Patricia Sands

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Patricia Sands

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.

Poisson d’avril! April Fool’s Day in France

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April 1, 2024 by Patricia Sands (Edit)

In many countries April begins with April Fool’s Day. Do you indulge? For those who haven’t heard before, you may be interested in knowing how April 1st is celebrated in an altogether unique way in France.

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Imagine my surprise the first time I saw children sticking paper fish on each other’s back, whispering and giggling, and then hollering, “Poisson d’avril!”

Excusez-moi? Fish?

As Wikipedia explains: “In Italy, France and Belgium, children and adults traditionally tack paper fishes on each other’s back as a trick and shout “April fish!” in their local languages (pesce d’aprile!, poisson d’avril! and aprilvis! in Italian, French and Flemish, respectively). Such fish feature prominently on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools’ Day postcards.

April-Fools-vintage-Image-TheGraphicsFairy.com

April-Fools-vintage-Image-TheGraphicsFairy.com

I had no idea where the tradition began and, after a bit of searching, found this explanation on France Travel Guide.

“Although the origin of April Fools is obscure and debated, the most widely accepted explanation actually credits the “holiday” as starting in France. The most popular theory about the origin of April Fool’s Day involves the French calendar reform of the sixteenth century.

The theory goes like this: In 1564 King Charles XIV of France reformed the calendar, moving the start of the year from the end of March to January 1.

However, in a time without trains, a reliable post system or the internet, news often traveled slow and the uneducated, lower class people in rural France were the last to hear of and accept the new calendar. Those who failed to keep up with the change or who stubbornly clung to the old calendar system and continued to celebrate the New Year during the week that fell between March 25th and April 1st, had jokes played on them.

Pranksters would surreptitiously stick paper fish to their backs. The victims of this prank were thus called Poisson d’avril, or April Fish—which, to this day, remains the French term for April Fools—and so the tradition was born.”

poisson d'avril

Poisson d’avril

Boulangeries and patisseries deliciously get into the spirit with fish-shaped goodies. Oh … and did I mention the chocolatiers? Schools of fish of all sizes fill shop windows, the larger ones often filled with smaller treats. To a chocoholic, fish never tasted so good!

Since Easter often falls around the same time, fish feature predominantly in shop windows through that holiday as well.

On  The Good Life France   (amazing photography and articles ~ you know I’m a huge fan!), there’s another article by Margo Lestz about April 1st in France.  Margo writes perfectly-researched articles, as well as entertaining books about some of the quirky history and traditions of France.  Click here to visit her website!

Whether you celebrate April Fool’s Day or not, I think we all feel some relief in the Northern Hemisphere that April truly heralds the arrival of spring. Although, as we know, Mother Nature often likes to fool us with a few random snow storms in some areas.

While I’m on the blog, I’ll leave you with this … NOT an April Fool’s joke. A Season of Surprises, Book Two in the Villa des Violettes series is on sale for just $2.99 and it’s a great way to celebrate spring! Click here for your copy.

I love how readers tell me they feel they are right there in the pages of the story! That’s my hope when I write them. Guess what? You can be there! If you are longing to be in the south of France in person to stroll the streets of my stories with me and the enthusiastic women on our tour, grab one of the few remaining spots on our 12-day September Memories Tour! Sept 2 – 14 ~  Happiness and joie de vivre guaranteed.

At the moment there are a few spots remaining but they won’t last long. Click on this link for all the details!

THIS COULD BE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

Thanks to the Barefoot Blogger !

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BAREFOOT BLOGGER

Thanks to my best travel buddy for posting about our Memories Tour which will take place from September 2 to 14! She will be meeting up with us in Uzès ~ wait until you see where she lives!

Here’s what she has to say …

I’m Deborah, an American expat who has called the charming town of Uzès, France, home for nearly a decade. Through this website, I invite you to join me on an exciting journey as I share my experiences and insights from this beautiful corner of the world.

INSPIRING LIFE & TRAVEL IN FRANCE

Time Flies. Make Memories!

 “Time flies” might sound a bit trite, but it seems to be truer than ever.

That’s why I want to encourage my gal friends and followers to sign up for the “Memories You Promised Yourself” tour of the south of France with best selling author, and my BFF Patricia Sands.

It’s time to make memories you promised yourself. 

Traveling with the Memories Tour when I co-hosted with Patricia is a memory of a lifetime for me.

Here are some of the highlights of the tour:

Strolling the seaside Promenade des Anglais in Nice and touring the colorful city.

Meandering through the cobblestone streets of Saint Paul de Vence, filled with history, galleries and charming shops.


Discovering the spectacular hilltop town of Eze and enjoying the spectacular gardens of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.


Exploring the ancient harbor town of Antibes, Patricia’s home away from home.


Walking in Cézanne’s footsteps in Aix en Provence.


Admiring the roman treasures, world-renowned ancient and modern architecture and the spirit of Van Gogh in Arles.


Touring the ancient Roman Arena in Nimes before savouring local products at the daily market and at an exceptional olive oil mill.


Enjoying a safari to observe the Camargue’s unique flora, fauna and rose-colored salt marshes.


Experiencing market day in St Remy de Provence & the spectacular Carrières de Lumières in les Baux de Provence.


Discovering a genuine Duché (duchy) in Uzès and admiring the Pont du Gard, UNESCO heritage site and architectural wonder.


Joining harvest time and tasting the wine. 

This year I will greet you to show you where I live and join you for lunch in Uzès!

The tour always sells out, so don’t wait. We would love to have you and perhaps some of your friends or family come along … or your book club, fitness group, whatever. You will find all of the details here.

Nancy McGee, owner of Absolutely Southern France Travel, has been busy securing the two luxury hotels (just two, as you only move once, from Nice to Arles) and fabulous restaurants. She takes care of all the logistics and makes certain everything is in place for everyone to have amazing experiences every single day.

If you have any questions, contact Nancy McGee through the website.

Join the free JourneyWoman Webinar to learn more!

On March 26 at 2 p.m. ET, Patricia Sands, along with her author friends Steena Holmes, Jules Larimore, Cheryl Jamison, and owner of Absolutely Southern France Travel, Nancy McGee, share their passion for travel with you! This exciting event will be hosted by Carolyn Ray, CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, the world’s largest and most trusted travel resource for women over 50.

Here’s the link for a free sign-up to join the webinar!