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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
Tongue in Cheek
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
Tongue in Cheek
 
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
Tongue in Cheek
“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
Tongue in Cheek
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
Tongue in Cheek
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
Tongue in Cheek
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
Tongue in Cheek
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
Tongue in Cheek
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...
Read the whole entry... »
- 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
Tongue in Cheek
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. 
La Vie in France
2018-10-25 21:05 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
Before arriving in Paris Lizzie, Laurie and I had a private brocante at an antique dealer's home in Provence, and if that wasn't the cherry on top of the delicious cake of a time we were having the antique dealer served us lunch. We had a tomato olive tart that I asked for the recipe and will have to... Read the whole entry... »
Wow, what great guesses you gave! You never cease to amaze me with your creative responses. I especially liked Kathy B's about it being for plunking an elephant's eyebrows. Not that anyone would do that, but to think that the guessing game item might be made for that unimaginable task me laugh out loud. Elephant's hair... Read the whole entry... »
French Antique Guessing Game What is it?
An iron like tong with a long cord attached.
Every now and then I come across an antique at the brocante that I do not know what it is. Do you know what it is, what it was used for? If so write... Read the whole entry... »
Before Yann left for two weeks in India, I asked him to send some photos back. Well, he did and without text. Some are easy to figure out, others well, you will see below. I spoke with Yann yesterday he said, "India is AMAZING. It is incredibly... Read the whole entry... »
My brothers Mark, Marty, and Zane and my mom and me.
Oh did we dance! And dance.
- Going to India
- A Few More
- Judging a Book by its Cover
- A Favorite
- www.frenchlavie.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e2022ad3732cf5200c-pi
 Delicate and Divine
2018-10-20 21:17 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
 Keeping Me Company
2018-10-19 21:15 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
Laurie and Lizzie who I met through blogging came to stay with me while Yann is touring India. This morning when I went into the kitchen I noticed we were all wearing black and white striped shirts, we are a team! We went to the Lourmarin market today, a beautiful market with a castle as the backdrop. While there I ran into... Read the whole entry... »
Autum Color
2018-10-18 21:23 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
 A Few More
2018-10-17 20:20 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
 Note: Recently we received the wedding photos from the photographer Sophie Epton. I will be sharing a few throughout the weeks to come. These were taken at the reception by the chateau ruin. 
Going to India
2018-10-16 21:10 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
Several months ago Yann heard about a group that offered motorcycle tours but not just motorcycle tours, Yann rides a motorcycle nearly every day, rain, hail, snow, in the evening, in the summer, in a suit, in jeans, always equipped and I trust him completely, but tours on vintage motorcycles truly off the beaten... Read the whole entry... »
A Favorite
2018-10-15 21:50 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
After the wedding and before the reception outside in front of the church I asked Sophie the photographer to take this photo of us. This facade is right next to the church. I asked the owners who were sitting on their kitchen chairs (to Yann's right) if we could take a photo by their house, they agreed then I quickly told Chelsea,... Read the whole entry... »
Books at the brocante are as plentiful as going to the library, the only difference is it outside, noisy, and you never need to return them. Books on every subject exist at the brocante: fashion, religion, history, dramas, dictionaries, and from current authors to authors whose names speak volumes: Voltaire, Racine, Proust,... Read the whole entry... »
Happy Birthday Mom
2018-10-13 14:56 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
Happy Birthday, Mom and many more! If you are in Willows please drop by and say hi to my mom. This morning when I called her she said she made cream puffs... "...that way I have goodies if anyone comes over to wish me a happy birthday." That is one of the many qualities that I love about my mom she is always thinking of... Read the whole entry... »
Brocante at Home
2018-10-12 21:39 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
My friend Valorie brought a group of American women over to my home for a private brocante. I told them everything in my house was for sale, and as a reference, I added, "... instead of saying I do not want to sell that, or that isn't for sale I will just announce a crazy price like 10,000... Read the whole entry... »
Pumpkin Idea
2018-10-11 21:12 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
 Together
2018-10-10 07:35 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
'Love is the whole thing. We are only the pieces.' Rumi  
Chelsea and Sacha a year ago, right before Sacha left for Seattle. A blog reader of mine asked me about French gifts for her grandson who is four years old. I thought I would add my list of gift ideas (books) for children here on my blog. With that said my mother would suggest that the best gift to give is the... Read the whole entry... »
 Stories collected, memories gathered thoughts that keep me going on dark days. The patterns in the sky, the unfolding of hearts, life in the monastery and how I learned to pray while cooking. Stories... Read the whole entry... »
Chestnut Soup
2018-10-07 21:15 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
 Chestnut Soup In a large heavy soup pan, saute a chopped large onion, three tall thin carrots, and the heart of the celery with their tender tops with a tad of oil or butter. Toss in 30 or so *cooked chestnuts, stir around... Read the whole entry... »
Some of my favorite photos from my friends Jean and Natalie's antique shop in Lourmarin, a must see. Happy Birthday, Natalie!
 If you are in Provence and would like to come by my home please let me know. Thank you, Judy, for your visit this week I enjoyed meeting you and your... Read the whole entry... »
How to Fake French
2018-10-05 20:03 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
How to Fake French. The clip has four steps on how to fake French, No. # 2 is especially true. Did I ever tell you about the time I had an entire conversation with a French saleswoman by making sounds similar to step NO. # 2. Well, I did, and in the end, I bought a blouse from her shop.  ...Read the whole entry... »
 
After climbing to the third floor you arrive at Gary and Ching's apartment. The landing or entrance is small and dark, it is behind the bathroom wall. Today was the demolition day, and the bathroom was the first room Rene smashed up to itty bitty pieces that need to be hauled down three stories by foot. Just... Read the whole entry... »
After renovating numerous homes that Yann and I own, I have been asked to manage my friends Ching and Gary's home that they recently bought in Cassis, a stone throw (or should I say seashell?) from our place in Cassis. The apartment is in the center of Cassis, on the main street with one of the most... Read the whole entry... »
The Ripple Effect
2018-10-01 17:30 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
Casting our pebble is a daily choice. We might not be able to save the world or help those in need in another country or place. But we can love and encourage each other every day where we are. The rippling effect. A small do-able gesture that has an impact and sends forth a message of love. 
Reading about Joan of Arc, such courage and faith she had in what she believed was right and her duty. As she was burned at the stake she said, « Hold thé cross high so I may see it through the flames » Damn that was one very brave woman. I do not have that sort of courage, but I admire those who do. In her words:
... Read the whole entry... »
Doors in Paris
2018-09-29 08:04 UTC by
Tongue in Cheek
A few doorways in Paris. above photo via Yann. 
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