Buying Pillows in Uzès, France

My husband, John, and I last summer bought a little stone house dating back to 1850, in a little village outside of Uzès, France. Officially in the Gard Department, it is often considered the very western part Provence, about 25 miles from Avignon.

It was a dream of ours that somehow got tucked away for twenty years. A yearning for more of Europe and a thinking of a “next chapter,” back in July 2022, we started looking online at properties in South France.

It was my task mainly to find this dream house and property for us. I started searching online in the Languedoc area, as suggested by friends. A very personal choice, somehow, something felt missing, and it occurred to me that from all of our travels and familiarity with Provence, that maybe we should be focusing on an area closer to Provence.

I was looking for a charming little stone house, old—but moderately updated. I didn’t want a lot of property to keep up, but perhaps a few flowerbeds and an outdoor terrace. It had to be in the countryside in a smaller village, and with great access to airports and trains. It had to have a lot of potential to decorate in a rustic, simple style. It had to be in an area that had vineyards, colorful markets, festivals, and a lot going on. I had a very clear vision of this house in my head.

Mas de Manion Needing A Gardener’s Touch

On our May 2023 trip to France, time had run out. John and I were driving back to Barcelona in two days to catch our plane home to California. I remember thinking vividly, “okay, this is not going to happen this year.” The very next day we found the listing, by pure luck. We were visiting a small village market, new to us, and saw a small real estate office off of the market square. I had a feeling about this house from the very first time I saw the photo and listing in the real estate office window. VILLAGE HOUSE FOR SALE. MAS, RARE. It was meant to be.

Mas in French means farmhouse. Barely 800 square feet in size, it is a charming little house with a kitchen, living room, and one bedroom and bathroom upstairs. A pied à terre. A small outdoor terrace connects the main house to a separate studio, which was originally the tiny barn where they kept animals. Mature landscape was there, yet overgrown, but nothing that a little pruning and gardening attention could easily remedy.

“Cooking Up a Storm” at Mas de Manion

This area of France is very beautiful. There are lots of vineyards, farms, little charming villages, black truffles, and even magnificent Roman ruins. I can’t say enough!

John Happy To Explore The Vineyards Around Uzès & Beyond

The Roman Aqueduct Masterpiece, Pont du Gard, Is Close To Our Village

The Stunning French Countryside This Spring Outside of Uzès

For those of you who have big dreams of something in your life. My advice to you is, “chase it” and not tuck it away. Do it now. You won’t regret it!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Magic of Provence, Red Poppies Blooming in May

This fall 2023, I have the opportunity to travel to the south of France and Paris with a dear friend. While I am away, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my previous Provence blog posts and photos for you as an armchair traveler. You can also follow me on Instagram to catch my fall adventures.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

I am not an expert on Provence, France, but I have studied, researched, and created two wonderful 2007 and 2008 spring itineraries that my husband, John, and I followed to experience the heart and soul of Provence. There is something so magical about Provence, it reaches to my very core. I snapped the above photo, roadside on an early Sunday morning, heading to the famous and fabulous L'lsle-sur-la-Sorgue antique market.

It is hard to pinpoint why Provence is so special. Is it the light that Van Gough would talk about and try and capture in his paintings? Is it the Roman influence of ancient engineering masterpieces, roads, and villages that survive to tell their story? Is it the legendary "mistral wind" that bellows through the famous Cote du Rhone valley? Is it the unspoiled rural countryside beauty? Is it the absolutely charming people full of rich tradition and culture? Is it the incredibly fresh and mouth-watering seasonal foods and time-proven wines? Is it the fact that you never know who you will run into at a cafe, or bump elbows with at an outdoor market? Ah, you will just have to go sometime and ponder these questions yourself. If you have been to Provence, and have some wonderful stories, please share.

Writing about a few things that makes Provence so magical a place is difficult. I could jot down a long detailed list, but prefer instead to share with you a few snapshots, that those fortunate to call Provence their home experience on a regular basis, if not daily.

Generally, my itineraries are "off the tourist beaten path", preferring to visit the lesser known special places, such as Edith Mezard's tiny linen and embroidery shop in Lumieres, the Abbaye St. Andre gardens across the river from the popular city, Avignon, or the little cheese shop, Lou Canesteou, in Vaison-la-Romaine, to name a few. Rick Steves' Provence and The French Riviera 2009 is a good guidebook for general information, tips, and proven itineraries for those wanting a starting point.

Some of my favorite books written about Provence, were the catalyst to visit this special part of France, and experience it first hand. If you can't get to Provence in the near future, perhaps you would like to begin by reading some of these wonderful books. For more information on these books, just "click" on their titles. A Good Year. A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France.A Year in Provence.Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France.

Please follow along with me for more snapshots of Provence.

Stopping To Smell The Roses in Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, Provence, France, Photo by Debbie McGowan

The French love their roses, just like they love their dogs. May is a perfect month to catch France in full bloom and especially the stunning peaking roses that adorn their front homes, gardens, and stone walls. A On a recent trip I tried to capture some of these beautiful roses to share with you all.

I couldn’t identify many of them, but I did see quite a few of the traditional Eden, and Pink Eden. Enjoy these photos, and let them take you to France a moment!

The Village of Siran in Languedoc, France

Welcoming Roses Greet You at a Village Home in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

Matching Eden Roses Adorn the Front of a Village Home in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

A Fairy Tale Village Home in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

Never Mellow Yellow for a Village Home in Trausse, Languedoc

A Beauty in a Garden in Uzès, Gard

Rambling Rose in Caunes-Minervois, Languedoc

Bonus, have you ever seen a field of naturalized poppies blooming. It will take your breath away.

A Field of Poppies Blooming Outside of Uzès, Gard, Framce

Hoping your garden is happy, blooming, and giving you a smile!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

The Kitchen Garden at Allt-y-bela in Wales, Garden Design 2012 Magazine

From my post last week, Down The Garden Path, followers were asking me where I got my willow fencing. I thought it might be fun to revisit the original post from June 2021, and my original kitchen garden inspiration from photos and the Garden Design article. I hunted “high’ and “low” to find willow products, and finally found them at Master Garden Products in the Pacific Northwest. I actually called them as I had several questions and needed more information to make my order. Master Garden Products couldn’t have been more helpful and so friendly. I highly recommend the company and their products.

Now is a great time to get your gardens plans in place, make an order, and enjoy the beauty of willow!

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

The inspiration for my kitchen garden, or potager, came from a Garden Design, Winter 2012 magazine article, Simplicity Rules, on well-known garden designer, Arne Maynard’s rustic and historic late medieval farm, Allt-y-bella. Located in Wales, much of the rustic gardens and garden structure remind me of Provence. I envisioned borrowing a lot of the main elements featured in the article and photos, creating the look of a rustic kitchen garden. Some of these elements that caught my interest were the wattle hazel fencing, arching fruit trees with a centered bench, raised beds for vegetables, obelisks for climbing vegetables, easy pathways around the raised beds, and select spots for larger perennial plants like rhubarb and artichokes.

Allt-y-bela Kitchen Garden Pathway, Arching Fruit Trees, and Bench, Garden Design 2012

In 2015, I started creating a kitchen garden space to the north of our vineyard, with 4’ x 8’ raised bed kits. I looked high and low for hazel or willow wattle fencing for enclosing the kitchen garden similar to Allt-y-bella. I couldn’t find any source at the time. I needed about 75’ total. However, I happened to find a large amount of rolled willow fencing at Rogers Gardens at 50% off in an obscure sale corner. My intention for fencing the perimeter was to keep our chickens out of the kitchen garden as well as any random critters.

Up until 2020, my kitchen garden was good, and a work in progress. Over time, with sun exposure and high winter winds the willow fencing began to come apart and break down. This is common. I started looking for what I call wattle or willow fencing again.

My Kitchen Garden, June 2020

Last month I found willow fence panels online at Master Garden Products. They offer a nice selection and sizes of willow fencing, panels, borders, obelisks, etc. They are out of the Seattle area, and will freight orders to you. I purchased 6’ L x 3’ H woven panels for my entire perimeter, and used the same anchoring rebar and metal stakes that were already in place. I am really pleased with the look, and the material overall. I also purchased three obelisks for climbing beans. The willow panels are stronger and sturdier than the rolled fencing, but will eventually break down over time.

My Kitchen Garden, May 2021

Fine tuning the willow fence, I will put put larger rocks around the bottom of the fencing, to discourage critters from burrowing under the fence.

Starting an Outside Row of Perennial Artichokes

For more information and musing on how I create garden rooms from garden magazines, photos, and design ideas, please go to my previous post, The Making of a Garden Room.

French Fabulous! On Netflix, there is a new French subtitled drama series, Lupin. It is like a modern day “Houdini” Thriller series. Lots of twists and turns. Not only does it keep you on the edge, it is filmed mainly in beautiful Paris. Once you watch an episode or two, it draws you like a magnet. With two series completed, I see there is a third one coming.

Bon Appétit and Bon Weekend….Bonnie

The Timeless Majestic Roman Pont du Gard

One day planning, and four days later hopping on a plane, my husband, John, and I were off to France in mid-March after nearly four years away. On a whim, and in the midst of the national French strike over pension, we traveled to South France and Paris in the off-season. It was one of our best trips to France yet, where everything seemed to flow effortlessly.

On a blustery day, edging towards sunset we stopped to take in the Pont du Gard once again. We had visited the aqueduct fourteen years ago on one of our first trips to Provence, on a much warmer spring day, approaching it from the other side of the river.

Taller than the Colosseum in Rome, the famed Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, in the Gard Department in South France always takes your breath away. Built over the Gardon River, and designed to transport water to the Roman city of Nimes 30 kilometres away, it has remained timeless.

I could go on and on about how incredible an engineering feat it was 2,000 years ago; that it is estimated that it took 800-1,000 workers to construct it over three years; that there was no mortar used amongst the stones; and that it has actually three distinct levels.

It is such a place of reverence and respect. So well preserved. So discreetly tucked away, and one with the landscape. So beautiful, words can hardly describe it. To further heighten the moment, we were nearly the only ones there, just us with our thoughts.

Seeing the Pont du Gard, I felt I was actually seeing time, not experiencing, but actually seeing time. It has such an ethereal aura about it, one can’t help but think of time in many different ways. Why is that 20 years can seem like a blink of an eye, your little nephew is now an adult approaching 30, or you don’t know how you can possibly know a special friend for over 50 years. Yet, in other situations, time seems to stop or become frozen, and you don’t know why. It is our perception of time in relation to our lives.

What also immediately came to me—I was literally seeing time before me, a span of my life in years, a gift, and the sturdy foundation was my values, unshakable and steadfast, always grounding me in life, and keeping me on course to follow my dreams and desires. Gazing at the Pont du Gard, it was an homage to a life well-lived, including the ups and downs, and much more to look forward to.

Past Related Post:
Provence: Roman Marvels Endure

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

Hosting a Holiday Tea A Few Years Ago

A few years ago I hosted a Holiday Tea for one of my dear garden clubs. The menu was based on 13 Desserts, a South French holiday tradition (Les treize desserts de Noël). One of the star desserts I made was Vanilla Lavender Canelés, one of the most elegant of French pastries and surprisingly easy to make. I remember how delicate these pastries tasted due to the steeping of milk, butter, vanilla bean, and culinary lavender. A delicious nod to Provence and the South France.

Please Note: You will need to have canelé molds, available on line, to make this recipe. It is important to use culinary lavender such as Provence lavender.

Vanilla Lavender Canelés

Recipe by Chelsea Zimmer

Lovingly Adapted from Sweet Paul magazine, Winter 2013

Ingredients:

 2 cups milk

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for molds

1 vanilla bean, scraped

1 Tbsp dried culinary lavender

½ cup, plus 1 Tbsp flour

2 cups sugar

¼ tsp salt

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 Tbsp whiskey

2 cannelé molds (twelve molds to a pan)

Directions:

In a medium pot, bring milk, butter, vanilla bean, and lavender to boil.  Remove from the heat and let steep for 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, in a large bowl whisk the flour, sugar, salt, and eggs.  Strain the warm milk mixture, slowly whisking it into the flour mixture.  Stir in the whiskey.  Let this cool in the fridge until chilled, about an hour. If you want to speed up the chilling process, set your bowl over an ice bath and stir occasionally for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.  Place 2 cannelé molds on a large baking sheet and lightly brush them with melted butter. Pour the batter 2/3 of the way up each mold. Bake for 5 minutes.  Lower the oven to 375 degrees F. and continue baking for 1 hour until your canelés are golden brown. Turn out onto wire racks while hot and cool to room temperature. Makes 30.

There Are Various Canelé Molds—Even Copper

The holidays are a great time to bake different specialty desserts and cookies from other countries besides French Canelés, such as Austria’s Linzters, Italy’s Biscotti, and Mexican Wedding Cakes. Be adventurous, they just might become a new tradition for your family.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

Stone Fruit Bowl at Winery in Nuit-Saint Georges, Burgundy, France

When I speak about Mediterranean gardens and elements of a Mediterranean garden, I always mention aged stone elements, and specifically, the beauty and timelessness of stone fruit bowls. If you happen to see them in garden centers, antique shops, consignment shops, garage sales, or elsewhere—pick them up. You can’t go wrong with what they add to your garden.

Such an easy way to add a special flair to your garden, with no upkeep. In fact, in the photo above in Burgundy, an aged stone fruit bowl with lichen patina adds garden depth. These fruit bowls can weather the seasons with grace.

Usually sold in pairs, I see them single too. I have five throughout my garden, a pair welcoming you at my front gate, a pair in my courtyard, and a single petite fruit bowl as a table centerpiece. Stone fruit bowls come in different sizes and artistry, all are so beautiful. Somewhat neutral to your eye, yet rich in detail and texture. Stone fruit bowls can be heavy, so make sure they are stable and secure in your placement.

Pair of Stone Fruit Bowls in Courtyard at Domaine de Manion

I like it that stone fruit bowls almost tell a story by themselves. You can almost imagine a story of how they were found and placed in a garden, or make one up. Either way, they are in a garden for the long haul.

Stone Fruit Bowl as a Centerpiece In My Berry Room

Bellini Imports is one resource in Encinitas where I found my petite single fruit bowl. Actually, all of the shops in Westlake Design District in Encinitas, might be worth wandering through if you are looking for fruit bowl statuary.

Single Stone Fruit Bowl Graces the Garden at Domaine Dalmeran, St. Etienne-du-Grès, Provence

Related Past Posts:

Haute Halloween Couture

Creating A Bocce Ball Court

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

New Doors to Open This Year

I wish I could share with you that I was in Provence this past month, celebrating the holidays and making a great start to 2022. Although my thoughts and visualizations were there, I was gladly home at Domaine de Manion enjoying quiet and relaxing holidays. Now I am planning my 2022. It appears already for me, this is a year of upgrades and improving on many fronts.

Having said that, if you haven’t been to my website recently, www.bonniejomanion.com please visit. This fall I worked on refreshing and updating it. One of the new changes is offering my photography online, Purchase My Photography on my home page. My photos are my inspiration, and the source for my ideas and content to share with you.

I have selected a few photos to begin with, like the French Blue Door photo above, where you can see them all at once, or click on individual categories like Provence, Burgundy, Domaine de Manion. I will be adding more photos from time to time. If you have a favorite photo from my blog, Instagram, or website, please feel free to contact me at bonnie@vintagegardengal.com and I will add it to this category. Some of these photos currently grace my home, and I enjoy them everyday. Perhaps some of these photos will resonate with you too!

I am sure all of you have thought through your 2022 with hope, goals, resolutions, and intentions by now. To make this year a spectacular year for you all, I wanted to share with you a very special list. This list came from a Mira Costa College Business Class taught by Tom Severance, I took years ago. Going through some of my old files, I recently found it again. Many of these points I imagine you already know and do now, but it never hurts to revisit the list to keep them fresh in your daily living, and kick start your year. Wishing you your best year yet!

It is a list to unlock the best kept secret in the world—YOU!

1) Live your ideal life …now.

2) Do things that are extraordinary and nearly impossible.

3) Believe that: If it’s to be, it’s up to me.

4) Think BIG. Dream lofty dreams. Plan. Act immediately.

5) Keep in contact with the best, meet people engaged in the best, experience the best.

6) Be your own boss. Do what you love and get paid for it.

7) Duplicate your efforts and receive a percentage on other’s productivity.

8) Increase your income daily…whether you work, play, or sleep.

9) Do what you do so well that people enthusiastically refer others to you.

10) Inspire others by your example.

11) Build your reputation for honesty, integrity, quality, and superb service.

12) Aim for excellence in your field.

13) Support others in achieving their goals.

14) Develop influential friendships worldwide.

15) Take total responsibility for your past, present, and future experiences.

16) Strive to accomplish more with less time, money, and energy.

17) Do and say things that benefit all concerned.

18) Be open to new ideas, relationships, and experiences.

19) Realize that all events happen for the best.

20) Take calculated risks to get ahead.

21) Read books by and about exciting people you admire.

22) Simplify your life, have more fun per hour.

23) Know that you are equal to everyone and everyone is equal to you.

24) Accept people the way they are and the way they are not.

25) Forgive and love everyone.

26) Do what you feel is best, no matter what people think of you.

27) Save 10% of your income.

28) Give something away daily…a postcard, letter, gift, smile, hug, compliment.

29) Collect pictures of what you want to be, do, and have in your life.

30) Do not criticize, condem, or complain.

31) Act as if it were impossible to fail.

32) Live in an elegant dwelling.

33) Dine at the finest restaurants.

34) Stay at the best hotels in the world.

35) Dress to look and feel great! Mostly solid-colored clothing.

36) Collect quotes that motivate you.

37) Speak and write only positive words.

38) Carry a crisp $100.00 bill with you at all times.

39) Learn something new every day.

40) Exercise at least 20 minutes daily to achieve and maintain your ideal body.

41) Eat mostly fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains.

42) Minimize alcohol, tobacco, sugar, salt, white flour, coffee, pork, beef,and unnatural foods.

43) Avoid saying: can’t, hard, difficult. Instead say: I can, it’s easy, it’s simple.

44) Keep your home, desk, closets, car…clean, neat, and organized.

45) Use a simple time management system.

46) Listen to music which motivates you.

47) Maintain a good-looking tan. Spend more time with nature.

48) Act as if all your goals and intentions are already accomplished.

49) Constantly escalate your goals.

50) GO FOR IT! JUST DO IT!

Related Post Link:

What I Love About January

Vegetable Edibles to Plant in January

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie