tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41282821513270748182012-01-29T17:43:05.423+01:00... because life is not just black or white but the whole spectrum in betweenlareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.comBlogger2311100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-22876277330969897552012-01-29T17:43:00.000+01:002012-01-29T17:43:05.431+01:00

so, what do have under the tree? The just-concluded holiday season was Felix’s third with us *grin*. Ever the mischievous cat, he had a grand time with his favorite holiday toys – our Christmas tree and its balls. Being the mommarazzo that I am, of course, I took some photos of him doing his antics. Felix: I'll get you!!! It was more difficult to take his pictures this time as he moves out of

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-50483649866566293932011-12-24T16:52:00.010+01:002011-12-24T17:06:07.735+01:00

  May the spirit of this holiday season - love, generosity and goodwill reign in our hearts always.  Happy Holidays!

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-66613932810531540682011-10-06T18:15:00.000+02:002011-10-06T18:15:53.103+02:00

a rose bloom Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is oneself.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-33307084314532493302011-09-06T17:40:00.004+02:002011-09-09T13:02:24.460+02:00

Cliff, our missing "baby" It has been a month since Cliff went missing. And I miss him so much. We all miss him a lot. I just hope he’s in good health with a safe place to seek shelter in case of rain and cold wind (especially as it is getting cold here now), enough clean food and water to survive living alone outdoors. Cliff with his elder brother, Felix Whenever I look at his photos, a big

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-55196894916994759772011-08-30T10:05:00.000+02:002011-08-30T10:05:21.164+02:00

a tit/chickadee in La Reunion, France Sitting under the sun, feeling the warmth seep through my body, chasing away the coldness of the lonely days gone by, I feel my spirits rise. I hope this lasts until my heart finds once more the ode it sings.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-75137831875919599302011-08-29T09:13:00.001+02:002011-11-18T05:21:09.306+01:00

troubled sea in the southern part of La Reunion, France Although hope helps you to get through a rough time, the light at the end of a long dark tunnel, a sliver of sunshine on a cold winter day, it can also freeze everything for you --- life can be like a drop of rain suspended on the tip of a leaf, like a dandelion seed head caught on a flimsy strand of spider web fluttering at the slightest

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-85023126589424459282011-08-26T20:46:00.000+02:002011-08-26T20:46:21.321+02:00

a common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) in our garden To look is to see… to hear is to listen… to feel is to experience.To know is to understand… that we may find what is real.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-31510650627190834962011-08-24T12:50:00.004+02:002011-11-21T16:59:12.506+01:00

sunset in Paphos, Cyprus Under the vast skyLooking at the wide open seaAll means nothing… All means everything

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-2932181852743093202011-08-16T14:50:00.004+02:002011-08-26T20:42:56.408+02:00

 a garden rose bathed in late afternoon sunlight conveying an image of hope We received two different phone calls a few days ago about Cliff. The callers saw our cat in a farm field about a kilometre or two away from our home. Since the first call, we have been concentrating our search in that area… but to no avail *sad* Cliff in hunting "mode" in our garden But at least we know that Cliff is

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-45359904676949033472011-08-09T16:10:00.012+02:002011-08-30T14:56:16.456+02:00

Cliff as a kitten Just as I was thinking of talking about Cliff, the latest addition to our family, he went missing since last Saturday *sad*. Cliff on a tree We don’t know whether he got lost in one of his rambling in the neighborhood or the nearby woods... or something bad happened to him (which I fervently hope not!). All we know is that he went out for his usual morning walk and he

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-75861719511084160702011-08-03T15:13:00.009+02:002011-08-23T21:38:20.807+02:00

red poppies in our garden Whew ! I believe it has been more than a year and a half since my unplanned hiatus from blogging. Well, I’m back in my element now (at least, I think I am) and I plan to make up for my absence *smile*. wild geranium And speaking of elements, it seems that this year’s seasons are out of synch with the time of the year. After a harsh and very cold winter, spring came

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-66505081166344271022009-12-25T17:38:00.009+01:002011-08-23T21:38:28.622+02:00

On this wonderful season, may we all be surrounded with love and joy from our loved ones.Have a lovely Christmas and a great New Year ahead!!!

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-58649292771241011832009-12-22T15:38:00.009+01:002011-08-23T21:38:36.523+02:00

Hi! I'm Felix and this is my Christmas ball *purrs* Felix is more of an outdoor cat than an indoor one. After the initial shock of experiencing snow last Thursday, he's back to spending a lot of time outdoors. But with the winter weather, we have to make him stay indoors most of the time. And to amuse himself (and maybe to annoy us for keeping him inside), he plays with the Christmas balls

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-64273721606366923552009-12-18T16:26:00.006+01:002011-08-23T21:39:19.137+02:00

Hylotelephium spectabile (formerly known as Sedum spectabile) or showy stonecrops under the snow Since yesterday we’ve been having a considerable amount of snow. Well, it would be officially winter time in three days, so I guess this is the welcome salvo of the cold season. And these are our Sedum spectabile (now classified as Hylotelephium spectabile) or showy stonecrop covered in snow.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-6323763798383039762009-12-17T23:18:00.006+01:002011-08-23T21:39:26.170+02:00

snow on our conifers We had our first snow this winter today. As I suspected, our winter is a lot colder than usual : according to meteorologists, the temperature we’re having is way below the average for this season. We had a quite a warm, sunny and relatively long summer, so I assumed that winter will be really biting. The maximum temperature is around 0°C for several days now and is

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-57722267841015117142009-12-11T18:34:00.004+01:002011-08-23T21:39:38.139+02:00

Rudbecka hirta (also known as Black-eyed Susan) on a cold December day Late blooming Tagetes erecta (Mexican Marigold) in our garden According to the weather forecast, we’re going to have below zero degree Celsius temperature this weekend and the days after that. So I guess these will be our last blooms for this year before frost sets in. Well, I hope winter won’t be too cold this year. We

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-66127806761019435972009-12-09T15:24:00.006+01:002011-11-18T06:45:05.548+01:00

a shelter for herdsmen and hikers in Cirque de Troumouse, Pyrenéan National Park Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926 - 2004) see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-19367174989305717202009-12-04T15:10:00.003+01:002011-08-23T21:39:47.489+02:00

chrysanthemums in our garden It’s quite sunny today, unlike the previous days which were rather windy and rainy. So I took the opportunity to take some photos of our chrysanthemums which have been blooming for about three weeks now. On a cold sunny December day, seeing them can make you stay outside for a little bit more while trying to get warm under the sun. With orange flowers on

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-86795904018608996122009-12-02T13:53:00.008+01:002011-11-21T17:15:39.591+01:00

a rock formation with salt pans in the foreground in Gozo, Malta One of the beautiful limestone rock formations in Gozo, Malta. The island is also fondly referred to as the Isle of Calypso (Ogygia) from Homer’s Odyssey. According to the Greek epic, Odysseus was detained in the island by the nymph Calypso for seven years. Well, with a view like this, I guess everyone would be tempted to stay.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-6116212840677175252009-11-30T20:21:00.006+01:002011-11-21T17:27:05.113+01:00

fallen leaves in our backyard Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus (1913 - 1960) Before the festivities for Christmas and New Year begin, here are a few more photos of autumn - the beautiful transition period between the euphoric spirit of summer and the excitement of the yuletide season. Autumn sings a lullaby to the beat of crunching leaves under

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-73392411997440143492009-11-18T09:05:00.008+01:002011-11-21T17:27:23.207+01:00

dewdrops on a spider web In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC), Parts of Animals We think in generalities, but we live in detail.- Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947) There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Beauty" In the right light, at the right time,

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-77782281576379688862009-11-16T15:55:00.013+01:002011-08-23T21:40:38.539+02:00

Felix, our cat, at around 3 months old Aside from the very good weather, our last summer became a lot more pleasant with the arrival of Felix, our cat. I know, we don’t seem to have given much thought about his name (Felix might sound “generic” to some, like “Spot” for dogs or “Bunny” for rabbits) but it’s the first thing that came to our mind when we saw him. Besides, “felix” means lucky

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-40978683625550406582009-11-13T17:11:00.004+01:002011-08-23T21:40:53.195+02:00

autumn crocuses in our garden While many plants are preparing for their winter sleep, these autumn crocuses, on the other hand are just getting ready for their spectacular display. Their yellow flowers are like miniature suns sending tiny burst of sunshine and warmth on a gray autumn day. Their intense warm color is as crisp as the dried leaves crunching under your feet. And when lit by the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-30582995164509138642009-11-11T20:29:00.009+01:002011-11-21T17:15:59.353+01:00

cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) or bleuet des champs in our garden last summer Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) is the symbol for les poilus (French veterans of World War I). And since the 1918 Armistice Day is celebrated today, I thought of posting a few photos of the cornflowers we had last summer. And I think this flower is an appropriate symbol for the French infantrymen who fought during World

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-86065246681336474872009-11-03T20:36:00.004+01:002011-08-23T21:41:13.621+02:00

a fine October day Sunny days outnumbered gray ones last October. But now that it is the wet, wet month of November, I think we’ve seen the last of blue skies and pleasant temperature for this season. although I sincerely hope not for I’m already missing it. Well, at least I could try to console myself that the weather has been relatively clement for a longer period this year. And rain is

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-79594130141762895652009-10-31T19:45:00.004+01:002009-11-12T23:09:17.290+01:00

I wish everybody a terrific Halloween. And while enjoying trick or treating, costume parties and other festivities of this evening, may we also try to remember the departed ones, especially those dear to us on All Saint's and All Soul's Days.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-54025565933989973532009-10-30T20:28:00.003+01:002011-08-23T21:41:24.553+02:00

mauve autumn asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) in our garden Autumn asters or New England Asters (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae , formerly Aster novae-angliae) are perennial plants that are easy to grow. You plant the roots, preferably in autumn (but you can also plant them in spring) and the following year (or even the autumn of the same year if you planted them in spring), you’ll have a

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-76897340735934464002009-10-23T11:42:00.015+02:002011-08-23T21:41:35.533+02:00

raindrops on a rose Aside from falling leaves and red-orange color, autumn also means rain showers and a last hurray for roses. And seeing raindrops on roses makes you forget about gray skies, decreasing day light and fading warmth of the sun. see my other blooming fridays see other blooming friday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-59777940191578884572009-10-21T19:49:00.005+02:002009-10-23T15:53:10.498+02:00

raindrops on a leafSome trials are just like rain showers .They can get you wet and soggy, make the road you’re walking on muddy and slippery. But if you stand still long enough, the rain can take away the salt in your tears and wash away the smudges of mud on your legs and feet. And when it stops, your eyes are clear and your limbs washed clean. Then you can see everything more clearly.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-65741174935806827632009-10-17T14:36:00.012+02:002011-11-18T05:23:47.498+01:00

a spider web on a dewy morning It seems this blog has been gathering cobwebs these days --- no updates. Well, with the extended summer season we had, and the seemingly endless things to be done or fixed, especially in the garden, there’s just not much time left to sit down and write something. Or if I had the time, it’s either I couldn’t come up with something to write or there are a lot of

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-10271250283653756612009-08-17T11:01:00.019+02:002011-11-18T06:47:04.025+01:00

peach flowers thrive in frost-free weather... like me :) This season has been a slow one for this blog. Well, with the warm and sunny summer we’re having, we tend to spend our time outdoors --- either doing some gardening or just basking in the sunshine. And it's a good time to catch up with some reading. After all, when the cold season comes, I’ll terribly miss being outside and having the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-54766626306080239742009-07-22T16:15:00.012+02:002011-11-18T06:47:19.320+01:00

a lunar landscape in Plaine des Sables, La Réunion Since we have a total solar eclipse today and as part of the celebration of 40th year of man’s first step on the moon, here are some “lunar” landscapes. the "solitary" panorama goes on and on... Well, of course, the shots are not really from the moon. It is from the southern part of La Réunion Island and the landscape is not caused by

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-7175831549123102982009-07-21T23:22:00.011+02:002011-11-18T06:48:01.858+01:00

Pic du Midi Bigorre in Hautes-Pyrénées To continue with the moon series, this is the Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the French Pyrénées. The observatory, with its clear and wide view of the sky, was used by NASA to “map the moon’s surface for the Apollo landings.” (source: Time Magazine, July 27, 2009, p.49) a half-moon... the view from the observatory must be much more spectacular on a clear night

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-84346063613685448382009-07-20T23:02:00.007+02:002011-11-21T17:16:15.598+01:00

one of the many facets of the moon To commemorate the 40th year anniversary of man’s first step on the moon, here are a few photos I was able to take with some of the moon's irregular surface visible. a nearly-full moon When I was a kid, I would always wave to the moon believing that the man who lives there can see me… well, that is when I’m not imagining flying witches, mischievous goblins or

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-4734335781363068642009-07-01T09:48:00.007+02:002011-11-18T05:25:28.755+01:00

a chameleon peeping out from its "hiding" place Here are some shots of chameleon we saw at the Mascarin Botanical Garden, La Réunion. its curled long tail It’s called lendormi in creole. It means “the sleepy”. I guess it’s because it moves quite slowly. the "spiny" back When taking a picture of it, avoid using the flash. It will make them blind. Without their eyesight, it would be difficult

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-77005963735068631142009-06-30T23:03:00.005+02:002011-11-18T06:48:46.972+01:00

off the western coast of La Réunion, France I think life's journey is less about discovering new shores and more about finding our way home.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-81792923676862015712009-06-26T21:00:00.008+02:002011-11-21T17:16:33.622+01:00

a cluster of elderberry flowers These are the flowers of an elderberry. The color and shape of the cluster blooms remind me of lace. They look so fragile and pure, daintily suspended from a willowy branch. No wonder the plant is believed to be guarded by an old lady or a witch. Its fair beauty can tempt anyone in to picking them, or even cut down a branch and plant it in his garden, so a

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-70121559249332298002009-06-25T15:10:00.006+02:002011-11-21T17:28:24.818+01:00

crickety-dickety-dock, look at what we' ve got :)... I found a cricket in our garden (at least, I think it is). It’s supposed to bring good luck (just like cri-kee in Mulan), so maybe in the coming days, we’ll have some good fortune coming our way *winks*. Hey, it wouldn’t hurt to think positive, right? Come to think of it, maybe this is Jiminy Cricket (in the story of Pinocchio) or one of

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-12979852931818257912009-06-24T12:03:00.006+02:002011-11-18T06:48:57.954+01:00

one of the tunnels on the way to Cirque de Cilaos, La Réunion, France an expression of the gothic in me *winks* see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-71501494381229716532009-06-24T11:40:00.010+02:002011-11-18T06:49:17.065+01:00

coconut trees on the beach of Grand Anse, La Réunion, France Summer is here! And whenever I think of it, I imagine coconut/palm trees, white sandy beach and of course, an azure blue sea with the foam tickling my feet. I crave the feeling of the warm sunbeams on my face and back. And I don’t mind if the air seems still, unless the sun is really, really hot. Still, I prefer the cooling effect

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-56647165795672723552009-06-19T13:50:00.006+02:002011-08-23T21:43:15.376+02:00

a rose in our garden in bloom For today’s entry I chose a rose from our garden. I don’t know its name and the flowers don’t have any scent, but it is one of the first roses we have which bloom early. And I think it prefers the mild warmth of late spring and early autumn because come summer time, it doesn’t give us any flowers. And so these are the last for this season. the center of the rose

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-91502694657251149372009-06-17T14:04:00.006+02:002011-11-18T06:49:49.302+01:00

Mare à Jonc in the town of Cilaos, La Réunion This the town of Cilaos by Mare à Jonc (the name of the pond/ small lake) in La Réunion. The view is very relaxing, especially after the long sinuous drive (with a number of hair-raising blind curves) to reach the town. the view on the left of the house overlooking the small lake a closer look of the house by the lake with the mountains as a

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-80316097035459678742009-06-16T23:13:00.006+02:002011-11-18T06:50:14.069+01:00

a short flight of wooden stairs along the trail of Gol ravine (Tevelave, La Réunion, France) So where do I start with my stories about our holidays? Well, I guess the question is more about sharing photos rather than an account of what we did. But, of course, the pictures would be more appealing if accompanied by short anecdotes or captions. Well, I’ll try my best to at least give a short

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-84333659438973154932009-06-12T23:34:00.005+02:002011-08-23T21:43:25.004+02:00

little yellow flowers of a tree in our yard These are the yellow flowers of a tree in our garden. I don't know the name of this tree (we "inherited" it from the previous owner of the house) but it's golden yellow flowers are a delight to see (hmmm... this sentence has a good rhyme to it... maybe i should try to make a poem out of it *winks*). when the flowers turn into seedpods When these

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-64480080353313454412009-06-10T15:54:00.010+02:002011-11-21T17:28:48.935+01:00

waves after a strong rain in Grande Anse (between St. Pierre and St. Joseph), La Réunion And then, the unspeakable purity and freshness of the air! There was just enough heat to enhance the value of the breeze, and just enough wind to keep the whole sea in motion, to make the waves come bounding to the shore, foaming and sparkling, as if wild with glee. - from Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë (1820-

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-14200165642270800422009-06-05T21:33:00.007+02:002011-11-18T05:28:57.869+01:00

bougainvillea in La Reunion, France Here are some photos of a bougainvillea taken in La Reunion Island. How I would love to grow them, but since they require a lot of sun and we don’t have a greenhouse, I just have to content myself with looking at them when visiting places with a warm climate or in botanical parks. The gay colors of their flowers (white, red, orange, yellow, etc) reflect the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-29326785709796882922009-06-04T20:51:00.007+02:002011-11-18T06:50:52.115+01:00

terrace of the place where we stayed with its wonderful view of the village on the foothills Whew! It’s been a while since I updated this blog… and even more when it comes to visiting my fellow bloggers. Well, with the 3 long weekends we’ve had last month (May 1- Labor day; May 8 –WWII Victory Day; May 21 Ascension Day) and the summer-like weather, we tried to make the most of it by spending

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-53600495425600812982009-04-22T15:34:00.008+02:002011-11-18T05:30:12.440+01:00

church of St. Peter, town of Carennac , Lot departement, Midi-Pyrénées region This is the entrance to the small courtyard of the St. Peter’s church in the town of Carennac, Lot department in the southern part of France. From this point, there’s a nice perspective of the tympanum and the short flight of stairs leading to the church’s entrance. It is quite arresting, especially since the view

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-20740415905808034982009-04-21T20:44:00.004+02:002011-08-23T21:43:32.205+02:00

sweet violets (Viola odorata) also known as garden violets in our lawn These are the sweet violets (Viola odorata) growing “wildly” in our garden. They usually grow with common daisies and dandelions in our lawn. And although most of the time they are considered “weeds,” they give a dash of spring color and romanticism in our yard. backside of the violet flower I was thinking of digging

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-55916283902394234642009-04-17T14:52:00.006+02:002011-08-23T21:43:43.099+02:00

our prunier à fleurs (flowering cherry tree) One of the harbingers of spring is the ornamental plum flowers (prunier à fleurs). I’m hesitant to call it cherry blossom (sakura) as the two are not exactly the same. But of course, they certainly come from the same family. And the leaves of our flowering cherry are purple, not green. Besides, as far as I know, the Japanese flowering cherry

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-64381743732217509102009-04-16T23:51:00.005+02:002009-10-26T09:52:04.875+01:00

sunrise seen from our windowI’m really glad days are getting longer now (marked by the use of daylight saving time which started around 3 weeks ago). I don’t mind “losing” an hour of sleep due to DST. After all, I feel like I’ve been asleep (and dispirited) during the cold months. Come to think of it, I think it’s better to really go in hibernation like some animals do during winter rather

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-28649482378859476732009-04-15T15:16:00.008+02:002011-08-23T21:43:50.421+02:00

a busy bee probing a grape hyacinth (muscari) in our garden Spring is on its way!!! see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-4029888611616000882009-04-14T23:15:00.005+02:002009-10-26T10:24:01.491+01:00

detail of a stained glass in our town church I know this is a bit late, but I hope everybody had a wonderful Easter. The sky was overcast here during the Easter holidays. But at least it wasn’t that cold. And we haven’t had any bizarre spring blizzard or hailstorm so far. So the weather might not be that enjoyable but the important thing is the spirit of the season --- the salvation of

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-82387330219352787682009-04-08T12:03:00.008+02:002011-08-23T21:46:09.024+02:00

Seeing a seed sprout leaves is like magic... for how can a tiny thing carry so much life in it?... how is it possible that a thing so small start and support not only itself but also other forms of life?... I guess it's one of the many miracles of nature. see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-11692701522305978342009-04-07T23:38:00.006+02:002011-08-23T21:46:17.364+02:00

Silver white winter that melts into spring... – a line from a song in The Sound of Music Spring came early this year. Oh, it’s still cold in the morning (we sometimes have below zero temperatures) but the day was clear and sunny for around two weeks before the official spring season. So, after a snowy freezing winter, we were more than happy to see and feel the warmth of the sun. It was even

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-123542254756120242009-03-27T10:45:00.004+01:002011-08-23T21:47:03.265+02:00

a violet crocus... i like the subtle change of color of the petals --- from very light violet to its darker shade with the yellow center, it seems there's a light illuminating the core of the flower... a close-up of the yellow-colored stamens and pistil see my other blooming fridays see other blooming friday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-28680911319048005552009-03-25T09:47:00.006+01:002011-08-23T21:47:11.460+02:00

dew-covered moss see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-7819680128324351552009-03-20T23:39:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:47:24.685+02:00

our forsythia in full glory on a bright spring day Well, it's the vernal equinox today! And our forsythia is celebrating it by showing us its warm cheerful flowers. It is really interesting that this shrub with its denuded lifeless-looking branches would suddenly spring to life in a burst of sunshine in the form of these gaily-colored blooms. Against the blue sky, they seem to be tiny suns

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-15162166317427797712009-03-18T13:06:00.006+01:002011-11-21T17:29:24.307+01:00

hyacinth that I planted in bloom Every winter, When the great sun has turned his face away, The earth goes down into a vale of grief, And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables, Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay-- Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses. -Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875), Saint's Tragedy (act III, sc. 1) It's Spring!!! see my other wordless wednesdays see

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-27358342022853396492009-03-13T16:43:00.004+01:002011-08-23T21:48:12.335+02:00

catkins --- flowers of common hazel in our garden One of the early signs that spring is coming is these catkins (also called aments) of our common hazel shrubs. They are called “catkins” because they are supposed to resemble a cat’s tail. Well, they surely do, especially when they sway to a gentle breeze, like a cat showing “excitement” with the twitching of its tail. Or a cat showing “

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-41998357656294175122009-03-11T09:25:00.009+01:002011-11-18T06:54:04.620+01:00

view of the azure window in Dwejra, Gozo Island, Malta from the sea The natural arch in Dwejra bay in Gozo, Malta is called "azure window" because looking through it from the coast, you see the marine blue color of the sea. But from the sea, I would say it's a "golden hole", especially with the sunlight striking the yellow limestone and creating a golden glow, beckoning seafarers to enter and

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-4616678813780076602009-03-08T23:07:00.011+01:002011-11-21T17:17:01.344+01:00

the sole painting of a woman in the main hall of château de Sully-sur-Loire Since today is the international women’s day, I thought it would be a good idea to share what I noticed when we visited the château de Sully-sur-Loire last summer. One of the largest and most important rooms in the castle is the main hall (salle d’honneur) with an area of 300 square meters. This served as a court, a

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-47871103934318559442009-03-06T08:36:00.004+01:002011-08-23T21:48:23.193+02:00

flower of our clivia (or bush lily) in its glorious beauty Even though I have some plants that died this winter (for which I feel so bad), I am very much consoled by the flowering of the clivia, also known as bush lily (Clivia miniata) I planted last year. My in-laws gave us two of them, one hasn’t flowered yet but the other has given me these sublime blooms. I marvel at the contrast of its

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-37236633792661613402009-03-04T10:54:00.009+01:002011-11-18T06:54:20.582+01:00

Here are some wintry photos of the mountains. I say “wintry” and not “winter” for they were taken last autumn and not this winter. I don’t think I would be able to get tourists out of the camera frame these past Christmas and school breaks, especially since we’ve had abundant snow this winter. white and blue... what a serene combination! Snow came early this year (or rather last year). And

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-28108661473773499402009-03-02T21:06:00.006+01:002011-08-23T21:48:29.389+02:00

my dream weather... how i wish it's like this everyday... It seems that the month of March started out just right. We had a fine weekend. Saturday seemed like spring at its best with a lot of sun and a blue sky. Oh, it was still chilly in the morning, around zero degrees, but by 10:00 AM, it’s warm enough under the sun. So we took the opportunity to start preparing our garden. It feels good

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-47163185894315814352009-02-28T21:27:00.004+01:002009-10-26T11:08:42.173+01:00

curiously heart-shaped red flowersI know Valentine’s Day was two weeks ago. But when I was looking at the photos I’ve taken a while back, I couldn’t help not sharing these shots. And since February is not yet over, I told myself that posting them would be a nice way to end Cupid’s month. So here are some photos of heart-shaped flowers.We don’t have them at home, but my in-laws’ do. I forgot to

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-4885753125257709802009-02-25T11:56:00.010+01:002011-11-21T17:29:45.222+01:00

a stained glass window in one of the churches in Ghent, Belgium A beautiful stained glass window in one of the several churches in Ghent, Belgium. I'm not so sure what from church I saw this vividly colored artwork but I think this can be seen in St. Michael's Church, near the picturesque quay of the river Lys. I though it would be a good entry for today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-14539216236475190542009-02-24T09:51:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:48:35.283+02:00

wishing it's summer rather than winter *sigh* Wouldn’t it be nice if the white powder on the photo is sand instead of snow? The grey bleak days we’re having can really bring the blues. And the current winter is definitely a freezing one. Oh, we have intermittent days of sun, but they don’t last long enough to dispel the general gloominess and chilly atmosphere. I just keep telling myself it

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-9539088571296958992009-02-23T13:41:00.003+01:002009-10-26T12:37:24.450+01:00

Sometimes in silence, we hear the highest form of compliment, the most deafening truth, and the deepest and most sincere words of affection, acceptance and understanding.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-73603096224797959772009-02-18T23:41:00.025+01:002011-11-18T06:55:35.139+01:00

lac d'Aubert (Aubert lake) in Massif de Néouvielle, Hautes-Pyrénées, France For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same; there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-57032161851735683342009-02-14T18:52:00.010+01:002011-11-21T16:59:42.902+01:00

I think you have found love when you find not only happiness in his arms but also peace and solace; when you are willing to go an extra mile or two just to see her smile; when you let your guard down yet feel safe and protected; when you give a part of your self and still remain whole. As Robert B. Mackay said, Amor est vitae essentia ... love is the essence of life. So I hope we all find

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-78463506612458569512009-02-06T13:34:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:49:34.300+02:00

our sweet alyssum during the warm months last year Another easy to grow plant is the sweet alyssum (Lobuluria maritima) or simply alyssum (the name of the genus it belonged to before it was reclassified to the genus Lobularia). It is an annual plant but the ones I’ve planted around two years ago are still around. Of course, during winter they turn brown and dry, but the following spring,

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-15649993604383224182009-02-04T11:42:00.010+01:002011-11-21T17:00:04.143+01:00

Lac inferieure de Bastan, Hautes-Pyrénées You have your piece of heaven on earth when your dreams are entwined, when your hearts and minds are one, when you look into his eyes and find your home and soul. see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-43381117160369427722009-02-02T16:11:00.009+01:002009-10-27T09:37:22.306+01:00

Hope is a curious thing. It can just be a trickle of water on a dry riverbed, a flicker of light in the dark,a flimsy string that keeps us from falling into the abyss.And yet, if we keep our faith in it, hold on to it and never let go,it can sustain us through our ordeal, can illuminate our way out of desolation,and pull us out from despondency and hardships.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-42911046777774624872009-02-01T16:31:00.006+01:002009-10-27T09:39:34.708+01:00

I would like to express my gratitude to Molly and Andy of The Bumbles for this heart-warming award. It is really nice to be appreciated, even if half of the times, my posts may come across as too melodramatic (even cheesy) or boring at times. But I’m not a great conversationalists, so I guess that shows in my blog *smiles.*In any case, thank you Molly and Andy for thinking of me (well, at least,

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-31747373049088944242009-01-26T23:48:00.009+01:002011-11-21T17:17:21.247+01:00

mosaic in the oratory of Germigny-des-Prés Do you remember Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark? In the movie, the Nazi Germans are trying to find the Ark of the Covenant in the belief that whoever possesses it would never be defeated in combat. This assumption is based on several references to the Ark in the Bible as the “strength and glory of God.” (source: Wikipedia). The

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-84293675468721536692009-01-21T13:34:00.005+01:002011-11-21T17:30:04.934+01:00

a butterfly and a bee “sharing” a flower If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.Buddha (563 BC – 483 BC) I was actually trying to get a photo of the flower with the butterfly on it, but I got more than what I hoped for. Another winged creature flew and joined the limelight with Mr. Brown-spotted Yellow Butterfly.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-43810423964160107432009-01-20T23:24:00.006+01:002011-11-21T17:17:41.143+01:00

oratory of Germigny-des-Prés, Loiret, France No, this is not in the Mediterranean region. This oratory in Germigny-des-Prés is in the Region Centre of France, built at the start of the 9th century by Bishop Theodulf of Orléans. Now one of the oldest churches in the country, it was once part of the bishop’s palace complex in the Gallo-Roman villa of Germaniacus. The chapel is built around a

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-52367310771839667382009-01-18T23:23:00.003+01:002011-08-23T21:49:42.731+02:00

citronella-scented pelargonium that I'm hoping to grow Do you remember my favorite pelargonium? The two remaining cuttings I have of it now lay brown and shriveled. They did not survive winter *sad sigh*. I was actually expecting them to make it through the cold season because they actually sprouted new leaves and stems for the past several months since I planted them. I kept them inside the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-7601708137379589552009-01-14T12:18:00.005+01:002011-11-18T05:37:39.545+01:00

a view of the mountain tops of the Massif de Néouvielle I feel like I’m on top of the world seeing this spectacular panorama from Col de Portet (Portet Pass, around 2200m above sea level) in the municipality of St. Lary Soulan, Hautes-Pyrénées. It’s neither a view from Mont Blanc in the Alps nor Mt. Everest in the Himalayas, nevertheless, the landscape took my breath away. The drive up here was

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-64317589071232582692009-01-13T23:35:00.006+01:002011-11-18T06:55:54.010+01:00

my lovable snowman, Mr. Pink Nose The past week is considered to be the coldest winter week. It even snowed in the southeastern part of France, which is a rare event. In our area, the temperature was below zero for almost a week. But we had a good dose of sunshine. I can tolerate cold winter as long as there’s some sun. Even if I cannot go out to do some gardening, at least the brightness

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-2519222623928592172009-01-09T12:54:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:50:04.410+02:00

our Cosmos bipinnatus in our garden last summer In my experience, Cosmos bipinnatus, also known as Mexican aster, is one of the easiest plants to grow. The term “cosmos” is the genus by which other species like Cosmos sulphureus (yellow cosmos) and Cosmos atrosanguineus (chocolate cosmos) also belong to, but it is more commonly used to refer to the bipinnatus kind. In our area, cosmos are

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-16554615100420453052009-01-07T10:18:00.005+01:002011-11-18T05:38:29.746+01:00

lac d'Aumar (Aumar lake) in Hautes-Pyrénées on a clear day This is lac d’Aumar (Aumar lake), one of the series of lakes in the Natural Reserve of Néouvielle, seen from the route des lacs (lake road). We passed by this road twice on our way to our hikes last autumn. I didn’t know that on these two occasions, I took pictures of the view on approximately the same spot. Vehicles are not allowed

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-41107143056481928032009-01-06T19:37:00.017+01:002011-11-21T17:17:57.744+01:00

harvesting --- the first of a series of mosaic scenes about champagne production in rue de Mars, Reims, France Well, with the holidays nearly over, I believe some of us have had their fair share of Champagne or sparkling wine to cap the celebration. This golden bubbly liquid has become the traditional drink, especially during New Year’s Eve. Well, it has been the wine for great occasions since

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-49536096585766398632009-01-02T23:24:00.006+01:002011-08-23T21:50:15.867+02:00

white rose balsam in our garden last year I’ve been growing rose balsam (Impatiens balsamina, also called garden balsam) from seeds for two years now. For the first year, I bought them. Last year, I used the grains I collected from the flowers of the previous year. But unfortunately, last autumn, I wasn’t able to collect any seeds because we’ve had a lot of rain and the cold season settled in

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-30613755452537039902009-01-01T14:23:00.011+01:002011-11-18T06:56:48.026+01:00

dawn in our backyard From the end spring new beginnings-Pliny The Elder May this year bring us closer to our heart's desire, the courage to accept things we cannot change and the wisdom to choose what is best. Here's to a wonderful year ahead of us.

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-88134834490341686282008-12-31T11:51:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:50:36.597+02:00

a red poppy (coquelicot) in our garden last summer with a cross-shaped center Red and green are considered to be the traditional Christmas colors. And since the holiday season generally ends on the 12th day of Christmas (Feast of the Epiphany), I believe I’m not yet too late to post photos of a flower with the “holiday colors” *grin*. Red corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas, coquelicot in French)

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-56583788147192313142008-12-25T21:31:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:50:43.193+02:00

May the spirit of Christmas be with us today and always. Have a wonderful holidays!

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-15251550856232984212008-12-23T23:33:00.002+01:002011-08-23T21:51:13.248+02:00

our Japanese barberry on a frosty day During winter, our Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is full of red berries. It seems to keep up with the holiday spirit --- the fruits as little red Christmas balls and the shrub as a Christmas tree, albeit without the ever-green leaves. And on a frosty day, it takes a magical appearance as the shoots and branches glisten like silver, its sheen

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-7641575976838551122008-12-21T23:23:00.005+01:002011-11-21T17:30:40.646+01:00

the book I won in one of Lisa's give-away contests This is what I found in our mailbox last weekend --- the book Lisa of Lisas’s chaos sent me! Since there’s nothing to do outside since it was really cold and the ground was frozen(I cannot do gardening), I spent my Saturday and Sunday reading The Mephisto Club. Thank you, Lisa, for making a bleak weekend enjoyable. I find this novel by Tess

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-11044212488627101472008-12-12T17:41:00.006+01:002011-08-23T21:56:35.457+02:00

our yellow autumn-blooming crocus (Sternbergia lutea) We don’t have flowers anymore because winter had settled in earlier. We are experiencing below zero temperature in the mornings which would sometimes last the whole day. Like today. And it’s not even officially winter yet! So for my Blooming Friday posts, most of them will be our flowers last summer and autumn. I guess that would be the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-27854006290474547952008-12-10T10:56:00.007+01:002011-11-21T17:31:15.514+01:00

a caterpillar and an unknown insect in our garden Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear-Mark Twain (1835-1910) see my other wordless wednesdays see other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-59227769587817593662008-12-08T22:50:00.003+01:002011-08-23T21:56:44.386+02:00

my favorite pelargonium This is my favorite geranium/pelargonium. We don’t have it at home, so my in-laws gave us several cuttings. Unfortunately, all of them died except for two *sigh.* I don’t exactly have a green thumb and growing plants is a real challenge for me. But I still like doing it because it’s fulfilling --- having leaves sprout from a seed or a cutting, seeing it branch out and

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-53059895385951829592008-12-05T18:26:00.005+01:002011-08-23T21:56:54.151+02:00

our backyard last Saturday Last Saturday, I got a note from Lisa of Lisa’s Chaos telling me that I won one of her giveaways for November. Yipee!!! As far as I can remember, this is the first time I won in a draw-lots contest. So I’m extremely happy that my name was drawn *wide grin*. It’s a book entitled Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen and I’m looking forward to reading it. What an early

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-18714330193312873452008-11-28T12:31:00.013+01:002011-08-23T21:57:03.896+02:00

our yellow-orange chrysanthemums Since chrysanthemums are in full bloom by November, it has been associated with All Saint’s day (Toussaint, November 1) and All Soul’s Day (November 2) in France. Well, it may seem like a “sad” flower but if we’re going to consider that chrysanthemums are regarded as flowers of happiness and immortality in Asian countries like Japan, then, I guess commemorating

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-10891473422046568152008-11-26T11:22:00.007+01:002009-10-28T11:57:35.983+01:00

full moon seen from our porchA fiery moonlight skysee my other wordless wednesdayssee other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-82947934626431714972008-11-25T23:07:00.009+01:002011-11-21T17:02:04.771+01:00

I come home to you for the soft glow that surrounds me after the harsh light of the city I come home to you for you bathe me in serenity after the chaos of the melee I come home to you for your heart listens to me after battling the crowd’s cacophony I come home to you for you give me back my sanity after going through the day’s folly I come home to you for your heart’s sincerity after

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-76190681662002522292008-11-21T11:10:00.013+01:002011-11-21T17:31:46.804+01:00

a red rose in our garden Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.-Henry Ward Beecher This is my first entry for Blooming Friday created by Katarina of Roses and stuff. I think it's only fitting to start the meme with a rose for she loves this flower. Thank you Katarina for inviting me to participate in this wonderful weekly post. This is a great way to end a

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-65268694645860287292008-11-20T22:54:00.010+01:002011-08-23T21:57:28.729+02:00

fire in our fireplace Aside from the fact that it feels so comfortable and warm being near a fireplace during the cold season, I like watching the flames dance to the beat of the crackling and hissing of burning wood. I’m drawn to it like a moth to bright light. (Well, just to make things clear, I’m not a pyromaniac. I think many would agree with me that having nice fire going in the

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4128282151327074818.post-38671159656316881642008-11-19T12:35:00.011+01:002009-10-28T12:06:35.157+01:00

a spider in our gardenHoney, what’s for dinner? (see that trapped fly on the left part of the photo?)see my other wordless wednesdayssee other wordless wednesday participants

lareinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12837701148082912586noreply@blogger.com14