Sunday 16 May 2010

Simple pleasures, and a few images for you

When we are in France, one of the things I enjoy most is just wombling down the lane and looking at all the lovely wild flowers and critters. Actually, to see some wildflowers I don't even have to go as far as the front gate, lol, our so called garden really is more like a meadow/field. We found one corner of it covered in dandelions, a see of bright yellow!

If only they didn't all turn into this -

Now these little daisies are so sweet, and when we finally bring our granddaughters over to France, I'll be making lots of daisy chains with them -

Big patches of tiny little flowers carpet the sides of the little lane which runs past our cottage -
They are really really tiny, but so very pretty -

And these beautiful blue ones are the teeniest weeniest ones -

The wild rose in our garden/meadow/field was just about to flower. This bud was almost sparking with dew -

Finding dew covered spider webs -

Simple pleasures indeed, but they make me so happy.

This also makes me happy, seeing my DH and our doggies sitting in the grass and watching life go by in the valley below -

Or watching Hector pretending to be a little lap dog -

He doesn't always look so silly, he is really quite the most handsome dog in the whole wide world, and we are not biased at all, LOLOL -

Oh I must stop looking at the photos from last week in France, lol, otherwise I'll never get this post finished.

I have found some very pretty books recently so I thought I scan them in, in case some of you can use the images for your collages, as backgrounds perhaps -

I love this green!!!

The images are quite a good size, click on them to get the larger size, and then click on them again to get the biggest size.

I also found a wonderful book called Landscape Illustrations of the Bible. Published 1836 and full of the most beautiful engravings. You don't have to be religious to enjoy those engravings, they really are quite wonderful landscapes. I'll try and scan some of them during the week.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening/morning wherever you are. Toodlepip xxx

19 comments:

Createology said...

Lovely post and yes the simple pleasures are the best ones. Looks like you have handsome and handsome guys in your life. Fabulous book treasures. Thank you for sharing. Happy wandering...

debi lynn mattingly said...

Hi sweetie! thanks for droppin' by the Yaya, and LOVE these pics---talk about soothing the spirit! Have a beautiful week...xo..deb

Yitte said...

I love your pictures you have a really beautiful place in french. Your dog is very cute when he is sleeping!!
XoXo
Yvonne

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

The spider web photo is brilliant. Love them without the spiders thank you. Such pretty little flowers. The weed ones really are so pretty and those daisies look just perfect for chains. I still remember making them at primary school. so much fun for little girls.

val said...

Your photos are gorgeous. Thank you for brightening up my evening, I think the little blue one may be "Speedwell" - your cottage looks to be in a place of great peace and beauty. You are blessed.
Val

Anonymous said...

Great book covers, Liz! And I love your Big Furry Baby!
Diane

Helsie said...

When we were recently in France I could not get over how pretty the fields were covered with dandylions. Glad I'm not there to see the next stage !!
Cheers
Helen

Rebecca said...

Happy Sunday Liz!
Love love love your photos of the French countryside, and all the wild flowers! The spiderweb is priceless also! Looks like someone beaded a web in crystal.
Thanks so much for sharing, it will be awhile before I can get back there!
Blessings
Rebecca

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Lululiz!
Your photos are so pretty and I have to tell you that your cottage in France looks like a storybook setting. The view of the land is breathtaking, no wonder you keep looking at the photos. What a lovely place to be.

hugs
Sissie

Linens Lace and Lattes said...

The flowers are beautiful and the spider web amazing...the doggies cute and I love the look on the hillside looking over the valley below. I love sitting in my office in waterloo Illinois looking deep into your pictures to catch a glimpse of France. Have a wonderful week ahead. deb

Debby said...

All your photos are gorgeous. Love your books.
Debby

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Liz, It looks like you had again a wonderful time in France! Hector is such a cutie! You've found some very pretty books,I especially love the cover of the first one.
Have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Julia

sadie said...

such gorgeous, relaxing piccies. My little girl will disagree with you about the Dandelions. She LOVES finding Dandelion clocks at the moment. Causes great excitement. At this rate I am going to have about a zillion growing all over the lawn!

Cannot wait to teach her how to make daisy chains. Though she may be a tad heavy handed at the moment
:O)
xx

Catherine said...

What an idyllic setting... beautiful flowers in the meadow, and your panoramic landscape... lovely! And the dew-laden spider web rivals any jewels we could ever wear, except perhaps some of those daisy chains!

Your Ridgebacks are quite handsome - so love the goofy pose - our pups also get super goofy when my husband cuddles them. Very cute!

Thank you for posting the stunning antique book cover images - the School General Atlas is especially gorgeous! I'm looking forward to seeing the Landscape Illustrations of the Bible also - I've never seen any of those before - our 1800s family Bible has scenes, but almost all containing Biblical heroes. Your landscape book sounds wonderful!

I so enjoyed this post... such pretty little flowers and happy dogs ... the perfect images right before I head off to slumberland...

My Creative House said...

Wonderful book covers, thanks for sharing them, what a sweet dog you have he looks really cute as he lies on the sofa with your husband.
Anni

Dorthe said...

Hi Liz, and a good morning to you, sweet from Copenhagen.
I loved the trip with you down the beautifull road, where eveything seems to blossom on full speed.So great photoes,and thanks for the book fronts, they are wonderfull, for ATC`s or collages.
I`m heading home this afternoon, and takes a few houers in town first.
I so miss Mathilde already, having sait goodby to her after following her to the kindergarden. Oh that`s life,Liz.'
See you tomorrow again,when home.
Love and hugs, Dorthe

Tina said...

Hi Liz,
Lovely post and amazing pictures. Although I don't like spiders, the web one is my favourite.
xx

harmony and rosie said...

That first picture could well be one from our garden yesterday morning. That would be before my daughter and I picked each one (by hand I might add as most were turning into clocks) up. Only trouble is, looking out of the window now there are a whole lot more. Time to try dandelion fritters, me thinks!

x

*Ulrike* said...

That is where I could be just now to get some much needed r&r!