Cottage & Countryside Living: week 33
a weekly journal
Bonjour everyone!
Hope you all had a wonderful week. We are on pins & needles awaiting our answer from the French embassy. Wednesday was our appointment for our French Visa application. I'll into more detail below. But we should know by the beginning of September if we have been approved. In the meantime, projects continue at the cottage both inside & outside.
Plus this coming weekend is my pop-up at Mount Hope Farm at the Saturday market. I'll be bringing a few new French market baskets with me this time. Plus vintage finds, handmade goods, furniture makeovers & of course fresh garden blooms.
I'm still deciding on if I will do a September pop-up or wait until the Bristol Vintage Market in October. Plus still considering another final yard sale for September. I'm waiting for the French embassy decision before I make up my mind.
Hope you enjoy what I've gathered this week for you.
xo- Jenna
My Blue Heaven
This week we started to harvest eucalyptus at the flower farm. It's a great way to start the day. The smell is intoxicating. Amy (Dahlia Shed) grows 3 different varieties of eucalyptus: silver dollar, baby blue and silver plate. We planted the plugs in late Spring and they really only need full sun & water. No need to fertilize. At first they grow a bit slow but then boom you have a bush of eucalyptus.
This plant is an annual in our area but you can overwinter them. Just dig up your plants and repot them into containers. Then place them in a frost free area to go dormant like a garage or unheated greenhouse. You will be able to replant them next year into your garden. Or you can bring them inside for year round beauty. One of my favorite things to do with eucalyptus bunches is to hang a big bunch in the shower. As the steam & water hit the plant it releases the essential oils creating a very relaxing atmosphere.
Here’s a great article on growing eucalyptus especially how to start them from seed.
This is my favorite seed starting trays to use. You could technically start your eucalyptus seeds now to plant next Spring. *
The Process(ing center)
Wednesday was hot & humid. The perfect day to be walking around the city of Boston dressed for our interview for our visa application right? Ugh! Well everything about Wednesday was not what we expected at all or what we were told either via the internet or even on our paperwork was going to happen.
First our appointment, and I am calling it that because of what it REALLY was, wasn’t at the French embassy like we originally thought but at a Visa processing center. Both my husband & I were given 2 separate appointment times (30 min apart) and on the form said we would be taken separately. When we got there after our very sweaty walk from the train station, we arrived to learn that they would take us together. Yay I thought. They checked us in, scan our bags & bodies with the metal detectors and in we went. They asked for all of our paperwork we prepared in advance and our applications. They took all those items from us and had us have a seat in the air conditioned (thank goodness) waiting area until our number was called. BTW we were the only ones there. 25 minutes later they called our number to booth 1 when he had us have a seat and asked if there was anything else we wanted to add to our pile of forms. We kindly replied that we think we had everything he needed. That’s when we learned that “he” was just a processor. He sorted and organized our paperwork & passports to be sent to the French embassy in Washington DC. There was no interview, no way to advocate our case on why we wanted to move to France, no question & answer time. Just sign this, pay the fees and now you wait. They did take our picture & biometrics while we were there but that was it. We could have gone in shorts & a tee shirt. I could have work flip flops. It was all NOT what we expected at all and frankly a bit disappointing. To know we are just another number, no way to advocate our plans, our dreams, our goals for a life in France to an actual person felt like a let down. But it is done, and now we wait to know if they say oui or non to our application. Hopefully by the first week of September we should know the results and what our next steps are. If they say OUI, then the house goes on the market & we prepare for the big move. If they say NON, then we re-evaluate on our options of re-applying or doing something else. This limbo moment that we are in is not fun at all and actually is nerve wracking. So we are just trucking along with the attitude of finishing all our projects as if we ARE going to France… until we know otherwise.
Stay tuned!
My Longchamp bag is my favorite everyday bag *
Many have asked about my blue rimmed eyeglasses. Here’s the link! *
Getting Inspired
While we wait for the approval, I am turning my anxiety toward getting inspired for our potential home in France. We have found a property. We even did a video tour with the real estate agent and some friends that live there went and did some exterior pictures & videos for us. Me….I am already pinning the mood boards on what I want to create our home to be there. And of course I am starting with the heart of every home…the kitchen (la cuisine). The kitchen of the house we ae looking at has some great bones. It’s a good size, it’s got character with the exposed beams, it’s got lots of light. Not too much needs to be done from a construction standpoint. Although I do want to change a window to a door to the side garden so I can have a potager right off the kitchen. I plan to remove the upper cabinets for open shelving instead- recycling them elsewhere. Cabinets will be painted, new appliances added and of course furniture. I plan to look for a long farm table for the center than can be used both as a prep table and somewhere to sit & eat. This Devol kitchen has been an inspiration for our kitchen here at the cottage but also for a future kitchen in France. It’s warm & cozy and not fuzzy. It looks well loved & used. I will add in my signature shades of blue & white in some way but this is the look I am hoping to achieve in this potential kitchen of the house we haven’t bought yet LOL. By planning now, I can research materials, appliances, lighting etc so we can put together a budget that fits our needs. I am also excited to hit all the emmaus & brocantes to find just the right pieces for this room to create a space that is us…with aa French twist.
Shop my look inspired by this kitchen *
Sunday Saves
Just a few things that caught my eye this week…
It’s here!!! The 2024 Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is now available. I know you probably don’t want to hear about Christmas stuff in August but this one sells out every year. They make such great gift- for someone or even yourself *
Yep I am staying on the Christmas kick because TODAY is the last day to shop the Diptyque archives. Here’s a few of my favorites for the fall & holiday season. *
2025's Colors of The Year – every shade to have been announced so far. So if you are painting next year these are some of the “in” colors.
What Is Jacquard Fabric? Here's Why You're Seeing It Everywhere
I just cleaned out our greenhouse/shed and I am guilty of storing some of these things in there. EEK! 7 Things You Should Never Store in the Shed, According to Experts
15 Things You Should Always Buy at the Thrift Store, According to Design Insiders
Cool & Collected: Keiller Dundee’s Marmalade Jars I own a few of these jars and they can be really pricy. But I found a great DIY to make your own using these stamps. *
How to Shop a French Market Like a Local via everyday Parisian (shopping the local markets is one of the many things we will do on my tours next year!)
Shop like a local at the vide greniers & brocantes! (Join me next year on one of my tours where we shop many of these in the French countryside-send me a message with your details to get on the list)
How To Make Mint Compost – Mint Hay Compost Uses And Benefits
There are still a few dates left in September to book the cottage. Click here to see availability. * Next year the cottage will be open year round for renting and available for long stays (up to 3 months).
*Please note that some of the links are affiliate links including my Amazon shop where I do make a very small commission at no additional cost to you when you shop my links which helps me continue to provide this free weekly newsletter.
As always….Merci beaucoup for your patronage! xo- Jenna
Fingers crossed for you. Visa applications are my least favourite things. I've done them for 3 countries that I've lived in. I'm back in my home country now, but I sometimes day dream of France. Whenever I start to imagine living there, I just think of the visa application process and the desire to move goes away, lol.