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Monday 19 August 2013

Flower Meadow

Belle Ile en Mer is an enchanted island stretching away from the Quiberon peninsula in southern Brittany.  Fennel and marjoram grow wild on the verge of its narrow lanes and the sea air is so pure it deserves to be sipped like the finest champagne.




 Along the rue des Impressionnistes on the outskirts of the tiny village Kervilahouen, where Claude Monet dwelled from September to November 1886, there is a flower meadow of breathtaking beauty filled with drowsy, drunken bees.  On the final morning of our holiday the children asked to see it one more time before heading out to the beach.  Angélique wore a simple Liberty summer dress, adapted from this book, (and sewn on the eve of our holidays when I should have been packing, sorting, and cleaning instead) and a beret made from The Uncommon Thread's merino fingering in the vibrant Meadow Grass colourway.  The pattern is Alana Dakos's Rustling Leaves Beret, an adult-sized hat which I knitted up on smaller needles to fit  my sweet daughter's head.  The hat was a treat to knit thanks to Alana's flawless pattern.  I had to shake out a sprinkling of sand after casting it off and the look on the kind hotel employee's face when I requested a plate to block the beret with was priceless! 
 
My Ravelry notes may be found here.

 I am grateful to my husband for taking all the picture above of our daughter together with this one below of Port Coton - a stone's throw away from our hotel - where Monet painted Les Aiguilles during his ten-week stay on the island.

 Mostly, however, I am deeply, deeply grateful to my wonderful parents (do you recall my father's ninetieth birthday celebration last November?) for making this holiday possible.  Thanks to them my children's heads are full of precious memories and the bond between cousins, aunts and uncles is stronger still.  My heart is aching now that we have waved good-bye to each and every precious member of this family of ours once again.  Distance can sometimes be cruel, don't you think?
Warmest wishes to you all.  I hope your summer has been filled with magical moments too. It's not over yet!
 
A bientôt,
 
Stephanie
 
ps Dear, dear Claire I simply must tell you how much your beautiful parcel soothed my sad heart on our return to reality yesterday.  You are the most generous-hearted lady and very soon you will be reading more about your exquisite gifts right here.  Thank you!


57 comments:

  1. Oh how beautiful! Your daughter is so sweet and the clothes you have made for her are lovey!! I used to make my daughters' dresses as well. What a beautiful meadow of flowers and the picture of the rocks....stunning!! I'm so sorry that your wonderful time with family has had to come to an end but I'm so grateful that you have such sweet memories! Joan

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  2. Welcome back Stephanie, although I'm quite sure you would rather be on holiday, you do have the advantage though of being in beautiful France whether on holiday or not!
    How apt that Angélique's beret is knitted in 'Meadow Grass', it's beautiful as is the amazing meadow she is standing in. Such a pretty little dress too.
    You obviously have had a wonderful family holiday with lots of memories to look back on!
    V xxx

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  3. Little Angelique in her stylish beret amoung the flowers is so so beautiful! What a lovely image to see on a Monday morning before I start work. M. Monet would have set up his easel and painted her picture if he'd spotted her on his morning walk :-)

    I'm now adding southern Brittany to my list of places to holiday.
    C xx

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  4. ~ Dear Stephanie, a picture post card beautiful post...LOVE the colours of those wonderful wild flowers and your beautiful little daughter! Breath taking! I must confess I would love a beret like that one too! Hugs and twinkles ***** from my corner to yours Maria x

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  5. Hi Stephanie,
    I'm so glad you had a wondeful holiday with your family. I adore all those beautiful photos of Angélique. The flower meadow is stunningly beautiful, I love all the wonderful colours.
    I agree distance can be very cruel but it's so wonderful that you have some special memories of this holiday that will be with you forever.
    Hugs
    vicky xxx

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  6. No, it's absolutely not over yet! If anyone dares mention the A word, or heaven forbid the C word, I clap my hands over my ears, "laa laa, not listening".

    What beautiful, beautiful pictures Stephanie. I love your photograph of Port Coton and Monet's painting of the same view. Most of all, I adore the pictures of your daughter in the meadow - the loveliest I've seen in a while - the flowers, the dress, the beret and your precious girl. Just perfect.

    Heather x

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  7. What a beautiful picture of your little girl in the meadow - as Celia says an artist would want to paint her! Love the beret too - I'd like one like that. How lovely that you have such a big and loving family to share time with - I am sure you will have many lovely memories till the next time you all meet again. Is that you father in the photo? If so he looks wonderful for 90 - what's he on I want some.

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  8. beautiful pictures of your little lady! The beret is gorgeous!
    I just came back yesterday from Italy and I really understand the sadness due to long distances between you and your relatives...sigh...
    xxxxx Ale

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  9. Oh! That meadow! And your gorgeous child in her beret ... she will melt hearts when she grows up!

    The post holiday blues are never easy, especially when loved ones must be parted from before we return home, I do hope summer's last gasp has more joys in store for you yet dear Stephanie x

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  10. MON DIEU!!!!! MON AMIE, your photos of your precious Angélique are outstanding; the fields lush with color, the seaside BRIMMING with vitality and that pink building...I want to be there.

    Your father, what a glorious photo of a smiling SOUL. Et il ne fait pas son âge! NON!

    So good to see you here, to experience the rush of your enthusiasm and joy for beauty on the Brittany coast. LOVE!!!!!! Anita

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  11. Oh my...the landscape grabs my breath away...such beauty is beyond belief!
    Thank you for sharing photographs of your lovely family Stephanie...you are truly blessed.
    The most fashionable beret atop your precious honeybun is perfect, with hugs and kisses worked into every stitch.
    Wishing you a joyful day filled with happy memories!
    From me... x

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  12. The flower meadow is so pretty as is your lovely little girl. What beautiful memories you have created.

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  13. Now I am dreaming of that meadow, how sweet your post is.

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  14. lovely and very prettypost what a pretty photos in that meadow like a monet painting bretange is a very pretty part of france like it a lot have a lovely week leon10

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  15. Your daughter is beautiful in the hat, great photos! I hope you receive your father's genes for longevity! I hope I get it too :)

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  16. The most beautiful flower of all the meadow looks so pretty in her new hat! I too saw a wonderful meadow of wild flowers while in Cornwall last week. I'm so glad you've had a wonderful holiday too. It's so different being back at home after spending time in such a lovely place isn't it?!xx

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  17. Stephanie, I do not have the words to tell you how beautiful this post is!

    The loving spirit of your holiday is so apparent.

    I expect that many folks who see these photographs will be thinking about a trip to southern Brittany. And remembering the image of Angelique amidst the flowers, and the happiness of your dad.

    xo

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  18. those wildflowers............

    oh my. and her little beret! What a wonderful vacation you must have had. So much beauty makes me so very happy!

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  19. What a beautiful post, the field of wild flowers is just so exquisite, my dream garden would one such as this, full of tiny flowers, swaying gently in the wind. I love little green beret, you daughter looks so lovely! I have family far away, so I know the pull of the heart when one has to say goodbye. Have a lovely week. Sharon

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  20. how completely beautiful, everything, your daughter, your handmades and that meadow of wildflowers!! and your lovely family, sigh. xxx lori

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  21. Enchanting scenery! You are so lucky to be the spectator of such beautiful nature. Your lovely girl looks so sweet in her hat and dress! A pretty child in a pretty field of flowers :)

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  22. Dear Stephanie,

    Welcombe back! I missed your post! Angelique looks enchanting with her floral dress in the wildflower meadow. Such sweet photographs. You chose her name well. She does look like a little angel :-)

    A beautiful photograph of your parents too. I am so happy you enjoyed your holiday and your time with them. I cherish those moment with my family and parents too!

    Happy week & good luck with the washing!!

    Madelief x

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  23. Stephanie, your daughter is so beautiful, I am sure if Claude Monet saw her right now she would be captured in a painting forever. So glad you had a lovely time with your family, it sounds like a fantastic trip.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  24. Angélique and the flower meadow are so beautiful. She seems to have grown so much since you took pictures of her in Brittany last year. I used to find that as my parents became older the parting was more difficult. It must have been wonderful to spend sometime altogether in a beautiful place.
    Sarah x

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  25. Dear Stephanie,
    How nice to have you back here. What a wonderful flower meadow. It is like in a dreami, a fairyland and Angelique is just another sweet flower fairy. The liberty dress and the beret are most becoming. I would love to knit the beret myself for Elsa, but knitting instructions in english are too terrible for me!
    I've been to Belle Ile once, and indeed it is such a beauty of an island. It was in October and the island nearly empty, shing in the automn sun.
    Enjoy your return home,
    Amélie

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  26. Such wonderful memories for you and your family. Just wonderful :) x

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  27. There should be more flower meadows. Look what joy they bring. Angelique looks like she is having a lovely time too. Precious memories. Beautiful hat and dress too.x

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  28. I totally understand - living away sometimes get to you.
    Those pictures of the flower meadow are amazing, Stephanie!!!
    Hugs,
    Carly
    x

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  29. Your little girl looks as though she is part of the meadow itself! Gorgeous photos and many happy memories for you. x

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  30. What beautiful pictures and memories.

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  31. Oh how you have been missed Dearest Stephanie! I whooped when I saw this post, and I have to tell you, in a blog filled with such lovely words and images, this might top the lot. Your lovely daughter in the meadow, her dress and beret, too beautiful, and just perfectly fitting for summer. I am so happy you had a great visit with your parents and family and I hope the settling back into the home routine isn't too bumpy. So happy you are back. Love, C

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  32. What a beautiful, enchanting place! Your little one looks SO sweet in that beautiful dress and the beret...just perfect!~

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  33. I just want to pack my bag and find that meadow and stay for a while, such a beautiful post xxx your little girl is such a poppet x

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  34. Absolutely beautiful hat and Liberty dress combination, and against the wonderful flowers, you've captured her beautifully. So inspiring x

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  35. Just gorgeous! The meadow, the dress, the beret, your sweet little one, and the memories you have of it all. Your photographs are stunning, a wonderful post. Enjoy the remainder of the summer Stephanie!
    Janine

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  36. What a gorgeous child. The pictures your hubby took are priceless. They belong in a magazine for sure. The meadow is devine. Outstanding job on the dress and beret. Again gorgeous pics. of the Sea and rocks. The one pic looks like jewels.
    Blessing on all your family,
    XXOO Marie Antoinette

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  37. My goodness Stephanie how beautiful. Your gorgeous girly and that meadow, how i want to lie down in it! Your dress making and knitting is always a joy to see, sounds like it was a very precious holiday. Yes, i agree about distance being so cruel, take care lovely xox Penny

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  38. Oh, Stephanie! Your posts are always such a ray of sunshine, but this one in particular has stolen my heart. I can absolutely understand why you have chosen to spend much of your life studying garden design when you have such inspiration as that meadow!! (and doesn't it speak volumes that the children wanted to return? a place that draws every one in!!!)
    And ... Angelique!! How perfectly precious these photos are!! Her hat is adorable!! and so much more appropriate in the sunny yellow than my 'blue lobster' one (only color I had enough of in sport wt yarn!!! in the stash!) that is blocking on the plate right this very instant!!! I love that we both chose to knit this pattern on holiday!!!

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  39. Thoughts of this flower meadow will stay with me all the day. And how clever you were to make the perfectly matching dress and hat beforehand. I am inspired by all.
    Wishing you wonderful end of summer days!
    Renee

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  40. What an absolutely beautiful place. The rocky shore, the meadow flowers, all of it. Being far away from family is difficult. So glad you had this opportunity to visit yours in such a beautiful location. The beret you made is so pretty, as is the darling girl wearing it. I love the soft mossy green and the leafy design.

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  41. I'm glad that you have been enjoying your summer and were able to spend time with your extended family. I was at an out-of-town potluck lunch last weekend and met some little relatives that I had not yet seen; distances will do that.

    Angélique is darling in her floral dress,leafy beret, and field of flowers.

    May you continue to enjoy the summer, Stephanie.

    -Karen

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  42. Such beautiful pictures Stephanie. My daughter is working a giant jigsaw puzzle on the dinning room table at the moment, a mosaic of impressionist paintings (she is an art history major). I showed her your post and we enjoyed it together. Your little girl is growing up to be quite the young lady.
    Lynne

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  43. How beautiful... Your posts are always enchanting, Stephanie. Thank you.

    -Giselle

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  44. These are priceless photos of your daughter in the wildflowers, Stephanie. I can feel the sweetness of your summer through your words and lovely photos of your family. Enjoy the last of the warm days!

    -Keri

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  45. My darling FRIEND! HOW GOOD OF YOU TO COME TODAY! Yes, I came here on the 19th, I believe and saw these fabulous photos! I left a comment up above.....SEE?

    Oh how wonderful to always see you; my post today is extremely simple in that I am so drained from coming up with something to write. I am wanting to take my writing to the poetry level, but poetry requires MUCH MORE TIME....I don't know what to do with time being at a premium....but we figure things out, don't we!

    MUCH LOVE MON AMIE! Anita

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  46. Your flower meadow photographs with Angelique are the prettiest I have ever seen!

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  47. What a doll in the flowered meadow, littered with color and beauty! Thanks for sharing!

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  48. What stunning pictures. It doesn't hurt that you had an angel modelling the hat. I have been planning to make that pattern for some time. Carla

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  49. The flower field is beautiful and your daughter is adorable! I also love how you showed a photo of Port Coton and the painting by Monet side by side. Amazing! I am so excited to have found a blog written from France in English. There are only a few out there. I am happily following along now :)
    Have a lovely day!
    Khammany

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  50. Oh my...absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing such sweetness. And the PS note at the bottom hints of fun to come!

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  51. dear stephanie, when you have a moment please visit my blog :)
    (there is a message on ravelry for you as well)see you soon!

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  52. Beautiful pictures to treasure.

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  53. Gosh, how beautiful Stephanie. What a gorgeous gorgeous Post. The pictures of Angelique in the meadow with her liberty dress and beret are straight out of a fairytale book. Sounds like you had a lovely vacation with some wonderful memories made. Distance really is hard. We are the only ones that live in Tasmania, with everyone else on the mainland of Australia and most of the time it is OK but I do find it especially tough saying 'good-bye' after I've visited, not knowing when the next visit will be. Have a lovely week. Mel xxx

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  54. I am absolutely in love with this post. Your daughter is such a beauty and being photographed in the beautiful place??? Oh my, what a wonderful memory. I'm glad you had a good vacation. Yes, being away from family is hard. I hope you stored up lots and lots of memories.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  55. les photos sont superbes ... et je découvre un trèèès joli blog, merci pour l'ajout sur Ravelry !

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  56. Thank you for this nice post ... and smiling (for no obvious subject)!

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  57. Super blog, I love your articles and reports, good continuation.

    voyance serieuse par mail

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