Pink Saturday

This old painted pink door is great for hanging bird houses.

A visit to SuzAnna's Antiques last Saturday give me an opportunity to hunt down pink pretties to share with you.

Looks like an authentic Dutch clog....wonder where its clogging partner could be!

I think pink and yellow are a great combination, especially when they are warm tints of the two shades.

Hope everyone enjoys Pink Saturday, whether casually clogging or dancing the night away in your strappy high heels!! Me, I'll be sitting somewhere comfy, resting my feet....but sipping a glass of pink rose wine!

Now waltz or jitterbug over to see Beverly's list of Pink participants at How Sweet The Sound.

Late Summer Flowers

I bought these brilliantly colored flowers today at Trader Joe's.

Fresh picked....in California....fast forwarded to North Carolina and still "fresh as a daisy".

With Autumn waiting in the wings and before being surrounded by pumpkins and gourds, a beautiful bouquet of late Summer flowers in a simple jug bring pleasure........even to me, a lover of neutrals and French gray.

They remind me of Provence, what more can I say.

Past Perfect

Meeting up again with Brenda & Debbie of The Shabby Rose at their new space at Affordable Chic, was so much fun. These friendly gals certainly know how to display their beautiful finds......and they take time to chat and share decorating tips.

Below is the 'piece de resistance' of their collection at the moment. A stunning, painted mahogany fireplace surround with attached mirrored over-mantel. This piece is huge, expensive, and absolutely gorgeous. As mentioned before, I would need to win the North Carolina Lottery to be able to afford this and transport it home. Plus, a bigger home would also be necessary!

That lovely painting of the children moved with this piece, and the mercury glass adds shine and elegance.

If this mantel looks familiar to you I'm not surprised. If you have the 2008 copy of Cottage Style (a Meredith Special decorating publication), you will have seen this actual piece in a beach house at Emerald Isle, North Carolina. There, decorated with shells, it was used as a headboard in a guest bedroom. Quite spectacular and I wonder why the piece was sold on.

Beach House image from Cottage Style.

Guess I'll buy a lottery ticket this weekend........will let you know if I'm a winner, then go rent the truck, LOL!

Silver Service

Sometimes life's little thrills are presented to one on a silver platter. Remember my recent purchase of this French Bistro sign for the kitchen, which by the way, I love and am glad was still there when I returned after a couple of months of debating, should I, shouldn't I? That booth, named The Shabby Rose, belongs to two lovely, fun dealers, Brenda & Debbie.

These gals know what to hunt for! They stock their space with unusual things, the kind I love, and many are French inspired.

Lots of chippy paint in fabulous colors...............

..........interesting chandeliers and light fixtures..........

......................this wonderful bull's eye mirror (now waiting to be hung in my home) inspired by the old zinc windows on Paris buildings.............and precious art such as this gorgeous oil painting of children.

Iron topiary and basket - German shutters

When I bumped into the gals restocking and rearranging their space last weekend, they told me of their second location at a recently opened shop not far from my house. This shop, Affordable Chic, has not only antiques, vintage and new decorative treasures, also a tiny tearoom, and sells fresh flowers and seasonable vegetables - what more could one wish for.

Next time I'll show you more of The Shabby Rose's beautiful offerings at their new location...............including a surprise piece I'd love to own, but I'll need to win the Lottery first!!

Take a seat at La Madone

La Madone, Apt, Provence

When blog friend Corey of Tongue in Cheek recommended her friends Nathalie and Jean-Bernard's La Madone as "the most beautiful place to stay in Provence", how could I resist making reservations last October! Knowing the town of Apt was on the circuitous route we planned to take enabling us to visit as many markets as possible, the gorgeous apartments at this beautiful old house beckoned. Leaving Corey in Aix-en-Provence after our marvelous day of treasure hunting, we next met lovely blog friend Linda of Frenchless in France in the pretty village of Lourmarin on market day, and then headed on through scenic hilly country, dotted with picturesque hill towns, to Apt.

I've already shared many pics of the stunning interiors here and here at La Madone....I even came home and worked on my own decor, trying to bring some of those colors and feelings of old Provence into my dining room......and have been pleased with the results which came with paint and accessories.

Trying to replicate La Madone's stunning outdoor areas would be impossible! Nathalie and Jean-Bernard have brought beauty to their conservatory, terrace and pool areas that would never work here....even if I could afford it!!

The garden has many restful areas to sit, some under fig trees which were still producing fruit in October. Furnished with old chairs, mixed not matched, and so charming, one immediately felt relaxed and welcome.

Wicker, iron, wood.......naturals always work together.

View toward the town from the window of our apartment.

The pool was inviting although we didn't take a dip. Sitting beside it, high above the old town, watching the market vendors arrive to set up for the early morning was relaxing. There were tiny streets to explore, shop windows to browse, and some excellent restaurants to try. Apt is small.....the weekly market is the most important day when it truly comes alive. It's a good spot to visit the surrounding countryside and many lovely small towns and villages in the Luberon mountains.

La Madone's friendly cat enjoyed trying out several of the available chairs.........and she decided perhaps next to DH was the best place!

Passing through the conservatory, fan palms..........

................cherubs, draped fabric, soft cushioned benches wrapped with Nathalie's signature hemp linens...........a collection of antique bird cages against a painted wall..............

.....drifts of trailing plants, some flowering, others shades of green so pretty no other color was required.

Some of these images I've shown in earlier posts, however, La Madone is so beautiful, I wanted to show you again! This is certainly a very special place in Provence ~ I'm sure anyone visiting will enjoy their time here. I know Marilyn at Delights of the Heart will be there soon ~ have a wonderful time at La Madone.

Sit & Dream in Provence

I'm feeling a little blue because I won't be visiting Provence this Autumn. Looking back through my photos taken last October, I still find little treasures to share with you. Some of you have been here, others plan to visit soon. You will love this area of France.........it will stay in your memory for years to come......and, like me, you will hope to return.

Metal chair under a fig tree.

It's rare to find a country house in France that doesn't have an outdoor living area. It is as much part of the house as any indoor room. Designed for sitting, dreaming, perhaps reading, and always for eating and drinking.

Aviaries and fruit trees in the courtyard.

Visiting textile dealer Michel Biehn's amazingly beautiful house/shop/office in L'Isle sur la Sorgue, I felt the charming garden leading to the front entrance provided a harmonious link to the lovely interior. Provencal fabrics and furnishings spilled out from each room, and a peek into the magnificent kitchen set my heart racing........................

.......and over there, just beyond the trees........

Sunday Antiques Market

.....the River Sorgue complete with waterwheels and bridges, invited diners to sit a while, relax with a glass of wine, after the busy market day.

Waterwheel on the River Sorgue.

Next time I'll show you more of the beautiful sitting places at La Madone in the town of Apt, Provence.

Pink Saturday in Boise, Idaho

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Some little pink peeks from our quick visit to Boise, Idaho. We loved this town and it's magnificent State Capitol building (undergoing a huge rehab so we couldn't tour inside) designed after The Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The locals were friendly - an ex-congressman stopped to chat and shared some history with us.

Sidewalk sign for the fabulous French bakery/restaurant, La Vie en Rose, where we ate the best pastries ever.

Starbucks was in a historic building with a pink turret.

The palest pink bike waiting for a rider.

Boise's beautiful (aren't they all) Anthropologie store displaying the prettiest deep rosy pink sweater.

Profusion of pink petunias at the famous Basque restaurant Leku Ona.

Boise, Idaho, looked like a really nice place to live.
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Happy Pink Saturday wherever you are this week.

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to enjoy loads of pink posts.