early this morning in our valley

by Sharon Santoni
Up and about early this morning, another thick frost on the ground, I took my camera with me.  All along our valley there are small stone built villages, each with a church.   Many villages have a small château somewhere central  and they all have an old ‘lavoir’ or communal washing stand on the river, where the women used to take their laundry.
Of course we have the new builds as well, and they are not always a happy match to the beautiful old stone work, but this morning I could only see the beautiful.

I just love all these tones of winter grey, summer will seem brash after this subtle season.  The slight mist in the air, the lack of leaves on the trees, and this additional frost, makes the countryside look as if viewed in soft focus.

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Hope your week is going well
Thank you for stopping by!

41 comments

Malou January 17, 2012 - 11:12 am

Gorgeous! stunning pics as always I love how your header offers the rhythms of the seasons ~ your house is a dream come true lucky girl

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The Cloth Shed January 17, 2012 - 11:33 am

Beautiful pictures…
My favourite has to be the bollards and chains with the topiary balls leading me down the lane….could only be in France!
Julie x

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oldthings January 17, 2012 - 11:40 am

Thank you for this wonderful travelling !!Have a nice week !
Olympia

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The enchanted home January 17, 2012 - 12:05 pm

Your pictures have the ability to take me to another place, just amazing. I feel calmer having looked at them. Thanks, I needed that to start my day:)

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Elizabeth Eiffel January 17, 2012 - 12:33 pm

Your little corner of France is enchanting. No wonder you put your roots down there!
Warm regards.

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Blondie's Journal January 17, 2012 - 1:53 pm

Your photos are absolutely beautiful, Sharon!

XO,
Jane

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jean jacques mutz January 17, 2012 - 2:16 pm

Quant les images parlent elles nous font rêver, comme ci, l'on se promène accompagné. JJM

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NotesFromAbroad January 17, 2012 - 2:26 pm

This proves that We are never content with what we have/where we are …. I want to be there right now 🙂

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HRH The Duchess of State January 17, 2012 - 2:49 pm

Oh so picturesque dahhling! So FAB of you to share.

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Lilla Kråkslottet/ Angelica January 17, 2012 - 2:51 pm

Lovely pictures!!!!

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Katherine January 17, 2012 - 3:03 pm

One could never be bored with such beauty. I love that you share it with all of us {and interesting details about the buildings and land}.

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Jenny at Red House January 17, 2012 - 3:04 pm

How delightful! jennyx

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Jenny Schouten Short January 17, 2012 - 3:15 pm

These are gorgeous photos. I'd love to be back in Europe but it is too cold. I'll just enjoy it from your point of view. xo Jenny

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Haus Elfengarten January 17, 2012 - 3:29 pm

What wunderful pictures of your surroundings. I will come back to your blog soon!
Greetings to France!
Christine

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Jalon Burton January 17, 2012 - 4:19 pm

Gorgeous! You are very talented. The photos scream the silence that the frost brings with it. I could sit and look at these all day and daydream of staring out a window to that view.
Thank you so much for shaing!

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I Dream Of January 17, 2012 - 4:20 pm

Sharon, thanks for sharing the beauty of your valley with us. It's breathtaking. I'm going to try to bring some of the peace your photos convey along with me today. Merci, merci!

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hostess of the humble bungalow January 17, 2012 - 4:37 pm

Your countryside is so photogenic!
There's a real sense of history in those old structures.
I'm glad that you took your camera on your morning walk.

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Catherine January 17, 2012 - 5:27 pm

Thank you for these beautiful photos of your valley! What a lovely place to live.

I see a half timbered building in the distance. Oooh I do wish you would show us some of those houses that Normandy is so famous for.

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deb mills January 17, 2012 - 5:43 pm

it must be wonderful living in a country where almost every sight you see outside your door is a photo op. i so enjoy my frequent trips to france through your eyes. love your beautiful blog.

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Thyra January 17, 2012 - 5:52 pm

Very beautiful photos. Thank you.

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Teacup-In-The-Garden January 17, 2012 - 6:17 pm

Wonderful photos!!!
Markus

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Cottage 1945 January 17, 2012 - 6:23 pm

Beautiful photos. You live in such an idyllic setting.

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Roberta January 17, 2012 - 6:48 pm

These places are so beautiful and serene with a spiritual quality about them. Thanks for sharing this beauty with us.
xoRoberta

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Marjon January 17, 2012 - 7:06 pm

WOW These are wonderful Pictures….greetz Marjon

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Erna January 17, 2012 - 8:46 pm

It's such a beautiful and peaceful area…
Erna xx

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kerrie of sea cottage January 17, 2012 - 9:33 pm

I think I like your home and village in winter best! I know I definetly like your winter blog banner best!!! The greys are so beautiful to me…the frost and the calm they all evoke. Thank you for sharing your land with us.

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Tanya @ Lovely Greens January 17, 2012 - 9:35 pm

Your shots looks straight out of a period film…just beautiful.

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Diane James Home January 17, 2012 - 11:25 pm

Such beautiful photos, Sharon – I'm getting lost in your countryside (and not getting any work done!). We woke to an inch of slush on the ground – our first this season – and not nearly as pretty as frost.

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la Brocanteuse January 18, 2012 - 12:03 am

beautifull Sharon! Colx

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Mary January 18, 2012 - 1:45 am

Your photos are exquisite! I, too, love the winter grays and whites. (And sometimes, silver!) 🙂 And we sure have enough gray here in the Pacific Northwest US! Good thing i like it.

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De tout, de rien January 18, 2012 - 2:49 am

Beautiful! Any of these photos could inspire gorgeous paintings.

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Betsy January 18, 2012 - 3:44 am

What gorgeous photos! I love the grey tones and the frost just adds to the beauty!

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Heaven's Walk January 18, 2012 - 3:59 am

Your photos are incredibly ethereal and and dreamy…I felt like I just took a mini French vacation. 🙂

xoxo laurie

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Carol January 18, 2012 - 5:06 am

Sharon, your photos are so beautiful. How peaceful it all looks.

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Laura @ 52 FLEA January 18, 2012 - 5:35 am

Not sure which photo I liked best…but they all made me feel as if I was taking a walk with you. Thanks so much for this early morning tour…:)

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Carmen Wunsch de Alvarenga January 18, 2012 - 1:17 pm

So beautiful pictures …
Thank you !
Carmen

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heather @ new house, new home, new life January 18, 2012 - 1:30 pm

stunning. How could you not take a camera with you everywhere you got in France?

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Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita January 18, 2012 - 6:14 pm

how beautiful! thank you for sharing this with us

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Looking Glass January 19, 2012 - 6:08 am

So unbelievably beautiful!

~ Clare x

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Shabby chic and co January 20, 2012 - 6:54 pm

Une magnifique maison française !! C'est vrai j'avoue être sous le charme !! Merci pour ce partage.

En Normandie il pleut beaucoup !!!!

A beautiful French house! It's true I confess to being in love! Thank you for sharing.

In Normandy it rains a lot!!

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Dee March 18, 2012 - 11:03 pm

If I could travel through France, all I would do is sketch! And eat and drink wine of course. 🙂

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