The Surging of Life

I have a post about one of our favorite museums here in Paris to share with you but the truth is I haven’t been able to get myself to take the time to finish editing the pictures. It’s not because I don’t love them but if I’m being honest, I’ve been stalled on them. And then this morning I thought that what I should really share was a celebration of the holiday to come. A holiday for when life comes surging back. And that’s exactly what my mother-in-law wanted me to document in her garden the last weekend we were there. She wanted pictures of that moment in between. The quiet right before the surge of life washes over the sleeping ground. The garden waiting.

So that’s what I knew I wanted to share this Good Friday. Admittedly, winters in this part of France look little like the winters I know in my Maine. The ground rarely gets that unforgiving hollow thump from being frozen nor does it ever stay white very long if it ever gets a layer of snow. I had forgotten what the winter ground sounds and feels like until I was home in February. So curious. And because that rarely happens in this climate, green can blanket the ground even in the darkest months. Hardy old friends like leeks, beets, cabbage, and chard march right through the cold.

But new delicate greens are popping up in every corner. Vibrant colors that have been dormant for months. The birds have so much to tell in the trees and everything seems to be humming. It’s all waking up. It’s all surging back.

A very beautiful spring to you and a very Happy Easter.

xo,

A.

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Carotte Sauvage & Loving List

This week’s flowers are making me so happy! I was thrilled to find a huge bunch of green carotte sauvage (wild carrot, aka Queen Anne’s Lace) at the marché on Wednesday. It was one of our inspiration flowers for our wedding here in France and it’s so lush, wild, and delicate that I can’t get enough of it. R. could not believe at first that I had paid for carotte sauvage but then I reminded him that we live in a concrete jungle, I only ever pay between 3 and 5 euros for flowers (twice a month), and they make me so happy! He ‘got’ it, then. I’m really hoping they might be hardy enough to last two weeks (please, flowers?).

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And I’m finally stealing the time to get a loving list together! Here is what grabbed me this week:

• We love watching the Daily Show on their site (thank you Comedy Central for not blocking us because we are in France) but don’t always love the loud MTV commercials that play between every segment. But this month they introduced us to Rudimental and this song and be. still. my. heart. Yes. (But be warned, the visual of the video has some very sad themes. But listen.)
• Growing up, my father would bring my mother and I gifts once in a while and from his travels and they often came from museum gift shops. He always chose beautiful, timeless pieces that where often reproductions of pieces from their collections and I always loved the history. This piece or these matching earrings are on my wish-list to continue my collection.
• How beautiful would a tree full of these porcelain houses be with little tree lights peaking through their windows? I love how simple they are. Everything I want for my holiday this year.
• Jamie Oliver. I might not need to say more. I have been enamored with his work for years. He has a new book out, 15 Minute Meals, and a television series in the U.K. and I have been loving it! The recipes are simple but the flavors so bold. You can’t watch Jamie and not get excited about food.
• You know about Damn You Autocorrect, yes? If you haven’t discovered it yet, do. But not when you’re eating lunch. True story: I nearly choked laughing doing that once. Seriously. This one has had me laughing to myself for two days (not while eating).

Do you have a favorite find of the week? I’d love to hear! This weekend, I really want to get some decorating things crossed off our list and get this place finished! Hopefully I’ll have something to share with you on that front next week, God husband willing!

xo,

A.