Tongue in Cheek

Do you see Yann on top of the scaffolding?

When you own a home, repairs, and renovations are often required. Our home was completely renovated years ago. The walls are made of stones and are three feet thick dating back four hundred years ago. 

Our house like other houses in our village adjacent to one another creating six feet of stones...

My father would say to me

when you fall in love with someone ask yourself-

“Is he worthy to be the father of my children?

Will he be a good father?”

Well…

He was and he is. 

Happy Father's Day

The last day in Ireland with my friend Carrie, I had one of the most delicious scones. We were at a café where the green hills rolled almost down into the sea. 
A perfect ending.

An enchanting evening unfolded at a friend's Irish home, where the air was alive with music's magic. We savored a delectable, home-cooked meal with the wonderfully creative souls, Carrie Chern Weiss, June Housden, and Stephen Housden.

Thank you cx

A peek at the immense beauty of Cork, Ireland’s coastline. The intensity of green and the rugged cliffs caressed by the sea.

Spending magical days in Cork Ireland, at my friend Carrie’s home. I might never leave x The Irish are very kind and friendly. Carrie is outgoing and never meets a stranger. She amazes me how she does that. She even stopped on the road to talk to the policeman who was controlling traffic! They talked as if they had known each other for years. It...

Roses are red, 

Violets are blue.

I asked Olivia, for the thirteenth time,

« What color is your lipstick? »

 »Blue! » she giggled.

 »Oh no, it is red. »

We went around and around, naming colors; they were always blue to Olivia until they were black.

She is two years old. Learning two languages.
Blue is Bleu,...

A brief visit before he heads to Cannes for some camera work.

Sacha lives in Seattle. I wished he lived closer. My mother  says,

”Now, you know how it feels to have a child live faraway.”

True. 

i tell myself if he is happy I am happy.

Thankful, for the afternoon spent talking and talking.

Little One in the park.

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After school, Chelsea, the two little Pickles, and I went to a toy store—an absolutely lovely, take-you-back-in-time type of toy store. Before entering Chelsea, set the rules, "We are going in to buy an elastic because Vavie wants to teach you Chinese jump rope since you two were mesmerized by it today at the park; plus, we need to buy a...

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I am on my way to Paris to see the little ones. Plus, Sacha is there too visiting his Italian Girlfriend who just finished her Masters in Museology in Paris.

Guess, what photos are going to be shown here?

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We had a video chat with Mohammed and Sue (Mohammed left Gaza two weeks before the border was closed with his wife and baby son with the extraordinary money raised by many of you and the generous offer of hospitality by Sue, who has lived in Cario for many years.)

Mohammed and I have talked several times by phone and text. But this time, we made...

a very rare photo of us two

…

do you ever catch a glimpse of yourself & do a double take?

my grandmother said to me fifty some years ago

« I feel fifteen until I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and ask, who is that? »

now I know what she means.

when I have not so beautiful thoughts about my looks~ 

I remind myself...

Okay, I used to dress Chelsea up like a doll;

And take pictures of her.          

You gotta know I couldn’t drive, I was alone, it was winter…

Paris was cold, grey, and rainy, and I was from California!            

...

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Yesterday, I went to visit an antique dealer’s attic. It was a dream come true. Attics are usually dark, and this one was no exception. In my excitement to get there, I parked my car in haste and ran to her door. When I went up to the...

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The chandelier was found at an antique shop, and the bust was found at an antique market under a vendor's table. It may be sold since it was under the table.

Ask questions. Don't assume that because something is put aside or looks nice, it is either sold or too expensive.

Set of 24 hundred-year-old wine glasses. I...

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This is a smidgen of what we saw during our brocante escapade they filled a forty-cubic-meter container and still are going full throttle on the brocante trail.

Yes, they have shops in Virginia.

The pink chair somehow managed not to make the cut. It was one of the few things that did not come back...

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If you know how to make this will you show me how?

Thank you, Darling.

A part of the beans are spilled but the best is yet to come.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think the bug would bite you!

Please, follow Chelsea on Instagram to see our brocante adventures and brocante bites. Her reels are make me smile.

yourfrench-rendezvous

….

Dear Readers,

Tomorrow, I will continue to...

Hi, I'm grateful for the engagement of my readers, and that includes you. If you have any questions about the French la Vie, I'm here to answer them. Recently, I received some interesting queries from Fat Rabbit and Ed.

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Natasha, we're thrilled to have you considering joining us!

Thank you for your comment where you asked:

"... For a non-alcoholic - would there be space to still join the foodie fun?"

Yes, of course! I am a non-alcoholic, and well, that says it all, doesn't it?

Of course, Yann will propose sips randomly throughout the brocante journey,...

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The second their feet hit the ground, they were doing what they had dreamed of buying antiques in France for their shops in the USA.

We shopped

Then came back to my home for dinner. Before retiring to their bedrooms Deborah asked,

"What will I dream about tonight?

That was a sweet compliment xx

Do you have any questions for me?

...

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Ready set go! The next group arrives today and plans to be here for ten days. A lot of buying is hoped for as they have shops in the States. They said that they are not foodies and would rather shop than eat. Last weeks group was the opposite. They liked both.

Are you ready to tag along? 

If you were here what would you be...

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Chelsea and I are sitting on a stone wall with vibrant spring in the background. Thanks, Hannah, for taking this photo of us,

This dress is one of my favorites. I bought it at a second-hand shop for five Euros. I have no idea how old it is. Since I haven’t been wearing black, I like orange, green, and yellow clothing. It's kind of...

Last week's French la Vie group came for the experience, to admire everything French, to soak up the culture around dining, to learn about France through antiquing, and to buy a bit along the way.

They enjoyed food, so I called them the "Foodies." It was an absolute pleasure since France is about food, and talking about food is their...

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A lot of both makes the garden grow and reminds us that we grow with both in life as well.

The other day while leading a group around my favorite brocantes I found this adorable, 1900s white cotton, child’s dress. Guessing that it would fit Olivia I bought it.

The eyelet-collared dress fit like it was designed especially for her.

I begged for a photo. Which Olivia promptly turned into a comedy act with a toy...

Maybe one day after I get bored with antiques

I will start a stuffed animal zoo.

Would you visit my zoo?

I will serve bananas and coconut milk.

Thanks, Lorna, for the photos, and for laughing at my jokes last week! Should I show my readers my T-Rex too?

Chairs waiting for a table to cozy up to, although they are not the style of someone I have in mind.

Have you ever had a secret to keep that you were longing to spill the beans?
I cannot say more, but as soon as I am given the green light...

I will be shouting it from the mountain top!

the group on their last day!

H A P P Y    M O T H E R ' S     D A Y 

With every ounce of love and thanksgiving for you.

Give this a caption.

Each group that comes to tag along with the brocantes has its personality. The first group of the year I called them, the Non-Stop group, as they wanted to go antiquing rather than anything else. Now, the next group, the one here now, I am calling them the Foodies, which, after brocanting, is the next best thing about being in France....

Sitting with my dear friend Monique

whom I have constant admiration for her creativity and generous heart.

Thank you for the lovely dinner you shared with the French la Vie

under your cherry tree xx

away we go

brocante. Here, there, everywhere.

and many moments sharing with new friends.

The joy of sharing time with my daughter and friends.

And the never-ending thoughts and efforts to help those in Palestine. 

The strange world of humanity is a mixture of everything all at once.

Some live freely, easily, and safely, while others suffer.

How do we do it?

How do we live with such unequal truths?

Is there no room for love, forgiveness, and acceptance? 

Is life no longer sacred?

We did not "start the fire," but surely we must be beyond being savage?

Ceasefire.

Stop the invasion, the massacre of Rafah!

I have been hoping to help a young woman leave Gaza, but now the borders are closing.

There isn't any safe place and no way to...

I met someone I hadn't seen in years a few weeks ago. We were at a brocante, and he invited me to his home—a personal invitation to be the first person to view what he had to offer as he was downsizing. My, what an incredible experience his home was! It was ten hundred times more than I expected. I was utterly in awe of his home. His way...

One of my favorite trees. Those roots go forth, strong, determine, willing, seeking, supporting… they remind me of friends and family that help me to grow and become.

This tree stands tall along the path that I walk. Many have carved their initials on its trunk leaving scars without giving any thought, to its beauty or being.

and yet it...

On the first of May, the French give Muguet (Lilly of the Valley) to each other. I love it! French Husband (like 99 percent of France's population) will go out early in the morning, returning with a brin for whoever is home. It is the symbol of giving happiness to one another. 

The song below is a French classic... 

Les Temps...

We live in a small village outside of Marseilles. It is over a thousand years old—yes, over a thousand years old. A section of Roman road... (History) has passed through this village, down our street, in my house, and where I stand.

Our house is called a "MAISON DU VILLAGE," which means it is not a castle or a bastide. A Maison du...

We live in a small village outside of Marseilles. It is over a thousand years old—yes, over a thousand years old. A section of Roman road... (History) has passed through this village, down our street, in my house, and where I stand.

Our house is called a "MAISON DU VILLAGE," which means it is not a castle or a bastide. A Maison du...