Back home again in our own little French garden. Thanks for following us along on our journey. Look for our new arrivals on Saturday, August, 25.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
In Search of Paul Gaugin
Exploring Gauguin’s Brittany town of Pont-Aven…
Where the Aven river splashes over rocks…
And flowers bloom everywhere.
Brittany is all about boats…
Even one suspended from a tree.
And France is all about eating…
And about being together in a place where we feel at home.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The Bretagne Coast
A drive down the peninsula of Quiberon gave us spectacular views of the wild Brittany coast….
and me quite a scare when the kids climbed out to a natural rock overlook.
Our son Harrison waves from a German gun emplacement left over from World War II.
Prehistoric alignments at Carnac add to the mystery of this isolated region of France.
Fishing boats in the port of Trinité-sur-Mer.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
The Islands of Bretagne
We’ve arrived in Bretagne and our first visit is to an island called the Ile aux Moines.
The houses are made of stone and sometimes have thatched roofs.
The shutters take on deep shades of blue, mirrors of the sea which is all around us. The Bretons have their own language and culture and have much in common with the Celts of the British Isles.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Faire la Fete!
The French know how to throw a party! Our friend Francois celebrated his half century mark with a sit down dinner for 80 friends and family members. Appetizers, six courses, wine, champagne...
…Oh, and Mexican hats for everyone just for fun!
Dancing until the wee hours…As I said, we are now on vacation!
Friday, July 20, 2007
I Love Paris in the Summer...When it Sizzles...
Back in Paris for a visit to the Louvre today…
French women have a sense of style even just riding a bicycle!
The Paris beaches…Yes, they haul in sand for a month in the summer to create a beach for the Parisians along the Seine River.
And we can’t leave Paris without photos of our logo…Vive le Metro!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Pack it Up! Let's Celebrate!
Our container is being packed today!
Wow! Did we really buy that much? And is it going to all fit? We left our shipper to do his job. We are now officially on vacation!
A visit to the Chateau de Dampierre in l’Ile de France.
This one is still occupied by the descendants of the noble line.
Dinner this evening at the home of dear friends near Paris where Camille helped select the wine from the wine cellar.
Our friends’ lovely secret garden.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Our Final Treasures!
Our very last day of shopping! A few last goodies…
A pair of matching hand carved cornices with sunflowers to be placed above doors or windows.
A nineteenth century hand carved walnut wedding box commissioned for the bride and groom with their names.
A hand forged iron window that was originally part of an entry door.
A visit to the Chateau de Maintenon where the favorite of King Louis XIV lived. Mme de Maintenon, Louis XIV's second wife, was born in a prison where her father was the prison warden. Her station in life obviously took a turn for the better!
A view from a window of the chateau.
The unfinished aqueduct Louis XIV commissioned in a failed attempt to change the course of the river l’Eure so he could get more water to Versailles. Call it folly or call it arrogance, but it does make a lovely view from the castle.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Ile de France
Today was an intensive day of shopping in the Ile de France, the region around Paris. Here are a few highlights…
A hand carved oak church bench, c. 1880.
A grain coffer with a lift up top. The brass mechanism below has a door that lifts up to release the grain used to feed the farm animals.
A custom lamp made from a regule figure of a little boy who has captured a rooster.
A hand carved oak Renaissance style coffer, c. 1880.
Another painting for our shop. This one is oil on canvas, a landscape in the impressionist style.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Ma Belle Normandie
Back to work today…
An incredible Louis XV period walnut armoire with chapeau de gendarme top, c. 1780.
And a wonderful iron chandelier with crown and keys.
Our last day in Normandy…
No doubt our favorite region of France…
A bientot!
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Ma Belle Normandie
This is what Normandy is all about…long stretches of green and houses with colombage…
Profuse blooms of flowers…
Apple trees…
And close-knit families that gather on Sundays to enjoy good food, good wine, and good company.
Little girls have a language of their own…Camille and her new French friend Julia discovered theirs and spent a happy Sunday together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)