Happy Sunday! Today I am joining my pals Annie and Mary Ann for our Sunday favorites. Would You Like to Escape to the French Countryside? I know I would right about now.
PROVENCE POIRIERS ON INSTAGRAM
Would anyone like to escape to Provence this Spring? You can rent this beautiful property and find out all about it here. Or maybe just peek into the Shauna Varvel’s 18th Century Rhone Valley Farmhouse will do if you can’t actually go. You can follow them on Instagram here
If you can’t make it to the French countryside, but want to see more, you can purchase the gorgeous book Provence Style on Amazon here.
HOW TO PLANT ROSES-HOUSE AND GARDEN
I like this simple guide on how to plant roses from House and Garden. I had a very complicated routine that worked wonders but almost produced too many blooms with too much work. I am aiming for something simpler at my age.
CARROT GINGER SOUP-TWO PEAS AND THEIR POD
I thought soup weather would be over by now, but sadly it is not. I love the combination of carrot and ginger. I am making this Carrot Ginger Soup from Two Peas and Their Pod this week.
STACY LONDON ON AGEIST
Remember Stacy London from What’s Not to Wear Fame? “After WNTW ended, she suggested a show about midlife and was told by a television executive that no one would watch a show about older women”. Turns out they were wrong. Why are we not surprised. She founded State of Menopause, “a company whose mission is to help women feel their best during menopause”. You can read all about it here on Ageist., and what she is up to currently.
HOMES AND GARDEN 9 FAMILY ROOM LAYOUT MISTAKES
If you feel like the traffic pattern or arrangement in your family room is just not quite right, you might enjoy these tips from Homes and Gardens
I skipped the outfit of the week because my posts have been a little fashion heavy of late. I hope you enjoyed Would you Like to Escape to the French Countryside. If this post left you wanting to see more French gardens, you might enjoy my post The Enchanting Gardens of Dominique La Fourcade here. I will be back on Tuesday with Annie, Mary Ann, and our friend Sheri and we will be styling jean jackets.
Now let’s pop over and visit Mary Ann and Annie for more Sunday fun!
MOST LOVELY THINGS
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
Ahhhh-the French countryside – escape in a heartbeat. The soup looks delicious (it’s still soup season here) Your recipes always are great. Can’t wait to play in my garden. The daffodils and grape hyacinths are beginning to bloom. Love seeing your garden posts. Never tire of seeing your fashion posts.
Hi Barb
Obviously we wouldn’t be staying at “the mansion” unless for a wedding, but it sure is fun to dream, isn’t it?
Okay…here’s my plan…ten women , all of a certain age (65-75) sharing the villa in Provence for a week…only 10,000US pp ! About the same price as an exceptional cruise for the same time period. I should know…just came back from one. All meals prepared, housekeeping included and gardening done ✔️ . Sign me up! One Question… Is there a pool?
Well, I can dream , can’t I?
Great idea!! Mary Ann are you listening? Yes there is a pool!
The bloggers hit Provence – I love it..
I know another place to stay if we can’t go to this gorgeous place. This one has a gorgeous pool and pool house and it sleeps 8. https:
//www.galavanttravels.com/paris-to-provence
Hi Gray
Will check that out! Wouldn’t that be fun!
Love the French countryside, and the city too! Beautiful house. I cannot wait to see your rose garden, your previous gardens were incredibly inspirational.
Have a great week Cindy!
Hi Elizabeth
This garden is very different and it suits the home. It has more of a side open prairie look to it. I will only change the small rose garden area. I do have several David Austin’s ready to go in the ground, and one of my brother in law’s beautiful copper arches to anchor it!!
I always like your posts, and this week is no exception. My husband is retiring in a year or so, and we have been thinking about renting a small place in France, Italy or Greece. The world is wide open, and we love the planning stage.
Your soup looks just fabulous and I am planning to put it on my list to try.. Last night I made Pasta Fagioli, so we went to Italy for the dinner hour on that. Tonight we’ll have Greek chicken skewers, so Greece it is. With this article, I can see I will have to have a French dish for dinner later this week!
I look forward to all of your posts and of course will be looking for the next one!
I love your style!!
Hi Eva
I can’t wait to travel once my husband is walking on his own! I love that you visit different countries for dinner. I cannot get my husband interested in cooking…I keep hoping!
I love your outfit of the week post, it’s never too often! But I also like recipes, gardening tips, and escaping to France… Thanks
Hi Cynthia
I will be back next week with my usual outfit of the week. Any requests? I thought we had been o.d’ing on fashion lately!
Anywhere in France would do!
Agreed!!
Cindy!
Wow! $100,00.00 a week, I think I would invest that into a little pied-à-terre that I could have forever! It is dreamy though!
That soup looks so good! I can’t believe it’s still soup season in California! You’ve had so much rain!
xx
Hi Annie
Read Cath’s comment regarding the estate! I can’t believe it is still soup season either!!
What a dreamy property! But at $100,000 a week I fear it will remain but a dream in this lifetime. Lovely for inspiration though. I love the peaceful creams and light blues. One could easily spend the afternoon daydreaming there.
Hi Sheila-Merle
As Cath said we would have to take a group from the blog! Now wouldn’t that be fun!
Beautiful post! I have a rose planting tip that has worked over the years. I place a banana at the bottom of the hole and plant as usual. So many nutrients! Would add manure, but my dogs would probably dig it up: yuck! P.S. I don’t mind the outfit posts, so many beautiful items.
Hi Kim
I used to do that. It is a great tip especially if you have rotten ones you need to get rid of. When we lived in Chualar I made my own compost. I miss that!
Oh be still my heart! That house is in Provence looks SOOOOO delightful! Escaping to that would be so nice – especially right now when it SHOULD be spring, but still isn’t really, here in the northeast! Barring an escape to Provence, that carrot ginger soup looks delicious
Hi Janet
It is fun to dream isn’t it? The book is wonderful and filled with garden design inspiration, if you are a gardener. We have had the coldest winter in CA that I can ever remember. We think it is cooking if it is over 60!
Cindy, I am swooning over that beautiful home in Provence…oh my! It is just stunning. Thanks for sharing. Have never been to Provence and am reading An American in Provence now…beautiful book and story. Will check out that article about roses…mine are all just about ready to bloom. We still have one of the original heirloom roses here on our historic property, Quatre Saisons which smells heavenly. Happy Sunday.
Hi Mary
You are so lucky to have some of the original roses. I am anxious to hear if you like American in Provence. I can’t read anything like that until Steve is back on his feet…too tempting!
This was a perfect post. I love viewing homes in other places and of course, I would love to visit Provence. One day…
The carrot soup sounds delicious. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon and week ahead.
Karen B.
Hi Karen
I do too…fun to dream…
I’d love to read about Stacy London but I’m not getting the link to work. I’ll look that up. Glad she’s still helping women. I often wonder as things have changed for myself lately if I can keep my hormone replacement and do a low dose BP med…maybe her show talks about this. I’ve read all the new studies on HRT and lots of benefits have shown over the past 20 years.
Roses! What a beautiful flower they are but boy do they need just a bit more of your time. I’ve potted a couple in very large pots that I have to roll into the garage every fall before winter arrives. My arbor is full of them as well. Japanese beetles are horrible here and I fight them every summer..ugh!
Hi Lori,
I am soon to be 74 yrs. old and have been on HR therapy for 20 plus years. About 4 yrs ago I began taking low dose BP meds. (losartan25mg twice a day. My doctor has encouraged me to keep on with this regime as the benefits far outway any negative effects. I feel great and no one can come close to guessing my age. I hope this helps.
Susan you are amazing!
Hi Lori
I am fortunate to not have high blood pressure and have finally (I honestly think it is collagen but can’t prove it) got my hot flashes under control. I only had them at night, but they definitely affected my sleep. I barely have them now and have never taken HRT. Roses do take a bit of work but what they give in return so worth it! I am very picky about my roses however. My husband says I am a rose snob…maybe…I only like roses that are as beautiful growing as they are in the vase. Very few modern roses have that trait in my opinion.
Stacey is winding down her state of menopause company this year because she “no longer wants to just promote a product”. So many celebrities have jumped on the menopause bandwagon, it’s funny to be trending at our age! Yes, I want to go to the French countryside. Sign me right up!
Hi Jennifer
That is good to know. Let’s go!! Woman’s trip!
Would you Like to Escape to the French Countryside? Uh, that would be a hard YES or OUI.
Beautiful post.
I’m with Mary Ann. ❤️
WE all are!! We need Howard & Mary Ann as our tour guides!!
You need to be our tour guide!