Mad about Plaid

I love this and the history behind it.

The Duke of Windsor’s Hermes Plaid Satchel.

A Christmas gift from Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, to her husband in 1941.

Self Portrait Marie-Denise Villers 1801

This Marie-Denise Villers painting, which may be a self-portrait, was once attributed to Jacques-Louis David. Marie-Denise Villers (French, 1774–1821). Charlotte du Val d'Ognes (died 1868), 1801. She's lovely, isn't she? Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

photo source

A woman surveys a treacherous mountain pass in the Pyrenees of France, 1956 - Photograph by Justin Locke, National Geographic. Doesn't this take your breath away? I think we are so fortunate these days to have better equipment to take care of the snow. I'm so lucky to live on a county road that is plowed around the clock. I'm having my furnace serviced for the winter on Friday. I still have visions in my head of getting stuck in the snow on a pretty regular basis when I was young and we lived in Pennsylvania. Do people even use chains on their tires these days? What are you doing to get ready for winter? 

Maison à Castel Meur - Pointe du Château France

Click on the following link for a much larger view. via

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place! This fantastic looking house in an idyllic coastal setting and located between gigantic granite boulders is in Plougrescant, a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor in north-western France. The house was built in 1861 as protection from high winds and storms and is popularly known as "Castel Meur". It is still a private property of the original family.

The house and the area became famous world wide through a picture postcard issued by the local municipal officials, anxious to develop the coastal tourism in this coastal area. The owners however were not amused as this brought horde of tourist trying to climb the house for taking photos etc. It is understood that now any representation of "Castel Meur" for commercial purposes is prohibited. 

The preceding text was copied from this site where there are more photos of this wonderful stone cottage snugly resting between giant boulders. It's really an architectural marvel.

I found a 22-photo slideshow here of the surrounding area. The closeup of the house is photo #22. It is a real testament to the art of the stonemason, isn't it?

Amazing Terraced Landscape in Paris

Click photo to enlarge and then pick yourself up off the floor. WOW.

A page from the book 'Paris in Bloom' photography by Christoper Baker

Stone Garden Ornament with Flame Finial

It really is carved in stone and it's beautiful. The image source identifies this antique architectural element as French. I'll take two, please.
I've been mowing since 5pm. I got a lot done. I did the front with my old-fashioned push reel mower like we had when I was a kid. If the grass isn't too long, it's actually faster than the riding mower. My front is tight with the brick wall. The riding mower throws too much grass up against the house. It was fun. I'm doing the back in sections. I did a field down there for the first time this year. It took about 2 hours. Now I'm going to relax and watch TV. See you tomorrow.

Château de Chatillon garden, Bourgogne

click image to enlarge

Château de Chatillon garden, Bourgogne | by © Jean-Baptiste Collection via I'm really into green gardens this year.

Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac via

Great Scissors

via

Château de Vaux le Vicomte

Did you know that the Château de Vaux le Vicomte, to the east of Paris, was one of the main sources of inspiration for the Château de Versailles? It is surrounded by the most elegant and geometrically harmonious of all high Baroque gardens. Have you been? via

Best Fireplace Ever

Put me in that leather chair and let me toast myself in front of that wonderful fireplace! I would move the chess board so I could put my feet on the ottoman. I do love this room in a 15th century gatehouse in the Dordogne region of France. Tour here.

When I find my milkman, I'll ask him if he knows a bread delivery man like this one in France. I actually found a link called "Find Me A Milkman" but alas there isn't one in my area.

Image: Pain au levain by alvarolg on Flickr.

Henri 2 -- The Tormented Parisian Cat

Click here if you cannot see the video.

It's been 5 years since the original Henri film. I'm so happy he's still miserable :)

Our Lady of The Cow Parsley

Don't you love the name of this gorgeous painting by Elisabeth Sonrel, French artist 1874 - 1953? 'Our Lady of The Cow Parsley'. She is a vision of spring and summer for sure. This wildflower grows wild all over the UK. via sofi01 on Flickr

Beautiful

Garden Photography by Clive Nichols ~ La Louve, the private garden of Nicole de Vésian in Bonnieux, Provence, France.

Have a great weekend!

Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère - Medieval French Architecture

The peaceful village of Saint-Leon-sur-Vézère is located in the part of the Dordogne known as the Périgord Blanc. Dordogne is itself a department of the region of southwest France known as Aquitaine. Handsome medieval houses like this one dot the landscape. ©erjkprunczyk

Tower Castle of Chatillon-en-Bazois in Burgundy

The garden at Château de Chatillon, Bourgogne
© collection Jean-Baptiste Leroux 

Absolute perfection.

French Wall Sconce

I just ran across this gilded figural wall sconce I bought years ago. It is not wired and has an odd (European) bulb holder so I really can't use it unless I convert it to hold a candle or have it rewired.

Royal Dogs in France

Royal or not we have always valued our dogs, haven't we?

Beautiful Tree-Lined Drive to a French Chateau

The Chateau of Chambord's Gardens via Flickr