Thursday, April 22, 2010

Home, a break and a giveaway!

The airports were opened and I flew home on the expected flight! Something to be really grateful for... My welcome home by Ben, his mum, the boys and the pets was joined by these little birds, who have also returned to southern France! But do you recognise them? I didn't for a while when they first visited our garden - they are so unassuming. But I bet Emma from Silverpebble has identified them already...

They're nightingales! It's now warm enough to sleep with the window open (and anti-mozzie stuff in action) and from about 11.30 to midnight we can hear the male nightingale singing. It sounds uncommonly like one of those children's bird whistles which you fill with water to make a lovely, bubbling whistle. You can find out more here.
j
Now, I need to take a break from posting, as life has been good but hectic recently! I feel really out of touch with your blogs, so I'm going to spend a week visiting rather than posting. I hope I'll pop by your blog soon...
j
While I'm not posting, I'll leave a giveaway here for you! I currently have 191 friendly followers, so, choosing 191 as as good a number as any, I'll give 191 mixed buttons and 191cm of crochet lace to the winner of my giveaway. That's a lot of buttons! I'll post them anywhere in the world. Please leave a comment here, any time before 4pm French time next Friday, and then I'll draw a winner! In the meantime, I hope to visit your blogs sometime this week...
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED
I'm going to delete any non-entry comments just to give everyone a fair chance, and then I'll make the draw - best of luck, friends!

42 comments:

Unknown said...

That's fabulous! I'm so glad you were able to get a flight...

191 buttons? That is a lot! :)

Lorrie said...

Ooh, buttons and lace. Two of my favourite things. Enjoy visiting around the blogging world and getting settled back at home.

Lorrie

Serenata said...

So glad you got home safely. :-)

Now your post on these lovely birds got me thinking, I've been hearing some 'different' bird song at night and very early morning recently and didn't recognise it. Listening to a recording on You Tube, I think it may indeed have been a nightingale. I wonder if we do get them round here?

Oh and as another fiendish button collector, I'd love to enter your giveaway as well please.

Tina said...

How amazing! I've never seen a nightingale before.
191 buttons is indeed a lot of buttons!
Count me in, please? ;)
xxx

Elizabethd said...

So glad you are safely home.

Marigold Jam said...

So glad you got back as planned - what a nightmare it's been for some people. Take your time and return to us when you are fully rested - enjoy visiting as many blogs as you wish and don't feel pressured into commenting nor posting till you are ready we'll all be ready and waiting when you return.

I love buttons as you know and lace too and anything which can be used in my textile crafts is a bonus so oui s'il te plait ou oui merci!!
Jane x

VintageVicki said...

Did I hear the word buttons??

Welcome home :)

How lovely for it to be a) warm enough to sleep with the windows open & b) have nightingales help lull you to sleep.

Jen Walshaw said...

Glad you are home and safe, enjoy being back with your family. I would love the buttons and the lace. Take care floss

lesthook said...

I love the sound of nightingales! And buttons!

Lululiz said...

I am so happy to hear that you made it home safe and sound and without too much hassle in the end. I can't believe that it is so lovely and warm already where you live. We are off again to our cottage in a couple of weeks, and I am hoping that it will be lovely and warm then.

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

What a beautiful photo of the bird. I think I need to start using the bigger lens of our other camera at times. We've had a lovely Tui in our garden recently and they make a really strange noise, but it's so lovely to see him there.

Glad you have finally managed to fly home again. It must have been terrible for so many people.

Now onto that giveaway... buttons, buttons and more buttons. You sure know how to please all of us don't you?!! Please count me in, I'll find another dish just for them if I'm lucky enough to win. Enjoy catching up in Blogland!

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Hi Floss

Glad that you made it back home safely at last. You must have a lot of catching up to do at home..

Lovely bird song but I suppose not at that time of the night....I wear ear plugs at night, yes even though I live in the countryside. So that I don't hear any early morning tractor, horse riders or the dogs at the farm opposite the road. I like total darkness and total silence for a really good nights sleep ;-)

Take care
Isabelle x

P.s: I hope that your Mother is better.

Kissed by an Angel said...

Glad you got your flight home ok!! I have a friend still stranded in Portugal!!!
xxxx

Carol said...

Glad you managed to get your flight home. What a great welcome - and nightingales too - how lovely.
I'll miss your posts, come back soon.
Carol xx

Catherine said...

Glad you got home and the world was full of song!
Like the sound of buttons though! LOL! Cx

Anonymous said...

Hi Floss - it's great that your travel plans went well. Thanks so much for offering the giveaway - they would come in very making items for my swap!XX

Selfsewn said...

Welcome home!

Thanks for stopping by, I know how you can lose touch with blogs!
So much information to catch up on!

I love this time of year, all the birds are crazy.
Not ever seen a nightingale though!

Sherri B. said...

I thought of you when the news said they were cleared for flight. You deserve a break, you have been a busy lady. I would be thrilled to win your giveaway. Enjoy your break.

LissyLou said...

I like to hear bird songs...although not always at 5 in the morning when i want to still be asleep ;)

Lovely giveaway..i'd like to be entered please x

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

Glad to hear you have arrived home and what a lovely welcome from that little chap. My DD2 works at our airport and returned to work last night for the first time in a week .... one plane flew to Spain with 1 passenger and came back with 16 !! I can't understand it and to add insult to injury the staff have to use their holiday for the time off or take it unpaid. Would love to be entered in your giveaway Floss .... have a lovely weekend x

Kelly said...

So pleased you got home safely!!!
What a lovely giveaway!!!
That is a lot of buttons! Sounds like heaven!!!

Fondant Kiss said...

Im a new follower and just love your blog, I also love buttons so can I please be included in your give-away?
Best regards
Deborah

~Tonja~ said...

Hi Floss...
Glad that you are safe back home with your family...I too am kinda taking a break from
blogging we have been working on our garden and getting stuff ready for a big yard sale...
wow that is alot of buttons...please count me in your giveaway...
Have a Blessed day....
Sweet Blessings
Tonja

Joy said...

Know you are so happy to be back home and in your own bed listening to the beautful birds sing you to sleep.
Take breaks now and then. Blogging shouldn't be so consuming. I have really cut back on my post. I post once or week or less. It works for me right now. The weather is beautiful here and I want to be out enjoying it.
Do what you need to do. We'll be here.
♥ Joy

Jackie said...

Floss ~ I'm glad that you got home as planned ~ it is always lovely to get home after a trip away. What a wonderful giveaway! I'd love to be included :O) xx

harmony and rosie said...

So glad you've all been reunited, my children got their Daddy back this morning too so this weekend will be extra special I'm sure. Hope all's well with you and your parents too.

Kate x

Me and Ma said...

Hi Floss, glad you got home o.k. I don't think I have ever seen or heard a Nightingale, or maybe I have but didn't know what it was. Tyhe only birds we really hear are the wooden pigieons in the tree outside our house, but I quite like their cooing...

Pom Pom said...

Hi Floss! I'm glad you are home safe. How nice of the nightingales to welcome you.

silverpebble said...

Oh the nightingales! They reach you before they reach us - I didn't hear them till mid May last year. Funny to think of them all starting off at once and at each stopping off place some of them leaving the group and settling for the sunmmer. I don't think it really happens like that but it's nice to think of it.

Ooh, 191 buttons? I'd love a chance to win Floss. Thankyou x

Keep me up to date on the hoopoe situation!

Country Cottage Chic said...

191 buttons? Swoon!

Glad you have made it back safe & sound.

Jayne

Mise said...

That's a very original giveaway, and I'm 191% confident of winning.

Angela said...

Now I am fascinated by 191 - it is a prime, the emergency number in Greece for forest fires, and Dr Finlays Casebook and Dr Kildare both ran for 191 episodes each.
So - welcome home- and 191 blessings [and more] on you and yours!!

Jeannette said...

Welcome home Floss. Glad to read that you could get home by plane.
So the men in the house have their Floss back...they must be so happy!
Enjoy the weekend and eachother.
Big hug, Jeannette

BadPenny said...

Hi Floss - I'm catching up too. Thank you for your sweet comment. Nightingales ? How wonderful.

andrea said...

Yes. Take a break from blogging. Re-cuperate. We all need time out. Beautiful bird. Here in Australia , we have many different of birds that visit our garden , many of the parrot variety ....we were visited this morning by two Sulphur Crested Cockatoos , who like to travel in pairs and make their presence felt quite strongly with their loud 'screeching'.
Take it easy.
Andrea

Unknown said...

How wonderful to have nightingales serenading you! Thank you so much Floss for visiting me, when I realise how tired and busy you must be! Please count me in to your lovely giveaway, it a very generous and wonderful one! suzie xxx

Maisey's Attic said...

Hi Floss - so glad to see you had a good trip and you managed to get home safely. I hope your Mother is feeling better.

I would love to be entered in to your lovely giveaway -

Wishing you a good week - xxx

Ange said...

Floss, have a lovely break from blogging. I've had one myself recently as I just couldn't keep it up as well as everything else. Hey! I asked my husband last night if that beautiful birdsong I was hearing at night was a nightingale and he said no - that it was just spring! I knew I had the right hunch. It's so pretty I may just throw my window open and let myself be serendaded right now!!

Julia said...

Your right, that is a lot of buttons! How fun is that? I wonder how many I have? One, two, three...

Blessings!

www.iglitteredthecat.blogspot.com

FP Wear said...

I seem to have been away visiting family at the same time you were. How nice to get back and catch up with you ;)

191 would be a significant button collection boost. Must say something about your collection if you can spare 191 for a giveaway! Don't know if I'm still in time, but I'd love to be in the running for them.

Belated thanks for the Easter story posts.

Beck said...

Oh boy, this is my kind of giveaway!!! yay! I love to read your blog Floss, there is always something wonderful to take away, such as the image of your nightingale. How beautiful. Enjoy your week visiting blogs, another great idea. Take care beautiful xo

Thecraftytrundler said...

Great to see you back!! Congratulations on your 191 followers!! The giveaway of the buttons & lace is fantastic!! Please could I enter your giveaway?
Love the bird pics, and hope you had a great time.
Have a great weekend : )

Sharon xx

PS You are welcome to enter my giveaway.