Simple Home Living: The Simple Home

Showing posts with label The Simple Home - France. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Memory Lane Through France

Last year I had the privilege of enjoying the French culture and cuisine and today I thought I'd share some of that experience with you through some "memory lane" pictures.

This is that wonderful French soap you hear about. Amazing.

French Hospitality & Things French

There's something about French hospitality, the style and food that I am drawn too. I spent this past July meandering through Spain and France. Any chance I got, I'd spend over in St. Jean de Luz or Biarritz.

A year ago, I had the privilege of being invited to the warm home of Patricia and Frank. It was my first experience of French Hospitality. Gracious. Warm. Delicious. Embracing. A gift . . . are a few words that barely describe the treasure of such gracious hospitality.

French Women Don't Get Fat

French County Kitchens

Barefoot in Paris - Easy French Food

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Saturday Trip to France - part 2

Where we enjoyed a salad lunch with goat cheese.

This is that wonderful French soap you hear about. Amazing.

France on Saturday

I don't know what it is about women and France, but I'm one of them. My last trip here, Michael and I took a train to Biarritz, France and this past Saturday Jenni, Megan and I drove 40 kilometers to St. Jean de Luz. This community is absolutely amazing! Sorry, I don't have a better word. It's a quaint seaside resort - has a medieval looking castle there (didn't get to see it yet) that has connections with Louis XI. See here for a bit of info.

I loved my walk through this little town. One of the things that struck me so strange is how VERY QUIET it is. As us girls walked through the little streets and into shops, you could have heard a pin drop. Definitely NOT like that in the States. I almost felt like tip toeing and whispering. It was actually kind of nice.

The drive there. . .

Part Two here.

Monday, January 14, 2008

The Simple Home - Hospitality in France

Patricia's collection of pill boxes.

Cafe con leche (in Spanish).

Frank, Maurice, Marie and Patricia.

The Simple Home - Hospitality in France

Celebrating (again) Miriam's 3rd in Bayonne, France.

The Simple Home - Hospitality in France. Lingering around the table, listening, engaging, learning, sharing, eating, eating some more - are all part of the wonderful way of French (and Spanish) hospitality. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is so important, except the moment with good people and good food. Everything is savored - food, people and life.

More French Hospitality here.

The Simple Home - Saturday in France

Saturday was a FUN event filled day - Miriam's 3rd birthday (see pics here) and an evening in Bayonne, France. I was included for dinner at the home of Frank and Patricia. Patricia is an English teacher at one of the schools (in France) that invite Jenni and Gerald to share about the program with the Summer in the USA. Read about the program here.

I was so excited to cross the border and go into France. It's got such a different "feel" than Spain. Even the homes are different architecturally. Marie Cecile and her husband Maurice joined us for dinner. Marie Cecile is also an English teacher at the same school where Patricia teachers. I understand the two women have taught together for years.