Thank you to all who have inquired. I am hale and hearty
and knee deep in my many little passions: chiefly
gardening, tweaking the colors of my world through paint
and dye, and collecting small representative bits of an
18th century world. After a Summer of loving having my big kids
around…it’s back to editing the flotsam and
jetsom of twenty years in this old house and starting
on plans for a big landscaping project in the Spring.
A few recent photos from about the yard…
Stephanotis vine…
the most divine fragrance….
Coquettes des Blanches
Bourbon c. 1871
Madame Issac Perrier c. 1881
the most fragrant antique Bourbon rose…
Love moody dark grays and brights…
and dyeing my own linens
Madame Ernest Calvat…Madame Issac Perrier…Souvenir de Malmaison…
Old French roses and worn French paperbacks….
18th century French fabric reworked into ecclesiastical stole
on hand dyed Carolyn Quartermaine fabric
In search of the inimitable….
Hand woven, hand stitched…
An ageless love of nature’s little frills worked through silk,
treasured, handed down, reworked, honored…
Old leather bound books and butterflies…
a gouache cartoon…preparation for a woven tapestry…
Antique silk shoes…late 18th or early 19th…
when soles were neither right nor left…
plumped with linen and tied with striped bows…
great site here
My collecting always seems in pursuit of a story…
In the 18th century The Ladies’ Memorandum books
showed a glimpse into pre-blogging woman’s lives….
More here
Though occasional rains signal the closing of the gardening season…
I have parrot tulips and Icewing daffodils and English bluebells to
plant….and a few roses always manage to bloom in December.
I’ll try to pop in from time to time…..
Hope you are all happily busy this Fall…
XOXO
Trish
Trouvais 
I have missed your beautiful musings terribly. I’m so happy to hear that all is well and thriving with you. How wonderful to spend your time with family and the passions you love the most. Good for you. XO, Mona
I’ve missed your postings. So glad you’re back.
Thank you Karen.
I love your view… so many soulful vignettes that defines the rich layers of an inner emotional and passionate life and a true love of beauty.
joanny
Oh dear Trish, you have been missed! It is so nice to have you back! Your photos and collections are lovely as usual. We hope you continue to delight us with your much appreciated images and messages.
Blessings,
Trinidad, Johan and Martin
You guys are such a great addition to the blogging world! Such beautiful treasures!
Dearest Trish,
I’m so excited to see a new post from you. Your charming elegance has been so missed! Your inspiring garden looks lovely and it’s always a pleasure when you share your textiles. Those of us who adore your blog (and you!) have seriously missed you.
Sincere Regards,
Miranda
SF Bay Area
Hi Miranda! Thank you! I’ve loved blogging the last few years. Forced myself off to see if I could get more work done! Need to find a balance!
Trish, You must let me know if you find “balance”. It has escaped me for a very long time. It seems to be one of the biggest hurdles to living a life of joy and contentment in our stressed out world today. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Hi Trish,
I am planning the landscaping our new home and was wondering if you can tell me where I might find those amazing old roses? They are glorious! I am making a large formal French potager with lotus filled pond and fountain in the center and would love old roses amidst the vegetables and herbs.
Many thanks,
Gail
Carpinteria, CA
Hi Gail. Most of my roses were bought from Roses of Yesterday (back in the 90s!). Thought they went out of business…but looks like they’re back. Check out their website http://www.rosesofyesterday.com/
I tried MANY of the old rose classifications (Damask, Gallica, Portland, moss) but settled on Bourbon’s because of repeat bloom, while still keeping old rose look and smell. All roses above are my absolute favorites. Souvenir de Malmaison (climbing) is a fabulous icy, almost white/pink, but tends toward mildew. I put her on a back of the garden arch…couldn’t live without her blooms.
Thank you, Trish! You have taken the guess work out of my selections.
Best,
Gail
I was thinking of you just today Trish! I am so happy to see you’re back and can resume living vicariously through your gorgeous garden!
xo
Serena
Looks like you’ve had a busy and fruitfull summer Trish, nice to have you back. Love your shoes and the 18th century church pieces.
Oh my… what a feast for the eyes! Thank you for sharing such lovely glimpses into your home and collections.
And I, too, am glad you are back. Your sense of color is to be admired.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Joan,
Sunnyvale, CA
Trish,what a lovely surprise, this gloomy, rainy Sunday afternoon! The colours and gorgeous fabrics pictured were all I needed to bounce into a happy mood. Glad you are back, and yes, balance is the hardest thing to acheive when we are consumed by our collecting, gardening or otherwise roaving imaginations! Nella xo
Oh just glorious- your voice, your garden, your colors..and ditto on we miss you!.. but good that you can take time and enjoy what feeds your soul. enjoy the planning,and even when you don’t post, I often just revisit your older posts, allways inspiring.
much love to you my friend
Colette ~ Afrique du Sud
Hi Trish…
good to see you are back..
you have been missed…
we have patiently awaited your return…
best,
maureen
So wonderful to once again get views of your amazingly beautiful and nostalgic garden. I have definitely missed your magical posts. Be well. Mary
so glad you are back! your roses are to die for and those shoes—–too cute! come back before Winter.
Joni
You always make me laugh, Joni! I’ll get on it before December!
dear trish … checking in on you friend and loving that we are still thinking alike with all of our goodies… dyed linens (my washing machine never seems to stop) and our love of roses… i harvested a small bundle from the garden… not too much i am afraid but take every bit i can until frost comes…
hope this finds you well, happy and loved… xoxo
I’ve missed your blog soooo much! Thanks for posting.
So beautiful. as always.
Teresa
xoxo
So happy you have returned…it truly made my day when I saw your updated site. Please keep up the wonderful work — I want to step into your life everytime you post! Such beauty.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Covington, KY
Trish, I have been waiting for you all summer. Wanting to see your master bath…and anything else you put your hand to…
Happy Autumn….
I join the group in saying you have been very, very missed. I have been checking your blog often in hopes for your return post but also just to read your older posts that so nourish my soul.
What a lovely surprise this Sunday to find a new and elegant post from you. Always beautiful.
Glad you are back…missed your beautiful photos and posts.
I have missed you too, Trish. So happy that summer was wonderful for you and yours. And, of course, everyone is in awe of your garden and your esthetics. Sending love….
Très belle définition de l’automne. Ambiance XVIIIème qui convient tout à fait à mon état d’esprit du moment.
Amitiés de Fine.
Yay! Trouvais is back.
How lovely to see you back Trish, and look at those beautiful roses in your garden, I love that Coquette des Blanches! Wishing you much fun colouring your world –
Sharon
x
So wonderful and up-lifting to read and see your post! Your photos – simply beautiful and unique!
Heartily greetings from the Périgord,
xxxkarin
Missed your motivation, although I’m not short with ideas……
being a collector of fine 18th and 19th century portraiture, i love this blog! i am going to look forward to all of your fine posting!
thanks you,
patty
Oh, Trish, so good to see another post from you! I will savor it tonight. I’ve missed you like everyone else and am happy to know you’ve had a good summer and you’re back!
I too have that vine with the fragrant white fleur…..divine!I hope you can “pop”over soon to the Hen House in Lafayette as we have some gorgeous textiles at the moment.If you want to gaze into my world you can with the WINTER issue of ROMANTIC COUNTRY LIVING.Our home is featured as CASTLES IN THE AIR page 52!!With 8 pages of my nest.Lucky you for having the kids around!I do know how special that can be!
xxx
Gorgeous, as always, so nice to receive such beauty via email this morning, thank you for my smile.
Glad to see you back Trish….your images are as lovely as always….and your new project sounds like it will keep you busy….xv
Welcome home! I’ve missed seeing y our lovely garden and hearing of your finds and the education you provide us with for each historic piece.
I just planted my first stephanotis, hope in a year or so it will look are pretty as yours. I also loved the wall sconce above the French chair.
Karen
Welcome back Trish! Love the pix and musings.
Oh joy, you are returned! Old-world roses, silk bows on vintage slippers, muted linens and vivid silks: your incomparable eye is most welcome. Best wishes!
My heart skipped beat at seeing a new post from you, Trish! Then,upon seeing more of your luscious textiles and 18tj century accoutrements… Well… be still my heart!
Thank you! Can’t wait for another!
Trish!
Hello there!
It made my heart smile to see Trouvais again! Your luscious photos bespeak of a happy, contented summer.
Hey there stranger!!!! Missed my lessons on roses, dyeing, linens and everything french antiquey!!!! I do so hope you have enjoyed yourself these past months. You haven’t lost your touch…… And just when you are bored with the shoes, you know where to send em!!!!! Looks like your green thumb and gardening efforts are really paying off….xo Maryanne
Your new site layout looks good! I, too, am glad you are back. I get a lot of inspiration from your site. In spring I’m relandscaping and you have helped me with ideas.
Thank you
Trish,
So happy to see your new post. I have missed your postings as one would miss a dear friend. Welcome back and thank you for the beautiful photos and inspiration.