Tongue in Cheek Current ArticlesThis feed's current articles are shown below. Subscribe for updates to all the content available in this feed, or click through here to see the original article. Someone once told me that the difference between a French and an American could be summed up like this: "If you put a French person and an American person in the middle of a dense jungle and asked them to find their way out, the French person would bend down grab some soil look at it for clues, look up to see which way the wind blew the... Read the whole entry... »
One of the many characters in the French nativity santon, hand painted over a hundred years ago. Carries two baskets from the market filled with cabbage. Some brought incenses, some brought gold, some came by with their lambs and drums; The French santons, the many characters of the village come to the Provencal nativity, 'it... Read the whole entry... »
Sacha wrote me the other day asking, "Mom do you remember the last time you held my hand when I was a child?" As we lived in an old house in the country not so far away from the village, close to a river and a forest behind us, we often walked to and fro the village and went wandering by the river that looked more like a... Read the whole entry... »
Writing a blog starts with a theme, and usually, that theme has to do with a person's interest or passion, such as food, family, crafts, politics, social awareness, style, or a knowledge regarding a certain area of expertise. Blogging is vast and takes on many subjects, some bloggers blog with a goal in mind whether for their... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- The Latest Renovation Project
- The Angel Traveled
- amazon.com/o/asin/0684847329/tongueinche04-20
- https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/LinkTracking.php?id=380801&eaid=565020&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buttecounty.net%2F&tid=AD3C558903512
 
Italy is less than two hours from our doorstep. My neighbor. Seductive enchanting Italy. I love that. Zip across the border, Italian enchantment rushes up, grabs me, Bacio qui! Limoncello in the afternoon, then back to oh la la France in the evening. 
San Remo is a lovely seaside town.... Read the whole entry... »
 
 
Setting the table has been something I enjoy doing since I was a little girl. The fork on the left, the knife to the right with its cutting part of the blade towards the plate. As I place the silverware alongside the plate, I imagine those who will sit around the table and dine. Hoping their... Read the whole entry... »
 Settling In
 2018-12-06 20:28 UTC by
French la Vie
Provence welcomed us with a blue sky, where the sun warmed our backs. We unpacked, went through our mail, I made soup while Yann went to the boulangerie he brought home two freshly out of the oven baguettes. The butter melted, dripping on to the table. Years of going back and forth have made it easier for me to know how to deal with... Read the whole entry... »
French la Vie
2018-12-05 17:22 UTC by
French la Vie
French la Vie Guided journeys in Provence, and Bretagne. French la Vie will lead you to discover France through different lenses sharing the heart and soul of Provence and/or Brittany. The French la Vie Journeys are handcrafted to each group that comes. If you like antiques we will visit markets and have personal entrance to little... Read the whole entry... »
Back Home
2018-12-05 17:00 UTC by
French la Vie
Letting the golden leaves crown the day. A different landscape awaits me far from the one that I am leaving behind. A bit colder, architecturally more pronounced yet golden leaves still crown. 
Goodbye Willows. ____ We arrived in Paris I am fighting... Read the whole entry... »
Home the deep well, unending ever rich the source of who I am and the springboard to my tomorrows. Home that comes with me wherever I go and roots me when the wind tries to cause unbalance. It is my everything, it is the threads that connect and bind me, the threads of memories, faith, family, friends, threads that my parents have woven... Read the whole entry... »
Some of Us
2018-12-04 07:45 UTC by
French la Vie
 Christmas Spirit
2018-12-02 21:17 UTC by
French la Vie
 
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in my Mother’s home! No luck with the internet today hopefully tomorrow will be a better day which Will allow me to post more photos of my Mother’s home.  - Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/LinkTracking.php?id=380812&eaid=565020&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buttecounty.net%2F&tid=AD3C558903512
- The Latest Renovation Project
- The Angel Traveled
- ...
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Oh Fun
2018-11-30 21:27 UTC by
French la Vie
 
There is a connection between people who love one another that runs deeper than time and space, a bond that unites in an unseen world that intertwines memories, moments collected unknowingly, the essences of love that cannot be defined by words. I am holding on to that invisible cord that wraps around me with my family and... Read the whole entry... »
The Space Needle
2018-11-29 07:42 UTC by
French la Vie
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2018-11-28 07:36 UTC by
French la Vie
When my children were young we had a magical, organic vegetable garden. We had tomatoes until December, green beans that made Jack-in-the-bean-stalk, look like any Tom-Dick-or-Harry and ... Read the whole entry... »
Family Affair
2018-11-27 06:55 UTC by
French la Vie
My cousin Ginny, her husband Jim, their daughter Courtney and their son in law Craig. xxxx 
Our son Sacha moved to Seattle over a year ago. He is happy and that is what matters. Though at first, I could not even think about his moving overseas without breaking into tears, then over time I would not cry but was sad and if I thought about it for too long I would become overwhelmed with emotion. Often I... Read the whole entry... »
As the last rays streamed down creating a masterpiece on the still water of the canal I was transfixed on how an ordinary canal running behind my mother's home became a work of art. The canal's dirt road, the fields in the background, the barns and sheds that dot the canal bank were transformed simply from nature's brush of... Read the whole entry... »
- https://lcmspubcontact.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/LinkTracking.php?id=380812&eaid=565020&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.buttecounty.net%2F&tid=AD3C558903512
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- La Vie in France
- The Latest Renovation Project
- The Angel Traveled
 
The helpers in the kitchen on Thanksgiving day.
Homeland outside my mom's front door. 
My mother's traditional turkey cookies. That always adorn the dinner plate. ... Read the whole entry... »
Thanks Giving
2018-11-22 21:06 UTC by
French la Vie
Home The comfort of familiarity. I am thankful for everything in that familiarity. - - - Our flight path flew over Paradise as smoke billowed and rolled into the valley, the clear sky turned ash gray. Since we have been home the stories of family, friends, and others who live in Paradise and the surrounding area... Read the whole entry... »
We are going home for Thanksgiving.  
If you are on interested in experiencing Provence from an authentic viewpoint, to explore... Read the whole entry... »
An Old Scrapbook
2018-11-20 08:51 UTC by
French la Vie
A few years ago I found this turn of the century scrapbook, there wasn't any writing, nor name in the book, instead, there were plenty of cards, chromos, and images. I sold it a month ago. 
Chromolithograph :
... Read the whole entry... »
I received an email from Assemblyman Gallagher on how to aid the victims of the #Campfire in Paradise:
Words cannot describe the pain our North State families are feeling. If you or someone you know lost a loved one or in any way has suffered as a result of the Camp Fire – I send my deepest condolences.
... Read the whole entry... »
The Holy No
2018-11-18 22:47 UTC by
French la Vie
 When I lived in a monastery, the Abbot asked who knew how to cut hair? I raised my hand, I had never cut anyone's hair in my life but being 19, in a monastery, I... Read the whole entry... »
- La Vie in France
- French Story Books for Children in English
- The Latest Renovation Project
- Doors in Paris
- The Angel Traveled
 
One of the first signs that a person is falling in love is that the person smiles constantly. I was looking back at some blog posts when I stumbled upon this post that I wrote about Chelsea when Martin (Mr. Espresso) came to Willows ten years ago. Ten years ago. Ah, one of the many good things about journaling and... Read the whole entry... »
Make a List
2018-11-16 21:39 UTC by
French la Vie
Make a list of the things that make you happy ------------------------------------------- Make a list of the things you do every day ------------------------------------------- Compare the lists ------------------------------------------ Adjust... Read the whole entry... »
The sun sends forth the last rays of light, as it pours through my kitchen window spreading across the kitchen table, the gift of light: The sun gives whether there are clouds, rain, or things in the way, then repeats the same gift the next day. Steadfast. Light for everyone and thing regardless who or where or what they are. Contently, as I... Read the whole entry... »
Not So Still Life
2018-11-14 19:13 UTC by
French la Vie
 
Last night I watched a video (linked below) called: The Birth of a Word. I was amazed and moved. Amazed that someone could imagine how to capture the birth of a word, and amazed at that implication of what that means. Imagine capturing the birth of a word?! While watching the video... Read the whole entry... »
Photo Via Facebook Tracy Englund A letter recently posted by Aaron Draper to the students at Chico State University: Aaron Draper Dear Students, Our CSU Chico President, Gayle Hutchinson, has decided that it would be best to cancel classes next week. I support this decision 100%. The air ... Read the whole entry... »
2018-11-11 22:45 UTC by
French la Vie
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
― Rumi
 - La Vie in France
- Freezing But Happy at the Brocante
- French Story Books for Children in English
- Brocante at Home
- Judging a Book by its Cover
  Paradise
2018-11-09 23:04 UTC by
French la Vie
Thank you for your messages of concern, prayers sent and love shared. My family is safe but many others are not. Friends we fear have lost their homes, and or businesses the fire is devastating as you probably have heard on the news. The photos are apocalyptic, I cannot imagine the fear many experienced and what they must face with... Read the whole entry... »
And This I Offer
2018-11-08 22:00 UTC by
French la Vie
First, political news that is unsettling and divisive, then another shooting in Southern California, and now a tremendous fire in Northern California near where my family lives. Putting my hands palm to palm, I opened them to form a cup. I pray, imagining my prayer taking form into my cupped hands. I imagine, God as love, with... Read the whole entry... »
LAY FAUX TOY Memory from 1992 "Corey, there are two...eu...eu...chairs, old ones, nice ones, I think they are nice. Someone in the office building threw them away, the chairs are outside by the garbage, should I bring them home?" My French Husband said out of breath, was there a sound of excitement in his... Read the whole entry... »
My friend's daughter Charlotte sent me the article below, Charlotte like my children grew up in France with bi-lingual/bi-cultural parents, her father is French and her mother in English. Charlotte thought I would enjoy this latest article from the BBC Travel by Emily Monaco. Hopefully, the article and photos attached well to my blog so that you... Read the whole entry... »
French Bistro, Morning: Walk straight to the counter, when the bartender looks at you, nod your head, point your pointer finger up, and at the same time mouth whisper, "Espresso please". Grab a croissant off the platter, pinch off a bit (do not bite into the croissant) and pop it into your mouth, when the espresso comes, down it in two... Read the whole entry... »
What's the Beef?
2018-11-04 21:08 UTC by
French la Vie
Flash Back 1988: Staring at the French menu, French Husband translated it for me but not word for word. He read, "Chicken no. Lamb no. Bunny certainly not. The liver of a duck...Oh, I use to love the liver of the duck... mais no." We were vegetarians in a world of meat eaters. Slim pickings' with a whole lot... Read the whole entry... »
- Delicate and Divine
- Yann's Return
- Going to India
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- A Favorite
This is our grand niece Tatianna she is fifteen years old. In 2009 I wrote this about her: The mothers gathered at the school gate wore their coats unbuttoned. I took off my scarf and stuffed it in my pocket. The Autumn day felt more... Read the whole entry... »
Yann's Return
2018-11-02 22:42 UTC by
French la Vie
Yann came home from India. I can see in his eyes that he has had a wonderful adventure, snippets of stories unfolded one moment to another as he unpacked his bag and settles back to daily life. He brought a few gifts, scarves, perfume, Safran and fewer photos that have yet to be seen. As soon as I have some of his photos I will post... Read the whole entry... »
A little girl who had short red curly hair, bobbed up and down the aisle while her Mother looked at undergarments. I was amused by her non-stop chatter and her Mother's forthright replies. When the little girl wandered-off, the Mother would question, "Where is my shadow?" The little girl would quickly return assuring her, "Here I... Read the whole entry... »
2018-10-31 22:31 UTC by
French la Vie
This evening I put two paper mache pumpkins on the window sill, though within minutes the rain had reduced them into an orange puddle. I turned on the outside light in hope that some brave Trick or Treaters might come to my door. Halloween is on the rise in France, each year it becomes more animated. This year there was a display... Read the whole entry... »
A homeless man rummaged through the garbage at the train station, he found a coffee cup that someone had thrown away he opened it to find it empty. He gently put it back in the garbage then turned around not looking at anyone he was smiling. He stood and watched the crowd seemingly entertained I assumed he... Read the whole entry... »
Painting Paris. Painting France. The vivid colors of day to day life mixed in with the fantasy and history. The stuff of dreams: Golden baguette, blue shutter, red-checked cloth, a dab of red wine, a splash of the Mediterranean and a swirl of Versailles. 
Where does your... Read the whole entry... »
I haven’t heard much from Yann. Three phone calls: One was to say he arrived and all was will, the second was while I was in the train and the connection kept cutting out, « ... I had a fall at 80km... don’t worry... great time... all ok? », and the last call was at four in the morning, «... leaving for ... ten hour train...
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- Delicate and Divine
- Autum Color
- Going to India
- A Few More
- A Favorite
 
I could barely focus due to how cold it was at the brocante in Paris this morning. It did not help that I wasn't dressed for the 20-degree drop in temperature. Before I left to go to the brocante this morning I put on nearly everything from my suitcase: Three sweaters, a down vest, a hat, two scarves plus a coat did not help... Read the whole entry... »
Faces in a Crowd
2018-10-26 21:09 UTC by
French la Vie
A friend who was staying with us told me I had too many people in my home. When I asked him to explain he said he counted 55 things (dishes, paintings, etc.) that had faces on them in one room alone. If I bought this I guess it would be considered a crowd. I am guilty of liking things with portraits on them. 
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