Our New Herb Garden- Le Château de Chenonceau Style

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cooking, France, French, gardening, grilling, herb garden, herbs, landscaping, potager

Since our potager isn’t located close to our kitchen at all (it’s further away from our house down on the first bank), it wasn’t an ideal location for my herbs. I can’t just run out quickly when making dinner to add a spring of something or another.

Four years ago, The Town Mouse posted a picture of the herb garden at le château de Chenonceau (Chenonceaux, France) that I have coveted ever since. The recessed pots are adorable and would help deter mints and other herbs from taking over the entire garden.

Town Mouse’s picture of an herb garden at le château de Chenonceau (Chenonceaux, France)

The perfect spot for the herb garden was just off the back deck. It is the perfect location for both kitchen and grill access. At the beginning of last year, we turned a tight v- shaped corner (between the deck, pool deck, and pool) into a garden bed. We removed the grass, lined it with black plastic, mulched, edged it with mountain stone, while lining the pool side with small river rock. The only plant in the area was a spiraea we transplanted (and rescued) from next to the AC unit.

Last night, I purchased terra-cotta pots and herbs for my new garden. On the upper lip of the pots, I brushed on 2 coats of a terra-cotta sealant, 2 coats of paint (formulated for terra-cotta), and finished with two more coats of the sealant. I had these supplies left over from a previous project.

This morning, we were ready to create our new herb garden. I’m actually surprised Hubster was so agreeable to this design, when I first showed him the picture years ago, he didn’t care for it. First, I laid out the pots to determine their arrangement. Then, I pushed aside the old mulch and cut a hole in the plastic, and Hubster loosened holes in the clay soil. Once I recessed the pots into the new holes, I back-filled any exterior gaps with the clay soil and filled the pots with potting soil. I smoothed the old mulch back around the pots and planted the herbs.

I planted thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, fennel, chives, peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, and bee balm. I actually think we’re going to add two more pots and create a fourth row in the back. I already have two types of basil and a lavender that I’d like to add there. Most of the herbs are perennials and will come back each year, so it’ll be easy to supplement the annual varieties.

Our New Herb Garden – Front View

Our New Herb Garden – Deck View

Our New Herb Garden – Poolside View

I can’t wait to update this post when the herbs have filled out and been topped off with fresh mulch!

UPDATE:
We added two more pots in the back!

Another Row Added

What do you think of our new herb garden?
What herbs do you keep in your garden?

XOXO,
Young Wifey 

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French Chic Postage Painting

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acrylic paint, chic, France, home decor, paint, painting, Paris, postaday2011, postage, powder room, silhouette, wall art

I’ve been working on a painting for my powder room for a few weeks. I prepped the canvas, started to paint and then (unhappy with the result) started all over again. I got so frustrated, that I turned my canvas and easel to face the wall. Last night, I realized that I had put my canvas on “time out”! I turned it back around and started again. It was late and I was tired, but inspiration hit. I continued to work even with my exhausted shaky hands.

French Chic Postage Painting

It started as a vintage postage stamp Paris collage type painting… I’m not sure how to define it. The quality isn’t perfect and smooth, but I like it. It’s powder room perfect.

I took the picture before the paint was dry and the clear coat sprayed…

What project did you work on this weekend?

xoxo,
Young Wifey

Parisian Café Tray

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bed tray, breakfast, breakfast in bed, brunch, café, café tray, craft, decoupage, France, Paris, postaday2011, relax, relaxation, relaxing, tea tray, tray, tray table

My personal goal over my Christmas break was to take one day for myself. I’ve been back to work for two weeks and it still hasn’t happened. We spent an extra day over break in the Philadelphia area; a few days our plans were snowed out and we extended our trip to include some of the traditional holiday activities. My expat sister was home from Scotland, so it was good to spend a little extra time with her. It’s always hard to say goodbye and I was looking forward to a day of relaxation… but we were busier than we thought we’d be when we returned. I wanted our place to have a clean start before the New Year, at least I was successful at that.

Now, with Hubster working late nights, you’d think I’d have a moment for myself, but our schedule is just jam-packed. Back from a hectic weekend… I need a little relaxation. So while Hubster is busy watching football, I’m going to slip into the other room for a few hours… (which also means tomorrow’s post will be later). I’m going to load my new Parisian Café Tray with macaroons, petite fours, thé au lait, a bottle of Evian, a few fresh-cut flowers and a good book. My iPod loaded with Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. For me to truly have a relaxing moment, all my senses need to be submersed.

Parisian Café Tray

 

I purchased an unfinished bed tray at the craft store and quickly turned it into my Parisian Café Tray. I stained the wood in a dark finish and allowed it to dry overnight. I applied Mod Podge to decoupage scrapbook paper, black & white photos (from a calendar), and ribbon on the surface. I allowed it to dry in between coats and then sprayed it with a sealer.

This tray is great and I look forward to using it often (hopefully). It’s great for working on small crafts while I’m sitting in the living room or bedroom… Maybe Hubster will take the hint and serve me brunch in bed one weekend… that is if I ever get to sleep in…

How do you relax?