From My Hearth To Yours

The temperatures have dropped, I have a tarte tatin bubbling in the oven



and a pot of hot, rich café au lait steaming on the stove.



So amble on down the path where the crusty, fallen leaves of autumn crackle under our feet, singing the familiar theme of another enchanting holiday season



of family, friends and festivities. It's storytime chez moi, and I invite you to enter into the cottage of dreams



and take a peak into the window of your imagination



and to gather around the hearth of hopes and dreams.



Whether your taste in hearths leans towards the French country cottage or the relaxed Carmel, California variety





a fireplace surrounded by kindred and creative spirits is beautiful no matter how humble



or lofty.



So if you prefer the more traditional chateau style fireplaces









or a classic Victorian for your holiday décor









a fireplace in just about any setting



will relax your heart and release your mind to wander into the world of make believe.

So let us gather around my hearth



and dream of Precious Little Things With Wings ©



a very short story that I created with hope that it will carry you on a long journey to your wildest of dreams! Come back next week, and stay warm!

My Fair Ladies

We've seen them all. The exquisite photos of a young, dark haired gamine who made us believe that fairy tales can come true, never cease to draw a sigh of admiration for her poise, humility and unpretentious elegance from all of her admirers.



My favorite photo of Audrey Hepburn however, is not of a young princess whose physical beauty was like a fairytale,



but rather of a mature Audrey, whose radiance cannot be extinguished by time. Her beauty is even more illuminating in the following photo, in which her heart for the defenseless and poor outshines even her own iconic image as her eyes cry out, "Why?"



There is a French proverb of which the author is unknown that says, "La figure fait la beauté d'une statue, l'action fait celle de l'homme." In other words, "The face is what makes a statue beautiful, but it is the actions of men that reveal their true beauty."



I would like to dedicate this post to My Fair Ladies, a group of women whose talents, personalities and actions reveal an eternal beauty that will never fade:

Susan L., a long-time friend in California whose humor, faith and dedication to the love of God radiates no matter what the circumstance-

Patricia from Woolytale Miniatures, whose friendship is precious beyond words-



Nancy from Fête et Fleur, who has never uttered an unkind word to me-

Sherry from Edie Marie's Attic who never turns down an opportunity to lend a helping hand or offer encouragement and sound wisdom -



The Dutchess and her beloved Miss Moussie who have remained faithful companions on an unforgettable journey into my imagination-



Spencer from Bellamere Cottage for always having a positive and humorous attitude-



Bonnie from Diamonds and Daisies for her willingness to take risks and never quitting-



Karen Harvey Cox from Scrapbook of Inspiration for her generosity with her beautiful art-

Jacqueline from Once Upon a Fairyland for always being herself and relishing the memories of her childhood



And my mother, who humbly showed me how to live and then courageously showed me how to die-



The list goes on and on of a host of My Fair Ladies who have made me believe that fairy tales can come true by the eternal beauty of their actions. And I would like to thank the witty Bunny from I'm just say'n for this thoughtful award:



Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog
3. Link back to the person who nominated you
4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know
5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate
7. Leave a comment on each blog letting them know you nominated them

Here are seven things that I think you may not know about me:

1. I was an extra in two movies: Steven Spielberg's 1941 and Rocky II.
2. My father attended my maternal grandparents' wedding at the age of 18 two years before my mother was even born.
3. Everything that I have become successful at I started to learn "late" in life.
4. I want to be a professional writer for childrens' literature.
5. I prefer vanilla to chocolate any day!
6. I haven't eaten a candy bar in 29 years.
7. I want a white horse, you know, the kind with blue eyes, pink noses and lips? They are so.....



Oh....AND NOW THE DRUMROLL PLEASE...I pass on this very special award to the following "Kreativ Bloggers" who never cease to amaze me:

1. My gorgeous cousin Marie at Dancing in Tattered Shoes (your sense of humor is priceless)
2. My brilliant husband at Rattus Scribus (if laughter promotes longevity, I'll live to be a 1000!)
3. Rosemary at Rose's Petite Maison (Woman, you are THE queen's crown maker!)
4. Tristan at Enchanted Revelry (Your posh style and wit are on another level to which I aspire)
5. Lili at Lili M. (Your vintage wares are always so beautifully arranged!)
6. Carol at Charli and Me (You have animated Charli in the most heartfelt way)
7.Keke at In My Sepia Studio (You really know how to combine those colors to get the right mood for your posts!)

Now as Tristan would say, "Now go and make something beautiful", I say, Go out and make someone's day...you certainly make mine!

Bisous à vous tous!

A Table! Dinner is Served...

Autumn is lingering like the afterglow of a wonderful soirée under the full moon. Tonight, a rainy evening beckons me to the little French village tucked away in my imagination, where winding streets lead to lofty castles and humble cottages.



Tonight chez nous, it's raining outside and it's time to start cooking. Will you put on your raincoat and come with me to the village to do some last minute shopping?



There are just a couple of simple ingredients that are essential for our recipe tonight that can be found on the simplest of grocery shelves.



So let's get ready and make sure that everything is in check and that we follow the master chef's directions



and that our oven is correctly set



to bake the rustic French bread that will mop up the glorious olive oil





and that will accompany our Salmon and White Bean Stew. The most important ingredients go first, to set the stage for the star players. Take two crushed garlic cloves and chop one large onion and sauté in olive oil in a dutch oven until translucent.



Add two 15 oz. cans of Fire Roasted tomatoes



two 15 oz. cans of cannenelli beans



two salmon filets



one tablespoon of Herbes de Provence and a dash of salt and pepper



a pinch of saffron



and last but certainly not least, make a chiffonade of fresh basil, about 1 cup.



Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn to a simmer, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the salmon falls apart and the stew is thickened. Serving suggestions: you can also make fresh basil pesto and do as the French and Italians do by drizzling the pesto into your stew. And, if you are not a fish lover, you can substitute with chicken



and it will be just as comforting



and is sure to put a smile on your face.





So now my dear friends, entrez dans la salle à manger



and let us sit and enjoy each others' company over a humble, yet elegant meal



and retire to the music room and share each others' talents



until it's time to call it a night



and let another moonlit, misty night shower you with dreams of promise of another beautiful day.



Que notre Seigneur vous bénisse!

Falling Leaves and Starry Nights

Please click on pictures to enlarge and crank on the music for some fun tunes...


French castles in the autumn air

Oh wrap me in your dreams so fair

Of fireside and simmering stew

a crust of bread and friendship true!

- Castles Crowns and Cottages



As I watch summer leave me like a friend departing after a memorable visit, I stand fixed at the window of my memory. Summer's culinary wonders trail behind a cortege of a season past, leaving vestiges of gloriously prepared and shared meals. Autumn however, is not a time of culinary dormancy.



On the contrary, the seductive aroma of fresh summer basil and oregano hangs suspended in the autumn air, only to take center stage again. Instead of freshly made pesto to spread over a summer pasta, dried flakes of these magical herbs will dance and bubble about in hearty stews that gently simmer in glowing pots of copper on a well-equipped stove.





Welcome to my kitchen of dreams



where warm hearts create a hearth of warm friendship against the chilling beauty of limestone.



Old, timed-tested recipes from the kitchens found in the majestic Chateau de Chenonceau were prepared in well-worn copper vessels crafted by artisans



such as those found in the village of Villedieu-les-Poêles, the city of copper, tucked away like a little secret in the Southern Manche region of Basse Normandy at the Bay of Mont Saint Michel.



I have my own dream kitchen, equipped with French copper pots, utensils and molds, where the morning sun barrels in and dances with the crystal chandelier



and admires its reflection in the pink caste of a copper bowl.



Great meals emerge from new, state-of-the-art "chateauesque" kitchens









as well as from humble cuisines like my own



from which I will bring you one of my favorite fall stews. So come back next time and put on your tabliers





and your chef's toque



and help me mince the onions and garlic and sauté them in the nectar of the gods



and let the comforting aroma of saffron and herbs waft in the echoing halls of our chateau of culinary dreams.



And while all the ingredients merge together, we can share the joys of the kitchen with humor and adventure. Enjoy!



See you next week at the chateau!



A la prochaine mes amies!

La Vie est un ballet; on ne le danse qu' une fois

I want to give credit to Judith from Paris Atelier for inspiring me several months ago with her "Let's Dance" post. Please visit her beautiful blog HERE to see her lovely photos.

The French proverb above tells us that life is a ballet; you only dance it once. To dance is a gift and I am grateful that in spite of not having the opportunity to fulfill my dream of being a ballerina, I did dance and I worked hard to make it happen; such is the story of my life. You see, I knew I wanted to dance since I was about three years old when I would hear my father play his beloved Chopin, Debussy and Bach on the piano. I would feel the music in my husky little legs and I would twirl and flitter about like a lost, little moth. He would laugh and call me his "Mariposa", which means butterfly, in Spanish.



No, this darling little golden haired baby is not me; but her image evokes the feeling of freedom, purity and grace that I wanted to express when I heard the music. When I grew up and started to dance, the thrill of the dance swelled to greater emotions with the tactile experience of the supple give of the wooden floor under my feet



and the prickly sensation of tulle petticoats and costumes scratching against my skin.



Dance, like the art of living, requires constant reflection and redesign



in the midst of challenges and fears



in moments where patience is of foremost importance



until one is developed, defined, and strong enough





to manipulate the magic shoes with great precision and beauty.



Shanna La Fleur also said, "It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer." I have learned that technique is a necessary base from which one can launch off to an artistic expression, and that there is no substitute for hard, and sometimes lonely work.





It is only after years of pain and joy, that one can wear the beautiful garments of victory











stand up straight and get ready to soar



and express the love you have inside



until your art becomes a sweet, vintage memory



and it is time to hang up your shoes.



I hung up my dance shoes long ago, but the sweet dance of life has never ended. I would like to dedicate this post to my dear sister-in-law Nancy who has danced a graceful Pas de Deux in this life and to Patricia, my wonderful friend whose life is a ballet in itself.

Bonne journée mes amies!

From Stillwater, With Love part II

Please click on pictures to enlarge...

Jump on board the trolley down Main St. everyone for one last tour of Stillwater, Minnesota! Autumn has arrived and though the air is heavy with mist and the howling winds of winter are lurking around the corner, the warmth of summer discovery is still an experience to be shared. Stillwater indeed is a lovely town for all seasons, but let's go shopping one more time in the sweet summer air of our memory to see more of what this old fashioned corner of the midwest has to offer.



Among all the antique shops, Rose Mille is one of my favorite places to visit. Entrez, s'il vous plaît and relax...















The magic never stops at Rose Mille; with delightful and bright home furnishings and vintage trinkets, handmade jewelry and glittered goodies, this is most definitely one of our favorite stops.



Another fabulous find is Pulp Fashion, a little paper goods shop where the owner is fun, artistic and very familiar with many of YOU fantastic artists in blogland! She was very giddy when she met my husband, the brother of our lovely and talented Nancy from Fête et Fleur! I could have sworn she was going to ask him for HIS autograph!







The architecture in Stillwater varies from the American Victorian



to the rough-hewn European stone structures that evoke images of French villages



and remind me of the streets of Eze, France where the shop owners are elegantly dressed while sweeping their shop thresholds, wearing little white aprons, such as Cheriz from "This Love of Mine" jewelry shop.



Cheriz designs and crafts her own jewelry and has a darling little atelier tucked away in her real cave of a shop, situated in the town's rocky bluff area.









As we close the door of her shop behind us, our senses are tickled with much more "eye candy", but down the street, there are two old-fashioned candy shops where you can walk in





and taste the savory delights of childhood.

A great way to justify eating all those goodies is to promise yourself that you will climb all three Montemartre-like stairways





that will transport you to some of the quaintest neighborhoods that display humble cottages and also boast renovated Victorians that you can tour to see some of the most breathtaking views of the St. Croix.







And after all that walking, you can go to Cambrose Hill flower shop





and step inside to see all the romantic flower arrangements



or, you can amble your way around the side of the shop and go to the little fenced-in corral



and say "Bonjour" to Fünf the bunny and his friends.



By this time, the fairy dust begins to settle and the fog starts rolling in



to shut the eyes of summer in the sunset of fond memories past.



Have a beautiful, memorable autumn weekend, mes amies!

All Eyes Shall Weep At Your Departure...

Please click on all pictures to see the details!



It is a bittersweet moment to temporarily close another beautiful chapter in our lives. Together, my husband and I shared a summer of wonderful discovery, taking a time machine back to the old days of Main St. U.S.A. The last month of summer, after accomplishing much in our professional and personal lives, we embarked on a time travel experience that dropped us off in our own backyard. About 30 minutes away, in spite of late afternoon traffic, time stands still. Magical garden shops that whisper fairy tales



and inspire the artist, writer and home decorator in me to dream and create,



bring out the whimsical dreamer in me that I simply cannot deny. From Shabby Chic shops that sparkle and boast an array of crowns, glitter and silly animal creations







to little tea salons where patrons don Victorian hats for the afternoon and slowly pour tea from original, locally made teapots



Stillwater calls us back every weekend to enjoy endless hours of antique shopping and book hunting in some of the most beautiful and well-stocked vintage book stores we have seen in a long time.





From historical home tours to the numerous bed and breakfast establishments that dot the little city









Stillwater has left an unforgettable impression in our minds that calls us back. And even though summer is over and the morning glory sheds its last tear of early morning dew, our imaginations await us at the dawn of a new adventure on the banks of the St. Croix river.



A la prochaine!