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.

Practice Your French at the Market in Aix-en-Provence

April 3, 2026

In Aix-en-Provence, le marché (the open-air market, pronounced luh mar-shay) is not a special event or a weekend activity. It is part of everyday life. Locals come to do les courses (their grocery shopping, pronounced lay koors), stop at familiar stalls, exchange a few words with vendors, comment on the weather, and continue with their …

Explore · Kathryn MacDonell · Stay Fit

Nietzsche’s Footpath in Èze – For A Contemplative Walk on the French Riviera

March 30, 2026

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche’s words offer good advice: “Remain seated as little as possible, put no trust in any thought that is not born in the open, to the accompaniment of free bodily motion.” Riviera Day Trip In mid-September 2025, my husband and I took a day trip to the historic village of Èze. It is …

Books on Provence · Carolyne Kauser-Abbott · Inspire

New Memoir, ‘A Year in French Life’ by Espinasse Co-authors – Our Book Review

March 27, 2026

Kristin Espinasse, beloved for her evocative portraits of French living, invites readers back into her world with A Year in French Life, Volume 2. Kristin’s writing sparkles with sincerity, drawing us into the gentle rhythms and quiet surprises of everyday life in France. This year, her daughter Jacqueline joined the adventure, contributing her own voice …

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 …

Ashley Tinker · Provencal Recipes · Seasonal Menus · Taste

Try This Spring Menu it’s a Flavourful Canvas from Provence

March 20, 2026

Ashley Tinker curated our spring 2026 seasonal menu. She is a fine art photographer and talented painter with a boundless appreciation for the region’s natural beauty. Born and raised in Montréal, Canada, Ashley is drawn to the history, culture, and beauty of Europe. Ashley is a fine art photographer and painter. She moved to Provence …

Books on Provence · Inspire · Mary Jane Deeb

Book Review: Little Provence Book Shop, by Gillian Harvey

March 16, 2026

Published by Boldwood Books Ltd. (London) in 2024, Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey is a novel that pulls the reader into the sphere or rather, in this case, the bookstore. The two main characters are Adeline, a single mother who needed to “escape to France” with her daughter Lilli, and Monique, the shop …

Main Course · Poultry · Provencal Recipes · Taste

Quail in a Rose Sauce Pairing with Provençal Rosé

March 13, 2026

In French, “rose” means pink. It is also the word for rose, the flower, which brings me to this quail and rose sauce recipe. Inspired by Paris, the “City of Love,” and the famous song “La Vie en Rose,” I created the recipe found below for Quail in a Rose Sauce (Cailles aux Roses). You …

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2-Bedroom Penthouse in Villefranche-sur-Mer

Extremely private, the Waterfront Penthouse 2-bedroom, 2-bath holiday rental with a panoramic view is a very romantic place.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
Two Bedrooms

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Les Vallons Holiday Home - Sleeps 12

If you are looking for a perfect holiday rental property, with a heated pool, Les Vallons sleeps 12 people in a fully restored hamlet.

Luberon
Vaucluse
Six Bedrooms

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Villefranche-sur-Mer Gem 1-bedroom holiday rental

Le Petit Bijou is a 1-bedroom apartment on Villefranche's waterfront. The apartment is fully outfitted, ideal for a Riviera holiday.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
One Bedroom

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Malaucène: Charming B&B and Guest Cottage

Bed and Breakfast with 5 bedrooms and a private cottage is located just a few minutes from Vaison La Romaine.

Vaucluse
Bed and Breakfast

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Seaside Villefranche 1-Bedroom Apartment

Sur le Toit is a charming, remodelled 1-bedroom vacation rental in Old Town Villefranche-sur-Mer with gorgeous views.

Côte d’Azur (French Riviera)
One Bedroom

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Provence Marketplace

Beeswax Candles in a Traditional Pillar Shape

Handcrafted in Apis Cera's workshop in Provence, Ambroise is a 100% pure beeswax candle pillar produced in a custom mold. A cylindar-shaped candle gets it's name from Saint Ambrose (c. 340 – 397), the archbishop of Milan, who was the protector of beekeepers. Sold in a set of two (2) candles they burn for approximately 36 hours.

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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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Linen Napkins from France

Chic linen napkins with an embroidered floral pattern are available in white or natural unbleached cloth. Manufactured in Northern France, they are sold in twos by French Address.

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French Linen Table Runner

A linen table runner that is the perfect combination of rustic and refined. The embroidered stitching enhances the neutral-coloured linen. Add this French Address runner to your collection.

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Provencal Table Linens in an Elegant Design

Discover the Roussillon linen pattern a new collection in a pretty Provencal motif includes tablecloths (of different sizes), throws and cushions. Made with 100% cotton these products from Remember Provence are durable and easy to clean.

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Kitchen Linen Collections – Aprons, Oven Mitts, and Pot Holders

Designed and manufactured in Provence, these quilted oven mitts and pot holders are heat-resistant with 2 layers of 100% cotton fabric and protective padding. Choose from a range of pretty Provencal patterns (lavender, olives, sunflowers, and contemporary designs) and round out the set with a matching apron.

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My French Country Home Box

Because travel is not always possible, you can still give beautiful artisan keepsakes from French manufacturers with My French Country Home Box, a curated subscription box.

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Table Runner Floral Design

Art de la Table is an art form. So instead of a tablecloth, use a pretty table runner in a bright blue floral design as your centrepiece. Available in 2 colours and 2 sizes, the traditional cotton print runner is quilted.

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Quilted Change Purse in Provencal Fabrics

A quilted coin purse for your shopping. This wallet bag is practical, beautiful, durable, and has a large capacity. The quilting is both sturdy and lightweight, allowing for everyday use without weighing down your bag. This size is suitable for coins, credit cards, bills, a small set of keys, and shopping cart tokens.

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Download Our Spring Menu Collection

Michel and Shirley

Practice Your French at the Market in Aix-en-Provence

Nietzsche’s Footpath in Èze – For A Contemplative Walk on the French Riviera

New Memoir, ‘A Year in French Life’ by Espinasse Co-authors – Our Book Review

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

Try This Spring Menu it’s a Flavourful Canvas from Provence

Book Review: Little Provence Book Shop, by Gillian Harvey

Quail in a Rose Sauce Pairing with Provençal Rosé

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