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Thursday 1 January 2015

All That Glistens



Today everything turned to silver.  Under the clear, bright sky fragile frost crystals scattered light in all directions and although the name 'hoar', from Old English, calls to mind white haired and advanced age it seemed as though, on this first day of the year, the world sparkled with fierce newness like a wilderness of stars in a moonlit sky.  It was our third visit to Chenonceau and the interior of the Château, all a-quiver, rivalled with its frozen, fairytale gardens where box trees stood sentinel and hardy violet pansies shuddered in their cold flowerbeds.  Inside, juxtaposed against the more muted colours of the glorious collection of Renaissance tapestries and paintings, were frosted evergreen branches, towering Christmas trees, clashes of gold and red jostling with silver and white.  Ornamental snowy owls, hedgehogs, squirrels and glitter-coated birds raised an inquisitive eye to the sea of upturned faces and winked at the smiles of delight and wonder.  "This tree is simply perfect for children", murmured a lady, her face shining.  "And that is why it is surrounded by adults; look!", I laughed.  Though some of the decorations seemed a trifle gaudy the dazzling show of white and green hyacinths carried hope through the air.  'Happy New Years' rang through the Château's forecourt and gallery as everyone's breath turned white.
 
So, dear friends, I will not be including a brief history of this exquisite château, embellished and protected by a fistful of remarkable women since 1513, - not this time, at least - but will turn to each of you with a glad heart and wish you a very peaceful, joyful and prosperous New Year.  May 2015 be full of light, hope and a sprinkling of magic. There is something about the number 2015 which pleases me...
 
And below, of course, a spot of frosty knitting.  Wintery Leaves glazed with ice; a delightfully addictive pattern by Jared Flood knit with five skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the Snowbound colourway.  Completed in time for the winter solstice and sent, late, as a Christmas present to a special friend.
 
Happy New Year!
 
Stephanie x

48 comments:

  1. It's funny you should say about the number 2015 pleasing you, when I wrote it down today I thought I like that number!
    Beautiful images to start off the new year and your knitting is gorgeous.
    Happy 2015!
    V x

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  2. Oh no I hate it when your comments goes awry :( As always absolutely stunning photgraphs of the Chateau dear Stephanie .... the silvery hues have added sparkle to an otherwise dark day for me. May 2015 bring you peace, happiness and creativity in abundance my friend. xxx (Vi Frewin)

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  3. Dear Stephanie
    What a beautiful group of photographs to herald 2015. Just stunning. I hope 2015 is a good year for you.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  4. What a lovely time of year to visit Chenonceau - it looks for all the world as if you had the Château to yourselves. Something that I love about the Château is the way it straddles the River Cher and how magical it all is with the grounds covered in a coat of sparkling hoar.
    Dear Stephanie as usual you have successfully created the right ambience for your wintery knitting which I am sure has been much enjoyed and appreciated by your friend.
    Special greetings during 2015 to you and your lovely family Stephanie♡

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  5. Bon soir to you dear Stephanie on this first day of 2015, a number that also pleases me.

    May I share a little digression with you? When I read the name Chenonceau, my memory took a quick skip back to ...oh, it must have been no later than 1960, when I had my very first French lesson with a memorable teacher Miss Caroline Baker. From day one, her classes were conducted without a word of English. It is to her credit that I still cling to a bit of the beautiful French language. Anyhow, one of the first lecons in our books concerned some sort of plot involving Chenonceau. I loved the sound of that name then and do today as well.

    Thank you for this post, with its magical views and the way that your words connected me with a very lovely time. Long ago. Without actually making anything resembling a resolution, I think that I would also like to visit Chenonceau.

    Merci Stephanie for this resolve, and also for the pleasure that your posts always bring. Along with Chenonceau (see how I love to type the letters) I also must compliment you on the beautiful leafy knitting. What a beautiful gift. Jared Flood is such a talented designer, and his company continues to evolve with beautiful yarns, talented designers, and marvelous styling.

    Hmmm, this comment is getting very long and might already have challenged the limits of the blue-bordered rectangle within which I type. And so...for now, a very Happy 2015 to you and yours. xo

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  6. Lovely glistening images. Stephanie and your gift for your friend is sure to be treasured; it is such beautiful knitting. I admire your skill so much! Wishing you and yours a most happy and creative
    2015 xx

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  7. That is such a lovely door. And oh, that copper bakeware. I want some. Your stole is a magical piece of time when ladies wore the finest ballgowns with sparkly finery.

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  8. Lovely post, Stephanie, as always. You live in a beautiful part of the world and I am so glad you allow me to tag along when you go out and about. Happy New Year, dear Stephanie. Sending you happy thoughts and well wishes for a wonderful 2015.
    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  9. Happy New Year and thank you for including us on your magical tour! As always, I find your pictures and words enchanting! Chrissie x

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  10. Happy New Year to you and the family Stephanie. Your lace shawl is so pretty and I'm sure the recipient must have been delighted no matter when it arrived

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  11. Lovely silver knit :) I have been seduced by the silver frosts this week too and have purchased some lovely silver merino and cashmere yarn that I plan to make into a baby boat neck sweater - I haven't done any little one knitting in for ever.

    Love your magpie's eye for pictures <3 Did you notice that the branches on the low tree (is it actually a vine??) in the foreground of the picture of the empty field with canes in it, have a real look of reindeer antlers about them?!

    Happy new year lovely magpie xxx

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  12. Perfectly and poetically described dearest STEPHANIE! How happy I was to see your comment this morning, but to come to my blog roll to see you have reposted is a delight. To walk through this regal castle once again (for I was there 12 years ago), is more of a delight, being escorted by YOU.

    Sans the gaudy ornaments that may have been placed on the trees, the majesty of the old French château stands strong. Muted natural tones, ghosts of the past disguised as hoar frost and the wonder of it all make this a place to visit at any season. Thank you for all the beauty in the year, your new creations are remarkable and beautifully photographed, and I wish you a pleasant, healthy and perfect new year!

    Thank you so much for always leaving a loving comment. You are so cherished. Anita

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  13. Such magical place to visit, you captured it well my friend. Beautiful knitting, but I would expect no less from you and your talented hands. Happy New Year.
    Meredith

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  14. Gorgeous images dear Stephanie, the gardens look magical with their sprinkling of frost, I should imagine the air was fragrant and fresh.
    Your knitting is beautiful and a perfect colour for this season.
    Best wishes for 2015, may this year bless you with happiness every day.
    Dianne xoxoxo ♡

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  15. and a very very happy healthy 2015 to you, stephanie! Hoping prosperity also follows----and the home of your dreams!! Lovely lovely photos.....a little magic to start the new year is always good. (have you ever met a jared flood pattern you didn't love? I haven't!!!! This looks a bit like wooly leaves that I made last year...something about the leaf motif in knitting that just draws me in. This is a beauty.)

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  16. Happy New Year to you and your family. Thanks for the Chateau photos - love the history of that place.

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  17. What a lucky friend to be given such a beautiful gift. I loved your post Stephanie. Your writing is as magical as your photo's. You draw people in.

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  18. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! I feel happy at the idea of 2015. 2014 was fine and all, but I agree, there seems to be something...light about 2015. I wish you all kinds of happy, shiny goodness, sweet friend!

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  19. Dear Stephanie, I am awestruck by how beautiful your photos and writing are! I so enjoyed your sparkling visit to that magnificent place! I just added you to my blog list so I won't miss another of your posts. I'm going to scroll down your photos once more to savor them. Your knitted lace piece is sure to become a family heirloom. I also love the numbers in this year.. very pleasant. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  20. Dear Stephanie, Happy French New Year to you and your family and many thanks for your good wishes. I just adore these photos and the silver Jared Flood shawl too ...
    Much love
    Barbara x

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  21. What a beautiful knit! And a perfect way to start the New Year - at a beautiful Chateau, you lucky girl. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures. Happy New Year!

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  22. Beautiful photos - quite magical. Happy new year to you Stephanie. x

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  23. Lovely to hear from you again, Stephanie. You share the most gorgeous images, thoughtful words and beautiful creations.
    I had stopped blogging for about a year, discovered how I missed the creative energy that flows from person to person, and returned at the end of 2013 ~ no longer posting under my pen name (Zuzu), but my first name, Lin.
    I look forward to following you again.
    Happy, Happy New Year to you and yours!
    Lin

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  24. Thanks for visiting my blog! And about the yellow teacup...I bought a set of Lu-Ray dishes like 25 years ago. Oh how I loved them (and still do) but the yellow teacup was always my favorite, especially sitting on the blue saucer. Your blog is beautiful! I love that burlap bird and your knitting is amazing!!

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  25. Liebe Stephanie,
    das sind herrliche Bilder! Diese Farben, vor allem das Grün der Tür und der Tapete, ich liebe es!
    Nun hattet Ihr wenigstens Frost, der fast genauso schön wie Schnee ist! Hier hat es heute noch einmal kräftig geschneit, allerdings steigen jetzt schon wieder die Temperaturen, so dass es wieder nur eine kurze weiße Freude sein wird...
    Ich wünsche Dir und Deiner Familie auch alles Gute, viel Glück und Gesundheit für 2015!
    Ganz liebe Grüße, Bärbel

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  26. All that glistens in this post is beautiful!! xx

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  27. Hello! I'm paying a visit having met you over on my blog... Looking forward to reading all about you and looking at your lovely photos.
    Hope you're having a wonderful New Year.
    Sarah x

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  28. Dear Stephanie,
    Happy, happy new year to you and your charming family! Hope you'll having a wonderful year, filled with music, gardens, joy and light...
    What a precious post for the new year, all that glistens! I am very fond of Chenonceau, but have not yet visit the place wearing its Christmas clothes. Indeed a fairytale. Wintery leaves is a gorgeous pattern! I must try it some day (when I have completed my half a dozen ongoing projects:))
    Much love
    Amélie

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  29. love your knit!!! so pretty and so very January. Thank you for sharing such lovely photos that summarize why I love winter so very much.

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  30. Everything was glistening in your post today! How lovely. The knitting project, as well, is a beautiful winter delight. You do such lovely work, Stephanie. Happy New Year to you and your family.

    Karen

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  31. Dear Stephanie, How could I forget just how magical and twinkling it always is to be here !
    Wishing you and yours all the blessings of the brand new year !! And loving connecting with you on IG too ! Hugs Maria x

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  32. Oh I love your beautiful post welcoming the new year in Stephanie - I feel there is something magical bout 2015 too - it has a certain ring to it!!!
    Chenonceau Castle has a rich history - I would love to have visited when Catherine de Medici was there. Beautiful glimpses of the interior.
    I adore the bare winter landscape with snow on the ground and the crisp clear days!
    Winter leaves is an elegant pattern and your knitting is exquisite.
    Wishing that all your dreams are fulfilled in 2015 dear Stephanie.
    Shane x

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  33. What an atmospheric place. Wishing you a Happy new year Stephanie! Hope it brings many good and creative things! X

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  34. Very beautiful. I wish you and yours a happy and peaceful 2015. Let us hope it is a good year for us, our families, our countries. Nous sommes Charlie.

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  35. That's a beautiful start to the new year. Wishing you and your family all the best in 2015. Sarah x

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  36. Magical pictures indeed! And your knitting,always so beautiful dear Stephanie! May the new year bring us peace, reconciliation, solidarity, it's an important day, today...
    My sweets thoughts to you
    Olympia

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  37. What a perfect collection of photographs! I love the copper molds and I've been meaning to knit that blanket for so long now. That one is incredibly lovely...thanks for the reminder!

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  38. Dearest Stephanie,

    I hope you read my comment here; I just read your comment chez moi, and I first want to thank YOU for all the inspiration you have given to me. I TRULY ADORE YOU ALL.

    I will remain present in Blogland, just not posting. I will not delete my blog (TOO MUCH WORK WENT INTO IT!) but I must bow out of producing posts. I have to devote that time into my private poetry work.

    So many emotions ran through me yesterday, and this morning I woke up thinking, "That's it. No more." But that is not true; I will still be here when you post, and I will continue this important life-line of creativity and support.

    Wishing you the BEST MY DEAR FRIEND! Anita

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  39. Both your photos and words are so hopeful-- the perfect sentiment for the new year. Happy New Year to you. I hope it's wonderful.
    love,
    Keri

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  40. And belatedly a very Happy New Year to you and your family too dear Stephanie.

    I wonder, do you now have snow?

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  41. What a gorgeous New Year's wish, dear Stephanie...merci! Your photos are a feast for the eyes, and have brought me back to a special place I remember so well...someday I would like to see it dressed up for the holidays...gaudy gold, cute owls and all... :)
    The warmest wishes to you for a beautiful 2015! Your work is so lovely, as always....
    xoxo
    ~ Irina

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  43. This blog has a lot of friendliness and a warm welcome
    thank you very much

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  45. site bien fait !!! Merci pour ce magnifique partage !!! bonne continuation

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  47. Mille mercis pour tout.
    Tu es incroyable, mille bisous pour toi.

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    ReplyDelete

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