A Beautiful week in February '13

Another beautiful week - I know it's not going to last though, ever since the sun has been out and shining everyone has been promising it will be -5 at the weekend!! Although saying that there is a real bite to the wind today sooo........!?

Well anyway after I wrote and published last week, we had some really brilliant and fabulous news - our eldest passed her first year Uni exams with an "Assez Bien" we are really thrilled for her, as she and her friend spent 3 days swotting in the Christmas holidays, they are both very happy and seem to have taken in all in their stride and now working hard for next lot of exams! That same day Chloe also found out she and her friend have been selected to go to Italy with the musico class, how fab! Somewhere she has really wanted to go and now the lucky girl is going!

So what with the youngest of to Ireland and the eldest of to Italy, both in April and just before their 21st and 18th Birthdays in May, presents - sorted!  And what a fantastic way of celebrating. I remember celebrating (or should I say re-celebrating) my 18th with my best friend, who did turn 18 whilst we were in the States! We had a wonderful 2 weeks stay in Florida, Jacksonville and Orlando and the Keys - which is where Tina turned 18, the only problem - yes we had to be 21 to go out and have a drink and that is another story!

I have had a few chances to go outside with the camera over the weekend which was great, not only did I manage to capture some more Robin shots we had a lovely bonfire and a turn out in our sous sol all thanks to gaining a new (to us) Fridge Freezer! 

On the 15th after another warm and sunny day we went out for a lovely long walk - the first chance in a few weeks to do so without any rain! We went out just in time to enjoy the close of a lovely day and week!

Sun going down

Silhouettes

Fence Posts in Silhouette

Saturday more blue skies and although a tad frosty we had warmth in that sun by mid-morning, so warm in fact I actually broke my own rule and "cast a clout" although I did still have a jumper on so only last a light layer really ;) Two Robins seemed to be having a "sing off" in the garden so I couldn't resist becoming stalker and for the next 15 minutes these beautiful birds sang whilst I took their photos - perfect!

Robin One

Robin Two

Robin One singing

Robin Two being inquisitive 

Robin Two now posing!

I can sing louder than you.....

Yes! I can.....

After taking these (and many more) I read just the next day, "When a robin red breast constantly visits you or crosses your path, a loved one in heaven is trying to say 'hello! I'm with you!" Well I suppose it's a myth, superstition but it's also maybe what you want to believe and for me - actually I would like to think it true as my lovely Nana passed away 21 years ago in February and it was also a beautiful week and she truly loved good weather (she hated rain and the cold!)  I also read this.....

"The robin features prominently in British folklore, and that of northwestern France, but much less so in other parts of Europe. It was held to be a storm-cloud bird and sacred to Thor, the god of thunder, in Norse mythology. Robins also feature in the traditional children's tale, Babes in the Wood; the birds cover the dead bodies of the children. More recently, the robin has become strongly associated with Christmas, taking a starring role on many Christmas cards since the mid 19th century. The Robin has also appeared on many Christmas postage stamps. An old British folk tale seeks to explain the Robin's distinctive breast. Legend has it that when Jesus was dying on the cross, the Robin, then simply brown in colour, flew to his side and sang into his ear in order to comfort him in his pain. The blood from his wounds stained the Robin's breast, and thereafter all Robins got the mark of Christ's blood upon them.  An alternative legend has it that its breast was scorched fetching water for souls in Purgatory. The association with Christmas, however, more probably arises from the fact that postmen in Victorian Britain wore red uniforms and were nicknamed "Robin"; the Robin featured on the Christmas card is an emblem of the postman delivering the card. In the 1960s, in a vote publicised by The Times newspaper, the Robin was adopted as the unofficial national bird of the UK.^[34] The Robin was then used as a symbol of a Bird Protection Society." (Thank you Wiki)

But whatever myths and stories go with Robins they still have a special place in my heart along with Seagulls!

On Sunday we finally got to see Chloe and took our lunch up to her Appartement and had a long awaited catch up, after lunch we joined many other families and went for a 2 hour walk around the historic and lovely city of Poitiers..

Hôtel Fumé - one of the Fac's in the town - what a lovely place to study!

The Tower where Eleanor d'Aquaitaine lived

La Palais de Justice from the side view

l'Eglise Saint Pierre de Poitiers

l'Eglise de Sainte Radagonde

Interior of Sainte Radgonde

Nearly home!

This week I have helped an Artist Friend bring her work to Facebook with her own dedicated page to her fantastic Pencil Drawings, you can find Gill's page here; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gill-Latham-Artist/250106948458967 why not pop over and see what she does? She also sells at the Lemon Tree in Sauzé Vaussais!

Now I have to get my head into gear as I have realised that we are now nearer to the end of February and I have cards to make, which means selecting photos for the new season to choose for cards and Limited edition prints! It's the choosing which is always hard but so far I seem to be doing ok!

So what's next? who knows? Another weekend is soon to be upon us and we then have Chloe home for a week, so with any luck in between their social life and our working life we might get a chance to spend a day together out and about! 

So for now I bid you au revoir ...

10th January 2nd blog looking back to the highlights of 2012

OK so now I promised myself I would not blog everyday! But when I went to bed last night, I started thinking I should have really started this blog last year! Well I am sure in this world of Blogging there is nothing to stop me back tracking and bringing everything up to date!? Is there a protocol on this? Well either way I am doing it!

I had such a lovely year last year -I enjoyed the Summer Markets but especially in Aigré a lovely little town just on the borders of the Deux-Sevrès and the Charente. It is only once a month but each month just got better and better, when you are selling to the French you know you have got something right, the game that is played the most with the photo-cards and Photographic Prints is "where is this" a great barrier breaker! We have enjoyed summer under our lovely pop up gazebo and I have made some really good friends by spending the weekend with them side by side. The photos were taken in July possibly the funniest morning we have had, not only did the singing Troubadour regale us with his ditties all morning but we met soon to be Groom on a day out with his friends - collecting money and gifts from us and ending up in the fountain!

The Troubadour's ride

Soon to be Groom (in the middle!)

I love thee oh Godess of the Fountain!

Friendships are found in many forms but by spending time with some families whilst "working" has been one of the highlights! 45 degrees heat and 7 youngsters aux lacs, they were lucky as they spent most of their time in the water but we had a such a great day it was hard to believe it was work! And the fact that they were in their Christmas outfits singing jingle bells did get us a few stares!

Hey! it's Christmas (in August!!)

I am an Angel not Santa!!

We were also lucky enough to play a huge part in our French Friends wedding - we have been friends with them since they bought our horse 4 years ago, and when they said they would like me to take the photos I was thrilled, this then led to music played for them by Rob and Chloe, and babysitting until the wee small hours by Chloe and Naomi! The day was perfect for them - and all topped off with a ride in a Horse and Carriage which was arranged for them as a surprise by their friends!

Just Married

 on the Balcony of the Mairie

To a New Life!

The Horse and Carriage ride as Mr and Mrs!

French Wedding Style

Enjoying the company after a long, hot but memorable day! (little did I know I was going to blend with the colour theme!)

We were out every weekend during the Summer months and I then had a  few weeks off in preparation of Christmas, again last year was my first time out to more than just 2 markets that I have been at previously! We have stood in some cold places including the weekend I had laryngitis and bronchitis no it wasn't "man flu" it was definitely "bird flu" but boy did I find a great combo for getting me through that weekend and it included "Vin Chaud" and a couple of paracetamols!

l'Abbaye Nanteuil-en-Vallée for the weekend and right opposite the door! but had the great fortune to be with a lovely couple Maude and Nico - Maude is a young and very talented Florist, she has a lovely shop in Verteuil L'Atelier Vert during the weekend we had a great time with them and now also have my "collections des fleures" photo-cards in her shop!

Christmas at Nanteuil-en-Vallée

 This pottery is made by another good friend who is so talented! Her first Christmas Market but I am sure not her last!

Les Céramiques de Linda

Making Calendars was the top of the list for Christmas with orders coming in far and wide - from personalised images of the summer photo shoots to personalised Poitou Charentes images, the best of both worlds as my customers chose the images they loved and had them mounted on their calendar and then could send out to friends and family! It was a challenge that I embraced....

Calendars for 2013

just wish I could have shaken of the bloomin' bird flu though! I was at this time 4 weeks in to fluffy head and zonked on meds!

Anyway this year started with a l sale on Redbubble Feed Minnie sold as a greetings card, it's always a great joy to sell on sites such as RB or Zazzle ! I am  a fan still of Redbubble and as I am host in 3 groups there is always something to do! Although I admit that my co-hosts are amazingly supportive and I couldn't cope without them! Redbubble is a good place for meeting photographers as well and one of my Cyber Friends Karen Betts is a great co-host but also a friend to me sending us lovely little parcels just out of pure kindness - we always look forward to Christmas! It's always lovely to sit and look through the amazing artwork on RB and being a host the honour of selecting Features in the groups - this has to be my favourite time of the week/month, browsing the many talents! For example today I have featured in 2 of the groups I host The Naturally Black and White Group  and the Compact Group - the latter group was started about 4 years ago when compact camera users were more often than not competing with DSLR's so this group was born! It is time consuming but to see what other camera work is out there and of course to see the latest must try outs is always worthwhile! Although there are still certain types of Photography that I haven't had suitable chance to get my head into HDR being one!

I posted a book on my PamelaJayne Photography Page https://www.facebook.com/PamelaJaynePhotography - sharing it for my friends sister but also because I would like to own it to try out some of the ideas shown, I am now that much nearer to reading it due to the kindness of a friend who bought it for me! It looks great and I can't wait to try it out Photocrafty 75 Creative Camera Projects for you and your digital slr

And one last thing I am trying not to get addicted to is Pinterest again so many things to see and enjoy it's hard not to browse away with a good cup of tea!

Well this weekend sees our 2nd Christmas with my in-laws coming for dinner - so rather than have eat another turkey and all the trimmings we have opted for a lovely Tajine - this is one made on New Years Day - we know how to live!

Christmas Dinner partie deux

I am really looking forward to sinking my teeth into new project this year - there are quite a few ideas in the pipeline, so hopefully the year will be full of markets, friends and enjoying what I love to do the most - "Life through the Lens".

It's raining again...

My Images Do Not Belong To The Public Domain. All images are copyright © PamelaJayne Smith. All Rights Reserved. Copying, altering, displaying or redistribution of any of these images without written permission is prohibited. If you are interested in using any image for any of the above uses, please do not hesitate to contact me

Mes images n’appartiennent pas au domaine public. Toutes les images ont un copyright © pamelajayne Smith. Tous les droits sont réservés. Copie, modification, affichage ou la redistribution d'une de ces images sans autorisation écrite est interdite. Si vous voulez  utiliser n'importe quelle image pour l'un des usages ci-dessus, s'il vous plaît n’hésitez pas a me contacter.