a château in normandy

Today I am taking you to dream of living in the heart of Normandy, to a beautiful château with nothing but fields and private woodlands all around.   This beauty is further west from us, in a part of normandy known for its grand homes and rolling countryside.  Can't say that there's a lot to do once you're there but, hey!  in a place that looks this good, does that matter?!

 No need for too many words, these stunning pictures do the work for me.  Just know that it was built over the 16th 17th and 18th century, and comes with its own 32 hectares or 80 acres of land.

I so love these double sides steps down into the lower garden ...

 

and if you'd like to find the details of this beauty, and several others!, you are welcome to check out the real estate site here

a favourite french snack

A French lady I know ( beautiful, slim, lively and fun) once talked to me about growing up on the Cote d'Azur as a little girl in the 40's.  A magical moment to be sure.

We talked about school and friends, and clothes, and family life.   So many details to enjoy, but one that made me smile was her description of her favourite mid afternoon snack, when she came home from school.    "Pain au chocolat?"  I asked, already imagining her at the baker's counter.   "Non, non" she frowned,  "too sweet, way too sweet".

That little girl's idea of heaven was a slice of bread, a clove of garlic opened up and rubbed on the bread, then a trickle of olive oil.

France and the French never cease to delight!   

Wishing you all a fragrant weekend!

Photo by Ella

french summer dining

A last minute decision to invite friends for supper

warm enough to eat outside

one friend brings wine, another turns up with delicious patisserie

a few flowers, a few candles, a rising moon

chatting, laughing,

teenagers mixing with adults and nobody in a hurry to leave the table

summer evenings as they should be  ...  simple.

simple pleasures in everyday French life

If you read my blog now and again, you'll have understood that for me the best pleasures in life are the simple ones.  I'm not big on bling bling.  To me the greatest luxuries are the simple moments.

Buying at the market in France is not about ticking off from a shopping list, it is a sensual and sensory experience.  The produce is displayed beautifully to seduce the client, and the vendors make full use of their natural charms.

It was my husband who taught me how to shop at market.  Simple rules that work well.     Never go with a list,but to  be inspired by what is on offer;  walk around the market once before buying, remembering where are the ripest peaches, the sweetest melons, the best fish and cheese and to take the time .... buying food is important work, never to be rushed!

It's like I said, taking pleasure in the simple things.

 I invariably return from market with food I had no intention of purchasing, simply because it looks and smells so wonderful and because the inspiration for meals comes once I see the food.

and if I buy too much? .... no matter, there are always baskets for sale!

authentic french chairs

I have always had a soft spot for a soft chair!  And my favourite French chairs have such delicious names too!    The pretty chair above, dressed in what looks like a beautiful printed linen, is called a 'crapaud'', which literally means toad!

The crapaud is fairly low to the  ground, with a gently reclining back and low arm rests.  A similar design, but without the arm support is called a 'chauffeuse'.

These chairs often have black wooden legs, usually pear wood, and typical of the Napoleon III period, late 19th century.

Chair design is a fairly accurate reflection of social customs.  Today we have large deep armchairs and sofas, designed to give us space to sprawl.  Our seating no longer encourages the user to sit in demure fashion, back straight, legs crossed at the ankles, it is acceptable to put comfort first.

In the 19th century, they liked their chairs to be purpose designed.

The chair below is a fumeuse, or smoking chair.

and this one is a gaming chair, designed for a man to sit on either in a traditional direction or astride with arms leaning on the padded back while facing the card table.

Of course the 18th century Louis XV period also produced some great classics, that are now reproduced worldwide.

This is a bergère cabriolet, a pretty combination of wooden frame and upholstered back and seat.  The reverse of the back support is often upholstered in a contrasting fabric, to great effect.

These old designs look just as good in a traditional brocade or silk as in a humble grain sack or even today in their underwear!!

How about you?   Do you like a chair to sprawl in, or to perch upon?!

gently French - 18th century living

After a busy week, I bring you a little gentleness and poetry in the form of this charming home, created from an 18th century mill, in the Loiret region, south of here.

I love the soft warm light, the gentle colours, the use of brocante pieces and of course the paintings, each one of which I covet!  An artist and a poet have restored the property, and used their brocante treasures to furnish every corner.

They laid dark flooring in the kitchen, and light or white wooden boards in the sitting room.  These are the collection of paintings I just love.  So precious these little painting hung together.

all photos thanks to art et decoration

a guest post and a june give away

Today I am honoured and excited to be a guest at The Enchanted Home, that wonderful blog written by the sparkling Tina, who has delighted us with the tale of building her home, and then with the opening of her beautiful on-line store.

If you haven't been there before, check her out straight away!!

And to any new visitors to My French Country Home, that have come over from Tina's Enchanted Home, thank you for dropping by.  To celebrate the month of June, possibly my favourite in the year, I am pleased to announce a little giveaway, you'll find details at the end of the post.

June, here  in Normandy, is the month of roses, the month of dropping by at friends' homes; the month of garden fairs, the month of early starts to get to brocante fairs in fields still wet with morning dew.

Here are a few shots I took over the past couple of weeks, a sample of everyday life at My French Country Home.

sharing drinks with friends who live by the river;

planting up the potager;

misty mornings before hot days;

climbing hydrangeas shouting for joy;

and peonies and roses competing for our attention;

So here without further ado, are the little treasures I have found recently at brocante fairs here, and that I am happy to offer to three different readers for my June giveaway.

First a pretty hand towel embroidered with the letter A, second a hotel silver creamer, embossed with the name Welcome Hotel, and lastly three little duck moulds, so charming on a kitchen shelf.

You know the drill for these giveaways

leave a comment telling  me what you would like to win;

and for another entry share on fb or twitter;

an extra entry for each accomplished task!

Winners will be drawn out in a weeks time, midday Wednesday 13th, Paris time of course!

Thank you for reading me, and thank you to Tina for inviting me over today.

Bonne chance!!