Sharing a Passion

How wonderful it is to make friends with women who have a vision.............and then they share their passion with others in many generous ways. Many of you already know of my wonderful friends Susie and Anna (also Linda, Jenny and the others) at SuzAnna's Antiques. Their great shop has become almost a second home! Part of their ever expanding business has areas filled with everything from crystal chandeliers to vintage cotton aprons, all offered exuberantly by several great dealers, one of whom is Jeannie ~ lover of all things pretty, painted, Parisian, vintage and glittery.

The best mirrors.........................

...................great painted furniture ~ Jeannie always has the best pieces........

............and of course plenty of aprons and crystals.

However, Jeannie also has her very own shop called UNIQUITIQUES tucked away in a quaint little downtown cottage in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Vanessa of Vanilla Lavender and I went to visit recently just as she was decorating for the holiday season. Yes, it was all there............vintage, Paris pink, glittery glass ornaments and signs, china teacups, and more of those marvelous pink cowgirl hats. Jeannie, delightful and generous, is another of these amazing women who is following her vision, her dream, of being a shopkeeper, of bringing back treasures from near and far to share with us.

Jeannie's shop in Hillsborough ~ dressed for the season...........

................Christmas ornaments in her space at SuzAnna's.............

..........one of Jeannie's German glass glitter angels ~ now hanging out at my house as I start holiday decorating.

Jeannie's generous and pretty little 'thank you' gifts offered at SuzAnna's recent Holiday Open House ~ what a fun evening that was!


If you are living near, or passing close to Hillsborough, NC ~ an interesting historic town ~ don't miss a visit to see Jeannie and her friends who share the cottage. Out of all the lovely things she has collected, one or more items will definitely look fabulous in your home.

Do remember to support the local shopkeepers in your town, especially now during the Holiday season. They are the nicest people, offer unique items, and always provide the best service.

Holiday Warmth

Give thanks ...........Happy Thanksgiving.

Blessings from my hearth to your home.

Enter Here

Guardian of all things old and lovely.

Brocante in Carcassonne.

The beautiful antique treasures of France are often displayed on the sidewalks, even spilling out onto the streets. After gazing at statues, huge urns, and intricate iron pieces, you are easily enticed to step into the shop where the merchandise leaves you swooning, longing, and wishing you could say to heck with the budget, lease a container and ship it all home!

Outside an antiques shop in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Provence.

I enjoy seeing items displayed like this ~ no clutter ~ the shapes clearly visible.

I'll be waiting ~ do return soon.

Bread & Cheese

Where's the promised bread and cheese?

If it's not market day in your village, a short ride through the countryside......

..............a few turns through narrow village lanes..............

.............will bring you to a new village and another daily market.

Before heading for the freshly baked breads and gorgeous local cheeses, we have to admire the vegetables.

When they look as fresh and gorgeous as these how could you resist!

The French may think we vegetarians are a bit peculiar, but surely they must know we have good reason to skip the meat when offered such amazing veggies.

I do eat my veggies, as I'm sure you do................but then there's the bread and cheese!

There's no stopping me when the gorgeous crusty breads and amazing selection of French cheeses appear.

All images taken at various markets in the South of France in October.

You know about "bringing home the bacon"............more important is the fresh baguette. In France it will be presented to you proudly by the boulanger, wrapped in a piece of paper and, like the French, you will take a bite from the end while it's still warm!

Pink Saturday

Pink Caunes marble.

The village of Caunes-Minervois, where my family now live, is famous for its marble which comes in three shades ~ pale pink, sandy pink and blood red. The marble was used for the columns of the Grand Trianon at Versailles, the Opera Garnier in Paris (yes, where The Phantom hung out), the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel at the Louvre, and many famous buildings in Europe. The marble quarries have long contributed to the village's prosperity and renown.

Winning pieces from annual marble carving competitions are displayed around the village.

Local grape picker?

Early Autumn leaves in one of several pink marble fountains in the village.

Visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound

to enjoy more pink posts today.

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.