The First Day of May

Muguet or Lily-of-the-Valley

It wouldn't be May without these sweet scented tiny white bells.

It's a tradition in France and here in Switzerland,

as well as some other European countries

to offer a small bouquet of Muguet on the first of May.

I even have an embroidered tablecloth with these tiny flowers

and it always adorns my small round table during the whole of this month!

It all fits together so well.

A May Day tradition dating back to 1561. The first of May in France is a holiday

to celebrate Labour Day.

It carries an even older tradition.

Today families all around France get up early in the morning and go into the woods

to pick the flowers and offer the little bouquets

to loved ones and friends.

Since I live in the town, it's not easy to go into the woods to hunt these flowers.

Luckily all the florists here sell pretty bouquets

wrapped in a decorated paper

and with the inscription:

'Je porte bonheur'

(I bring good luck)

I hope the Muguet in my blog entry today will bring you good luck too!

If you would like to read a story about Lily of the Valley, click on the link below:

Hollyhocks and Honey-Coloured Houses

***

Something spring-like and colourful on my crochet hook 

is making me happy.

Little Daisy Granny Squares.

They are quite irresistible to make.

I wonder what they will become?

Here is the lovely pattern

A May Birthday

I've always loved having my birthday in the month of May

It's in the springtime which is my favourite time of the year.

Rituals are created

and the main one consists of having breakfast out!

If the weather is warm and sunny, an outside terrace down by the lake

is the very best place to be!

A basket of assorted breads and croissants,

a freshly squeezed juice and a good coffee.

If a pretty birthday card is presented, it is put on show like this one.

Here is my favourite birthday breakfast outside terrace under white parasols.

It's at the Hôtel d'Angleterre.

After a leisurely breakfast,

a long walk along the lake in Ouchy

admiring water reflections on the way.

The weather-vane shows that a light north-easterly wind is blowing

and that's just perfect to keep the clouds at bay and the weather fine.

A beautiful steam-boat glides by on tranquil waters.

I laughed to see the formation of fluffy white clouds

 as if they were escaping from the boat's chimney!

We walk past sandy beaches and see the outline of the mountains

on the French side of the lake.

Just the right amount of breeze for this little sailing boat.

The furthermost tip of the coastline is where we're going to have lunch

in the village of St-Sulpice.

The walk from Lausanne takes about two hours at a leisurely pace.

This is the view from above the village

before taking a bus and metro back home again.

A special birthday cake that was waiting for me:

Chocolate Truffle with fresh raspberries within the mousse-like filling!

It wouldn't be the month of May without my favourite flowers:

Lily of the Valley

Hydrangeas

and  gorgeous peonies.

If your birthday is also in the month of May

perhaps you love these flowers too.

If not, I'm sure you have favourite things from your month of birth!