Monday, September 29, 2014

Damp Week

It has been a damp week here in Charleston, as I maneuverer  my way though life back in the States after my three months in France. It takes a while. 


 Catching up on things I missed while away, I stopped by the Shepard Fairey  mural on King Street that was done in connection with the Spaleto Festival at the end of last May.


Mostly it has been pretty quite, as I try to get back into a routine & back to normal life. And all the while the weather continues to be wet & dreary.


But of course I have had to indulge in some of my favorite treats that I miss while away, like a pecan cinnamon bun from Wildflower Pastry, baked only on Sunday mornings.


 Although this post does not have much to do with Dreaming of France, I did see this link that might interest those looking for a cool & alternative place to stay on their next visit.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Making New Friends….



 Meetup has been a great way to make new friends &  to keep up with the French language.

When we first moved to Charleston we knew no one . Our son suggested Meetup. It is a  network of local groups worldwide, uniting people for communication, common causes, & community. Our son uses Meetup to connect with other rock climbing enthusiasts.



We were happy to find that Charleston has a very active French Conversation Meetup group, which gathers weekly at a local cafe.


It was fun to reunite with this interesting group of new friends after our summer in France. It looks like there are lots of things to look forward to this year, wine tastings, French films, & restaurant outings.



For us Meetup has proven to be a great way to make friends while keeping up with French language & culture in Charleston but there are groups for every interest & every taste. Check out Meetups in your area of the world & if you don't find one that interests, you can always start your own.


I am linking this idea with Paulita's meme Dreaming of France because French Conversation Meetups are a wonderful way to keep the dream alive.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Finally


Yes, I have finally seen The Hundred Foot Journey. I went to see it with my daughter before leaving Boston. I was so enthralled by seeing St. Antonin on film that it was hard for me to fully judge the merits of the storyline. My daughter however, really liked it & I was happy to speak to others that had enjoyed it as well.


For me watching the film was more about remembering the experience. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch from the sidelines as this film was being made.


I was really excited to see the scenes that I had been right there to see in production. I could not help whispering to my daughter, "I was right over there".


I loved seeing the actors playing their roles


 & remembering how I had seen them on the set


  preparing for & preforming these same scenes, as well as laughing, & enter-acting with the cast & crew on the set.


It was fun to watch the credits & realize that I had seen many of these very talented film makers working on their craft.


Knowing that I had gotten to see director  Lasse Hallström in action was a real thrill.


It was funny to see the familiar places in St. Antonin so transformed. I did feel that the film gave the town an overly quaint, almost cutesy look that to my mind took away from St. Antonin's true beauty.


But none-the-less it was fun to think that just days before I had been sitting in the very same café that I was now seeing on the big screen.


Of course much of the film was the figment of imaginative film making & computer generated magic. Locations that are far from St. Antonin were made to look like the local landscape for example. 


I happened to see on the internet that some people were asking if these restaurants really exist.   To be clear, no, they do not, both are completely fictional. Not only was one only a false front in many of the scenes but they were not located anywhere near St. Antonin. I especially thought it was funny to see the long shots of the two restaurants with St. Antonin in the distance. That was indeed the magic of cinema.


All in all it was wonderful to see the lovely town of St. Antonin so beautifully portrayed in this very sweet film.


I am linking my impressions of The Hundred Foot Journey to Paulita's weekly meme 

Friday, September 12, 2014

Back To Real Life

I was very happy to see these sweet faces…

 
….but real life does not always a pretty picture make….


 …lol….


…& sometimes putting up with your younger siblings 


can be a pain….


…not to mention having to pose for grandmother's photos….


 ….but real life is what it's all about…


 ….& I couldn't be happier to be back….


….& be a part of it all….


….no matter how it unfolds…

Wishing all of you a very happy "real life" weekend!

Monday, September 8, 2014

It Seems Like

....one day you are in France & the next day it all seems but a beautiful dream.....















I want to thank all of you, my loyal readers, for following along this summer. I feel so fortunate to spend this time in such a beautiful place & I am most happy to share it with you here. Thank you for all of your kind comments this summer. I have savord & enjoyed each & everyone. I appreciate your thoughtfulness & your cyberfriendship most sincerely.
Merci boucoup!

I am linking this last post of summer & first from back in the US to Paulita's 

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Au revoir

It is time to say good-bye to the fading light of summer....



.... to the sparkling sounds of the river....



....to the  ever changing profusion of color...



....to my fellow travelers & kindred spirits....



....it is the last dance of the season....



Au revoir....until we meet again.....