Damson Skies and Dragonflies : A Journey through the Seasons in the French Countryside (Life at Les Libellules Book 1)

Lindy writes beautiful descriptions of the natural world she discovers during her time helping her husband to renovate a cottage in the French countryside. She also meets some quirky characters along the way.This is a real slice of French rural life through the eyes of an English woman. An interesting read.

One of the happiest books I have ever read. Beautifully written The descriptions are wonderful. So nice to find someone who is content with what they have. Interesting contrasts between winter and summer. Loved the tales of PJ and Panda, especially the biscuit box. Fascinating to read about French customs. Loved the festival of St Jean, but hated the ants! So pleased there is a second book!

I love old houses, I love France and I love good food! This book has it all. Lindy didn’t fall into the trap of lengthy descriptions of renovation disasters, or ‘knocking’ her native UK, which happens so often in books of this genre. Instead she has embraced her life in France with her husband, Mr V, even the frequent journeys on the autoroute from their flat in Paris to Les Libellules (The Dragonflies) in the wine country. It’s more about the characters, the nature, the wildlife and the changes they encounter at each visit. Her delight at the evolving seasons and the new experiences those sights and sounds bring is infectious. And her ability to cope with the resident domestic wildlife population is to be admired . . . Read it, as I did, sitting in the garden on a sunny day with a glass at your side - and be transported to a world of Damson Skies and Dragonflies.

I've so enjoyed this book. It's well written and just quite delightful. I almost feel I know the author, husband and animals, something which rarely happens. At a time when I am grieving it has been instrumental in helping me through the dark hours. The only thing I was hoping for which didn't materialise were photos. How lovely it would have been to see the dragonflies and cats.

From the moment I turned the first page I found myself transported by Lindy to her 300-year-old Burgundian home, Les Libellules. I loved every page that followed of her memoir, which chronicles the first year of her and her husband, Mr V, lovingly restoring the house and her garden. Over the year they adapt to many challenges from insect invasions, structural struggles, and battles with extreme weather. They also adapt to the changes from their life in Paris; befriending characters from the community, caring for its wandering cats, and embracing local traditions and festivals.Lindy’s prose is very special indeed, her writing instantly draws you close as a reader and holds your attention. Her memoir is filled with rich descriptions and interjections of humour, which are contrasted alongside poignant reflections on nature and her adaptation to a life in rural France.I particularly loved the structure of her memoir too. Its quick chapters, broken down into further sections, make it easy to follow your own journey through the seasons with Lindy, leaving and returning to the book at your leisure. Other lovely touches are the hand drawn illustrations throughout, a wonderful array of recipes linked to chapters (I can’t wait to make her chocolate pots!), plus a little ‘what I learned today’ where you are invited to take a message away with you.I highly recommend this memoir for lovers of France, nature, culture and cookery. But beyond the many themes, I would recommend for anyone who is in need of their own escape. Allow the magic of Les Libellules to, as she did Lindy, put you under her spell.

In this memoir, the author invites the reader into her enchanting world of discovery. She and her husband, Mr V, view a gracious old cottage. Despite being tired, it possesses that special je ne sais quoi. Inexplicably drawn to its soul, they embark on a project to restore life and love into its walls and garden.During this captivating journey, Lindy learns. She learns about her surroundings, the colourful characters who become their friends, the creatures that share their home, but mostly she learns about nature and the joys of living in harmony with the seasons.The author’s style is delightfully lyrical. I found myself willingly drawn into Lindy’s life through her evocative descriptions. The fun situations, new experiences, feelings and encounters are expressed with a gentle, poetic intimacy. She also delights with her culinary skills and heavenly recipes.Having accepted Lindy’s invitation, I found her alluring world incredibly appealing. For me, this was a wholly intoxicating read. I can’t wait for the sequel.

From the moment I read how Les Libs first captured the heart of Lindy and Mr. V to the final “A bientot “ of Book 1 I fell completely under the spell of this magical book and lived the journey through the writers words.Beautiful in its descriptions of the sights sounds and smells of the Burgundian countryside Lindy also provides the reader with snippets of history, cultural observation, nature , wildlife and local culinary delights … and shares some lovely recipes along the way.Her witty observations and stories of her friends and neighbours within her community who have been part of this journey are so real the reader feels they almost know them and can share some time with them .So pour yourself a nice glass of Burgundy and open this book : Find yourself transported to the Damson Skies … lost like Lindy in this magical place