Don’t Evaluate Your Life In Terms Of Achievements, Trivial Or Monumental. Along The Way..... Instead

Chateau de La Ferte Saint-Aubin.  Part 2.

The Sitting Room.  The paneling, floor and chimney date back to Louis XVI (late 18th century).  The room includes an 18th century Persian carpet, a pair of gilded wooden consoles and furniture covered in Aubusson tapestries dating back to Louis XVI.  The large mirror on the left has a medallion portrait of Marshal de la Ferte Senectere painted in 1670, with a portrait of Duchess de la Ferte Senectere, his second wife, painted by Mignard in the 17th century, facing it on the mirror above the chimney.The Billiard Room.  This room was entirely redecorated by the O'Gormans around 1911.  It had originally been a bedroom with 18th century paneling.  The room has a beautiful set of neo-gothic furniture brought back from Britain by the O'Gormans, each piece featuring their arms and motto.  The billiard table comes from the Chevillottess in Orleans.

Chateau de La Ferte Saint-Aubin. Part 1.

My favourite castle of all time.  A magical place, a place of remembrance and a lively place!  A truly pleasurable moment.  Numerous different families lived here until the late 16th century, when the castle and surrounding gardens were inherited by the Saint Nectaires, who later changed their name to La Ferte Senectere.  Henri II de la Ferte Senectere was marshal of France.  Though he didn't finish building the castle, he had the two magnificent stables built in 1681.  In 1746, the castle was sold to Woldemar, Count of Lowendal.  The castle was owned by many different people, until the O'Gorman family brought it in 1911.  The castle was passed on and inherited until 1987, when it came to its present owner, Mr Jacques Guyot, who opened it to the public.

I have found such joy in things that fill

My quiet days - a curtain’s blowing grace,

A growing plant upon a window sill,

A rose fresh-cut and placed within a vase,

A table cleared, a lamp beside a chair.

And books I long have loved beside me there.

Author Unknown

Cite de L’Automobile, Mulhouse, France

An automobile museum located in Mulhouse, France.  It contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Bugatti motor vehicles in the world.  I enjoyed looking around, a lot to see.

We stopped at a view point in the hills to admire the view, and this sheep came strolling towards me.  I had the chance to create heart-warming images.

#animals  #sheep  #hills  #photography  #farm animals  #nature  #wildlife  

The Smallest House In Great Britain, Conwy, Wales

The house was created in the 16th century.  The smallest house in             Great Britain measures 72 inches across, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep.  The house has a living area and bedroom.  It was last occupied in 1900 by a fisherman called Robert Jones.  Robert was 6ft 3″.  The rooms were too small for him to stand up in fully.  He had to leave as the house was declared unfit for human habitation.

Chateau de La Ferte Saint-Aubin Part Five

The Guardroom or Games Room  The panelling dates back to the 17th century.  You can play any games or the piano.  The Lowendral Bedroom  This is a magnificent 18th century ceremonial room.  The chimney goes back to Louis XV, as well as the inlaid writing desk on its left and there is an early 18th century portrait of Princess Palatine above.  In the centre of the room stands an exceptional gaming table surrounded by four armchairs, facing the bed, all of them from the times of Louis XVI.

Perfect

“These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones, they are for what they are; they exist today.  There is no time to them.  There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every movement of its existence.  Before a leaf-bud has burst. its whole life acts, in the full blown flower there is no more; in the leafless root there is no less.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), From “Self-Reliance”

There’s no better time to wrap up in your favourite wolly jumper, put on your walking boots and get a deep breath of the great outdoors.

Taking Time To Just Be

Look to the day!  For it is life, the very life of life.  In its brief course lie all the varieties and realities of your existence: the bliss of growth, the glory of action. the splendour of beauty.  For yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision but today, well-lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.  Look well, therefore, to this day! Such is the salutation of the dawn.

FROM THE SANSKRIT