Our Last Day in Beautiful Sablet in Provence

We could never have imagined that it would be more than a year and half before we might return to Sablet when we awoke on Sunday morning, October 13, 2019. Like the rest of the world, we couldn't imagine that a world-wide pandemic was about to strike that would change lives forever. 

So as is our routine on the last day of a sojourn in Sablet, we had breakfast on the terrace, returned our personal belongings to storage, emptied  trash cans and refrigerator and tidied up so the housekeepers wouldn't have to when they come to ready the house for the guests who follow. 

Shirley at Front Door

We never leave Sablet without going to pay visits to our friends who are propriétaires d'entreprise (business owners) to say good bye and fais la bise (kiss on each cheek) before we head to the TGV train station in Avignon. I snapped pictures at each stop that day.

Le Pain Medieval Boulangerie

Our first stop is at Le Pain Medieval Boulangerie to say au revoir (good bye) to the young baker Julien and his mom Jeannine. We usually have to wait in line because there is often a line out the door and cars double-parked in front with motors running while the owner dashes into the bakery to get a freshly baked baguette or some other baked treats.

Julien and his Mom

Next stop is at Votre Marché which is owned by dear friends Alain and Mimi.  Over the years we have owned our house in Sablet, I can say without a doubt, no business has undergone a more substantial and positive change than Votre Marché. 

From the previous store, with largely empty shelves, the Marché is now stocked with a large assortment of items, canned goods, wines and spirits, dairy products, cheese, charcuterie, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.   

Chez Mimi et Alain Market

Dear Mimi does her best to encourage Shirley to "speak French Shirley". While speaking is still a challenge, especially when put on the spot, Shirley understands a great deal of what is said during conversations. I can say that she can now se débrouiller (handle herself) when she goes shopping on her own.  

Shirley and Alain and Mimi at Votre Marché.

From Votre Marché, we head to Café des Sports for a final café before we head to the train station. Unfortunately, on many Sunday mornings, including this day, the proprietor, our good and larger than life friend Bruno, is not manning the bar. So we said our "good byes" earlier. 

Shirley and Alain at Café des Sports

We have set an appointment to meet our friend Alain for coffee before we head out. Alain and his wife Danielle have become friends and we always look forward to spending time together at the bar. 

A Final Coffee at Café des Sports Before Departure

Having said our good byes, with sad hearts, we head to our car and the trip to Avignon. If we had known how long it would be before we might get back to Sablet, I am sure we would have been a lot more sad, more likely in full depression.

We are thankful that Shirley and I have been able to avoid become infected with COVID-19 and we are vaccinated and hope to return to Sablet in July. I can't put into words how much I love Sablet, our home there and all of our very special friends who have opened their hearts and homes to us interlopers. 

So we will remain optimistic, and say a bientot (see you soon). 😘

Jilian's birthday party at our house in Sablet

I mentioned in several posts, that we were the happy beneficiaries of a visit this summer from daughter Stephanie, husband Earl, and grandchildren Dylan, Madison and Jilian. This followed on the heels of a visit a year earlier of daughter Tricia, husband Alvin and grandchildren Avery and Caedon.

One of the fun coincidences of the visit was that the 3rd birthday of little Jilian occurred while we were in Sablet together. So we planned a special meal and invited friends Bruno and Sylvie, the owners of Café des Sports, to come celebrate with us.

Granddaughter Jilian on her birthday

Grandchildren Madison, Jilian, and Dylan in Sablet

Jilian blows out the candles on her lemon tart

Sylvie and Bruno

Jilian and her mom Stephanie

Jilian loved being the center of attention and was all smiles throughout the evening. Her happiness is infectious and we enjoyed a special evening with our wonderful friends and family.

Back to Sablet

I am so excited because we are headed to Provence and to our village in the Vaucluse in a few days. I can't wait to be back in our house in the center of Sablet within earshot of the Church of St Nazaire bells and a few steps from the fountain at Place Yvan Audouard.

As you know, we usually have family members or friends visit and this time is no exception; we are meeting up with dear friends from Michigan who are making their first trip to Provence. We are looking forward to showing off our favorite villages, going to the markets, tasting wine and of course we plan to eats lots of good food.

My favorite thing about our Sablet House is the large Provencal yellow kitchen with all the counter space for prepping food and cabinets for storage with the adjoining terrace where we eat on nice days. As you can imagine, my being a foodie and all, and loving to cook and entertain, the kitchen is fully equipped with everything I need for cooking and baking.

At one end of the kitchen, there is a cozy seating area in front of a fireplace where we have aperitifs, read, do puzzles, nap, watch videos, and play on our computers. Although we have a large living room or parlor (depending upon where you come from) with a large fireplace and TV, we spend more time in the kitchen than anywhere else.

In addition to the kitchen, I really like our cozy bedroom with the walk-in closet that looks like it might originally have been designed to be a bathroom. For those of you who have been to our house, you will notice we have added a few things to the bedroom.

I love the light and airy feeling of the bedroom, especially in the morning when we fling open the doors and shutters and the morning sun and fresh air stream in. With 9 hours time difference between Sablet and Northern California, early morning in Sablet is late evening in California, so we lay in bed and talk to our kids and catch up on the grand kids latest accomplishments and mischief.

Shirley works hard to keep the backyard beautiful at home in Northern California. Its nice to look out the bedroom window and see the hot tub and flowers throughout the year and carefully cultivated raised garden beds. I should mention that she has harvested a bumper crop of tomatoes, beets, salad greens, squash and soon pumpkins and broccoli from her garden; but I digress.

No matter how much work she does, the view from our bedroom window in Northern California over the backyard and back of our neighbor's house can't compare to the beautiful scenery from our bedroom terrace in Sablet towards the Dentelles de Montmirail.

We love our house and the village of Sablet and feel so blessed to be able to come several times a year. We feel good knowing that the guests who go there fall in love with the house, beautiful village and Sabletains (residents of Sablet are called Sabletains).

If you are interested in finding out how to make our house your home for a short or long séjour (stay) in Provence, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Bonne journée mes amis et à très bientôt.