My Trip to France

This morning I took a trip to France.

I have always wanted to visit France.  I took six years of French in school and had the most wonderful teacher.  She spent two years in France and would tell us all about the family she lived with and the wonderful life-style of the people that live in the country.

It's been many years since I sat and listened to her stories but I've never lost my love for all things French.

And this morning I was in love all over again as I got to walk through the most wonderful old building that used to be a 'summer kitchen.'

I took a drive down country roads through lovely hamlets and found beautiful old ruins and learned their history.  I saw Spring come to France and the trees begin to fill with blooms.  I even got to join in on a tea party with two beautiful little girls, a dog, a cat and a chicken!

All from the comfort of my couch.

If you have always wanted to visit France, you will love Susan's blog - Our French Oasis.  She and her family have bought the most wonderful old house in a small village in France and she shares their lives there on her blog with beautiful photos and charming narrative.

I will be visiting France regularly now and am so pleased that I can now see all the things I've always hoped to through the eyes of such a lovely lady.

love and blessings~

"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."  Matthew 5:8

Deb's Fall Decor

Deb and I went to junior high and high school together many, many years ago. I can remember around 7th grade trying to time my walk to school so that I would run into her and we could walk together.

We found each other on Facebook several years ago and have enjoyed staying in touch since then. She and her husband, Brad, still live in our hometown of Northglenn, Colorado. They've been married for 37 years and have two beautiful grand children.

Deb often posts family events on Facebook and I have enjoyed seeing the cute things they've done with their yard and house. I asked her if I could share some of these things with you.

They often have family gatherings on their back porch and it's always decorated for each holiday. I love the warm touches of red for fall.

I think the chalk board pointing the way to the smores is such a cute idea!

And don't you know that cute plaid thermos is filled with something delish!?

A tractor seat holding a pumpkin.

An old cream can and a basket of mums.

And in their front yard, this guy makes an annual appearance! Deb tells me people stop and take pictures of him.

A shelf above the stairs in her house.

A bowl of scare crows.

One of their best ideas is a horse trough turned into a great outside fireplace! Deb's husband, Brad, cut the bottom out of the trough so they could sink it down into the ground to make it the height they wanted. They then propped the (removed) bottom up with cinder blocks and installed the burner tube for the natural gas on top of that. They covered that with gravel and a layer of glass fireplace rock. They went with the clear glass so it would look like ice. Deb said, "We'd wanted a fire-pit for several years but couldn't find anything we loved. We thought about doing it in brick but that didn't really go with our eclectic *hillbilly* style. This is perfect for our yard. All of our friends and relatives love sitting around it and it's a huge hit with the kids! "

I think it's great!

 

My thanks to Deb for sharing her pictures with me! I'm sure I'll be wanting to borrow them again when she decorates her porch in the spring!

Have a wonderful, blessed day!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart exults and with my song I shall thank Him. Psalms 28:7