Oh Deer!

The Hunter by artist Adrian Higgins



Deer motifs on vases, wall paintings, mosaics, frescoes and more have been around for thousands of years.  Perhaps the oldest is made from pebbles, dating from the 4th century and can be found in Greece. 

Our fascination for this most regal of animals has continued over the centuries.  Today images of deers and stags can be seen on just about every piece of merchandise imaginable.  There's been a trend for clothing to sport images of deer ranging from ties, t-shirts, scarves, hats and even tattoos.

Historically antlers on the wall were a way of showing off hunting trophies in stately homes and hunting lodges but today this may be distasteful to alot of people.  However, it's bizarre that antlers in a variety of materials from aluminium to cardboard are just as likely to take pride of place in a city apartment or family home.

Click below if you love vintage French linen...Burgundy Delights has created a beautiful cushion pillow cover decorated with a stag's head using vintage French metis linen.

 http://www.burgundy-delights.com/vintage-french-metis-linen-stag-deer-head-cushion-pillow-cover-22680-p.asp

Adrian Higgins, the talented visual artist featured at the top of my post.  Creates a humorous twist on animals and man in his series of digital illustrations.
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/DownsizeMe/photos_stream

Have you got any items in your home with deer images?  Please share!

 

King of the Forest

On our way back from England, we were driving across France in the early hours of Tuesday morning when we drove through a forest and saw a magnificent stag standing by the edge of the road.  It was an impressive sight. He stood and looked at us, regally turned his head and then melted away into the dark woods.

The largest animal in the French countryside, rightly known as the King of the Forest has been hunted for centuries since the time of the Kings of France.  

We are in the middle of the hunting season and our neighbours belong to la chasse and go hunting every weekend.  Sometimes we are lucky enough to be given a share.  One memorable time Jean-Michel slapped half a deer on our kitchen table complete with gun shot hole and hoof! 

I am trying to overcome my soft, city ways but that certainly was a culture shock. I am used to buying my meat pre-packed from the supermarket.  Luckily Mr B isn't as squeamish as me. 

Each hunt is monitored by an Association which allocates which animals they can hunt and the number. 

It didn't take me long to realise that venison is delicious and can be cooked like beef and used in a variety of recipes.  Vension has only a 1/3 of the fat of beef and it's lower in calories too.  Our favourite is venison stew, with lots of red wine and herbs. 

We certainly eat well living the simple, country life.

 

 

24 hours to....

image via Pinterest

Feeling kind of jet lagged today, we drove from our home in Le Morvan, Burgundy to the UK on Sunday to take our grown-up kids back after the holidays.  BB goes to university in the south west of England and GG has epilepsy and lives in an assisted living apartment in south London.

I was a bit tearful saying goodbye but I was happy to see how happy GG was to see all her friends again.  And after two weeks of being cooked for and waited on, BB wasn't too keen to go back to his student house and probably back to pasta night after night! 

We had one night in south London and went to an Indian restaurant for an amazing curry...us English love our curries!!  My uncles came too and it was great to catch up.

After a client meeting the next morning, it was back in the car to drive through the night.  Driving round the Paris ring road at 11pm was busy but once south of Paris our route takes us on French motorways that stretch for miles with hardly any traffic. Then through deserted French villages lined with Christmas trees festooned with decorations.  After a round trip of 1400 km we arrived back at 2am to our own piece of paradise in the French countryside.

What is the longest drive you have ever done in a day?  How do you pass the time on a long drive? 

J'Adore... les chandeliers

Chateau Fontainbleau

The word chandelier is French in origin and is derived from the word chandelle for candle.

Chandeliers were traditionally hung in hallways to create a grand entrance and welcome guests into the home.

Originally a wooden candle which evolved into elaborate creations of faceted crystals and displayed in the grand halls or over the dining tables of French chateaux.

Let some sparkle into your home.
Keep your eyes open at markets, antique fairs and brocantes for old droppers, or anything that sparkles.  Long diamante earrings attached to candle holders and light fittings will catch the light and dance it around the room.


 

"See you in the morning"

When my daughter said this to me last night, it made me shed a few private tears.  You see, GG has a medical condition and lives in assisted living accommodation in the UK.  We have had a lovely family Christmas here in France and now it's time to take her and her brother (BB), who is at university back.

See you in the morning is bitter sweet because I can't see them in the morning.... every morning. 

I try and console myself with the fact that if I still lived in the UK I wouldn't see my grown up kids every morning ....empty nest syndrome is even harder across the miles.

 

Clear the Decs

I feel sadness mixed with excitement when we take the Christmas decorations down.

All the planning and fun of  Christmas is over and the house looks bare.

The decorations are packed away for another year.  Revealing that the house needs a good clean and an opportunity to do a bit of decluttering, dusting and tidying.

When things are put back into place and some order is resumed....I am ready and the house is ready for 2013.

Bring it on!



 

Taking Care of Busyness

Do you listen to the radio while you work, read the newspapers, tweet, and Facebook..probably all at the same time? Many a time I've wondered why a report or an article has taken me so long to write..and realised that I am distracted by the background chatter of the radio and the urge to check Facebook for messages.

Well...no more busyness for me.  There's just too much clutter and noise all around, especially from the media. 

So here's my plan for de-cluttering my head.

Avoid reading or watching the news and instantly feel happier and more positive without being bombarded by all the doom and gloom. 

Read local news and listen to local radio - learn about what directly affects my own neighbourhood.

Check-in to social media at certain times only and stick to it!

Unsubscribe from email newsletters and blogs that just don't resonate anymore.

Not being scared to say no before volunteering for anything and everything.

Stop watching depressing soaps or reality TV ...we have our OWN lives to live and don't need to live vicariously.

Have you any suggestions to add?  I'd love to hear them!