Tongue in Cheek

The lingering Provençal light

glistening waves lapping softly on pebble beaches

Muted colors against the limestone coast.

The cicadas, the martinet (swift), and the owl singing alongside one another without questioning the time of day

 »…is it early morning or the end of day, who cares? »

The harvested lavender, the hum of the...

The language of flowers, do you hear their message?

Strong in gentleness, faithful in their offering of beauty,

giving without asking why or how.

Flowers speak a language without words, yet the message sips into the roots of our being.

A flower speaks by showing us how to nurture the soul.

This Zinnia seems to celebrate its...

To protect your head wear a helmet:

Grab a pair of red boxer shorts

pull them down nearly covering your eyes.

Next, take a pair of socks, preferably a matching color to your “helmet”slip them on as gloves.

Not seen in the above photo, though an important part of the rider’s attire,

is to take off the protective chair leg...

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…still here, more or less in the same place. I had no idea that a lung infection could take this long. Little by little, I am feeling better but not 100% myself. Have any of you experienced this before? From your messages, many of you have had asthma or know someone with asthma. I had a blood test and an x-ray. My blood results are promising;...

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Going through a box of photos, I came across this one from the early 80s — my dad, my brothers, and a childhood friend. I sent it in a text to my brothers, and this is what they had to say about the photo:

“I remember that day riding motorcycles with those goofballs! On the way up, dad passed all of the other pickups. I remember looking over...

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• Thanksgiving 2021
• Thanksgiving
• Home

Hello!

I am a Franco-American married to a Frenchman and have lived and breathed the French lifestyle and brocantes for over thirty years in Provence. 

I am passionate about old things and enjoy sharing my experience and connections with others. When you come along on a French la Vie, you will meet like-minded people who create...

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It has been a rough several days with a lung infection and Asthma. But this morning I feel I have made a turn! I want to get up and get going. But I will be mindful of the week behind me and give myself this day to rest with grace. Even though one of my favorite brocantes is happening as I type. I know I am feeling better when my adrenaline is...

Fifth day.

When I woke up the new day felt promising.

A happy rush flowed over me.

Deception soon followed when I got up or tried to talk.

Exhaustion in five minutes - with relief back in bed.

Thank you for your prayers, messages, concerns...

My posts might just be photos until I have more strength.

The flowers above I took last...

The wonders of taking a bath, washing one’s hair, 

then slipping into a freshly pressed night dress.

Renewal.

But boy did that zap me.

Each day is better than the previous day.

 Thank you for your messages and prayers.

Plus, I am sorry to hear that many of you suffer from asthma too. Does it ever go away? 

Not feeling well.

I do not have Covid 

But severe asthma.

Thank you for your messages.

I believe I am on the mend.

But it will take some time.

As some of you know I lost a deep love to asthma...

The haunting memories are not far from me.

Today is the fête du musique in France. Anyone and every one can make music however and wherever they want. Be it singing from your balcony, or an entire symphony in a parking lot.

Every corner, rooftop and vacant lot is filled with sound. Whether you live in a remote village in the Pyrenees, on a mountain top in the Alpes, or in...

Isn’t this a lovely thought.
I could think maybe grandchildren?
And people I will love, and that hopefully will love me in return.

And Yann’s take - 

Happy 30th Birthday Sacha!

Sacha you make my heart swell with love,

You amaze me how wonderful you are,

and my arms ache to hug you today!

On a blistering hot summer day

Gabriel decided to wear knee socks.

Because that is what three year olds do.

We watched a group of men jumping into the canal Saint Martin. It was very tempting, the splash of the water, the hot Sun on the pavement, the lack of air… tempting. 

We tried to stay...

What makes a person French?

What makes a person an American?

Is it because of birth in that country?

I was born in the USA and lived there for 29 years. I have now lived in France for 35 years. I became French a few years ago, so I am Franco-American.

When I first came to France, I spoke maybe five words of French. Back then,...

During the French la Vie retreats we do more than just go to brocantes…

Not only do we fill our suitcases, boxes, and whatever else we can stuff antiques into we dine, oh boy do we dine! France has an abundance of all things and a delicious food culture, but you know that.

Grand Marnier soufflé, chocolate eclairs,...

(Text an photo by Chelsea)

When you have a child you inherit a visual gauge on life as it shows you how fast time goes by, and how a child can develop, grow and become. The visual gauge subtly reminds us to be reflect, to be grateful, to be aware for the time we have and had.

Three years how can it be? 

The AMAZING FOUR, Patricia Conte-Lynch, Barbara Willis, @Gloria McKinnon, and Vintage Supply Co. True brocanteurs! Three of them endured not having their suitcases for the ENTIRE TRIP, one of them had their flight canceled losing a day of our adventures together, we endured a heatwave, a van that wouldn’t start after dinner far from homebase...

We spotted this clever thing while out brocanting with the French la Vie. 

As I knew what it was I had to ask you if you know what it is?

----

We wouldn't use it now.

But it certainly came in handy for the high-heeled.

A practical gadget.

Let me know what you think it is in the comment section.

----

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Doing the brocante scene with other passionate brocanteurs. Buzzing conversation about what we have found, what we have seen, what we have missed, what we have learned, and where we are going next. It is refreshing and a deep gratitiude to share after years of covid restrictions, aggressive politics, gun violence and war. A breath, a...

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The group is here!

All four of them have been with me before

so we have the same passion, or some would say craziness for the brocante.

I hope to post photos but our days are long and full and delicious.

What do you look for at the brocante?

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Do you see three loved ones?

Gabriel is so full of intention not to drop falls or spills. His strawberry ice cream is calculated and we wonder how is that?

Very soon he will be three. 

A boy, a stick and the ocean of possibilities.

Look who is standing. One step leads to another.

Yesterday, my friend Arnelle and I picked cherries as I started to make the jam I remembered a post I wrote about making cherry jam years ago, 12 years ago to be exact! Oh, man. Do any of you remember this post?

Wish me luck.

Photo and True story by: Corey Amaro

How to Make Burnt Cherry Jam:

Pick 25 pounds of cherries from your...

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Photos and Text by: Corey Amaro

The Louvre has a painting that attracts the world, it is a show stopper, it is. The small painting is of a woman, it hangs alone on an enormous wall. Directly across from it is a massive painting, the size of a large house with a million people in it.
The contrast alone is worth a peek.
Though few...

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Down the road where I live there are fields upon little fields of poppies.

Not California golden poppies, but red poppies.

Poppies are spontaneous.

Their colorful petals spread out like a picnic blanket over the fields.

One can guess but never be certain where poppies will appear.

This year I saw my...

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Translated menus in French to English are always a favorite. Certainly, they remind me of how my French must sound when I speak. I am going to start collecting favorite translations I should have started years ago when translation apps weren't available and fewer people spoke English because their translations were off the chart funny.

The menu...

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How to Dress Like a French Woman:

-First and foremost, throw away uptight.

-Of course, own one of everything in black, plus know the fashionable color of the season, and have it in your wardrobe too: This year it is citrus colors with hints of bright pink.

-Learn how to tie a scarf.

-Stuff your pockets with confidence in your beauty, and...

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Spent the afternoon soaking up Babou and Papioca! When we said goodbye Gabriel cried and hugged me tightly,

“Vavie why are you going?”

Chelsea and family were leaving for vacation. 

I spoke softly to Gabriel,

”We can be happy and sad. Happy cause you are going on vacation and sad to say goodbye.”

with that we hugged.

Love...

If you come to Provence take time to be time to let Provence get under your skin and into your heart. Provence is a place to wander, taste the countryside, soak in the sounds, and follow your thoughts until they are just a mountain of softness and valleys of delight.

Provence is spread out like a quilt of many colors starting...

 FRENCH la Vie dates for 2022 and very soon 2023

One place remains open for 2022

The dates for the French la Vie 2022 filled quickly there is one place that has come up.

We are going to have fun and I bet you won’t want to go home.

xxx

The dates for the FRENCH la Vie 2022

I look forward to sharing the love of...

My beloved brother Marty and my sister in law's youngest child, Jack is marrying his

long time love Jordan in October 2022. I am so very happy for both of them.

Wedding bells.

My brother Marty certainly is smiling.

We found a pair of recently dyed navy antique nightdresses.

Mine is in cotton and Cindy's is in linen.

Nightdresses in white are very easy to find at every brocante.

I wish someone would dare and pay me to find 500 in a month.

What makes these two so unusual is the oversize eyelet sleeves.

We bought and modeled them.

Cindy is such a...

How many brocantes did we go to each day?

Three or more.

How many villages did we visit?

At least two a day.

Do you have to buy to enjoy the brocantes or join you?

Only if you want to there isn't any obligation. If you come with your group we can tailor it to your desires.

How many are in a group?

Maximum four per group unless it is a...

Our senses are filled full

with inspiration

creativity

 new and renewed friendships

shared meals

discovery

learning

simply by experiencing Provence through the lens of the brocante.

to travel by this means is to engage in conversation

by holding an old object in one's hands and asking 

how much?

then the story...

Poppies in France 

come in May

I knew we would find a field 

and we did.

After poppies come the lavender

and sunflowers.

I have so many photos to share of our brocante adventures

but little time to post and write.

But I will soon 

xx

serious situation 

brocante bugs are attacking

buyers are unaware. 

refreshments for those who have been bitten 

so that they might honor their new friend.

instigators

We met at a brocante over 25 years ago. 

`

Bitten badly

...

How 

many

more

before

there 

is 

a change!?

Our French la Vie Brocante journey started off with a perfect day. We visited four places from Marseille to our home.

The women feel like I have known them for years but have literally just met. That is what is so awesome about this experience

is the bond that is created for a passion of seeing beauty in the ordinary, and sharing the...

our home is ready to welcome our guests

the roses are fading too soon

tbe light in the dining room won’t click on

our fridge is full of French fresh 

and the champagne is chillin’

beds are made scented with lavender

our visits are planned

the van is ready

my head is hitting the pillow and will wake to the start of a wonderful...

Yesterday we spent the day with our friends Laurie-Annya and Ian. A wonderful day just hanging out in Cassis the time went by happily as we recharged our batteries, danced on the square, went out on the blue sea, and watched fireworks light up the sky.

Thank you for the photo Laurie-Annya!

When I was a teenager I found box of baby girl clothes tucked away in the hallway closet. I asked my mother who they belong to but before she could respond I already knew the answer. Those baby clothes had been tucked away since I was a baby. As the oldest and only daughter my mother kept those clothes assuming her next baby might be a...

The countdown to the French la Vie brocante adventure starts on Tuesday! Hasn't it been a long time coming? 

Four women will arrive ready for the hunt, when they leave another four arrive.

I told them to pack light. That this isn't a fashion show so bring as little as possible.

I have been getting things in order: The bedrooms,...

The other day I wrote about being so immersed in looking through boxes in an attic

that I didn't even react when a rat fell on my shoulder. Recalling that moment now causes me to shudder 

and honestly want to vomit. I have a serious addiction to old things. 

Judy, a longtime reader of French la Vie sent me an email...

I love when people send me photos of what they have created or used the old paper that I have sold or given to them.

"Corey, 

Well, after years of having those wonderful French papers you gave me, I FINALLY found a “card” pattern (most cards aren’t 10 1/2 inches X 14 inches!)

I like them well enough to use...

I wonder how my mother is?

How does she do it?

How does she not complain or at least feel sad about how her life has changed.

But no.

 Recalling her daily ritual those little ordinary things that she did.

Such as picking a small bouquet from her garden for her kitchen window.

Baking cookies and pies.

Feeding her...