Hi there, I'm keeping on checking in here from time to time because I have moved blogs last April & get traffic from this blog towards my new blog, so I thought I'd better make sure that you all followed me over there ! See you there, I hope ! Be well ! ox Sonia Continue reading

I'm not the best blogger these days ... In my defense April has been a busy month. P broke his finger, U & I had eye appointment & new glasses to get, most everyone here (but me, phew) was ill, we were away in Lyon (more about that later) last Saturday, and Sunday was my birthday (as well as Easter day, and now I feel for all those who were born on a holiday). Now back to what I wanted to say ... I'm moving places because I'm feeling too tight here now on Typepad. I pondered about it for a while, and I have finally decided to do the jump. This blog will be available for visiting till the end of the year, you can dig in the archives here, though I may duplicate some posts from time to time. It's been over three lovely, special years, I've lived so many good & not soo good things during those years, and now I'm ready to open a new chapter of my blog life, so to speak. I'm not completely done with the site construction (because it doesn't host my blog only - another reason I love it so) but I'll be fast enough, I promise. I hope you will love it as much as I'm loving it so far ! So ....would you please follow me to Cozy Memories new site ! (click the screenshot below) Thank you for updating your bookmarks (if you have any), or any link you could have had to my blog here. As a consequence, I have dusted both my (previous) previous blog, as well as my naturally dyeing blog. See you there ! ox Sonia Continue reading

Oh April, you've been pretty full & busy already ! Two days ago P broke his pinkie (little finger), thankfully not at the hand he writes with. (not a major fracture neither, but still) Everyone here is either having a cold, is coughing (or both), or having sinus infection. Bah, this windy, warm, unpredictable weather is not helping. They predict a chilly Easter weekend, and really I hope so ! My 95 y-o grandpa has not been feeling really great after having a strong case of flu last month. His legs just won't want to work anymore. He was so well until now, it's a bit "shoking" to see him decline so fast. His mind is completely clear though, no Alzheimer or senility at all ! Two days ago I had the pleasure to meet up with the very lovely Julie of Julie Sinden Handmade's fame. (she makes boiled wool hats) with a delightful & extra smily 4 months old little girl. We had already met briefly in the summer 2011 at Bookhou's. I have a head full of ideas, and minutes, hours & days just slip through my fingers. I hope I'll eventually find some time during this long Easter weekend ... then spring (school) break will be around the corner (27th). Until I have something new to share with you, be well, and take care ! ox S Continue reading

Nothing much to say today but wishing a super happy birthday to a most wonderful & stunning person on this planet, someone who's been a light on my path, and who taught me so many things in/of life. Happy birthday sunshine, I love you so very much ! And a little something for you here ... ox S Continue reading

Hubby & I decided to change our food habits & sports habit in August 2013, that-is-to-say 8 months ago. I know several persons in my close friends who have also been changing this, and we all have different ways to achieve our goals. I just wanted to write here where I am as of today, how I feel etc. As a personal record, since this is my online journal, and to let you know that if I have been able to do it, anyone else is. (rosemary) In 8 months, I have lost a total of 13,50 kg (30 lbs). It may seem a lot, and it may seem few as well, if you compare to the numbers of months. But my goal was not to lose a certain amount of kilos for a certain moment in time. The slower but steadier I could lose them, the better. I have been having ups & downs, specially after the move, and when I broke my toe. But I went with the flow, didn't lose courage or faith in what I was doing. What have I been doing exactly ? Eating less in the evening, exercising approximately for 45 mn per day, (4 or) 5 days a week. I don't eat fat free, I keep eating vinaigrette (with olive oil) with my salad, keep baking on a regular basis (and eating what I baked !), keep on eating out (without any guilt). I've not been doing a diet. It simply wouldn't work for me. I'm not calculating calories in what I am eating, but I now keep an eye on the general total amount of my intake. This + this + this + this = just right ... or way too much. (mint) What sport do I do ? I hate running, and going to the swimming pool is NOT for me. Going to the gym neither ... but I love music, and I love dancing. So I work out at home, using play lists hubby & I have been building up, using old & new songs/musics. I used to work out in the company of my hubby, but it's been several months that I have enough motivation to do it on my own, when I feel like it. We do power walks (between 10 & 15km) together from time to time, when my mom can stay with the boys for a whole afternoon. It took me some time to realize that everyone is different, specially when it comes to sport & working out. Some people love to run or swim, or to be in the company of strangers or friends. What works best for me (as of today) is to do it on my own, at home. I only use a mat, two weights, music & water. Really cheap ! No gym subscription ! Clothes speaking ... before August 2013, I used to wear size 46 (French) / XL or 16 (US) / 18 (UK), didn't wear dresses & skirts at... Continue reading

April 06th 2009 we lived in Chessy (near Paris), these were treasures found on the wayside April 09th 2010 we lived in Montpellier, this was my kitchen window April 09th 2011 still in Montpellier, Judas tree in the botanical garden April 03rd 2012 yummy break on a rainy day April 10th 2013 red and green dessert ox S Continue reading

Today I'll be sharing the last photos from our trip, almost a month ago already. We were in Conques, a little village with a great charm. It is built on a hillside and has classic narrow Medieval streets. As a result, large vehicles cannot enter the historic town centre but must park outside. The town was largely passed by in the nineteenth century, and was saved from oblivion by the efforts of a small number of dedicated people. As a result, the historic core of the town has very little construction dating from between 1800 and 1950, leaving the medieval structures remarkably intact. The roads have been paved, and modern-day utility lines are buried. The St. Foy abbey-church in Conques was a popular stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998. There is so much to say about it, but too much for me to explain, so I'll let you read the Wiki article, if you're interested. The French (and local, from Aveyron) artist Pierre Soulages produced 104 stained glass windows for the Romanesque Abbey church St Foy. (below is one of them) All the other photos were taken inside or just outside the abbey-church. I loved every detail. Very inspiring. The shapes, the colors, the textures. Aren't the stones colors just stunning ? Like a patchwork ! I hope you enjoyed all the photos from our trip last month. It was a pleasure sharing them with you. Wishing you all a beautiful week ahead ! ox S Visit this link if you like Pierre Soulages art ! Continue reading

I've kind of caught the stamp carving bug, like Lori ! I was probably inspired by my ever-talented-stamp-carving-guru friend Geninne, and a handful of talented block print artists like Katharine Watson ... I've (very) long suffered from the artist block, and adding to that a lack of confidence, I've stagnated for a handful of months since the move. (oh boy, it's been almost 4 months already) I'm quite (personally - I'm not bragging, it's simply personal satisfaction !) proud of this dandy stamp, I never thought I'd be able to do that. I feel back on track, creatively speaking. I'm full of ideas, my head is buzzing like a lavender bush is buzzing with bees in the summer ! Yoohoo !! Until some of my ideas come into fruition, here are the DANDY cards, now in the shop ! You'll notice that the card sets are now sold with recycled paper envelopes. I managed to source a family business here in southern France that makes gorgeous recycled paper envelopes ! Aren't they lovely ? Now both the cards AND the envelopes are made of recycled paper ! Yay ! Be well, everyone, and have a glorious weekend ahead ! xo S Continue reading

Yesterday I carved a stamp that I really really like. I've already made card sets with it, but today is so dark & rainy, I simply am unable to take proper photos for the shop. So they'll be in the shop tomorrow, once the photos will be done ! I had to tweak the light when resizing the photo, to get a somehow normal photo. Do you like it ? It's a dandelion ! Hopefully better photos will follow tomorrow ... until then, take care of yourself ! xo S Continue reading

I've only recently realized that I'm spending way much less time at the computer than I used to. Or at least there can be several days in a row when I don't blog, and don't update Twitter (which I've been neglecting a lot) or Facebook ... and when I don't visit blogs. This is maybe why I owe visits to a bunch of friends. For that, I apologize, because I don't mean to desert from some of your blogs ... it really isn't intentional. I have more photos from our trip to Aveyron (last month March 10th-12th). These were taken in Rodez, at the stud farm, which was really exceptionnally allowing visits. I of course prefer to see animals in the wild (like the wild ponies we came accross in summer 2010 in the New Forest, in England), but this was interesting to visit & know more about. ox S Continue reading

That's it, the shelves of the shop are a little fuller, with earth-friendly goodness ! Organic cotton mini pincushions & buckets, and recycled paper card sets ! Wishing you all a beautiful Friday & a relaxing or exciting weekend ahead ! Thanks for your visits, your comments & your support ! ox S Continue reading

Life's kept me (good) busy this week, and I'm coming here today to announce a shop update tomorrow morning (French time). I've been having a ball carving stamps since the tiny cat head & foliage one, last week, and a bunch of things will be available in the shop tomorrow ! There'll be a bowlful of (organic cotton, outside & inside) mini pincushions ... ... (recycled paper) card sets ... ... and two different buckets (sold seperately) ! I can tell you, it feels awesome to have some mojo back ! I intend on not letting it go this time !! Everything is already visible in the shop, but it will be available tomorrow morning only. ox S Continue reading