Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Sunday Currently XVII: Sara in Le Petit Village

I've been reading Sara in Le Petit Village for years now.  In fact, I think it was the first non-UK expat blog I found once I realized that such a thing existed.  (Look, it was 2010!  Blogging was a different world back then.)  Sara's life provided such an escape for me in dreary England: there she was, basking in the sun in a small rural village in the south of France, surrounded by a cast of characters straight out of a romantic comedy.  The thing is, though, that while she observes her surroundings with the eye of a novelist and wields the pen of a memoirist, everything on her blog is just... her life.  It's an amazing testament both to her blogging style and Le Petit Village that the banal sounds like such an adventure!

When you go visit her blog, start with the Anthology she just published.  It'll help you understand the madness that is Le Petit Village and Les Villagers.  Make sure you have the background on how she met her husband - parts one, two, and three - because it really is like something out of a Hugh Grant movie except, you know, involving a French guy in Dublin instead of Hugh Grant, and after that you simply must meet Fifty.  (It's pronounced Feefty, and he's one of my favorite friends on Facebook.)  I'm confident that he and Charlie would get along really well.   And then I don't really have any guidance for you beyond that because my recommendation would be to start at the beginning of the blog and work your way through the archives with a big bowl of popcorn and a bottle of rosé.  (Yes, I know it's November, but they drink a lot of rosé in LPV and it'll help you feel like you're there.)

The only other thing I think you need to know about Sara before you read her Sunday Currently, below, and visit her blog is that she sounds like the best hostess ever.  Jon and I are planning a long weekend in Avignon as an add-on to our first trip back to England, and I fully intend on taking advantage of her knowledge of the city and her willingness to drop whatever she's doing in favor of good food and drink.  Anyone else want to come with?


Coucou! My name is Sara Louise, and I'm the New York/ Texas girl behind the blog, Sara in Le Petit Village. Le Petit Village is a charming place a top the Luberon mountains in the heart of Provence full of quirky characters and amusing happenings. For the past four years I've been living in Le Petit Village with my French husband and French dog and blogging all about the adventures and misadventures of my life in France. I'd love it if you popped on by and said bonjour!


currently...

Reading... whatever is on my bookshelf. One of the quirks/perks of being an expat in a non-English speaking country is that when you befriend other English speaking expats, you swap books. Consequently, my bookshelf has become a plethora of titles that I would never normally give a second glance to. After spending too much time with my Kindle, my bookshelves have become overstuffed so I've decided to stop spending money on new books and read what I've got. Thus, I'm currently reading, Playing For Pizza by John Grisham. Not to gender stereotype or anything, but it's totally a boy book.

Wearing... my dark grey wedged hi-tops. I usually don't give in to trends (well not too often anyway) but both the color and the price were just right and I love them!

Thinking... about this article written about an old high school friend of mine (not that either one of us are old... AHEM). In a nutshell... she's been in Africa chasing down Joseph Kony with the Ugandan army. That's capital K - razy and I'm in awe, but I'm also kicking myself up the backside. I used to be really hands on with charity work and organizations like Equality Now and somehow I've let it all fly by the wayside. It's time for me to get out there and get involved in the world again and do something.

Listening... to Christmas music. Yes, I'm that big sap that switches on the Christmas mixes as soon as November 1st rolls around. I can't help it, Christmas music makes me jolly, and who doesn't like feeling jolly, right?

Cooking... Sunday lunch. I cook every night of the week and luckily for me, cooking is something I truly enjoy. My time in the kitchen is my daily moment of zen, but lately I've decided to step it up a notch on Sundays. Sunday lunch is a big deal in France; it starts with apéro a little after midday (a beverage and nibbles to whet your appetite) and is followed by a full meal including a starter, cheese plate and dessert. If we're in town, I prepare Sunday lunch and set out the good dishes even if it's just the two of us. It's become our Sunday ritual and I look forward to it all week planning with my pins.

Planning... my Thanksgiving feast for some friends and family. This will be the second Thanksgiving I've hosted here in France. The first was at my cousin's house down on the Côte d'Azur (a place I never, ever would have imagined I'd be serving up a T-Day feast), but this year, I'll be hosting it in Le Petit Village. We'll be celebrating the Saturday after and I've been brainstorming for weeks, adapting my favorite holiday into my life in France ... There will be Thanksgiving coloring pages to do while we have our apéro and watch the parade on youtube, rugby on the telly instead of good old American football, and a chicken roasting in the oven (getting a turkey in France in the middle of November is a pain in the petunia and then usually comes with the head and feathers still on... no thank you). But two American traditions I will not compromise on... A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Planes, Trains and Automobiles will both be watched after we eat, even if I have to translate for my French friends.


linking up with siddathornton

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13 comments:

  1. Sara, how had I not read your posts on meeting your husband - they are so good!

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  2. Can't believe that your friend is really chasing him. It is so funny that you already listening to Christmas music! I am trying so avoid it until December. But I am sure Last Christmas will haunt me!

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  3. I almost cried when I read the article! A former headcheerleader/ class president from Texas has Kony on the run! She's a badass.

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  4. I agree that I have let me reading inhibitions go with a lack of English books, I love though that with a limited selection I have been forced to grow though and find some amazing authors I would never have found otherwise.

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  5. Exactly! It's been a great way to expand my reading horizons :)

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  6. MademoisElla CoquineNovember 18, 2013 at 4:59 AM

    Sara, I love this!!!


    I too had to give into the hightop wedgie trend too! There's just so cute...don't you feel young and hip wearing them?


    I'm not allowed to play Christmas music until December 1st. You've got a tolerant hubby!


    Now heading over to read your classmates New Yorker piece....K-razy indeed!



    And Hi Betsy! Thanks for featuring one of my favorite bloggers!

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  7. Great guest post, Sara!


    But I can't believe you caved to the trend ;) haha, I still don't get it! Hope Sunday lunch was fab and best of luck with hosting Thanksgiving. xo

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  8. She really is badass! I mean, that guy is pure evil!

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  9. Glad I'm not the only one in our age group rocking the hi-tops! :P

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  10. I can't believe I caved either but they were like 60% off and in this great dark grey color, I had to have them!

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