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The Cassis Home is in a building from the 1900s in the center of Cassis, but the stone walls date further back, possibly the building was two dwellings that merged into one. Part of the interesting discoveries made when renovating an old place comes from underneath the layers of previous renovations. Point in question is when we... Read the whole entry... »
Late in the afternoon, I said goodbye to Chelsea to catch the TGV back to Provence. As the train traveled through the countryside with the scenery flashing by accentuated with the setting sun my memories of Chelsea as a baby came to mind. Sweet Chelsea. My first born. My ten-pound baby. My little girl now becoming a mother.... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- amazon.com/o/asin/1888387556/tongueinche04-20
- amazon.com/o/asin/0451525426/tongueinche04-20
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  The Baby Bump
 2019-01-19 21:28 UTC by
French la Vie
The Baby Bump. Chelsea is four months along. Nearly at the halfway mark. She never has felt sick, a bit sleepy, but other than that she feels good. Next month they will know the gender. The baby is due around June 15th. Of course, I am going to have a guessing game later on. Chelsea dreamed that she was having... Read the whole entry... »
 If I took every quilt I have ever seen from the French brocantes and laid them out they would cover France from head to toe. Can you imagine how beautiful that would look from up above? The women and maybe a few men who over the hundreds of years have created a national treasure with their handiwork,... Read the whole entry... »
Becoming French
2019-01-17 19:39 UTC by
French la Vie
 (Photo French Flag found on Pinterest no link was available)
I did it! Nearly, eighteen months ago I applied for my French citizenship. Yesterday, in Nice, I had an interview with the immigration authorities. I was anxious that I might not answer something correctly and be told I wasn't accepted. To be safe I read... Read the whole entry... »
Blogging Detail
2019-01-16 22:59 UTC by
French la Vie
Hi! Some of you have mentioned that you are having problems seeing my blog, or having trouble leaving a comment can you please respond to the follow: For the readers still having commenting issues, could you have them That way we can work with them directly. ... Read the whole entry... »
Guess what I got?  
Usually, after going around a brocante several tours I start to look at smalls. They never disappoint with their purpose, meaning and evident stories worn proudly for everyone to see. Honor medals are easy to find, usually given by an organization, the city or country. This one with a young girl playing music to a dear was from... Read the whole entry... »
Chelsea is four months pregnant. Not showing just thick around the waist. Chelsea feels great and has not been ill a single day, lucky Pup. They hope to find out the sex of the baby next month. Shortly after she was pregnant, and when I say shortly after, I mean probably the day she was pregnant though they did not know that... Read the whole entry... »
At the brocante where objects have a way of finding me an early 18OOs collection of, One Thousand and One Nights,' seduced me by the royal blue book-jackets with gilded lettering. Gently opening them perfectly intact engravings, and words that evoke mystery. "Prince of True Believers, what-so thou want-est, Hundred golden pieces,... Read the whole entry... »
- amazon.com/o/asin/1888387556/tongueinche04-20
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
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If I did not have such a great team to work with I would never agree to step in and project manage such an undertaken of Cassis Home. Plus if Ching and Gary were not good friends of mine and if they weren't one hundred percent behind every decision I make I would never be doing this. But since the "Team" is behind me and creativity is... Read the whole entry... »
 The small details of how we live our lives measure large. Isn't it true that we can have a feeling about a person in how they shake your hand or look into your eye? Wouldn't you agree that... Read the whole entry... »
Recently, I found several French postcards in souvenir booklet from the 1900s. What caught my eye was that the cards were in series, extra charming, depicting the language of love in unusual ways such as the language of love in stamps. Depending on how one would stamp an envelope for example if the stamp was upside down it meant, "Believe... Read the whole entry... »
Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. ... Read the whole entry... »
2019-01-09 14:00 UTC by
French la Vie
Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. ... Read the whole entry... »
A glorious winter morning, crisp clear, sunny we did not need a coat while sitting at an outdoor cafe along the port with a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice and a croissant. A Wannabe Friend came along with soulful eyes that spoke gently without saying a word. I smirked, not in a mean way, but as to say, "Out of all the people... Read the whole entry... »
Wet seaweed full of sand I gathered up, admiring the texture and subtle colors, remembering as a child how I could hardly stand to look at it, let alone touch it. With seaweed in... Read the whole entry... »
I bought a baby basket bed for the baby who is loved beyond measure. Years ago I sold a napkin ring with bebe engraved on it which means "Baby" in English, yeah now I want to find one of those, plus a charm like the one I sold above as well. I guess you could say I have baby brocante on my mind... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b7c712baf3970b-pi
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At the beginning of renovating this apartment, we were faced with the same issues that we had when we renovated ours in Cassis. The apartment is on a few levels, There isn't a yard or garage to store or work on things, The apartment needed to be gutted which makes the renovation more like creating a new home within existing walls. ... Read the whole entry... »
My friends Ching and Gary bought a place in Cassis and asked me if I would help them design it into a place of their own. I have worked on a few renovations for Yann and I but never for someone else. As much as I love creating spaces, design and the challenges of renovating an old place I was afraid of mixing work with friendship. After... Read the whole entry... »
Just in case you are wondering what I have been up to ... My friend Ching and Gary bought an apartment in Cassis they hired Golden Hands Rene to do the renovations and asked me if I would guide them with the numerous decisions they need to make. The first part of renovating is removing that which is not needed or wanted. When... Read the whole entry... »
Your Theme Words
2019-01-02 17:33 UTC by
French la Vie
Words to set our sails, to help us find our way to aim for in our day to day lives. "Intentional is my word for this year. I want to live my life intentionally instead of fumbling through it from one crisis to the next. I want to live, love and be loved intentionally s ... Read the whole entry... »
Happiest New Year! A few years back Chelsea asked us to pick a word that would be our theme word for the new year. Last year I picked the word "celebrate" as it was going to be a year of many happy moments, Yann and I celebrated thirty years of marriage, I turned sixty, we went on a family cruise with Yann's family, my nieces... Read the whole entry... »
New Year's Eve
2018-12-31 21:19 UTC by
French la Vie
The first day of the new year, what will it hold? Where will it take us, lead us? Where will our hearts be next year?
As the day unfolds reflection finds me, asking me what, where, who, why, does it do the same to you? New Year what will you ask of me? Where will my path take me? And a grandbaby! What are your... Read the whole entry... »
 - Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e20105369124c4970b-popup
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A friend has a tattoo on her forearm that reads: "This is exactly the poem I want to write." Which translated to me as, "This is exactly the life I want to live." Though I think it comes from a poem from Mary Oliver "White Heron Rises Over Blackwater" which stirred my thoughts. Lucky to even think about how I... Read the whole entry... »
I found a locket at the brocante with a photo of two children sitting next to each other. The little boy has a ruffled collared shirt and cuffs, his vest and shorts are in velvet. When Sacha was little I use to dress him like that, ruffles, velvet, in sweet antique baby things. Many people would... Read the whole entry... »
Just when I was making progress to be around dogs, I nearly was attacked by a Great Dane yesterday while taking out the garbage. Our neighbor, an elderly man, was out walking his dog (which is as big as a pony) he had a chain type of leash. I greeted him by saying, "Hi George, I am not going to cross the street to give you a kiss (We... Read the whole entry... »
Around my Home
2018-12-26 13:28 UTC by
French la Vie
Merry Christmas! I am so lucky to have the gift of your friendship! I hope today is a happy day filled with knowing you are loved.  
This Christmas as Sacha will be with our friends Judy and Bill in Portland, and Chelsea and Martin will be in Mexico celebrating their Honeymoon, as well as the marriage of Martin's brother. Yann and I will be celebrating Christmas with friends at their home. In January Sacha will be coming to France, so we will delay our Christmas... Read the whole entry... »
... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- rixarixa.blogspot.com/2007/12/2006-us-cesarean-rate.html
- willows95988.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/20/img_4487.jpg
- www.erbolario.co.uk
- The Latest Renovation Project
 
The history of my family started back before any of us were born, back before history was recorded, before ink and pen, somewhere amongst a woman's arms and a man's kiss, somewhere in the middle of a heart and soul. My father's and my mother's parents came from the Azores, the islands off of Portugal.
... Read the whole entry... »
Photo: Chelsea 18 months old. In the beginning, when I was pregnant with Chelsea, French Husband was jealous. He wanted to be the one pregnant. He wanted to be the one growing a baby inside. To appease his wishful thinking I let him tell me five things he would do if he were pregnant and that I would do those things for... Read the whole entry... »
Today is more than celebrating Chelsea's 29th birthday. A month ago... 
I found out the secret while Yann was in India, but I was sworn to secrecy which is not a strong point of mine. Holding on to such a massive golden tidbit was a challenge, I wanted to shout from the highest mountain top and dance... Read the whole entry... »
On the eve of anything wonderful, it is hard to count the waiting hours. Tomorrow I can finally reveal my long-held secret. I am terrible at secrets, actually pitiful, it is a miracle that I have kept it this long. so I cannot blow it now. TOMORROW come fast! I am closing the comments because of no guessing, or... Read the whole entry... »
The other day I found a book if you could call it that, with its pages barely hanging on, I asked the dealer how much? French Husband looked at the book, looked at me, looked at the dealer and shrugged. He doesn't get the attraction to things on their last leg. He doesn't understand that kind of reckless beauty.
... Read the whole entry... »
Patricia had a home in Paradise as well as an art studio. I met Patricia years ago when she was traveling in the south of France, she had read my blog and contacted me. I felt like a neighbor had come to visit considering Paradise near my hometown in California. Patricia lost everything in the fire. Recently, a photographer... Read the whole entry... »
A blue ribbon with hand painted flowers one of many in a trunk at the brocante. What is it about lace, ribbons, bows... feminine fluff? Why do these trunks, and there are many, make me stop and look? Given that I can't stand to cut into old textiles, I usually go home and add the feminine fluff to a basket. Oh, those darn heavy... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- www.erbolario.co.uk
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e2017ee6271716970d-pi
- The Latest Renovation Project
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d1e49714970c-pi
  
The Scene: Two women walking around a very shabby and not so chic brocante in France. Characters: Susan: An American woman who speaks some French, loves the brocante, knows what she likes and is happy to be brocanting in France. Enjoying the scenery-- but focused. Corey: American woman who lives... Read the whole entry... »
Love something new every day, that sure beats, "Do something that scares you every day. I suppose for some, loving is scary. At the brocante last weekend I saw a box full of 1700 documents. It would extra easy if the saying went, "Love the brocante or something old every day," and yet at the same time that would... Read the whole entry... »
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... »
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