Looking back at my Birthday in Lods, France. ( August 2013)

 I have learnt to believe in two things in life; firstly that time heals wounds, and secondly, that dreams can and do come true. This little French escape is proof of these facts.

Our last morning of shopping in Paris before going 'home'to Lods. E. Dehillerin, le specialiste du materiel de cuisine.

My life-long friend, Tina who I grew up with in Plumstead, Cape Town, has been living in Europe since her family emigrated to Germany in 1977 when we were still both young teenagers!

Our cruise on Lake Geneva with CGN took us from Lausanne to Chateau de Chillon.

Life has thrown us both demanding challenges, but we have never given up and have always remained true to each other..........I have had the pleasure of visiting Tina in both Germany and Switzerland before.This trip, was however extra special as I celebrated my birthday with Tina and her family. We had time to discover the magic of Paris together and for me to discover the delights of living in the Franche-Comte region.

Arc de Triomph in the late afternoon, such lovely soft light.

Franche-Comte is a paradise of natural and authentic pleasures.Spruce forests and Oak groves, breathtaking cascades, lakes and rivers. This region is now the most wooded region in France. 

Bright and cheerful. There are colourful explosions of flowers  everywhere.

Dramatic cloud formations are forever entertaining....... en route home to Lods, Franche-Comte.

Above, the mustard coloured house was my home for two weeks. Yes,Tina  made it all happen!
My time spent exploring the Franche-Comte region was fascinating. Lods is truly a spectacular and peaceful place to live.

 This perfect, postcard view is what artists come to Lods for......to paint this tranquil town. With the calming effects of the river, beautiful scenery, ever changing atmosphere throughout the day, this town has a lot to offer.

Water is everywhere, with more than 5,500 km of rivers and 80 lakes, the waterways are both peaceful and foaming......
The rivers rush down the mountains and shape the land are spectacular from source to the moment they erupt to carve themselves a course made of breathtaking cascades and steep gorges.
This is the reason for the  many water-based recreational activities such as canoeing and fishing. 
 

 Over the years, the Franche-Comte has become a favourite among the mountain-bike enthusiasts. A continuous and safe 187 km route exists for cyclists from Nantes to Budapest offering splendid natural landscapes.

Franche-Comte is an unusual, disconcerting and amazing region.
It is at its best when you do not expect it.......and I did not expect to be captured by its magic! 

The architecture and design is traditional and historical......I could not stop myself from taking photo's of the old houses and beautiful window boxes everywhere. I will dedicate a blog to hanging baskets and window boxes! Each town has an explosion of colour from these bright, lush vertical gardens, hanging baskets and window boxes...... I cannot wait to create some here at home. 

There is always a reason to stop and take a photograph!

A view of Ornans from the bridge.  Colourful planters brighten up this town en masse.

Spectacular, is all I need say!

The magic of Lods.

Lods, a beautiful, historical old town. One of the most beautiful villages in France.

The view of the mountain from our balcony looked pink in the evening light. An absolutely spectacular sight. Our own Table Mountain in Lods!

The reason for my adventure, my birthday! With Tina's marble cake and Otilia's cards, I started my day on a high note!

We spent the morning enjoying the beauty of Ornans on the Loue River. Note the chateau on the mountain in the distance. Just imagine living with this culture every day.......just magical!

In the valley, the Loue River is part of the heritage of Ornans and the everyday life of its inhabitants.

Bright and beautiful, colour everywhere........

Back home in Lods.....this photo shows the steep road we had to negotiate! Best of all, how beautiful are the bright colourful planters which Tina won a prize for maintaining? 

And so to the rest of my birthday present..... A cookery session with Tina's friend, Manu.

Macarons in the making...... a tricky process!

The famous cheese from this region, Morbier.

Manu at work on the Creme Brulee au Savagnin et aux noix caramelisees. That is Creme Brulee with roasted walnuts....really different!

My best surprise of the day.....a gift from Annetta.....time to start sketching!

A surprise visit from Tina's neighbour, Annetta, an artist from up the road. Her gift to me was the best surprise of the day....how special little gifts can be?

The end result...... Creme Brulee au Savagnin et aux noix caramelisees.

Cheers! To a wonderful birthday celebration. Thank you Tina, Osvaldo, Manu and Otilia.

A little reminder of Tina's Mom....... always a little posy of flowers on the table. I think we both adhere to this display on a regular basis. Thank you Tante Helga.

Well, this was an extra special birthday to remember. So special to have spent time with my life-long friend, Tina and to have had time to discover and appreciate the delights of living in the Franche-Comte region...... until I return .......I will keep on dreaming of this magnificent valley.
Thanks to you dear Tina, my dream came true!