and the moon shining bright in the sky at night. Tonight, I took Sam outside in his pyjamas and we looked at the stars and the moon. Watching his expression when I told him about the man in the moon and pointed out his eyes, nose and mouth. The amazement. He immediately ran inside and dragged Scott outside to pass on this revelation!

Sunday

A lovely relaxing time has been had at the 'buckles household this weekend.

A lie-in pour moi yesterday. Sam went fishing with his daddy while I made apple compot. Later, Sam and I made biscuits which we planned to ice but they didn't make it that far. And we did some gardening....oh and collected so many conkers fallen from the tree.

There were no brocantes nearby today, but we had a visit from the grandparents. I made tomato soup and yoghurt. We went for a walk and foraged in the woods for mushrooms. The children played (nicely) in the garden until dinnertime.

It has been one of those weekends where nothing really happens but it's just right :)

This Saturday I'm grateful for....apples!

This Saturday I'm so grateful for all the hundreds of apples in our garden. There are so many, I'm struggling to preserve them quickly enough. They will provide desserts for baby Bella and fillings for apple crumbles and pies. And also a topping for those homemade yoghurts I've started to make too.

Lovely!

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This moment

Jump!, originally uploaded by andrea hornbuckle.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Following SouleMama

Bunting, Bikes and Bars

Just a little outing with friends to the village for a drink which still has the bunting everywhere from summer fetes. The boys took the bikes and us girls took the car. Which was just as well, as they had a puncture on the way home! This is the village where we treat ourselves every now again to the best cakes I have ever tasted from the Patisserie!

Nature Hunt

I put together a little nature hunt in the garden. Sam and I searched and found pine cones, feathers, daisies, chestnuts and apples. We laid everything out on the picnic table along with his drawing pad and crayons and began to attempt drawing them. A simple activity which kept him amused for an hour. The sketches on the other hand will last forever!

It's great to do this every few weeks and find different things that the seasons brings.

Brocante Sunday

This Sunday's brocante was in Limoges, capital of porcelain production - around the Cathedral quarter. It was a gorgeous day and there is always a great atmosphere. Many people are just out for a stroll and a coffee. Not me! I found some great things. Even with 2 babies (Bella and cousin Poppy) we managed to get around the whole market.