Monday, January 30, 2017

What Happened In January

Six January Outtakes


Every now and then, I take pictures, thinking I'll write a post and then you know life happens - school, housework, bad days... And I have to make choices and write fewer posts than schedules (in my head... please don't imagine I have an actual schedule for the blog). Sometimes, I also realise that what I have is not worth a full post...

Souvent, je prends des photos en pensant écrire un article et puis le temps, la vie, le travail ou le ménage viennent contrecarrer mes plans et je n'écris jamais tout ce que je prévois dans ma tête. Parfois aussi, je m'aperçois que le contenu ne sera pas assez riche pour tout un article...

So I thought I should do a very unorganised post with the "outtakes".

Ce mois-ci, je vous propose donc un article un peu "fouillis"  avec les brouillons.

1. In one of the school I worked in the last three years, I had a colleague who knew everything on everything and who I nicknamed Wikipedia. He had told me to pay attention to a field not far from Cottage where Northern Lapwings stopped during their migration every year in October. This year, for the fourth time, I had my eyes wide opened on this field (with the occasional glance to the road - I'm a serious lady) and was happy to see the birds make their come back. Only after a few weeks, I noticed that they were staying. They apparently decided to spend winter around Cottage. They are wonderfully beautiful birds and it's fun to see them in a different field every day as I drive back home. I tried to take pictures, but they are very camera shy and are always on the move, probably as a self defense attitude.


1. Dans une des écoles dans laquelle j'ai travaillé pendant trois ans, un de mes collègues sait toujours tout sur tout. Je l'ai surnommé Wikipédia. Il m'avait dit de bien regarder un champ situé non loin de chez moi car les vanneaux y faisaient escale tous les ans en octobre lors de leur migration. Pour la quatrième année, j'ai conduit les yeux grands ouverts sur ce champ (avec un petit coup d’œil sur la route de temps en temps, je suis prudente) à l'automne. Oh, joie ! Les vanneaux étaient de retour. Mais cette année, ils ne sont pas partis. Ils ont décidé de passer l'hiver autour de Cottage. Ce sont des oiseaux magnifiques et c'est un plaisir de les voir tous les jours. J'ai tenté de vous les prendre en photo, mais ils sont peureux et bougent sans arrêt, ce qui est sûrement un moyen de défense.

If you're into birds, you can read more about them on Wikipedia (the website, not the colleague). 

Via Wikipedia.
Si vous voulez en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur Wikipedia (le site, pas mon collègue).



2. January is never a big renovation month at Cottage. I didn't have anything to show you. But I did tackle a very small project that is part of a bigger one. Really it wasn't an urgent project, but I had an argument with a colleague one day and I just needed to paint something once back home to calm my nerves!



2. Janvier n'est jamais le grand mois de la rénovation au Cottage. D'ailleurs, je n'avais rien à vous montrer ce mois-ci. Cependant (oui, je sais, encore un "cependant", Papa), j'ai réalisé un tout petit projet qui fait partie d'un autre projet bien plus grand... Ce n'était pas du tout urgent à faire et maintenant j'ai un truc à moitié fait, mais je me suis disputée avec un collègue un jour et en rentrant à la maison, il fallait que je peigne quelque chose pour me calmer les nerfs !

3. I'm still working on recipes. Some fail, some are delicious like this chocolate ring filled with homemade fruit salad. After I exchanged a few messages with one of my readers, I'm trying to improve my pizza crust and will share it when it's ready!


3. Je travaille toujours à inventer de nouvelles recettes. Il y a des échecs et des réussites comme cette couronne au chocolat remplie de salade de fruits maison. Après avoir échangé quelques messages avec une lectrice, j'essaie d'améliorer ma pâte à pizza pour pouvoir ensuite la partager avec vous.

4. Cats are a huge part of the life at Cottage. My cats are very respectful of my decor. But you might remember last month Shadow took the habit of sleeping under the plaid on the couch. This month, Milo found out it was more comfortable to sleep once the cushions were a mess... I'd like to say I'm mad... But he's so cute.

4. Les chats prennent beaucoup de place dans la vie au Cottage.  Ils sont d'habitude très respectueux de tout ce qu'il y a dans ma maison (j'ai bien de la chance). Mais peut-être vous souvenez-vous que Shadow a pris l'habitude le mois dernier de dormir sous le plaid qui couvre le canapé... Milo a décrété quant à lui que l'on dormait bien mieux après avoir mis tous les coussins en vrac... Je devrais être furieuse, mais il est juste trop mignon.

The cats have tried to tolerate each others more as with the cold temperatures none of them wanted to go outside. 


 Les chats ont tenté de se supporter un peu plus car le froid ne les encourageait pas à sortir.

Shadow has a lot of energy all year round and it has been difficult for him to get it all out while staying inside... And then, at some point I didn't close the loo's door all the way through... 


Shadow est un chat bourré d'énergie et il a eu un peu de mal à la dépenser dehors ce mois-ci... Mais il a trouvé d'autres moyens... Je n'avais pas dû bien fermer la porte des toilettes...

 

5. Father Christmas (OK, are we all adults here? My mom) gifted me the first season of Once Upon A Time... It's been really nice rewatching it. But now I can't fight the feeling that every Blonde should own at least one red leather jacket. So please mister President, if you could raise my teacher's salary and lower the taxes... 


5. Le Père-Noël (euh, on est entre adultes, je peux le dire, hein... en fait, mes parents) m'ont offert la saison 1 de la série Once Upon A Time... J'aime bien revoir ces épisodes, mais maintenant mon cerveau est persuadé qu'il est nécessaire de posséder une veste en cuir rouge. M. le Président, pourriez-vous augmenter le salaire des profs et baisser les impôts pour que je puisse tranquilliser mon cerveau ?

6. I had the amazing opportunity to attend a lecture by Anne Beaumanoir, a wonderful woman who was joined the Resistance during WWII and every single word was fascinating. So much of what she said echoed in today's world. It left me shaken and in utter admiration for this 93 year old woman who didn't have a pinch of hatred in her explanations after everything she had lived. Plus she still drives her own car and she didn't want me to help her carry her dog in the stairs...

Via Ouest France

6. J'ai eu la chance d'assister à une conférence d'Anne Beaumanoir, une femme passionnante qui a rejoint la Résistance pendant la seconde Guerre Mondiale. J'ai été captivée par chacun de ses mots. Une grande partie de ce qu'elle disait rencontrait tellement d'échos dans le monde actuel... Cela m'a beaucoup secouée et je suis en admiration devant cette femme de 93 ans qui n'a pas une once de haine dans son discours. En bonus, elle conduit encore sa petite voiture et n'a même pas voulu que je l'aide à porter son chien dans les escaliers...

See you next time,

A la prochaine fois,

Hasta la proxima (that's for Nelly),




PS: I know that #5 is very frivolous and that #6 is more serious, but that's life!

43 comments:

  1. Love the birds and your cute kitties! They just get into mischief because they're bored...
    Brenda

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  2. What a wonderful opportunity to hear such an inspiring speaker.

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  3. I so enjoyed your post. I am the same way, don't have a lot of things to write about so that's why I don't post every week.

    Kitties are so cute and yes, they do get into trouble, but that's okay, they are like our children and they really get into trouble LOL.

    The birds are very pretty. I don't think I have ever seen them before.

    Enjoy your week.

    Mary

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  4. I love that bird!! the lecture with the WWII 93 year old must have been so interesting - I love reading of that time of history and in the middle of a book now from that time period.

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  5. I use to have a cat that would unroll the toilet paper so this brought back those memories!

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  6. What an inspiration Ms. Beaumanoir is to us all and what a treat to be able to hear her speak. I am battling bored dogs during the cold weather. I feel your pain!

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  7. This is an incredible post... I read it from top to bottom.. the picture of two kitties is so adorable!!!

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  8. I heard birds chirping in our yard, but they must be snowbirds because it's still the middle of winter. Funny that the Northern Lapwings are staying through the winter months near you.

    Small children do the same thing with toilet paper. Kitties just want to have a little fun. :o

    Your cake looks yummy, but a discussion with my doctor today brought us to the conclusion that I need to cut out all sugar for a month and see if my inflammatory process subsides. That is going to be the most difficult thing for me to give up, but I know she's right.

    The lecture sound very inspiring. 93 and still so active!




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  9. It's good to see you dear Magali, and I know what you mean about having to make decisions; too much work (which is GOOD) and other responsibilities choke out at times our creative endeavors. But you are working hard and making Cottage so beautiful. And I'm also learning to enjoy the real life, slowing down on the computer and social media, however, over the years I've made such great friends through blogging and Instagram, that life without their acknowledgement has been quiet. Oh well....

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  10. I think people that went through wars and being deprived from basic needs and still have a positive outlook are ones to inspire us. Your cats playing with t.p. looks very familiar;). Watching birds (nature) is one way of relaxing after a day of work.
    Yes! You need a red jacket Magali!
    Kathleen in Az

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    1. I've always enjoyed watching birds around Cottage and for some reason, there are more of them this year... I might end up driving out of the road because I'm trying to spot new birds!

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  11. She really sounds incredible. How lucky you are to have met her. I have a nephew that has the same habits as your cat...bless him. We have had incredible weather here for January this year. I was working outside in a t-shirt two days ago. I think those birds might wanna come to Canada for the winter if it keeps up!!

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  12. Real life can sometimes be overwhelming, can't it? It's nice to read about the little things that shape your day to day magali. I have to admit I smiled at the toilet paper photo. Cats and their shenanigans crack me up.

    Wishing you a productive February and enough $ to buy a red leather jacket ;).

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  13. Hello dear Magali and it's good to see you back feeling great and busy enjoying life and keeping cottage happy. Love the bird scenes, lovely. Your sweet cats I'm sure are a hand full but their mischievous behavior is so entertaining. I think we all know a "Wikipedia" and being creative is a great way to work out the stress. I love the photo of Shadow and Milo looking out the window, I love your window!
    Happy February........

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  14. Je vois qu'en ce moment pas vie est un long fleuve tranquille nonobstant l'accrochage collègue. C'est chez moi aussi assez calme et par là même assez ennuyeux.
    Caresses aux compères. Bises. Babette

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  15. Oh this may turn out to be one of my favorite posts!! While I absolutely love seeing the projects at Cottage, I think I love seeing snippets of your life and surroundings more!! And I love birds- the Northern Lapwing is beautiful! I think every woman needs a red leather jacket...I have one- a gift from a sister many years ago and I'm a brunette.. so you should definitely indulge yourself. Besides you will get so much more use out of yours than me (I'm in Florida!). That cake looks so good. It has fruit so it must be a breakfast cake .. that's my way of thinking. I hope you share your recipe soon? And I'm trying to figure out the painting project and what that could mean... more posts like these would be fun!! Thanks for sharing and hope you are feeling well!! xo from sunny Florida!

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    1. I believe in cake and fruits for every meal! I'll try to write an other "outtake" post next month! Thanks for your encouraging words!
      Magali

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  16. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

    Carla from Kansas

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  17. J'aime bien ton article "fourre-tout", un peu comme une conversation entre amies. Les oiseaux sont superbes... et la photo de shadow un peu dépité devant le rouleau de PQ est franchement drôle. Le gâteau a l'air bien bon et je vais chercher la vie de cette résistante passionnante. Bises. Bon courage en attendant les vacances de Février.

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    1. Il semble que mes lectrices et lecteurs pensent que je dois refaire des articles de ce type... Au fait, le livre d'Anne Beaumanoir est édité par une toute petite maison d'édition et s'avère difficile à trouver.

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  18. Those birds are so beautiful. How great that they come to be near you on their journey. Great pics. How funny you have a colleague that knows everything and you call him Wikipedia. Too cute. I bet he comes in handy for questions!
    Have a great new week. Your kitties are just adorable.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  19. Hi...such wonderful birds..an i love that you call the colleague..wikipedia..too funny..now i'm looking forward to this project you speak of..an yes..ya gotta love a cat..milo's ears said it all..i can only imagine how fascinating it was to hear Anne Beaumanoir speak..if you haven't ever seen the movie..freedom writers..you should see if somehow you can find it..it's excellent!! hope you're week is going well so far..still cold an windy here..yesterday was ridiculous..blizzard like snow off an on for 10 mins..then sun the next..really was strange.!

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  20. I love the idea of "outtakes" and enjoyed this very much. More, please!

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    1. As requested, I'll try to write an other "outtake" post next month!

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  21. Dear Magila, sounds like your January was full and that you are staying warm and happy. My January has become full of change and I will be excited to share this as days go by. Love the birds they are so beautiful. Have a lovely week and stay warm!
    xoxo Jo

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  22. Shadow and Milo could easily have a blog of their own - they crack me up!

    Poppy

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  23. I love the little peaks into your life. The birds are very beautiful. Love your cute kittys. My dog gets into the toilet paper if I leave the door open. Just like little kids. Have a good week!

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  24. I can totally relate when a planned post doesn't turn out the way you intended it to be. #4 and #5 cracked me up!

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  25. Thank you for sharing. I love the picture of the two kitties side by side in the doorway. It is nice to be reminded that bad things end eventually. I have a sinking feeling that I am going to have to join a resistance soon.

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  26. Anne Beaumanoir would be such an interesting person! We have a resistance going on right her in America and it is frightening and alarming to many of us. We have the wrong person as President and want him out.

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  27. Your Northern Lapwings are beautiful birds! Cats are funny - each with their own distinct personality. They do tend to get into mischief when left to their own devices! How wonderful to meet your resistance fighter, Anne Beaumanoir. I have read some wonderful books written by these brave souls. We, here in America, may need some tips.....My Uncle was one of the soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy. I hope you are staying warm and cozy in your little cottage this winter. xo Karen

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  28. So lovely to read / see your Outtakes.
    What a fun post and your photographs were nice, especially your cats.

    Good wishes for this new month of February

    All the best Jan

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  29. que c'est beau un vanneau ! quelle chance d'avoir autour de Cottage une telle diversité de la nature ! la photos des deux matous à la fenêtre est trop chouette ! monique59

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  30. Cats, cottage, courage - great post - I enjoyed the randomness of life at the cottage. Yes, you do deserve a red leather coat.

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  31. querida Magali gracias siempre por tu Blog. me encanta y lo mismo tus comentarios de tu vida cotidiana tus fotos saber de Cottage, de los gatitos lindos, deseo que siempre estes bien y gracias porque me senti muy privilegiada con tu Hasta la Proxima fue algo que me sorprendio al final de la lectura gracias me hiciste feliz:) cuidate y hasta la proxima .....nelly

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    1. De nada. Ha sido un placer. Hasta la proxima. Magali (I do hope it means something, I'm really trying...)

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  32. C'est toujours du bonheur de venir ici :-) Une parenthèse belle pour les yeux et pour les papilles aussi :-)
    Mymi Doinet auteure jeunesse

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  33. Great post Magali! Your cats are adorable!! The cake with fruit salad looks delicious. We watched "Once" and really liked that show. The red jacket would looks great! It is so great to attend a wonderful lecture! Wishing you a great weekend !!

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  34. Bon je ne vais pas commenter chaque chapitre de ce post hihi. Je ne connais pas cet oiseau appelé vanneau que je trouve très joli. Des chats qui mettent de l'animation, pour une fois. Ça change de leur fréquente torpeur...
    Bonne soirée.

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  35. A lovely post, Magali. I enjoyed these bits of your life. I have an interest in birds and their calls. I went to Wikipedia and played the Lapwing's call. How pretty it is. And it's a beautiful bird. The cats look so relaxed. I especially love the cats in the window. One of my favorite images in life is a cat in the window. It just says "home" to me, even though we have no pets. The cake looks delicious. I noticed how beautiful your wood floors are, and, in fact, all Cottage's wood is beautiful. I'm sure Anne Beaumanoir's lecture was very moving. It's so important that we hear from this brave, courageous generation. We owe so much to them. I read a book last summer called The Nightingale. Are you familiar with it? Written by Kristin Hannah, an American, it tells the story of two sisters in France during the German occupation. The older sister is forced to house a Nazi officer in her home that she shares with her young daughter (her husband is serving in the war). Her younger sister joins the Resistance. It was inspired by the story of Andrée de Jongh, a Belgian woman who helped downed Allied pilots to escape Nazi territory. What a wonderful book. One of the best I've ever read. It was recommended to me by Dennis' daughter, and I so enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your life with us. xo

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