A Cariad Life

I’ve always considered myself to be a fairly independent, assertive, and adventurous person–overall, I am not scared of change, and I approach situations with high levels of risk with an optimistic attitude, “what’s the worst that can happen?” I know I can also be seen as stubborn, determined, and a bit naive, almost a “Pollyanna.”…

When we first moved to Bainbridge Island in 2013, my job for the first seven years of our time there was located in Kent, Washington. It was an hour and a half commute in the morning and a two hour commute in the evening, with both trips including a 30 minute ferry ride that I…

As of Saturday, February 4, Repos à Ribérac has been open for two weeks. When we first prepared to open, I was concerned that bookings would be slow at first, especially during the low season. Oh my goodness–have I been surprised! In the last two weeks, we have had three sold out nights and most…

For many years I have dreamed about what it would be like to run a bed and breakfast. As a traveler, staying in hotels, airbnbs, and bed and breakfasts, I’ve had my own expectations about what it takes for a space to be considered welcoming, warm, clean, and comfortable. Would my guests hold those same…

I’ve always had a fascination with exterior doors…the various colors, the ones that have windows, single or double ones, and the hardware that makes every door unique. My favorite type of door is solid wood and painted a vibrant color that stands out, and yet is inviting. Through the years, we have lived in homes…

As I have wandered into this first week of 2023 and in this continued journey of making life here in France, I am beginning to see a new perspective, a different way of living, emerge–and yet, this “new” way of seeing the world is also reminiscent of ways that I grew up, but had forgotten…