Monday Miscellany: Dreaming of Paris, What I’m Reading & More
In 2016, le Monsieur and I happened to be in Paris for la fête nationale (the French don’t call it “Bastille Day,” and will correct you if you do…😉). We were staying not far from the parade and festivities near the Champs-Elysées, so we wandered over to watch. It was crowded and security was tight, but everyone seemed to be in a relaxed party mood. My only regret is that I wasn’t quick enough with the camera to catch the low-level jet flyover with the blue, white, and red smoke at the start of the parade. It was thrilling!
Afterward, we met up for lunch with a group of women from the US, Ireland, and UK who were living and working in Paris. (One of whom we’d met previously, thanks to our respective blogs.) After lunch one of the women invited us all to her (stunning) apartment in the 16eme for more champagne. We were still tipsy by the time we left to stagger back to our hotel, but it was a really fun day.
I prefer Paris in the off-seasons, though, and am planning another visit in mid-September. I’m hoping the Olympics crowds will be mostly gone by then. September marks la rentrée, when people have returned from their summer vacations, and are back to work, school, and routines.
But in the meantime…
I’m quite late to the party, but wanted to share the contents from the My French Country Home Box for May (c/o). These subscription gift boxes are curated by Sharon Santoni of My French Country Home, and are a quarterly collection of items from uniquely French brands and artisans. It was during a visit with Sharon on that same trip in 2016 that she shared her idea for these boxes, and launched them just a few months later.
The theme of May’s box was “French Garden Party,” and as always, it’s such a pleasure to open and discover the gifts inside. This selection included:
- fragrant Orange Blossom soap from Marin Montagut
- a beautiful enameled disk necklace from Niiki Paris
- a fun bandana print pareo from Maison Lecompte Flamant
- luxurious face scrub from Orlane Paris (can’t wait to try this!)
- a petite wicker bag, custom made for MFCH (I’ll put mine to use as a decorative storage container)
- antique silver tongs for ice or sugar cubes
- a pretty note card from artist Marin Montagut
- a handcrafted decorative zinc bird by artisan Ludovic Morel (a former roofer who transforms traditional zinc and slate materials into charming sculptures)
The theme for the August box is “French Country Cuisine” and I can’t wait to see what Sharon has found to delight us. (The cuisine themed boxes are always my favorites!) There’s still time to subscribe and you can reserve your box today! These boxes also make lovely gifts for housewarming, birthdays, or other special occasions.
What I’ve been reading
I took a break from The Ghost Map to indulge in a bit of escapist reading. I’ve always been fascinated by the Tudor period of English history, and love a historical novel, so picked up Firebrand: A Novel of Katherine Parr by Elizabeth Fremantle. I’ve never known much about Parr, who was the last of Henry VIII’s wives, and the only one to outlive him.
It’s long, but an engaging read, and broken up into short chapters. I really enjoyed it and will be reading more from this author. (And there’s just been a movie released based on the novel, starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law.)
Let’s hear what’s on your summer reading list…share your recommendations in comments below!
And if you’re shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for the first time today, see my recommendations here:
How to Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
Reviewing My Purchases from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
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True Katherine Parr was the only wife to outlive Henry but a former wife, Anne of Cleves also outlived him.
You’re right, I always forget about Anne.
I just reread the Phillipa Gregory book about Henry’s VIII last wife; I didn’t know about the movie but will watch it this week. I love reading about that period. Thank you for the info.
Nyla
Just watched the movie, The Firebrand, which was very average and certainly not historically accurate. I have a winter reading list and am reading the history of the Mongols, Golden Maze (about Prague, by Richard Fidler, The Strange Death of Europe (Douglas Murray). Just finished, The Waiting Game (Nicola Clark) – this might interest you Sue as it is about the ladies in waiting who served Tudor Queens. If you like history, The Garden of Beasts (Erik Larson, published 2011, but I just discovered it), is about William Dodd’s tenure as Ambassador to Germany
prior to the outbreak of WW Two. I do recommend Anthony Beevor book, Paris after the Liberation as it goes into great detail of the privations and hardships in Paris during and after liberation
Enjoying The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
I am happy that you have discovered Katherine Parr. Years ago, I learned about her life in a novel titled “The Ivy Crown” (now out of print). She was a remarkable woman who had more royal blood than Henry VIII. I will need to read this new book!
@Gae. don’t mean to be rude, but whilst Catherine Parr’s father was a descendent of Edward 111, Henry V111’s blood line is far more royal even though many believed the Tudors usurped the English throne
Thank you for reminiscing about your 2016 trip to France. Memories are the best travel souvenirs.
I am working through Paris withdrawal too. We just returned from 5 weeks in Le Marais. I thought I had my fill, but the longing to return came quickly, especially to be able to grab a Velib bicycle and ride along the Seine. When you stay 30 days (or longer) the cost per day for apartment rentals simply plunges. Well…we’ll always have Paris.
I am reading Amor Towles’ (A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW and THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY) new collection of short stories and one novella TABLE FOR TWO. The writing is so brilliant!
Absolutely loved Table for Two, and plan for that to be my book pick when I host my bookclub in the spring! (I had read the other two books earlier and liked them as well.)
Good morning, I recently read Mastering the Art of French Murder which was a mystery novel with Julia Child and her best friend who lived across the street. It was a light charming fun read with lots of butter and fun Paris references and of course Julia, her sister and Paul. And its sequel was delightful as well.
If you like that, you should check out the other series by the same author about Agatha Christies’ housekeeper. First in the series is Murder at Mallowan Hall. 🙂
Claire Messud’s “This Strange Eventful History” draws from her own family history about a multigenerational pied-noir clan exiled from Algeria by the country’s 1954-62 war of independence. All of her books are excellent!
I will be following your Paris trip closely, as my husband and I will be staying in Paris for the month of October. I am so excited!
On another note, my daughter was in Nice on Bastille Day 2016. She and her friends just narrowly avoided the truck that killed 86 people that day on the Promenade. She was there for an academic conference, and one of her fellow students was killed and another injured in the attack. It’s a day we’ll never forget.
Oh, I’m so sorry…that must have been terrifying for her!
Thank you, Ms Blakey, I’ve read your blog for years now and always look forward to your latest.
A friend gifted me a small, fabulous read, The Door-To-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn. It’s a new favorite read for me and if you love books, you’ll savor it too. I can’t wait to gift it to other friends!
I recently finished The Women by Kristin Hannah and throughly enjoyed it.
Pretty French parcel. I especially like the necklace but that will come as no surprise to you.
Greetje
Thanks, Greetje. Yes, the necklace is really nice! I’ll be including it in an outfit soon…
Hi Susan it’s good to see you’re picking up the French feel of your blog. Over the past couple of years I rather had the impression you’d lost interest in all things French! Or am I mistaken?
I’ve never lost interest, just have broadened the scope of topics. 😉
Thanks for the recommendation for The Ghost Map. I’ve started reading it and it is fascinating. I look forward to reading Firebrand.
Enjoy your stay in Paris!