A Letter to France Magazine

Four months ago, France Magazine featured The Loire Valley in their May, 2019 issue. Thanks to a dear friend, I obtained a copy of this edition and spent an afternoon pouring over the articles and photos.  

The Château de Montclair

The Loire Valley in central France is dotted with elegant, large, stone structures, or manors. Many of these “chateaux,” flanked by rows and rows of fertile vineyards, have been handed down through generations of families.

Who was Marcel?

Marcel was one of the most unexpected characters in my memoir, French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. From our first encounter, it was hard to reconcile that this quirky, enthusiastic man was my employer’s brother, but even Marcel suggested he was the “black sheep” of the family. He loved America, the language and the country music scene. As you will see in the following excerpt, his English was a bit rough too.            

French Butcher Shop Blues

In 1979, while I worked in France as a nanny for the Dubois family, I experienced many unusual situations, but my visit to the fromager volaille in Songias was one of the most “memorable.”

Santa, Please Bring Madame Dubois a Heart

Some blog posts are so special, they deserve an occasional re-post, and that’s how I feel about my Christmas blog from December, 2012.  This humorous letter to Santa, never ceases to put a smile on my face. If you have read my memoir, you will get it immediately, and if you have not read my memoir, here is a recap of my story.

Loire Valley Markets

Most villages within the Loire Valley in France have have a Sunday market at least once a week during certain times of the year. These markets are often a mix of wines, beer, fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, home-made goods and clothing. It’s a real treat to wander from stall to stall sampling products and visiting with the vendors about their wares.

Au Pair Language Challenges

My life working as an au pair in France in 1979 was especially challenging because of the language barrier with the children. From the beginning, four-year-old Antoine was far more forgiving then his seven-year-old sister, Colette.  She thought less of me because I didn’t speak French and no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much my French improved, she never fully accepted me as her nanny.  The garden scene below from French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, gives the reader a clear picture of this complicated relationship. 

Another Favorite Character and Chapter in French Illusions

Monsieur Dubois is one of my favorite characters in my memoir, French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. He was a kind, generous man, and a wonderful father. I often wondered how he tolerated his arrogant, and controlling wife, but then again, she didn’t often display this side of her personality to him. Additionally, his work required him to travel weekly, so he wasn’t at home a great deal of the time. The following excerpt details a heartwarming scene from chapter 8:   

Have You Tried Pinterest?

It’s free to join Pinterest, an innovative site, started in 2010, where you can create “boards” filled with your favorite photos. You’ll find everything imaginable, recipes boards, wedding boards, travel boards, pet boards, you get the idea. The site is easier than ever to use, and I’m thrilled that now you can move around your photos to create accurate sequencing or add visual appeal on boards.

Show, Don’t Tell

My diary from 1979 recounts my adventures living and working as an au pair at the Château de Montclair, in France. Most of my diary entries revolved around my relationships with the family. Often, the language barrier got in the way, especially regarding the children.