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A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham

Purple Heritage Ball Jars - First Look

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Unexpected gifts lift our spirits. 
A normal day with usual routine actions 
suddenly becomes one filled with smiles and euphoric feelings. 

Sometimes I enter my name into drawings for give-aways 
from fellow bloggers, but never have any expectations of actually winning, 
especially when there are 269 entries. 
Casually, I go about my everyday activities and 
just as casually continue to read the blog with the give-away. 

T H E N... 
without expecting it, out of the bleu .... 
as I was checking my daily emails, 
I saw an email from Mary @ Home Is Where the Boat Is
with a subject line winner ball jars! 

Let me back up. 

Rather, the email was FROM Mary _________, 
a name I did not recognize,  
with a subject line winner ball jars!



Now, I've never had an email from Mary @ Home Is Where the Boat Is before. 
And, the FROM column did not say, "Mary @ Home Is Where the Boat Is." 
Only after re-reading the subject line winner ball jars! did it dawn on me. 



Excitedly, I opened the email and read, 
Hi Judith! You won a set of Purple Heritage Ball Jars! 

That's when the smiling and euphoric feelings began. 
A set of six pint-size Purple Heritage Ball Jars were on their way to me. 



Here is the first look of how the jars have made themselves at home here 
instead of at Home Is Where the Boat Is.  
The first Ball jar is a flower vase filled with daffodils 
celebrating one of the few sunny, bleu-sky days we have had 
this snow-plagued, frozen-temperature winter. 



Yes, the reproduction Heritage Ball jars feel right at home with
purple glasses, purple flower clippers, and purple toile tablecloth. 



A flower vase is just the beginning for these jars. 
My sister-in-law in Alabama picks blackberries from 
a bramble patch whose location is a family secret. 
She cans the blackberries for cobblers and 
makes home-made blackberry jelly. 



Maybe, just maybe, if I send her a couple of jars 
they will be returned this summer filled with blackberries. 
Purple, the perfect color for blackberries. 

My mother canned using Ball jars, and 
my grandmother canned using Ball jars 
as did her mother before her. 
I'm sure someone, or several someones, in my family tree 
used the original purple Ball jars in 1913-1915. 



As for the other four Ball jars, 
I have a few ideas planned for them this spring. 
I will be out-and-about tomorrow excitedly looking 
for what I have in mind for them.  


detail of toile purple tablecloth
I like that I can still get excited. 

I have to admit that life sometimes weighs me down 
and does not seem to have as much joy as it did for years. 
Then, along comes a little email that reminds me that 
one never knows what good things are still in store. 
When you least expect it, something can bring euphoric feelings. 

Thank you, Mary @ Home Is Where the Boat Is, for spreading 
some joy and laughter, joie de vivre, where it was least expected. 

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French Farmers Market and Daffodils

Monday, March 9, 2015

Come into the kitchen where a fresh cut bouquet of daffodils
sits on a Farmers Market wooden tray on the island and
a collection of Farmers Market linens hangs close by.
All bring cheer to a French country kitchen ready for the sunshine of spring.



Boxes and boxes of tightly unopened daffodils were stacked 
in the flower section of the grocery store this week. 
Another shopper and I looked at them 
with questions about whether we should risk buying them. 

Would they open? 

On the day of grocery shopping, we'd had gloomy skies and 
record low temperatures for over two weeks. 
G l o o m 
All my daffodils had wilted under ice and snow 
and were hanging with their faces on the wet muddy ground. 

At a special price of 99¢ per bundle of 10 stems, 
I took a chance and bought 5 bundles 
wondering if that was enough to fill my white pitcher. 

Wondering if the limpy stems would open... 



Oh, yes, 5 bundles were enough! 
Overnight the tight buds unfurled and filled my white pitcher 
with spring cheer. 



Placed on the French Farmers Market tray on the kitchen counter, 
they were just the thing to dispel the gloom 
of overcast skies and frigid temperatures. 


A little red chalk board rooster added another bright spot of color with 
its reminder to buy eggs from the market. 



A Farmers Market list grew. 
Daffodils are on the list in case there are more at the grocery. 



A vintage brass oil can makes a great place to clip notes and lists 
using an office store gold colored bulldog clip.  



I found this little can at Chipper's antique store near my mom's house. 
The bottom still has the original price tag of 39¢ stamped in ink. 
I paid more than 39¢, but still got a good bargain. 
When I bought it I wasn't sure how I would use it, but   
I love the way it feels when I hold it and 
love its long spout with the bend at the end. 

While the little oil can is old, it is in perfect condition. 

How would you use it? 


The Farmers Market tray and daffodils vignette brings spring to the kitchen  
AND gives a little touch of France. 



 The Farmers Market design reminds me of Provence with its 
bright oranges, reds, and yellows, and French script. 
Le Coq (rooster) has been a French national symbol 
throughout French history. 

The French Revolution flag included a rooster, 
and the new Republic's seal also included a rooster. 
Some current day large French companies and 
sports teams use le coq in their logos. 



French Farmers Market linens hang across from the pantry 
adding more bright spring cheer. 

Today is the first day of blue skies 
and bright sunshine flooding the kitchen in almost three weeks. 



Sometimes aprons hang here; but other times like today, 
kitchen linens that go with the season hang here. 



Right next to the crown hooks holding the linens is the coat closet. 



Two fabric French Farmers Market bags are easy to grab 
as going out the door to the market. 



French Farmers Market linens and tray with daffodils are just the things 
to brighten gloomy winter days and give hope for
S P R I N G. 

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Please join me at these inspiring sites...
SUNDAY
Share It One More Time @ One More Time Events
MONDAY
Amaze Me Mondays @ Dwellings, the Heart of Your Home
TUESDAY
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

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Top 9 Must-Do In Paris, Part 2

Thursday, March 5, 2015


Part 2 

Yes, this is Part 2 of my top nine things to do in Paris. 
If you missed Part 1, be sure to see it for my top #1-5 after reading Part 2. 

This is a very personalized list of things to do, not a list of the most visited sites in Paris. 
These are the things that make my heart sing! 

Here are my top #6-9 must-do in Paris. 

#6 
Visit a la Poste 

French stamps are inexpensive souvenirs that are also 
easy to pack, lightweight, and beautiful. 

Vintage stamps can be bought at Passage des Panoramas, 
a famous covered shopping passage. 



However, my favorite stamps to buy are current ones for two reasons. 
First, I need stamps to mail my postcards, and I like to choose 
pretty stamps to make the postcards even more special. 



Secondly, French commemorative stamps have exquisite details 
and are souvenirs in themselves. 
This Féte du timbre that celebrates strawberries, 
part of the Collection Historique du Timbre series, 
is printed on heavy card stock with four pages of 
detailed colored and line botanical drawings 
that serve as a background for the actual stamps. 

By visiting a la Poste instead of buying stamps at the 
corner tabac (tobacco) store, you can look through 
all current commemorative stamps, 
which may very well become tomorrow's vintage stamps of note. 

Another reason to visit a la Poste is to mail packages home. 
France offers international versions of "if it fits, it ships" boxes. 
When my suitcase no longer holds all my clothes 
and new purchases, I head to a post office to mail things home. 



For years there was a la Poste on the 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower 
that sold postcards, stamps, and special envelopes, and that 
marked mail with a special Paris Tour Eiffel cancellation. 

The Eiffel Tower website no longer lists a la Poste on the 
1st floor, but research indicates there is a post office 
on the ground near one of the pillars. 
Recent postcards mailed from the ground post office 
did not have a special Eiffel Tower cancellation mark. 
Now that Eiffel Tower renovations are complete, 
maybe a post office has reopened on the 1st floor. 
It's worth a look while visiting the Tower. 
A postcard with an Eiffel Tower cancellation 
is a great souvenir to mail home to yourself. 


#7
Have lunch on the Eiffel Tower


For many years, one of my top two things to do in Paris 
was to have lunch in the 1st floor Eiffel Tower restaurant.  
By making reservations by phone before leaving for Paris, 
not only did we have a wonderful lunch with 
fantastic views of Place du Trocadero and its fountains, 
we were able to skip the long lines and go directly to the elevators. 

To my dismay, I discovered from the Eiffel Tower official website 
that the 1st floor restaurant now only accepts reservations for 
parties of nine or more people, and that the once affordable 
lunch menu price is now out of my budget. 

Not to worry.  

There are now 'fast food' buffets 
and a patio for eating on the south side of the first floor. 
The views will be just as incredible as 
in the more expensive 1st floor restaurant. 

If a la Poste is on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower once again, 
then #6 and #7 can be done on the same day. 


#8
Buy a tarte aux fraises from a patisserie

There are four tarte aux fraises with kiwis near the top of the photo.

On my very first trip to France I discovered 
tarte aux fraises (strawberry tart) at a patisserie in Amiens, France. 
The berries with a thin glaze sat atop a rich custard 
in a crunchy pastry shell. 

Pure heaven! 
The berries were the most flavorful I've ever tasted, 
and the vanilla custard was so creamy and rich, 
I bought tarte aux fraises all over France. 

Though this is listed as my #8, it probably is my #1. 

Whenever I arrive in Paris, I immediately 
begin looking for tarte aux fraises 
and eat them every day when possible. 
Patisseries are in every neighborhood and 
tarte aux fraises is a regular offering. 
They are great for petit déjeuner (breakfast). 
The strawberries have so much more flavor 
than the ones here at home. 

Now, if you are not a strawberry fan, 
I am sure you will find another delectable 
pastry in a patisserie shop that you will 
want to eat every day in Paris. 
Or, maybe you will eat a different pastry every day. 
Don't worry; all the walking will burn the calories. 


#9
Buy fresh flowers


Nothing says Paris like flowers. 
Like patisseries, florists are in every neighborhood, and 
many street markets also sell flowers like these bouquets. 
The flowers last for many days and 
make a hotel room smell divine. 
Strolling through street markets is a relaxing treat, 
and the florists in Paris should not be missed.  

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If you missed my top #1-5, 
you can see them in 
Top 9 Must Do in Paris, Part 1


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See the following websites for detailed information about my top #6-7. 

Vintage French Stamps
http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/100264/Passage-des-Panoramas

Eiffel Tower
http://www.toureiffel.paris

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Top 9 Must-Do in Paris, Part 1

Monday, March 2, 2015

What are your top favorite things to do in a city you love? 

Over the years I have visited Paris, the City of Light, many times.



Part 1

In the beginning, I chaperoned students 
and, as such, saw many of the same key tourist sites repeatedly. 
Yet, there were always a few things new or different on each trip. 

Eventually, I began to travel only with friends and family. 
That's when I realized there are nine things that I must do each time I'm in Paris. 
No trip to Paris feels complete without doing these things.

This is a very personalized list of things to do,
not a list of the most visited sites in Paris.
These are the things that make my heart sing!

For some of you making plans to travel to Paris this year, 
perhaps you will find some ideas to help you make your trip memorable
and make your heart sing. 

My top five (#1-5) are in this post. 
Come back for Part 2 (#6-9) in the next post.


#1 
Have lunch in the Musée d'Orsay Restaurant


The restaurant is located on the first floor (2nd floor to Americans) of the museum. 
There is a more casual cafe on the ground floor, 
but for just a few dollars more, dining in the first floor restaurant 
is an experience never to be forgotten. 

Look at the gorgeous chandelier, heavy carved wood paneling, 
layer upon layer of crown moldings, and exquisite mural over the door. 
This is just a glimpse of the magnificent setting for the restaurant that has 
oversized windows opening onto a terrace that overlooks the Seine River. 
Just think of the thousands of Parisiennes and dignitaries who have 
walked on the parquet wooden floors since the restaurant first opened 
as part of the hotel attached to a train station that was 
renovated and re-envisioned as the Musée d'Orsay. 

The prices are very reasonable for a Paris restaurant 
and do not wreak havoc with the budget. 
Reservations recommended. 

Dining on a fixed-price three-course menu in 
this beautiful setting makes me feel like I am truly in Paris. 


#2  
Visit the Musée d'Orsay collections 


The Musée d'Orsay includes several Impressionist works by Monet, 
one of my favorite artists. 
Yet, I think the renovated train-station-to-museum architecture 
is what keeps bringing me back over and over. 
Photos inside are no longer allowed, but, 
as you can see from my photo date stamp, this photo
was taken before the ban and shows the grandeur of the building. 

So, my top two must-do things in Paris can be done on the same day. 
A Paris Museum Pass helps save time and money. 
Just show the pass at the entrance and 
skip the long lines of regular ticket holders. 


#3  
Attend a classical music concert in Sainte-Chapelle 


Even if I an unable to visit Sainte-Chapelle during the day 
to see its spectacular stained glass windows, 
I always try to attend a classical music concert in the evening. 

Concert programs vary, and I don't think I have 
ever heard the same concert twice. 
The ones I've attended have had four to eight musicians. 
Sometimes the instruments included a cello, or a harp, or violins. 
I have always been thrilled at the performance. 

The concert takes place on the first floor (2nd floor) surrounded 
by the beautiful stained glass windows. 
Concert goers sit on backless long wooden benches 
that I never found to be uncomfortable. 
Seating for regular price tickets is on a first entered basis. 
In recent years, the organizers have added a special price 
ticket that guarantees a seat in the first 2-3 rows. 
The venue is intimate, and seats beyond the first 2-3 rows 
are just as good as the first 2-3 rows. 


Concert entrance is through the gold-topped gate and the Palais de Justice. 
This is the view just after emerging from the Cité Metro stop. 


#4  
Visit Carrousel du Louvre 

Located under the Louvre courtyard and naturally lighted
by an inverted glass pyramid, the Carrousel
leads to entrances to wings of the Louvre museum,
but also leads to shops, restaurants, news stands,
and public services in the center of the 1st Arrondissement.

Easy to reach with free access and extended hours makes
le Carrousel a great place for
a super nice public bathroom,
a la Poste,
an ATM machine,
a buffet for a meal, and
a little shopping.

  Le Carrousel is great to visit anytime,
but it is an especially nice place
to spend hours on rainy days.
Get some euros from the ATM, buy postcards
and gifts for family, sit at a table having lunch
from one of the buffets while writing postcards,
pop into a la Poste to mail the postcards,
and freshen up in the super nice restroom.
Then head into the Louvre for my #5 must-do in Paris.


#5  
Tour the Medieval Louvre 


In the mid-1980s archeological excavations for the Louvre renovations
unearthed the foundations, moat, and walls of the medieval Louvre
that existed from around 1190 to the early 16th century.
Of all the treasures in the Louvre, touring the
Medieval Louvre is still my favorite section of the Louvre.
Markings of the stone masons that cut the stones for the walls
are visible all through the stone column foundations.
Entrance to the Medieval Louvre is from the
Carrousel du Louvre.

Another pair (#4 & #5) of must do things in Paris that can be done in the same day.

Top 9 Must-Do in Paris, Part 2,
will be my next post about my top #6-9.
Very possibly, #6 can be done on the same day as #4 & #5 in le Carrousel.

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See the following websites for detailed information about my top #1-5.

Musée d'Orsay Restaurant
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Bon Voyage


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