I am not sure where this last month has gone, what with gate painting, making jam, pickles, bottling and general running around. This is what the gates looked like at the beginning of September, when each gate was at a different stage!
Thankfully at last they are now finished. I had some mad idea at the beginning that I was going to paint all the bolt heads black. This idea has now flown out of the window as everything took so long, and as you can see, the front of the gates are now plain green; not a black bolt head in sight!
.jpg)
Nevertheless, I have painted the locks and hinges black to match the shutters on the house.
Here are the shutters on our bedroom window and also our cute little door that is only 1,65m high (5ft 5ins); we both have to duck and Nigel much further than me!!
The days are getting shorter and the sun is now setting in a different place. This means our sunsets are just not quite as good as they are during mid summer. This was our sky last night.
I was wondering in thae first photo what the look you were going for there! Lol! Then...I saw the finished one. Looks really good. So why is the door so short? I'm only 5'4" so it's just my size :D
ReplyDeleteThe sunset photo is still beautiful!
The gates look great; I like that color. Your cute little door is so funny! My dearly beloved would have closed it up for good, because it's so short!
ReplyDeleteThe gates look very pretty and you did a great job.
ReplyDeleteloved seeing your house in France...and LOVE the sky...so pretty...maybe someday i can see it.....
ReplyDeletekary
Did I mention that we had a bloke that stole gates in our area?
ReplyDeleteWe knew who he was but we didn't dob him in - incase he took "offence".
Oh! that was a bad joke, wasn't it?
The gates look wonderful. I must not be very observant, but I just noticed you have a house for sale in France. Are you selling your home? It looks very nice.
ReplyDeleteYour sky is still beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe gates look fantastic, and everyting is all tidy and uniformed. I hope you are proud.
Pat yourself on the back,and raise a glass.
You did a really neat job there Diane. I like painting things like this .... gives me time to think and reflect. :)
ReplyDeleteThe gate looks great. I like the black accent to match. But why is the door so small? Nothing wrong with that sunset.
ReplyDeleteThe gates look fantastic - you've done a good job! Our sunsets in the winter are better than in the summer, the clumps of trees don't get in the way.
ReplyDeleteSorry I haven't visited in so long - I've been behind in all aspects of blogging lately ! You've done a great job of the gates - love your shutters and cute little door, too - and I don't blame you for not painting all the bolt heads black - these jobs often turn out to take a lot longer that we expected ;) have a great weekend !
ReplyDeleteI love the colour of your shutters and gate! It matches the colour of your blogs sidebar :-)
ReplyDeleteC x
Your gates look great Diane - and I just love those big rocks built into the wall under the window ... yes, this last month has just flown by, I must return to the north soon ... when o you go back to England?
ReplyDeleteLyndsey, I could have gone for National colours red white and blue LOL!! The French are generally a short race and people used to be much shorter. This building is over 200 years old so it was probably fine in those days!! Nigel is 6 foot 4ins sooooooo! Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks Margi for the comment. We seldom use the door as such, but when the shutter is open it is a window as it is a glass door. We need the light. Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks Nadege, it was slow going but.... Diane
ReplyDeleteMy Farmhouse Kitchen, it is along way for you to travel but maybe you will make it one day. Diane
ReplyDeleteLeon...........LOL. Diane
ReplyDeleteSusan, No, no, no, not our house!! It is my neighbour's grandmother's house. I am just trying to help him and did the site for him. I am now just advertising anywhere I can. The house is quite smallish but there is sooooo much storage room. Diane
ReplyDeleteMya thank you, that is an excellent excuse for a glass of charentais pineau. Diane
ReplyDeletehttp://lifeincharente.blogspot.com/2010/04/pineau-des-charentes-part-41.html
Joan, Normally I would enjoy paining the gates, but this time there were too many coats and my right arm was aching the whole time. It has not recovered from the weight of the hedge cutter!! Also the rubbing down of the ceiling in the kitchen! Diane
ReplyDeleteGaelyn, May be nothing wrong with that sunset but they are not easy to catch now with the sun in a changed position. As I said above, the French are generally a short race and people used to be much shorter. This building is over 200 years old so it was probably fine in those days!! Nigel is 6 foot 4ins sooooooo! We seldom use the door as such, but when the shutter is open it is a window as it is a glass door. We need the light. Diane
ReplyDeleteJan our winter sunsets have trees and wires in the way. I hate seeing wires in my sunsets!! Diane
ReplyDeleteLynda I know you have been busy and now with building a new home I know you will be busier still. I look forward to your posts though when you have the time. Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Carol, I think my blog side bar is a bit bluer but I have to say I love the colour of our gates and shutters. When I look around and see others I appreciate ours. There seem to be quite a few with purples and I just hate them! Diane
ReplyDeleteGraham, the big rock under the window is where the drainage from the sink used to run. There is a big stone sink built into the wall. The second stone is at the back of the oven which is also built into the wall. I guess the latter was less likely to crack with the heat. I will send you a photo.
ReplyDeleteI return to the UK 17 October and the only thing I am looking forward to is being with Nigel and having a fast internet connection 10000 instead of 500!!!!
I hope before I go I can get some photos of that lovely stone floor which was being laid to show you. Diane
You have been a very busy bee Diane .. oh my word , hedge cutting too. There is no way I could do that .. The gates look brilliant now, so well done. Hope you have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely comments, I did see some very interesting and different places in Paris , I like to go off the tourist trail .. :-)
Anne when I am here alone I have no choice but to do everything myself. I have very good neighbours, but I only ask them when I have no option. I have no chain saw or tractor, so like when we took the two trees down I had to ask for help.
ReplyDeleteI have only really seen Paris once, my earlier visits were when I was very young and I don't remember any viewing then. I have to say I also like to stay away from the tourists especially during school holidays! Diane
Diane - what a pretty shade of green, and I like the simple, classical elegance of the gate posts. I hope you have a happy weekend - we go onto Summer Time over night so I'll have to something about planning the vege to grow over the coming Summer.
ReplyDeleteSending care, love and huggles, Michelle and Zebby, xxx and silent feline sleeping for once!
Michelle our clock do not change until 31 October! I am still picking masses of tomatoes, beans, peppers and chillies. The rest of the garden I am slowly digging over and putting in manure ready for next year.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the gates, I think it is a lovely colour green. Love to Zebby and of course yourself. Diane xx
Great job with your gates! You must be so glad it is all over, especially now that it looks so good and matches the shutters indeed!
ReplyDeleteyes, days are shortening, unfortunately, I hate winter and the cold, I didn't think we would have to go through another winter in Europe... I was so looking forward to a Xmas with the children and grand-children in Oz!
Well, we can't always control everything!
With all the jams and "conserves" you've been doing in summer, I bet you have all you need for those few cold month!
Keep well and have lovely WE, Diane!
Cheers!
Very smart gates ! Well worth all the effort and hopefully you won't have to paint them again for a year or two. LOL !!
ReplyDeleteNoushka I have to say Iam glad the gates are finished.They took too long!!
ReplyDeleteSelling property is not easy at the moment with the financial position around the world, and the €/£ exchange rate does not encourage the British!
As you can see I have a house for sale on my blog trying to help my neighbour sell his grandmother's house. That is cheap but...... Australia will happen for you soon I hope, but I have to say I would far rather live in France than Ozz, despite the cold winters which I also hate!
Have a good weekend. Diane
Jean the paint is guaranteed for 10 years so I sincerely hope that is the case. :-) Diane
ReplyDeleteDiane you have made a great job of your gates well done you :) You are right about the changing sunsets, a sure sign that Autumn is really with us now.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful sky with which to end the day. You are truly blessed. The gates look wonderful. I'm sure Nigel will be thrilled to see them on his return. Have a great weekend. Mary
ReplyDeleteThanks Lindy. The weather today has been a big change, suddenly I find I have a jersey on!! Diane
ReplyDeleteMary, Nigel's visit this time is going to be very rushed. He flies over on Thursday, we have Fiday in France and then drive back to the UK Saturday and Sunday 16/17 October. Diane
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous!! Love the green, nice work!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie. Looking at other shutters and gates I think we have the nicest colour, but of course it is a matter of taste!! Diane
ReplyDeleteThe little door and shutters photo is lovely and I really like the two big stones on the wall.
ReplyDeleteDiane, what a great job! The gate looks wonderful and love the black hinges and locks with it. That is one tiny door. Is there a story behind it?
ReplyDeleteJM We still have the old oak door from the little doorway which we want to use for something but...... We put in a wooden door with glass as we needed extra light. As I said above to Graham, the big rock under the window is where the drainage from the sink used to run. There is a big stone sink built into the wall. The second stone is at the back of the oven which is also built into the wall. I guess the latter was less likely to crack with the heat. Both sink and oven are restored and are now just a feature. Diane
ReplyDeletePam I am very happy with the gates. Re the door - as I said above, the French are generally a short race and people used to be much shorter. This building is over 200 years old so it was probably fine in those days!! Nigel is 6 foot 4ins sooooooo! We seldom use the door as such, but when the shutter is open it is a window as it is a glass door. We need the light. We still have the original oak door and trying to think of what we can do with it! Diane
ReplyDeleteDiane, Thanks for stopping by my blog, I did not know there was a problem with my blog, glad you can access to my blog now. Thanks to know you via blogging.
ReplyDeleteSonia I have been getting the message for about 10 days now re your blog and do not enter as it could harm my computer. Odd, but I was taking any chances. Today it seemed to be fine:-) Diane
ReplyDelete