I was hoping to post more from the South of France but I had some major technical challenges.

Happily…here are a few more highlights for you to enjoy with a big thank you to Mapi and Claudine for another great girls weekend.

…And a very special thank you to Richard, who helped save my photos so I could continue posting.  Merci Richard!!!!!

Aix en Provence…culture, food and yes a little shopping…

Another Village Inconnu… no restaurant, 2 bars, 1 boulangerie (bakery), 1 epicerie (small supermarket), 1 newstand and a lot of beautiful homes all link together in a winding hilltop town in the shape of a snail.

Our Chambre D’Hote (Bed & Breakfast), a refuge for rest and relaxation…

The seaside Village of Cassis – I think the pictures say it all…

The Team!

Bye Girls!!!  See you next year!!!

Bises (Kisses)

Leslie

I have been sprinkling French words in my postings and Italian will soon follow.

The idea of speaking a foreign language, especially French or Italian, usually excites people, “Oh la la….French!”.   For me speaking a foreign language is pure enjoyment.

People are usually suprised when I tell them I was a horrible French student, my parents can vouch.  I was consistently tutored to pass required high school and college coursework…but a trip to France changed everything.

I can’t really say what changed me during that first visit except I couldn’t imagine not speaking French.  So I bought a phrase book, called my parents and announced “I am going to speak French.”.  My mother kindly asked if this was her daughter.

My friend Dan says “Learning and speaking a foreign language is like exercise, you have to do it everyday to see the benefits”. He is right!

I am still a horrible student but I work at it almost everyday.  I love the ability to communicate in another language.  It is fear, joy and sometimes exhaustion all rolled in one.

Moving forward you can click on the category Language Lessons to see all postings where I have used and translated words in French or Italian… to have a little language escape of your own.

In the future I hope to offer a word of the month, one in French and one in Italian…because who doesn’t enjoy saying a few words in a foreign language.

I hope you agree!

Enjoy!

Leslie

I try to visit my friend Claudine every year.  We met when she was living and working in Paris.   Today Claudine lives in Clermont Ferrand, a small city in the center of France surrounded by rolling hills and dormant volcanos.

If you read my original blog www.L-List.com you may remember that Clermont is not the sexiest city in France but I like it…mainly because it’s where Claudine lives.

Apart from seeing Claudine, I love to visit with her 4 year-old son Edgar (my boyfriend).  Edgar and I are finally starting to communicate.  He often asks “Ou vas tu?” and “Pourquoi?” (”Where are you going?” and “Why?), just like a real boyfriend.

I also love to spend time in Claudine’s kitchen.  It’s always filled with French staples… bread, honey, chocolate, yogurt, and homemade food from Claudine’s mother-in-law, Mammi Nicole, who is an amazing cook.  Nearly every week Mammi Nicole sends a care package of prepared vegetables (fresh from her garden), meat and more to Claudine, Richard and Edgar – I love this!

I have put in my request several times to have Mammi Nicole overnight me care packages, but I am still waiting…

If I don’t find a job I told Claudine I will come back to Clermont to babysit Edgar in exchange for Mammi Nicole’s cooking.

The weather in Clermont can be less than agreeable as the city sits in a valley but this year the weather was perfect and Claudine was able to take me on a hike to the top of the Volvic mountain (see the front of a Volvic water bottle) for incredible views of the Puy-de-Dome (the oldest mountain range in France and part of France’s largest national park) and a picnic dinner.  Amazing!!!!!

Friends are important and having rituals help me stay connected, especially during busy or stressful times.

If you don’t already have rituals with friends, think about creating one, a morning walk, a bicycle ride, a French breakfast or even a French vacation.

Whether every month, once or twice a year, it is amazing how important these rituals quickly become.

Enjoy!

Leslie

Snapping pictures can be extremely annoying, especially in the morning when there are few smiles, but my team is very understanding…as le petit dejeuner (breakfast) is my favorite meal of the day in France.

It really doesn’t need an explanation, pictures speak louder than words.

Buttery croissants and warm baguette… tartiner (spread) with sweet honey, rich Normandie butter or homemade jams (fig is my favorite), washed down with a cereal size bowl of coffee or tea (with or without warm milk).

….Add French cheese, yogurt, nutella and a mix of colorful plates, bowls and napkins…and why ever leave the table.

If you can’t enjoy le petit dejeuner in France hopefully these pictures will transport you there – without the calories – or maybe inspire you to create your own French breakfast.

Enjoy and Bon Appetite!

Leslie