My "French" Family

Sometimes a visit to one's immediate family means a long journey. On arrival at my brother's home many doors open in welcome ~ warmth and love soon surround ~ feelings of comfort and happiness prevail.

Ring the bell ~ soon one hears the latch lift on the gate.......................

...............step through onto the crunchy gravel path...............

.............pass by the garden, still and quiet in the early Autumn sunshine......

................the old, original front door...............


.............and enter the house through these doors leading into the dining room and kitchen.

This lovely house was not a home when I visited the first time in 2006. It was being restored ~ it needed a lot of time, muscle, money and love to bring it back. It was the house of the corn merchant. It's location is perfect, on a small lane called an impasse, across from the elementary school where the voices of the children liven the crisp morning air.

The warm welcome from my family in their French home.

Aix-en-Provence........and Corey

On the Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence - October 2008

We planned to meet late morning under a statue on the Cours Mirabeau, Aix-en-Provence's main street known for it's fountains and ancient allée of plane trees. The previous night's heavy rain, and showers that morning, still had me up bright and early, anxious to meet both Corey, and her cousin Judy with husband Chris, visiting from California. As you can imagine, my dh and Chris chatted about sports and guy stuff, while we three gals had more important things to do, like antiques hunting at the morning market!

Many of you are familiar with Corey Amaro's beautiful blog Tongue In Cheek where she shares details of her life with French husband and their children in Provence, and her visits home to California. Corey is funny and has a great sense of style, both of which are captured by her camera. Meeting her made me realize, yet again, that the blogging world is amazing in the way it brings people together who share similar interests.

Corey writes/photographs fabulous articles for well known magazines such as Victoria, Romantic Homes and Somerset Life, and images of her own French village home have been an inspiration to me. She also directed me to her friend Nathalie's beautiful house La Madone in Apt where I stayed last month (see recent posts).

Corey, camera always at the ready, and Judy at the Aix market.

Plenty of small antiques available - always have an extra suitcase!

We snapped each other across one of the many historic fountains.

Great photo opportunities around every bend in the old cobbled streets and alleys of Aix-en-Provence.

Following market browsing and purchasing some small antiques - great bargains because Corey knows all the dealers who were kind enough to discount purchases Judy and I made - the five of us enjoyed a relaxed and delicious lunch. Corey then offered to show us more of Aix - historical buildings with amazing architecture, delightful shops, and even took us to a large brocante for more bargain shopping. Judy and I knew we had to stop before we needed to arrange for a container to ship our treasures home!

Small treasures discovered at La Rotonde ~ Vente Depot.

We said goodbye in the late afternoon. The sun did come out when the rain stopped, the day was lovely, and I was thrilled to have spent time with a special friend and members of her California family.

Be sure to get a copy of December's Romantic Homes where Corey's article 'Christmas Surprises' celebrates the season at Judy and Chris' beautiful home in California. Toile, red transferware, and many of Judy's antique treasures are showcased.

Le jour de marché

It's market day. Hurry, grab one of these authentic French market baskets (these were made right here in the Provencal town of Apt in the Luberon Mountains).....................we're going shopping. I know it's early morning, the sun is just up, and you want a second cup of coffee, but do hurry please, the best stuff is waiting and the market will close at noon!

There is so much to see on market day. The abundance of goods for sale amazes one's senses. As you travel from town to town, village to village, there is always unlimited bounty at each market. Colors overwhelm your vision, your nose breathes in the heady scents of fresh bread, lavender, olive oil soap, Camembert cheese, ocean seafood, garlic, spices and so much more.

Pretty and pungent just harvested lavender from the nearby fields of the Luberon below Mt. Ventoux.

Robust chunks of kitchen soap made from pure olive oil..............

................the piece I brought home to my kitchen!

The local olives now being harvested and brined...............

.................and some made into the purest extra virgin oils and delicious tapenade spreads.

Sunny lemons...........................

................for dried fish (a local delicacy)............guess you soak it, but then what?

.................and freshly caught seafood from the Mediterranean.

Freshly bagged herbs, blended for whatever you are preparing for dinner.............

............and an array of spices to make any dish sing!

Perfect braids of freshly dug garlic..........to make the tastiest aïoli, that so French garlic mayonnaise.

Flowers at every corner - in every color.

Much more to see, can you wait until next time? The breads and cheeses - my favorites of course. The fashions, the antique treasures.................yes, French markets don't leave out much. So dress comfortably, tuck your euros in your pocket...........and choose your basket.
What does your heart desire?

French Pinks

"Bonjour" Pink Saturday friends.

Images taken in the South of France often depict blue, every shade of blue can be seen especially on window shutters, doors etc.

While exploring the winding cobbled back streets of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in Provence recently, I happened upon this storefront which was definitely a change of pace.........................shades of pinky red and pale apricot definitely brought out the beauty of the woodwork.

And the shop......................well, when I peered through the windows it was lovely inside too, and chock-a-block with antiques and vintage treasures. The only disappointment......................it was closed for the usual long afternoon lunch break and I couldn't wait 2 hours for it to reopen!

Here's to a pleasant weekend and, if you have time, do scroll back and view

the blues of France also.

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more Pink Saturday fun.

La Cuisine

The 'kitchen birds' at La Madone.

The French are defined by food. To them the growing, preparing, and eating of freshly harvested produce and locally produced specialties from a village or region, is very important. During my recent extended time in France it became clear to me that food, and accompanying local wines, revolve around a concept of seasonality. Most French cooks, because they have a love affair with fresh, seasonal, local foods, would never bother to cook a dish with a vegetable that had crossed the pond, or even just the country, in a refrigerated trailer.

AND.......speaking of eating, what nicer way to start the day than here at La Madone in Provence. At 8:00 AM, a tap on the apartment door and when opened there was smiling Nathalie one morning, and handsome Jean-Bernard the next. Each carried a tray laden with steaming coffee and milk, freshly squeezed orange juice, homemade apricot and blackcurrant preserves, and fresh from the boulangerie baguette, croissants and pain au chocolat, yum!!

The kitchen area where an old iron stove had been turned into the sink unit ~ 'frig and oven behind the right side door. Old scrubbed table used as an island/worktop.

Pretty blue patterned vintage dishes, pale blue cafe au lait bowls ~ Oooh, I really wanted these!

Simple but pretty painted table and chairs, loved the porcelain numbers on each chair back. Constraint was used in the decor ~ nothing was cluttered, everything was pretty, and each item was there for a purpose.

Antique, unbleached kitchen towels embroidered in French red thread ~ I wonder who A.V. was. I purchased these to bring home so I could have some memories of this delightful place.

When saying au revoir to our gracious hosts we managed this peek into their personal area of the house and of course it was beautiful!!

Hope you have enjoyed La Madone. Perhaps some day you will visit there.

I can assure you that your stay will be memorable.

La chambre à coucher

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder......

On entering the bedroom through a pair of amazing 18th century painted doors, La Madone continues to surprise. The room is furnished simply in the same calm shades.

The heavy silk drapery fabric, which also covers the dressing table bench, is a vintage print of tiny rosebuds and stripes...................


.......a tall cream armoire for our clothes is embellished with an interesting carving.

The 'headboard' for a most comfortable bed is made from old shutters painted dusky blue. They also form the wall for the bathroom area behind. The charming oil painting of the basket of roses contains all the soft colors of the room. Freshly ironed bed coverings of vintage linen with monogrammed cotton pillowcases.

Mini crystal chandeliers with linen covered cords hang over the matching marble topped nightstands.

In the bathroom area the tiny windows were covered with simple linen curtains as were the shower and storage area curtains.
The black tiled shower with river rock floor was the only modern tweak in the apartment. Double sinks with antique mirrors and good lighting was a plus.

And.............where did we enjoy a typically French breakfast after a great night's sleep? I'll show you next time.