Heureuse année ~ a new year...

Isn't this a lovely postcard? Sent in 1902,perhaps the forget-me-not flowers are significant. Anyway, we just love the design & it's Petit Pica blue too. We love old postcards & spend hours looking through boxes at brocantes & vide greniers. This one is lovely too, we're not sure who it's from but the sentiment is very touching.

Translation:
My dear Little Dinette I am still waiting for your news & I think you have forgotten me.
I always think of you very often I send you my dear Dinette my wishes for the new year.
Health happiness this is what I desire with all my heart for you & your dear parents.

Once twelfth night has passed & the decorations have been put away until next year, it's a good time to have a bit of a spring-clean. I'm not only talking about the home but of life too. I gave up making New Year's resolutions a long time ago. I rarely keep them & usually end up stressing too much about them. The only resolution I do make & keep each year is that January is a "dry" month, i.e. I don't drink any alcohol. I've been doing this for several years so now I quite look forward to it after all the excesses of Christmas. This year, Kelly is keeping me company as she is not drinking during her pregnancy.

available on Etsy

Instead of resolutions, I like to write down my "to do" list for the year. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a compulsive list writer! I also love notebooks & find any excuse to buy a new one. Kelly shares this passion too - the notebooks, not the compulsive list making! The New Year list will be compiled of things like, places to visit, list of W.I.P to be finished (work in progress & projects - this is on the list every year as there is always something lying about waiting to be finished!), work goals, finding a little "me" time each week, etc. Writing it down helps me focus on what is really important to me. I try not to make the list too long because then it seems unachievable & I'm less likely to follow it.

While looking for inspiration for this New Year, I came across this quote:-

source

Isn't it lovely? I think I might have to have it near my desk for those dark days...

The weather has been quite mild here & we've been enjoying lovely clear days with the sun shining, (always lifts the spirits). This was the sunrise the other morning when I took Harley for a walk, a lovely way to start the day...a sunrise to warm the heart...

We hope 2014 is a good year for you...

Stop and smell the roses...

Je t'embrasse...I hug you...

Do you like the vintage postcard? Found while hunting for treasure recently - short & sweet, just a little note to a love one, so touching...

We've added some more gorgeous table linens to the shop...

lots of table top loveliness...

A ribbon-work table mat, so delicate and the leaf design so intricate, it must have taken hours to make...

A lace edged table runner and round table mat set. Really beautiful...

Perfect for afternoon tea, two beautiful square tablecloths with embroidered roses....

Roses and hearts...

& roses and tendrils...

I promised myself I wouldn't mention the weather in this post. Apart from anything, we are so fed up with the unpredictability, hot & sunny one minute, cold & miserable the next. However, the roses have really been thriving this year with all this rain. Everywhere you look there are rose bushes weighed down with multiple blooms. Absolutely beautiful...& the scent...heavenly...

Just a selection of blooms from the Petit Pica garden...I adore how the petals are curled around each other in a tight bud and unfurl into such loveliness releasing their wonderful perfume...

Bonne Année pour 2013...

Did you have a lovely Christmas? Lots of goodies, food & happy times? We do hope so.

Now Christmas is over, we are thinking towards the New Year & what will be in store for us. Will you be making New Year's resolutions? Will your resolve last or will you give in by the end of January? It's the good intentions that count and who knows, maybe this year, we manage to keep just one. 

The postcard above was found at a local brocante fair. In beautiful copperplate writing, the author expresses best wishes & kisses for the New Year to their children & uncle. Promising a letter to follow the next day - it's so touching.

We hope you have a very happy 2013 & all your wishes come true.