OPERATION NEW HOUSE!!

Une petite maison bien d'aujourd'hui courtesy of Marie Claire Maison 2008
La styliste Marthe Desmoulins et son compagnon ont transformé une maison du XVIIe en un espace lumineux et coloré, où l'esprit des cabinets de curiosité règne en maître.



new house from old house
I have been tweaking out to tunes with moving boxes and wrapping tape in hand because we DO have a sale in the works for our beloved village house! alas,I have been away from blogging but,still manage to visit yours!
For me,moving is always a mixed bag, full of conflicting feelings yet,on this note I will begin my gratitude list:
§ new opportunies for designing a huge living space in the grenier of our Napoleon III maison de maitre! beams galor!
§ happy entry with stairs!
§ fresh color schemes-uncanny,but true-we actually painted the rooms in a Laduréé palate!
§ garden more accessible with a chateau in view!


my thought for the day!!!!

“We have not even to risk the adventure alone; for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero-path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a God; where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”
joseph campbell

DISSECTING THE BEAUTIFUL LIKE A SURGEON,did I really do this?

photos of La basilique Saint-Sernin
photos courtesy of office of tourisme in Toulouse
well, for one, it took me a few days away from blog to notice that I actually disected the blogging process, HELLLO!!!
I tried to give a diagnosis and weirdly a prognosis-jeepers-even with the beautiful blogs I read and I am trying to create, I feel a need to hyper-analyze!

I am mighty proud of myself though for catching this - my learning curve is very steep!so beauty for beauty's sake-whimsical, ethereal and visual!!!!

gratitudes list-saw 2 rainbows on our drive to Toulouse today!-a gift of rain,clouds and light,though Eldest tried to capture it on cellphone camera,not a chance!
-had 2 chocolate encounters,one making a fab Nutella bagette breakfast for Youngest and one in warm,cosy,chandelier filled Salon de Tea in Toulouse in the form of Chocolate fondant,shared with Middle
-had a hopeful feeling for the USA primary elections,noting that Obama still leads in delegate votes 25 to Clinton 24-hoooorah, gang, Bush's days are dwindling in office- but,would someone explain what exactly he is doing in the middle east? Is this a joke or what? empty diplomacy after making such a mess with everything....alas, the point here is perhaps there is some hope for change and fresh,authentic ideas and actions and huge change

also if you have not seen All things Brightand Beautiful -TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS it is a must! and ParisParfait has a few insights for Bush bunggling ,worth a look,as she is really politically savy with experience in international journalism as well as all things Paris and Antiques!

WOW FACTOR TAG GAME

the following blogs ,as perhaps you have noticed since I have given birth to BLOG baby, are frequented by me because of the wow factor -I mentioned this recently!!!
my mini analysis is this- what makes me return time and time again?
*beautiful photos-either their own or others
*dream element-kindles healthy longing or appreciation
*fun writing-kind of conversational and/or narrative
*shared stories-a sense of the "genuine"
*inspiration-conveying one's passion for a topic,item or experience
*willinglyness to connect with other bloggers-mighty mentors

allthingsbright&beautiful-Hong Kong
parisparfait-Paris
rang-thecoloursoflife-India
hiddeninfrance-France
tongueincheek-southof France
reddirtramblings-Oklahoma,USA

so now I am going to ask these gems of blogosphere what they sense is their WOW factor special ingredient? I look forward to their answers and your comments too!

the wonder of our focus

our recent guests have brought back some of the "wow" factor from giving us their new or fresh prospectives-meaning that their observations,comments,or photos tell us something new about something old!
I recently shared with the author of ALL THINGS BRIGHT & BEAUTIFUL,of bloggers fame,how she has a real knack for translating her design passions into posts possessing the WOW factor!You can call it eye-candy or great taste but, it is more- it is an underlying way to invite others to see it from a fresh point of view! likewise ,I am now looking at my favorite blogs and I am considering doing a tagging inquiry into what promote the wow factor in each special blog!
but for now, I need some fresh inspiration for our new renovation project! soon to move....
I am starting with bedrooms! these are all from www.CotéSud.fr
looking forward to mu next challenge.

CIEL D'ORAGE- stormy sky bliss and a great blog too!

Here again the French know how to gracefully move from the hectic holiday season to the rentrée or the return of routine,school and work. How do they do this? They celebrate with a bagel-shaped cake made with almond paste in which they place a small ceramic figure. Whoever gets the figure is king or queen for the epiphany!
A yummy tradition combining comfort food, company,and tradition-good wishes for an easy transition to all! I am finding this blog- cield'orage a masterpiece of camera still lifes which reflect the charm of French lifestyle! Please take a look at WWW.CielD'Orage.com to get a real impression-c'est magnifique!

making memories

I think alot about how my children will remember our lives together,as I am sure we all do, I try to create settings where they feel welcome to bring friends and where food and or beverages,like tea or coffee or hot chocolate sit steaming in front of them while they giggle or play cards! I love my Grandma's round wooden pedestal table in the center of our kitchen because it reminds me of her. Her sunday italian dinners usually included 25 family members perched on different syle chairs. Their conversations were very animated, as all good Italian-Americans would be- think of TV's best characterizations of this-you get the picture! My Grandma would prepare hundreds of jars of organic tomato sauce on that very table during the 60's ,70's and 80's! she lived in her own home until she was 103 1/2 years old so I figure she had the right idea about staying focused on family and sharing a good cup of coffee with people you love!

step into it!

yes, this a glimse into small part of my dream to come to France- vast spaces like the grange featured here- this was where the winemakers stored their large pieces of equipment, animals and wine vaults,vats- it was all dirt floored and well, my dream was to have an enchanting ,large space to entertain and DANCE-
viola!! we had a magical evening when the moon was red, I can not remember the scientific conditions which caused this to be so, but, we just used it as a splendid reason for dancing and eating - a mixture of 50 or so french and english speaking ex-pats, of all ages from infants to seniors!!!

cocooning during the blustery days of winter

I do have to say the french have a delightful way of creating rituals and customs out the ordinary everyday things we all experience! Like, the way they invite the new year in with their linen sales and their soup making! Our neighbor has a veggie garden to die for,regardless of season. It seems this retired,young winemaker has a monopoly on GREEN THUMBS- you see ,he brought over a huge,I mean monster, huge orange squash ,which my hubby transformed into a hearty, delicious soup! (The color of homedepot as my eldest pointed out, homedepot is the haven for renovation mania which has conquered the USA!)
anyways, this was a warm & cosy occasion to be together here near Bezier,France!
Here is photo of Beziers-

hoorah for makeovers,reinvention and just plan learning something new!

my,my- this blogging is rather addictive- in that it invites constant creativity and collaboration, kind of like the way I loved to practice pediatrics- team approach with listening and watching and hoping to inspire a healing change-

oola I was wondering how this bloggging world would dovetail into my past self as an over trained professional and mother of 3 and my new found self with a life in a small village in the South of France...

Really,this should be fun to allow things to enfold with the merry mentors I have been silently,until now,reading daily....just take a good look at my daily reads-these mentors are ,I am finding ,such a gift, such a pleasure, they present me with a new way to see things....thank you all in advance for sharing your insights and talents..It is going to a great year!photos are :
old me and perhaps the new me !!!!!before and after---noting the old me is trying to heal the world...lecturing...the new me accepts my sphere of influence to be lovingly concentrated on family and friends ! This way, perhaps small kindnesses and shared celebrations are just as important and lifegiving as big splashy speeches and professional accolades, in the end it is the love and caring that really matters!

a newyears wish to connect which other kindred spirits

tagging or passing it on- a lovely notion and fun intention of sharing:

here is the mission as I understand it:

The rules are:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog;
2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird;
3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs;
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.



http://parisparfait.typepad.com/ of the same visually seducing name- parisparfait



http://http//creaturecomforts.typepad.com/ -who could live without these blessed creature comforts a daily read for me!

ok folks I am a novice at this and hope this improves my skill set -much needed !

http://www.racket-free.blogspot.com/ -this is of inspire,move &touch fame ,another american in france whose site I admire

http://www.annejulie-art.com/blog/ of the gorgeous and talented artist from Ma Petite Theiere



this list could go on but, i am going to start slooowly

Happy New Years 2008

a view of our new home and the next renovation project-oola!