Bringing France Home

Have you ever stayed somewhere so perfect that you wanted to bring the furnishings home? This seems to be happening a lot. My brother and sister-in-law's gorgeous home I'll show more of later, much of it I'd love to pack up and ship to North Carolina..................and, guess what, they'll open their massive antique door to you if you want to visit!

Again, sorry I've not posted, just having fun during these marvellous days in France. I believe I've taken over 2000 photos so will have much to share.

Meanwhile, a brief peek to whet your appetite for all things lovely and French. In the Provencal town of Apt, at the base of the Luberon mountains, we spent two nights in an amazing house called La Madone. Our apartment, called "Chanvre" which is a type of old linen fabric, was so beautiful, I could have moved in permanently.

These two heavy linen cushion covers trimmed in French blue, I purchased right off the linen upholstered daybed.........................................................along with some antique monogrammed linen kitchen towels. This kitchen sink was set into a very old massive stove with iron doors.
The romantic pool in the lovely garden of La Madone.
Our living room complete with beamed ceiling, lovely paint effects, crystal chandeliers and puddled heavy linen draperies.

I'll have so much more to show later after all photos organized. My days in France have been fabulous. Off to London on Friday for just a brief visit - can't pass up a chance to go home and do a little shopping before crossing the pond yet again.

Many thanks to all who have stopped by while I've been gone - miss you all.

A Chateau in France?

Having such a great time there's been no time to post - sorry!! Just a quick note to let you know I may come back...................unless I become the owner of this chateau/winery, soon to be auctioned, and just a few miles from my family's home!!!!!

Meanwhile, this is the amazing village house and garden which my brother and his wife have been painstakingly restoring for several years. Many more pics to come - I've taken so many.

I'm in Provence right now staying in another gorgeous house in the Luberon Mountains. I'll have so much to show you when I return and have time to edit my photos. Just know there are many new decorating ideas swimming around in my mind and, although I love it here, I'm looking forward to coming home, dragging the paintbrushes out, cranking up the sewing machine.......................and really doing some serious makeovers!

For those of you who keep up with bloggers Corey and Linda who both live here in Provence................I've met them both this week and had a fabulous time with each of them.

Thank you both for taking me around the Aix-en-Provence and Loumarin markets. Have to admit, there's nothing better than getting into places only the local "treasure hunters" are familiar with. Wait 'til you see what I found in back street brocantes and tiny village alleys.

More from the road later.

Time for Angels

I'm not the best time traveler...............................................

My lovely 'Paris' clock ~ a gift from sweet Vanessa at Vanilla Lavender.

Although I've crossed the pond dozens of times I'm never truly comfortable...........flying. I long to see my family and friends when I'm away from them, I delight in venturing to new cities, towns and villages to soak up the history of place, and the lay of a foreign land. Watching people go about their everyday life in another place is so interesting. Shopping for little treasures to bring back, picking out post cards to mail, are fun parts of a trip. Driving through countryside so different and beautiful it takes one's breath away. Eating local delicacies, sipping the wines made nearby, as you enjoy the camaraderie of friends, is as good as it gets.

It's just the actual journey, so high in the clouds for so long, cramped in a seat, blasted by stuffy air, being too hot or too cold etc. etc. Needless to say - dh forgot to purchase first class tickets, again! We fly across the pond tomorrow night to London and then on to Toulouse, arriving Thursday afternoon. Will try to post now and then as we view the Autumn beauty of the South of France, and visit with family.

I'm also planning to meet up with three great blog friends, Terri (Island Writer), Linda (Frenchless in France), and Corey Amaro (Tongue in Cheek) - I'm excited about this of course.

My angel will wait at home saying a prayer that the journey goes well, France will be kind to us, and then we'll return safely at the end of October to tell you about our adventures.
"Au revoir, mes amis."

Counting Down the Hours

Things are getting really hectic now. Leaving home for an extended trip means so many loose ends to tie up in a bow, some with everyday cotton string - mail, newspapers - others in silk and satin, family and dear friends.

I did manage a quick visit to SuzAnna's Antiques over the weekend - where I found this adorable crepe paper banner - to say goodbye to the gals, including lovely blog friends Deborah and Vanessa. Deborah shared more about her recent trip to Australia and fabulous Tahiti, and Vanessa told us of her romantic getaway with her dh to upstate New York. Thanks for all the well wishes and hugs girls. Vanessa the lovely shoe bags you made are already packed away in my suitcase ready for France - a lovely surprise gift, thanks so much.

Hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful early Autumn Sunday. Many thanks to all who've stopped by to wish me a safe, fun trip.

Shelter

At times it's just hard to leave home. Familiar shelter, a roof over one's head, the warm and cozy feeling as you step through your door ~ home sweet home.

Last night the very strong, gusty winds and pouring rain of the Nor'easter pounding the North Carolina coast, came inland and shook the cottage. This morning the garden is littered with leaves, twigs, acorns, even several large branches that fell from the trees, but all seems safe in the thin sunlight now washing over the drenched landscape. Still windy, more showers coming ~ being sheltered makes one so thankful. Leaving home can be hard.

So, back to the packing. Closet doors yawn, drawers gape open. "Take me, pack that, choose this" the contents say. Not decided yet, you say. Checking the weather for the South of France finds perfect days of sunshine, with cool evenings and early mornings. So back to the list with a few changes necessary.

France.......and Florida Friends

My Francophile friend from Florida, Terri, will be leaving for France a couple of days before me and will get to enjoy some time in her beloved Paris. She and her dh will then head South and arrive in the village of Caunes-Minervois just as we arrive following our flight into Toulouse from the UK. There will be no partying that night as I know we'll all be ready for bed - especially us having missed a night of sleep while crossing the pond.

Why the books? I have to tell you that Terri is an author with two wonderful books already published - I'm reading the second right now - and another soon to be on the way to my bookshelf. We are going to have much to talk about when we meet next week. Terri is from New England, and I lived there many years, so we know many of the same places in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We talked on the phone this week and she already feels like a special friend. We've shared travel tips such as what to pack. I'm inclined to take too much but, by the looks of her small bag, she's got it down pat when it comes to traveling light. I've been able to share interesting places to visit in the Minervois region as I was there in 2006. She's invited us all over for wine and cheese. I just know we will have a great time.

Terri now lives on a tiny Florida island named Cedar Key. She also has a beautiful vacation property ready to rent if you need a break and want to live the island life. You just have time to stop by to wish her "bon voyage", tell her Mary sent you. Terri DuLong www.islandwriter.net

Village Friends in France

How exciting is this! Several months ago I discovered that a fellow blog friend, Terri in Cedar Key, Florida, was planning a visit to the French village where my family live. Even more surprising was the fact she and her dh would actually be arriving there the very same day as us! Needless to say, we have been in touch and arranged to meet for a chat and a glass of wine during the week they are there. When I told my sister-in-law where they will be staying, she said it was just a short walk.............across the square, past the fountain, under the plane trees to the tiny 'impasse' where their village house is located. Doesn't that sound like the perfect evening stroll?

Pull up a chair for a long-awaited chat with a friend.

Note: As I'm having major ongoing photo upload/post/save problems with Blogger, I'm hoping this will post. Is anyone else still having problems? It's been well over a week now and literally thousands of Blogger subscribers are cramming the message boards with complaints and threats of moving to other blog sites such as Typepad.
Edited: Seems to have posted but reverted to Sunday's date - oh well, hope you can see it - meanwhile the frustration continues.