Looking Forward – 2014
It’s the first Tuesday of the month, which means that it’s time for our monthly By Invitation Only gathering. This month’s theme is Going Forward, and it’s a great time to look forward, make plans and lay out our intentions for the New Year.
My, 2013 just flew by, didn’t it? Still, I’ve been happy to turn the corner into 2014, as there’s much to look forward to this year. The last couple of years have been challenging, starting with the loss of my MIL late in 2011, and jeune homme’s behavioral issues over the last 18 months. But it’s starting to feel as though we’ve turned a corner, things are easing up a bit, and I’m in an optimistic frame of mind.
Travel
Our “big” trip this year will take us back to France in late April, with a few days to explore the Loire Valley (wineries, chateaux and countryside) and then a few days in Paris. (!!!!!!!!!!!) We’ve begun researching places to stay, eat and visit in the Loire Valley. We’re getting a bit of professional help this time with our itinerary. We’ve planned our last few trips on our own and while they’ve been enjoyable, we’ve felt as though there were a lot of missed opportunities, and we didn’t always make the best use of our precious few days of vacation. That doesn’t mean we’re going to pack our schedule full of activities, but rather that we’ll be able to focus on what interests us most. For me, that means chateau gardens!
But if anyone has “must see” suggestions for the Loire Valley, please do leave a comment.
And then there’s Paris. Our last few visits have been brief, from a few hours to three days. I twisted le monsieur’s arm until he promised that I’d have at least 5 full days in Paris this trip. There’s still so much I haven’t seen…and bien sur we have friends there to see and spend time with.
In the fall, we may, MAY visit Thailand for a few days, depending on whether my brother- and sister-in-law are still there. They live on their boat, you see, and are in the process of exploring the world by sea. If not this year, then next for certain.
Meanwhile, Back At Home…
One of my intentions for the year is to do more entertaining. With things settling down a bit at home (jeune homme doing well in his new school, life feeling a bit more manageable) I’m hoping to put our backyard to some good use, and play hostess more often. I enjoy it, and have missed it. Looks like I’ll have to start pinning some food and drink ideas!
How about you? What are you moving toward or looking forward to this year?
See the rest of the By Invitation Only posts here, at Splenderosa. I’m looking forward to seeing this month’s posts!
Stay in touch
Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.
I’m sure wherever you choice to visit in France will be memorable. I love Abbaye de Fontevraud near Saumur where Eleanor d’Aquitaine lived and died and her son, Richard Lionheart is buried. My husband and I moved from Australia to the south west of France last year and spent a hectic time selling up everything then buying a house and re-acquiring a household of furniture and decorating and renovating in a new country. It has been an adventure and this will no doubt continue. We are looking forward to our new life and new discoveries in such a wonderful place. Bonne année
Bonne Annee! Sounds like you have much to look forward to – I have been to Paris once and mostly loved people watching from the outdoor cafes….and oh, oh, oh, the chocolate croissants!
This year will be extra special for me – will be a grandmother for the first time (June)….
I continue to enjoy your blog…
Candy
http://www.ginger-bred.net/blog
Hi Kerrie, sounds amazing! Do you have a blog about your experiences?
We spent a couple of nights at the Château des Hauts de Loire-beautiful grounds for walking,amazing dinners with impeccable service. Le Château de Villandry which I think you have pictured has an incredible garden. The town of Chinon is so pretty and a great spot for leisurely lunch à l’exterieur with a glass of Chinon! J’espère que vous passerez de bonnes vacances dans la belle vallée de la Loire !
We spent 2 weeks in the Loire Valley two summers ago–one week in Anger (that was our transition time) and a week on the road. We stayed mostly in chambres d’hote–a wonderful experience. We were sometimes the first Americans. You should definitely RENT A CAR. Our trip was probably much lower end than what you are planning, but we would happily send you our itinerary.
We loved our trip through the Loire Valley with our two young sons (teenagers then) over 15 years ago! We had no difficulty driving through the Loire Valley and seeing many of the chateau. Like frugal scholar, we stayed in chambres d’hote and enjoyed some wonderful evening meals with the owner families. One memorable dinner was outdoors at the edge of a blooming field of sunflowers. None of our days were rushed or too full, but we were often able to see several chateau in one day as some are very close together. We want to return!
Delightful; it’s good to have things to anticipate. We prefer to “embed” somewhere for a week or two rather than rush, cramming things in.
Wonderful plans! We spent two weeks, oh so long ago, with our kids when they were 5 to 14, in Blois on a house exchange — I suspect the kids were chateau-ed out rather soon, but I have such fond memories of that Valley. . .
What lovely plans for 2014, travel and good company at home. I look forward to your photos of the gardens you see, the ideas and inspiration that especially strikes your eye.
I rented a lovely house in Parnay, a small town near Saumur in 2001. My favourite château was Villandry but the Abbaye de Fontevraud is also not to miss.Watch the movie A Lion in Winter before you go and you will have a deeper appreciation of the history. I am heading to Europe in March for two months and will spend 5 weeks in Paris and the rest in Britain.
I agree with Madame. There is so much Eleanor and Henry history in the Loire. In addition to Fontevraud, I recommend that you visit Fortress Chinon. And if you are really an Eleanor fan, you can see her only surviving possession on display in the Louvre.
It’s starting to sound like I really need to go. I’ve been a big Eleanor fan for years. What an amazing woman, she was! (And I bet it’s just gorgeous there, as most places I’ve been in France have been. Lovely food, great shopping and surprisingly friendly people…)
We stayed in Amboise last June at Le Pavillon Des Lys – a lovely place – and used Amboise as our base for several days in the Loire Valley. I love Villandry and that is my top choice. If you’ve never been to Chambord you should see that for the amazing architecture of the chateau. If you’re inclined to go a little further afield, we went and stayed one night in Dinan and our group all agreed we’d have loved to have spent more time in that walled city. Enjoy your trip – I am jealous:)!
Your adventures in France have inspired me to visit Paris this year. I don’t know when, but I’ve been trying to get there since the 70’s, so it’s time.
Happy to hear that your life is landing on a sweet spot in time. The best to you in 2014!
I second the recommendation for La Domaine des Hauts de Loire. We stayed there on our past two trips to the Loire Valley and very much enjoyed their hospitality. I would put Chenonceaux on your must-see list as well as Amboise and its Da Vinci Museum. Da Vinci is actually buried at Amboise.
What a wonderful trip you have planned! The anticipation and planning is half the fun.
Five years ago we stayed at Le Vieux Manoir in Amboise and loved it. The grounds and decor were beautiful, the bed the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in, the breakfasts were delicious, and the owners were very interesting. My husband is a landscape designer; he especially enjoyed the gardens at Villandry while I especially enjoyed our leisurely and insanely delicious lunch at the nearby goat cheese farm, Etape Gourmande.
Though you didn’t ask, in case you’re looking for an apartment in Paris, I highly recommend this apartment on the Ile St Louis in Paris: http://www.vrbo.com/360183
We stayed there last May. It’s charming, the location is perfect and the owners are lovely to deal with.
Happy New Year! France and maybe Thailand – how enticing.
We may visit England this summer.
Paris. Gaaa! This is where you must be, and the Loire Valley too. But Paris is too ideal in my mind’s eye to even contemplate not desiring a sudden urge to burst into a bistro singing show tunes at the top of my lungs. Buy fabulous things or just take the things you already have! I’m happy for you. So many of my friends visit Thailand and love it there.
Sounds like you have a great year ahead. We had many plans for 2014, but now all on hold as my mother is very ill. We have a bike and sailing trip to Croatia planned for the summer and I do hope we can make it – but we’ll have to wait and see. Such is life.
Ooh ooh ooh!!!! We are planning trip at end of April and into May, to Paris with interlude in Amsterdam! We are attempting to do carry-on only, so I have been studying your previous posts on the subject of packing. Your trip comes at a very opportune time for me to learn even more from a master.
Just coming home from a very memorable trip to Holland has filled me with ideas and plans for future explorations. Plans for this year therefor include travelling hopefully in late spring early summer and on the home front simplifying and de-cluttering and organizing a more peaceful lifestyle routine.
If it’s Chateau gardens you crave, you must visit Villandry. But you’ve attached a photo of her gardens, so perhaps you’ve already been there? Have you visited the Gites de France website? (Sorry, don’t know how to make accent marks on this website.) We’ve found many wonderful places to stay through their service, and you can take advantage of the wonderful markets and cook if you feel so inspired. The Sunday market at Amboise is a total must – one of the best farmers’ markets I’ve ever visited in France. Bon voyage!
Your trip to France sounds wonderful! It should be lovely spending time in the countryside, as well as Paris. And then Thailand, too!
After our recent trip, we’re not anxious to do anything major very soon. I hope to do more local trips this year, get to Washington to visit friends and my brother. Plus, our nephew is coming from England, so it will be fun to show him around and get to know him better. Mostly I’m just looking forward to spring!
I wish you a wonderful 2014. I am so pleased to see that your son is doing well at his new school. I too have a son with behavioral issues who has benefitted tremendously from being placed in a school that can better meet his needs. Unfortunately, I have no travel tips, but look forward to enjoying France vicariously through you.
Chenonceau. Azay-le-Rideau. Cheverny. You can’t really go wrong :-). Well, as late in April as you can manage, it’s less rainy than Paris but gardens could still be a bit stunted then.
Villandry is almost always considered the best garden, but I think Chenonceau is the most magical place. I’ve never been inside Ussé, just driven past, but apparently it inspired the story of Sleeping Beauty, and it looks right for the part. I’d add another vote for Azay-le-Rideau, too.