La Chatte Gitane (or The Gypsy Cat) was the name we chose for our cottage in France at the time. We chose it while on the road, moving house the first time round, from Ireland to France with 2 dogs and 7 cats in the car.
This blog began its insignificant life as a recipe book for friends and family who would ask me repeatedly for a recipe of this, that and the other.
Since then it has taken many different directions, like we did and like gypsies tend to do. Sometimes making a U-turn and revisiting familiar roads and taking a break when necessary.
You'll find recipes here, but also musings about the places we've called home, the gardens that we've established, not always successfully, the homes we've improved and the environments we've lived in. Currently, after yet another stint in Ireland, we're back in France @ Le Mas d'Ayen

Friday, January 01, 2016

Bye Bye 2015 !

Firstly, let me wish you all a Happy New Year and may 2016 bring you happiness and good health.

All in all 2015 was a good year for us. Obviously with some ups and downs. But we have made good memories and I can look back fondly.



 The new kitchen that we started using in earnest in the second half of December 2014 must be one of our highlights. It has opened up the house towards the great outdoors with magnificent views.


 In January we acquired 4 cute pigs with great personalities and super tasty meat.

 In March Bert and I planted 350 trees on our land. All native and deciduous.


During the summer months we've had visitors from family and friends. Above : My brother and his family, ready to board the ferry to Ireland.

 Celebrating our shared birthday, my niece Sarah and I, on the 31st July.

The theme was Frozen (what else ?) and I made Sarah an Elsa outfit.

Silliness runs in the family. You can't be part of this family if you're not funny or odd in some way.
Sarah and Uncle Bert.

Old friends from Belgium.

 The dolphin rescue mission at our back door that didn't have a positive outcome in the end.



 Our fantabulous volunteers of 2015 
Wen, Anna & Manon.

 The beginnings of our veggie patch.

 Couldn't love him more if I tried, Fergus. I've said it, silliness runs in the family...

 The summer I started loving my cottage garden and meadows.


 The autumn and winter that brought us lots of rain, and consequently ground works.

 Ah... the reupholstered chair.

 The ever changing sky.

 Funny mammy, Irma.



 And we've come to the end of a good year. 

Looking forward now to 2016.

Happy New Year !

Patricia xxx...x

13 comments:

  1. Happy new year to you and your loved ones,x

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  2. Thank you for the entertainment it is greatly appreciated.

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  3. Your part of the world is beautiful, what a lovely post.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. It is indeed beautiful, storms and all. :)

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  4. What a great year you had!
    Happy New Year to you Patricia.

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  5. Thank you for sharing your photographs Patricia. What lovely family you have and you live in such a beautiful part of the world. I'm just disappointed you didn't have a matching Elsa outfit. ;-) x

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    Replies
    1. Aha ! I was wearing something vaguely resembling Anna from Frozen. I even had my hair in two plats.

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  6. Happy New Year Patricia.
    Thank you so much for your support over the years with my blog.
    Your kitchen sounds like a dream.
    I also love that upholstered Paisley chair.

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