Saturday 22 June 2019
Le Brigade Singing European Songs
Thursday 20 June 2019
My Three Piano Accordions
It was the first public performance I've done for about 4 or 5 years.
Standing was easier in heels but a warm evening breeze liked to play 'snatch my ancient music' from pegged music stand and table, so after about an hour I gave in to the wind. I have recently dug out accordion pieces I played when I was 12 -14 years of age which I haven't played for decades so those lovely concertos which need the pages to be turned need to be photocopied and mounted onto card. Unfortunately, I have never mastered learning by heart piano recorder or piano accordion music.
I don't have any photos of yesterday evening when I played for the opening of a photographic exhibition in the village square with the newly appointed bar / restaurant. They are waiting for the kitchen to be finished before serving meals.
I played my newly purchased Italian Piermaria 240 accordion with 80 basses,weigh 9,2 kg which had not been played by previous owner for 15 years. I think it must be between 15 and 20 years old
It's one kilo lighter than my Italian Marinucci 120 bass 10, 2 kg which was bought when I was 10, so 60 years ago, and then it was secondhand. I think it must be between 61 and 65 years old. It was Santa who bought me my first accordion when I was 7 years old. Initially, I was taught after primary school hours by my maths teacher. She was French but within a short soace of time I needed a much bigger instrument as I could not play any more pieces on the little Hohner Mignoni 8 basses. Then I started to have lessons with Martin Lukins in Uxbridge. I remember playing a black accordion. I don't know if my parents hired or bought the one I played before I was ten years old. I remember sitting on the edge of the settee in the front walk-through living room at 10 Saxon Avenue, Hanworth, Middlesex with my chin pointed upwards resting on the accordion and my knees supporting the weight. My father hand-stitched a leather buckled back-strap to keep the accordion straps from slipping off my shoulders. It was in the same place for years and years, after I paid a company in Scotland to tune the Marinucci about 25 years ago. It had new straps and an integrated back strap.
Then ...last year ... with decluttering I moved it ... and I need it now for the PierMaria.
Standing was easier in heels but a warm evening breeze liked to play 'snatch my ancient music' from pegged music stand and table, so after about an hour I gave in to the wind. I have recently dug out accordion pieces I played when I was 12 -14 years of age which I haven't played for decades so those lovely concertos which need the pages to be turned need to be photocopied and mounted onto card. Unfortunately, I have never mastered learning by heart piano recorder or piano accordion music.
I don't have any photos of yesterday evening when I played for the opening of a photographic exhibition in the village square with the newly appointed bar / restaurant. They are waiting for the kitchen to be finished before serving meals.
I played my newly purchased Italian Piermaria 240 accordion with 80 basses,weigh 9,2 kg which had not been played by previous owner for 15 years. I think it must be between 15 and 20 years old
It's one kilo lighter than my Italian Marinucci 120 bass 10, 2 kg which was bought when I was 10, so 60 years ago, and then it was secondhand. I think it must be between 61 and 65 years old. It was Santa who bought me my first accordion when I was 7 years old. Initially, I was taught after primary school hours by my maths teacher. She was French but within a short soace of time I needed a much bigger instrument as I could not play any more pieces on the little Hohner Mignoni 8 basses. Then I started to have lessons with Martin Lukins in Uxbridge. I remember playing a black accordion. I don't know if my parents hired or bought the one I played before I was ten years old. I remember sitting on the edge of the settee in the front walk-through living room at 10 Saxon Avenue, Hanworth, Middlesex with my chin pointed upwards resting on the accordion and my knees supporting the weight. My father hand-stitched a leather buckled back-strap to keep the accordion straps from slipping off my shoulders. It was in the same place for years and years, after I paid a company in Scotland to tune the Marinucci about 25 years ago. It had new straps and an integrated back strap.
Then ...last year ... with decluttering I moved it ... and I need it now for the PierMaria.
Friday 14 June 2019
Garden in June
Lots of self sown oriental red poppies, roses, an orchid in flower, and the spiky plant from Auchan 9 years ago measuring 10 cm tall is now in flower for the first time.... and crowding the rose behind it. Lavender too is crowding some roses in the border as are some rose bushes crowding some lavender plants.
Thursday 13 June 2019
Pottery Project
It has been many weeks working at sculptural form.
I'd seen a garden sculpture that inspired, when I was asked what I wished to make. This was discussed and I was shown how to start but my result will be vastly different than the inspirational piece. Once started, and after a few weeks, I realised that I was enjoying the process of being so absorbed for two hours in trying to master techniques to mould clay, that it didn't matter how slowly the item would reach a finished state.
I am grateful to the professional artist / teacher who rescued and inspired when I talked about the structure having an air of becoming a chateau for a plant. The humour from the class was that it was a rhubarb forcer, a Civray Nuclear Energy chimney, a Staffordshire pottery chimney, a chimney... but then it transformed. "What will you do with it?" they asked in French, before it had holes, and then when it had holes, hilariously offering all manner of suggestions.
But with TIME not on my side the teacher drilled out the holes once I had cut out the larger ovals. He needed the item to go into the kiln for biscuit firing.
It took almost two hours to sand remove knobbles.... and then glaze. Much waiting, as it was a demanding session for the teacher, but a good opportunity to watch, listen and learn to the stages that others were at with each of their individual creations. Some were making bowls and plaques, others masks and plates, and one was making figurative, imaginative models.
It started life as coils of clay building upwards and inwards. Instead of winding roses around the form it became a staircase...the top wasn't what I had tried to create so I cut it off! It has been glazed an awaits a second firing in the kiln... along with a coned roof piece which MIGHT fit or not.
Final Piece to appear here when completed.
I'd seen a garden sculpture that inspired, when I was asked what I wished to make. This was discussed and I was shown how to start but my result will be vastly different than the inspirational piece. Once started, and after a few weeks, I realised that I was enjoying the process of being so absorbed for two hours in trying to master techniques to mould clay, that it didn't matter how slowly the item would reach a finished state.
I am grateful to the professional artist / teacher who rescued and inspired when I talked about the structure having an air of becoming a chateau for a plant. The humour from the class was that it was a rhubarb forcer, a Civray Nuclear Energy chimney, a Staffordshire pottery chimney, a chimney... but then it transformed. "What will you do with it?" they asked in French, before it had holes, and then when it had holes, hilariously offering all manner of suggestions.
But with TIME not on my side the teacher drilled out the holes once I had cut out the larger ovals. He needed the item to go into the kiln for biscuit firing.
It took almost two hours to sand remove knobbles.... and then glaze. Much waiting, as it was a demanding session for the teacher, but a good opportunity to watch, listen and learn to the stages that others were at with each of their individual creations. Some were making bowls and plaques, others masks and plates, and one was making figurative, imaginative models.
It started life as coils of clay building upwards and inwards. Instead of winding roses around the form it became a staircase...the top wasn't what I had tried to create so I cut it off! It has been glazed an awaits a second firing in the kiln... along with a coned roof piece which MIGHT fit or not.
Wednesday 12 June 2019
June Cake and Bake Club
VINTAGE or ON TREND was the theme... ...
No one chose the latter but one witty baker used a recipe which was ON TREND when her grandmother used the recipe!
The Cake Club now allows savoury bakes and any bake or creation that is NOT a large cake that can be cut into portions.
The June event started an hour earlier, so people had lunch rather than afternoon tea. I am not really in favour of the idea nor keen on savoury bakes but I was voted out! It is interesting.
All three quiches contained bacon / ham so I picked the meat out!
Well prepared by the lovely hosts at Le Grand Pressigny.
No one chose the latter but one witty baker used a recipe which was ON TREND when her grandmother used the recipe!
The Cake Club now allows savoury bakes and any bake or creation that is NOT a large cake that can be cut into portions.
The June event started an hour earlier, so people had lunch rather than afternoon tea. I am not really in favour of the idea nor keen on savoury bakes but I was voted out! It is interesting.
 |
| My Classic Vintage Coffee and Walnut Cake with an On Trend Chocolate Buttercream filling and topping |
 |
| The Organiser's brother made an excellent yummy ginger cake. |
 |
| The Organiser made a fruit bake with fresh fruits yet the Vintage recipe used frozen fruits. |
 |
| Her husband made a wonderful tasty Vintage Glacé cherry cake. |
 | |||
| Remember tinned Mandarins... make a Bombe with Bourbon biscuits. |
 |
| Shortbread biscuits |
Monday 10 June 2019
Dining in with Friends
Three course meals - two consecutive evenings.
The first - filleted duck wings. My French guest praised the jus...the sauce.
The second - Cod fillet on a bed of not very spicy lentils
Chinese cabbage leaves sautéed and gently steamed.
Carrots steamed in honey flavoured reduction.
Ile de Noirmoutier new potatoes boiled, skins removed, sautéed with honey.
Second course - goats cheese crottin, salade (lettuce), walnut oil
Dessert - Aprioct crumble - Pear Crumble
Easy - Stress free - Wining and Dining
The first - filleted duck wings. My French guest praised the jus...the sauce.
The second - Cod fillet on a bed of not very spicy lentils
Chinese cabbage leaves sautéed and gently steamed.
Carrots steamed in honey flavoured reduction.
Ile de Noirmoutier new potatoes boiled, skins removed, sautéed with honey.
Second course - goats cheese crottin, salade (lettuce), walnut oil
Dessert - Aprioct crumble - Pear Crumble
Easy - Stress free - Wining and Dining
Saturday 1 June 2019
Curtains
At last, the curtains desired on two doors that separate three rooms, now prevent peeping through to the next room. In 2014, I bought three pairs of the same beautiful 100% cotton curtains from IKEA as I intended to hang as dividers in the huge GRAND SALON, but then I was gifted a mini turbine for convection of the heat throughout the 40m2 room. I hung one pair at the French doors into my bedroom. My beautiful cream Laura Ashley curtains hang in my bedroom. These curtains and fabric design are not anymore produced by IKEA.
They were chosen for black outlined roses and little birds design, as I had decided to call my house "Le Petit Oiseau" on account of the locally made pottery birds put onto the roofs of the 'lucarnes' of each attic. I am hopelessly impatient these days with the sewing machine so I was enormously grateful to the wife of my gardener who understood what I needed and was able to check and verify my measurements.
It took me over 3 years to complete the interior design idea: everything comes to those who wait!
They were chosen for black outlined roses and little birds design, as I had decided to call my house "Le Petit Oiseau" on account of the locally made pottery birds put onto the roofs of the 'lucarnes' of each attic. I am hopelessly impatient these days with the sewing machine so I was enormously grateful to the wife of my gardener who understood what I needed and was able to check and verify my measurements.
It took me over 3 years to complete the interior design idea: everything comes to those who wait!
Saturday 18 May 2019
Singing further South
I found an article about a Singing and Yoga group with Meditation... so I booked it being desperate for a new adventure. I didn't have time to ponder or plan. The one day course was led by lovely, caring, professional people. The food was excellent. The wind was cold as it blew across the lake in the pine forests east of Limoges. I stayed one night, as in my slow car it was about a four hour journey. Feeling like Toad on the Road, amazed by views of beauty, I tried to keep to slower routes.... yet with cattle to slow us further!
There were huge rocks in the Parc Naturel Regional de Millevaches en Limousin - La Rigole du Diable.
On the return route - a different route - I was aiming to
visit another plus beau village de france.. but abandoned when
I desperately needed petrol. Nothing lost as at that time of night it was more
desolate than my own village. Sunset before I entered home and my village, was a gift.
Friday 17 May 2019
Inspirational Art in Nature
Inspirational Art in Nature
Deformities in Nature can be amusing.
It was thus when I found in my supermarket bought bunch of carrots, a forked carrot which was akin to the legs of a ballerina. I decided!
It was May 10th - one of the first warm evenings.
There began convivial after work bar chats with people I know in the village.
The artist had returned. He has 'a certain sense of humour', which often dominates conversations depending on his artistic mood! Villagers have tricked or teased him about his 'often used language.'
Within seconds of being invited to group camaraderie - SNAP - a gift for the artist.
To the garden for a beautiful David Austin rose. To a drawer for a ribbon. To the camera.
I had created botanical art.
He really liked it.
It was fun to cause laughter and happiness in the local community.
It smelled delicious.
Deformities in Nature can be amusing.
It was thus when I found in my supermarket bought bunch of carrots, a forked carrot which was akin to the legs of a ballerina. I decided!
It was May 10th - one of the first warm evenings.
There began convivial after work bar chats with people I know in the village.
The artist had returned. He has 'a certain sense of humour', which often dominates conversations depending on his artistic mood! Villagers have tricked or teased him about his 'often used language.'
Within seconds of being invited to group camaraderie - SNAP - a gift for the artist.
To the garden for a beautiful David Austin rose. To a drawer for a ribbon. To the camera.
I had created botanical art.
He really liked it.
It was fun to cause laughter and happiness in the local community.
It smelled delicious.
Friday 10 May 2019
An evening meal for a Workaway guest
May 9th 2019
and the Spring gardening work she and I did leaving the self seeded PAVOT -
a large Oriental Red Poppy which I mowed around in the lawn too.
I wasn't going to dig the potager this year but hey, it happened and maybe it is good for morale.
I am grateful that I can afford to pay the gardener to help especially when last year I couldn't push the mower. This year is better though not 100%. It takes away physical stress.
a large Oriental Red Poppy which I mowed around in the lawn too.
I wasn't going to dig the potager this year but hey, it happened and maybe it is good for morale.
I am grateful that I can afford to pay the gardener to help especially when last year I couldn't push the mower. This year is better though not 100%. It takes away physical stress.
Tuesday 30 April 2019
Cakes, Bakes, Books, Bloomsbury, Artists and Authors..........
Angles as a theme for the Cake Club happening in Angles sur L'Anglin lead to reflections about and learning about artists, authors and the River Ouse.
A source leads water to form a river to the sea.
An idea leads the mind to form a river to learning and information.
Because I set the theme for the Loire Valley Cake & Bake Club, I only had myself to blame to make or construct my idea. I couldn't wriggle out of the challenge. I had to make a chateau gateau.
Eventually the agreed theme was "Angles at Eastertide". I thought people could take their own angle ' idea on which cake to bake for this wonderful place. In my village, I think it was in the 13th century, that the Anglo Saxons or French related English, however one defines them in that era, ransacked and governed the now in ruins chateau until they returned it or passed it on to THE LUSIGNAN family. As one can read my memory of historical events is rather poor.
In “un des plus beaux villages de France ” with its “castle in the air” come share your dream of baking. Create an angle of your own idea, be it
a château gateau,
a cake for a prince or
princess, king or queen
a cake for a prehistoric cave
carving
food for a picnic by the River Anglin
an angle on the theme of
Easter
a geometrical
angle.
It was a privilege to host for the first time in six years. The organisers cradled the event. Everyone helped. There were about 19 people, 10 cakes + 4 savoury bakes. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy. Most of the rain was stopping as the afternoon proceeded but the woodburner alight was welcoming. Later in the two allocated hours, the sun began to shine and some people ventured to sit at the table in the courtyard and chat. All too soon people had eaten their fill after Cremant de Loire bubbly and tea, helped themselves to portions of cakes they wished to take home and whatever was left of their own. Crumbs were swept away. It was the end of planning that which had taken some time to get my head around but what an incentive it was for Spring Cleaning and controlling my own untidiness! And what an amazing pleasure it was to welcome so many people who had welcomed me into their homes over the last 10 or so years that I became associated with expats over the border of the departments.
I had no knowledge of R.Fry that Gaynor talked about... it was clever of her to take this ANGLE of decorating the cake with a copy of the painting found at: https://www.courtgallery.com/exhibitions/51/works/image_standalone180/
Roger Fry was a member of the Bloomsbury Group... and friend of Virginia Woolf....
When I was in England I bought myself four books as I have intended to read Virginia Woolf for some time.
That evening, I started to read: ORLANDO. In the Preface , Virginia writes: "To the unrivalled sympathy and imagination of Mr Roger Fry I owe whatever understanding of the art of painting i may possess."
I never knew such important artists had come here but it is not surprising... Imagine being here if they were both here and where did they stay?
I have also purchased TO THE LIGHTHOUSE and WAVES. I ought to read them in order.
Whilst in Waterstones book store, I was first drawn to the book TO THE RIVER by Oliver Laing. I bought that as it is about the River Ouse between its source and Newhaven Harbour where I often travel to from Dieppe and stay with my cousin at Seaford in the next seaside town. Virginia drowned herself deliberately in this river!
Isn't it interesting how many links there are in life and how one things leads to another....
How coincidences of events and situations sometimes arise!
I am enjoying reading these two authors. I must find out more about Roger Fry and his connection with this village in which I now live.
First of all the chateau gateau. The previous week I made two square chocolate lemony cakes and two very thin lemon rectangle cakes, wrapped in grease-proof paper and foil and kept in the freezer.
The morning of the event a construction took place with chocolate butter cream and the power of invention. I melted lemon drop sweets into spikes - supposed to represent flags! Four ice cream cones were lazily not iced.... they would suffice to represent four towers showing how rich the chateau builders were. I read once that in the past the KING of France would gift a tower to his entourage.. the more one had the richer one was said to be, that is, more in favour with the King!
I dashed to the Tourist Office and bought a winged faerie rider of a white horse, not a unicorn, to represent the Magic of Melusine in regional castles or castles in the air type dreams.
It was also a house warming party cake for my house to celebrate that on the last day of April, just a few days after the cake club afternoon, it would be the 9th anniversary of me owning my French property. Looking back on the last 9 years in this blog and the years before that on my previous blog, this is the second gathering of friends and acquaintances I have hosted in 14 years. the last was when I was 60, catering for 60 people, and soon I shall be 70 but there is absolutely no intention of a 70th birthday party... this is it!!!!!!!
I had no knowledge of R.Fry that Gaynor talked about... it was clever of her to take this ANGLE of decorating the cake with a copy of the painting found at: https://www.courtgallery.com/exhibitions/51/works/image_standalone180/
Roger Fry was a member of the Bloomsbury Group... and friend of Virginia Woolf....
When I was in England I bought myself four books as I have intended to read Virginia Woolf for some time.
That evening, I started to read: ORLANDO. In the Preface , Virginia writes: "To the unrivalled sympathy and imagination of Mr Roger Fry I owe whatever understanding of the art of painting i may possess."
I never knew such important artists had come here but it is not surprising... Imagine being here if they were both here and where did they stay?
I have also purchased TO THE LIGHTHOUSE and WAVES. I ought to read them in order.
Whilst in Waterstones book store, I was first drawn to the book TO THE RIVER by Oliver Laing. I bought that as it is about the River Ouse between its source and Newhaven Harbour where I often travel to from Dieppe and stay with my cousin at Seaford in the next seaside town. Virginia drowned herself deliberately in this river!
Isn't it interesting how many links there are in life and how one things leads to another....
How coincidences of events and situations sometimes arise!
I am enjoying reading these two authors. I must find out more about Roger Fry and his connection with this village in which I now live.
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