Surprising Things in France
Long before I lived in France and even before I met my husband 17 years ago, I loved reading about France and the things people noticed that differed from their home country. In this case, I came from the San…
Spring in Annecy
Annecy. After years of seeing photos of this picturesque city, I wanted to see it in person. It was early spring, and trees everywhere were like fireworks of blossoms across the landscape. I always envisioned visiting on a warm, sunny…
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8 Months of Living in France
It’s hard to believe it’s been 8 months since I moved to France. Can you believe it? We arrived on 16 August and now it’s April. It’s a beautiful spring day and all the trees that looked dead a month…
Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Food, France, French, Loire, Lyon, Recipes, Rhone-Alpes, Saint-Étienne, Village
It’s Bugnes Time!
We’ve moved into the month of February and now we see bugnes in all the bakeries. What are bugnes, you ask? They are tasty little donut-like treats sprinkled with powdered sugar, traditionally served during the month of Mardi Gras, which…
Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Charming, City, Dessert, Explore, Food, France, French, History, Holiday, Loire, marché, market, Rhone-Alpes, Saint-Étienne, Travel, Valence, Village
My First French Noël
Waking up between 5:30 and 6:00 before my family allows me to savor the tranquility of the early hours. Each morning is a solitary affair, embraced by the gentle glow of dim lights. With the onset of the Christmas holidays,…
Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Food, France, French, French Gifts, Rhone-Alpes, Shopping, Travel, Wine
A Gamm Vert Surprise
Gamm Vert is a French chain of garden nurseries, but it’s much more than that. It’s a one-stop shop for French treats and gifts! The original reason for visiting Gamm Vert was that some friends had told us it might…
Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Cafe, Charming, chestnuts, Dessert, Drôme, Food, France, French, Guides, History, Holiday, Loire, marrons, Rhone-Alpes, Travel, Village, Wine
It’s Been 2 Months of Living in France
A New Chapter: Sacrifices RewardedWe arrived in France on 16 August. After being married to someone who was married to a restaurant, we both desperately longed for “quality of life”. No more setting my alarm late at night to be…
Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Cafe, Castle, Charming, Chateau, City, Dessert, Explore, Food, France, French, History, Inspiration, Travel, Vacation, Village, Wine
The Wine Towns of Tournon-sur-Rhône & Tain l’Hermitage
It was a warm Sunday and Olivier and I decided to spend the day in the charming towns of Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain l’Hermitage. Just a short drive from our home, it was a pleasant change of pace. Tournon-sur-Rhône is a…
Settling in Ardèche
We stayed with my belle-mère (mother-in-law) when we first arrived in France. After three weeks, we finally moved into our own place in the Ardèche department. The Ardèche is known for its stunning scenery, including rolling hills, vineyards, and forests. We…
Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Charming, Explore, France, French, Haute-Loire, Loire, marché, market, Rhone-Alpes, Travel, Village
The Big Move
Closing a restaurant, selling our belongings, and giving them away; packing and cleaning up the house for renters was an exhausting experience. I worried for months about how the cats, Toby and Summer, would travel, hoping that they wouldn’t be relegated…
