Blog Envy

Sometimes there is a blog that brings up a whole array of conflicting emotions. Feelings can rang from pure adoration, to envy & disbelief to sometimes down right disdain, as in

 "How can anyone be this perfect!?"

Those are just a few of my confused reactions to Mimi Thorisson"s  Manger.

It's not just that Mimi Thorisson 

is knock dead gorgeous or that she & her husband have found the perfect chåteaux to renovate in the Bordeaux region of France, it's not even all of her incredible recipes that I find myself envying.

Nor is it the fact that she is doing all of this, seemingly without a care, while raising five children & a whole plethora of dogs. She just had her fifth baby in May.

No, while all of these things are beyond admirable, it is that Manger is so well written & so beautifully photographed. Each post is like an enchanting story to be read & savored over & over.

The amazing, warm & earthy photos of Thorisson's Icelandic husband, Oddur, are what I love & envie most about this blog. It is through his photographic eye that this tail of French life at its most lovely is truly told.

Now there is a cookbook, My Kitchen In France, to fulfill all your dreams of Franc. It is out in stores this month. 

Whether you are just discovering Mimi Thorisson's Manger or you are an ardent fan, I am offering this little review to Paulita's Dreaming of France as my contribution to such dreams.

All Photos from Manger 

How do you lIke to go up in a swing

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing 

ever a child adult can do.

On a recent trip to Atlanta's High Museum of Art I enjoyed the 

Mi Casa, Your Casa 

interactive exhibit created by Mexican designers Héctor Esrawe & Ignacio Cadena,

…where you could swing to your hearts content.

Wishing you all a playful weekend!

Ramdom

…photos

….because dreaming of France can be like that….

Check out Paulita's Dreaming of France to see other random thoughts on the subject.

Drawing Challenge: Under…

…wear…..or under dressing …or under layer….or under painting

It's whats underneath that counts. 

Find out what else is under… on Stefanie's blog.

All Hallows Eve

With all its eerie graveyards …

…spooky entryways….

… & haunted houses…

…Charleston is a perfect place for Halloween.

It seems every doorstep is dressed & ready.

Although fall leaves are not the norm here, there are a few to be found mixed in with the palmettos. 

Ghosts & goblins have flown in for the occasion….  

…. & the stage is set for a very Witchy All Hallows Evening.

Hope yours is fun!!!!

Preserving the Past

I happened to see this touching article last week & thought it worth sharing. 

A young French solider died in World War 1. His heartbroken parents left the room of their only son just as he had left it. When the house was sold they put a clause in the deed that requested that the room remain the same for 500 years.

Although, in fact the clause has no legal bearing the two preceding owners honored the wishes of the grieving parents, leaving the room just as it was. Today, almost one hundred years later, the room remains as the young French war hero left it. Second Lieutenant Hubert Rochereau  died in battle in Belgium in April 1918 & was posthumously awarded the Legion of Honor for his bravery.  

Photos from The Huffington Post

Not only does the preservation of this room shed a light on a moment in history but it speaks to the power of a parents love as well as the heartbreak of war.

I can't imagine this touching but somewhat bizarre tribute happening anywhere but in France, so I am sharing it with Paulita's meme Dreaming of France.

Drawing Challenge : Dress

Am I the only one who remembers paper dolls? It seems they are now a thing of the past. I have many fond memories of hours upon hours spent creating & playing with paper dolls. So when I saw the theme for this weeks drawing challenge I knew that I would be reliving a happy part of my childhood.

I am having way too much fun, time to move on to some adult activities. 

Thanks Patrice for inviting me to participate & bringing out my inner child.