lovin' on peonies

Peonies are truly my favorite early summer flower. I adore the really full pink ones. This year my peonies are doing really well, which is shocking seeing as the weather has been awful so far this spring and summer.

I was at the market on Saturday and the flower vendors seem to be having the same luck with their peonies as there are BUCKETS of them and they are gorgeous!

If I can't have the sunshine at least I can have loads of cut flowers in the house and pretend that summer is actually here...

Have a delightful week mes amies~

xx

bon weekend

bonjour mes amies~

today marks the first day of our summer break for the boys. it is a beautiful sunny day out and we couldn't ask for nicer weather!

the littles and I are sitting out in mabel, the warm summer breeze is blowing, I am working on my computer and listening to my music while they watch a movie on the back bed. later this afternoon we will bbq flank steak and make cheese sauce for steamed broccoli and cauliflower. we will probably have a bon fire tonight and roast marshmallows for s'mores. all in all, we will thoroughly enjoy the first of many wonderful summer days here on the farm.

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend and that the sun shines on you, wherever you are.

bon weekend,

xx

dreaming of a french kitchen shop...

e. dehillerin

have you been? do you love to cook? if so, when you are in paris you must go. must must.

I had read about this historic store in the heart of paris in one of ina garten's cookbooks. I knew when I saw her photos that I had to go. no question.

it did not disappoint. I could have spent hours there, shooting the endless beautiful silver whisks, pots big enough to store #4 in, endless copper, beautiful serving platters.

dehillerin is not a fancy shop. it is not a showy shop. it is rustic. it is functional. it has history in it's aisles. it is busy.

I used a LOT of constraint (seeing as I had very little space in my suitcase to be carting every simple kitchen gadget I had ever dreamt of home with me...) but did bring home a couple little treasures that I use nearly every day.

you leave your purchases in a queue on one counter, they write up your order which you take to a second counter. there you will pay for your items while they are being carefully and beautifully wrapped in lovely paper. you will then return to the first counter to collect your package. it was truly the best kitchen shopping experience I have yet to have. le sigh...

next time, I shall be leaving a lot more empty space in my suitcase when traveling to paris...

xx

a renovated barn in the south of france~ sigh...

I think I am in love~

(shocking, I know...)

I first saw this here and the minute I did, I knew I had to go in search of the entire story.

Do you ever have those moments when your heart nearly stops, when you catch your breath because you can completely picture yourself there? That is how I felt when I saw the story of Charmaine and Paul Jack, their little family, and the old barn they had converted in the Gard region of southern France (a beautiful area Ange and I drove through this past April).

The 250 year old barn sits on 3 acres and I can just imagine rolling hills, warm breezes blowing through open windows, and endless sunshine.

Charmaine managed all of the interior design work and did an incredible job of marrying historic stone with modern amenities. The entire home is so comfortable and welcoming - I love the simplicity and warmth.

I love this quote by Charmaine - "Weekends are spent relaxing and cooking with friends and family. ‘Our neighbours give us home-grown tomatoes, figs and even honeycomb, and I buy everything else from the local market. We live a very rural life but the best thing is sharing it with friends and neighbours,’ says Charmaine."

That is the life I want to lead...

all photos courtesy of living, etc.

france way back when~

I know I am due a France post, and trust me, I will have one ready before long. However, this evening while *attempting* to organize my very cluttered, messy, disorganized laptop, I came across this photo collection. It made me sigh. And wish. And dream.

You see, these photos were from our trip five years ago. They were taken in Normandy and Brittany during the 60th Anniversary of D-Day celebrations. It was such a fabulous trip - the weather, the food, the people, the stories as told by the veterans. We were fortunate enough to end up on the same ship from Portsmouth, England to Ouistreham, France as many of the veterans attending the celebration. It was a moving, emotional experience - one that we certainly won't ever forget.

What a beautiful country France is. I know that each of our homelands have gorgeous places - the United States certainly does. But there is something that draws me to this beautiful place. Maybe it is my heritage - my ancestors escaped persecution from the Catholics long long ago. But we are still French - much removed of course. But it is there, in my heart~

xx

blue accents for summer

We live with a fairly white palette. I love our white slip-covered sofa, our two vintage slip-covered chairs, our shaggy off-white rug. I like our medium dark wood accents that work well with my (I use *my* here as no one else in this house shares me love of what is lovingly referred to as "chippy crap") vintage, chipped wood and industrial pieces. But every once in a while I am inspired to add a splash of color here and there.

I have been drawn to blues for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it is a french blue, sometimes, more of a robin's egg, and then a pale turquoise catches my eye.

Have a marvelous week mes amies~ It is our last week of school here on the farm, and then, summer break begins!!!

xx

all images found courtesy of Country Living