Going Home ~ Coming Home

Back in the USA! Arrived Sunday after an almost nine hour flight. Not the best way to be celebrating an auspicious Birthday - yes, it was a big one and I didn't even get a slice of cake - just a granola bar!

Where to start? At the beginning perhaps. Was limited for computer time while in France and England, WIFI not readily available like here. Hope you enjoyed at least a couple of glimpses from life on the roads of Europe and, as promised, I'll bring you more over the coming weeks. I did take a lot of pics of some beautiful scenery, decor, food, markets, my family, and some very special blog friends whom many of you know.

Typical English countryside at daybreak before landing at Heathrow.

After a coach ride from Heathrow to Gatwick Airport, a snack to keep us going while awaiting our flight to Toulouse. No time in England but did get a quick visit on the return.

Leaving the UK and heading across the English Channel to France.


By late afternoon we were in Caunes-Minervois, hugged by family and comfortably ensconced in a "room with a view" of the lovely garden. The window, complete with heavy wood shutters so typical to France, looked out onto the lower level garden and the small "impasse", a pedestrian lane running between the house, some farmland and Caunes Abbey. When here in June 2006, my brother was still renovating this house and we stayed in his former home in a nearby village. The changes here are amazing and I'll be showing you more later.

Thanks to all of you who have kept up with me and left comments and e-mails. Being gone for almost a month and unable to visit you and leave comments has been tough.......but each one of you has been on my mind. I wish you could have all been along to enjoy everything the South of France has to offer.

French Food

When I have more time to extol the virtues of French food I will write several posts dedicated to the amazing array of beautiful foods available everywhere. The French have managed to get it all right when it comes to eating.......................and drinking.

Meanwhile, a quick peek from markets I've visited these past weeks thanks to Corey and Linda while in Provence, my family here in the Minervois, and of course my ever patient dh whom I've dragged to every market day in every village and town along the way.

French breads are the best in the world. Most people buy twice a day with a fresh baguette or other shaped loaf for breakfast and lunch, returning to the boulangerie at 5:30 PM for another fresh baked beauty for dinner later in the evening.

I admit I am a cheese-aholic! No meat of any description, much to a French cook's disappointment, but perhaps I'm pardoned when I gobble their fabulous cheeses.

A healthy salad is always fresh from the potager. Lettuce at the market is never in a plastic bag. Just-picked heads are displayed proudly in boxes, the crispness visible to the senses, and just a simple oil and vinegar dressing required. My brother's is great, and of course the lettuce from his garden the best. Good olive oil, a little walnut oil, balsamic vinegar, a gentle shake in a bottle and the perfect salad arrives on the table.
Because the French rarely eat between meals, sweet treats are saved for dessert. Yes, those gorgeously slim ladies DO eat small portions of scrumptious desserts!

Below is a 'take away' dessert treat Corey shared with us following lunch in Aix-en-Provence. The prettiest, intensely flavored, cream-filled macaroons. I chose coffee flavor, dh pistachio - eaten on the wall of one of Aix's many lovely fountains.

More on food later....................off now to enjoy another of my sister-in-law's gourmet meals. Can honestly say I haven't had a bad French meal yet - every morsel has been perfection. Did I hear someone mention "diet"? Oh yes, that word looms in my future, however you need to know that we have walked, and walked, including a 5 mile hike through the vineyards this week!!

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.