The Return of French Fridays

« La vraie nouveauté naît toujours dans le retour aux sources. » — Edgar Morin

It’s a little fuzzy, but wonderfully familiar. It has always been there, but it seemed just out of reach. French Fridays were a regular feature on this blog from June 2014 through June 2020. Like so many of my favorite places and experiences, the series paused during the global pandemic. Due to my nearly three and a half year absence from travel, I didn’t have new images and ideas to to share, yet I always knew that I would resume this series as soon as I able to return to Paris.

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When I stepped onto this beautiful balcony on the wonderfully palindromic 3/23/23, my inspiration returned and so has my French Friday series.

March 2023 in Pictures

“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.” — Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Currently • March 2023

“Paris is always a good idea.” — Audrey Hepburn

READING:

• Books:

  • Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley — “Nobody ever talks to strangers on the train. It's a rule. But what would happen if they did? …an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more. It turns out that talking to strangers can teach you about the world around you--and even more about yourself” (Goodreads)

  • The French House by Helen Fripp — “In sleepy little Reims, France, grieving Nicole Clicquot watches her daughter play amongst the vines under the golden sun and makes a promise to herself. Her gossiping neighbours insist that the rolling fields of chalk soil are no place for a woman, but she is determined to make a success of the winery. It’s the only chance she has to keep a roof over her head and provide a future for her little girl…[The] stunning historical read, inspired by the true story of how Nicole Clicquot blazed her own path to build the world’s greatest champagne house: Veuve Clicquot” (Goodreads).

• Links:

  • A Cathedral of Sound: The Quest to Restore Notre Dame’s Unique Acoustics

  • Notre Dame is Scheduled to Host Visitors for the Holidays in 2024

  • Inside Christian Louboutin’s Paris Penthouse

  • A Casual Guide to Shopping in Paris

  • Dining in a Parisian Bouillon

  • The Case of the Dreamy Detectives: Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson Remember The Hardy Boys

WATCHING:

• Emily in Paris on Netflix — One more time in preparation for Paris.

• Ted Lasso Season 3 on AppleTV+

LISTENING TO:

• Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono — “Bono--artist, activist, and the lead singer of Irish rock band U2--has written a memoir: honest and irreverent, intimate and profound, Surrender is the story of the remarkable life he's lived, the challenges he's faced, and the friends and family who have shaped and sustained him” (Goodreads). I usually prefer to read books, but this audio book is narrated and sung by Bono and has wonderful sound effects.

• U2 Songs of Surrender released on St. Patrick’s Day.

• Instapuzzle Playlist for March (a Paris mix)

  • L’Amour, Les Baguettes, Paris (Stella Jang)

  • Bistro Fada (Midnight in Paris Soundtrack)

  • French Café (Mark Le Vang)

  • C’est si bon (Emilie-Claire Barlow)

  • J’ai deux amours (Madeleine Peyroux)

  • Petite fleur (Jill Barber)

  • Can Can (from Offenbach’s Orpheus)

  • Memories of Paris (Paris Café Society)

FEELING:

• Grateful for answered prayers.

• Excited to be in Paris again — I just returned from a week in Paris — my first time back since 2019 (pre-pandemic). I have lots of photos and thoughts to share.

February 2023 in Pictures

“Je vois la vie en rose.” — Edith Piaf

Currently • February 2023

“February is short and very sweet” ― Charmaine J. Forde

READING:

• Links I Love:

  • How to Live a Luxurious Life: 67 Ways to Elevate Your Everyday — Here is my list of simple pleasures.

  • Les 12 Meilleurs Films avec Audrey Hepburn à voir absolument (Vogue)

  • What’s Saving Your Life Right Now (Modern Mrs. Darcy)

  • 20 French Dishes You Need To Try At Least Once (Tasting Table)

  • A Woman Before Her Time: France celebrates Colette's 150th Anniversary (RFI)

  • Philosophy, Literature and Jazz: Paris’ Saint-Germain-des-Prés Is Steeped in Bohemian History

  • 34 Quotes About Paris that Will Have You Dreaming of France (Good Housekeeping)

  • 30 avenue Montaigne Updated — This is on my list of places to visit when I’m in Paris next month.

  • Speaking of Paris next month, here are the 42 Best Things to Do in Paris (according to CN Traveler) — I have done 26 so far…

• Books:

  • Paris: A Love Story by Kati Marton — “In this remarkably honest and candid memoir, award-winning journalist and distinguished author Kati Marton narrates an impassioned and romantic story of love, loss, and life after loss. Paris is at the heart of this deeply moving account. At every stage of her life, Paris offers Marton beauty and excitement, and now, after the sudden death of her husband Richard Holbrooke, it offers a chance for a fresh beginning. With intimate and nuanced portraits of Peter Jennings, the man to whom she was married for fifteen years and with whom she had two children, and Richard, with whom she found enduring love, Marton paints a vivid account of an adventuresome life in the stream of history. Inspirational and deeply human, Paris: A Love Story will touch every generation” (Goodreads).

  • The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale — “Fourteen years ago, Delphine abandoned her prestigious soloist spot at the Paris Opera Ballet for a new life in St. Petersburg––taking with her a secret that could upend the lives of her best friends, fellow dancers Lindsay and Margaux. Now 36 years old, Delphine has returned to her former home and to the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House, to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart the next phase of her career––and, she hopes, finally make things right with her former friends. But Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed while she's been away...and some secrets can't stay buried forever” (Goodreads).

  • The Lost Notebook of Édouard Manet by Maureen Gibbon — “Set in the richly drawn art world of nineteenth-century Paris, this stunning historical novel imagines Édouard Manet’s last days in an indelible snapshot of genius, illness, and the dying embers of passion…toward the end of his life, Édouard Manet begins to jot down his daily impressions, reflections, and memories in a notebook. He travels for healing respites in the French countryside and finds inspiration in nature―a cloud of dragonflies, peonies blanketed by the morning dew. Back in Paris, the artist holds court in his studio and meets a mysterious muse, Suzon. Entranced by Suzon’s cool blue eyes, he decides to paint his final masterpiece, A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, life-sized―and wagers his health to complete it” (Goodreads).

WATCHING:

• Pretty in Pink for Valentine’s Day — Always a favorite.

• New Scandinavian Cooking on PBS — This makes me long to travel to Scandinavia — even more than I always have.

• Eiffel on Prime — “The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with a mysterious woman from [his] past” (IMDb).

LISTENING TO:

• My Instapuzzle 2023 Playlist — As part of my Instapuzzle project, I am selecting a song to accompany each post. At the end of the year, I will have a playlist of the 108 songs that reflect my year. February’s mini list includes:

  • Winter’s Waltz (Frozen, Christophe Beck)

  • La Valse d’Amélie (Yann Tiersen)

  • Joy (George Winston)

  • Love and Luck (Jimmy Buffett)

  • La Vie en Rose (Édith Piaf)

  • Pretty in Pink (Psychedelic Furs)

  • Sea of Love (The Honeydrippers)

  • Birthday (The Beatles)

ENJOYING:

• February — Although many dread another month of darkness and cold winter weather, I rejoice in these twenty-eight days of rosy hues, of hearts and flowers and beautiful snowscapes, punctuated by celebrations of la Chandeleur, Mardi gras, Valentine's Day, and my birthday -- the exclamation point at the end of this lovely month!

• The creative challenge of my Instapuzzle — I like working in Canva to add pencil drawings and watercolors to complement my photographs. I like planning the sequence of Instagram posts and choosing music to accompany each post.

PLANNING: My return to Paris next month — It will be nearly 3.5 years since my last visit. I promised my travel companion (and myself) that I wouldn’t over-plan, but it is still fun to think about what to pack and what we might like to do this time. There are only a few things on my bucket list for Paris 2023:

• Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle every night from our beautiful Paris Perfect Clairette apartment in the 7th arrondissement

• Shop in unique boutiques and discover les puces de Vanves to bring home some treasure(s) to remember our time in Paris

• Have a cocktail (Miss Bond) in Bar Hemingway at the Ritz

• Savor the flavors of Paris: Warm baguettes, sweet and/or savory crêpes, macarons at Ladurée, choux at Odette, fresh produce from the local market, bold reds and sparkling wines…

• See or do something new everyday — This is a great challenge, given that I have been to Paris so many times. Usually, I am helping someone else discover Paris for the first time so we tend to visit the “must-dos”. This time I can be much more casual and spontaneous.

• Take pictures of “the little things”— Sure, I’ll photograph the iconic monuments if we’re nearby, but I really want to focus on the little things that make Paris special.

Simply Extraordinary

“The only difference between an extraordinary life and an ordinary one is the extraordinary pleasures you find in ordinary things.” ― Veronique Vienne, The Art of Imperfection

Sometimes it’s the little things that make ordinary life feel extraordinary. Here are the little pleasures that help me to feel happier:

• A place for everything and everything in its place — Nothing feels better than a clean, well-organized home.

• A neutral palate — I like my home and my wardrobe composed of good quality, clean/classic staples punctuated with special pieces that reflect my unique taste, personality, and experiences.

• Fresh flowers from my own garden in summer, from Sendik’s or Trader Joe’s year round — I like to divide preassembled bouquets into multiple vases and enjoy them throughout the house

• Fragrant candles — My favorites are White Tea and Sage (Bath and Body Works/White Barn), Roses (Diptyque)

• Chilled Champagne in the fridge regardless of whether it’s a holiday or a Tuesday

• Coffee with frothed milk and either lavender syrup (spring and summer) or a sprinkle of cinnamon (fall and winter)

• Carefully curated playlists on Apple Music and stations on Pandora

  • J’adore Paris when I’m missing Paris or making galettes, soupe à l'oignon gratinée, etc.

  • Sailing on warm summer evenings or cold winter nights when I wish I were sailing again

  • Cool jazz/Vince Guaraldi radio in the fall

  • My own Christmas and Halloween mixes

• Guilty pleasure TV while I’m getting ready in the mornings (Emily in Paris, Gilmore Girls, Friends, Making the Cut, The Great British Baking Show, etc.)

• Having a lip gloss and hand lotion in my purse, bathroom, car, and desk so I never have to go without

• Wearing my favorite perfume everyday even when I’m not going anywhere

• A cozy blanket, cup of tea, and a good book.

• Fragrant hand soaps and lotion in the kitchen and bathrooms — Current favorite: Savon liquide de Marseilles - Thé Blanc

• Merino wool sweaters and socks

• Having a clean car inside and out — Thanks, Eric

• Festive, seasonal cocktail napkins with my morning coffee and evening wine or cocktail

• Reader comments on my blog posts (Merci)