tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:51:12 +0000French lifeTablescape ThursdaymuralsrecipesPB Boulangerie/BistrocolorFranceFrench Country CuisineCape CodFrench Country DecoratingJack Dickerson ArtMissoni/Missoni HomeSlow Foodwines"how-to"Chez PanisseHerendLyonPatricia WellsSan Franciscoour house in France"Le Bijou"Alice WatersChef Philippe Rispolifaux paintingBiot glassCIAChristmasHingham Farmers MarketMontagnacPézenasRestaurants FranceSouleiadoWellfleetantiquescharcuteriecooking classes chez nousfashiongarlicjam making/confituresliving in Francetrompe l'oeil paintingAbbiamo TuttoAutumnBarbeque sauceBeaujolaisBreast Cancer Awareness MonthBrunschwig et FilsBunny WilliamsCarolyne RoehmCharles FaudréeCharlotte MossConcord grapesConway Family WinesCote de Texas/Joni WebbDavid LebovitzFarallonFrench furnishingsItalian styleJulia ChildMaugerMcCall WinesMy recipe fileNorth Fork winesOililyOld Smokey meat smokerOrganic FoodOsprey Cove Organic FarmPascaline RispoliPierre DeuxPortuguese tilesRancho Arroyo GrandeRothschild Bird chinaScalamandréSensory AwarenessThe Mane LionTomates Confits/Sun Dried Tomatoesbloggingboletus mushroomsbrocantes/antiquitéscustom wine labels paintingeating in coursesfamily and friendsforaginggypsies/gitansgypsy caravansherbskitchensour living roomour pool terraceoutdoor livingpig roastpinkthrow pillowsvigneron/winemakerAlain Saint JoanisAnduze potsAnthropologieAromaAtlantic Spice CompanyBaccaratBaranzelli Silk SurplusBare Cove GourmetBastille DayBen's GardenBenjamin Moore Aura paintsBetter Homes & GardensBing Cherry Frangipane TarteBirke BaehrBloomy RindBocuse/Paul BocuseBoeuf charollaisCalico CornersCarlton Varney/Carlton VCarrot et cetera cakeCarson and Co.Catapano Goat FarmChante France radioChef Paul WahlbergChef Robert GonsalvezChefwearChina SeasChocolate and ZucchiniChris SmithChâteau PétrusCindy RinfretClayton's Clay WorksCody FarquharCompany CCote d'AzurCowtan and ToutCrème PatissiereCuvée Croix PenetDash and AlbertDeep Sea WinesDerutaDiamond Baratta DesignDickerson Art GalleryDomaine Tano PéchardDomaine TempierDomaine de la Romanée-ContiDomaine des AugustinsDorothy DraperDrakeDuraleeEddie RossEdible SchoolyardEl BalazoEmile HenryFagioli in StufaFennel and Carrot Peel SoupFrench Word-A-DayFrench languageFresh Strawberry TarteGarnier-ThiebautGerrie BremermannGhirardelli ChocolateItalian tilesJABJambon PersilleJan SevadjianJohn DerianJohn FowlerJohn RobshawJoseph RispoliJulie and JuliaKeith IrvineKirKravetKristin EspinasseLa CornueLa Vache Qui RitLanguedoc-RoussillonLinda DannenbergLorcaLuca Francesco TiciniLulu PeyraudMacKenzie-ChildsMadeline WeinribManitas de PlataManuel CanovasMary Helen McCoy Fine AntiquesMastering the Art of French CookingMediterranean styleMichael PollanModiglianiMoroccan PrestigeNewport ShowhouseNiceOsborne + LittlePaco PenaPaco de LuciaParisPeche MelbaPierre FreyPinterestPloufProvenceRanier cherriesRatatouilleRhône riverRhône-AlpesRoman ruinsRoostersSan GimignanoSang Lee FarmsSaône RiverShantell Martin IllustratorSoupe au PistouStone Wall FarmStrawberry SoupSusan Hermann LoomisTED TalksTargetTassinari et ChatelTasteThe Gipsy KingsThe Inn at Castle HillTiffanyTranquility LodgeTurnwald Collection (The)ValombreuseVie de CampagneVietriVieux LyonVignette DesignWellfleet Oyster FestWine SpectatorWisteriaartisanal cheesebarbequecheesechocolatescolor wheelcrème de Cassiscuisine Lyonnaisecushionsdecorating booksdry rub for barbequeentertainingexterior paintfacadesfamily celebrationsflamencofois grasgrain sacksguignolhome James Collection (the)hummushyrdangeasikatimpatiensle garrigueliving roomsmontgolfières/hot-air balloonsmusicnasturtiumsneuroestheticsorgan grinder/limonaireorganic gardeningorganizingpaint chipspita breadpoolpoulet de Bressepéniches/river bargesrainbowsseashore decoratingsoapstone sinksoul matespicessquab/pigeonstatuarystencilssugared fruitsummertaboulehterracetoiletzatzikiupholsterywine labelswine labels paintingwoodland/natural decorhttp://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)Blogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-6433231198421265188Wed, 22 May 2019 10:17:00 +00002019-05-22T06:21:25.576-04:00 Dear friends - All future posts will be located at this address: https://cestsibon.blog Thanks for your continuing to enjoy my posts with me! Cheers, Kate http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2019/05/were-moving-to-new-blog-address.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-85470889820394242Tue, 21 Jun 2016 16:05:00 +00002016-06-21T12:05:34.860-04:00The guest room at Le Bijou really needed new beds, more than anything else. The beds that we inherited were fine for a kid's overnight camp and, well...enough said. The room also lacked any sense of personality. On a trip to one of our favorite antique shops, we spotted this gorgeous set of hand carved walnut, upholstered beds. The headboards, footboards and side rails were in http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2016/06/transformation-of-guest-room.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-183624305279231234Sat, 21 May 2016 14:23:00 +00002016-05-22T06:20:30.198-04:00"Le Bijou"Anduze potsantiquesbrocantes/antiquitésFrench Country CuisinegarlicherbsJack Dickerson Artle garrigueliving in Franceour house in FrancePézenasSouleiadoThe kitchen of our house in Montagnac was what first drew us to the house. The picture, on the realty site, of the medieval stone vaulted ceiling and the four stone columns seeming to hold the ceiling up, was absolutely magical. It was that picture that led us to call and set up an appointment to see the house for the first time. Funny though, once the house was ours and we actually lived here, http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2016/05/la-cuisine-kitchen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-8791812911582620087Fri, 20 May 2016 11:58:00 +00002016-05-21T10:32:22.571-04:00antiquesbrocantes/antiquitésFrench Country DecoratingFrench furnishingsour house in FrancePézenas Even though we had purchased our house fully furnished, we knew we would have to replace most of the furniture items that came with the sale, as they were not good quality and definitely meant for the use of potentially raucous renters. A couple of chairs were downright dangerous; they were falling apart! A small sample of what we inherited: Bargain basement metal lamps and a basic bed on http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2016/05/antiquing-in-pezenas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-4488336194144312018Sun, 24 Apr 2016 07:48:00 +00002016-05-21T10:56:54.535-04:00"Le Bijou"French Country Cuisineliving in FranceMontagnacour house in France Early evening on the terrasse When we're in France, no matter how much we have on our daily schedule, there is never any question that taking time out to eat well is de rigueur. In fact, it is one of the things we love most about the French - they know how to relax over a good meal, and eating-on-the-run is not even in their vocabulary. Most of the meals we've eaten on this trip have been athttp://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2016/04/bon-appetit-en-france.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-3026932950127585556Sat, 23 Apr 2016 08:21:00 +00002016-04-24T02:18:25.829-04:00"Le Bijou"Montagnacour house in FrancePézenas The kitchen as it looked when we first saw it It's always the same - you buy a new house thinking it's "perfect", then move in and find out that it doesn't feel perfect at all, if fact it's a bit depressing. We had planned on doing a lot of decorating to update our new house in Montagnac, but hadn't really noticed in our love-at-first-sight state, that she really needed a major facelift, as http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2016/04/medieval-to-comfortable-with-coat-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-2835850987009390447Fri, 22 Apr 2016 08:55:00 +00002016-04-28T04:21:08.948-04:00"Le Bijou"Domaine des AugustinsFranceLanguedoc-Roussillonliving in FranceMontagnacour house in France A magnificent home for sale in France - just the kind we had always dreamed of, with enough rooms for visitors, a bit of land for eating al fresco and gardening, a swimming pool... Sometimes we have dreams for years and years, but don't know if we'll ever realize those dreams...it is hope and faith that keeps us dreaming. Jack and I have had a dream of owning a charming house (a maison de http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2016/04/just-do-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-4016639962272545062Thu, 30 Apr 2015 12:28:00 +00002015-05-04T08:38:13.979-04:00French languageFrench lifeFrench Word-A-DayKristin Espinasse Kristin Espinasse and her golden retriever, Smokey My blogger "friend" Kristin Espinasse has this subject well-covered, so I am posting today, mostly to direct my readers to her blogsite, French Word-A-Day, which is both chouette and interessant. Today, she posted another of her favorite French words, and she included a link to a past post where readers were invited to add their own favorite http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2015/04/wonderful-french-words-and-phrases.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-9000057425024161319Mon, 28 Jul 2014 12:47:00 +00002014-07-28T08:47:01.771-04:00faux paintingFrench Country DecoratingItalian styleItalian tileskitchensPortuguese tilessoapstone sink We had been looking at various old sink options for a few years, but my husband found this one completely by accident, when he was out driving one day. It's an old soapstone sink, in nearly perfect condition except for a piece missing along the top left side. The sink is exactly like the one my family had in our laundry room in Minneapolis, where I grew up, although that was a triple bay and http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2014/07/creating-new-old-kitchen-part-3a-new.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-3859861849593830395Mon, 14 Oct 2013 13:29:00 +00002013-10-14T09:29:37.953-04:00custom wine labels paintingwine labelswine labels paintingWine Spectatorwines Since I wrote in this recent post about my trompe l'oeil painting, I have gotten several inquiries about the wine labels. This was one I did for our family, incorporating wine labels we had saved over the years - mostly with special memories attached. I have also been asked to do special orders of friends' own labels and corks, as well as cheese labels, and other http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/10/coming-soon-to-wine-spectator.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-4600527460300782808Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:05:00 +00002013-06-28T16:06:49.411-04:00French Country DecoratingItalian stylekitchensLa CornuePinterest Who doesn't just love Pinterest? I'm sure that someday soon, we'll be able to access all of our picture files in the same format as on Pinterest, but for now, the best way I know of to look at lots of decent sized photo files together on one page at the same time, is to post them on Pinterest.  For a couple of years now, I have been collecting "Kitchen Re-do Inspiration" photos on http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/06/creating-new-old-kitchen-part-2-our.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-4127837746394101184Sun, 23 Jun 2013 21:19:00 +00002013-06-24T08:41:00.336-04:00Alice WatersBetter Homes & GardensDerutaDomaine TempierFrench Country DecoratingJack Dickerson ArtJulia ChildLulu PeyraudPatricia WellsPortuguese tilesSouleiadotrompe l'oeil paintingAs my regular readers know, we live in a Mediterranean style house, totally unlike a typical Cape Cod house (and yes, we do live on Cape Cod!) As a couple of francophile dreamers who have always fantasized about living in Provence or the French Pyrenees, we knew this house was for us the minute we walked into it for the first time. We are just beginning to renovate/decorate the kitchen here, http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/06/creating-new-old-kitchen-part-1-little.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-4241905786691373500Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:21:00 +00002013-04-10T16:27:34.301-04:00French Country CuisineFrench lifejam making/confituresmuralsPascaline RispoliPB Boulangerie/Bistro The market scene of the murals includes a table run by Philippe's maman, the truly lovely Mme. Pascaline Rispoli. While she doesn't actually sell her wares at the marché in Lyon, she does make confitures (jams) at home in France, and for the restaurant, when she is visiting here on Cape Cod, so I gave her a prime spot in the market mural, just for fun.  Pascaline's jam has been http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-pb-murals-pascaline-et-ses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-2576878179857811032Sun, 24 Mar 2013 14:12:00 +00002013-04-05T14:34:33.362-04:00BeaujolaisBoeuf charollaischarcuterieChef Philippe RispoliCuvée Croix PenetDomaine Tano PéchardFrench lifeJoseph RispolimuralsPB Boulangerie/BistroRoman ruinsvigneron/winemakerwines The corner showing the market wall and the countryside wall, above the boulangerie The final wall in my series of murals at PB Boulangerie Bistro, in Wellfleet, MA, is all about the countryside surrounding Lyon and some very important players in the gastronomic life of the city.  It's fair to say that wine is at least as important as food, in this region of France. While Lyon http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-pb-murals-countryside-wall_24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-4155632737360297610Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:09:00 +00002013-04-05T14:46:55.661-04:00Bocuse/Paul BocusecharcuteriecheeseFranceFrench lifeguignoljam making/confituresLyonmuralsPascaline RispoliPB Boulangerie/Bistropoulet de Bressesquab/pigeon Le marché - the market scene - is another that might be found in any French town or city. Here I have focused on Lyonnais specialties. The chickens in their charming wooden crate are Poulets de Bresse, an exquisitely tasty chicken raised near Lyon and considered to be the best chicken in France, if not the world. They are corn fed and free range. The great http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-pb-murals-market-wall_23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-2217119004682765225Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:54:00 +00002013-05-09T14:23:55.263-04:00charcuterieChef Philippe Rispolicuisine LyonnaiseFranceFrench lifeLyonmuralsorgan grinder/limonairePB Boulangerie/BistroVieux Lyon Vieux Lyon (meaning Old Lyon) is the oldest part of the city, dating to at least Roman times. In 942, Lyon became part of the Kingdom of Burgundy, and later, in 1307, became part of the Kingdom of France.  This photo (above) of La Place de la Trinité was my inspiration for this wall The remarkably charming buildings in this part of Lyon are plaster colored in http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-pb-murals-vieux-lyon-wall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-8058781124291296339Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:27:00 +00002013-05-09T14:25:38.679-04:00BeaujolaisChâteau Pétruscrème de CassisDomaine de la Romanée-ContiFranceFrench lifeKirmuralsPB Boulangerie/Bistrovigneron/winemakerwines Naturellement, wine is a big part of life in and around Lyon, as the city is located between two of France's most productive wine regions - Burgundy and the Rhône valley. This cave (cellar) shows barrels of Beaujolais being aged, and the vigneron (winemaker) tasting a barrel sample, just to see how the wine is progressing (which he needs to do quite frequently, of course!) http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-pb-murals-wine-cellar-wall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-2889935394435977401Sun, 17 Mar 2013 16:51:00 +00002013-04-05T16:14:10.089-04:00FranceFrench lifeLyonmontgolfières/hot-air balloonsmuralsPB Boulangerie/Bistropéniches/river bargesRhône riverRhône-AlpesSaône River Lyon is a beautiful, historic city that lies in the East of France, at the meeting of two sumptuous regions of France: Beaujolais, Burgundy and the Rhône-Alpes. Situated at the confluence of the Saône & Rhône rivers, this river scene is typical of so many in the city.  L'Hôtel Dieu, the long building pictured here, on the opposite side of the river, dates to medieval http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-pb-murals-river-scene-wall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-2432005738018395332Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:54:00 +00002013-04-05T16:16:11.938-04:00Cape CodChante France radioChef Philippe Rispolifaux paintingFranceFrench Country CuisineFrench lifeLyonmuralsPB Boulangerie/BistroRestaurants FranceWellfleetSince my first post on this exciting project, I have had NO time to do anything but draw and paint my mural designs at PB Boulangerie Bistro. One month later, I am finally taking a day off and thought I'd give a quick update of the murals. They are almost completely finished...just a few more days of painting left, and then I'll share pictures along with the stories behind each one. In my last http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/03/painting-french-muralsa-job-that-feels.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-5152870312476612812Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:52:00 +00002013-03-21T09:28:22.050-04:00Cape CodChef Philippe Rispolifaux paintingFranceFrench Country CuisineFrench lifeLyonmuralsPB Boulangerie/BistroRestaurants FranceWellfleet I recently began what is certainly my favorite mural job, ever: I am designing and painting scenes of traditional French life with a focus on food and wine, at our favorite local French restaurant. I had stopped doing murals, several years ago, in favor of spending time on my paintings for our gallery, as well as painting new needlepoint designs for my wholesale business KSH Needlepoint http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2013/01/painting-french-muralsa-job-that-feels.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-6719783798372229629Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:45:00 +00002012-12-05T11:36:55.659-05:00antiquesBunny WilliamsFrench furnishingsMary Helen McCoy Fine AntiquesScalamandréTassinari et Chatel One of the nicest things about Facebook is the friendships that are made - with people one would almost certainly never meet, otherwise. This is how I met my wonderful friend, Mary Helen McCoy. Although we have not actually met face-to-face, I have been so impressed by her genuine character and caring personality. Over the past couple of years that we have been exchanging photos and http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2012/12/mary-helen-mccoy-fine-antiques-giving.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-7347362503836472457Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:11:00 +00002012-04-12T13:47:11.608-04:00"how-to"Benjamin Moore Aura paintsCalico CornersDuraleefaux paintingikatPierre Freystencils I have been painting faux ikat "fabric" in a room I've been redoing this week (more on the whole room redo coming soon) and I thought I'd share how to do it with my readers. While the process is somewhat complex, the finished effect is amazing, and well worth the time it takes to complete! As I considered the look I wanted, it occurred to me that I could take advantage of the threaded nature ofhttp://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2012/04/faux-paint-your-walls-to-look-like-ikat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-629185747898179600Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:27:00 +00002012-02-20T13:27:49.941-05:00French Country Decoratinggrain sacksKravetVie de Campagne J'adore la vie de campagne - in more ways than one! The title of this post means "I love country living" (and I do!) ...but VIE DE CAMPAGNE is also the name of the hottest new collection of home decorating fabrics from Kravet, and I am in love all over again! VIE DE CAMPAGNE is a compilation of prints and woven textiles in washed linens and cottons that convey a sense of rustic http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2012/02/jadore-la-vie-de-campagne.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-5408830939238796265Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:20:00 +00002012-02-06T15:28:07.960-05:00"how-to"ChristmasHerendThe Mane Lionwoodland/natural decorThe third vignette in a "natural holiday decorating" group I created recently for the Boston Globe g Magazine, was a woodland setting, which is absolutely one of my favorite subjects to play with. There is something about all of nature, but especially woodsy materials, that I just adore. Mosses, twigs and pinecones remind me of glorious walks through forested areas, under canopies of http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2011/12/natural-christmas-decor-woodland.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-612215127904508921.post-7361687161656797696Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:57:00 +00002012-02-06T15:30:34.823-05:00"how-to"Christmasseashore decoratingLiving on Cape Cod, we are surrounded by seascapes and an abundance of interesting shells. So this year, I decided to create a holiday seaside vignette. This is one of three natural settings I was asked to design for The Boston Globe, although this one didn't make it into the final article. I used a mix of local and more tropical shells, corals, starfish, etc., that I have collected over the http://discoveryourjoiedevivre.blogspot.com/2011/12/natural-christmas-decor-seashore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Kate Dickerson)0