My French Linen Armoire

A very "gay" joyous French marriage

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 03:38:00 -0700

FRANCE has just legalised same sex marriage .............
I felt very privileged and honoured to be invited to my friends wedding in Provence on tuesday
Emotional it was...

The setting for the afternoon reception was magic, the food was delicious, the atmosphere great...

The grooms were delighted that their 16 years committed relationship could finally
be legally recognised......they deserve it....
If I had been living unmarried for 16 years with my ex husband, I would not have wish to legalised my relationship at that stage.....a merit to them to still be happy together and to want marriage, which happens to be the first 'same sex' marriage in Eygalieres...

We wish them all the best......

Flowers in my garden

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Tue, 7 May 2013 02:38:00 -0700

I was so happy recently to be able to walk through my garden in New Brighton near Byron Bay(presently rented) and to admire all my beautiful blooms...I planted most of them and have to admit I don't remember their names.........

Water Hyacinthe - they only last for one day, the petals look like they have been painted

No words are needed .......
just take in those magnificent colours a garden can deliver

Purple Tiboutchina

blue ginger flower

It has been a very summer up in Byron, just the amount of water this particular Golden Penda to bloom...so no surprise that many of us in the street were amazed by the show when all these trees in the area were "resplendissants" in their bright yellow

Josephine Bonaparte Trilogy

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sat, 4 May 2013 01:30:00 -0700

For those who like a bit of French history, this
"is the first book in an incredible trilogy inspired by the life of Josephine Bonaparte"

This Trilogy kept me reading until late hours, finished one book and onto the next eagerly

Printed by HEADLINE BOOK PUBLISHING LONDON - 1995
hopefully still available. A friend of mine lent me her copies with high recommendations and by accident I found my books in a charity shop, best book find!!!!

"Vive les plumes" Feathers madness !!!...

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:54:00 -0700

The ground is littered with fresh feathers and dawn,
if we lived in another time.... I would be gathering them to make pillows or bed blankets......

Everyday when I feed the birds I cannot resist gathering a hand full of feathers!...an obsession!...

Ever since I was a child, I recall having a fetiche for feathers,

I used to collect them and fit them in a glass... attach one to a pen, add it to a hat...

I once had a shop in Paddington (Sydney) where amongst other

things I used to sell ostrich feathers...or as I call them "feazers" as being French I pronounce "th=z"

I found this little basket in the garden shed, added a piece of florist oasis, and daily, I added my hand full of feathers until no more could fit...then I added the baby ducks for interest..

But this obsession has become madness...I cannot stop..I don't where to put them anymore!..

I need HELP !...where else can I put the feathers ??? I have another week of this obsession staring at me....
even the dragon is choking..

Feeding the Geese and the Ducks in Sydney

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:38:00 -0700

I am back house & pet sitting

Sorry but I have been so busy with business & personal projects in the past few weeks, that in the evening when I usually do my blog , I was just so exhausted that simply could no longer find the energy

On this lovely man made pond area at the bottom of the property, live 3 geese, 2 white ducks and 2 brownish ducks

every day they wait for the feed of grains...

But BEWARE of competition for the feed !!!....

The wild ducks...today I counted 19 of them...

And the white cockatoos !..... sitting on a fence "watching"....fist day...tomorrow I am feeding later!..
I made a mistake, I fed the ducks at the same time 3 days in a row..
I am supposed to vary my time so the Cockatoos
don't get used to it ....as if they do, they too
come to the "rendez-vous'...

And a sudden visitor crossing the grass....a young Python...harmless..

We are all "just curious" !... Cockies may be hungry..
what I love in France in the sense of history,the"Frenchness".............
but what I love while in Australia is nature....expect anything in the animal world.........

Magical , romantic "moustiquaire"

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:01:00 -0700

I find that moustiquaires (mosquitoes nets) give a room "that" romantic feeling ...

When I owned the shop below "Franouche" in Byron Bay, we designed this bamboo bed and before it could sell, I liked it so much ......I brought it home to the beach house above..

Beachy feel ......

My girlfriend and I shared this room in Hoi Han in Vietnam on our search for home wares and clothing
a very tropical feel !!... part of moustiquaires ambiance
but there was nothing romantic about us two !!..

my favourite "mosie net" must be the above, all those tassells just give it a sense of luxury
in these photos they are mainly hanging on bamboo rods, but i also like them hanging with ladders or with old oars, or old farm wooden equipment,or wrought iron... it is easy to match the "hanger"to fit with the location of the house..or the style of the home

One does not need to live in a hot country to have a moustiquaire, it is not only about the insect it is about the "mood", that warm feeling mood.....that cosy feel

anybody for a moustiquaire ??? just ask me

I am feeling BLUE !!...

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Wed, 3 Apr 2013 01:30:00 -0700

It is raining today, so I am feeling blue !!!..

Blue sky filtering
through the
magestic
angophora

"La mer bleue"

at Mona Vale Beach How about a blue kettle and toaster ???

I prefer the pale one

Free treasure hunt on Sydney streets -revisited

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Tue, 2 Apr 2013 05:27:00 -0700

One man rubbish could be another man treasure....or simply this woman's delight !..

It is "Council cleanup" week in this part of Sydney (it happens 2 to 3 times a year) and every one get rid of their unwanted "rubbish" thrown in the street for Council crushing trucks to collect, destroy and tip for land fill

Presently I am only a visitor in Sydney , a very frustrated visitor!!!!...
because if I was living here now,

I would not only be taken photos, I would be going home with a "loot" a free loot !....

These shells would have come home with me...

These birdcages would have definitely come home as well..

As you can imagine, this Sydney Northern beaches suburb is not a poor one...Avalon, Bilgowlah Plateau...homes with beautiful views of Pittwater are discarding their unwanted goods....
I wish some of these people would have taken the trouble to drop some in a charity shop, but ...

I had a good look at the chair above, perfect, I would have loved to patine it and it would have fitted nicely in a bedroom with a linen cushion...

the carpenter wooden "niveau" could have found a place on some wall with other old tools

the little white basket could have been filled with flowers or ??...

The last child in this home must have grown up....there on the street memories of childhood to be "thrown out" rather than "passed on'.. a shame really !...

In France this scene would not happen, it would be replaced by a village "vide-grenier" & brocante as some of the so called "rubbish"can be very interesting, too good to be crushed and tip for land fill !!...

It makes you think that Australia is a rich society and yet , some people are starving and living on the street when a street like these could provide a comfortable home furniture for the poor

Have we gone mad this end of the world??? I love France and its history shared in their buildings and for sale at the brocante fairs, a natural 'recycling" of some history which keeps going, but here, if we keep throwing it all away, we have no hope of leaving a bit of history to the next generations...

Although passionatly love going round the street at Council Cleanup, it saddens me when I contemplate such a waste and lack of compassion from the throwers.. a quick trip to the Red Cross ot St Vincent de Paul could make a contribution towards some goodness in this world...

Guess where home is this Easter ??

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:36:00 -0700

My Gypsy life continues....
this is "my home" for 10 days over Easter
My friends are away longer than planned and their habitual house sitter had other plans..
so after receiving a "desperate" phone call I accepted to house and animal sit ....

Soon after committing myself, I wondered if this commitment was a good idea: it is a rather large home on a also rather large block of land.....

Would I be scared there all "home alone" ???
the question did cross my mind, I am terribly hearing impaired and only "on line" during the day ( meaning that is when i wear my hearing aids!!!...
But I unexpectedly was gifted with a minder ; the cat in my bed !...purr we did and snored I solely did !...loud enough to scare any would be "trespasser" !!!..

While you sit on the balcony or lay by the pool...you could wonder where you are ??
Italy, south of France.....your guess...

Nice spot for my evening G&T

somewhere in a warm climate

no watch dogs but a bunch of geese and ducks to feed at the end of the garden
everyday, I collect the best feathers on the ground ans have started a "bouquet de plumes"

part of the pet sitting is to feed the fishes in the pond, i throw the feed in the murky water, wait until a frenzy of fish tails stirs the mud from the bottom

then from the pond, I take a little stroll along those gracious trees to take me back
to my "home for Easter"

I am not scared at all!!! , I love it!.. I really feel on holiday!!!!I am "clearing my head" !!...,
...for someone who normally can't sit still during the day, I have been laying by the pool , only doing a bit of weeding and reading, reading, reading...

Now i would like some comments from my readers, what country and where do you think I am ???

My big birthday at byron farm

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:09:00 -0700

My birthday is today!..but..I only celebrate birthdays which end with 0 or 5
4 years ago I celebrated a big ZERO one
at our Byron farm with a theme....

......WOODSTOCK !....everyone had to come dressed up in 70th fashion, and had to either come in a campervan or at least bring a tent....
the people I first befriended when I immigrated in 1973 to Australia came from Sydney, from the Gold Coast, the South Coast and the
friends we had in london before we left there also came , from UK, from Denmark, from other parts of Australia...

The party was held in the "grange" (farm shed)...

All my husband (ex) carriages were dragged outside and cleaned and lined up...

The horses were kept in the "paddock"...big draft horses

We partied late into the evening all dancing to a live band playing all our favorite rock and rolls,
the singer was so good looking and sexy, tilting his hips like a real Rock star, flipping his long shining hair from side to side.......I really felt like the queen of the party , when he joined me on the table I was dancing on, ( as you do on your 60th!...) put one arm around me and sang a "happy birthday" rendition....

here I am in my blue dress desperatly trying to look like a hippie !...
The next morning was fun, everybody coming out of their campervans or tents, some even slept inside the grange, and, as we sat eating a big barbecue breakfast we reminiced on the night and on some of the other "big" parties we all took part over the years
I love big parties and big celebrations...with old friends...and make a point of enjoying them "big time"..that is why I only celebrate the 0 and the 5' zero marks the beginning of another "dizaine" and the 5 is half way

we finished of on the beach in the afternoon

Tiga and Jolicoeur my dogs now in heaven

Inside a Byron artist bathroom

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 23:01:00 -0700

Admiring a man artistic ingenuity is one thing, living with it is another !!!
My ex Australian retired husband is letting his artistic talent run wild thru his little farmhouse in byron bay hinterland now that I am not around to tame or reject his masculine home flavour...

He is mad about horses and collects carriages and anything old he finds to do with farming..
..or simply the country
This is his "new" bathroom which he created and built himself

check every items on the wall ,
as each has a purpose:
the little nook where you see the rear of the horses provides a shelf for a candle or a glass..

the carriage light is electrified

the wall cupboard made off old doors

the toilet roll holder is made of a horse mouth bit

the towel holder from part of a stirrup...

t The ceiling fan is encased within a tin watering can..and it works!!..

This old restored bit of machinery to be used as his TV stand is part of and old drilling machine to which he has added wooden legs/floor support

I still admire his artistic talent and his ability to create anything he wants but thank god that is his house and not mine anymore....
I am a beach girl and always have loved my beach houses with a french touch,
he always was a country boy at heart...
today he can freely decorate his farm the way he wants too, a mannish way and I will be able to decorate my beachhouse my feminine french beach style whenever i do return to live in Australia again
everyone is happy doing their own thing without interference from the other !!!..

PS: tomorrow i will show you the farm

Savoury pesto corn muffins

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:59:00 -0700

I am obsessed with basil this week !!
after making my "special " basil mix, I wanted some basil corn bread muffins
they are the easier savoury muffins to make

above are the ingredients, I did not have fresh basil so I used half a jar of ready made pesto
if i had my fresh mix, i would have used it, but...
Polenta, self raising flour, bicarb,milk, egg,bacon ,pesto and grated cheese

what I like about making cornbread or muffins, you CAN NOT go wrong
adjust your mix to your taste
here i used about 1/3 or less of self raising flour and filled with polenta to make 300ml

in a dish, mix the two basic, add a teaspoon of bi-carb, a pinch of salt , the egg and half the jar of pesto

mix the lot and add the milk slower until you get the consistency of thick batter
I like adding a chopped up chili (but I am a chili freak!..)

when you are happy with the consistency, i added the chopped up bacon...

...then i added the grated tasty cheese about 100 to 200grams- up to you

scoop out 2 spoonfuls of the mix into muffin tray or cupcake paper cups
cook in a preheated oven at 220degres for around 13 to 17mn

I was so eager to put them on the table that i forgot to take a photo when they came out of the oven, sorry !....

These 4 savoury muffins are the only one left after lunch.....I really love them..they are so easy to make, i am not one to measure for cooking, that is why I cannot make cake, but these cornbread are so "flexible; sometimes I make them with tapenade instead of pesto and most time with chili, but my friends to day were not chili freaks like me so ...

Basil in the kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:20:00 -0700

A new recipe i just "invented"
Francoise's pesto sauce or dip

I was roaming thru my friend's garden at New Brighton ( near Byron Bay) the other day and cut a huge bunch of fresh basil, part for cooking and part for planting
Her BASIL is like a wild type, the more you trim it the more it grows, and it grows from cuttings

above is what i rescued for planting

I used the blender above
add 3/4 of a natural yogurt small size
half a head garlic (peeled)
a piece of fresh ginger ( as you feel)
bit of sea salt
dash of olive oil ( if you wish)
one chili (i used 2 mildish bell chillies)
200g of fresh ricotta or Bruche/Brucio (in France)
fill the blender to the top with fresh basil leaves
set the blender on high until you get the creamy consistency below

all measurements are rough, adjust them to your liking, so it gives you a tasty basil mix which is not full of oil, or fat.

While your pasta is cooking, shop in small strips a packet of prosciutto (Parma Ham) or any other tasty ham you choose
serve your pasta on each plate , top it with a big scoop of the basil mix,
add a little sprinkle of the ham
add a basil leave and serve
( a little tip, i warmed each scoop of basil mix in the microwave for 30 seconds before i poured it on my spaghetti's because i like my food hot, if you heat it too much the yogurt will "brake")

It feels creamy, very tasty and not sickening because the blending of yogurt and ricotta
you can choose to use fat free dairy or full cream
Bon Appetit

French "tables de nuit"

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:55:00 -0700

What is your preference for bedside tables ?
matching set??
or individual unrelated tables??

I am not found of matching set, i find the idea boring and lacking of inspiration
I prefer individuality in all furniture, it gives me more time to hunt, and search for the right piece i like and then find the right spot for it in the home.
I believe passion & artistry are attached to this individuality and is reflected in the home which contains it

The two little bedside tables (pottie holders) are one of my favourites , although they are not a matching pair, they represents the same style, the same era, i quite enjoy seeing them together next to the same bed, painted in the same tone, a shade or two lighter or darker, "peu importe"
they remind me of my childhood when my parents had the full bedroom suite of the same style: the bed, bedside table (only one) the wardrobe.
the bedside table remains in the family, the wardrobe is long gone and i don't miss it, but i wish i could still lay my hand on the bed and patine it (more on that later on another blog)

Inside the pottie space

Nautical muted greys

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 3 Mar 2013 01:18:00 -0800

Nature does its best at mixing the colours
on a wild day !!!...
Those shades of greys and beige's blend it so beautifully

I would be so proud if I could achieve this blend in a homet

I can't help admire the natural palette of muted greys connected with the whitish beigy waves which smooth out of the darker sand: a painter at its best

the river is bloated with the heavy rain and again, it has lost its blue and transformed it into silvery greys

Although I admire this wilderness it saddens me to see the destruction the bad weather has done to the dunes...

blue sky & rough sea

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 01:30:00 -0800

Blue sky , rough sea after a mini hurricane...
New Brighton beach, 20klms north of Byron Bay
I am visiting the last Australian village I live in before I embarked for my extended french experience 2 years ago

The wild seas accompanied by high winds have eroded the sand dunes dramatically, we lost about 10 metres of dunes
2 heavy storms 3 weeks apart..
the coast is so fragile, we need to take responsibility for our actions on earth

I used to walk my dogs Jolicoeur & Tiga every mornings on this beach and have a swim, all year round...
I am sad to see that we have no beach at high tide, it will take months and years without anymore storm to correct this natural damage ....

even in its wilderness the sea still look beautiful,
but demands respect !...
you have my respect my beloved sea!...

down memory lane...below is my first little beach house in the area, just across the road from the sand dunes
tropical garden

French chandeliers

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:30:00 -0800

Mad about French chandeliers...

Vicky from "french essence" mentioned she bought a chandelier for her little village house she is decorating and wanted some comments
4 years ago I still hated chandeliers, from my french childhood
I held in my mind ,the vision of dirty glitter less chandeliers with globes missing and in dark rooms inhabited by old people, with an added smell of rancid .....awful!...
After living in France again for the past 2 years, I evolved in a different direction, now I don't just like chandeliers, I have fallen in love with chandeliers, nice, clean, full of sparkly crystal, the more the better, hanging high or low...but all bulbs MUST work, fit a dimmer on the switch if you want but every bulb must shine !....

I also love the plainer chandeliers in bronze and a bit of crystals

this mordern wrought iron chandelier actually fit gracefully in a french bedroom amoungs antique pieces

the one below is also one of my favourites, the painted distressed metal ones, actually they are more difficult to find than the top crystal laden ones

A couple of months ago I was at Port Grimaud market, a lovely fresh sunny day, this stall holder attracted my attention he had load of chandeliers hanging from the tree, how great would they look outdoor for a summer garden party ?

Vicky, my statement piece would a huge over the top chandelier hanging low above the dining table

My bedroom view this week

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:17:00 -0800

Although this was at sunset a few days ago, this is the view I am happily waking up to this week while i am waiting to go back to Sydney for a visit
I have packed up my temporary house in St Remy, and now playing auntie to 2 beautiful GSP while their mum and dad have gone skiing

A few kilometres from Saint Remy de Provence a lovely property with a lovely view towards the Alpilles, the local mountain range

Ironic isn't ??
I came from Australia to Provence in 2011 for a 3 months visit...and I am still here !!!... now I am going back to Australia for a less than 3 months visit....
Have not made up my mind where home is yet ???
I think I would love to spend half the year here and the other half in OZ....if I could be bothered with the long trip..which is waiting for me, I think a few sleeping pills will help ease the journey

Shade of "greige" ??

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:55:00 -0800

What colour would you call this ???
It is not brown, it is not caramel, it definitely not grey, it is beige??is it light earth??is Greige the correct colour???

Whatever colour it is, it looks a bit dirty, a bit shabby, very patined and very "chic"

and this cherub !!!! adorable "cherubin" in the same tone
I just love him, want to kiss him ..... ( I know I am odd!..)
he looks a bit lonely where he sits, i could imagine him in a summer veranda surrounded by flowering pots and butterflies landing on his knee...

Provence oh Provence !.. I do love your pottery
same shade of "greige" such an earthy tone

Shade of greys

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:51:00 -0800

How many shades of grey can one fall in love with ??

The window of this pub in Windsor captured my attention with its lovely shade of grey.....

The patine in this chest of draws sitting in a hall way on top of black and white stone floor seems just the perfect grey as well....

....and the patined bronze ornate handles are just the stamp of perfection for this lightly ornate commmode

The only grey I detest is the grey sky we had to day....
bring on the blue next....i mean blue sky!....

Made of glass

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:50:00 -0800

Jars, jars and more jars...

On Sunday I went to Carpentras brocante and although I should not be buying anything at all ( I am in the process of packing up the house and storing everything!...)I could not resist a bundle of vintage green preserve jars and another bundle of old jam jars

So cleaning was a priority as they were full of caked dust, admiring them for a while, then decided to fill them with all my bags of oat, millet and other cereals flakes....and straight into a carton
Prior to spotting these jars, a dealer had 3 beautiful other green preserved bottles with a porcelain lid, his price was quite high, i though but i was getting tempted....until my friend found from another dealer one same bottle a size smaller for 10% of the price.......either he was far too expensive or she really got a bargain ????? i stood in the middle????
Further down the alley, this lovely man had a box of the green jars I bought as well as another box of the jam jars, he had a lovely smile, we chatted and I happily bought the lots with no regrets about the other two.....

My girlfriend has been collecting these crystal type of wares for years, I never really took any notice of them until last winter when we went "brocanting " together, now I call them "Carol glass"
So this little lamp above caught my eyes and i think it is delightfully with its pleated beaded shade

I fill the old jam jars with whatever i come across, shells, cutlery's, buttons, "marrons d'Inde" (conkers??) and mix them as a display with other glass wares like decanters, other type of jars,add a bunch of flowers.....they have a history and they have many uses

Above,on the left hand side covering a piece of coral is an old sugar mould i bought some months ago in Arles.When they sold the sugar in bulk they used to suse these type of glass mould to shape the display

Windsor Castle and the Windsor's

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Fri, 4 Jan 2013 09:35:00 -0800

Windsor Castle, one the Queen Christmas residence

What a lovely way to combine Windsor railway station and shopping
After months admiring french buildings, I enjoyed a bit of British "red bricks " ( with history attached !..)

Nothing like a bit of pub lunch time with the girls....

And a bit of British cheekiness's

Hello Ma'am !!!!..

St Tropez Christmas windows

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:58:00 -0800

Saint Tropez Christmas 2012 shops windows

This blog is my Christmas cards to all my friends and readers

Joyeux noel et bonne annee a tous

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all

Minouche and had had a very special mother daughter evening in St Tropez, the shop windows were pretty, the Christmas market was on at Place des Lices

I drank the glue wine to warm my heart...as the park displayed a miniature St Tropez village surrounded by pine trees covered with fake snow

an ice ring was set up in the park as well, it was a lovely sight looking at the children and not so young sliding thru the ice....

It just felt nearly like a white Christmas

The window settings are just magic !... so much thoughts went into some of them, love them!!..

The tow scenes below was one of Place des Lices display

A miniature St Tropez village filled with santons de Provence

JOYEUX NOEL
WITH LOVE
FRANCOISE XXX

Where will home be next ???

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 14:17:00 -0800

Saint Remy de Provence to where now ????
They sold the house after I made it nicer...simple but cosy!!.

I arrived in Provence 2nd May 2011 with my suitcase for 3 months visit in France.....I went front place to place tagging along my suitcase, added a pushbike, added some vintage linen and other collectibles shipped that lot to Australia in trunks, went for a visit to OZ, came back after 9 weeks decided to rent a house in Saint Remy and was delighted to find the above little cottage furnished with very poor taste...

....all red and white plastic !...so after a rush into some local depots vente , vide greniers and brocante, I set up to make myself "un petit nid chaleureux"..

This is what the living became, I did not remove anything from the house except the red plastic chairs, just disguised the red and or plastic with some lovely linen, re-arrange the lay out and added my French touch....The French Linen Armoire got raided !!!

note the Brittany hand towel, had to have a bit of my Brittany here as well!!..

In the process I started a collection of Provencal yellowy earthenware dishes, terrines, salt pots, Sarregemines fish plates as well as brass candle holders and wall sconces

this large mirror was plain old boring brown, so i patined it...

The main bedroom below had a comfortable bed, it needed new linen, so Ikea provided me with a cheap doona cover featuring a blue French Toile de Jouy, but I have to sleep with vintage embroidered linen sheet....

the long red plastic stool in the living room became the linen covered bench at the end of my bed

But the bedroom looked pretty miserable as it was presented to me
so my french touch was added.

second bedroom from left to right
before and after..

The second bedroom was so dreadful i had to get rid of these red blanket the minute the house keys were in my hands , 2 folding beds !!!..one ended up in the loft the other one under the bed in the main bedroom .

I had a guess coming a week after i moved in, so managed to buy this old wooden bed at a vide grenier, a young couple had moved their grand ma into retirement home and were selling the content of her house..they delivered it for me and again i patined it...( 11 hours of hard enjoyable work..)
one day I will do a post on French/Provencal "patine"....keep posted..

And with Christmas on its way, my daughter is flying to me from Sydney , the tree is ready ,we will enjoy the time together in my little nest which i will have to leave in February
Does anyone know of another little house i could add my French touch to, a little house I could call home for one year, somewhere near Saint Remy or on the coast...if you do please contact me by email

French asparagus plates

noreply@blogger.com (francoise coadou-porter) — Sun, 9 Dec 2012 13:55:00 -0800

Chaque assiette a sa specialite....

Lucky me, see what i found at Grimaud brocante today... a full set of French Majolica asparagus plates by Saline as well as the platter or should i call it a boat ?

I am going to admire them for a while and then i will offer them for sale on my blog..

I discovered only recently while in Provence about the asparagus plates,they come all white often, as well as with a dual purpose of asparagus and artichoke, but my favourite are the coloured ones,

Look how beautifully they are shaped, each individually..
the colour varies with each plate making each of every one of those plates unique !..

I held this magnificent asparagus boat in Isle sur la Sorgues antique fair in august, that is actually where i found quite a collection of them, but both none as if i bought ONE then, I would have had to come home with a COLLECTION of them....

below, this gorgeous pastel colour plate is for dual purpose: asparagus & artichoke

I used to only like plain things, plain mirrors, plain all white plates, all matching.....now I think "how boring is that ??" when out there foraging thru the vide greniers and brocante there is such an array of unusual beautiful items, they don't have to match always, they all tell a different story...of a different time..of a different place...

The one below was to die for....if only i was an asparagus..can you imagine serving your asparagus on such a beauty...