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stunning use of pink on pink in this beautiful window |
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lavender growing in the haute Luberon.. magical |
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magenta, anyone? fearless use of glorious color against all that stone and stucco |
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somehow I could easily see whiling away several hours in this very spot.. join me? |
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could anything be more welcoming than this pretty entryway with bougainvillea and geraniums, a greenish door and sparking white trim? |
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un verre de bandol, svp? |
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Bandol, the beloved rose colored vin de provence; best served quite chilled when the temperatures are soaring! |
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sophisticated pink plays off the rustic unfinished and weathered doorway |
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this "les olivades" table cloth strikes just the perfectly artless note for your springtime table |
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you can just feel the warmth and hear the cigales buzzing in this setting where time slows down and old linen is on all the beds |
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le cigale.. the beloved bug of Provence! you see it everywhere in ceramic figurines, decorative painting, table linens.. un peu cheesy but really adorable :) |
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*gluten free and delicious tomato-tapenade tart |
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no, just in case you thought it was, this isn't me and Chris at the market... it's the amazing Ben & Jen and they are carrying my friend Andrea's French Basketeer market basket! Buy your own at Andrea's site! |
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hmmmm... what's this?..... a whole bag full of DIRT? Yesssss! |
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I love the early spring colors at this English cottage.. pink dogwoods, pale green ivy and tulips of all colors, and that red maple |
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really beautiful creamy camellias |
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close up of the rhododendrons at the cape cod |
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every year Bob's fence looks like this.. stunning! I think this is a large trumpet vine |
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one of my favorite homes in the neighborhood, this 1905 large craftsman "lake house" was recently painted from dark brown overall to this stunning combination of mossy green with cream trim; I love seeing the shapes of the white oaks now before leaves cover all the branches completely |
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stunning peak through the rhododendrons at the cape cod on the corner |
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I adore this house on our walk... the ivy wall is just that color of early spring growth.. pale yellow green that later will turn to darker blue green in the summer |
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flowers from our garden ready for our springtime dinner party guests |
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close up of our lovely wisteria |
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I love how the wisteria blooms before the leaves are even out on our huge white oak trees in early spring |
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Nicky is also wondering what's up with our naval orange tree? doesn't look so good.. the arborist just stopped by to say we are watering it waaaay too much and not to water again until late summer... and don't plant the annuals under the tree this year... bare dirt, oh well! |
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back now to "le potager" * ..fennel, artichokes, lemongrass, basil, scallions, blueberries, tomatoes, spinach, arugula, lettuce, chocolate and regular peppermint, a host of herbs and a strawberry pot! I have become slightly obsessed with gardening this spring, although I have little experience except puttering around and trying things out.. it's looking good for this early in the season, non? |
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who would not want to have "un aperitif" sitting next to this delightful potager in France? |
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kitchen potager for le Chateau du Rivau, Loire Valley |
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I adore these whimsical watercolors of vegetables and their flowering forms from "Dialogue avec le potager" |
