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