A Sunny Lunch at Le Plongeoir, Nice

We flew into Nice, France, and stayed a few days. Recent articles on Nice had mentioned that Nice was experiencing a renaissance since covid. It has been about 15 years since we were here last, and the time was right for another visit. We stayed in Vieux Nice, home for 20,000 people, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We ate well, strolled the famed Promenade des Anglais along the water, and took in the Monday brocante (flea) market.

A few days later we drove and stayed at the picturesque port and small town of Cassis, along the Côte d’Azur. Enough time for an evening dinner along the port, and to take in the Wednesday market there. A quick stop at Domaine du Paternel for wine tasting. This area is known for gorgeous white wines.

Above Cassis is the start of the Route des Crètes, one of the most scenic routes along the highest cliffs in France which allows to you view the coastline and out to the Mediterranean sea. Breathtaking!

Picturesque Cassis Port

Market Day at Place Richelme in Aix-en-Provence

On to Aix-en-Provence for a day and night. A vibrant university town with magnificent architecture and a grand wide boulevard called Cours Mirabeau. We had one of our most memorable and delicious lunches at Les Vielles Canailles at this tiny little restaurant, know for the talented chef and extensive wine list.

Hiking at the Gardon du Gorges, A UNESCO Biosphere

After almost a week in France, we rolled into our village around Uzès. So happy to be here again, to further explore our area, work on our little mas, and search for decorating treasures from brocantes and flea markets.

It is not all work, we have taken time out for market days, long lunches, and one day we hiked part of the Gardon du Gorges. It is an incredible gorge carved over time by the Gardon River. Steep cliffs, rushing river water, and natural landscape have earned this protected pristine gorge a UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere site.

My New Wall Sconce, Upper Left, for the Living Room

Sharing with you the vintage sconce I found for our salon, living room, stone wall. Small, delicate, a perfect size. It is French, and pre-World War II. It cleaned up beautifully, and adds a touch of elegance to our rustic room.

Our Neighbor’s Beautiful Stone House

It is beautiful here in the autumn. My neighbor’s vine-covered stone house is a site to relish in the fall.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend from France…Bonnie

Enjoying An Almond Croissant in Paris

Non, it is Encinitas. Last Saturday my husband, John, and I had a great day together. Later that evening I reflected on the day, and how it reminded me of what might be one of our typical days in South France. This reinforced my thinking that “Joie de Vivre” and a “Taste of French Country Living” is a wonderful attitude and a philosophy to adapt and can be lived, wherever you call home.

Follow me through our fun fabulous day together, and I will parallel it to a fabulous day in South France.

France Market Day Shopping For Fresh Produce In the Nearby Village. Translates in Encinitas, to going to the Cardiff Farmers Market on Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm at Mira Costa College San Elijo Campus. I like this market a lot because it a nice size market consisting of three long rows of vendors. The first row is fresh produce, fruit, honey, and artisanal meats from friendly local farms. The second and third rows are specialty food items such as baked goods, hummus, pizza, greek food, coffee, crafts, clothing, art, jewelry, flowers, music, and more. Please note: the market is not held during the September Greek Festival weekend which is September 7-8, 2024 this year.

I was looking for heirloom tomatoes, as mine in my garden have not done that well this year. I was very pleased with the produce I bought consisting of beautiful tomatoes, fresh sweet corn, juicy peaches, and surprise fresh zucchini blossoms (which I don’t see very often here in Encinitas). Oh yes, I purchased for Sunday morning to share, a large incredible almond chocolate croissant filled with vanilla creme from a very talented bakery stall. He said it was one of his bestsellers.

Nice Leisurely Lunch At A Favorite Outdoor Cafe. Translates in Encinitas, to going to Blue Ribbon Pizza in the Lumberyard for a great salad and wood-fired pizza. Downtown Encinitas has many great cafes and restaurants offering outdoor seating, something positive from Covid. The hard part is making a decision on just one. In France, the whole country stops from noon to 2pm to enjoy their lunch. No fooling.

After Lunch, Stroll The Village For An Errand or Casual Shopping. Translates in Encinitas, to strolling the historic Coast Highway where there are many wonderful independent shops. I stopped into the crowded flagship Vuori store to browse their latest fitness clothing.

Afternoon Planned Event To Take In, Such As A Garden Tour, Hike, Museum, Winery Visit. Translates in Encinitas, to going to the Saturday, August 10, 2024 Open House for the new Pacific View Arts Center which was a decade in the making. The city purchased the long vacant, former elementary property totally overhauling it and transforming it into a stunning site to learn art, sculpture, multimedia, music, and a venue for performing arts. It occupies a full block of Third Street between E and F, and even has incorporated the historic Encinitas 1883 schoolhouse in its southwest corner. This is a great addition for the Encinitas community. During the Open House, artists, musicians, media teachers, and staff were on hand for questions and demonstrating. Classes started August 13, 2024.

Baked Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

Once Home, Eager To Prep A New Recipe For Dinner With Market Ingredients. Translates in Encinitas, to coming home and excited to make “Zucchini Blossoms with Goat Cheese, Fresh Mint, and Anise Seeds” from the cookbook Dinner Chez Moi by Elizabeth Bard. The zucchini flowers you see in France are much larger in the markets than the ones I got today, that did not deter me. I have always wanted to make these zucchini blossoms, and I had this recipe in mind. The recipe was very simple and so tasty. The presentation is gorgeous and the blossoms so delicious. A perfect light appetizer for the summer. I will share this recipe in a future post.

After Dinner Relaxing On The Outdoor Terrace At Dusk. Translates in Encinitas, to after dinner relaxing on the deck watching the last of the beautiful sunset. In France, when I am in the countryside, night time is dark. France is so rural in our area, there is no light pollution, and in fact our little village borders a huge protected forest. So when dusk turns to night all the stars and planets are so vivid, and the constellations so clear. Stars to further dream upon.

I hope you enjoyed this recap of our recent fabulous fun day in Encinitas, paralleling it to a fabulous fun day in South France. May it give you ideas, inspiration, and tips to create your own heartfelt “Joie de Vivre” wherever you call home.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

The Little Lion At Domaine de Manion

This little stone lion and pedestal has been in our family for at least 50 years. My parents were in their forties, I was in high school, and my brothers were in middle school. For about six years then, we lived in a little village outside of Brussels, Belgium, in a little Flemish house my parents rented. My family would frequently travel around Europe on weekends and vacations.

During one vacation, visiting and driving around Italy, my parents bought this stone lion statuary and pedestal. Exactly in Italy, they can’t remember. I was not with them on this particular trip. They drove it back to Belgium. Placed it in a perfect spot to greet everyone in front of their little white Flemish house.

When it came time to move back to the United States, of course, the lion and pedestal came with them. My parents eventually retired and built their dream home on Table Rock Lake, about 20 miles outside of Branson, Missouri. This little lion then graced the front of their home, and greeted family and friends for over three decades.

Every time I visit my parents, my dad always asks me if there is anything I want from their house. He will gladly ship it to me. Last summer visiting them, helping my mom water her garden, the thought of asking for the little lion and pedestal came to me. The answer was “yes, of course.” With luck, my cousins from Denver were visiting my parents at the same time. They drove the lion and pedestal to Denver, and then to Golden, Colorado, where we have long time friends who often drive to San Diego. With the help of family and friends, the lion and pedestal made it to Domaine de Manion a year later.

I had the perfect spot in mind. A special location that is close to the bocce ball court, the garden, and the vineyard. It can be seen from afar and close up. It is away from the garden irrigation. Very visible, yet protected.

A little about this lion and pedestal. He is quite small. Most lion statuaries I have seen are large. He has a bit of a smile, so is friendly. There is an actual shell you can see embedded in his front, which makes me believe he was made with materials that were close to the sea. He is very heavy, and also his pedestal.

This little lion is very symbolic to me, representing so much to me, across many facets of my life. I also see him as a guardian over the garden. He certainly has a history, and I only know the last 50 years or so. He is very special to me, and I am thrilled to have him here, and see him often.

I share all this history with you as garden ornaments are very important in our gardens. Garden ornaments pause your eye in the garden, and sometimes create a welcome surprise. Garden ornaments can allow you to create a distinctive style and ambience to complement your garden. Garden ornaments can be sentimental, and stir happy emotions, as this lion does for me.

Please share if you have a favorite garden ornament in your garden.

Related Past Posts:

Jewels Of The Garden

Welcome To My Garden

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

One Of My Favorite Perfumes

One can enjoy a little Paris, everyday, simply by dabbing a little French perfume on your neck, wrists, and décolletage. In fact, it is one of my 25 suggestions in an earlier post, Finding Your Frenchness. Have a signature perfume. If one signature scent is not enough for you, have one for daytime and one for evening, or one for spring/summer and one for fall/winter.

Miss Dior was my signature perfume in high school that I loved to wear. I loved the fresh floral scent, yet never knew all of the fascinating history behind this fragrance. Rekindling my love for this fragrance came from two recent events. The first, was watching the Apple TV+ series, The New Look (2024), which tells the story of Christian Dior’s couture journey during Nazi Paris, opening his own couture house, and his famous debut of “The New Look” his ultra-feminine collection for women in 1947 that gave hope, beauty, and spirit once again to the world. The second, was reading the book, Miss Dior (2021) by Justine Picardie, specifically about Christian Dior’s younger sister, Catherine.

Catherine Dior’s story is fascinating. Christian and Catherine Dior were always very close. Catherine Dior was Christian Dior’s muse, and whom the fragrance, Miss Dior, is named after. She was the only member of their family to be at his couture house the day his “The New Look” collection was presented to Paris and the world. The fragrance of Miss Dior had been created, but not released yet on the market. His couture house was filled with a preview of Miss Dior fragrance scent wafting in the air that momentous day.

Christian Dior’s inspiration for his fragrance, “Miss Dior” was remembering his mother’s garden full of roses and exactly how it smelled. Lily of the Valley scent is prominent in the fragrance too, as he thought of it as his “good luck” flower. Each of his designs had a small Lily of the Valley discreetly sewn into the garment.

Christian Dior and his couture designs became world famous virtually overnight. At one point in his career, he was responsible for 50% of France’s exports. Catherine Dior’s life was humble, courageous, and always tied to flowers. She joined the French Resistance during World War II, was captured by the Nazi’s, tortured, and survived years in a concentration camp. She was honored and recognized by France for her service and bravery. After the war ended, and after she had time to heal physically, socially, and spiritually, for a few years she had a cut flower business in Paris. Preferring to be a rose cultivator, she moved to South France near Grasse, Provence, and lived in the rustic family home she inherited from her father, where he had lived later in his life. She helped Christian Dior cultivate the specific roses he needed for his fragrance. She still tended her beloved roses, close to age 90, and up until shortly before her death.

Christian Dior had an untimely death of heart failure in Italy at age 52. He left everything to Catherine Dior. Although Christian Dior was very successful, he employed 1,000 people at that time and was one million “1957” dollars in debt. He had bought a lovely huge estate in Provence he was renovating, as well as a new apartment in the Paris 16th arrondissement. Catherine Dior took on the task of selling the properties to pay off his debts, ensure his name and business would endure, and started the first Christian Dior museum in Normandy on the property where the entire Dior family had once lived and prospered before their father went bankrupt and fell onto hard times.

There is a Christian Dior museum in Paris called La Galerie Dior, at 11 Rue François 1er, Paris France. It is part history, and part testament, to Christian Dior and his six successors, and their visionary Parisian haute couture. It is closed on Tuesdays, and you must get tickets in advance. It is on my list for next time I am in Paris.

With all of the incredible history behind the Miss Dior fragrance, it makes it so much more special wearing it. I love knowing that it is so garden-oriented, so rose-oriented, and really so love-oriented.

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“MON PETIT CHOU” CORNER

Two Of The Three, Clear Stain Glass Windows

I am selling three clear stained glass windows and a glass etching. These were in our home when we bought our property, and probably from a previous owner’s remodel in the 1980’s. They would be perfect for someone’s garden shed or a “she” shed. The clear stained glass have wood frames, which would probably have to be re-framed. The etching below is glass with no frame. Pick up only, no shipping.

Stained Glass Windows Dimensions are 62.5” long x 26.5” wide. Price is $75.00 for each window.

Etching is 32” high x 24” wide. Price is $75.00

If you have an interest in any of these, please email or call me at (tel) (760) 402-7600. Thank you.

Glass Etching With Woodland & Deer Setting

Wishing You A Great Week & Bastille Day July 14….Bonnie

On a Mission, Walking in Paris. Photo Compliments of Stephen Caldwell

This fall I spent a glorious week in Paris with a dear friend. I had wanted to do that for a while, spend a week just enjoying everyday Paris. We did a lot of walking in Paris, which I highly recommend. One can really take in the details of Parisian everyday life, study the architecture, smell the croissants, and enjoy the razzle dazzle of this great city. So often, a view, or a scene is like a real life picture perfect postcard. No editing or enhancing needed. Everyday Paris is amazing.

Walking so much in Paris, I had an “aha” moment where all of my past trips to Paris came together. I really got a grasp of the layout of Paris, and now it seems very personal and familiar to me.

Of course, if you are walking, it helps to have a plan. Last June, The New York Times published A Walk in Paris: Gardens, Greenery, and Flower Shops by Christine Chitnis, which was curated by Sandra Sigman. Sigman has had a long time love affair with Paris, recently bought an apartment there, and has a popular floral business in Massachusetts specializing in French floral design. Her delightful new book, French Blooms highlights the celebrated florist and her distinctive French style of flower arrangements. In The New York Times article Sigman tastefully guides you on a short three mile walk through the 6th and 7th arrondissements. You can stop and start whenever you like. If walking is not your preference, you can get to these places in your preferred mode of transportation.

Sigman highlights her favorite florists, eateries, green spaces, and specialty shops such as Barthelemy, an incredible cheese shop that has been in the neighborhood for more than 40 years.

One of the Neighborhood’s Most Charming Cheese Shop. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.

These two neighborhoods, the 6th and 7th arrondissements, have an abundance of incredible flower shops. I can see why Sigman especially loves this area. This neighborhood also boasts Cafe Varenne, one of my favorite (and Ina Garten—Barefoot Contessa) casual spots for people watching and delicious lunch.

Inside the Flower Shop, 69 Bac

Each flower shop is different from the next, in what they carry, how they display, what they specialize in, and their locations. Flower shops and flowers are very popular and well supported in the Parisian community. It is not uncommon to see an armful of beautiful flowers heading to someone’s nearby home.

Jardin de Luxembourg, A Perfect Spot to End Your Walk

Sigman ends her walk at the Jardin de Luxembourg, a classic Parisian park, usually filled with relaxing Parisians strolling about, lounging in a chair by the Grand Bassin, or contemplating by the magnificent Medici Fountain. In October, the gardens were still bursting with color for all to enjoy.

Started in 1611 by Marie de’ Medici originally, Jardin de Luxembourg has seen many transitions. Thank goodness Jardin de Luxembourg was saved from the mammoth Haussmann urban redevelopment happening in Paris in the 19th century. Slated for demolition and development, 12,000 Parisians petitioned to keep the garden, ensuring its glorious permanence.

The Magical Setting of the Seine at Dusk. Photo compliments of Stephen Caldwell.

Not on Sigman’s curated walk, but a “must to do” sometime while you are in Paris. Stroll the Seine at dusk and sunset with a friend or a loved one. It is breathtaking, and postcard picture perfect. One really feels the essence of Paris and the amazing beauty that abounds.

Paris has recently made strides to make the city more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. Roads down to the Seine have been blocked from cars, encouraging you to stroll, meet up with friends, or perhaps stop at one of the riverfront cafes. Allons y!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Provence Lavender

Many have tried to define the magic of Provence, but it is not one single thing, it is many, many glorious things together.

“Provence is one of the great garden destinations of the world. It is a special place where the beauty of its natural landscape has magically mingled with civilizations for centuries, and the beauty keeps on radiating.” —Bonnie Jo Manion

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Lunch time in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue With New Friend

Outdoor cafes and restaurants are virtually a way of life and extremely important for socializing with friends and beasts. Some friends are invited and some just make their way to your table. You hardly can go wrong, taking in a moment to yourself, a refreshment, a possible bite to eat, and a chance to catch up with your day.

Cafe Time in Aix-en-Provence

Take a beautiful outdoor cafe, mix in a bit of sunshine and fresh air, add a steaming cup of espresso, and viola, your day is made.

One of the most beautiful and impressive places to sit in a cafe and experience the "cafe life" is on Cours Mirabeau in Aix-en-Provence. It is often called the Avenue des Champs-Elysees of the south. This grand boulevard with its massive plane trees and ancient moss-covered trickling fountains was first laid out in 1651. Nearly 400 years later, it still is a wonderful boulevard to sit at an outdoor cafe, and just experience life. I suggest the famous cafe, Le Deux Garcons towards the top of the grand boulevard.

Self-Photo at Roman Pont du Gard

This Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, has stood the test of time for more than 2,000 years and ticking. How utterly unbelievable. Although the Pont du Gard attracts over 1 million visitors a year, with nary a person in sight, we had to resort to a self-photo. The Pont du Guard was built to transport water across the Gardon River Valley, starting at a spring outside Uzes nearly 30 miles away, to the Roman city of Nimes. The Pont du Guard consists of three levels, the top one was where water was transported, and the first level actually was used as a road. It is estimated that it took 800-1,000 workers about three years to construct it. There was no mortar used in building this engineering masterpiece.

Roman Pont Julien, Near Bonnieux

Pont Julien is a small three-arched perfectly preserved Roman bridge, tucked away in the valley floor, just before the rising hilltop village of Bonnieux. It is also more than 2,000 years old, and up until 1995 was still used for traffic. Since then a new bridge has been constructed next to it. Pont Julien was named after the family of Julius Caesar. It was part of the ancient Roman trade road that linked the Alps to the Pyrenees, through the south of Gaul.

Secret Roman Ruins Outside of Aix-en-Provence

If you are intrigued by the Romans and their influence on Provence, create a "Romans in Provence" itinerary visiting Nimes, Arles, Vaison-la Romaine, Orange, Saint-Remy, to name a few places to get you started. Some Roman marvels are well known, and some are much less known. You simply happen upon them along your travels.