French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Sat, 22 Aug 2026 20:50:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 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/2026/08/22/books-for-all-reasons/ Books for all Reasons https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968125214/0/tongueincheek~Books-for-all-Reasons/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968125214/0/tongueincheek~Books-for-all-Reasons/#respond Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:00:23 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86059 At a book fair the other day I noticed that most people there were looking for books because of the author, or the title, and or the value of such titles first edition pieces. Several dealers asked me what I was looking for… I replied, “I simply judge a book by its cover.” Or lack […]
               

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At a book fair the other day I noticed that most people there were looking for books because of the author, or the title, and or the value of such titles first edition pieces. Several dealers asked me what I was looking for…

I replied, “I simply judge a book by its cover.”

Or lack of one.

Well, the ones I “stage” that is. The older, ruffled page, worn through… but a certain worn through that is. Beat up doesn’t always add up to the top of my “love it” list.

Of course, buying a book to read is an entirely different conversation and selection. Buying books for an arrangement means never moving it about.

Books for all reasons ❤

               

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]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968125214/0/tongueincheek~Books-for-all-Reasons/feed/ 0 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/08/21/the-chair/ The Chair https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968103479/0/tongueincheek~The-Chair/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968103479/0/tongueincheek~The-Chair/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:00:50 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86056 The chair that I couldn’t leave behind—even though it’s uncomfortable because the springs have sprung, and its oversized presence means it doesn’t fit around any table. I also don’t have a grand entrance where it truly belongs. One might wonder,  “What was she thinking? Why buy it?” Well, first, the faded blue patina kept calling […]]]>

The chair that I couldn’t leave behind—even though it’s uncomfortable because the springs have sprung, and its oversized presence means it doesn’t fit around any table. I also don’t have a grand entrance where it truly belongs.

One might wonder, 

“What was she thinking? Why buy it?”

Well, first, the faded blue patina kept calling my name with such desperation. Then I couldn’t bear the thought of it being destined to become firewood. So, it came home with me, where it now holds my favorite textiles.

It found a new purpose, while hogging up so much room.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968103479/0/tongueincheek~The-Chair/feed/ 5 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/08/20/the-gift-of-living-in-an-old-country/ The Gift of Living in an Old Country https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968065562/0/tongueincheek~The-Gift-of-Living-in-an-Old-Country/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968065562/0/tongueincheek~The-Gift-of-Living-in-an-Old-Country/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:00:07 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86050 Every room, each entry, stone, beam, ironwork, handle speaks of a generation no longer living yet alive. What will we leave behind? A future of beauty I hope.]]>
image from https://s3.amazonaws.com/feather-client-files-aviary-prod-us-east-1/2016-05-31/5c3c3633b2a940b683a4675f0067ef3e.png

Every room, each entry, stone, beam, ironwork, handle speaks of a generation no longer living yet alive.

What will we leave behind?

A future of beauty I hope.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968065562/0/tongueincheek~The-Gift-of-Living-in-an-Old-Country/feed/ 1 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/08/19/gifted-summer-holiday-family-photo-xx/ Gifted Summer Holiday- Family Photo xx https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968036744/0/tongueincheek~Gifted-Summer-Holiday-Family-Photo-xx/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968036744/0/tongueincheek~Gifted-Summer-Holiday-Family-Photo-xx/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:00:07 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86042 Our friends, Arnelle, and Roger, have gratefully generously offered these last several years to stay in their beautiful home in France- hidden on the back roads, a glorious old stone home with a pool centered in nature, which has saved us every August from heat.  It started when Chelsea was pregnant with Gabriel. Arnelle called […]]]>

Our friends, Arnelle, and Roger, have gratefully generously offered these last several years to stay in their beautiful home in France- hidden on the back roads, a glorious old stone home with a pool centered in nature, which has saved us every August from heat. 

It started when Chelsea was pregnant with Gabriel. Arnelle called staying in their home a baby moon, taking from the word honeymoon.

 Gabriel calls their place. “The beautiful House”- and every summer crosses his fingers that we can return.

These last several years Chelsea and Co. have taken a photo on the terrace where in the Spring wisteria grows spreading purple confetti over the terrace. The wisteria vine grows thicker each year on the old pillar where Chelsea who is six months pregnant (another baby moon) and two little pickles in tow.

Thank you A&R ❤

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968036744/0/tongueincheek~Gifted-Summer-Holiday-Family-Photo-xx/feed/ 7 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/08/18/the-reader/ The Reader https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/967986296/0/tongueincheek~The-Reader/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/967986296/0/tongueincheek~The-Reader/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:00:07 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86032 He loves to read. Every chance he has. Between one moment to another. Anywhere. In the car, On the sidewalk. Between dinner and dessert. In bed. The first and last thing he does in the day. He packed a bag full of books 📚 for our vacation. Plus, he started to read in english..]]>

He loves to read. Every chance he has. Between one moment to another. Anywhere. In the car, On the sidewalk. Between dinner and dessert. In bed. The first and last thing he does in the day.

He packed a bag full of books 📚 for our vacation.

Plus, he started to read in english..

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/967986296/0/tongueincheek~The-Reader/feed/ 9 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/08/17/brocante-home/ Brocante Home https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/967932266/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Home/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/967932266/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Home/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:00:18 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=79779 Collected over the years, piece by piece, found at Brocantes mainly around Provence. It allows a stage to dream. Textures, muted tones, torn, worn, cracked aged pieces that belonged to many different people over time. Brocante tabletop dishes, silverware, glasses, table linens, platters- in a land the reveres gathering around a table- tabletop pieces are […]]]>

Collected over the years, piece by piece, found at Brocantes mainly around Provence. It allows a stage to dream.

Textures, muted tones, torn, worn, cracked aged pieces that belonged to many different people over time.

Brocante tabletop dishes, silverware, glasses, table linens, platters- in a land the reveres gathering around a table- tabletop pieces are plentiful, and used.

The brocante home doesn’t stop at one room it expands to every knock and cranny, bookshelf and table. Layered as it comes.

A brocante home embraces patina, layered textures, faded everything, curated desire, natural materials, redefined beauty, individuality, authenticity… dust, especially, dust.

It is a home created to be shared. Living in an brocante home, and well-loved objects is not as effortless as filling rooms with flawless new things. Living with brocante pieces means you need to give thought before haste. Or added cracks and breaks will occur. The value isn’t in practicality but in presence.

A brocante home resists barren surfaces and convenience. It appreciates craftsmanship, imperfection, and feels intentionally crowded.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/967932266/0/tongueincheek~Brocante-Home/feed/ 9