Literary Castaway
1928 Versus 2008
One of my most prized possessions is a journal I found at a yard sale, written by a farm woman in 1928. I first wrote about her on this blog almost a year and a half ago.
I keep this 80-year-old gem of a journal on the edge of my bookshelf, and from time to time, I like to open it to the day of the year that corresponds with whatever day I happen to be living. It's always interesting to see how my old friend's life compares with my own.
July 27, 1928: Cloudy. Began to rain about 10-o'clock. Made pie this morning & worked out in the garden a while. Will cultivated the corn and asparagus bed. This afternoon I went to Mrs. Brieri's to see about weaving a rug.
July 27, 2008: 90-degree weather and scattered thunderstorms. Ate a few of the leftover petit fours I made yesterday (they were a hit at last night's dinner party!), while Pascal worked in his flower garden. We'll eat corn in our Nicoise salad for dinner tonight, but it probably came from an industrial farm fifteen hundred miles away, certainly not from our garden. This afternoon I took a nap after cleaning house, which included vacuuming the synthetic rug I paid too much for when I bought it at Lowe's.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder; I'd venture to say that progress is too...
I keep this 80-year-old gem of a journal on the edge of my bookshelf, and from time to time, I like to open it to the day of the year that corresponds with whatever day I happen to be living. It's always interesting to see how my old friend's life compares with my own.
July 27, 1928: Cloudy. Began to rain about 10-o'clock. Made pie this morning & worked out in the garden a while. Will cultivated the corn and asparagus bed. This afternoon I went to Mrs. Brieri's to see about weaving a rug.
July 27, 2008: 90-degree weather and scattered thunderstorms. Ate a few of the leftover petit fours I made yesterday (they were a hit at last night's dinner party!), while Pascal worked in his flower garden. We'll eat corn in our Nicoise salad for dinner tonight, but it probably came from an industrial farm fifteen hundred miles away, certainly not from our garden. This afternoon I took a nap after cleaning house, which included vacuuming the synthetic rug I paid too much for when I bought it at Lowe's.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder; I'd venture to say that progress is too...
Christmas is only 148 days away, and at South 'n France, that means that we are in heavy preparation for the holiday season. The expression "Christmas in July" is used to refer to a windfall, an unexpected find, or a wonderful surprise. And for us, finding Christmas packaging that we like and that we think you'll like too, feels just like Christmas in July. Last week, we completed a photo shoot for images that will grace our holiday catalog, and we couldn't resist sharing some of our special finds with you. Forget those "No Peeking" and "Do Not Open Until December 25th" rules; we believe in spreading holiday cheer anytime of year! Won't our 
This week, the South 'n France poster dog, Copper, went to heaven. Copper (Le Chien Francais) was the grand prize winner in our 
Then, there's this Sunday's quote (July 27, 2008), another cheeky quip from a classic film: "There's a name for you ladies, but it isn't used in high society, outside a kennel." Crystal Allen (Joan Crawford) in The Women. I'm not even going to ask Matt why this quote makes him think of me...
I was browsing through a shopping magazine the other day, when I came across a page that profiled some style icon who was asked to list ten everyday things that make her happy. Her lifestyle is so far removed from mine that I don't remember anything on the list except Chanel ballerina flats that retail for about $675.
In France, the first and the last house (or building) on each street bears one of these signs on the corner wall. If you visit South 'n France, you'll find one on our building. After all, we are the last house on the 800 block of Orange Street. The sign was made in France by