French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:59:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/poppy-1-150x150.png French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com 32 32 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/14/starting-a-cabinet-of-curiosity-for-a-client/ Starting a Cabinet of Curiosity for a Client https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953773304/0/tongueincheek~Starting-a-Cabinet-of-Curiosity-for-a-Client/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953773304/0/tongueincheek~Starting-a-Cabinet-of-Curiosity-for-a-Client/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:02 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84531 Little by little, piece by piece, one unusual thing after another—I wade slowly through the brocante, peering into every small box and across each tabletop like a scavenger hunter. I try to stay focused, resisting the call of the larger, more obvious beauties. Instead, I search for the small things—the ones that require a closer […]]]>

Little by little, piece by piece, one unusual thing after another—I wade slowly through the brocante, peering into every small box and across each tabletop like a scavenger hunter. I try to stay focused, resisting the call of the larger, more obvious beauties.

Instead, I search for the small things—the ones that require a closer look, a bit more patience.

I’ve been loving it lately. Recently, someone asked me to send them a box of small treasures. How could I possibly resist?

With my house nearly overflowing, (okay stuffed) I’m thankful I have clients who want me to send them French brocante stuff- big or small. It gives my passion an avenue.

Plus, I learned so much about French history and culture by going to the brocantes in France. Lessons that are passed down through objects and craft.

A Catholic WWI solider’s prayer token to hold in their pocket.

Here’s a glimpse of what I found:

  • A souvenir of Paris with tiny pictures tucked inside
  • A face powder box with its original label
  • An inkwell and calligraphy pen holder
  • A baby rattle.
  • A game counter in bakelite and silver
  • Pipe ancienne Gambier JACOB
  • À a vice president pin handmade
  • Prayer token
  • A châtelaine’s louis d’Ore coin purse
  • Religious document sceau
]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953773304/0/tongueincheek~Starting-a-Cabinet-of-Curiosity-for-a-Client/feed/ 3 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/13/brocante-cabinet-of-curiosities/ Brocante Cabinet of Curiosities https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953735882/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Cabinet-of-Curiosities/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953735882/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Cabinet-of-Curiosities/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:00:15 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84517 Years ago, I began creating my own cabinet of curiosities—one centered on everyday little sweet things. I imagined that by the time I might have grandchildren, many of these ordinary objects would be unfamiliar to them. I imagine the stories I could weave for them. A cabinet of curiosities traditionally holds objects like skulls, bones, […]]]>

Years ago, I began creating my own cabinet of curiosities—one centered on everyday little sweet things. I imagined that by the time I might have grandchildren, many of these ordinary objects would be unfamiliar to them. I imagine the stories I could weave for them.

A cabinet of curiosities traditionally holds objects like skulls, bones, taxidermy, feathers, furs, and various vials of scientific specimens.

A friend gifted me a cabinet, which I felt incredibly fortunate to receive. It is filled with small, seemingly insignificant pieces of a life long ago. I rarely open it, and I have never dusted it. It simply rests there, holding someone’s collection of memories.

I did open it once with Gabriel. He was about four years old at the time. We sat together, carefully looking at each item. After a while, he said, “Maybe we should let Olivia look at it too.” I smiled and replied, “Yes, but she’s still so little—she might throw things around.” He thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement: “Yes… maybe we better not.”

After that day, I started a cabinet of curiosities just for Gabriel. For his, I’ve gathered small treasures he loves: tiny metal animals, bits of feathers, shark teeth, a starfish, and even a bit of snake skin. He adores it.

Olivia, too, interests are a little different. She prefers big things that wouldn’t fit into a tiny cabinet. I believe a closet filled with twirly, ✨glittery dresses.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953735882/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Cabinet-of-Curiosities/feed/ 5 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/12/the-french-brocante-guessing-game-reveal/ The French Brocante Guessing Game Reveal https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953698151/0/tongueincheek~The-French-Brocante-Guessing-Game-Reveal/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953698151/0/tongueincheek~The-French-Brocante-Guessing-Game-Reveal/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:00:21 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84511 The bread stamp I discovered yesterday came from the Alps… Kathie got it right. Before homes had its own oven, bread in rural France was baked in a shared communal oven—the four communal,- the four banal. Families would prepare their dough at home, then carry it to communal oven to be baked with their neighbors’ loaves. With many […]]]>

The bread stamp I discovered yesterday came from the Alps… Kathie got it right.

Before homes had its own oven, bread in rural France was baked in a shared communal oven—the four communal,- the four banal. Families would prepare their dough at home, then carry it to communal oven to be baked with their neighbors’ loaves.

With many loaves going in at once, each household marked its bread dough with quick knife cuts—crosses, slashes, or initials—while others pressed symbols into the surface with small stamps. 

Once baked, families could recognize their own bread. The scoring seen on traditional loaves today has its roots in this very practical

The French communal oven —was an obligation. Under the feudal system, local lords held the right (known as banalités) to require villagers to use their oven, mill, or wine press for a fee. Baking at home was restricted, partly to maintain this source of income and authority, and partly for practical reasons like fire safety since the homes were built of wood and very close together. 

Despite the bread making rules, the oven became a social heart of the village. Baking days brought people together—sharing the rhythms of daily life (and gossip).

This communal ovens lasted for centuries, (there is a centuries old oven unused in our neighbor’s garage) until the French Revolution abolished lordly privileges. The communal oven faded from necessity into memory.

Now when at the boulangerie when you see a rustic loaf with a distinctive pattern, you’re glimpsing a small echo of village life.

Photos from Google Search, new bread stamps on Etsy.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953698151/0/tongueincheek~The-French-Brocante-Guessing-Game-Reveal/feed/ 9 Weekly Top Posts: 2026-04-12https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953673737/0/tongueincheek<ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/916954679/0/tongueincheek/~The-Feast-of-Light">The Feast of Light</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/917166596/0/tongueincheek/~Let%e2%80%99s-Go-Antiquing">Let&#x2019;s Go Antiquing</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/917000924/0/tongueincheek/~Easter-Morning">Easter Morning</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/917106563/0/tongueincheek/~A-Few-Things-I-Saw-at-the-Brocante">A Few Things I Saw at the Brocante</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/918787382/0/tongueincheek/~At-it-Again">At it Again</a></li> </ol><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/953673737/0/tongueincheek"> Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:00:01 GMTtag:feedblitz.com,2026-04-12:tongueincheek/2026-04-12T04:00:01-00:00 FeedSplice by FeedBlitz https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/11/brocante-guessing-game-2/ Brocante Guessing Game https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953665664/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Guessing-Game/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953665664/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Guessing-Game/#comments Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:00:50 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84502 Do you know what this little thing is? I am not often stomped. But, today I was. I had no idea, but I overheard a woman explaining what it was to another person- well I’ll be darn. I had to take a photo, to ask you, “Do you know where this is?” Can you take […]]]>

Do you know what this little thing is?
I am not often stomped. But, today I was.

I had no idea, but I overheard a woman explaining what it was to another person- well I’ll be darn.

I had to take a photo, to ask you,

“Do you know where this is?”

Can you take a guess? Hint see the X?

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953665664/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Guessing-Game/feed/ 10 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/10/you-know-the-saying-that-goes-something-like-all-looks-calm-from-the-outside/ You Know the Saying That Goes Something Like- All Looks Calm From the Outside? https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953630480/0/tongueincheek~You-Know-the-Saying-That-Goes-Something-Like-All-Looks-Calm-From-the-Outside/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953630480/0/tongueincheek~You-Know-the-Saying-That-Goes-Something-Like-All-Looks-Calm-From-the-Outside/#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:00:44 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84494 From Calm Yeah, that is Yann trimming the ivy while standing on the windowsill from the second floor. And, the neighbor decided to take out the refrigerator from the second floor- using a rope that only was tied around the middle. I was waiting for the crash sound. So today everything was calm on the […]]]>

From

Calm

Yeah, that is Yann trimming the ivy while standing on the windowsill from the second floor.

And, the neighbor decided to take out the refrigerator from the second floor- using a rope that only was tied around the middle. I was waiting for the crash sound.

So today everything was calm on the inside, but the outside felt like an accident would happen any minute.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953630480/0/tongueincheek~You-Know-the-Saying-That-Goes-Something-Like-All-Looks-Calm-From-the-Outside/feed/ 7 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/09/spring-in-a-plate/ Spring in a Plate https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953587727/0/tongueincheek~Spring-in-a-Plate/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953587727/0/tongueincheek~Spring-in-a-Plate/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:00:53 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84479 Food memories the kind that instantly brings you back to a place, a table, a moment. Years ago, traveling with the children, we stayed in a hotel where they served a pasta with a sauce that wasn’t cooked. Just fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, Parmesan, and a few other things blended together and spooned over warm […]]]>

Food memories the kind that instantly brings you back to a place, a table, a moment. Years ago, traveling with the children, we stayed in a hotel where they served a pasta with a sauce that wasn’t cooked. Just fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, Parmesan, and a few other things blended together and spooned over warm pasta. When we returned home, it became a fam fav. 

Recently, I kept seeing combinations of asparagus and peas folded into pasta- Spring on a plate. The freshness, the deconstruction reconstruction idea took me back to that earlier dish.

I used fresh lasagna sheets—larger than usual, after a quick dip in boiling salted water. Each one laid flat, waiting. Over the surface, I spread a generous amount of fresh pesto. Urges to lick the spoon, were haunting! Then pieces of burrata, pinched and scattered so every bite would find lushious-ness..

The peas and asparagus were fresh, then cooked separately. They went over the top, tucked here and there. You could add lemon zest, and or roasted hazelnuts for crunch—

I folded the pasta over itself, almost like closing a letter, and repeated the process—another layer of pesto, more burrata, a few more vegetables. A drizzle of olive oil, a good grind of pepper.

Around the dish, I scattered the remaining peas and asparagus. A handful of coriander sprouts over the top, though basil would be just as lovely.

I remember reading somewhere years ago—such a simple idea—that you can take fresh peas, or even frozen if that’s what you have, place them in a strainer set over a larger bowl, and pour boiling water over them. Let them sit for a few minutes. They come out tender yet still with a bit of crunch. You can do the same with spinach too, but that’s another story.

Overcooked pasta and vegetables is a crime against texture, and flavor—

This came to the table- the kind of dish that invites everyone to lean in with dancing tastebuds.

Thank you, Mari for the photos of me and my kitchen!

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