A Cariad Life

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm, woolen mittens…brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are few of my favorite things.”

Just reading those words, you probably started to hum that little tune didn’t you? I absolutely loved The Sound of Music growing up and watched it many times–loving this little song the most (a close second was Edelweiss). Then, Kenny Rogers added it to his Christmas album (yes, album that we played on the record player every year), and I thought, “not sure it is a Christmas song, but it works for me:)” I was flabbergasted when years later upon meeting Darrell, he admitted he had never seen The Sound of Music–what?? We made sure to rectify that..

Beyond the jaunty, happy little tune, I loved the song because not only did it list quite a few things that I also loved, but it reminded me that at the hardest times I can choose to remember things that bring me joy and when I do that…”then I don’t feel so bad.” There are many wonderful things we enjoy each day, some may even feel ordinary to others, but for each of us those particular things “spark joy” (just a nod to Marie Kondo)– Maybe it is a new packet of sharpened pencils and a fresh new notebook or an opportunity to go on a bike ride on a cool Autumn day. These last few weeks, Darrell and I continue to recount to one another “a few of our favorite things” about France–in no particular order and not stated as nearly succinctly as the song…

–An espresso with a little cube of sugar served after lunch or dinner–only about a euro (“a French coffee” as Jean Christophe at Bar du Midi proudly says every time he delivers one to our table.)

–How the French turn off the lights when they leave their rooms and their simple and often repeated phrase to one another and to us, “because electricity is not free.”

–The soft murmur of French voices at the table, where there is also laughter and overlapping talking, and almost never a cell phone

–The selection of cheese, yogurt, butter, bread, and wine–sans preservatives and sulfites–just really good food at really affordable prices

–The French words of admiration that really have no equal in English–“incroyable, magnifique, superb” and the way the French say them–with so much heart and emotion. (Side note, we had a man stay at our inn this weekend who found several sets of shoes on sale at a shop in our village–he used all of these words and more about his find, and he made me touch the shoes for myself, as he went on and on about the quality and the low price:)

–Tall French windows that open into a room–there are no screens or bars, even from a third story–but the gentle breeze that often drifts in is perfection. Also, the sheer white cafe curtains that hang about midway on the windows, providing light and privacy at the same time.

–The “oldness” of everything–it’s all stone, most in tones of cream and white, and all hundreds of years old. There are stories and history everywhere.

–The small blue address numbers above every home and the blue signs on the corners of every building in France labeling the rue (street)

–how everything closes after lunch on Sundays and during lunch during the week

–how all food and drinks are consumed sitting down and almost always on real dishes

–a greeting and good-bye when you enter and leave a business or home

–Guests who come to breakfast in their socks (I know this one is a bit weird, but it makes feel like they are comfortable here) or just sit and read in our courtyard. (We had the cutest Swiss couple who took turns reading a novel aloud to each other in our courtyard–a favorite memory for sure!)

–A charcuterie board and a bottle of good Bergerac wine (our local wine) or a Sancerre under the string lights in our patio

–French tablecloths and tea towels–they are works of art and such good quality

These are just a few of my favorite things in France; reflecting and writing about them does help when I get overwhelmed with the house sale, job searches, and the millions of other details that must get sorted in just two weeks. What I have realized though is that I have always had “favorite things” in every place we have lived and called home–whether it was Bainbridge Island, at my mom’s house, or in our home in Brookeville, Maryland.

I am learning that it is important to name those things–those physical objects, experiences, and moments that bring us joy–wherever we are. Sunday seems like a perfect day to sit for a few moments, reflect on what sparks joy, and name them (maybe even write them down)…it’s actually one of my favorite dinner time conversations (table time with my family, by the way, is my all time favorite thing–wherever I am!)