Last I wrote about the stress of studying for the French drivers’ code test. It’s one of the most aggravating tasks I’ve encountered since living in France. Now I can attest to the agony of failing it. Yes, I failed the test, along with my two American friends […]
Valentine’s Day is more than a box of chocolates in France. It’s a day to celebrate the myths and legends of Saint Valentine. Roquemaure, a hamlet in the south of France, boasts a special connection to Saint Valentine. Each odd year, on the weekend closest to Valentine’s Day, […]
My BFF Patricia Sands just published the re-release of her novel, The Bridge Club. The book is a celebration of friendship shared with eight women over a half-century… and counting. The Bridge Club: A Celebration of Friendship Patricia and I met in Uzès five years ago at the […]
Snow in Uzès! Remember how excited you were as a child when you looked out your window, and there was snow on the ground? That’s how I felt when we had snow in Uzès. It was glorious! As you can imagine, it doesn’t often snow in the south […]
“Tis the day after Christmas in Uzès. For those who wish you could see the decorations and holiday market in my favorite town, enjoy the tour! While you’re here, I would like to share my thoughts and feelings for the day. I’m no poet, yet it came out […]
During the times I was away from my French home in the winter months, I wished I could see what I was missing. I longed for a December walk around Uzès. Now that I’m firmly planted here for a while, I’d like to share what I’m seeing. So […]
Thanksgiving for Americans in Uzés this year is truly a story of sharing. One traditional Thanksgiving meal fed over two dozen Americans, in thirteen different households, plus leftovers to share with the local Montessori school. The idea was the brainchild of one of our favorite friends and gourmet […]
Do you want to cook like a great French chef and learn the language, too? A French chef’s bilingual cookbook is for you… and definitely for me! If you love French cooking and want to learn a bit of the language, now there’s a cookbook from one of […]
Uzès is on the second COVID lockdown. For a small town, we are experiencing a serious outburst of infections. Stone walls and lofty towers are not protecting us from the pandemic. Right now, there are very few places in the world to hide from the virus. For me, […]
I’m inspired to know people who are staying productive and creative during COVID. While I was in the United States, there were artists in lockdown here in Uzès who created memorable art they are now sharing. British artist Gilly Beal, a resident of Uzès for the past two […]
Renewing my Carte de Sejour mid-COVID was a task I dreaded. To be truthful, renewing my Carte de Sejour is a headache anytime. But it’s the only way that I can continue to live in France. The Prefecture appointment to update my Carte de Sejour was last week. […]
After “lockdown” in the United States, I had the choice to stay in the US with my family or come back to my home in Uzès. It was a tough call. For the present, I believe I made the right choice. I am among the “vulnerable” for COVID […]
Through my Uzès experience, I’ve known and written about quite a few artists. Yet there was something extraordinary about meeting Simon James … aside from his status as an award-winning writer and illustrator. Meeting Simon James Living in a “red zone” COVID world, I miss the small, intimate […]
Since COVID has scrambled plans about traveling this year, there are still many things that excite me about life in Uzès. Like food. This post is all about food south of France, and how it literally “fills me.” All About Food South of France I never take a […]
Nothing’s easy about living in France, especially for an ex-pat like me. I’m not good with details. By that I mean, I don’t let details interfere with what I need to do. Like buying a car in France. Remember Lucy? She’s a 1997 red Citroen. I bought her […]
Emerging amid COVID in Uzès is a tricky business, as it is in other parts of the world where active seniors live among the community’s population
The gates are beginning to open to visitors and tourists in Uzès mid-COVID, welcoming travelers, particularly from Europe. It’s an anxious time for Uzetians who feel they have been somewhat “safe” in their medieval village
Maybe I’m crazy for traveling during a pandemic, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to get back to France mid COVID. In October, I made a big decision to leave my home in Uzès to go to the States to help my family with some business […]
When we feel safe to travel again, there’s going to be a rush to France, and especially, to discovering Occitanie — the south of France region that includes Languedoc-Roussillon. Nancy McGee of Absolutely Southern France and I took off on a mission to scope out a part of […]
Looking for a cure for lockdown boredom? Here’s a way to spend a few hours — or a lifetime. Try an art project inspired by Brazilian-American artist Vik Muniz. You probably have all the materials at hand that you need to create a modern masterpiece. At least that’s what […]