Five Ways to Bring Provence to Your Patio

I can't travel to France right now so I've decided to bring France to me! Several years ago I spent a few wonderful weeks touring France to celebrate my retirement, the highlight of which was a stay in an old farmhouse in Provence. It had a charming patio that welcomed us each time we came through the gate. I would love to be able to come home to that feeling every evening but I have to be realistic. I just don't have that house to work with as a backdrop! So I have come up with five very easy ways to add that charm without the price of an airline ticket!

How to Give a Chair Country French Style

First, I have a confession…I don’t have any real antique French chairs. I know (hanging head in shame)…can you believe it? But my house is small and every chair needs to be able to earn its keep, withstanding the attentions of my grandsons...who have been known to jump on furniture... and two cats.

Revisiting a Special Trip to France

Nine years ago today I was boarding a plane with my then 10-year-old grandson...headed to France for a trip we had planned since he was five! I am so happy we made that trip and have those wonderful memories! I'm revisiting my first post after our return which contains links to all of our plans each day if you would like to follow along. A special day, given all that has happened, was our visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. I am so happy to have been able to take the trip of a lifetime and share my favorite city with a very special little guy!

Bonjour mes amis! We just flew in from Paris…my ten-year-old grandson and I…and I wanted to give you a quick peek! There will be more details once I have recovered from jet lag! This is the trip we have planned for five years…since he first became a big fan of Monet thanks to a wonderful art teacher. We spent one week seeing everything there is to see in Paris and I am exhausted! lol  But, when I asked him what he liked best, here’s his list of favorites…

A Little Virtual Visit to Monet's Garden

I have been faithfully self-quarantining for several weeks now with my trips limited to my back yard only. I don't know about you, but I need a little virtual vacation! The beautiful country home and gardens of the French artist Claude Monet have been on my mind this week. How does that sound to you? Pack your virtual bags and join me for a tour! We are heading for the little village of Giverny, France!

Five Ways to Bring Provence to Your Patio

Several years ago I spent a few wonderful weeks touring France to celebrate my retirement, the highlight of which was a stay in an old farmhouse in Provence. It had a charming patio that welcomed us each time we came through the gate. I would love to be able to come home to that feeling every evening but I have to be realistic. I just don't have that house to work with as a backdrop! So I have come up with five very easy ways to add that charm without the price of an airline ticket!

Revisiting Notre Dame Cathedral with My Grandson

I am sure that many of you, like me, were in shock and heartbroken to see Paris' beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral in flames yesterday. It has been reassuring this morning to read that there is hope of preserving what remains of it and moving forward with what I am sure will be a long-term project to restore this Parisian icon. I have to admit that I am still teary at the thought of the loss but so grateful to have been able not only to see it but to take my then ten-year-old grandson with me for the trip of a lifetime!

A Little Summer Antiquing

We are well into summer here in Georgia with sweltering heat and humidity so it's time for my favorite indoor sport...antiquing! lol My friend Linda and I headed out to our favorite spot, the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, to see what we could find. The change of seasons always guarantees some fun new finds and we were not disappointed!

Tea and French Macarons

I am so excited because a new shop has opened near me that brings a little bit of France close to home...French macarons! I have to give credit for its discovery to my grandson who, having traveled to France with me at age ten, knows how I love all things French and brought one home to me as a surprise. That one immediately ...errr...disappeared so I made a trip myself to fetch more to show you!

A Little Spring Antiquing

If you know me, you know one of my favorite things to do is to spend the day checking out the fabulous antiques and collectibles at my favorite spot, the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, Georgia, and then come home and share them with you! :-) I always find lots to love and a few special things that really speak to me. So let's go on a little imaginary shopping spree...and please feel free to spend your virtual money if you see anything that you like! ;-)

Best Thrifting Find Ever!

I just discovered that a fun thrifting trip netted me my best antiquing find ever! It looks like a little book...2 inches by 2 ¾ inches...and I don't know how I even managed to see it. But if you know me, you know that the combination of roosters and French script drew me in right away! And it was only $10...best bargain ever as you will see!

Peter Mayle's "A Good Year" in Gordes, France

I was deeply saddened to learn about the recent death of one of my favorite writers...Peter Mayle. You may know him as the author of A Year in Provence and numerous other books written about and set in the Luberon in la Provence profonde...deepest Provence.  My thoughts went back to a trip to France several years ago, inspired by his writings and in particular his novel A Good Year.

A Little Virtual Shopping Spree

Are you in the mood for a little antiquing...the kind that doesn't cost anything? Do you love anything vintage or French...or even better, vintage and French...like me? Well, come along with me on a virtual shopping spree! We are heading to the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, Georgia, my favorite spot for antiquing. And...your virtual purchases are limited only by your imagination! ;-)

A Little Virtual Shopping Spree

Are you in the mood for a little antiquing...the kind that doesn't cost anything? Do you love anything vintage or French...or even better, vintage and French...like me? Well, come along with me on a virtual shopping spree! We are heading to the Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, Georgia, my favorite spot for antiquing. And...your virtual purchases are limited only by your imagination! ;-)

My Favorite New Thrifting Finds

I've been doing a little antiquing this summer with my sister and my best buddy and, although I am trying to control myself since space is limited, I couldn't resist a visit to Madison Markets in Madison, Georgia! And...I came home with these lovelies! And if you know me, then you know they were bargains!

Five Ways to Bring Provence to Your Patio

Several years ago I spent a few wonderful weeks touring France to celebrate my retirement, the highlight of which was a stay in an old farmhouse in Provence. It had a charming patio that welcomed us each time we came through the gate. I would love to be able to come home to that feeling every evening but I have to be realistic. I just don't have that house to work with as a backdrop! So I have come up with five very easy ways to add that charm without the price of an airline ticket!

Five Ways to Bring Provence into Your Home

I am excited because it's time for our Country French design group's monthly share! I always love seeing what my fellow francophiles have to show us. And this time I am sharing something very close to my heart...in fact my home is decorated around this notion...bringing the feel of Provence into your home!

Giveaway...Signed Copy of Monet's Palate Cookbook!

I am so excited because I have a wonderful giveaway for you, my readers! I am happy to be able to offer you a chance to win a copy of the beautiful new book Monet's Palate Cookbook: The Artist & His Kitchen Garden at Giverny signed by author and filmmaker Aileen Bordman and featuring a forward by Meryl Streep. If you know me, you know what an important place Monet's home and gardens hold in my heart since a visit there was the central reason that I took my then ten-year-old grandson to France. So that makes this book especially meaningful to me!

Decorating with Vintage French Images

I am so excited because it’s time for our Country French design group's monthly share! I love seeing what my very talented fellow francophiles have to show us each month! This time the topic is our choice so I chose one of my favorite ways to add some frenchiness to your décor without spending a lot of money… decorating with vintage French images. I will show you five different ways to use images and I will even provide them for you!

Bonne Année...A Country French New Year

I am so excited because it’s time for our monthly share from our Country French Design group…and this time the subject is tables! I have to confess that most of the tables in my home are family antiques and are not actually French. But since it’s almost New Year’s Eve I decided to share my tablescape which definitely has a French accent! It's rustic and simple and stars lots of texture with a generous helping of frenchiness!

A Country French Christmas

I am so excited because it’s the last Sunday in the month…time for our Country French Design Group to share…and this time the subject is Christmas! I love that mixture…my favorite style with one of my favorite holidays! And believe it or not, it’s not hard or expensive to give a Country French flavor to your Christmas décor!