Awaken to French Provincial Quilts

Bonjour all,

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Provence before and as I think about my impending trip in May (almost every hour of the day), I can’t help but recall those glorious colours of the provincial landscape. Provence, with its purply lavender haze and patchwork fields of sunflowers screaming yellow across its fields and its people-sun blest faces and burnished hands that have toiled  for years in scorched rocky soils. Farmers and agriculturalists alike are each rooted to the provincial countryside and inextricably connected by growing some of the best produce in the world.

They remind me of my father who loved his land. His farm. Not to mention long alfresco lunches in dappled light under aged trees. (Long lunches are expected in Provence.)

Dad knew every blade of grass, every breath of wind and grew from seed to see embryonic buds swelling with satisfaction. He took his last gasp of air counting his sheep and closed his eyes remembering his green pastures drenched in golden light.

The Provence people have seen it all. The first inhabitants of Provence dates back to Paleolithic times, decorating caves with the abundance of life forms such as meaty bison (no doubt slowly cooked) and bound to the earth for their living and leisure like many of them today.  That’s probably what makes them so colourful and warm and intensely proud of their land today. Just like dad did.

To commemorate the sun blest colours and warmth of Provence, ‘My Road To Provence Quilt’ pattern and my ‘Provincial Autumn Quilt’ patterns are available through my  www.quiltingthejourney.com website. Take a peep at these. This is my ‘Provincial Autumn’…

 

And this is my Road To Provence! Feel free to contact me with any questions at my website above.

You may like to make a quilt or you just may like to go to Provence.

…Or both.

Au revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@2013 Therese Waddell

Awaken to Provence and French Wineries

Bonjour everyone,

I couldn’t let this Year disintegrate into the fizz of celebration without making a mad dash to the laptop and pronounce to all and sundry that for me 2013 will indeed be even brighter than its rivalled past. Why? Well you may remember my experiences at The Paris International Cooking School which fostered my love of French cuisine after which, I decided to take the plunge and dissolve into the kitchen world of stainless steel to become a chef. Hence, my absence from myfrenchawakening blogs and France herself. And oh how I have missed it all!

So I know its going to be even better before the New Year rings true as I’m off to Provence in May with cooking lessons and fabulous excursions which make my heart jump already. Can you hear it?

I’ll be seeing and doing much more from my provincial bucket list, like spending time slowly with a glass of very good wine in hand on this balcony…

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at  Chateau La Canorgue between Avignon and Aix en Provence, made famous in the magical film called ‘A Good Year’ with Russell Crowe and Marion Cottilard…

and based on a superb little book by Peter Mayle  who obviously loved this part of France so much he chose to call the Luberon home and it inspired him to write the book in the first place. His book is filled with humour which comes about through acute personal observation and a healthy dose of affection with moving tales of great people in such a great place. Just like the Margens for instance.

They’re the real life owners of Chateau La Canorgue and behind peeling burnt umber stone walls of a home slumbering under the shade of aged trees, Nathalie and her father Jean- Pierre together make a formidable team with their hard work and wine knowledge recognised in the carefully selected title of ‘Wine Growers of the Year.’ The Margens’ natural and organic beautiful wines from hand picked grapes reign supreme. It’s quality over quantity here in Provence. Isn’t that what we all want really?

In fact,  this entire area- unspoilt and gorgeous in the extreme, will make you fall in love with France again and again.

Why don’t you come over sometime?

Yes, it’s going to be ‘A Good Year’ alright.Happy New Year to you and your families. May it be your best yet. xx

Au Revoir and Best Wishes for an unbeatable 2013.

Therese Waddell

Copyright @ 2012 Therese Waddell

Awaken to Ornans, France

Bonjour my friends,

There’s a little village nestled not far from the German border in the Franche Compte region of France known as “the Little Venice of France”. It’s ‘Ornans’- home of the artist Gustave Courbet. When I stand on its footbridge over the River Loue which snakes through this very pretty village which Courbet celebrated, I can’t help but think that her inhabitants remind me of the river dwellers in Kenneth Graham’s children’s book  ’ The Wind in The Willows’ living on or near the river and deriving so much pleasure from it.

 

But then again this could be YOU on your journey through blessed France, soaking up the sun in Ornans beside the river as you catch a drip of escaping ice cream with your tongue or maybe watch a babbling procession of the best stories in the world with locals fishing for trout further upstream lashing their lines to a rhythm of life second to none.

‘The Wind in the Willows’ reads:

…”He thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river. Never in his life had he seen a river before–this sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal, chasing and chuckling, gripping things with a gurgle and leaving them with a laugh, to fling itself on fresh playmates that shook themselves free, and were caught and held again. All was a-shake and a-shiver–glints and gleams and sparkles, rustle and swirl, chatter and bubble. The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated….”

My French Awakening was and you will be too.

Go. Experience Ornans.

AuRevoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@ 2012 Therese Waddell

As

Awaken to Travel in the South West of France

Bonjour everyone,

Yes, it’s been a while. I’ve been testing myself as to whether I can forget France and my french awakening and allow time to pass to dissolve all thing French.. It didn’t and I return.

I tried to imagine my world without France and I couldn’t. I came to the conclusion that there are moments when we dream and there are moments when we live the dream. So I’m bringing you a snapshot of my view from a dusty corner of road in the south west of France.

Take a look at this my friends…

And you decide for me. Is this living the dream?

Maybe you should allow some of YOUR time to pass in France. Just a thought.

AuRevoir and Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@2012 Therese Waddell

Awaken to French Decor

Bonjour my friends,

Why don’t you come and journey with me through some of the French homes and chateaus I’ve stayed in across France and get a sneak preview into the delicious world of French interiors?

We usually need this to enter the French bedroom…

and just imagine who has turned this same key before us last century!

In other French homes, we may well cast our eyes instantly onto beautiful embellished walls of murals and trompe l’oeil decoration. It’s just like stepping straight into a glossy page from ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ magazine. I don’t mind a bit of Mary Poppins transporting myself.

I can take you through unexpected rooms of historical significance as we enter century old libraries with artworks and even brocante antique bird cages…

And you’ll enjoy the quircky world in the homes of french provincial artisans who simply allow imagination to run wild… even in the bathroom.

And they’ll welcome us in elegant Bretagne interiors with more refined French simplicity

and chateaus where their wonderful ambience are true testaments to the passion of their generational owners. My french awakening to decor with its unique French appeal using beautiful french fabrics and quilts, made my stay even more inspiring and memorable than you can imagine.

But keep in mind you will sometimes have to polish the patina from an antique balustrade on your way up and down a French staircase…

to breakfast with the stars…

Life can be tough in French interiors.

Discover for yourself. x

AuRevoir,

Best Wishes, Therese

Awaken to a New Year in France

Bonjour lovelies,

Well, well,… Christmas has come and gone and look at us, smack bang in the middle of a new year! Bonne Annee mon amis! We have a new beginning to continue the same life as last year or introduce something new. I know it’s difficult for some of you to get out of the routine for many reasons but I’m asking you to just contemplate an alternate road or patch of grass or another window of opportunity and HOLD that thought.

Can you imagine yourself here on french grass in Flavigny perhaps, in the heart of Burgundy?

(You do remember my escapades on the trek for more than chocolate? go to http://myfrenchawakening.wordpress.com/tag/flavigney-sur-ozerain/ )

or take a peep down any one of the country roads you could be driving through on your next France adventure…

or look out from some other window- a french window. Come on! My french awakening sees no harm in discovering a new view which is very different from the one you’re seeing now perhaps?

Life is sometimes greener on the other side particularly if you’re travelling through the south of France…

or the north east corner…  (remember Colmar? http://myfrenchawakening.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/awaken-to-a-new-year-in-colmar/ )

or from this window in the east, at Quemigny-sur-Seine, France…

and more views from country France from modern frames…

and ancient ones in eighth century stone as at Mont St Michel (remember Awaken to Mont St Michel? See http://myfrenchawakening.wordpress.com/tag/mont-st-michel/ )

And if you fancy yourself as more of a city mouse than a country mouse, you might appreciate looking out from the windows behind wrought iron balconies in Paris…

Or from that very special window in a beautiful french village in between.

The view’s not bad from here.

Just imagine.

Give France a thought this year. It won’t disappoint.

Au revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese Waddell

copyright@Therese Waddell 2012

Awaken to French blogging

Bonjour my friends,

The last month of 2011 has stirred from slumber, its manic face ready to perform the Season of Silliness. December is a crazy month isn’t it but somehow it can allow great things and blustering dreams to foster. It  happened to me two years ago way back in December 2009. I began blogging and writing about France and before I knew it, two years has elapsed and I guess that’s a pretty long time in the sea of French awakenings and things in general, don’t you think?

Two years of marking French time, transporting ideas and images from me to you and hopefully sending maybe just a tad of genuine inspiration into a cyberspace I know very little of. You my lovely, have followed my ramblings of travel hints and stories in and about France and relived my fond memories (and maybe yours) all this time without one complaint and without one sniff of cynical air or dose of friendly doubt.

Some of you have liked a photograph from my little trustworthy camera…

while others will smell the smells, taste the tastes and soak up the real passion and joie de vivre of French living. That’s just who you are I guess. You take the good stuff with you on your journey every time.

And I love that! I love your comments and your support even though most of you would not recognise me as I pass you by in the street.

All along though, I’ve been aware of your presence on your side of the invisibility cloak, silently nodding in the act of contrition. Yes, sometimes we do regret and are remorseful together in the fact that holidays don’t come all the time and we cannot get to France as regularly as we would want and stay in magical French places like this one all the time…

(Well I haven’t bought my little house in France yet to invite you all over!) I hear the long sigh…

However my friend, I remain very happy in the fact that we can fill our minds with images of this beautiful country and my french awakening is widened further by your own knowledge and clear memories, commenting and sharing French experiences. I’ve learnt a lot from you without ever putting your face to a name sometimes.

Soul to soul and friends apart, I want to thank you firstly for reading my humble blog on France and my french awakening and secondly (as it’s December), I’d like to wish you and your family a beautiful Christmas 2011 from one francophile heart to another.

Let’s continue to dream.

Au revoir,

Best Wishes, Therese  xx