Spring is the time when many people take stock of their surroundings and do some Spring cleaning. It just feels good to declutter, to breath a little fresh air into our surroundings, and to freshen up our spaces. 

Selling a family home needs some special cleaning and organizing in order to present the house to potential buyers as a house to buy, not a home to visit. For us, these last steps in preparing Mother's house to sell are our final steps in saying goodbye to her and our family home. Bit by bit, day by day, her home to visit has become a house to buy.

Made in France - Waterman Pens

fabriqué en france 

Made in France 

pens

Presents brought home for family, friends, or yourself when traveling always seem more special when the item actually is made in the country visited. Going to France this year? Then here is a great idea about a gift that is made in France and truly is one-size-fits-all. Stylos (pens) are excellent items made in France to bring home as cadeaux (gifts) to loved ones.  {Disclosure: affiliate links}

Who wouldn't love to receive a classic black pen that boldly states FRANCE between gold band accents? 

10 Favorite French Scenes

Vacation time will be here before we know it. School will be dismissed for the summer break, warm weather will entice us to be outside, and longer days of sunlight will give us more time to enjoy the days.

Vacation time always brings memories of my vacations to France and brings memories of my favorite French scenes. Most of which are my favorites because of the emotional connections to my fellow travelers and because of the pure immersion of a French experience.  Aren't these the two reasons we travel? To share our lives with our families and friends and for travel to provide experiences not found at home...

Bee Breakfast Table - Display Favorite Pages

Inspired by bees buzzing around a HUGE clump of rosemary plants, April's l'heure bleue collage was BEES. From there, another simple and quick table centerpiece for the breakfast table sprang to my mind. 

One with bees.

b z z z z z....... 

April - The Blue Hour

l'heure bleue en avril 

the blue hour in April 

Because of its beauty that makes time stop for an instant, the expression l'heure bleue has come to describe a variety of special times and events, not just a description of a special blue glow at dusk. Each month in 2016, I am sharing a collage of blue images that create a little l'heure bleue for me.