French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:40:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 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/2026/06/14/back-in-italy/ Back in Italy https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958027604/0/tongueincheek~Back-in-Italy/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958027604/0/tongueincheek~Back-in-Italy/#respond Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:00:50 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85394 How fortunate I have been to have blogged for these past twenty years—the friendships that have blossomed, the work paths that have opened, the compassion shown, the travels shared… I am forever thankful. Years ago, I met Laurie when she came to the French La Vie with her friend Lizzie (another close friendship that developed […]]]>

How fortunate I have been to have blogged for these past twenty years—the friendships that have blossomed, the work paths that have opened, the compassion shown, the travels shared… I am forever thankful.

Years ago, I met Laurie when she came to the French La Vie with her friend Lizzie (another close friendship that developed during that time.)

Instantly we found a bond that deepened over the years.

Laurie has family in Italy and eventually bought a place there, asking me to help her make it into a home. Over time I’ve helped her shape it—designing, developing, finding things, furnishing rooms—and somewhere along the way I found myself falling in love to the village too. Each time Yann and I return we dream of staying longer, though the pull of the Pickles and company calls us back.

This time we are here gathering the practical bones of things—plumbing, lights, furnishings—for the extension of her home.

In the evening there was a procession for Saint Anthony through the winding, steep streets. A brass band went first, then the village moving behind it. A farmer set himself by the edge of the street selling cherries, fava beans, apricots, snails—ordinary abundance so appreciated. Later we opened one of Laurie’s 2019 wines, her own blend called “Lifesaver,” shared with her friend, Marco, the local sommelier.

This blogging life has opened a delightful dream- thankful beyond measure.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958027604/0/tongueincheek~Back-in-Italy/feed/ 0 Weekly Top Posts: 2026-06-14https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958022357/0/tongueincheek<ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957877040/0/tongueincheek/~Shop-Until-You-Drop%e2%80%a6-Brocante-Bug-Side-Effects">Shop Until You Drop&#x2026; Brocante Bug Side Effects</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957823235/0/tongueincheek/~The-Places-the-French-la-Vie-Takes-Us">The Places the French la Vie Takes Us</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957849044/0/tongueincheek/~The-Brocante-Hunt-with-the-French-la-Vie">The Brocante Hunt with the French la Vie</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957731489/0/tongueincheek/~Not-to-worry%21">Not to worry!</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957906374/0/tongueincheek/~Pastel-Colors-from-the-Brocante">Pastel Colors from the Brocante</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/958022357/0/tongueincheek"> Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:00:01 GMTtag:feedblitz.com,2026-06-14:tongueincheek/2026-06-14T04:00:01-00:00 FeedSplice by FeedBlitz https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/06/13/claire-sparkle-style/ Claire Sparkle Style https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958018436/0/tongueincheek~Claire-Sparkle-Style/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958018436/0/tongueincheek~Claire-Sparkle-Style/#respond Sat, 13 Jun 2026 11:00:26 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85389 Fluffy net skirt Sequin top gold colored sandals undone riding the wind with a smile happy go lucky while singing Brune Mars and Rose’s sing Apt- that she learned from her four year old friends at school.
               

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Fluffy net skirt

Sequin top

gold colored sandals undone

riding the wind with a smile

happy go lucky

while singing Brune Mars and Rose’s sing Apt- that she learned from her four year old friends at school.

               

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]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/958018436/0/tongueincheek~Claire-Sparkle-Style/feed/ 0 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/06/12/guess-who-is-new-in-town/ Guess Who is New in Town? https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957995372/0/tongueincheek~Guess-Who-is-New-in-Town/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957995372/0/tongueincheek~Guess-Who-is-New-in-Town/#comments Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:00:07 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85385 This is cat 1, and yes, there is a cat 2. Billie and Jango. The newest addition to the little family. Chickens, now kittens! I actually held them, and I wasn’t afraid! Long may it last.]]>

This is cat 1, and yes, there is a cat 2.

Billie and Jango. The newest addition to the little family. Chickens, now kittens!

I actually held them, and I wasn’t afraid! Long may it last.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957995372/0/tongueincheek~Guess-Who-is-New-in-Town/feed/ 7 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/06/11/thank-you-for-your-loving-support-and-messages/ Thank You for Your Loving Support, and Messages https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957963296/0/tongueincheek~Thank-You-for-Your-Loving-Support-and-Messages/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957963296/0/tongueincheek~Thank-You-for-Your-Loving-Support-and-Messages/#comments Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:00:42 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85376 Time all of it unmeasured and continuous, fleeting and full. Somehow it blends, and stirs, memories come and rest. What a beautiful gift to love and be loved.]]>

Time all of it unmeasured and continuous, fleeting and full. Somehow it blends, and stirs, memories come and rest. What a beautiful gift to love and be loved.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957963296/0/tongueincheek~Thank-You-for-Your-Loving-Support-and-Messages/feed/ 14 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/06/10/in-loving-memory-of-my-godmother-mary/ In Loving Memory of my Godmother Mary https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957919952/0/tongueincheek~In-Loving-Memory-of-my-Godmother-Mary/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957919952/0/tongueincheek~In-Loving-Memory-of-my-Godmother-Mary/#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:00:35 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85371 My Godmother Mary is an amazing woman, her heart is golden, and her bones ivory. Her home is a sanctuary where darkness has no room. When she embraces me, I know the meaning of heaven on earth. Mary collects feelings, weaving them into soft spots. Her ear is ready to listen far into the night. […]]]>

My Godmother Mary is an amazing woman, her heart is golden, and her bones ivory. Her home is a sanctuary where darkness has no room. When she embraces me, I know the meaning of heaven on earth.

Mary collects feelings, weaving them into soft spots. Her ear is ready to listen far into the night. When I am with her there is no other place I would rather be, she captivates my imagination and makes me laugh.

Img_3247

Seldom does anyone leave her home empty handed. I leave with a car full, and a spirit that soars.

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If I could spend a million years with her I would never know boredom, and I am not exaggerating. She is just too good to be true.

Lovenote

Certainly the day she was born earth was a better place, heaven touched the ground and sang. My Godmother shares abundantly, she doesn’t know the word selfish, she puts everyone on a throne.

Cups

I haven’t had tea in the same cup twice. Mary finds her treasures at yard sales. She told me she cannot leave anything behind, especially if it is chipped or cracked. I believe Mary knows that being broken is being made whole.

Linensmary

You might say pink is Mary.

Rosy and True. Her beauty stems from caring for others. She has a knack for unfolding people’s pain and given them a bundle of courage to carry on. Mary has a healing touch.

My Godmother is a creative, artistic woman, and she uses her talents to make the world a better place. 

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957919952/0/tongueincheek~In-Loving-Memory-of-my-Godmother-Mary/feed/ 22 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/06/09/pastel-colors-from-the-brocante/ Pastel Colors from the Brocante https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957906374/0/tongueincheek~Pastel-Colors-from-the-Brocante/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/957906374/0/tongueincheek~Pastel-Colors-from-the-Brocante/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:23 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=85344 The little pieces swirling together handmade memories stitch by stitch, pass down through time. Stacks of silk communion wreaths Pink silk and a velvet flower Far too pretty for a bull fight in Arles À Flour tin, and worn tenderness Pale blue rosettes Admiration gathers an unsigned oil painting]]>

The little pieces swirling together handmade memories stitch by stitch, pass down through time.

Stacks of silk communion wreaths

Pink silk and a velvet flower

Far too pretty for a bull fight in Arles

À Flour tin, and worn tenderness

Pale blue rosettes

Admiration gathers

an unsigned oil painting

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