From Haystacks to Paris Markets: A Few Comforts for You
Inside: the movies I always return to, a slower garden walk, and new little treasures from Paris.
The lake has turned to a deep sapphire, as rich as the birthstone of September. As it comes into view on my morning four-mile hikes, it NEVER fails to take my breath away. With the intensity of the summer heat fading away, the light is shifting too. The light feels softer. Everything golden, nothing urgent. Golden rod sways in the wind, and the weakest trees begin to yellow at the tips. Flaxen round bales dot the countryside, backed by a line of evergreens and blue sky — and I’m inspired to paint, like the many artists before me, moved by nothing more than a haystack.
“Fun mom summer,” as I call it, is closing out, and the season of mists and its mellow fruitfulness is on the horizon. The tomatoes are ripening fast, the bugs are slowing down, and the garden — though flawed — is finally giving back.
Maybe it’s just capacity on my mind again. How much we do. How much we expect of ourselves. And how the smallest things at home, those daily little irritations, can feel easier when we name them instead of letting them simmer (more on that next week). That’s where I’ve been lately, thinking about the little things, at home and in life, and here’s what I’ve been working on this past week:
On the Podcast
Top Ten Movies Every Homemaker Should Watch
From inspiring movie sets (Emma, You’ve Got Mail, and more) to some rather strong opinions about a beloved classic. Listen Here.
On YouTube
Capacity and a Sunset Garden Walk
A slower video this week, with a voiceover pulled from last week’s Substack. I didn’t rush this one. Instead, I’m savoring an orange cloud over the pond. A riot of coral zinnia. Harvested onions and faded lavender. It’s meant to be watched with a cup of something warm and moments for your own contemplation to Soothe your Soul.
New in the Shop, Everyday Château
A brand new space in the shop: Les Petits Trésors… smaller items from the Paris Markets and French home goods, all under $149.00. Because we all deserve a little treasure now and again. SHOP HERE.
And if candle glow is more your thing… shhhhh…. don’t tell anyone… but I’ve personally developed a luxury, soy/coconut and phthalate-free “Everyday Château” candle that’s like a dream come true. Coming soon!
And if you want to shop the flea markets in person with me, come next April. There are still a few spots left. It’s a trip for the senses, and for the soul. Details here.
Coming Soon: Parisienne Farmgirl Is Getting a Makeover
Big things are happening behind the scenes — and I mean big, and it’s not just a new candle line… New logo. New website. A whole new look 💋. We’ve poured a lot into this because I believe the work I do — and the beauty we share here — is worth honoring.
Can’t wait to show you more in the coming weeks.
📖 If You Missed It
Last week’s post was all about capacity — what we carry, what we release, and how the garden keeps teaching me about both. If you’re feeling the tug to slow down or let go of what doesn’t serve you anymore, this one might speak to you.
Read it here → Halfway Between Birth and Glory.
Did you know that as a paid subscriber, you have full access to the entire archive of posts?
Musings from my Everyday Château is about French-inspired living — but not in the way you might expect. I’m not here to tell you to buy a Breton striped shirt and sit at a café. Instead, you’ll find honest reflections on children growing up, stress and routine, home décor, and what it truly means to be inspired by the beauty of French culture… in a deeply American, deeply personal way.
A few of my favorite posts are:
⚜️On Loss, Theft, and Beauty — If you're going to read one...
⚜️La Vie en Rose — A Valentine for You, and why you should live with flowers.
and
As September begins and the air begins to shift, I hope this little corner of the internet brings you a moment of pause. A reminder to savor what’s blooming, what’s fading, and what’s quietly changing in you, too. Whether it’s candlelight on your countertop, a fresh idea for your home, or the gentle nudge to do less and enjoy more… may it all meet you right where you are.
