Before we go any further today, I made you a cup of coffee. I am not sure how you like yours, so I just made two the same. I have to admit, no matter how hard I try and no matter how many years I have lived in France I simply cannot give up my milky cappuccino style coffee. I don’t usually go the whole way and sprinkle cocoa powder on the top, but I thought as you were joining me we would push the boat out and do it properly! Continue reading “In Need of Some Winter Cheer ?”
Author: ourfrenchoasis
Sharing our love of family life with our five children, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 Ducks and numerous chickens in France. Capturing things that inspire us, our love of good food, fresh local ingredients, long walks in the country, gardening and design.
How 2018 is Shaping Up
As the New Year gets underway, motivation tends to be strong, and our goals are often set to the highest levels. Hand in hand with this time of year are New Year resolutions, whether they’re meaningful and well thought out, or overly ambitious ideas dreamt up whilst enjoying the fizz of champagne bubbles. Perhaps you don’t make any resolutions at all but simply embrace la nouvelle année with positive thoughts and a renewed energy?
Whatever your plans for this year, I thought I’d take a look at the things that are often at the top of everyone’s list, and then, somewhat lightheartedly, ponder on the year ahead. Continue reading “How 2018 is Shaping Up”
CHRISTMAS 2015
Here’s the second part of the Cole family’s Christmas, as promised! If you remember, we left them half-way through the day last time. I hope you enjoy this part…..
If you missed the first part you can find it here. A couple of people have asked about the other Cole stories, so you want to find out more here’s a Halloween story, and here’s another Christmas story called ‘The Three Wise Gifts‘).
Whatever you read, I hope you enjoy yourselves.
Most of all, have a wonderful New Year’s eve, and all of us here wish everyone a wonderful, happy 2018. XXX Many bisoux from me – to you all.
A Short Christmas Story
I wanted to give you my annual short Christmas story before the 25th, but I’m afraid I ran out of time, so please accept my apologies. As ever, this one is in TWO PARTS, the second part will be out on Sunday! And for those who have read the others, you might be happy to know we go back to Sophie Cole and her family, and the adventures they have a little further inland than where we are now. The last story we had with them was set in 2006, so be aware everyone has grown!
I hope that those of you who celebrate the holiday had a wonderful Christmas Day, and spent much of it surrounded by loved ones and lovely things.
CHRISTMAS EVE, 2015
I looked at the Christmas tree and wondered who all the presents were for. There seemed to be so many – were there really that many of us? And then I remembered that Simon’s present was still not amongst the pile; it was still undelivered, even though the website had shown it had been out for delivery now for four days. It was most bizarre. I knew I hadn’t missed a man in a van, and yet we still waited for the box to come. I made a note to see what company was bringing it to the door, and turned away from the glittering tree and headed back to the kitchen where Sylvie was shaking icing sugar onto the last batch of mince pies, a delicacy only feasible since her arrival from the UK with a large suitcase containing a few jars of M&S’s finest mincemeat. I knew we’d need all of the pies, for apart from the five of us and Sylvie, we also had her nephew Paul and his wife Lisa in the house for Christmas, plus their five year-old twins, Tim and Tom. To differentiate their Tim from our Tim, now 22 and home from university for two weeks, we had already nicknamed the smaller 5 year-old version, ‘Tiny Tim’ – it made so much sense.
It’s the Little Things That Count
Some people call this part of the year the ‘silly season’, and I am sure I am not the only one amongst us who is guilty of thinking that they can be Superwoman (or Superman!) and do absolutely everything. I know I’ve burnt the candle at both ends many a night, running around making sure that everything is perfect. But the truth is, sometimes everything can still be a little fraught…. Continue reading “It’s the Little Things That Count”
Setting the Scene for Christmas
Although many of us are trying to simplify our lives, Christmas is a time that can be quite the opposite and it can become more than a little stressful. All around us television and media encourages us to decorate to within an inch of our lives. Everywhere you see photos of houses that are beyond perfect, with every room a festive showpiece making the expectation for our own so much more. Often I find myself wondering how I can trim down the trimmings and still have a stylish home? Continue reading “Setting the Scene for Christmas”
Our Christmas Shop is Open Today
I hope you are having a lovely, peaceful and relaxed weekend. We awoke to news of snow in so many places, it’s even snowing in London, Izzi was on the phone to us bright and early, making me so envious with amazing videos of roads, cars and houses completely covered in a blanket of white powder, it looked magical. Instead we have gale force winds and driving rain. A day to snuggle up indoors and turn our attention to decorating our Christmas tree, it is always so much fun and we are all so excited we might just manage to forget that we don’t have snow! I’ll post photos on Instagram and Facebook this evening.
Just to let you know that our one day 10% discount across the board Christmas Shop sale is now live for 24 hours. We will make sure that all items purchased are mailed tomorrow for delivery in time for Christmas. If you would like us to gift wrap any item in festive French paper we will gladly do so at no extra charge, please just let us know. Just click on the link above or HERE and I hope you find that something special you are looking for and even if you have bought all the gifts you need for your nearest and dearest perhaps it is now time to treat yourself, go on, I am sure you more than deserve it!
Lots of love from a very wet and windy Charente Maritime, Susan xx
A Simple Act of Kindness
Yesterday was the first day since we moved to the Charente Maritime that temperatures failed to get above 0 celsius all day. The bitterly cold weather was accompanied by freezing fog which – like the mercury – failed to rise; it silently swirled around us all day long and anyone we saw on the street outside the boulangerie was hurrying along without a sign of dawdling. Bisous on either cheek to say ‘Hello’ and that was it – definitely not a day for outdoor leisurely conversation. Continue reading “A Simple Act of Kindness”
Let the Countdown to Christmas Begin (let’s get cooking)
As much as I love Christmas and believe me I really do love it, I think I love it every bit as much now as a grown-up as I did as a child – but probably in a different way. I know that the shops are a necessity, but they are not where I want to spend my December days; instead I want our Christmas celebrations to be more about the joy of the season and less about the shopping. I want to spend any spare time making foods with those distinctive seasonal spicy aromas; I want to take walks in crisp winter air and decorate the house bit by bit, together as a family, taking our time; this is my remedy to the modern seasonal madness. Continue reading “Let the Countdown to Christmas Begin (let’s get cooking)”
Sunday
There’s a time and a place for everything and right now it feels so right just to be out in the open, in the country, enjoying nothing but good clean fresh air and good clean fun. Where little changes except for the seasons and there are no decorations except for natures own way of trimming the trees and embellishing the landscape. Continue reading “Sunday”
Our French Oasis 