We had a tree chopped down in the sheep field as it was worrying a neighbour who has a house near to it. The logs cut into lengths are great to put around the potage I have. I was imagining rustic raised beds. Doubly good is when you roll them over the slugs have hidden there and then the enthusiastic duck forage them with gusto.

 My searches at the Brocantes have turned towards these plates recently. Digoin as they are known as here. The name comes from the place of production in the North East. Very simply decorated by stencils. The one's below date to the last quarter of the 19th Century. You can check online by the marks underneath. They can be bought very cheaply and I think they are charming.
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Digoin Sarreguemines

 They are growing so fast now nearly outgrown there pretend pond and I shall be showing them the actual pond soon. I can't wait to see their reaction.

I am really in love with this cottage. It is on a road and there is a neighbour opposite but otherwise the cuteness of it is too much.

The countryside here is incredibly beautiful and the roads are empty.

I spotted this desk out in the rain the other day outside the old school where I was taking part in an exhibition. I now have it in my study. It's even better in situ. The Mairie was also throwing away another 'bureau' so I am going out this afternoon to collect that too. Free. 

This is the time of year we are out and about looking for Vides Greniers or Brocantes. The lovely old properties are all for sale. I love them all. It plays in my mind all these abandoned places.The one below is a farm and above a village house.

We have all these Ducklings 9 Muscovies. Not sure what gender they might be  and curious to see how they develop. I weighed one today, 150gs. Last week they were 100 gms and the tails are beginning to point upwards as they grow in confidence. 

They are either yellow or yellow and brown at the moment all like these.

 Love a swim

 The garden is changing so fast. This area of my garden, used to be for vegetables and salad but now the Raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants gooseberries etc are taking centre stage I need to find new places to put my vegetables. So far this has involved a large black plastic sheet I found in the Poubelle spread on a normally grassy area.

 I do like comfrey and nectar rich plants too so it's looking like an English cottage garden. 

I went to a little flea market and spotted a lovely van. I bought a small silver pot but because the cat had to go to the vet and the car needed to be insured this month I was reserved.

Forget me Nots in evening light and gooseberries somewhere.

These Bugle have been lovely this year and the bees are happy.

Constant work to upkeep the old buildings. The ladders have provided the cats with extra play grounds. Hunting for lizards who are quick and small and thankfully lose their tails when captured. I need to re point fast now the paintings are in for the exhibition. I feel like life is on hold while I prepare paintings for dead lines. 

http://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/how-to/Art-Theory/612/9-tips-to-unlock-your-creativity

I don't know if any of you are painters or just like to paint for fun.

I have an exhibition coming up soon in May which I participate in each year. This will be my third year anyway. I have been reflecting a bit on how I feel coming up to the exhibition. It's a driver to produce finished pieces. I seem to be changing my my style of working and I am beginning to feel a bit intimidated.

I just read this article and thought it might be of interest. I recognise the drawing in after in charcoal and I have been doing some scratching too.

The cottage hearth a little changed. I bought a cuisiniere which is a wood fired stove used for heating and cooking. 

They are falling out of fashion here so it's a good way finding un trendy equipment to keep warm and cook.

Auriculas grown from seed.

Petiton

Cherry Blossom sprays of white out even before the leaves.

The Brocantes today at the place of the old train station. 

Pisenlits or Dandelions

Cowslips on the verges

Walk

 If I walk out of my house these are all the familiar views that I see all year around. Since the cold weather has moved along everything looks so much more charming, less bleak and harsh.

 A stork, normally don't stay around long but I saw one nesting a few days ago.

I have had no internet, or telephone. The phone has yet to be connected so all is quiet. 
We do have the Black Redstarts creating a lot of fussy whistle/ruffles. 
Spring had arrived on a recent trip to the UK. My tiny Magnolias here are much further behind. I bought this Magnolia for my parents along time ago and it is beautiful in full bloom. Lots of crinkly white ribbons folding out of these strange hairy buds.

The bridge in Worcester 

A particularly good example of the Japonica, these are full of nostalgia for me, lovely plants early burst of colour. 

 The stalls and images below are all from Hay on Wye, famous for books. These Hellebores were extra large. I asked if I could take a photo and 'Where do you want me' was his cheeky reply. Nice smile don't you think?

Richard Booth self appointed King of Hay.

The eclipse through a colander. The sky was dark for a while but as the moon passed across the sun and had nearly passed fully over there were shadows again, enough to see clearly that the sun was being eclipsed.

Stall in Hay market. The lady Just Jules Vintage also goes to Cardiff and sells Indian reclaimed based and vintage. She's very enthusiastic and even cornered my dad with tales of vintage.
Hay has a lot of independently run shops, The Old Electric Shop is a new one on me and full of really lovely things. The table as I walked in was full of vintage alarm clocks, there was a café and for such a remote Black Mountains town had lots of interesting folks inside wearing proper knitted jumpers and sturdy shoes. There is also space to rent for artists. 

The Weir again as below. 

The Weir, near Hay on Wye, National Trust. I was hoping to see the snow drops but they are mostly finished here. Lovely setting, with winding paths on a slope. We had Jonquils and Daffodils to admire.The Rooks were very noisily nest building and shouting to each other all with their own distinctive voices.

TK Maxx have some lovely linen frocks in. I am really keen on this orange at the moment. The dress looked a bit wrong on me but I thought I might try some sewing. I have bales of French linen sheets so really with some dye I can't see why I can't try and make this. I had this same colour dress many years ago that I made using some fabric I bought from Liberties. 

My sister with her much loved horse, Norman. He prefers his own company,staying in the sheep field, nothing too taxing such as a hack.

A stall in Ludlow market. I am thinking of renting a place near here for winters. I love France but I can't seem to further my career or indeed stand the isolation. My cats will have to get their passports ready. This year I lost my internet connection for nearly 2 months. 

Same stall as above cast iron door stops, like French ones.

Sunshine in Ludlow.