Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Around the World with Blogging


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Blogging has opened the world to me. So many of you!

I don't think I will ever stop blogging because of you.

Tomorrow French Husband, Dieter and Francis (the trio who rode to North Cape in Norway, and now are on their way home,) will stay with Kristina and Daniel. Their daughter Maria, who reads my blog lives in Washington, though her family lives in Finland. When she read that French Husband and company might ride through Finland she wrote inviting the riders to stay with her family.

French Husband hasn't been off the motorcycle long enough to write a blog post, let alone find internet connection. Though he said he put his thoughts down every evening, hoping to post them when he can.

His daily quick phone conversations have included how many miles they have traveled, how many mosquitoes they have eaten, and about Francis who only speaks French. French Husband said, "Francis is so damn funny that even when he can't say a word (to Dieter) he has everyone laughing! God, Corey I find myself laughing alone on my motorcycle about him! This ride has been so much fun, Dieter and Francis are wonderful guys to ride with! It makes the heat, the mosquitoes, the hard ground feel better…"

Crazy and happy a thousand kilometers a day.

Thank you, each and everyone of you who read my blog and for your comments that I, and many others, look forward to. I feel I know many of you, and I have not been disappointed when I have met you either. I am sure French Husband is going to love meeting Kristina and Daniel.

Where are you from?

My four grandparents were from the Azores Islands, off the coast of Portugal. I grew up in a small rural town in Willows, California. I have lived in France for nearly 24 years.

Comments

115 responses to “Around the World with Blogging”

  1. Lia deKoster

    New Zealand, born Tokoroa, raised in Sydney Australia and Napier in New Zealand.
    I lived there for 19 years and now I live in
    Kaiwaka, Northland – New Zealand…
    with my honey and my youngest and his son.
    It is joyful and delicious.
    What a great way to travel and meet people.
    Let me know if you are down this way.
    There is always room.
    cheers
    Lia

    Reply
  2. Lia deKoster

    silly billy twit me…
    not my sons son,
    my honeys son.
    silly, billy over and out.

    Reply
  3. welltraveled

    Michigan USA in the summer,Florida USA in the winter..Both places overlooking water…Michigan on an island ,Florida on an island near Palm Beach..

    Reply
  4. Rebecca

    In New York City for the past 12 years, I live in the Northern part of Manhattan, commonly referred to as Harlem, but technically Hamilton Heights. Grew up in Princeton NJ, spent High School and College years in Ohio, then off to Philadelphia for 20 (?) years. I’m now in Ohio visiting my parents (now quite old, and all my siblings and I are wondering what the next step is for them…sigh) and looking forward to the longish drive home to my sweetheart in the city. If you are ever in NYC, I would be proud to take you to “our” flea market!
    We normally spend summer in France, which we did not do this year. I can tell you…I am homesick! Missing France and my friends very much.

    Reply
  5. Sue K.

    Oh, my, Corey – aren’t we from everywhere? My maternal grandparents were French Canadian, my paternal grandparents were German. I was born and raised in Minnesota, left there after 45 years and went to a small town in North Carolina for several years, and now I’m near Cleveland, Ohio (where, should you ever decide to ride across the US, you are quite welcome to stay!) My children are in three different states – one remained in Minnesota and is about to have her second child, one is in Massachusetts with his wife and daughter, and one is in Arizona with her “boyfriend.”

    Reply
  6. Laura

    We are all from afar but it seems we are getting closer everyday!
    Born and raised in New York state…my parents and grandparents were all born here too. My Mother’s family is traced back to the Mayflower…and England. My Dad’s family back to Alsace Lorraine…
    You and your family are always welcome in our home…
    Enjoy your quiet time while you are alone….
    They will be back!
    🙂

    Reply
  7. Penny

    I read your blog just outside of the city of big shoulders, Chicago; born and raised in the area where I have lived all my life – of mixed ancestry. Maternal grandparents and great grandparents are also from here, but, way back, hail from Germany, Sweden, and family legend says native American. Paternal grandparents were immigrants from Sparta, Greece. Think “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and you have the story of my wedding and life with an Irish German husband. Hopa!

    Reply
  8. Paivi

    My parents and their parents are from Kainuu region, Finland, and I was born there, too. I’ve now lived in Kuusamo, Finland, for 30 years. This place is a famous tourist resort especially during the skiing season but also very beautiful in the summertime. Welcome to visit us, all of you!

    Reply
  9. Gina Baynham

    Irish born. Married a welsh man. Lived with him on england for 9 years and had our 3 kids then sold everything, packed our cases and bought one way tickets to Australia. All became citizens 2 years ago so we are a mad mixture of nationalities. Living a great life and loving blogging about it and all the friends we have met through blogs like your Corey.

    Reply
  10. Denise Moulun-pasek

    I am French Canadian born in Alberta, Canada. My grandparents were all Québécois except for my paternal grandfather who was from France. I married a Romanian with Czech and Greek grandparents. He lived for five years on the Côte d’Azur as a child, then moved to Montréal. We have lived just outside of Edmonton, Alberta for thirty years and now spend part of our holidays in our little apartment in the south of France where we feel at home too.
    I observe more and more how many people have ties to different countries because of globalization. It brings us all closer together.

    Reply
  11. Bev

    Born and raised in Washington State. Great grandparents were from Denmark, England, Norway by way of Canada (some were here illegally [gasp]).
    Went to seminary at Princeton where I met my husband from Mississippi raised in Brazil, from a long line of southerners. Missionaries to Brazil during the 90s. Now living in Virginia, pastoring a church, two teenagers. You always have a place to stay outside of Washington D.C.

    Reply
  12. Natasha Burns

    Born and raised in Melbourne Australia. With the exception of maybe 6 months as a baby, I have lived within a mile of where I am now, all my almost-35 years. My Dad was born here but his parents were from Italy. Mum is from Slovenia and came here as an 11 year old. I have family in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia & USA. One of my great grandfathers was Austrian. I’m what one would call a….. mutt or mongrel!

    Reply
  13. Chris Wittmann

    Born in the mountains of Pennsylvania, raised in Pa. and southern New Jersey, married and moved to the Lake District of England where I spent over 4 years, ended up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with a new hubby in 1978, been here ever since and love it. Dad’s folks were Italian immigrants from Sicily and Naples, mom was a WWII war bride, born in Germany of German, Russian, Polish and Hungarian stock. I’m a Heinz 57 for sure 🙂

    Reply
  14. kelly

    Born and raised in Northen Indiana, Mothers family is from Italy, Father’s is from Poland/Germany.

    Reply
  15. Everton Terrace

    What an amazing international bunch you have Corey! I am 43 and live in Phoenix, Az, where I was born and raised. My mother was born and raised in Liverpool, England and her mother, Waterford, Ireland – where most of my family still lives. I have one daughter and she lives in Seattle, Washington (school).
    I’ll have to keep coming back today to read all these interesting comments.

    Reply
  16. deb

    I live on the New Hampshire seacoast, previously in Western Massachusetts, Florida and New York. My family is a combination of French Canadian, Native American, and Hungarian.
    I love your writing and your gorgeous pictures.
    This summer we took our first ever trip to Paris and I kept thinking, “pinch me, I’m really in Paris”. I loved it, mostly the small, beautiful touches I saw everywhere.

    Reply
  17. Erna Liedermooij

    All Dutch, Amsterdam born and raised….

    Reply
  18. Julie Ann Evins

    English, still in the South East corner where I grew up. Keith has moved around the counties a little more. Missing France !x

    Reply
  19. Kathleen

    Born and raised in Cork City,South of Ireland.
    Married now and still here as are my 3 children and all our extended family!

    Reply
  20. Dana Sparkle

    I live in South Australia, my French Husband moved here 25years ago. our children’s direct ancestry includes French,Latvian, Burmese, Chinese, Irish heritage. A real melting pot. Delicious…
    *

    Reply
  21. Teri

    Born and raised in Missouri, near St Louis. Have lived lived almost 25 years in Clarksville, TN – brought here by Uncle Sam.

    Reply
  22. marlis

    born in Lich, Germany. lived there 2 years.
    Moved to Orleans, France for the next 13.
    Moved to Mannheim, Germany until 1972.
    Moved to Norman, Oklahoma (what was I thinking?)
    Moved to Lubbock, Texas 1973. Been there since.
    Trying to convince husband to move to Santa Fe, NM. I feel the urge to make a big move again.

    Reply
  23. Natalie Thiele

    Born in California to parents from the midwest, who migrated, met and married in Hawaii. My sister was born there, but I was born in San Francisco.
    Raised in Berkeley, then Kensington. I have lived in Sacramento with my California native husband for the last 17 years. We are both of Northern European extraction.
    You are welcome to stay with us in our little Airstream trailer in the backyard. We have a great antique flea market in Sacramento on the second Sunday of each month.

    Reply
  24. Marie-Noëlle

    Most of my family were born either in Lyon or in Beaujolais (our family history doesn’t say whether in vines or under fir trees though…). On my mother’s side, 2 of my great-grand-parents were vine and forrest owners and 1 great-grandmother was a “lavandière” – http://www.monolivet.org/dotclear/images/Lavandiere.png
    My 2 parents were born in Lyon. I myself was born in the Beaujolais capital: Villefranche-en-B. I was brought up in this small town and spent some of my summers in the country at my great-grand-parents.
    I was very lucky to meet 3 of my great-grand-mothers. I keep and cherish lovely memories of delicious moments with them…

    Reply
  25. Ardi

    Born and raised in Washington State, too. Kids ditto. Grandkids ditto. Great-grandkids born in Georgia (first) and Washington State (second). This was a fun question to ask and loved reading the responses from all over the world. Thanks, Corey.

    Reply
  26. Karen

    Born in Africa (Angola), grew up in England, Portugal and Finland, before settling in South Africa – you could say I am a mongrel! And now since 3 years ago I moved from beautiful Cape Town to London where I live with my South African husband and two daughters. Currently on holiday in Spain and blogging about it
    http://athousandmiles-k.blogspot.com
    while reading your and your husband’s blogs from France and Scandinavia – you are right, what a wonderful connected world we share through blogging!

    Reply
  27. Jojo

    Georgia…USA…home of peaches, peanuts, grits and fried green tomatoes. Born here…raised here and living here.

    Reply
  28. Debra P.

    My mother’s family came from Scotland in the the early 1700’s and settled in southern VA. I was born in Wash DC and raised just a short distance away. After my husband and I married, we bought a country house and had three children.
    Keep this in mind should you come my way: we are 45 minutes north of 1600 Penns. Ave. NW DC, 30 minutes south of the Inner Harbour, Balt.,MD, 45 minutes west of Annapolis, MD, and 30 minutes east of Sugarloaf mountains . . .there is a Harley in the garage, a sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay, and an open door waiting for you.
    xo

    Reply
  29. meppybn

    3rd generation New Zealander, born in Whakatane. Met an American pirate there who scooped me up 29 years ago and brought me to the States – now living on Olympic Peninsula in Washington State for 20 years.

    Reply
  30. anne

    I love your FH, and his description of his friend Francis .. i reckon all three of them, must of had one hell of a hoot on this trip. How wonderful of the lady to write to her family for him too.
    I was born in Northern Ireland, My father was Maltese father and my mother Irish. I believe the male side of my fathers family started off in Scotland somewhere, and went over to Malta, and that is how the Maltese side came about, after he married a Maltese lady. I have lived in Holland , Germany, Singapore, and the UK.
    You are so right about blogging Corey, opened up the world to us all 🙂

    Reply
  31. Kathie B.

    As I’ve mentioned before, Corey, my father’s parents were brought to northern California as small children from villages on the west coast of tiny Flores, the westernmost island in the Azores (although Grandma’s father was born in Topo, São Jorge). Having made 5 trips to the Azores in the past 8 years to see where they were from, as well as to meet several Jorgense distant cousins, has been among the thrills of lifetime. Of course, I also enjoy going back to visit my native northern California!
    Corey and family, which island(s) in the Azores were your grandparents from?

    Reply
  32. Marie

    Oh, Corey what fun! Maternal grandparents
    born in Switzerland….parents born in Missouri…….me, born in Oregon. I graduated from high school at an inter- national school in Pakistan. Have lived back in Oregon since then. I read your blog
    daily….LOVE the places you take me. Especially enjoy your brocante adventures.

    Reply
  33. Patt

    MY Fathers parents the Wolverton’s from England, Mothers Parents Springers are from France. I was born in California and raised between there and England. I now live in Yuba City Ca. My neice was born in the Azores. I am hoping to meet you when you visit your family in Willows. It is so much fun to read the many, many places your Blog friends are from. It is a wonderful network.

    Reply
  34. Jillayne

    Friends like Francis are so important – I have a special friend like that – she is an absolute nut and we laugh and have fun with everything. Such a joy! My father’s family is from Scotland and England and my mother’s from Norway and England, all in the last 100 years, so we are relatively “new” to Canada. I have enjoyed reading the posts FH has got done and will look forward to all the rest!

    Reply
  35. Sharon, Morrison Mercantile

    How interesting to see where everyone is from. I can’t find anyone from Kansas except Niki.
    Adopted at birth by Kansans. Lived here forever except for 3 years in Utah. Would love to go back…who knows…the next 3 years are going to be interesting…my house remodel will be finished by the end of this year..and maybe the market will improve for a sell. Then I can go anywhere……..

    Reply
  36. patty g

    Both sides of my family came from England to Mass. in the early 1600’s. Born in upstate New York, raised in Northern, Ca, living near San Francisco on the coast for the past 23 years with husband and son.
    Love the stories and your wonderful reader’s comments. So happy FH and his buddies are having a wonderful time! Inspiring me to go on a bike ride this a.m. and spend as much time as I can in nature!

    Reply
  37. Mary

    Of course, Corey, you must recognize that you are not the regular blogger, but an amazing storyteller, lover of all the good, beautiful and interesting that you see. We love reading your posts!
    I do hope that Sasha will be able to come and visit our family in Sacramento while in Willows. It is complete with lots of young adults like himself and I believe he’d have a wonderful time.
    Blessings!

    Reply
  38. The Romantic Armchair Traveller

    I hope your husband and his friends have a great time in Finland 🙂
    I grew up there and in Norway. Later, I married an Aussie of Polish/German heritage and lived in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. These days we call the Pacific Northwest (USA) home.
    It’s so lovely to see how the four corners of the world can come together in a blog like yours!
    Danielle C.

    Reply
  39. Rhonda P.

    My four grandparents were all of English-Irish-Scottish descent. I was born downstate Illinois but raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Spent most of my young wonderful years living in the city of Chicago. Best years of my life. No car, fantastic restaurant and cafe life. Currently living in Arizona (against all odds) with the love of my life. I miss Chicago so much I could cry typing this.

    Reply
  40. AnnaA

    I am Swedish and live in Sweden and love reading your blog! It is full of wit and love and beauty.
    Anna 🙂

    Reply
  41. Laurie SF

    My Mother was the result of a village romance. My German Grandmother was hiding one Hungarian soilder on her Bavarain farm during the war. They married and immigrated to Willows. The farm is still in the family and my Grandfather’s Hungarian uniform is buried underneath it’s soil.It’s whereabouts still unknown.

    Reply
  42. Kirsten

    Grandparents from Norway, Sweden, England and Germany. Parents from Oregon and Colorado, met in Germany 1949, where my siblings and I were born. Since coming to the United States, I have lived in Oregon, Alaska, Maryland and now, California. The world is so much smaller now. My family is still widely separated– California, Germany, Colorado, Boston, Georgia– but still we are able to keep in close contact. When my Mother lived in (West) Germany her siblings were never able to visit her, phone calls were prohibitively expensive and important news was sent by telegram. Then, of course there the letters she wrote– long, newsy letters to the folks in Oregon, about our lives in Germany: work, travel, holidays,traditions, pets– even an early wariness of televisions that had not yet arrive in Germany– “I am afraid that people will no longer visit”). The letters stopped arriving in 1966 when my mother died of cancer, but my Grandmother saved and treasured every one, and many, many years later, when she died, my Aunt passed the letters on to me. I could see that the letters had been lovingly folded and re-folded, read again and again, holding on to all those memories. I don’t think my Grandmother ever thought of those letters coming down to one of us, they were still so much a part of her world, but what an incredible gift from my Mother, my Grandmother and my Aunt! My family now travels back and forth to Europe and across the United States with ease, although a bit less frequently these days. Nieces and nephews are at home in the world just about everywhere they go. I see the same with the friends of my children– the world truly is their oyster!

    Reply
  43. GiGi

    Holland Dutch background, so my heritage gave me a love for: chocolate, directness, cheese, bread, tea, family, laughter, honesty, self-development, flowers, knitting and unconditional love. The one gene I didn’t get from them is the clean-freak one; I don’t swab sidewalks.

    Reply
  44. Pam

    I am from Arkansas & have been married to an upstate New York man for 31 years. It has been interesting! We rode our motorcycles in June about 3600 miles. We rode to Montreal, Quebec and I haven’t had French since college so the rode signs were interesting. My husband hasn’t had any French so he followed me. It was a great trip with beautiful country & people to meet. Unlike your husband, we stayed in motels. Yea!!! love your stories!!!!

    Reply
  45. Isabel Howard

    Born and raised in Texas but haven’t lived there since I was 19 when much to my parents dismay I married my high school sweetheart turned soldier and followed him to North Carolina (3 yrs), Brunssum, the Netherlands (3 years), Arizona (6 months), North Carolina again (3 more years), KOREA (3 years) and now Wiesbaden, Germany (2+ years)!
    I love it…and thanks for a wonderful blog!

    Reply
  46. Kate

    Thanks for asking your readers that question, Corey. It’s fun seeing where everyone is, and is from!
    I’m from Margo, Saskatchewan (Canada), a farming community of about 150 people in the east-central area of the province. Three generations of my family on both sides have farmed there, raising both cattle and grains, and for the past 8 years I’ve been living on a farm about 20 minutes drive from my home town. I love being back here. It may be a humble place, but I find it heavenly to go for a walk on the country road leading to our house, just me and our old dog and dozens of dragonflies eating the mosquitoes I seem to stir up as I walk. There are all kinds of wild birds flying back and forth, calling — yesterday I watched a crow chase a redtailed hawk, twice its size, in the sky; I watched a coyote watch me. I love it, I hope I never have to leave it, but I sure do enjoy reading your blog and those of people who live in very different places than I do but share some of the same life experiences. This comment page will be a real resource for discovery.

    Reply
  47. Lieselotte

    I can fully agree with Yann about Francis being so funny,I don´t know how he does it, but he makes everyone around him laugh !

    Reply
  48. Carol

    Born and raised in London, England. Have been living in California since 1989 … wow 21 years. I still miss home … but also love it here. A difficult dilemma as you only too well know.

    Reply
  49. Beverly

    Born in Washington DC to a Dad from northern California and a Mom from Antwerp Belgium. An after WWII love story..My Mom came to America after her wedding to Dad..without knowing a word of English..she and Dad talked in French..but she learned English and loved America…Your life story reminds me of hers..
    I grew up in the farmlands of NJ and PA.. Married to an Englishman for 7 years and living in the UK for close to 10 years!

    Reply
  50. Catherine

    Wow impressive bunch . . . . like Dr. Seuss’ oh, the places you’ll go. Anyone from the East?
    My grandpa was adopted in southern China, but I always suspected he’s from the north as he has high-bridged nose and greyish eyes. My brother has reddish brown beard and was often spoken to in Spanish when we grew up in California. The rest of my grandparents were from the same region, but spoke different dialects. My dad never understood my mom’s side; imagine that!
    So, the legend has it that my great grandpa was a warlord, a robinhood, who assisted the founding father of China with the revolution. Who knows? He adopted my grand uncle, whose side produced tough cops, and my grandpa, whose side produced bookworms. Now, imagine that in family reunion.
    We were British subject for awhile until my parents decided to trade the union jack with the American flag and pay taxes to Uncle Sam instead of the Queen. I studied in Denmark, was crazied about German; but my first love has always been French, nothing but the French. With the present economy, maybe I’ll have to make my migration back to the East to complete the whole circle.
    Oh, will I find French there??

    Reply
  51. Janet

    Born UK, parents emigrated to NZ in the 50s ..moved between Australia and NZ for the past 35 yrs and now living coastal NSW, Australia.
    Travel widely..have a place in Languedoc which we visit at least annually and think of you when we drive past the Marseilles turnoff Corey.I will meet you one day….

    Reply
  52. Becca

    I am from Upper Michigan by the shores of Lake Superior though I now live in Wisconsin.
    My great grandparents all immigrated to Michigan from Finland…and my mother’s maternal grandparents had tickets to come on the Titanic but had to stay back at the last minute. They would have traveled in steerage class. They had 11 children, 55 grandchildren and there are hundreds of great grands and great great grands.
    I will be curious to hear FH’s account of their stay in Finland.

    Reply
  53. penny willoughby

    Hi Corey, Another Penny from Chicago, where I lived my first 40 years, now in the NW suburbs. All my Grandparents were from Poland, with my parents both born and raised in Chicago.

    Reply
  54. Cindy

    I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. My parents moved to Edmonton, Alberta when I was 6 months old and I have lived here the whole of my 51 years.
    My paternal grandparents were from Germany and my maternal grandparents were from Germany and Russia.

    Reply
  55. Mahala

    I was born and raised in hot Stockton California.Lived in Manteca and Santa Cruz California at times, then up to Bellingham Washington for many years where I raised my family. Now I’m in Oregon.

    Reply
  56. Jane

    I am from Iowa, USA! But have lived in 6 states and now live in the UK for 4 years.(married a Brit.) My great grandparents on my dad’s side were from Norway, immigrated to the USA in the 1890’s. So I am interested to hear about your husband’s trip to Norway. Glad he is having a good time. I will get to see Norway for the first time next month and can’t wait(although not from a motorcycle:)
    You are awesome Corey. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.

    Reply
  57. Anna

    I am a fourth generation Albertan ( Canada) – My parents were both farm kids and came to live in a small town of 10 thousand before I was born. That town is now about 90 thousand people. I moved to Edmonton to go to university and have lived here full time since 1978. My ancestors are English, American, Scotch and Swedish… but at this time I am proudly Canadian.
    I know I have said it before but I do love your blog Corey- It often makes me laugh , sometimes makes me cry and always touches me. Blogging is a wonderful connecting experience.
    Warmest regards,
    Anna

    Reply
  58. Liz

    Two of my grandparents were from Trieste, Italy (Austria at the time of their birth), and the other two were from the US Midwest, one born in Chicago, one in Indiana. My parents met and married while my father was stationed in Trieste at the end of WWII. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, Ca. I have spent 40 of my 50 years living in California. Approx 10 were spent on the East Coast of the US. San Diego is now home.

    Reply
  59. Linda

    I was born and raised in Alabama. However, I love to travel and have been to France several times and love it. My husband and I are counting the days until we can visit there again!
    Linda

    Reply
  60. Julie

    My Greek parents met and married in South Africa where I and my three siblings grew up. I married an American (from the deep South)and have lived in the USA for the past 22 years. My sister lives in the UK, my one brother in New Zealand, my other brother in South Africa, and my mom in Greece. We laugh that all the cousins speak English in a variety of accents:) You can imagine that family reunions are infrequent.

    Reply
  61. Marilyn

    Born in Sebastopol, California; but now live in Portland, Oregon. Blogging is truly amazing and the friendships it brings from all over the world. I love it. In about 3 weeks I will have the opportunity to meet a blogger in Washington State, then in later August I am hoping to meet two other bloggers in Wisconsin. How much fun and what wonderful new ways of getting to know friends.

    Reply
  62. Marilyn

    Born in Sebastopol, California and now live in Portland, Oregon. Love meeting blogger friends all over the world.

    Reply
  63. Lemon Verbena Lady

    I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and raised in Kittanning, PA, a small town north of Pittsburgh. I was adopted at 8 days old. Don’t know my real heritage. I married at 35 when I thought I would never get married to a Peruvian architect. We met on Thanksgiving 27 years ago. We have been married for almost 23 years. We are planning a trip to Provence next June, because my passion is herbs. Your blog has given me a lot of laughs, inspiration and beautiful views of the French countryside. Thanks for your inspiration, Corey.

    Reply
  64. Ann

    Arizona. Home of the “Grand Canyon” and “It’s a dry heat”. Live near Phoenix. Love to travel and learn about other countries, cultures, people, food… but my heart is USA.

    Reply
  65. carol

    My great-grandparents were from Ireland, Scotland, Austria and Switzerland. I love Celtic music and hate hot weather. I was born in Southwest Missouri where I have lived my entire life and I have no desire to live anywhere else (except when it gets hot)!!

    Reply
  66. Anneli W

    Well, I live in Sweden, my parents are from Finland and I just loooove Paris, France 🙂
    So am I born in the wrong country or what ?
    Best wishes from Anneli

    Reply
  67. bramble

    Maternal side French(Provence)Gran and German(Mechlinburg) Gramp, Paternal side: Irish (Connemara) Grandfather and Cherokee(Tennesee) Grandmother so I am a walking advertisement for native and immigrant people! I hope to one day visit all of these places, I have only been to Ireland and Tennesee so far in my “heritage tour!
    Nice to hear the 3 amigos are having a wonderful time inspite of the spoken word. Sometimes friendship and commeraderie do not need words.

    Reply
  68. Jenny N

    Wow and wow. I was born in San Antonio Texas and raised up and down the I-35 corridor. Laredo, Hondo,San Antonio, Waco, and Austin. I love Texas and my Mexican-American heritage as we have been in these parts for 4 generations. But having traveled to Europe, feeling its strong pull I, causes me to wonder if any family history lies there (Spanish maybe?).

    Reply
  69. Joanie

    Born in Monaca PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh)
    Married and moved to Binghamton NY 31 years ago.
    Maternal grandparents were born in Krakow Poland. Paternal grandparents were born in a tiny village in Hungary but ended up in Budapest.
    It’s my heart’s desire to visit Budapest, Paris, Provence and Germany.

    Reply
  70. Gretchen Baldauf

    It must be so fun to read all these comments and to see just how far your “pen” has reached. I blog under “Caddymom” but just occasionally now. My two friends and I will be staying at La Madone next month — all because of what we read in your blog. Isn’t it a marvel?

    Reply
  71. gloria p

    My maternal grandparents were from the Azores but moved to Massachusetts when my mother was 3. My dad was from the north of continental Portugal and went to MA alone when he was 17.
    I was born and raised in MA and now live in Colorado. I love your blog and would love to go “brocanting” in France.

    Reply
  72. Rachel Lees

    I am from New Zealand. My parents and my grandparents and my great-grandparents are from New Zealand. I’m raising another generation of New Zealand children too.
    I love your blog. I lived in Chicago once, and mine and my husband’s dream is to live in France one day – just for fun.

    Reply
  73. Alena

    So interesting, so wonderful.
    Born and raised in back then Czechoslovakia.
    Living in Canada for past 23 years,
    so want to go back home that I could scream.

    Reply
  74. Jamie V

    I was born in Marysville, CA then moved to Lake Almanor (Chester) where I attended high school… went to Butte College and Chico State (my family is from Chico) from 1978-1982, where I’m sure we had mutual friends, and I’m thinking you and I actually met, and I moved to Montana in 1987… Jamie V

    Reply
  75. Cyndie

    I was born and raised in Torrance, CA and have lived in Nashville, TN for the past 16 years. I visited France (Paris, Reims, Epernay) last Thanksgiving and am now obsessed with all things French. Which is why I have been following your blog.

    Reply
  76. Sue Morris

    I live almost at the bottom of the world – in Perth, Western Australia – such a long way away from Europe and, even further away from Willows – I will venture out in September though as I have an 8 week holiday planned – will be flying to New York and then hiring a car a driving around The New England States – staying in hostels or wherever we can find to lay our heads at night time.
    Thankyou Corey for yet another special post….I have also been reading “The spiritual side of Blogging” today – so special.
    Hugs Sue/Cottesloe West.Aust.

    Reply
  77. Linda

    I am a mixture of German, English, Irish and Cherokee Indian. Texas and Kentucky are the States of my grandparents and I’ve been told we are even related to Pocahantas but who knows. I was raised all of the Southwest and now live in France, a total, unexpected surprise to me. You just can’t plan these things. Love blogging too. So many great people out there.

    Reply
  78. Anne

    Hi Corey, I was raised in southwest Missouri and moved to southern california with my husband and 3 children in 1980. Live in Santa Barbara, CA (Montecito) now with my husband of 42 years. Last year I was able to go to Paris for 3 months and wanted to live there forever. Going back in April with my Husband and hope we don’t come back. I love antiques and had an antique store in Montecito for a few years. Purchased everything from the Marche aux Puces. Didn’t know about the Brocante’s…will buy from them next time. Would love to go with you some time. Your Blog keeps France alive for me. Thank you!

    Reply
  79. Jane Ann

    I live in the state of Washington and am a true American in the sense that I am predominately a mix of Swedish, English, French Swiss, and bits of others. My heritage includes important folks, unimportant folks, and ner-do-wells. Yep, I’m a regular American. My daughter and I went to Paris for the first time this year. We fell in love with the people and the city. Love the way you spin your blog and your photos are the icing on top!

    Reply
  80. dancing kitchen

    I was born in Bitburg, Germany…moved to Phoenix, Az…then to Indiana. I’ve lived in Chicagoland (Indiana side) and various parts of Indiana…but am soon to be moving to Oceanside, California. I’ve got the cutest little apt by the beach.
    My heritage is hungarian, irish, dutch and german…quite the combo! Thanks Corey…this was fun to read about your readers!

    Reply
  81. Alexis

    I’m from the Philippines but I spent much of my childhood in the Bay Area, California. (Palo Alto, to be specific, as I needed to be near the Stanford Hospital for my doctors.)
    Many of my ancestors in both sides of the family were from Spain, but unfortunately we don’t really know that much about any of them, especially those in my dad’s side of the family. All we know about that side is that my dad’s grandfather was from Leon, Spain, but he died when his son (my grandfather) was still very young and so no one got the chance to find out more about him. My dad’s grandmother rarely talked about her husband and our own search for any information about him hasn’t turned up anything.

    Reply
  82. Pat K

    Your blog is such fun. Many thanks for writing it.
    I was born in Ohio and now live in the San Francisco Bay area. My father was born in Missouri. His parents were born in the West of Ireland. Mom was born in Kansas and her parents (who raised wheat and cattle) were a mixture of English and French.
    Corey, I’m curious if you have ever had your DNA tested to see from what part(s) of the world your very, very distant ancestors came.

    Reply
  83. Karen C

    Corey, I’m Australian, from Victoria. But you know that already from emails that have passed between us.
    I searched for other Aussie readers among the replies but only found one other on the other side of our land in Perth.
    Your are still a treasure to be discovered down here.
    Hi to everyone around the world.

    Reply
  84. Gitte J

    I live in Copenhagen, Denmark. My familiy is danish a hundred years back. Thank you for your wonderful blog, I have been following you for for many years. I LOVE South of France and go there once a year if it is possible, and reading your blog is a little visit every day.
    Thank you for your generous sharing !

    Reply
  85. Leigh

    Corey, I read your wonderful blog every day! My ancestors were from England, Scotland, Ireland and Germany. I’m a 5th generation New Zealander.
    I’ve visited both California and France. Love the music!

    Reply
  86. Catalina

    🙂
    I’m from Venezuela but born in Mallorca. My family is from Spain: Mallorca and Navarre. I use to live in Caracas until I was 30. After were living in Canada for 12 years and now in France since 6 years ago. I have a French husband too 🙂
    I have been a foreign everywhere even if my country is Venezuela (because my culture is a mix and not the typical one there) When I go to Spain, I’m a foreign there as well because my accent is different 🙂 So, I’m a citizen of the world!
    Love your blog! have been reading you since the beginning! Love your stories, pictures and way to write! (write a book please!)

    Reply
  87. LibbyWNZ

    HI Corey and the world , another New Zealander here of English, Irish and Australian heritage. Wonderful to see the international flavour of fellow-followers – it sure is a global village in which we are living, connected through technology.

    Reply
  88. kathy woods

    Hi Corey
    I was born in England of English and Irish parentage. Moved to Perth in Western Australia when I was 14 and then moved with my husband to Melbourne in Australia 20 years later. We have been in Melbourne since. I have 3 siblings in Perth and 1 sibling in England where I made a short two week visit last year. I do wish all the family could be together, but such is life!
    Thank you so much for your blog..it’s wonderful
    Kathy

    Reply
  89. liz

    Corey-you most likely have already heard about David Leite’s cookbook, The New Portuguese Table…it’s full of wonderful recipes.
    http://leitesculinaria.com/the-new-portuguese-table
    I was born in 1952 on the coastal plains of NC…in the land of tobacco, textiles, oysters and segregation. Both sides of my Ulster-Scots family have been settled in the Carolinas since the mid 1700s. Only my paternal grandmother came from “away”…the granddaughter of a Scotsman from Wisconsin.

    Reply
  90. michael

    well, since you asked…..
    hi, corey,
    i’m a brooklyn boy, even though i grew up on long island. wound up living for 26 years back in park slope in a building built by the doctor who delivered me.
    my father’s parents were born in th castro, or jewish ghetto in ioannina, greece. my mother’s grandparents were from minsk and kiev, litvak light.
    i was at school upstate new york, and then in the army in korea (i herded typewriters) before spending my business life in the furniture field doing design, sales and p.r.
    got to travel a lot, and then vacationed in western europe or the far east or california.
    after a bunch more years in orlando, i’m more settled in bradenton, florida, between tampa bay and sarasota. love it, and am crazy about my apt, where the braden and manatee rivers meet just outside my windows. lovely thrifts, and great people. when it is too warm to be out, i read design blogs-especially yours, which comes in the late evening.
    when do you get m. french husband back from the ‘frigid’ north?

    Reply
  91. Maura @ Lilac Lane Cottage

    Hi Corey, I was born in Selkirk Manitoba Canada…lived most of my life in the mountains of British Columbia Canada but 10 years ago I moved to Kansas and have been happily married to my best friend for the last 8+ years. My parents met during WWII in England my mother drove ambulance in and around London my father was a Canadian soldier. Mum moved to Canada and most of her family came later. In 1991 I received a letter from a lady in England…turned out she was my sister and was born in England in 1945. Because the family had imigrated she couldn’t find us…but a letter to the church the family had attended for 400 years changed her life and mine forever. I wrote about it in February in my blog. I start my day with you every day …you make me smile! Have a wonderful day…:)

    Reply
  92. pat

    Hi Corey
    My family was from Scotland and England and came to Canada in the mid 1800’s to Toronto. I was born in Toronto but lived in Nassau in the Bahamas growing up and then Montreal. We lived in New York City for a couple of years. Now we are back in Toronto. We have a son in Toronto and a son in Turkey.
    We travel alot and our favourite destinations are France, Italy, New York, and Turkey. But there is a long list we are waiting to visit. Now that Mike has retired, this will be realized.
    Your blog touches me deeply and starts my day.
    xopat

    Reply
  93. Nancy from Mass

    I was born in New Hampshire (as was my Mom and Dad) but both sets of grandparents were born in Canada. They are Canadian for a few generations, then back to France. My paternal great grandmother was an Iroquois indian who lived on the border of Canada and married my great grandfather. they had 13 children, only 2 moved to the states, my grandfather and one uncle. they both fought during ww1, in France, for the US. My husbands family is english and irish and one of his ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence – Richard Stockton. I always tease him that his ancestors killed my ancestors!

    Reply
  94. Jennifer M.

    Born and raised in Ohio, lived many places thanks to the United States Navy, now in North Carolina. Living vicariously through you in France!

    Reply
  95. Donna

    Hi Corey,
    I’m a daughter of small-town mid-west USA Hoosiers (Indiana) — home town of the actor James Dean. Born, raised, schooled, worked there until marrying and moving to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Now I’m close to Philadelphia, Baltimore, D.C. and a short train ride from NYC. Great-Grandmother’s family lived near the French/Swiss border. We also have English, Welsh, and German heritage.
    It is wonderful to hear all of the ancestral stories of your readers! Thanks for keeping your blog so interesting.

    Reply
  96. Cheryl Seymour

    Small town Wisconsin, US of A!
    My family came to the US 375 years ago, from Leeds, England.

    Reply
  97. Sherry

    Hi Corey, Love your blog too! Hearing about your travels and FH’s bike trip-I can live vicariously in Europe.
    I grew up in Western Massachusetts, Population 500 in the 1950’s. In my 20’s moved to Colorado, Denver and the foothills.
    Stayed 20 years, then moved into another small town in Western Mass. Love New England, miss Colorado and the west! I’ve traveled as often as possible in the US, Canada and Mexico. Heading to Colorado and New Mexico in 2 weeks. Taos NM is one of my dream places.
    I look forward to your daily postings!
    Sherry

    Reply
  98. naomi

    Born in Tampa, Florida . . .lived there again for several years around college, and met my husband there. Family from Tennessee/Kentucky area and Illinois. Moved to Wisconsin when I was 7 or 8, and lived in different places in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois until I went back to FL for college. Came to Tennessee when my first baby was 1 to be close to husband’s parents, and now mine live close by also! Now Nashville feels like home.

    Reply
  99. Babs Millward

    My mother’s family came from Holland in the 1600’s and my dad’s from Ireland during the potato famine. I grew up in northern Louisiana and moved to Texas, as they say, “as fast as I could.” Married a guy from Pennsylvania and work in Dallas, but we live in a small town about 20 miles east of Dallas. We have the best of both worlds — we are close to everything we need but have a lake in our back yard so home is very peaceful. I’ve been to Paris three times and would love to see the rest of France. Almost forgot — we are only about 45 minutes away from the largest flea market in Texas — First Monday Trade Days in Canton, the weekend before the first Monday of every month — you would love it.

    Reply
  100. Jean Wright

    Born in Texas, raised partly in California and Texas. Came back to Texas as fast as I could (I think it’s God’s heaven). My dad worked for Nasa, so we moved a lot between California, Alabama and Texas. I’ve been to every stated in the Union, Canada and Mexico. I still have time to get to France! And you tempt me every day….but I can never leave Texas for good! (We are an overbearing lot, aren’t we?)

    Reply
  101. Gill

    I was born and raised in South Africa and can’t see myself ever living anywhere else, although I have this dream of settling in Europe one day. I love Europe! And your blog 🙂

    Reply
  102. MuseumMom

    Live in Connecticut – born in New Jersey – Father’s side are all from Germany arriving late 19th century to Jersey City, NJ. Mother’s side is Scotland/England all arriving very early ca. 1650 to Massachusetts and then eventually settled in Minnesota. Fun to see how wide and far readers live!

    Reply
  103. Victoria Ramos

    This is a fabulous idea – I love reading everyone’s comments. Although I am half Portuguese – the other half is very interesting…
    My paternal Grandparents are both from Madeira Island – Portugal. My grandfather ended up in Bryte, CA and was a widower looking for a mother for his small children. Grandma was a bride for practical reasons having immigrated originally to Massachusetts, becoming a widow and moving to the bay area to live with family — where they hooked her up with Grandpa. They had one child, my dad.
    On my mother’s side: her father immigrated to the US from Norway and eventually ended up in the NY area where he met my grandmother. She was the daughter of a Blackfoot Indian mother and a Swedish Father living in NY to go to school while working. He was way older than she was. They moved to Montana (near the Blackfeet Indian Reservation) where my mother was born (along with 7 siblings – yikes!).
    They eventually moved to Sacramento then to Bryte – where my parents met. Although both my parents joined the Navy, they went in at different times. My father at the very end of WWII, my mother during the Korean conflict. But they stayed in touch and eventually married. My parents moved when I was 2 years old to West Sacramento where I grew up with my sisters.
    My family was very much into our heritage as Bryte, CA had a huge Portuguesa population and their own Festa grounds (San Pedro). We would attend Festas in the Valley every year. Maybe I met you as a child at a Festa?!?!?

    Reply
  104. John Powell

    I am here to testify that it is possible to leave Texas and not look back. Both my father and my mother’s family settled in Texas before it was a state. My father’s family was there before it was a republic and I left when I was 26. I moved to NY and struggled as an artist there and worked for an interior designer. I saved my nickels and went to Paris and Italy on vacation. I quit my job and stayed in Paris and lived on 10 francs a day in 1982. Then I started to get jobs as a decorative painter in NY and in Paris. I lived on a plane of a couple of years and then I moved to Paris for 14 years. I spent every Christmas and Summer in the Luberon and then in Provence near Beaumes de Venise. Now I live in Mexico in the Yucatan and I live vicariously through your blog where my soul resides always… In Provence.

    Reply
  105. Patti

    What fun! My grandfather emigrated to Canada and then to marry and live in rural Kansas. He died when my father was 2 years old and the family moved to Eastern Washington. The great grandparents on the other side were from Germany and Denmark. these grandparents lived in Van Wert, Ohio but moved to Washington as young adults. I was born of Washingtonian parentage in Pasadena, California but came to Washington State at 3 months and have lived here ever since. I grew up in a beautiful little farming community but moved to Seattle for college. I was born a city girl and when I finally got there, I stayed. In recent I have moved across Puget Sound and miss my vibrant, sparkling city on the water. As the ferry pulls into Seattle, my heart always says…”ahhh home!”

    Reply
  106. Twinkleberry

    I’m from South Africa, and now, I live in the most beautiful little rural english village!

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  107. Cherise

    Corey I just love reading your blog! Your stories are always so enchanting. It’s especially fun reading the comments and I like this one seeing where everyone is from. I even see a friend of mine on here! Though, in truth, said friend and I have never met in real life, just on the ‘net, but I forget that sometimes 🙂
    I live in TX, grew up in CA. Have spent years in CT, IN, Kenya, England, Costa Rica and Thailand and am married to a Swiss hoping to move to CH or France eventually. I like to pretend I’m a citizen of the world.

    Reply
  108. Patty Edwards

    Finding where my family is from is a trip, and sharing our stories of geography and genealogy even more fun.
    Mom’s parents were very Dutch (in US since 1850) and Canadian (from England). Dad’s parents English and English originally but in the States from way back. His mom died when he was born, and I have her stories, but not so much about my step-grandmother…I’m guessing some German. Mom was raised five years in India (folks were missionaries), then Iowa. Dad from Washington state and Wisconsin. They met at nursing & medical school in Chicago. I was born in Southern California, Inglewood, raised in El Segundo, schooled in Santa Barbara, raised a family in Palo Alto, and now live in San Diego. I do love California. Have made two trips to France, and every day I want to return, and I do via your blog. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  109. Jo Eike-Smith

    Your blog is a daily must-read! It brings a lift to my soul! We have lived in many places around the world (with children now scattered about as well. I used to think my heart belonged to Stockholm but…shhhhh, don’t tell…I’m beginning to fall madly, head-over-heels, in love with Provence!!!

    Reply
  110. =mew=

    I am from a tiny town called Rockdale, in Massachusetts. I now live in northern Delaware but miss New England terribly. I lived in France 2 years and loved every second of it. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
    Mary Ellen

    Reply
  111. Lizbeth

    I was born in England and lived there until I was almost 22-years old. I left for Spain, then went to Puerto Rico where I met and married my American husband 49 years ago. I have lived in USA ever since.

    Reply
  112. Sue from Seattle

    Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and now live in Seattle, Wa area. Hope to get to Europe someday. Love your blog.

    Reply
  113. Kennedy

    I live in Calgary and so do read and enjoy your blog!

    Reply
  114. OLIVIA

    We were almost neighbors! I was born and raised in Sacramento, California, USA!
    Love hearing your life stories. France has always been a dream trip for me. Maybe one day I can say bonjour from France!
    Olivia

    Reply
  115. Bao

    Born in Viet Nam but Texas is my home. So great to read where everyone is from. Love it!

    Reply

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