Fall in France

Dear friends, see that European country in pale yellow, right where my hair bow points ~ well not MY hair bow, but this Jessie Willcox Smith illustration could have been me in sixth grade perhaps! Anyway, that's France and that's where I'll be in a few months visiting my much loved brother, sister-in-law and niece.

Geography was always my favorite, and best, subject in school ~ now it's somehow become part of Social Studies, buried among many other subjects and not given the importance it deserves ~ such a shame. Even high school kids are often unable to locate a particular country on a world map! I'm certain my generation acquired a passion for travel due to real geography classes. Emphasis was placed on learning everything about each country and it was so interesting that one just longed to take a bus, a prop plane, or that 'slow boat to China' to see these amazing countries.

I visited my now "French family' in 2006. They relocated from London and were living in their former vacation home while renovating their new 200 year old house in a Southwestern French village.

This time I'll be staying in this fabulous house, overlooking the 8th century abbey, taking a morning swim in the pool if it's not too chilly, then walking to the boulangerie for croissants and a baguette - fresh from the oven. I can hardly wait...................................but

.......................wait I must, until October!!

So, not leaving yet, however I have a lot to organize now that dh and I have made our reservations. I need extra time to work on these travel plans ~ including a side trip back to Provence hopefully, do the remaining Spring (now Summer!) cleaning chores I've been putting off, work in the garden, organize magazines which have piled up, clean out the 'frig, catch up with e-mails, make some cards, sew some seams, and hopefully read a book or two from the waiting stack.

I planned to take a little blog break this week, I just need some extra time. But, you know how hard it is to stay away, so perhaps I'll still have time to catch up with you all in a couple of days. I have pics from last week's visit to SuzAnna's Antiques where I met up with my dear friend Vanessa at Vanilla Lavender again ~ more treasures to share ~ so I just know I will see you soon.