Patricia Sands

Author

France

Happy Thanksgiving in Canada

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October 13,2024 

 

I know we all find it hard to be giving thanks when so many people just like us are faced with war, famine and shocking events of Nature beyond anyone’s control. I understand that we have to look at the blessings in our lives and try to do whatever we can to help those others. Donating to the Red Cross International is just one of many organizations at the forefront of assisting around the world.

I hope you won’t mind if I post a similar message to past years. It’s the message I want to share at this time every year … every day, really …

I returned from another of my tours in the south of France two weeks ago and each year I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have that opportunity. Just one of many blessings for which I am grateful. Sharing my passion for the south of France with a different group of women each year and watching them fall in love with that part of the world and become great friends with each other is truly a very special event in my life.

Take a few minutes to make a list of the blessings in your life … or scroll through your photos for some reminders. May your heart be warmed.

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Thanksgiving. No shopping for anything but dinner ingredients. No lists of gifts. Bags of food being filled for the Food Banks. Volunteers serving turkey dinners at homeless shelters. Quality time spent as families and friends gather to share memories, love and laughter. An attitude of gratitude prevails. I am so thankful for the life I have. I hope you feel the same about yours.

As we consider our individual blessings, let’s remember those who struggle with hunger, illness, poverty, war and a multitude of other challenges in our own backyards and around the globe. The refugee crisis is heartbreaking. The recent storms in the USA have left so many lives in turmoil. Let’s try to make the sentiments of Thanksgiving a part of every single day.

What a good feeling to see the food donation bins overflowing today. If you can’t get out to help, here’s a way you can play a part without leaving home! Click right here.

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I’ve written about these sites before, but they are always worth mentioning from time to time.  All you have to do is go to TheHungerSite.com  once a day and click on the button — sponsors give free food. You are not put on any list or bombarded with spam. There are other links to click where sponsors donate for appropriate benefits: Breast Cancer ~ remember it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Child Health; Literacy; Rainforest; Animal Rescue and a few others. All of this has been verified as legit by Snopes years ago. I pop in every day. Why not?

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While we are at it, have you ever played FREERICE.COM? ~ This is a unique way to increase your vocabulary and donate rice to needy countries. Play it with your children as there are 60 levels. It’s a great place to learn new words for Words With Friends … ahem, my addiction when I need a few minutes off from writing. It’s such a fun way to keep connected with friends too.

One big personal thank you to the readers who take the time to contact me. I love hearing from you and am grateful for every single message. Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter (just click on the link in the column to the right) and for sharing my books with your friends. You light up my life!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Filed Under: Blog, Social issues, UncategorizedTagged With: Canada, Canadian Thanksgiving, donate, family, food, help others, Patricia Sands, Thanksgiving

Bonne Fête Nationale ~ Quatorze Juillet/July 14 in France

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July 14, 2024 by Patricia Sands

Paris-PSandsPhotos

Bonne Fête à toutes et tous! The most important national holiday in France is July 14, Quatorze Juillet or La Fête Nationale. On this day, throughout the country, the French celebrate the start of the French Revolution in 1789 when the Bastille was stormed. It is now also an important symbolic celebration where the French values ​​are celebrated: Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood.

Everywhere there are red, white and blue flags and people wear a rosette with those colors as parties are planned. Large tables are set up on the square of each city or village and music is everywhere, often beginning with a military band. Family gatherings can be found throughout the country. In the evening there is dancing, feasting, and controlled fireworks displays.

Since the horrific events in Nice of 2016, when a deranged man drove a truck into the crowd of celebrants with many fatalities, there are solemn commemorations of lives lost.

In Paris the day begins with a massive military parade, including the army, air force and navy, over the Champs Elysées towards the Arc de Triomphe.
La Patrouille de France, part of the French Air Force, is the first to launch a fighter jets’ fly over with a roaring sound, leaving red, white and blue plumes of smoke.


The parade is the oldest and largest in Europe and goes from the Place de l’Etoile across the Champs-Elysées to the Place de la Concorde.
In the evening there is a free concert on the Champs-de-Mars, ending with spectacular fireworks over the Eiffel Tower.

May July 14, 2024 be a safe and joyous day for all in France and wherever you celebrate.

Vive La France!

Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France…, Photo blogs, UncategorizedTagged With: 14 juillet, Bastille Day, France, la fete nationale

Happy July ~ so much to celebrate!

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July is one of my happiest months! Wait a minute … I think I can say that about every month. There’s always something to celebrate every day of every month, isn’t there? I like to think about the abundance of everyday magic all around us … even if it means just enjoying a yummy Caramel Crunch Vanilla ice cream bar … we have to keep reminding ourselves of the small things, yes? Especially when so many of the big things in life are going sideways.

So here’s to July … I hope you have had wonderful times celebrating Canada Day and the 4th of July wherever you live. I’ve seen some amazing fireworks and drone shows online! Have you? I hope so!

And before we know it, July 14th will be happening ~ France’s most important national celebration! So in case I don’t get around to posting then, I will do it now.

I’m almost ready to write THE END on my next manuscript … shhhh, I would love to tell you about it but it’s a fun secret (for now) series with seven of my favourite authors. When we are ready to share the news, you will be among the first to know. I’ll be celebrating those two little words now for sure.

Okay … so more to celebrate! Have you entered this great summer book giveaway? There are three days left, so hop to it if you haven’t … good luck!

Make this summer unforgettable with the Sunshine & Stories giveaway! 🌞📚 Enter for a chance to win 13 print books from 13 bestselling authors and immerse yourself in a world of stories. Get ready for endless hours of reading pleasure! https://tinyurl.com/4yd5cf3c #SummerGiveaway #Books #SunshineAndStories

I’m still not finished celebrating July! I love it when Amazon puts one of my books on sale and for this month The Promise of Provence is a Kindle deal ~ just $1.99. If you have not started this series that leads to six more wonderful books, now is the time. Readers tell me that once they get started they simply cannot stop! I love writing the stories for you so I hope you will plan to lose yourself in the south of France this summer in these books. (Thanks so much for leaving reviews! )

One more celebration to come ~ my birthday later in the month. How about you? If you are celebrating a birthday in July … or any other month … here are my best wishes.

Stay safe, be kind and enjoy good stories all through the summer. See you soon!

Happy May Day

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Happy May Day!

En France ~ Bonne fête du muguet! Bonne fête du travail! Bon premier Mai! Happy Labor Day! Happy first of May!

In many countries around the world, the first of May is a celebrated Labor Day. In France there’s a special twist to the holiday that I love.
I recycle this post every year because I don’t want to change anything about it. If you read it last year … or the year before , I hope you enjoy it again. And if you can find some Lily of the Valley to give to a friend, all the better.

En mai, fais ce qu’il te plait!

Provençal proverb ~ In May, do what pleases you!


Here’s my May 1st muguet to each of you.

Every May 1st I like to share one of my favourite traditions in France ~ La Fête du Travail or La Fête du Muguet. The day is a national holiday ~ International Workers’ Day, like Labour Day in North America. But more than that it is an occasion when people give little bouquets or sprigs or pots of le muguet (lily of the valley) to each other. Like so many of the things we love about France, the tradition has lasted for centuries. It began in 1561, during the Renaissance.

Click here to read an excellent article by Margo Lestz, about this sweet tradition and all the history behind it.

Here’s another post about the tradition from Kristin Espinasse, everyone’s favourite scribe of daily French life.

A few years ago, my husband and I had just finished a magical stay (but then isn’t it always?) in Paris and the Loire Valley. We were driving south to the Dordogne region on May 1st and in every town, big or small, this was the scene. Even on a drizzly day. I loved it!


Obviously, young or old, everyone puts a lot of thought into this tradition.

A vivid memory of that rainy morning, is of an elderly woman sitting under an umbrella beside her small stand of bouquets of muguets. It wasn’t an appropriate picture to take … and no time to stop in the midst of traffic … but I’ve never forgotten the image. Does this happen to you sometimes when you travel? Your eye is the shutter and a particular image is captured forever in your memory?

Le muguet or lily of the valley represents a porte-bonheur, a good luck charm, to special people in your life. I am offering one to each of you.

Does your culture or country have a special May 1st tradtion?

I’m happy to report our 2024 South of France Memories Tour is almost sold out! Click on that link for all the details. If you have been thinking about joining us, now is your last chance. I will not be doing this tour in 2025. After ten wonderful years, it’s time for a break. Thanks to all of the many women from all over the world who have joined us in the past. I remember each one of you when I look back over the fabulous photos and am so thankful for the time we spent together.