Cottage & Countryside Living
a weekly journal
Bon dimanche!
It’s been a long, and at times stressful, week. Here’s a recap of everything that went down.
Monday: the movers arrived to pack up our entire life to stick on a boat that we’ll see in about 12 weeks. It felt very strange being in an empty house.
Tuesday: The hubby, me & the kitties flew to France which in itself was a nail biter especially trying to make sure they were not traumatized too much. in the end I think it was us that were traumatized.
Wednesday: we arrived in Paris to then get in the car with the kitties for a 4 hour drive to the cottage right after a 6 hour flight. Getting the rental was another feet in itself as anyone who has been to CDG will understand.
Speaking of cars on Thursday when we were heading to the market for essentials we got our car stuck in the mud next to the cottage which led us to finally meet the Mairie (mayor) as he was so gracious enough to get his tractor out to tow us to the top of the hill. He speaks no English and I speak very little French but we made it work (thank you Google translate).
By Friday the jet lag really set in and luckily the only thing we had was a meeting with a potential contractor on the kitchen remodel. He can’t start until March so the hunt continues.
Saturday was house hunting day. We saw 2 farm houses that were about 15 mins from the cottage. The first one was a hard no: too big of a house on too little land. The second one is a major contender and in some sense reminds us of when we bought the cottage in RI. It’s on a corner lot, it’s in a quiet village, it’s a fixer upper but not the money pit kind of fixer upper, it’s got enough land that we can manage, it’s selling for a good price that leaves us room for updates. It was a last minute viewing as the other one that was scheduled got cancelled because it went under offer. We still have a few more houses to see next week but we are hoping to make a decision by the end of the week. Although I might have made my decision.
We finally made it to Sunday. Sundays in the French countryside are truly a day of rest. Most businesses are closed including restaurants. It’s a day for church (France is mostly Catholic), a hearty family dinner, and to rest & rejuvenate for the week ahead. We are taking every advantage of that today. We have a fire lit, the kettle has been very active making big cups of tea, the kitties are curling up in cozy blankets and I’m pulling out the raclette machine for our dinner. (See below on this French winter tradition) Today we are resting as we have a very full week ahead of house hunting, home improvement and visa requirements.
Stay tuned for more from the French countryside and hope you all have wonderful week ahead!
à bientôt- Jenna
Sunday Saves
a few things that caught my eye this week…
Raclette: The dish that has warmed the hearts of the French for generations Most cheese shops will carry raclette cheese but if you have a Trader Joe’s near you they carry it during the winter months. Here’s a great raclette machine to get.
January is the month of “galette de rois” otherwise known as the King’s cake. You will only find this dessert this month after January 6th (the epiphany). The story is the youngest person sits under the table calling out each person’s name for each slice. The person to find the feve (a little ceramic piece/figurine) in their slice is king or queen for the day. Fun fact: the galette served at the President of France’s residence never contains a feve as they do not want to have another King of France. My favorite go-to recipe is this one from my friend Molly Wilkinson. You can always use store bought puff pastry if you’re not up to making it from scratch.
Decluttering à la Français: The French Art of Minimal Living
8 Living Room Decorating Trends Designers Are Most Excited About for 2025
Although we have been visiting the local supermarkets lately, heading to the outdoor markets is on my to-do list: 10 Good Reasons to Shop at a (French) Market
January is also the month of mimosa. You will see this beautiful bright yellow flower in all the markets in Paris. Bring that scent home with Diptyque’s Mimosa candle.
This Is the Best Time of Year for Thrift Shopping, According to Experts
Flowers to sow in January - 7 great summer blooms to plant from Homes & Gardens
How To Make Wattle Fence Woven Garden Beds Looking to do this here at the house in France
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à bientôt- Jenna
That was a long journey. I don't think I could have faced the drive after the flight. Good luck with the house hunt, brief though it may be!
I love following your journey. Thank you for sharing everything with us. ❤️