Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

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How is it with your Mother in Law?

French Brocante Finds

 

French brocante finds… sorry Mat.

Found a pair of sconces, my Belle Mere rewired them.

Rubbing my hands happily, I saw a whole new world opening up… I went through a few of brocante boxes finding other light fixtures that needed her touch.

Let there be light is my new motto.

 

 

1700s French Engraving

 

Later in the day I found this small portrait, buried between some linens and books.

I licked it up, and swallowed it whole.

I don't know how to say that in French without it sounding rude.

 

 

Carved wood, Brocante

 

A 1700s carved piece on wood.

I have no idea what it was used for, or what I will do with it.

Mat quit shaking your head.

Love has its reasons.

 

French Brocante, rosary beads and frames

A pair of long painted grey candle sticks,

Two round wooden frames, with hints of grey and gold.

A long monastic hand carved wooden rosary.

 

 

French Brocante, Brocante for Paris

My Belle Mere is into this Paris apartment renovation, I think she will stay with us for a few more weeks. She came downstairs this morning, kissed me, like they do in France, and before her cheek touched mine she as saying, "Oh my, last night my dreams were all about the apartment. I could see everything in place. It was wonderful!"

I put my arm around her, "Oh no! Little do you know how many more brocante boxes I have been keeping aside for this very day." 

Her eyes widen, "Come on, let's open them!"

She has the bug badly, maybe worse than me.

 

French Brocante silk print

Deep inside another box, some silk prints that my friend Lisa gave me years ago. My Belle Mere was all over them, calculating the pieces for pillows. 

Later in the day I heard her talking to her daugher, "… I don't know when I am coming home…"

 

Brocante Corey Amaro

 

I am loving every minute of this project, and especially my Belle Mere.

I would have never guessed twenty years ago that our relationship would be this fun today.

How is it with your Mother in Law?

 

Comments

38 responses to “How is it with your Mother in Law?”

  1. Frank Purrkins

    Why is your husband in this video with Fanny Ardant?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=NiHWwKC8WjU

    Reply
  2. marlis

    ooh I miss my mother in law. She passed away this past June. And I miss her dearly. I always say I married my husband for his mother and sisters! Have too much fun!!! xo marlis

    Reply
  3. Leigh NZ

    My MIL and I did not gel, nor did she gel with her other DIL’s, we have all been happily divorced from her sons for many years and she is now annoying them. ; )
    Corey, I thought of a story I heard when you mentioned having old marble for your bathroom…
    A warning to everyone when purchasing used marble for kitchen benches/counters. I was told years ago of a NZ couple who purchased a beautiful slab of old used marble from an auction and had it fashioned into a kitchen island counter top. After a few weeks of using the counter to cut food, roll pastry etc they started to notice a foul odour in their kitchen. As you will know marble does leech and on further investigation they got learned the unhappy news that their lovely marble slab had enjoyed a previous life as the back splash of a communal men’s urinal. YUK

    Reply
  4. Star

    Wow, your Belle Mere really does have the bug! I’m so glad the two of you are enjoying this time together. The apartment can only benefit if both of you are working your magic.
    I don’t see my mother-in-law often because of distance but we do Facetime on our iPads. We enjoy one another’s company, laugh together, but really don’t have too much in common except my husband. She is generous with her love, and that’s the most important quality to have 🙂

    Reply
  5. Anjanette

    I have the BEST mother-in-law in the whole world!!! Doris Martin – I’m sure she has a ticket straight to the pearly gates!! xoxxoo

    Reply
  6. Tongue in Cheek

    Leigh!!! lol! OMG!

    Reply
  7. Alena

    Ohaha, that video is just to funny!!!!
    My first mother in law and my sister in law did not like me and called me names. I was sweet young thing, who would not hurt anyone, could not stand up for herself, I did not understand why.. After 5 years my marriage ended. She was probably so happy. I was alone with two babies in a strange country. She never wanted to see those babies again and she never did. But the best thing is that I survived and forgave her. Her heart was very broken at that time , i guess. Not long ago I found out that she is gone for some time, so I tried to look for her around me, so I can tell her that she is forgiven. ( I know weird)
    BTW, I LOVE French Brocantes!!!!

    Reply
  8. Tongue in Cheek

    Dear Meow,
    You let the mouse out of the bag! Yes that is Yann. He is famous you know.
    You naughty kitten!

    Reply
  9. monika

    For 22.5 years it was prickly — she told Pierre she disapproved of me, of the way my voice became higher pitched when I spoke French, of being too materialistic (I’m not materialistic, but appreciate good design and architecture), and of being fat.
    But, for some strange reason, things have mellowed in the past 18 months. I actually look forward to her company (I even invite her to come and stay with me and the kids when Pierre is off on a business trip), and even find myself chatting to her on the phone because I want to. We still don’t have much in common, but there seems to be an appreciation and respect there which was missing before. She now asks me for recipes and consults me on cooking questions…
    And as Pierre’s brother is currently splitting from his partner of 15 years, I guess I at least get brownie points for longevity…

    Reply
  10. monika

    I think the reason things may have mellowed is that my MIL came to realize that I truly loved Pierre’s grandmother, who died this past June at the age of (exactly) 105.5 years. Whenever we were in town, we took our children to visit, and when Pierre’s grandma was in hospice care, we made several trips to visit — our 8 year old even interviewed her, and played violin for her. We miss her terribly, and I think that my MIL realized that if her own mother liked me, perhaps I wasn’t all bad 🙂

    Reply
  11. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    How delightful!
    I’ve been wondering where you’re staying in Paris, during the construction of the apartment.

    Reply
  12. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Me too!! I want to know about that video too!!! Give us an entire blog post telling us (a) the background on this and (b) what the lyrics are. If you please.

    Reply
  13. Suzanna

    so sweet the two of you enjoying the Paris Apartment…I look forward to a wonderful mother in law as yours….maybe a husband will show up! lol, XO…..so exciting working on your apartment, right up my alley ~

    Reply
  14. martina

    and here is the translation of the lyrics into English!http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1498435 When I played the video the cat went ballistic. Either she hates the music or is frustrated that she didnt understand French.

    Reply
  15. Debra

    I am sorry to say that she has passed away, and that we didn’t gel very well. Always hoped and definitely tried for improvement.

    Reply
  16. Smee

    I am very fortunate that my mil is 95% cool and we get along. There is that 5% that drives us both nuts, but hey, what’s a lousy 5%?
    About the video… when I watched it the first time I said to myself, “Jimminy! ALL FRENCH MEN LOOK LIKE YANN!…lucky lucky French women.” Seriously, I think your husband is very pleasant on the eyes…you two are a perfect match.

    Reply
  17. Sarah

    How fun! I never knew my mil.

    Reply
  18. Patti Lloyd

    my MIL was a feisty, stylish, blonde with a sweet little voice that wasn’t afraid to use profanity if some guy drove in front of her at the shopping mall parking lot.
    She traveled the world and loved all her grand and great grandchildren dearly. I have many great times remembered with her, and I do a lot of things the same way she did..guess that’s why we got along so well. I had to watch her slip away with Alzheimers, but will treasure all the best memories.

    Reply
  19. Brother Mathew

    She is loved by all who know her.

    Reply
  20. Cara

    My mother in law was a tiny sprite with a bright twinkle in her dark eyes. In her younger days she rode a huge white stallion, took her city by storm, was always in the Society pages. She knew how to garden, cook and entertain, was excellent with children, but most of all, she knew how to love. She died several years ago at the age of 99 and oh, I miss her so.

    Reply
  21. Irina

    Corey, your mother in law is a DIAMOND!
    Those round frames … I’m looking for an oval frame for my new finished embroidery – a delicate lily-of-the0valley … no luck so far ((
    Oh, to be in France … I would have no such problem 🙂

    Reply
  22. Irina

    Even those who doesn’t know her personally 🙂 I would LOVE to meet her.

    Reply
  23. 24/7 in France

    I have a French belle mere who is sweet and kind, but I only see her occasionally and rarely just one on one.

    Reply
  24. Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen

    Your MIL sounds like a real jewel. It’s so nice to have a good relationship. My MIL was a real jewel for the first 20 or so years of our marriage and we had a lot of fun together. It was if a switch went off and she changed into someone who thought it was okay to say anything that came to her mind. Right after my mother died, she told me she had never liked me. Count your blessings and enjoy the moment.
    Sam

    Reply
  25. TEXAS FRANCOPHILE

    Oh my MIL was a piece of work. She liked/loved me as much as she could with her diminished capacity to love. She has 3 sons no daughters. Very rude, very crude. I was always sweet and tolerant for my husband’s sake. She taught me how to grow roses, wrap beautiful packages, can homegrown tomatoes and collect antiques. We had many happy times and many hurtful times. So glad your relationship with your MIL has blossomed!

    Reply
  26. rebeccaNYC

    My ex-MIL once told me that I would make a good prostitute. Enough said.

    Reply
  27. “Auntie”

    Wonderful changes, over 20 years. 🙂
    “Auntie”

    Reply
  28. Chris Wittmann

    My inlaws are both deceased so I hesitate to say anything negative about the dead….let’s just say they fit the descriptioin of the “inlaws from hell” or “your inlaws are your outlaws” description pretty well! My ex-husband’s parents on the other hand (my English inlaws) were fabulous. The best inlaws anyone could have. So I have at least in my lifetime experienced pleasant relationships with inlaws…..

    Reply
  29. AmanDUH

    My MIL is wonderful, very caring and generous and supporting. She is a blessing. 🙂

    Reply
  30. Laurie SF

    My Mother-in-Law epitomized Southern hospitality. She was a cultivation of beauty, with a flirtatious yet chaste demeanor. A true southern belle. She wore her hair in a stylish bob, with one or two finger wave curls. A graduate of Vassar with the bluest of blue eyes. She married an army general, and traveled the world with open eyes. When my soon to be husband introduced me to his Mother. I leaned in and whispered “Oh my, you have Grace Kelly for a Mother? She’s beautiful.”
    Sadly, my loving Mother-in-Law, Elizabeth passed away last November.

    Reply
  31. Jeannie

    I am dancing the happy dance that you and Belle Mere have found a project which you both love and bring mutual respect. My MIL was in the earlys stages of dementia when I met here. I would see glimmers of the person she once was. I think I would have liked her in her heyday. She was feisty and a true feminist. She had to quit teaching elementary school when she married and that really was a thorn in her side. I also married her “baby”, so maybe we wouldn’t have gotten along since I don’t think anyone would measure up as “good enough” for her precious angel. She has been gone 15 years now, but I like to think my Gram is setting her straight on me being good enough. Have fun!

    Reply
  32. Patricia Moran

    I love my Irish MIL. She is 93 and bore and raised 9 children. My Daniel is the youngest and we are the only ones who live near her. My children, and granddaughter certainly have benefited from that. She still swims for exercise daily and loves to cook vegetarian fare. She has told me that she has no daughters-in-law. Only Daughters. When she was a child, her father told her and her five sisters, that they are people first and women second. Wonderfully loving and progressive.

    Reply
  33. Patricia Moran

    Alena, not weird, just loving. Your children are so fortunate to have such a mother as you.

    Reply
  34. Celeste

    My mother in law is very kind and generous. She often tells me how she wishes we lived closer so she could spend more time with her grandchildren. I keep threatening to send them her way when we hit the teenage years!

    Reply
  35. Marilyn

    Oh my, you don’t really want to know how it is with my mother-in-law. It is scary. I am so happy for you.

    Reply
  36. Christine

    Happily, she loved me more than her son. Sadly, she has left us. Thank you for your happy stories!!

    Reply
  37. barbara woods

    i have been reading your blog every since i fount blogs and i just love yours. i live in n. ga.

    Reply
  38. Lr

    What a extra wonderful blessing to have a mother-in-law with whom you can share a passion. She sounds quite talented and eager to help.
    I have a mother-in-law, but in 25 years, we have never spent a single moment alone or shared an interest. We live in the same town yet she has been inside my home three times only. You see, she has twin daughters who provide all of her “daughter time”.

    Reply

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