Life Between the Pages

My blog posts are free to access, and articles are categorized like a bookstore! From architecture and art, to food and history, travel and video tours, you’ll find a treasure trove to connect you with me, Paris, and my travels in France.

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Autumn 2025

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Paris as literary muse for exploring how conscious daily choices compound into artful life

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French Pear Cuisine: Recipes, Varieties, And Culinary Elegance

French Pear Cuisine: Recipes, Varieties, And Culinary Elegance

Pears embody French gastronomic elegance, from Renaissance royal tables to today’s refined cuisine. Discover their storied past, explore varietals like Bartlett and Comice, and enjoy recipes such as pear and blue cheese salad or a golden pear tart an ode to France’s timeless love of this delicate fruit.

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Mushrooms in French Cuisine: Recipes, Foraging, And Culinary Traditions

Mushrooms in French Cuisine: Recipes, Foraging, And Culinary Traditions

Mushrooms hold a cherished place in French cuisine, from rustic countryside foraging to refined classics like Coq au Vin. Explore their history, learn storage and preparation secrets, and savor the comfort of creamy mushroom risotto—an artful taste of France’s enduring love affair with nature’s bounty.

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Chestnuts In France: Recipes, Tips, And Timeless Culinary Traditions

Chestnuts In France: Recipes, Tips, And Timeless Culinary Traditions

Discover the rich tradition of chestnuts in France, from Roman origins to modern harvests in Ardèche. Learn selection, roasting, and peeling tips, and enjoy a classic Coq au Vin with chestnuts. Celebrate seasonal French cuisine with this timeless culinary treasure.

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French Fig Recipes And History: Seasonal Salads And Pizza

French Fig Recipes And History: Seasonal Salads And Pizza

Journey into France’s love affair with figs, from ancient Marseille to modern Provençal markets. Learn how to select, store, and prepare this seasonal treasure, then savor two elegant recipes: a fresh fig and goat cheese salad, and a roasted fig and prosciutto pizza, perfect for autumn gatherings.

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French Autumn Recipes And Market Tips For Seasonal Living

French Autumn Recipes And Market Tips For Seasonal Living

Discover the flavors of a French autumn with recipes inspired by the markets of Paris. From pumpkin soup and leek tarts to figs, chestnuts, and mirabelles, this guide brings cozy seasonal cooking to life. Explore market tips, meal planning, and Parisian wisdom to enrich your autumn kitchen.

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Best Family Hotels in Paris and Forest Retreats in France
Travel, House and Home, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Travel, House and Home, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Best Family Hotels in Paris and Forest Retreats in France

From Parisian elegance to tranquil countryside escapes, discover the best family hotels and forest retreats in France. Whether staying near the Louvre, at Disneyland, or in a château by the woods, these stays combine comfort, history, and charm for memorable journeys filled with beauty and ease.

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Fleurs-Flowers

Fleurs-Flowers

Studio Maison Ciero in Paris brings timeless French artistry to floral design. Founded by Romain Pilato, the studio creates fresh and dried arrangements using local blooms, including roses from top French producers. Each creation, from bouquets to the innovative Cube, celebrates beauty and creative renewal.

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Fleurie : Bouquets & Varietals

Fleurie : Bouquets & Varietals

From Provence’s fragrant fields to the symbolic Rosa Canina, French roses embody centuries of culture, perfume, and poetry. Explore the history, varietals, and enduring allure of these blooms-from Verlaine’s verses to rose hip remedies-where beauty, fragrance, and heritage intertwine.

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Living History : Roseraie DUCHER

Living History : Roseraie DUCHER

Discover Roseraie Ducher, Lyon’s iconic rose garden, where six generations of the Ducher family cultivated rare and historic roses. From hybrid tea creations to the famed ‘Never Forget’ rose, explore a floral legacy that intertwines history, artistry, and global admiration.

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THE IDEAS : memories & DESIRES of childhood& TRAVEL

THE IDEAS : memories & DESIRES of childhood& TRAVEL

Nestled in Haute-Savoie, Les Jardins Secrets is a hidden French gem where nature, art, and family passion converge. With lush gardens, fountains, and poetic spaces inspired by global traditions, it invites visitors into a timeless escape filled with beauty, biodiversity, and quiet wonder.

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Finding Home in Brittany

Finding Home in Brittany

From pandemic house hunting to finding a storybook cottage in Brittany, follow a journey of country living, gardens in bloom, welcoming neighbors, and creating a French home full of charm and history. Perfect for lovers of literature, travel, and garden inspiration.

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Molly Wilkinson's Alsatian Spice Cookies

Molly Wilkinson's Alsatian Spice Cookies

Celebrate winter with the warmth of Alsatian spice cookies and vin chaud, two French classics that embody holiday joy. From the fragrant blend of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to the comforting mulled wine simmered with citrus and spices, these recipes bring Parisian tradition and elegance to your seasonal table.

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Hot Cocktail Spots

Hot Cocktail Spots

Explore Paris’s vibrant cocktail scene and beautiful brasseries. From relaxed bars like Frequence Paris to iconic brasseries such as Grand Café Capucines and Bouillon Julien, discover cocktails, cuisine, and elegant interiors that make Paris a city of refined taste and unforgettable experiences.

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Shopping & Gift Giving

Shopping & Gift Giving

Celebrate the magic of Paris holiday shopping and gift giving. From artisanal ceramics at Astier de Villatte to festive markets like La Fabrique du Père Noël, discover boutiques, pop-ups, and exhibitions offering elegant, creative, and sustainable gifts. Experience timeless traditions and Parisian holiday charm.

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Travel Guides

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