Insights into the French way of life and European travels by an Australian living in the Loire Valley
Header photo: Blois in spring, 2016. All photos on website copyright by Rosemary Kneipp unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved.Sign up for the latest posts below and don’t forget to click the confirmation email link:
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Category Archives: Flowers & gardens
Wait for the Ice Saints – Il faut attendre les saints de glace
There is a saying in France that you have to wait until after the ice saints – 11th, 12th and 13th May (Mamert, Pancrace and Servais) before you plants tomatoes and flowers like Busy Lilies. Well my tomatoes are fine … Continue reading
Happy New Year 2018
It’s nearly mid-January and I have only just found the time to write this new year post. Even though we have up until the end of January in France to do so, it’s still better to wish people a happy … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Art, Blogging, Closerie Falaiseau, Cycling, Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Flowers & gardens, Hungary, Loire Valley, Romania, Slovenia, Travelling
Tagged blogging in France
15 Comments
Roses, Chambord Gardens and a Birthday
I think I should begin with an explanation about why I haven’t posted since the begininng of June! It’s very simple – lack of time! I used to post every day when on holidays but realised that Jean Michel had … Continue reading
A Garland of Wildflowers in Cyprus
We are visiting the ruins of Salamis, an ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus. It’s a perfect spring day. There are yellow wildflowers everywhere and, in particular, yellow daisies. We see a young woman making a crown … Continue reading
Happy New Year for 2017
And there you go – another year has just flipped by. Admittedly, we did spend a whole three months travelling – first to Australia and India in the winter, then to Italy, Austria and Germany on a cycling holiday in … Continue reading
I Have Not Disappeared
I do not understand where all my time goes. When I lived in Paris, I had lots of time for blogging. Now that we live in Blois, I don’t seem to have any spare time at all! I do keep … Continue reading
Posted in Closerie Falaiseau, Cycling, Flowers & gardens, France, India, Italy, Life in France, Loire Valley, Travelling
Tagged cycling in Italy, flooding in the Loire
7 Comments
Friday’s French: poireaux & oignons – leeks & onions
I was so excited at the market last Saturday when I saw this wonderful shopping trolley. In response to my post on navets (turnips), a reader suggested several expressions including arrête de poireauter from poireau meaning leek. And here is a wonderful … Continue reading
Happy New Year 2016 – Bonne année à tous !
It’s New Year’s Eve and there are just the two of us, in front of our fireplace. We’re not having anything complicated to celebrate the New Year. I once spent all day making a special dish that took forever and … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Closerie Falaiseau, Flowers & gardens, Loire Valley, Renovation
Tagged blogging, new year resolutions
13 Comments
Best Nine Instagram Photos for 2015
These are my nine most “liked” photos on Instagram for the year. Four are châteaux of the Loire and two are the flowers in my garden! Top: Chenonceau, Sully, my wisteria Middle: Grenada, foie gras and vouvray in front of our fireplace, Chambord … Continue reading
Posted in Flowers & gardens, Loire Valley châteaux, Photography, Portugal
Tagged instagram nine best
21 Comments
Outwitting the Cat
I used to have a German friend and every time she came to my house in Fontenay sous Bois, she would look out the window and say “there’s a blue tit” or “there’s a nuthatch” which always made me very … Continue reading
