To Listen Earnestly

Jane overlooking Portofino, Italy 2015

In the Neighborhood: Tour de France!

Now look at this sign that was just posted near our little village. I was driving the kids to school and when I saw this sign, my mouth fell agape.

Tour de France is swinging through the neighborhood!

Are you a Tour de France follower? It's serious business for some people. What do we need to know, look for? We are newbies!

In the Neighborhood ... Chateâu De Sassy

 This past weekend we had some dear friends visiting and we took part of our Father's Day afternoon to drive to one of our favorite places, just about 15 minutes away ...

... the view from Chateâu de Sassy.

The house and grounds are privately owned, and I believe, still inhabited. Tours of the interior are available.

 But we just love the exterior. The utterly breathtaking gardens are free to enjoy (as far as I know!!) and whenever we have come ... we have been the only visitors, leaving us to feel like Lords and Ladies of the manor.

I think we've been four times and I'd like to come back a couple more times before our move. Maybe even bring a board game and a picnic lunch?  Everything here is all that you could possible dream French countryside to be.

 You can almost imagine pulling in your carriage to the back stables and running inside, as if you owned the place.

And that view. That view. To behold a sight that would have looked exactly the same to any other visitor two or even three hundred years ago. Our friends said they enjoyed it even more than Versailles. It's just so peaceful, approachable and inspiring.

Do you prefer countryside or city views? Does this country estate surprise you at all?

My Love, Father's Day Sunday ...

Shopping at a Vide Grenier

As I mentioned before, I try not to do too much shopping ...

Keeping an eye on the funds, and such. And of course, this is not to mention that anything purchased must find a way to get back to the States. But I tell you, sometimes it is just too hard to resist.

Brocante stores are my most favorite. They are like un-fancy antique stores. Curated, older stuff but not the expensive frou-frou business. The other fun option is a Vide Grenier, which literally translates to "Empty Attic." It's very much like our garage sales, but done as a community in a village where many people bring their wares. A lot of it is junk. A lot. But if you are lucky ...

... you'll find some real gems. The above are my purchases from this weekend's Vide Grenier visit. It was a good one. Everything pictured came in at 20 euros which is less than $25. And that print is a numbered engraving of Normandy. So fun.

Much like a community garage/yard sale in the States, you wander about and scan for items that catch your eye. In general, you usually make eye-contact with the seller and do a head-bob or "bonjour," out of respect. If you want to touch something, a quick inquiring glance and a smile will give you permission to do so. It's subtle, but again, a respect thing. Diving in and manhandling all their stuff isn't much appreciated.

I saw lots of these milk containers. It's cow country! I kind of wanted one but didn't think it would tuck easily into a carry-on. Heh, heh.

I also saw wooden butter churns and lots of brass and copper. See the little pot at the bottom of the photo? Love.

Oh! And I saw a cow that got loose from a field and was casually strolling one of the roads, like he had some shopping to do, until he veered off and went into someone's backyard. I can't tell you how much I wish I had a photo of it, but I was transfixed by the whole situation.

I don't think there is a lot of haggling going on. Maybe a smidge, but not too much. I always worry about insulting the seller, especially if it's not that much money to begin with. Somehow haggling over a 4 euro item seems weird. I remind myself that even if they might knock 50 centimes or a euro off ... it's not that much money and chances are they could probably use it. 

You may recognize the top paddle from the first photo. It came home with me. (Fun to serve cheese on, I think!) I thought it was some kind of butter paddle, but the older man explained that you would kneel in that wooden box, lean over, and work large amounts of bread dough with the paddle, kneading it up up against the exterior side of the box that you are leaning over. Fascinating.

I joked, asking if it was ever used "pour les enfants" and make a smacking motion, to which I was rewarded with an uproarious laugh and response: "Mais, non! Pour votre mari!" ... But no! For your husband! 

It was all very funny.

I find it so enjoyable to wander through these village events. The pace is slow and friendly and I always love a treasure hunt. 

And when you are done, you just meander back through the streets and find your car parked right where you left it ... on the side of the road in front of a little French cottage.

** PS - I am most excited about the little white and blue box in the top photo. I was surprised that no one in my family knew what it was right away. Any guesses??

Baby Chicks Through the Window

Through the upstairs window we get to see a happy sight of farm life. Sometimes the neighbor's cows graze in this field but today ... baby chicks!

Tonight the girls and I will go over to see them and buy some eggs. If I'm honest, this is my kind of farming. The best part of farm life without any of the work! I'm lazy like that ...

Wisteria at La Cressonnière

It's been a month now since these photos were taken, but the wisteria (la glycine) at La Cressonnière was absolutely magnificent.

Jane, my little gardener, was so inspired she set to work on a potted garden.

She found the metal stand and all the pots out in the barn and managed to haul them all out herself (!?!) ...

Copper Pots and Monet's Kitchen

Pots from Monet's kitchen when we visited Les Jardins. My little baker was enraptured.

Springtime Closet-Cleanout

I've been trying to "lay low" this week after an appointment with the osteopath. I am not supposed to do anything (my doctor told me, in English, "Just be cool. Be cool."), but doing nothing is only fun when you are already doing too many things. I don't like actually doing nothing. So ... I decided to do some light spring cleaning in the wardrobe department. I love to clean out my closet. Seriously. I love it.

The hallway pictured above holds our shared closet to the left. Isn't it pretty?

When we moved here, we came with just what we could bring on the plane, with the exception of Pops' computer equipment and some books, which we shipped. The bulk of what we brought with us was clothing, but even in that we had to be choosy. 

I am asked frequently about what we chose to take and how we fit it all on the plane. We did put some clothes into storage (only adult clothing, no point with growing children!), but I keep a fairly pared down wardrobe as it is, so it actually wasn't that difficult deciding what to take.

I really enjoy dressing and I enjoy nice items, but I also don't mind waiting until I find just the right thing. When it comes to shopping and clothing, I'd rather own less, have it be decent quality, and really love and wear it. I also love a good discount store and shopping the clearance racks. If you are patient and don't mind the hunt, you can find some beautiful things for normal-people prices. Love that when it happens!

The above photo is everything that I have that goes on a hanger. On the left side next to a few of Pops' sport coats, I have two lightweight coats of mine, skirts and dresses. On the right are tanks, blouses, blazers and some cardigans ...

Jane Goes to French School

Want to see inside a French primary-school classroom?? I know I sure did ...

 French school is very much what I would imagine school to be a couple generations ago in the States. This is not a criticism, not at all. Just an observation. Teachers know best and parents kind of stay out of the way and don't seem to stress it too much. I've only been inside the classroom a handful of times, which is very strange for this former-teacher, avid parent-volunteer.

There is no school email (never received one single email!!), no phones in the classroom, and there isn't a school secretary or office for the primary level. The teachers just seem to take care of it all. If you have a question, you write a note in your child's carnet (a planner book that goes back and forth). If they need to tell you something, they write a note in the carnet or just flag you down during pick-up time. Field-trip? Might be in the carnet or might just be word-of-mouth ...