The Secret

Good morning my lovely followers, I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and profited from family, friends, love and peace over the last few days.

We have had a rather quiet and somewhat strange Christmas this year. Very different from our normal Christmas' usually spent with lots of family and friends, noise, bedlam, mess, food and wine!!! I am not sure how future Christmas' will pan out but I prefer the latter!

Anyway, under my tree this year "my lovely friend" gave me a book that is in the process of rescuing my mental state and hopefully my future. We have both been through a lot over the last few years and have shouldered each others burdens on the way yet know how difficult life can be, as many others I know, when your head takes over and the only thoughts you have are negative thoughts. You spiral into such a black hole with seemingly no light at the end of the tunnel and you can see no way out. When you are in this place no one can help you, nothing anyone can say can get you out of there. Your trapped! Watching your life unfold before you and not enjoying a moment of it.

Well, "my lovely friend" was given this book too a couple of months ago and even after under going a complicated painful operation on her neck her mood has changed into such a calm, positive zen like state. She knows where she is going in life, what she is wants, she has made great plans and is already turning everything around. I am sure she will not mind me telling you that she had a very very negative mind set before and one terrible crisis happened in her life after another, it was never ending. So after seeing her reverting to her old self I was obviously delighted to find this book for my Christmas present from her this year.

I started it on Christmas day and have struggled putting it down. I'm only part of the way through it but already I am relating to the words I am reading. I have managed to start some positive thinking and MY GOD, its great. It explains how negative attracts negative and positive attracts positive. Thinking positive thoughts makes you instantly feel better, gives you hope, helps you get what you wish for. Helps you appriciate what you have NOW in life which is sometimes very difficult to see at times.
This book is in the process of turning around my life.

Although it is called "THE SECRET" I don't think it is a book that can be kept a secret. I know there are others out there like me who need a bit of help from time to time to find what they are looking for. Give it a go and hopefully it will help you too.

The Secret Rhonda Byrne

I can not say a BIG enough THANK YOU to  "my lovely friend" for giving it to me. Love you lots and lots and where ever we both end up in the future we will always be close at heart. xxxxxxx

OH Dear....no more yarn!

I don't know quite how it has happened but I have a very small amount of yarn left !!!!!! Nightmare!!!!!!

I can't believe my stocks have become so low, I am getting a bit twitchy! I want to dash out and restock! I must have got through more than anticipated this year! Somehow, although I only have a couple of cushions, a lap blanket, hot water bottle covers and some bunting to show for it??

I am going to restrain myself, as I'm going to the UK in just over a week, where yarn is considerably cheaper than here in France, I will stock up. I am going to productively use this time to think about my up and coming projects for the rest of winter. I want to tackle a crochet tea cosy for my, hopefully, new teapot thats on my Christmas list. As my 3 girlies have lovely crochet blankets at the foot of their beds I think its time for a lovely one for my bed! A HUGE one, every colour under the sun, I'm throwing caution to the wind and going totally random with my grannies, not easy as my mind doesn't do "Random" It likes order!

How wierd that crochet can totally take over your life and make you obsessive! None crafters would think you "Barking" if you had to explain it but it is a total addiction isn't it?
Phew!!! Hopefully I can get through the next week........fingers crossed.

Best wishes
A rather shakey, aggitated Nicky xxx

Eclectic????? Not sure!

My tastes are very very varied with regards to the style of my decoration in my home. I always seem to struggle as I enjoy so many styles I have always found it difficult to "melange" them together. I am the sort of person that can't cope with one decor arrangement as I will always have another style in the wings just waiting to take over.

I love the French Chic, I love Shabby Chic, I love Granny Chic, I love vintage, I love retro,  I adore Kidston but putting all these elements together I have found difficult. That was until I stumbled over "Country Rabbit"  A bit of everything seems to be going on there which has given me endless amounts of inspiration for my home. I am now mixing all my little bits and bobs together, not worrying that I have a French Chic print in the same room I am stuffing my shelves and units with other floral, Kidston, chinzty, whimsey type "stuff!!!!!"

Does that make sense? Mum calls me Eclectic? Not sure there is a word for it,,,,my partner thinks Im a hoarder (probably quite right too) and doesn't really "Get it!" All I know is that I am happy with my bits and bobs and my little treasures and who cares if they don't all go together but isn't that what a home is about?? Personality? Yes I think so.

Best wishes

Nicky x 

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!!!!!

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose,

And if you ever saw it,

You would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names;

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve,

Santa came to say,

Rudolph with your nose so bright,

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee,

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,

You'll go down in history.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

In the attempt to feel festive I have been scouring my snowy  photo collection and found these lovely snowy scenes. 

Beautiful pines in the Alpes........absolutely stunning glistening with snow. 

 We have not yet had any snow this year although it is forecast. How lovely it makes everywhere look.

My ancient oak tree.....the stories it must be able to tell.......

Best wishes Nicky xxxx

Name change........

Thank you Heather for the good tip.......finally after an hour or so of tapping, clicking and searching I think I have mastered it. My name change to read the same as my blog page: Life in Flowery Wellies.

So thank you, enjoy and I hope to have lots of lovely followers very soon.  Bob past when you like......I'm always here! LOL

Best wishes
Nicky x

How to find some Christmas spirit????

Well we are rapidly flying through December and I am starting to feel a little sad.....nothing feels Christmassy here....in Normandy that is.......

I'm struggling to generate a bit of the Christmas spirit I so long for.

I don't know if its an age thing?? If it's because I'm not in the UK where all you seem to need to do is go into the town and the shops are bustling,,,,the Christmas lights are brightly shining,,,,,,carols playing,,,,,and stressed people busily trying to find something special for loved ones.

I miss so much Midnight Mass, the Salvation Army band outside M&S gloriously singing their carols, the Nativity scenes in the church yard, mulled wine and mince pies, Christmas craft fairs.......Dear me ....my list in endless.......A tin of Quality Street.....stuffing...... For me its not just one day.....it's the whole month.....it's the run up.....the festive atmosphere.

As is, this year we will be doing Christmas without a turkey and chippolata sausages, NO mince pies, No crackers (unless I can stop feeling sorry for myself and set about making some)  No Quality Street, oh and French TV!!!!!!!!!!!

I am at a loss....I have all the decorations out, Michael Bublée is singing his heart out and we regularly watch a Christmassy movie but its just not happening. I have deliciously scented candles constantly burning.

I have been here 7 years now and all of a sudden I feel very home sick. :(

When you move to another country you not only need to learn the language but also their culture. I have done both and I have to say "Give me the UK anytime"

Merry Christmas.....I hope you are all having a happily, festive weekend.
Best wishes Nicky xxx

Two little piggies...........and the rest!

It occured to me at some stupid time this morning that I hadn't yet introduced to you my piggies...... Matilda and George.

They are my Kune Kune piggies and part of the family. Just like dogs they love a fuss, a belly rub, a treat and lounging in the sunshine.

My neighbours thought I was barking when I announced we would be taking delivery of 2 piglets, some 4 years ago now, and even more barking when I said they weren't for the freezer!!

I am sure I am now known as the "Nutty English girl with the pigs!!!!"

I remember how funny it was when they came round so I could introduce them and the look of horror on their faces when I climbed into their pen to give them a big fat belly rub!!! "NO NO NO don't do that,,,,pigs are vicious!!!" phhhh.......vicious???? Not my babies!!

George especially is rather fond of an apple or 6..... a lounge under the oak tree with a good old rub behind his ears then on his belly. He will happily stay flaked out for the duration. They are such comically, calming creatures and have been a welcomed addition to our family.

And just for the record..........No they are not destined for the freezer at any time in the future.

So oink oink Matilda and George! xxxxxxx

Which leads me onto some of the other characters we have welcomed into our home over the years.

Firstly was my beloved Cat Penny-Anne. Very very very sadly no longer with us. She was such a companion and came from the UK with us when we moved. She loved nothing more than soaking up the sun, waiting infront of mouse nests in the garden or sitting along side me whilst I was weeding the garden. I miss her very much.

We have Daisy-Mae our Cocker Spaniel, she's now an old lady and very grumpy. Happy to sleep all day and hoover up scraps of food my littlest girlie drops or gives her.

We have had rabbits, guinnea pigs, chickens, finches and goats.........

The goats being the most memorable and most difficult creatures to ever decide to have in the garden. Gruff, (original name I know but he came with the name) was the strangest, funniest creature I have ever come across.

He was an escape artist, took particular fondness to my Tete a Tete bulbs in the Spring,,,eating every single pretty head off them whilst I was out one morning. He could litteraly walk up walls. He got my female goat, Pippin, pregnant and we ended up with triplets!! Now they were lovely cute little things but sadly males so they had to go. The only way we managed to get rid of Gruff was to chuck him in free with Pippin and her babies. He was not at all missed.

I even remember when a homing pigeon came to stay for a little while. It was so wierd. Let me explain, we live in rural Normandy, all our neighbours a French, farmers at that, and one evening this pigeon appeared whilst we were in the garden, after a few days he was still there. We gave him some water but he wasn't going anywhere. In the end we caught him and checked his ring and was amazed to find he had come from Dorset and was enroute home. It was like he heard us in the garden and thought "English...yeah ....I will stop here a while, little holiday and all that!!!" After a week or so he continued on his journey and we never saw him again but we like to think he had a nice time in Normandy with us!!

Every time a new animal appears on the scene I swear it will be the last............."No More"........."When they are gone thats it"!!!!........ Yeah right! We are just a family of animal lovers so that will never happen.

Crafty projects...........

So I promised a catch up on what I have been up to on the craft and Christmas front so here we go!.........

Firstly on my list of "must do's" was the crocheted hot water bottle covers,,,,,,not my usual choice of colours but like I said I found a reduced basket of wool so thought I would go with these colours for a change,,,,you know what they say? A change is as good as a holiday.......Well not really but at least we will be cozy this Christmas.

Then onto the project of Christmas stockings. This is about as adventurous as my sewing gets. I can run up a pair of curtains, do a bit of crocheting and basic knitting or cross stitch but sewing "a thing"..........not that easy for me but I am really pleased with the end product.

 Made (lovingly) from scrap's out of my hoard, they go brilliantly with my decorations, tree and house decor. Each one slightly different and even one made for my lovely farmer in the tartan fabric. Im sooooo sooooo soooo chuffed with these. I must pat myself on the back as my girlies and my farmer just say "hmmm yeah nice mum!!" not the response I am looking for when I have been toiling over these things for what seems like an age! I can't wait for Father Christmas to fill them with goodies.

My "Christmas Bunting" was made inbetween making the Christmas stockings. It was so easy to make, very cheap and yet looks really lovely swagged up my banister rail. It was crying out for a garland of some sort and I wanted to stay away from the traditional pine and ribbon garland I would normally do if presented with a staircase to decorate. I think this works for a change and looks a lot more informal. Again....Well chuffed!!!

I have also been on with 2 cross stitch projects for my girlies for Christmas. They are Tatty Teddy Bear and I want to make them into cushions for their bedrooms. I started the first one in January and managed to get it done quite quickly over the winter but the second got a little tiresome. I got into a bit of a panic when I realised that I not only had to get it done I had to make the patchwork to frame it to make the cushion cover........which I still have to finish. But I can breath a sign as the hardest and time consuming part is finished now. I will tackle the cushion cover tomorrow (yeah right...it will be Christmas Eve done soooo quickly) when the girlies can't spy my creation.

Then onto my Christmas Tree hunt!!! What a job. In the end I have bought a beautiful, smaller, real tree in a pot so I don't have to watch it being dragged off to the tip in the New Year. I thought it was a lovely idea in the end.....as this is our first Christmas together as a new family I thought we could plant out the tree and it would continue to grow like our family and relationship and would always be there to remind us of our first Christmas. It looks sooooo pretty trimmed up Nordic Style (my favorite for Christmas). Woman on a mission!!!!!!!! Success!!!! Now I better go fill up the cupboards!!

I have to just show you this lovely Advent Calender too. My mum made this.......God knows how many years ago for my sister and I........must be a good 20-25years old........When I was moving house in the summer I found it amoungst my boxes so I have lovingly filled it full of treats for my girlies. It looks fabulous and brings back many memories. The work that my Mum put into this is evident I hope you can see from the photo, it doesn't do it justice really. It really brings a smile to my face.

So,,,thats about it.......My main list of jobs done. I still aim to bake some mince pies and make some peppermint creams......another one of my Mums traditions. I am really proud to say I am turning into her. She fab!!!!

Have a fabulous week and I hope you are all getting through your list of "Must do's" too.

Best wishes Nicky xxx

I have just had to add this photo of my girlies Barbies. They are all lined up waiting to find out who will be crowned "Queen for the night". (Maybe I do watch too many reality TV shows)! I love winter when they go back to being my "little girlies" instead of trying to be older than they really are and not play as little girls are supposed to. Bless them! xxxxxxxx