Michel and Shirley

Michel and Shirley, live in wine country, in Windsor, California. They have a full family with two beautiful daughters and five amazing grandchildren. Michel's day job is as CEO of Chancellor Health Care, a company which provides housing and services to older adults.

Previously a co-owner of a popular French bistro called Bistro des Copains located in Western Sonoma County California. The Bistro was closed in early 2015, after nine years!

In 2008, after searching for years and visiting many houses they bought a 17th century stone village house in the medieval village of Sablet which is in the Vaucluse region of Provence France.

Please read about the Sablet House (available for rent) and follow their blog Our House in Provence.

Discover Carpentras in the Vaucluse it is Well Worth Visiting

October 6, 2025

Many times over the years, we have headed to Carpentras on Fridays for the year-round morning market. Carpentras is a medium-sized city in the Vaucluse, a short 25-minute ride down the D-7 from our holiday home in Sablet (it’s available for rent too). As we get near, we see Notre Dame de l’Observance (photo) towering …

David Scott Allen · Main Course · Provencal Recipes · Taste · Veal

Osso Buco A Delicious Recipe Variation With Provencal Flavours

October 3, 2025

While Osso Buco is traditionally an Italian dish, I experimented with the ingredients to suit a wine pairing with a 2016 Château de la Tour de l’Évêque vintage. My culinary experimentation resulted in a delicious main course that uses all the traditional flavours of a Provençal daube, my favourite being the subtle orange zest. The …

Explore · Our House in Provence · Villages Towns and Cities

Why visit Nîmes? It Was Once the Rome of Southern France

September 29, 2025

When we have guests at our home in Sablet, we always take them to visit the Pont du Gard. This aqueduct has been standing for 2000 years, and it is spectacular to behold in a beautiful location. We usually combine our visits to the Pont du Gard with a visit to Uzès or the Roman …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Dessert · Fruit Desserts · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Easy Baked Dessert with Apple, Fig, and Goat Cheese

September 26, 2025

This dessert recipe comes from the Moulin du Calanquet outside St Remy de Provence in the Alpilles. It combines tart green apples, goat cheese, and sweet figs for a delicious (and easy) dessert. The Calanquet oil mill was inaugurated on February 8, 2001, and named after the lovely site on which it was built. Moulin …

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Restaurant Recommendations · Taste

Why Locals Love Eygalières: Restaurant Dining Options and Food Providers

September 22, 2025

The village of Eygalières remains one of the jewels in the Alpilles. There are many reasons to visit and fall in love with Eygalières, starting with its authentic Provençal charm. Unlike other Alpilles villages, Eygalières has only a few retail opportunities for clothing, books, and gift items. However, there is a baker, a butcher, a primeur …

Guest Post · Provencal Recipes · Seasonal Menus · Taste

Fall Entertaining Made Beautiful: A Provence-Inspired Menu for Friends

September 19, 2025

As autumn arrives in Provence, the temperatures change, as does the produce in the market. Traci Parent agreed to curate our Fall Menu for 2025. Her delicious choices bring together a delicious 3-course meal to share with friends and family. Below, you will find Traci’s vivid descriptions of the season in Provence, along with her …

Beef · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Main Course · Pork · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Traditional Niçoise Cabbage Rolls – Les Petits Choux Farcis

September 15, 2025

Nice’s climate, geographic location, and terroir are suitable for growing vegetables such as tomatoes, chard, cabbage, artichokes, lentils, beans and much more. This French Riviera city is graced with over 300 days of sunshine in a typical year. The ancient populations of Greeks and Romans living in the region roughly 3000 years ago constructed stone …

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6-Bedroom Villa a Provencal Farmhouse Sleeps 12

Mas de Grivet is an elegant, well-equipped family home that sleeps 12 in six en-suite bedrooms. Whether you're spending the holiday with extended family or a gathering of friends, this gorgeous property is a wonderful place to enjoy your stay in Provence.

Alpes de Hautes Provence
Luberon
Six Bedrooms

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3 Luberon Holiday Rental Cottages

Looking for a tranquil, self-catered vacation home for two? Book your stay at one of the 3 cottages - maisonettes - at Maison Valvert.

Luberon
Vaucluse
One Bedroom

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Luberon B&B Absoluut Valvert

Exclusive and charming, this 5 room B&B is surrounded by nature yet is only a stone's throw from historical Bonnieux.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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French Riviera 2-Bedroom Holiday Apartment

Chez Nous is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom penthouse apartment on a quiet pedestrian street known as Villefranche-sur-Mer's garden street.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
Two Bedrooms

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Studio Apartment Minutes from Aix-en-Provence

Surrounded by vineyards, the air-conditioned studio apartment has a bedroom, bathroom, a small kitchenette, and a sitting area.

Bouches du Rhone
One Bedroom

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Provence Marketplace

Hand-Crafted Decorative Ceramic Sunflowers

Available in six (6) different colours these durable ceramic sunflowers are suitable for indoor or outdoor settings. Made by hand in Uzès by Maison Pichon these sunflowers are sold individually. Maison Pichon is an artisanal French ceramics manufacturer since 1802.

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Lavender Field Sachet from Provence

Filled with organic lavender from France this version of L'AUGUSTE Provence sachets features a flowering lavender field. These sachets make great gifts as decorative objects with a lovely fragrance.

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Naturally Beautiful Beeswax Candle

Some things start at the beginning and one example is Origine a gorgeous 100% beeswax candle that is shaped like a behive. Produced in the Apis Cera atelier in Provence this candle burns for approximately 100 hours. Beautiful designed this handcrafted candle is made with 100% pure beeswax and has a cotton wick.

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Bee Pattern Drinking Glasses

Made by La Rochère, this French glassware is sturdy and easy to clean. The cheerful bee pattern will remind you of summertime in Provence. They are sold as a set of two by French Address.

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Herbes de Provence in Pretty Canisters

These dried herbs are from Esprit de Provence. Grown in France, the selection includes Herbes de Provence, Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Garlic, Salt with Piment d'Espelette, and Salad Herbs. Buy the collection and make some Provençal recipes.

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Provencal Table Linens Blue Sunflower Design

Provence's sunflower for your home with this beautiful collection in a blue background. Placemats are shown in the image. Choose the entire collection of decorative linens. Made with 100% cotton these products from Remember Provence are durable and easy to clean.

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Summer Recipes and Menu Collection

Discover the art of hosting in the relaxed Provence style, focusing on simple, fresh ingredients and conviviality. This seasonal collection features 20 recipes, including starters, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. Featuring seasonal ingredients such as tomatoes, figs, goat cheese, and chard, this Summer Recipe Collection helps with ideas for easy entertaining.

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Linen Kitchen T-Towels

A great hostess gift! Kitchen Towels made with high-quality linen. Perfect for spring in Iris and Tulip motifs. My French Country Life sourced these beautiful towels made from 100% linen. Sold as a set.

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Fig-scented Home Fragrance Diffuser

A beautiful glass diffuser perfumes your home with the heady Provencal scent of ripe figs in the summertime - like a siesta in the sun. This fragrance is created exclusively for Rose et Marius in France's perfume capital Grasse.

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Download Our Fall Menu Collection

Michel and Shirley

Discover Carpentras in the Vaucluse it is Well Worth Visiting

Osso Buco A Delicious Recipe Variation With Provencal Flavours

Why visit Nîmes? It Was Once the Rome of Southern France

Easy Baked Dessert with Apple, Fig, and Goat Cheese

Why Locals Love Eygalières: Restaurant Dining Options and Food Providers

Fall Entertaining Made Beautiful: A Provence-Inspired Menu for Friends

Traditional Niçoise Cabbage Rolls – Les Petits Choux Farcis

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