a late afternoon at the lake

  lets go to the lake 

saying it seemed so natural, specially being here in vermont  and it being a few minutes from home.

 the weather that day was in the nineties, it was hot and wanting all the kids to just feel free and I craving that elusive quietness i have been seeking we went. it was late afternoon and after being at farm stands and market, little towns with aran who was shooting for her book we knew that just skipping rocks and dipping toes in the lake would make everyone feel better and i think it did just that. we enjoyed having aran, jon and miren here so much, we have lots of photographs to share and stories to tell about our time with the Lovely aran and her family but as i usually do here at la porte rouge is start from the end and work my way to the beginning. for  now i will leave you with the shpts of the lake on a summer day.

and they finally meet on the hill.

i arrived home with the kids from montreal late into the evening. corine and her family would be here tomorrow and i was a mess, nervous of meeting her, them and wondered how joe would find the house he built. they arrived late in the afternoon and it was instant connect for all three of us on both sides. the kids and joe went off to prepare a fire,  joe was to cook a meal on open fire up on the hill. corine and i in the kitchen, happily so. corine is lovely, petite, blond beautiful flowing curls, a youth fullness to her that i admired and tres francaise with her striped shirt and bandeau, did i mention already how beautiful she is. we prepared things and the children  carried them up the hill to the fire, we then followed. we sat around, i was taking it all in. how quickly the kids got along, instant friends but in away i believe that is what happened between corine and i and now there we were sitting on the lawn of our home chatting away as if we had done this  many times before.

the next day they took the children to bromley mountain for a day of adventure, although it had poured minutes after they left they continued and ended up having the best of times. i was alone for the first time in weeks, did some work, ran  errands, picked up some things to prepare the evening meal, and the fixing for smores- the night before we had failed the kids, for the cupboard only housed four little marshmallows. when they got back, corine and joe went for a hike behind the house to the top of the mountain to see the view, the kids grabbed pencils and paper and started to design a fort that they would build next year. they were so excited, there plans included, zip lines, water slide and more  .  we had dinner on the porch, then grabbed the things needed for the fire and the smores and headed back up the hill. the  sky turned beautiful shades of pink, truth is watching the children have so much fun, connect filled my soul. we came back into the house for strawberry, blueberry and mangoes crisp with vanilla ice cream that i had prepare earlier that day then headed outside to light some sparkles, watch random fireworks  from the hills and while fireflies lit up  the sky the dark night around us.

it was good day, weekend. on a personal note, to have finally met corine in person was very special and yes i was very nervous about so much but sometimes, things are so natural that you could never picture them any other way. merci  chere corine for this wonderful path we are on!! Corine has released her first book 

Hidden in Paris, and i am so happy to have a copy, the book feels incredible in your hands those who are readers will know what i mean, so stay tuned for a post devoted to corine . her book and a giveaway.

Bon Bon la fin.

continued from here. 

the next morning even though we had planned on going to that diner with the unbelievable blueberry pancakes (deb had been there before in fact she knew a lot more places in my new home town that i did) the morning was so lovely at the farm  so we made breakfast here instead and had it on the porch while we chatted some more.  after breakfast Deb took out her bon bon and showed me her new collection every cloud has a silver lining a tribute to her father. each pieces was so beautiful created with vintage glass french beads. we played around with our cameras while we discussed the upcoming changes for bon bon. it was lovely to have her pieces here.

 in the afternoon we decided to go for a drive but as we got to the open road we knew it was time for lunch and we headed to the diner. deb had remembered it well, a diner with a twist leaning to the gourmet, where vegan, gluten free things could be found on the menu or should i say hand written on pieces of paper all over the walls. we talked a lot at the diner about our paths and how we got to where we are now. then we headed out went in an out of  shops along main street before we headed to the farmers market. we bought a whole bunch of things(deb) and planned for a farm to table meal.

when we arrived home we went for a walk and visited the writers shack. deb took hundreds of photos i think! then we had cheese and crackers, iced hibiscus tea and  fresh strawberries on the porch while deb water coloured. we talked about hosting dinners here and small workshops. we made dinner, deb made delicious kale and kalbari greens sautéed in oil, vinegar and garlic and i m made a version of huevo rancheros, we nibbled on chocolate talked till our eyes lids became heavy.

the next morning breakfast at the dining table, more chat and goodbyes.

deb, it was a pleasure having you here my dear.

* PS. Ig you would like your own getaway check this out this incredible giveaway from Oh Happy day!

Bon Bon J'arrive ( part one)

monday, morning except for the fact that i locked myself out of the house at six am, i was filled with excitement because deb was coming for a visit!  deb arrived around noon, bright and beautiful, i showed her around, made lunch were she showered me with goodies from brooklyn, i have never met someone so generous, gorgeous yummy macaron to start( delicieu!) , tea, chocolate, ginger syrup that i had wanted forever now, beautiful hand  blown bottle with it’s delicate walls made me drool and a beautiful bon bon was filled with meaning and hope. then we made and ate lunch; farm market greens, fresh chicken eggs and my mums mint & mustard dressing while we chatted, talked about things that made me know we must be friends to open up such as this, we laughed talked about artist, the blog world and the ones we love.

Later we went in town, got something to drink walked, sat and chatted some more before we headed to willliamstown for some vietnamese food! the evening was spent on the porch watching the fireflies flicker, then back indoors to browse the internet pointing out things we liked, sharing more stories and then bed. as i lay in bed that night, i realized that in just a few short hours, deb had given me food for thought, insight on my own personal life, she had shared words and ideas that inspire me. if you ever get to meet deb, one you instantly love her, for she is wise, funny, talented but for me it is her grace, her kind way and ability to listen and make one feel at ease is priceless.

to be continued..


* she has an incredible taste  and if i was going to be a bad host i would have stolen every blouse(see above) !

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I would like to take a moment and thank all those who made christmas possible for us this year. Two days ago while stuck and the tire shop were i was told four new tires were must immediately . Upon arriving home i found christmas at my door step, my lovely friend catherine had drove all the way from connecticut with a beautiful christmas tree, a huge box apples of all varieties, pears from her orchard and another box filled with goat cheese, currant juice, relishes, magazine, squashes or every kind and a bouquet of fresh greens and berries. My spirit was instantly filled with gratitude and tears came rolling down my face for i knew what a special thing it was to have someone so dear in my life. K has had similar experienced this week with friends who have been so kind, generous and gracious we would like to thank them all for making christmas possible.

Now you my dear readers, i have met very few of you in the flesh yet you have been by my side, making me laugh, blush, feel and ponder. you have filled dark days and shared in sunny ones. I say this with the up most honesty you make me a better person everyday i get to share in your company. For all those who celebrate christmas Merry Christmas and for those who celebrate something dear to  them may it be filled with love, laughter and warmth. If you need anything like a chat, phone, call an inspiring quote please email me i know sometimes this time of year can feel lonely even if your not alone so please email me if you want a good laugh, i am sure i have story or two from my farm life that would do just that!

Celebrate life and if it is to stressful go for a walk around the block, fill your lungs with air, dance in you living room, take a child like bubble bath, get lost in a book....eat tons of chocolate.........or simply catch up on sleep.....also if there is someone  you wished you never stopped talking to why not wish them a happy holidays and start a new......

with all my love and best wishes!

nadia

PS. iknow this full of typos and grammer mistakes!

dear marina

 tous les changements, meme les plus souhaites ont leur melancolies, car ce que nous quittons, c'est une parties de nous-meme; il faut mourir a une vie pour entrer dans une autre-

Anatole France 1884-1924

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.

do you remember my post yesterday about wanting to be surrounded by poetry and where i mentioned that i would open my autumn swap package that i had been holding unto since the return from my getaway, well i could have not opened it at a more perfect time. It as if marina knew me well and knew the aesthetic of my home. i love everything, more than loved it, i instantly knew they belonged here.

 a most beautiful gathering of things; a photograph of two dogs from her grandmothers collection, a book of poetry that makes me wish that all books today were made with such lovely paper and lettering and it was bookmarked to the poem above, wrapped in fabric a pocket watch case, honestly i have wanted one for so long and inside of it a treasure inspired by nature, a print of beautifully illustrated insects and object de nature from the eighteen hundreds with the quote above on the back side and a beautiful had written note what a lovely penmanship marina. 

marina, thank you so much i have instantly named them treasures to keep for always  and as you can see bullet was watching me as i opened each thing. what i love the most about all of it, is through the swap i gotten to visit your blog that is absolutely filled with stunning photographs &  notes that make for beautiful collected stories -a vignettes of a well lived life, that has me craving more.

merci marina and if you knew me you would know that your last name is my favourite name of all times and if i ever had a child he or she would certainly be called by that name.

bakery part deux!

i just can't get enough of tatte bakery in boston. sheila and i headed there last saturday. she had a pear tart with a cappuccino and i had a halva brioche with espresso over ice! a waitresse's last day and the other one wearing cutest plaid dress and apron! i also fell in love with the bird that seemed to shout where is my hazelnut and rose brioche!

* play the post bellow!

Nadia n' aime pas....

Sunday night after a few hours spent tending the garden i came into the house washed up and decided to put Amelie in the dvd player. Can i just say every-time i watch it i get more and more in love with it's brilliance. I relate to it so much, each time seeing more similarities!

So this time while watching it, this is where i will need you to focus and try to remember. In the beginning the narrator tells us what amelie and each character he introduces dislike and likes. do you remember? example her dad does not like how is bathing suits sticks on him as he come out of the pool or how her mum loves cleaning out her purse and placing everything back in or how amelie likes putting her hand in sacs of grain and collecting stones. so here is my thought let's play along how about we name five things we dislike and five things we like now this is what is most important keep it tight what i mean by that not big things but the everyday little things here i'll show you..

Nadia n'aime pas

the sound of telephone ringing
small shavings left by the sink by k.
when someone wears perfume enough for me and everyone else
the smell of tuna cans in the kitchen sink
honking cars in front of the house

nadia aime

the smell of fresh ground espresso beans
laying the vegetables i bought from the farmers market on the farm table
the crunchy pasta and the bottom of the pan
hiding and scaring my husband
folding laundry


Oh will you play along ?
nadia aime pas quand vous jouer pas:)