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. 
There is something about a baby... their baby smell, their little hands, their plump ruby lips, pinchable cheeks, silk ribbon tied wrists, their little bald heads... Babies I am sorry to say I could swallow them whole like a lump of sugar. Oh, and when they coo. When they smile in their... Read the whole entry... »
 SuperHero
 2019-05-19 20:41 UTC by
French la Vie
While sourcing furniture at Isle sur la Sorgue for our friends Gary and Ching for their new home in Cassis we ran into Superman. French Husband or Superman who is the real hero? I am going to say French Husband because I know it is true for me. Even if today at lunch when he ordered strawberry cheesecake a delicious one at that... Read the whole entry... »
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d10998e6970c-pi
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- The Eve of a New Beginning
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d10999ff970c-pi
- The Broken Cup
 Loved Child
2019-05-18 21:24 UTC by
French la Vie
I am already in love. We all are. To love without knowing. A baby. A Grandchild that is already deeply loved.
Martin's parents are first-time grandparents as well, they are in love already too. Giddy. Martin's mother knitted baby clothes, darling ones at that. She asked if I knew how to... Read the whole entry... »
The Last Lilacs
2019-05-17 21:57 UTC by
French la Vie
Walking around the countryside as Spring unfolds has allowed me to see nature's secrets. The barren branches, the buds bursting, the petals unfolding... I now know where the flowers bloom wildly, and where I can pick from the unattended fig and cherry trees. Yesterday I went to pick some lilacs.
... Read the whole entry... »
Chelsea came home for a few days as she is on maternity leave. There is something surreal to see my daughter full and ripe with a baby in her womb. I have felt the baby move, watched her belly roll around, have witnessed the glow of love in her eyes and yet a baby is hard to imagine, a living person, a reincarnation of family... Read the whole entry... »
Antiquing or the Brocante Bug as I have called it has been in my blood since I was a girl. The first thing I ever bought was a brown glass ink bottle, a small bone hand mirror, and a blue beaded 1920s clutch was when I was twelve years old with my own babysitting money. I left them in the States when I moved to France. At first romantic... Read the whole entry... »
My friend Jennifer came to help me with the two back to back French la Vie Journeys that I led. She was Godsent. A ball of energy. Funny no really funny. Swore like a truck driver or better yet worse than me. Drove like a French person which is a big plus, and I could go on an on with singing no shouting her praise. I forgot how much... Read the whole entry... »
Soon Chelsea will be a mother and Martin a father. Their baby is loved. Do you want to play a game?
Guess: The birth date? The sex of the baby? The name? The weight? Will the baby have a lot of hair or not. Chelsea was born after her due date: December 20th, 1989 ... Read the whole entry... »
Next year my daughter Chelsea will be celebrating Mother's Day differently as her baby will be in her arms. I will be a grandmother, and my mother a great grandmother. The wonder of giving birth, bring life, loving another, helping and watching a baby become their own person, it is an utter miracle, a masterpiece, a workout, a... Read the whole entry... »
What can I tell you about love? The way it begins, the way it the journey unfolds, it will take you. Love how it comes how we are often caught without knowing and if we do feel the arrow that pierces through our wall to our heart. 
... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- thefrenchmuse.com/blog
- The Eve of a New Beginning
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d0a0ea46970c-pi
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e20120a91914c0970b-pi
 
When is the best season to come to Provence? Anytime. Each season has its own unique beauty and bounty. These photos were taken in different seasons around where I live. 
'tween Winter and Spring. 
Autumn ... Read the whole entry... »
This is the church that Chelsea and Martin were married. ... Read the whole entry... »
French Letters
2019-05-09 08:10 UTC by
French la Vie
Vine and Flower
2019-05-08 08:11 UTC by
French la Vie
 Pretty in Provence
2019-05-07 08:28 UTC by
French la Vie
Read the whole entry... »
 
- thefrenchmuse.com/blog
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d10998e6970c-pi
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- The Eve of a New Beginning
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201a73d87ec60970d-pi
2019-05-04 20:20 UTC by
French la Vie
For the next few days, I will be posting photos with little text, as I have been these last few days as I need a little break. The French la Vie groups were amazing, and the next one is coming up in a few weeks, but in the meantime, I need to focus on my friend's apartment that I have been working on in... Read the whole entry... »
In My Garden
2019-05-03 21:35 UTC by
French la Vie
 French la Vie
2019-05-02 21:45 UTC by
French la Vie
The last two weeks of the French la Vie ended today. So many memorable stories, new friends Carol, Susan and Jane, good belly laughs, treasure hunting, pounds gained in more ways than the weight of antiques in boxes, miles spent in the car with snacks, part of the car flying off, Gloria and her cat expression, Jennifer's humor,... Read the whole entry... »
In France today is a public holiday which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labor movement. On May 1st, 1561, King Charles IX of France received a Lily of the Valley (Muguets) as a lucky charm and thereafter decided to offer one each year to the ladies of the court. From the first year, I... Read the whole entry... »
 
Chelsea sent me these photos as the two of them went away for the weekend, their last trip alone before the baby arrives. 34 weeks and counting. Oh, little Boy Boy, we are so excited to meet you. 
These last two weeks and counting have been wonderful, very affirming that my passion for the brocante is something many others share. I love leading the French la Vie, sharing about my life in France and what it is like to live abroad these last thirty years, I love meeting people and hearing their stories and talking about old... Read the whole entry... »
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d10998e6970c-pi
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- The Eve of a New Beginning
- thefrenchmuse.com/blog
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b7c7801771970b-pi
 Read the whole entry... »
Bravo Joanna your book is lovely. "A celebration of both sustainability and design, this book presents beautiful interiors filled with salvaged, recycled, and repurposed objects from around the world. Artful home interiors are born from curiosity, creativity, and imagination, yet many of us fail to see a potential... Read the whole entry... »
Strawberries without the shortcake Strawberries with cream and a spray of cocoa powder. Simple Refreshing Divine as is. 
While scouting some new addresses for the next French la Vie group ... My friend Jennifer found something that I did not see even though it was literally right under my nose and if it were a snake it would have bit me. An amazing 18th-century pique. Jennifer said, "I am a fast learner! I have been... Read the whole entry... »
Walking around the countryside as Spring unfolds has allowed me to see nature's secrets. The barren branches, the buds bursting, the petals unfolding... I now know where the flowers bloom wildly, and where I can pick from the unattended fig and cherry trees. Yesterday I went to pick some lilacs for my home and the... Read the whole entry... »
Gloria and Barbara both who have been to France numerous times and whom I have come to know over the years, and Jennifer a friend from way back when I lived in the Bay area let me lead them around Provence on the French la Vie. Gloria and Barbara are textile artists so their focus was on such lace, ribbons, fabric, silks,... Read the whole entry... »
Happy Easter!  - Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/2011/01/dancing-in-the-farm-house-kitchen.html
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b7c742c41e970b-pi
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d0cc5785970c-pi
- The Eve of a New Beginning
 
Some say this is an old wire salad basket, where the washed salad was put inside then one would take the salad in the basket outside and swoosh it back and forth to dry the wet salad leaves. Others will say this wired basket from the 1900s was used to collect eggs. I am going to say it collects stories and mixes ideas so creativity can... Read the whole entry... »
Seven months. All good, all happy, all baby.  
Along the back roads through Provence, I am lucky enough that friends I have met through the brocante over these last thirty years invite my groups to come and see their homes. To go beyond the facade by entering into the soulful homes offers such thoughtful generosity into the culture and life of the French. Even if you... Read the whole entry... »
The first of the season, French la Vie's latest group started out yesterday for a week, to be followed by a second group. Gloria, Barbara, Jennifer and I had such fun! Easter week is full of brocantes in villages throughout Provence, this first group wanted to focus on textiles as they are crafters and artists who teach classes on... Read the whole entry... »
Yesterday I wanted to share about Yann's marathon which was on Sunday but the fire at Notre Dame consumed my every thought, and the marathon trailed far behind in what I wanted to post on my blog. Though today I saw a connection that seemed to bring a moment of stillness in the sadness of what has happened. Chelsea... Read the whole entry... »
Notre Dame
2019-04-14 21:16 UTC by
French la Vie
Utter sadness, beyond scope, a tragic loss. Notre Dame survived hundreds of year, touched millions, was a beckon of faith. More than any other monument Notre Dame is the one I had visited the most. Countless Masses and prayers, visits with nearly everyone I ever knew who came to Paris with me. I wish... Read the whole entry... »
Marathon Man
2019-04-14 21:05 UTC by
French la Vie
He did it! 24 miles 42 KM. He said it felt great until it didn't, the last four miles he could not feel his legs. But he is ready to do it again. I posted videos of the day on my Instagram stories and on Facebook. Such a highly charged day! I will tell more, but we left the marathon and took a train back home as I have a
... Read the whole entry... »
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b8d0cc5785970c-pi
- willows95988.typepad.com/tongue_cheek/2011/01/dancing-in-the-farm-house-kitchen.html
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201b7c742c41e970b-pi
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201348882a4c2970c-pi
- ...
Read the whole entry... » 
 Yann is running the marathon in Paris tomorrow (Sunday). If you would like to cheer him, on and follow his progress you can do so by downloading the app Schneider, then you will need to look up his name Yann Rolland-Benis. He starts at 9:00 in the morning (Midnight in... Read the whole entry... »
Should he shave his mustache? His beard? I said no so loud I am sure he heard me in Seattle.  
Today was the day my dad was born. Repost from 2008 ------------ My dad's shop was a milking barn but when I was fourteen he stopped dairy farming and went into motorcycles. He kept farming rice, and went riding on the weekends. My dad had many different motorcycles, his... Read the whole entry... »
On top of the table at the brocante two dogs, not one, but two dogs sat on top of boxes of old postcards. The brocante dealer tried to reassure me, "They're not mean, just playful." "Lucky for me," I tried to smile, "I do not need any more postcards." 
Brocante with dogs. Is... Read the whole entry... »
I am often asked about France, it makes sense given that I live here and write a blog about it. When I travel to a new place I like to have a few facts about the place in my pocket too. A good restaurant, a must see or do sort of thing, where to stay... a few starting bits so that I have a foot on the ground when I arrive.
... Read the whole entry... »
Mini Tarte Tatins
2019-04-08 12:59 UTC by
French la Vie
Tarte Tatin is one of my favorite French desserts, it is a classic down to earth recipe when it comes to the array of French desserts, it is not the Marie Antoinette of pastries, instead, it is a French Country type that I can imagine having at a long farm table by an open fire. The other day I had every intention to make a Tarte... Read the whole entry... »
The TGV (high-speed train) from Marseille to Paris and visa versa takes three hours it is significantly faster than driving by car or by flying. I returned home tonight after spending a few days in Paris visiting my dear friend Laura from Colorado and then this weekend with Chelsea. Delightful.
... Read the whole entry... »
- Memories of Scones Before I Ever Went to Ireland
- I am Eighty
- news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140401-april-fools-day-pranks-jokes-nation-culture
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201a73d9f720d970d-pi
- willows95988.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb9a69e201a73d9f7249970d-pi
 
Paris is a wonderland this Spring as the pink blooming trees are wearing nature's crown jewel. Against the greyish white buildings, the pink is intensified.
The light in Paris, mixed with the stark stone facades and the blooming trees is... Read the whole entry... »
“A friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that gentle hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”George Elliot
Yesterday evening I came to Paris... Read the whole entry... »
Love as you know has no limits, and where takes us is on a journey to wholeness. I am on the train to Paris... it is such a beautiful day, and as the train whizzes through the countryside spring is there waving its hands. 
The Holy No
2019-04-03 20:34 UTC by
French la Vie
Tomorrow I am going to Paris to see a friend I have not seen since I was pregnant with Chelsea. Laura was one of my closest friends in the monastery. Laura left around the time that I did- she married, had children, a career, a beautiful life... and tomorrow we will remember and share our stories of then, in between and now. I can hardly wait to see... Read the whole entry... »
On April 1st the French give each other chocolate fish called: "Friture." The tradition has it that on the 1st of April children try to stick a homemade paper fish onto people’s backs without the person knowing it, then run away yelling, ‘Poisson d’Avril’ (April's Fish), which is like saying, "April... Read the whole entry... »
Browser-Friendly feed by FeedBlitz RSS Services, the premium FeedBurner alternative. | 
