Pommes d'amour..................

We know they will soon be as precious as gold! That's if we can find any once the first frost visits the garden.

Tomatoes in southwestern France seem to hang about longer, an extended season to enjoy a fresh picked one. These beauties growing in huge clusters were still ripening in my brother's garden last October.

Pommes d'amour, love apples................aaah, the romantic French named them such believing them to have aphrodisical properties.

The English word tomato comes from the Spanish tomatl. A member of the deadly nightshade family, tomatoes were erroneously thought to be poisonous by Europeans ~ their leaves are!

The tomato is native to western South America and Central America. In 1519, Cortez discovered them growing in Montezuma's gardens and brought seeds back to Europe where they were planted as ornamental curiosities, but not eaten.

Caunes-Minervois - October 2008

The honor system ~ with scale perched on a tomato color stool ~ outside a village house.

Basket of just picked tomatoes, figs and peppers ~ I peeked in and asked 'monsieur' if I could snap a pic as we passed by in the village street.

Tuh-MAY-toh or Tuh-MAH-to? Pronunciation doesn't matter when it comes to this fabulous fruit known as a vegetable..................

................and I'm off to my kitchen right now to chop, mince and prepare a bowl of Gazpacho to use up some of my tasty, locally grown toMAHtos!!!!

Something you love......

Dining room ~ 2008

After spending last October in Southwest France and Provence, I returned knowing exactly how I wanted my home to look. I revamped the dining room earlier this year and many of you followed my progress. I'm still tweaking this room, adding a few things as I find them.

No hurry, a beautiful room evolves with time.

Dining room ~ Spring 2009

The room is my vision of 'French Country', as found in the villages and small market towns of Provence. Casual but elegant. The colors are muted creams and blue grays, white china, tarnished silver, painted wood, pine farm table, natural linen. It's not easy to find authentic European items in this area.......when you're on a budget! But hunt I do, and gather when I can. I like to browse through antiques malls, vintage, consignment and charity shops.....and just plain old junk shops! I have a wish list....doesn't everyone! I've painted all my old furniture, the only new piece being the table.

Dining Room....today.

Did you notice what's new? Have been looking high, literally, and low for a vintage European chandelier with crystals. One that would blend with that beautiful wall sconce I found at SuzAnna's Antiques last year. It had to be many things: not too large, have six to eight lights, have the right metal finish - old gold or bronze, no shiny brass, LOTS of real faceted glass crystals, old looking candle covers, hopefully not require rewiring, and have a dear little tag hanging from it with a nice price, one I could afford!

I think this was a steal!!! Right size, 8 lights, loads of real crystals (only two missing and I've been able to replace them), did buy new candle covers as they were bright white, wiring was new and safe according to my electrician...........and most amazing of all, it matches the wall sconce perfectly!

I had a health scare a few weeks ago but, following tests and biopsies, received good news last Friday. After great sighs of relief, giving thanks, and having lunch with DH, I decided to enjoy the afternoon looking around an antiques mall in town. It was there I saw it above my head. I became giddy looking up, checking everything, measuring with a borrowed yard stick. The perfect chandelier with the gentle price tag ~ and my name was on it. Well not really, but I loved it. I crossed another treasure off my wish list, happily wrote a check, and carried it home feeling doubly blessed that day.

Wanderlust................

..........a very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.

Summer vacation time is here.

I'm leaving on a trip tomorrow. Off to picturesque New England with DH and 'traveling granddaughter'. It's where I lived for 12 years before before coming South.

No Porch rocking for a week.

Boston beans. Plymouth Rock. Newport cliff mansions. White Mountains of New Hampshire. Green Mountains of Vermont. Maine lobster. Clambakes. Old Man of the Mountains. Old Stomping Grounds. Independence Day parade. New England shore. LL Bean (open 24 hrs. 365 days!). Hometown happiness.

DH is from New Hampshire, a truly beautiful state. We will meet up with his older brother and his wife who are flying in from Arizona to celebrate and enjoy an old-fashioned 4th of July in a small country town. Time will be spent at the coast, munching lobster rolls and dipping little neck clams in drawn butter!

Sun, sea oats, and the Atlantic ocean.

We'll be driving around a lot and I'll have the chance to meet a blog friend whom some of you know...........Janet of Housepeepers who lives in Massachusetts. Janet is funny and friendly and I'm really looking forward to meeting her. Do visit her blog - she's just returned from a Mediterranean cruise and has posted beautiful pictures (and hilarious stories) of Naples, Isle of Capri, Malta and Rome, with lots more to come.

Brocante in Carcasssone, France - October 2008

Last, and by no means least, I'll be antiques hunting along the highways and byways of the charming New England states. I've already found a shop where I just might find some French treasures, can't wait to get there.

I'll post, and visit you............if I have time and WI-FI is available.

Enjoy your 4th of July celebration...................wherever you are.

Just paint over it............

Remember the guest room makeover last year? I painted old vintage shutters. All that happened after my first trip to Provence in high Summer. Sunny colors of fabulous Vincent Van Gogh paintings, fields of sunflowers, lavender, purple iris, rich red grapes, cobalt blue sea ~ were my inspiration.

Second time around, last October, the glaring sun had faded the countryside. Autumnal shades surrounded me - russet and ochre of the vineyards after the harvest was over, lavender fields turning to dusty gray under paler washed blue skies. Still stunning ~ I loved it all, even more perhaps.

Dried lavender fields and windmill - nr. Minerve, France. Oct. 2008


Last week I dragged the shutters out into the 'cloud shine', better painting when the sun's not too bright.......or scorching hot!

I lightly sprayed unevenly with cream first, then dry brushed with Valspar's Gravity.
I like this softer look. On entering the room, which is small, you no longer see the shutters first and foremost!

Vintage monogrammed hemp French pillow cover purchased at La Madone in Provence.

Do your decorating projects occur spontaneously? Do you enjoy refinishing, repainting, re-purposing items in your home?
Do you usually buy new furniture, or hunt for gently used, vintage or antique items? Have you ever had a mad moment when, on a trip, you purchased an item which had to be shipped home because those overheads are so minuscule?
How about shipping an entire container load from Europe..............now that's my dream!

"Thieves Market"

It was quite some time since I'd visited the Thieves Market Mall in town. Surprising how sometimes those old strip shopping center store fronts hide treasures you didn't know existed. One booth in particular caught my eye, so many things in my style.

Although I liked these....................................

........and would like to find a spot in my kitchen for this.....

......................I really fell in love with these! More aged books to add to the ones I purchased in France last Autumn.

When I enquired as to the price - no tags - the cashier thought they were just being used by the booth owner as props. She called her and asked if she'd sell them, she said OK.......a bargain at $3 each. How about those pretty tinted glass drawer pulls. There were dozens in many unusual muted colors and designs.

Above ~ the 'new' old books are the horizontal ones on the right in my dining room dresser.

A few more standing here next to the leather bound French prayer books I found at a French brocante.

Mirepoix, France ~ October 2008

French brocante, North Carolina junk store.....who knows what treasures are tucked away in dusty corners waiting to be discovered. Next week I'm off to New England and I've already located a shop I must visit in New Hampshire. Perhaps I'll find something special to share with you.

France or bust!!!!!

When I stayed in what my friend Corey described as "the most beautiful place in Provence" ~ and she was so right ~ I fell in love with everything in Nathalie's amazing house. Her little hallway with the black walls and beautiful accessories, including the bust of a lady, became a decorating project in my home when I returned after staying at La Madone in Provence.

Nathalie's hallway at La Madone, Provence ~ October 2008

I do have the dark walls ~ paint color is Valspar's Graphite ~ a mirror, table and small crystal candelabra, but I'm still hoping to find a lady as lovely as Nathalie's.
All of these above are at Market Imports, however they are too large for my little table so I'm still hunting.

A Stroll through Aix-en-Provençe

When you take your trip to Provençe......
.....and I say when not if, because hopefully if you haven't traveled there yet, each of you will go some day to experience this beautiful part of France.............be sure to jot down on your itinerary, in bold letters, Visit Aix-en-Provençe.

This historic city is the region's most cosmopolitan with an international university founded by Louis II in 1409. A wave of prosperity transformed the city in the 17th century, when the ramparts, first raised by the Romans, were pulled down and the grand boulevard, the Cours Mirabeau was built. Lined with beautiful mansions, cafes, and planted with the renowned plane tree allée, the Cours also has many of Aix's exquisite fountains which were added in the 18th century.



Today, I invite you to leave the Cours and the hustle bustle of the market which was in full swing that morning, and take the same stroll around the medieval streets of the old town that I took last October. The early rain soon stopped, leaving the stones and statues washed and water colored. Provençe, known for the brilliant colors of the Mediterranean coast, the sunflower yellow, cobalt blue, rich reds etc. is also blessed with muted shades which I found so beautiful. Around each bend and corner of the cobbled streets, there were faces and beauty everywhere in this lovely place.

La Place de la Mairie ~ Astronomical Clock (1661) on which statues representing the four seasons appear in turn.

Au revoir Aix, your beauty truly shines. I hope to return again some day and I hope each of you will visit also.
All photos taken in October 2008.

Lady Fingers

I ran away yesterday...............to Trader Joe's. Had to escape the dining room and see the world for an hour. I love this store but have to drive to the next town to shop there. Soon one is to be built just minutes from the cottage, the lot is ready and hopefully they'll start construction this Summer.

I spied beautiful boxes of Lady Fingers...............they are from France! Right now my fingers don't belong to any lady, they are paint and wax stained, red and rough from so much washing. They need slathering in sweet lotion such as this one, my favorite Origins 'Ginger'.

Chipped, stained, French Grey wood........my nasty fingers are responsible! It's just about finished and I'll show a picture as soon as I get the top shelves on and display something pretty.

Fresh lavender for sale at the market.

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence ~ October 2008

If I wasn't so tired I'd draw a bath, throw in a little bag of lavender......and soak my tiredness away.

One of dozens of antiques shops in L'Isle-sur-la Sorgue, Provence.

Looking in my mirror I see I look my age ~ but that's OK, I am getting the painting and primping done, I'm not giving up, and I will sit down to dinner soon in my simple but pretty dining room.

French Village Stones

As I paint, I think..........................

The swoosh of the hairs on the paintbrush touching the wood, depositing color, give me time. Time is so precious and we usually don't seem to have enough of it. When you are giving your all to a project which needs many hours for completion, you can let go of all the other things for a while and, if alone in a room just brushing and smoothing, you really have time to think.


Yesterday I thought about October in France. While painting in soft French grey I relived the pleasant daily walks around the village. I recalled the ancient stones of the village walls.

How do stones support an arch? During the afternoons the small streets and lanes were silent as people rested following lunch.


The elementary school stood across the lane from my family's house ~ the stones were cut from huge blocks.

Soft blue, a shade of green almost aqua, misty washed grey................the colors of the shutters

The grey cobblestones worn smooth by footsteps since the 9th century.

The inclines, almost hills, climbing up toward the ancient village walls.


I wonder what I'll think about as I brush on more paint today?

All images taken in Caunes-Minervois ~ October 2008.