A few new finds.

I know I have not been blogging recently (sorry Alice), but we've had some issues with this ole computer...and when it is working
the Internet is soooo slow...uploading photos is a real chore, so sometimes I just lose interest...

But one thing I never lose interest in is hunting out treasures...and recently I came across a few beauties...

I can't resist old red books and I thought that this pair were quite smart...

look at those spines.

What did Mother say...

Well I'm sure she said 'Well done' to Rosa for her regular attendance...

And what about the cherries...I think we better buy our own..

I wonder if Philip Smith liked cherries...

I then tottered off to a collectibles fair on the recent bank holiday and I'm very happy with these finds...

I thought that this little girl needed to come home with me...she definitely needs a hug...

she was painted in 1891, such a long time ago...

I've been after one of these domes for ages...and I found a man with loads...they used to have clocks or stuffed animals in them...now people buy them to display various items. He told be about a lady who bought a large one to display her 'Jimmy Choos'...perhaps her feet had swelled and she couldn't wear them anymore!!

I also found this ebony mirror with the little monogram, a while ago in an antique emporium...it goes nicely with the more ornate silver one.

Linking up with Laura at Happy Homemaker

Blue Hydrangeas

My poor hydrangea fell over in the wind and most 

of it snapped off...so there was nothing for it

but to pick the bits that weren't

too badly damaged and have a play...

Some old apothecary bottles filled the bill...

with no water needed as I might leave them to dry naturally...

However, the light was poor today as England 

has turned on a cool, dull, grey day...

But with a little help from the photo editor, 

the results are not too bad...

Linking with Sarah at Good Life Wednesday.

Epernay

Bonjour, today I am taking you on a tour of Epernay which is home to some of the leading Champagne manufacturers including Moet et Chandon, Perrier-Jouet and Mercier.

The most famous street in Epernay is Avenue de Champagne...residents say it's the most expensive street in the world because of the millions of bottles of champagne stored in the chalk cellars beneath...

So, of course, a famous street deserves some top notch accommodation and the Hotel de Ville will do just fine...

With our cameras madly clicking away, we made a bee line for Moet...we were working up a thirst...

We passed Dom Perignon on the way in...he is credited with developing the 'Methode Champenoise'.

The interior of the Chateau was beautifully decorated...

I would have loved to sit in this drawing room, sipping on a champas...Moet of course...

This chandelier is made of hundreds of champagne glasses...

Across the road is the original chateau, which backs onto the vineyards...

This old monogram at the gate proclaimed a distant heritage..

Typical French rooflines...

intriguing doors...

amazing facades and grand entrances...

this avenue has it all.

Another favourite...Perrier Jouet...celebrating 200 years...

I don't remember what this building was, but I just loved the simplicity of the white with the black balconette.

We stopped at the cellar door of 'A Bergere'....for a well earned drink...

then we headed back down the road, past this private home with a very exclusive address...

Looking up the avenue...which, as I understand, is in the running to be named a UNESCO site.

I hope you enjoyed this snapshot of my visit to the Champagne region of France...next stop...Denmark.

The Vineyards...

On our third day in the Champagne region of France, we headed for Epernay via a leisurely drive through the countryside and the many picturesque villages situated among the vineyards...

These rusty old bikes were just propped against the tree in the middle of a village named Courville..

pretty houses, with their shutters flung open, were in abundance...

This red gate was begging to be photographed...

This floral horse was quirky and illustrated a little 'tongue in cheek' humour by the locals...

as did this scarecrow, found a little further up the road.

One the bank of the River Marne this village was very picturesque with the vineyards rising up behind...

The bridge itself was bedecked with masses of red flowers...

But...the whole point of the visit here is all about these little grapes...

that grow in these gorgeous vineyards...

Amid these vineyards are the villages or 'Crus'...

The 'Cru' is graded in importance according to the type of grape it produces...and if the soil, slope (drainage) and aspect are perfect these villages are rated at 100% for the 'pinot noir' grape...accordingly they are named 'Grand Cru'.

One such Grand Cru is the village of Verzenay, which is overlooked by the famous windmill...

situated on top of Mont Boeuf, it was purchased by Maison Mumm in 1972 and looks out over the cherished vineyards...

We were blessed with a beautiful day to see these sites...blue sky...green vines and picturesque villages with flowers blooming in window boxes and streetscapes...

and we still hadn't reached Epernay....the Chateau's were still to come...