one more float in the sea

The girls and I begin our journey to France tomorrow!!!!! So of course today I spent most of my day in frantic preparation for our trip.  But just when I thought I could not go on, I took a pause from the lists and the piles and the packing.  The sea was calling and I grabbed a towel and our new point-and-shoot camera (waterproof) and headed for a blissful and refreshing swim at the beach down the road.  Perfect!  I floated around in the healing waters and played on the tiny beach that the Blue Moon high tide had left for me.

By the time I left I was laughing out loud and ready to continue with the packing!  I will miss this incredible island, but I will swap the sea for the Alps knowing that new adventures and pleasures await me….and content with the knowledge that this sun-kissed mermaid will be home again before she knows it!

 

thrifting wishes for France

Look what I discovered today (during a random etsy search, oh I love those!)….there is a Pyrex equivalent made in France (known as Acropal) !!!  (photo credit to Vintagebananas).

Arcopal casserole ovenproof vintage salad bowl midcentury

Now I have another item to add to the thrift shop, flea market wish list for France!  Did I mention that we are going to France?  The girls and I leave in a week and I am starting to spin with anticipation (and flea market dreaming)….hoping to find a fancy tea cup, a gorgeous serving tray, beautiful vintage table cloths, gently used linen tea towels (to upcycle and to use), a map of old Paris (to frame), some original art (of course), stationary (vintage postcards are calling to me, maybe an old book or two), perhaps a doll for the girls and some little surprises too…..all Raena wants is a beret and I bet we could find them both some fun costume jewellery!

My French thrift shopping has already begun (and I have not even ordered any of the Acropal from etsy…yet!).  I recently found a few old Paris wall plaques at our local thrift shop (locals will understand when I say “SCORE at the GIRO!”).  LOVE!  Soon I will be strolling these very same streets and making pen and ink magic of my own.  Did I mention that we will be staying a 15 minute walk away from the Notre Dame?!

And, oh!, as much as I want to buy this old case for packing my travelling art supplies in, I think had better save my cash for vintage treasures when I get there.  Who knows, maybe I will find a little old train case to bring all my art supplies (and wee paintings) back home in!!  Photo credit to forgottenPLUM on etsy.

This reminds me, I better start thinking about packing…not too much stuff mind you, there has to be room in the suitcases to bring all our vintage French treasures home!!!

 

shucking time

oh how we love local fresh corn, oh how the girls love to help shuck it, oh how I love to see my youngest figure out how to do it with one arm (plus a couple helper appendages ….don’t worry, I washed them before we cooked them)…..p.s. she was most thrilled with the extra long “handles” on these cobs, perfect for one-handed corn monsters like her!

summer stillness

sometimes I feel like it is all going by a bit too quickly, oh how I want to linger in the magic moments of summer stillness…

as the days of summer fly by, I am going to try to slow down and enjoy the moments.  I am going to stop hurrying so much, I am going to savour the gift of time to just be with my sweet girls, I am going to let them set the pace.  the same lesson, the same gift is so beautifully captured in this mothers’ story - a gentle and powerful message for each of us. xox