Now what? Life in rural Ariege

Burblings about adjusting to life in the deep south west of France or "la France profonde" as they call it here and the challenges of restoring a ramshackle collection of tumbledown buildings. I mainly write about local festivals, events and celebrations and, most of all, the weekly ritual of combing vide greniers and brocantes for pre-loved vintage treasures.

23 December 2013

Facebook Giveaway

I'm so chuffed to have made 900 sales from Histoires on etsy that I'm doing my first giveaway on facebook.

The prize is 10 very romantic old French postcards.







Bonne Annee cards (Happy New Year), Paques (Easter) and Anniversaire (Birthday) cards, as well as humorous and romantic greeting cards.

9 of them are written on the back, one is blank



3 have the cutest kids on the front





2 are "femmes fleurs fantasie" - pretty French ladies with flowers offering best wishes





Lovely hand tinted landscapes and flowers








A lovely pack of old French paper ephemera from the early 20th century, from the 1910s to the 1950s.

To enter the giveaway draw go to my facebook page and click on the giveaway tab.

Bonne chance a tous !

3 December 2013

Brandy & mince pi-keys

Christmas is on my mind now and the push to get inside the building before Christmas Day is a priority.

We've survived snow and torrential rain in the caravan but even so the lure of living indoors is getting stronger as we move towards the end of the year.






And we're making progress. Channels are being dug to take the drains for our microstation. This is massively exciting to us as it will mean au revoir to the WC chimique (chemical loo)





The mezzanine floor is in too. Just needs varnishing and the staircase fitting then it can be used as storage space.




Our bedroom is taking shape too. The ensuite and wardrobe walls are in. The electrics are complete and the heating / air conditioning unit is heating the space. A temporary shower is in too. Next step is to fit the oak flooring and fit the wardrobes. Then there's more finishing needed, filling, sanding and painting, and then we will move inside!






Looking forward to starting baking those mince pies