Vicki Archer’s latest book French Essence

has been on my nightstand the last few weeks…

Its red ribbon bookmark slowly moving its way

along her charming storytelling path through

her life in the south of France…

The Chinoiseried walls of the Chinese Cabinet room

at La Mirande in Avignon…

Carla Coulson’s photographs leave an exquisite trail

of Vicki’s travels through narrow pathways in Avignon, St. Rémy,

Aix-en-Provence. Past chocolate shops and florist stalls, a peak inside

Cézannes’s art studio and his favorite restaurant Les deux Garçons…

 

The art of collecting…

Love the glimpses of Vicki’s exuberant style…

A peak into china cabinets and linen closets, across stacks

of books and perfume strewn vanities, her red jacket

tossed over her desk chair before a wall resplendent with

inspirational French movie posters and photos…

In the gardens of Mas de Bérard, Vicki’s re- christened hot pink climbing

rose  “Shocking Semini”…along with tales of white iris’s and clipped hedges,

apple orchards and olive harvests…

Sitting room chairs pulled out into a summer garden…

Convivial…comfortable…fun…

You feel like you’ve been welcomed in for a visit..

A warm winter guest bedroom at Mas de Bérard…

French Essence is a continuation of Vicki’s personal story

from her earlier My French Life…earlier post here

With chapters on collecting, her gardens, the harvest,

views of Mas de Bérard dusted with snow, replete

with the vivid reds of circus tents and Christmas baubles

and a sprinkling of candlelight throughout…

Truly magical…a book to savor slowly…

 

Thanks for a lovely gift of a book, Vicki! A huge book…double page

photos…my snippets don’t do it justice!

Vicki’s blog here

Thanks to a post Vicki did on Roman antiquity in Arles here

and personal emails, my daughter had a magical detour

through Provence last January on her way to Rome…

Quiet Beauty in Provence here

Antiquity in Provence here