Marche Nocturnes......

{image from here}

It is official now, the marche nocturne/night markets in our village, have commenced tonight which means that the season has started.

They will be held every Tuesday night until the first week in September. Mr FF and I had a stroll around the market and in typical "moi" fashion I even managed to find a great dress which Mr FF kindly bought for me.

So if you are at a loose end on a Tuesday night, you know where to come.

Bonne soirée from a very hot SW France,

L x

Bonjour Lundi....

Bonjour mes amis, hope that you all had a fabulous weekend. Here in SW France it was a very busy with lots of guests at Maison No. 20 and also tres chaud (very hot) week-end.

Which means that I am going to be spending most of my day doing the washing and cleaning.

I would rather be in Nice near the sea, cruising the gorgeous streets on this fabulous vespa. I particularly loved this about Nice - not only did all the young girls look chic but they all had shiny vespas.

Mr FF thinks that I should stick to my velo, as it is not as dangerous. There is a company that hires them nearby for anyone that thinks that they may like to give it a try.

Je vous souhaite à tous une semaine fabuleuse,

L x

The giveaway of giveaways....

{image from here}

Fabulously French now has over 900 lovely followers and so it is a big merci beaucoup from moi for all your support and encouraging words.


What better way to celebrate than with a giveaway.

This is not a normal giveaway in the sense where I select a prize and then you leave a comment.

In this giveaway you get to choose anything that you would like from the fabulously french online shop.

{Fabulously French Showroom}

The only category that is not available for selection is the large items selection as these are too big to post.

Once you have selected your "chosen" item, all you need to do is leave a comment telling me which item you would like and why.

The giveaway will close on Friday 2 July at midday, France time.

Bonne chance a tous et je vous souhaite un très doux et

très joli week-end.....

L x

Love this.....

Not only do I love eating it, I also love to have a string or two of garlic (ail in French) hanging in the kitchen.

Do you like garlic?

A très bientôt ,je l'espère !
L x

An invitation....

......to a fabulous sale in Paris. Not sure that I will be able to make it this time around so will have to make do with the beautiful photo on the invitation - j'adore ça !

A demain,

L x

J'aime papier peint....

{image from here}

Hope that you all had a fabulous weekend, ours was busy and involved sourcing some additional items for our new kitchen, including some open shelves which I will paint during the course of the week.

As you know I have a thing about wallpaper or papier peint as it is called in French and have even had Mr FF wallpaper the inside of some of the wardrobes at Maison No. 20.

So you will probably not be surprised to know that I am in love with this wallpaper.

Just looking at it, makes me feel inspired.....

Je vous souhaite à tous une semaine fabuleuse,

L x

Friday Flowers/vendredi fleurs

Another week has speed past, cannot believe that it is Friday already.

I am hoping that it will be sunny this weekend as I think that a picnic as the French call it pique-nique, maybe in order.

What have you got planned for this weekend?/Que faites-vous ce week-end?

L x

Sneak preview - ma cuisine

As promised here are some photos of our new kitchen at Maison No. 20.

Note it is not quite finished as we are waiting on more wall tiles which explains the one row of wall tiles that you can see in the photos.

Once we have all the tiles in place Mr FF will grout both the walls and also the worktop.

Mr FF has wired 1/2 of the ceiling lights and we have 1/2 to go as you will see from the photos.

Me on the other hand, has yet to complete the painting hence the base coated skirting and the tape around the mirror above the sink.

{skirting which will be given another coat of paint this afternoon}

{unfinished wall tiles and mirror frame complete with masking tape}

I am planning on having some dark wooden framed prints on the wall above the sink but as yet have not found any so if you have seen anything you may feel are suitable, please let me know.

I also have to give the window seat another coat of paint and have a large tapestry to hang on the wall above the dining table.

The walls above the worktop look a little bare but we are going to have open shelves and I am now hunting for some supports for these.

{naked walls awaiting open shelves and stainless range hood}

I also have to order a range hood and splashback which is on my list of things to do......

Well as you can see from the above photos, I still have plenty to do so had better get back to it!

A tres bientot,

L x

Today I love....

{image from here}

....these bookends, are they not fabulous? I really like them.

Today is a busy day for moi as we had guests leave this morning and have more arriving in a few minutes time so I am keeping my nose to the ground. Not sure that this expression translates into French and will not try it.The last time that I tried translating an English expression into French, my French friend replied why say such a thing so I am now careful as to what I say for obvious reasons as some words do not translate literally and can take on a whole different meaning.

I promise to take some photos of the "not quite finished" kitchen when I come up for air.

A tres bientot,

L x

Friday flowers/vendredi fleurs

{I am still loving geranniums...}

Yes it is that time of the week again, another week has speed past at what seems like record speed.

I am still painting the kitchen but hope to be finished by the end of the weekend and will be sharing some photos of our progess to date.

Wishing you all a very happy Friday and a fabulous weekend/
Je vous souhaite un vendredi heureux et un week-end fabuleux,

L x

Today I love....

......this cushion that the very fabulous Michelle from petit coterie made, for our window seat in apartment deux at Maison No. 20.

It compliments the cushions that we have on the bed also made by Michelle and available in the fabulously french online store.

I love Michelle's work as her quality is second to none and her designs are timeless.

I am looking forward to working more with Michelle in future and we are in the process of designing some fabulous items for Christmas 2010.

I am afraid I have to dash now as I have another date with the dreaded paint brush,

A tres bientot mes amies,

L x

You have got mail.....

I am waiting for a parcel to arrive, which hopefully, has lots of lovely things inside for our new kitchen.

In the meantime you will find me in the kitchen painting, today is the 2nd coat of base which will be followed by 2 coats of top coat.

Cannot wait until it is finished.........

L x

Le bol de fraises............

Today it is a hot one in SW France - 33 degrees to be exact and I think that this "bol de fraises" is exactly what we need to cool us down.....

Bon week-end a tous,

L x

Friday flowers......

{local vineyard basking in the June sunshine}

Another Friday has arrived and this weekend is forecast to be a hot one in SW France. I am not sure that heat is good for painting but have a feeling that I will know by the end of the weekend.

Where ever you are, what ever you are doing, hope that you have a very happy weekend/

Où que vous soyez, quoi que vous faites, j'espère que vous avez un week-end très heureux.

L x

Painting again....

{image from here}

It seems like only yesterday we were painting some part of the house. Yesterday was spent applying base paint to the kitchen cupboards and this afternoon I will be applying the second coat.

I find this stage rather boring and will be happier when I can dip my new brush into my lovely brand new can of Farrow and Ball "Old White" oil eggshell.

Yesterday the dishwasher arrived and I adore it, so sleek, shiny and new. I am enjoying my stainless stage hence the fridge, oven and dishwasher are all stainless steel.

Love mixing modern with old hence the antique oak table, chairs, chandelier etc.

Still lots to do, Mr FF will be working on the window seat over the weekend and I will be painting the walls and ceiling.

I am looking forward to the "furniture placing stage" as I have bought a few lovely pieces that are standing unloved and lonely at the garage of our other house.

Hence we will be working this weekend.

What are you doing this weekend?/Que faites-vous ce week-end ?

L x

Bonjour Juin and I won a giveaway....

{see below for details}

I have a feeling that Juin is going to be a fabulous month. I spoke to our neighbour this morning who owns the electrical shop in the village re ordering a fabulous stainless steel dishwasher and he has advised that it will delivered Thursday afternoon.

You girls will laugh as the last thing that Mr FF said this morning is do not forget to go and order the dishwasher and fridge, but I have a feeling that the dishwasher arriving Thursday is not going to make him happy as we have to paint the kitchen and grout the tiles before we can install it. I may have to break the news to him very gently.....

And then when I returned home from doing my chores in the village, I logged onto my email and there was an email from http://beingruby.blogspot.com/, to say that I had won these gorgeous prints........I am very happy today or in Francais je suis très heureux aujourd'hui.

They are so gorgeous and I love pictures hanging in groups of three and think that I will hang them in our new bedroom when it is finished in a couple of weeks time.

{all photos from being ruby}

So it is a big merci beaucoup to Julie and to all of you for your lovely comments re the passing of our friend. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave them.

A demain mes amis,

Signed a much happier L x