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.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE

Autumn 2025

My Most Recent Posts

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

My Content is Free

While I completely understand that certain content creators charge for access, their time and knowledge,

I believe that dreaming shouldn’t come at a price.

It’s an honor, blessing, and privilege to share my experiences with you. I hope my work inspires you to chase what makes your heart sing, what brings you pure joy, and what fills you with love and gratitude.

MORE BLOG POSTS BELOW
 
Normandy Cider Route: French Heritage, Cuisine, And Travel

Normandy Cider Route: French Heritage, Cuisine, And Travel

Normandy’s Cider Route invites travelers into a world of apple orchards, half-timbered villages, and artisanal cider-making. Stretching across Calvados, this rustic journey blends history, heritage, and cuisine. From cider tastings to traditional dishes, it’s a quintessential taste of France’s countryside charm.

Read More
Fontainebleau Forest: Where French Royal History Meets Nature

Fontainebleau Forest: Where French Royal History Meets Nature

The Fontainebleau Forest blends centuries of royal history with natural beauty. Once the hunting ground of kings and home to the Renaissance Palace of Fontainebleau, today it offers hiking, climbing, and cultural discovery. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is where France’s past and nature converge timelessly.

Read More
French Forests and Folklore: Exploring Nature’s Timeless Stories

French Forests and Folklore: Exploring Nature’s Timeless Stories

France’s forests are more than landscapes—they are living storybooks. From the Arthurian legends of Brocéliande to the royal echoes of Compiègne, each woodland holds history, myth, and natural beauty. Explore these timeless retreats for hiking, folklore, and a glimpse into France’s poetic soul.

Read More
Château De Courances: French History, Gardens, And Timeless Elegance

Château De Courances: French History, Gardens, And Timeless Elegance

Château de Courances, just south of Paris, unites five centuries of history, Renaissance gardens, and timeless elegance. From tranquil waterways to restored architecture, its parklands and estate offer a serene retreat, blending cultural heritage with nature’s quiet grandeur for today’s travelers.

Read More
French Folklore Tales: Enchanted Forests, Legends, And Translation

French Folklore Tales: Enchanted Forests, Legends, And Translation

French folklore weaves forests, wolves, and enchanted beings into timeless tales. From Perrault’s classics like Little Red Riding Hood to Brittany’s “Beast with Seven Heads,” these stories reveal France’s rich narrative tradition where wit, courage, and imagination light the path through the autumn woods.

Read More
French Pear Cuisine: Recipes, Varieties, And Culinary Elegance
Cooking and Food, History and Geography, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Cooking and Food, History and Geography, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

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.

Read More
Mushrooms in French Cuisine: Recipes, Foraging, And Culinary Traditions
Cooking and Food, Nature and Outdoors, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Cooking and Food, Nature and Outdoors, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

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.

Read More
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.

Read More
French Autumn Recipes And Market Tips For Seasonal Living
Cooking and Food, Travel, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Cooking and Food, Travel, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

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.

Read More
Autumn Journaling Prompts Inspired By Paris And French Living
Literary, Philosophy, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Literary, Philosophy, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Autumn Journaling Prompts Inspired By Paris And French Living

This autumn, let Paris and Provence guide your pen. From café corners to vineyard harvests, these six journaling prompts invite reflection, creativity, and immersion in French culture. Explore fashion, food, language, and philosophy as you capture your thoughts in the season’s golden light.

Read More
Six Great Movies With Autumn Charm
Literary, Travel, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Literary, Travel, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Six Great Movies With Autumn Charm

From Amélie’s whimsical Montmartre to Midnight in Paris’s nostalgic strolls, these six films capture Paris through autumn light and timeless imagination. Whether set in the city or countryside, each film blends beauty, story, and season, offering cinematic escapes for your literary living.

Read More
Barbara Pravi’s “Voilà”: A French Song That Moves the Soul
Literary, Art, Paris museums & culture, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Literary, Art, Paris museums & culture, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Barbara Pravi’s “Voilà”: A French Song That Moves the Soul

Barbara Pravi’s song “Voilà” captures the essence of vulnerability, self-expression, and dreams. From its soulful lyrics to stunning live performances by Pravi and Emma Kok, this French musical gem invites listeners to witness the power of authenticity and artistic courage.

Read More
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.

Read More
Caffè Stern Paris: Historic Workshop Reborn as Italian Bistro

Caffè Stern Paris: Historic Workshop Reborn as Italian Bistro

Once a celebrated 19th-century printmaking workshop, Stern has been reborn as Caffè Stern, an Italian bistro infused with Venetian flavors and Parisian charm. Blending history, artistry, and gastronomy, it offers a refined dining experience where legacy and culinary innovation elegantly converge.

Read More
Paris Brunch Guide: Best Cafés, Restaurants, and Hidden Gems

Paris Brunch Guide: Best Cafés, Restaurants, and Hidden Gems

Experience Paris through its brunch tables, where artisanal coffee, chic cafés, and hidden gems await. From Montmartre’s vintage charm to canal-side escapes, each address blends atmosphere, flavor, and Parisian elegance. Discover where to brunch in style, savoring both cuisine and cultural ambiance.

Read More
L’Île Paris: Laura Gonzalez’s Countryside Chic Culinary Escape

L’Île Paris: Laura Gonzalez’s Countryside Chic Culinary Escape

Just minutes from Paris, L’Île by Laura Gonzalez reimagines the French farmhouse as a countryside chic retreat. With vegetable gardens, rustic interiors, and a seasonal menu, it offers Parisians a rare blend of architecture, nature, and culinary excellence an elegant refuge where city life meets pastoral bliss.

Read More
Le Doyenné Paris: A Culinary Retreat of History and Sustainability

Le Doyenné Paris: A Culinary Retreat of History and Sustainability

Just an hour from Paris, Le Doyenné offers a rare union of culinary artistry, regenerative agriculture, and historic charm. Housed in a restored château, the restaurant celebrates seasonal dining, sustainability, and creative heritage an immersive journey where French history meets the future of gastronomy.

Read More

Digital Downloads

Travel Guides

This space is currently under construction as I move my guides over from a different platform. I appreciate your patience! If you are looking for something in particular, send me an email using the button below.

Email Shannon