Download Our Spring Menu Collection

This seasonal collection features 19 recipes, including starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Featuring seasonal ingredients such as artichokes, asparagus, lamb, and strawberries. Download this PDF, which includes for recipes for entertaining at this time of the year.

 Mary Kay Seales

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Mary Kay Seales was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest in Washington State, where she also teaches writing to international students at the University of Washington. As a lifelong traveler, photographer and writing teacher, her recent move into travel writing was a natural progression.

She has lived and worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Costa Rica, India, Azerbaijan and France, and her travels include Bora Bora, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Peru among other destinations.

She is the author of two guide books - The Beginner’s Guide to the French Riviera: Stop Dreaming & Start Packing, and The Beginner’s Guide to the Olympic Peninsula: Exploring the Wild Beauty of the Pacific Northwest - as well as a frequent contributor to other publications in France.

Her most recent blog is The Conscious Traveler.

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Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Carol Drinkwater’s One Summer in Provence: Does It Mirror Life in the South of France?

March 23, 2026
Last year, Carol Drinkwater delighted readers with her book One Summer in Provence, A Season of Surprises. The subtitle hints at surprises ahead, beginning with a damp evening in England in 1976 and shifting to a warm summer morning at Celia and Dominic Grey’s vineyard in the Provencal countryside. We wondered if the novel draws …
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Artists Inspired by Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

Creative Inspiration in Provence: Visit an Artist’s Studio in the Alpilles

March 6, 2026
Meeting Ashley Tinker was a chance encounter. I had nine girlfriends visit Provence from Calgary, Alberta — yes, nine! It was crazy and fun. Ashley and her now husband, Robin, were caretakers at the rental. At that time, Ashley, a creative person, had just launched her blog “Curious Provence.” We try to visit her studio …
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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Expat Living and Real Estate

What France’s Tous Responsables Means – And Why It Matters to You

March 4, 2026
Whether you live in France full-time, part-time, or are just visiting, knowing how to respond to emergencies is essential. The French government’s Tous Responsables initiative promotes resilience and crisis preparedness, guiding citizens on their roles in managing emergencies. It emphasizes active participation in safety efforts. Below are the key highlights of this program. What is …
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