Monday, December 12, 2011

A Year in Provence


Over Thanksgiving I started floating the idea of traveling for the holiday next year.


Mr. Blandings and the boys are neither stubborn nor unreasonable, but they get a little set in their ways.


Many things around here happen through the sheer force of my will, but I find new ideas are more easily adopted if I bring them up far in advance.  I grind away at their resistance and then work to fill the trough with my enthusiasm.  Admittedly, I wear them down.


As we made the long drive to California a couple of years ago, I pointed out to Bill that in ten years the boys would be finished with school and we could live anywhere, my voice and imagination filled with wonder.


"Where else would we want to live?"


"We could live in France."  "We could live in France."  "We could live in France."


All images, via the Wall Street Journal Magazine, the home of Betty and Francois Catroux in Provence.  The story, these images and images of their Paris apartment can be found here.  Photography, Francois Halard.
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22 comments:

  1. Daniel ShigoDecember 12, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    'A LIfe in Provence' might have been a good post title! Love the pictures, the dreaming and the writing.

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  2. KarenaDecember 12, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Patricia wonderful images!! France is certainly my choice!

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    Karena

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    ReplyDelete
  3. HelenDecember 12, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    Giddy with the thought of it all ...

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  4. Richard CottrellDecember 12, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    I would be happy for a day or two visit. Hope your dreams come true. Richard from My Old Historic House.

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  5. pve designDecember 12, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    I like the way you think and the way you grind.
    pve

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gwen DriscollDecember 12, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    Keep working on it! Sounds like a plan to me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Grant K. GibsonDecember 13, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    I love to dream about places that I would live...


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    grantkgibson.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. quintessenceDecember 13, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    I had the exact same thought!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousDecember 13, 2011 at 6:37 AM

    I have a friend, somewhat older than I, who retired with her banker husband to France! Bought an ancient barn and turned it into a home! A year of sweat equity, but their children already lived in Europe. I couldnt leave my children on another continent....though I am sure they could leave me!

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  10. maryDecember 13, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Oh, to live in France!! Paris! Keep working on them. Mary

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  11. peggy braswellDecember 13, 2011 at 12:09 PM

    hmmmm let me think about that(moment. ITALY-me thinks. Keep grinding away-grand post. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. KarenDecember 13, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    I like how you think...if you're going to dream, dream big!
    Happy Holidays,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  13. ToadDecember 13, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    I hear North Dakota is lovely too. Think of the advantages. You speak the language fluently, no money conversion, no metric. A slice of heaven. Close to friends and family as well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Scott LivingstonDecember 13, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    I don't know which I enjoyed more, the captivating pictures, or the oh-too-close-to-home confessional. I've been working on the hubs for five years now. "We should retire in Paris. We should retire to Paris." So far, just lots of eye rolling on his part, but with the baby still 18 years from graduation, I have plenty of time to work on him. Thanks for the lovely pix, and the chuckle!

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  15. yard signsDecember 14, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    The book stack room is just "wow"! Very nice idea. Specially those pics in the extremes are nice.

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  16. lifeloveluxeDecember 14, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    "We could live in France" might be the five most glorious words ever spoken. What a lovely life the Catroix family lives! I'm inspired to pack up myself as well.

    www.lifeloveandluxury.com

    ReplyDelete
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  18. the designers museDecember 16, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    Fabulous house!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Carole BuschmannDecember 18, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    I knew there was a reason I felt so simpatico. Bien sur!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. FoodieDecember 19, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    Oh my, that is perhaps the most perfect vacation house I have ever seen. Really. Casually chic and elegant and effortless. Not trying to hard. Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousDecember 20, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    Such a great idea! You should live in France! Or at least spend next Christmas there. Here's to breaking with tradition. Escape to Provence!
    xo E + J

    ReplyDelete
  22. ErinDecember 22, 2011 at 5:42 PM

    When I pulled up your blog today, my little 2-year-old, Piper, yelled, "MOM!" She ran over to the computer, climbed up on a chair next to me, and pointed to the illustration of your family on your title. She said, "Mom, I want you to invite those people over! I like them."

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave a message. I am quite willing to publish remarks that criticize me, but will likely delete disparaging remarks targeted at someone else.