Remodeling House

Straight from Paris we are taking the fast train to the region of Dordogne in southwest France. This region stirs my soul.......
It is the deeply Medieval portion of France, turrets and Chateau's abound.

The terrain is both bone chillingly steep or green and serene
Dordogne is additionally the gastronomic center with abundant farms and orchards, wine and cheese

Truly every village has it's own charm and that is what we will do when we first arrive, stretch our legs, wander a local village and drool over French antiques, stop in a cafe.........

Our local guide Victoria, a friend of Sylvia's from England will share her private garden with a wine tasting. Her garden is called 'La Comedie', truly a woman with a great sense of humor!
Each afternoon Victoria will guide us to exquisite cafe's, often Al Fresco
Chateau Marqueyssac, steeped high on a perch overlooking the cliffs and valleys
And olives........an overwhelming array of olives
This town has preserved it's origins and only lights the streets in the evening by gaslight
Chateau 'Le Jardin du Manoir d'Eyrignac'. Again, exquisite French gardens, a lovely Chateau and stunning views

The Chateau de Millange, previously owned by American Josephine Baker. The interiors and gardens remain as she left them

PARIS!

Staying in a small hotel in the Eiffel Tower neighborhood, the 7th district
Our first adventure together is the Clignancourt and Le Ponce des Ouen Antique and Brocante markets, the largest in the world. Little byways and alleys each reveal a quaint shop or stall. Many many tourists and locals alike.

Now that we are back home from our three week spring vacation, attention has been turned to outdoors.  We have opened the pool, bought a few plants and we are getting to know our new property.  I actually discovered a gooseberry bush yesterday!  What I have noticed is this is definitely a hot property.  Unlike our last house, there is very little in the way of shade.  Our last house was so shaded

Have you embraced the mania? Caught up in the furor? This is Great Britain's year!

The Jubilee
The Olympics




The Designs

Traditional Home Magazine jumped on board featuring Britain's designers as they reap the rewards of being center stage. The Union Jack is everywhere...........






Want to join in? Here are many of the highlights of our upcoming tour, my 20th year of guiding future Anglophiles across the pond. And in celebrating 20 years, there is a "give-away" one lucky attendee  will receive free airfare (with a minimum of 6 attendees). Maximum 10.
NOTE;   BLOGGER IS REALLY GIVING ME TROUBLE. PLEASE IGNORE THE "POSTER" FOR ENGLAND 2011......I CANNOT DELETE IT...GRRRRR


Our first two nights are spent at the up-market Priory Inn in the heart of the village of Tetbury in the Cotswolds. A lovely dining room where our welcome reception will be held.

Rodmartin House of the British Arts and Crafts movement. Every piece of furniture was custom made for this home and remains completely intact


The hauntingly beautiful Chavenage from the 9th century, a pre-medieval manor and the setting for many Merchant and Ivory movies.

This is the time of year many home gardeners are tilling up plots, putting new beds in, revamping old beds and planting trees or bushes.  In many areas, utility lines are in the ground meaning there is a very good chance you could sever one of them.  The rule of thumb before digging anywhere on your property is to get free line locates.  In our case, the possible lines include: telephone/

I recently wrote about my neighbour's instant garden.  I'm not kidding, it went from barren to lush growth!  We left on May 8 for our spring vacation to Florida, a side trip to Aruba, then back to Florida arriving home side in the early morning hours of May 30.  Gearing up for the vacation, I put what plants I could outdoors but really didn't do much in the garden.  I was envious of my neighbours