Winter retreat

 

Our house in Connecticut

Waking up to a red sunrise brightening a magnificent white landscape, birds on a feeding frenzy taking turns to the bird feeders, I could not dream of a more beautiful way to face the world.

 A room with a view... my beloved Pyrenees from our balcony

I just returned from the French Pyrenees where my parents spend the winter.Ever since I could walk, I have skied this beautiful mountain. I am now at a point of my life where I am contemplating making changes and I feel that the mountains give me strength, peace and joy. I love to climb them, ski down at full speed or deep in powder, spend the summer nights, hiking and sleeping under the stars. The search for our mountain retreat has officially started.I don't know where yet...France, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana... I listen to my instincts and will know when my heart will palpitate at a faster rate : This is the one!

My dream retreat is a rustic architecture with huge windows  and  a warm contemporary feel. I tend to stay away from all the trappings of the "expected" ski chalet...log construction, cutesy fabrics, endless amount of checkered or tartan pillows and fur blankets... I favor an interior that is ultimately inviting, comfortable, ready to have a house full of friends and children but that will not compete with the view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the above images are from my Pinterest 

http://www.pinterest.com/interieurs/

Are you looking for a ski house? I would love to design it...

A Bientot,

Francine

Snowbound

Charming Ski town of Saint Lary Soulan in the Pyrennees, my second home

My oldest memory is a vague image of myself, wearing a hand knit red sweater, a big grin on my face and small wooden skies on my feet...it might be an  actual memory or some recollection of an old photograph. I always dreamed of being snowbound, crying (even as an adult) when the moment came  to turn my back to the mountains and return to school or later in life, to work. I was snow bound for a full week in my college, Babson College, outside of Boston during the most extraordinary snowstorm! Loved every moment of it as I had great food reserve (packages were sent from France on a regular basis by my parents) and skis. I skied out of my second floor room to my friend's dorm at Wellesley college. To this day, I still feel the stillness of the air, the soundless, pure white landscape.

Paris under the snow is a rare and beautiful event. Earlier in january,I left Paris to meet my parents in the Pyrenees for some relaxation time,  skiing and nice evenings chatting by the fireplace.
I woke up to 6 feet of snow ...a dream... a few lifts were open..the french ski resorts are a little more lax than our US counterpart when it comes to safety. Needless to say I was off, in fierce winds, total white out, and deep powder. Heart pumping, lost in the unforgiving landscape, I forgot all the worries and stress of work and life that keep me up at night, to focus on a single task: avoid avalanches, listen for sounds and ski. Made it down the mountain to find out that the slopes were actually closed, the tram shut down and the only road shut down by avalanches. SNOWBOUND!

giving my dad moral support

 The Pyrenees, steep mountain range between France and Spain

I woke up yesterday morning to this magical landscape. In my pjs and slippers, I grabbed my camera to capture the moment. I rushed to the attic to get my Xcountry skis, snow pants and off I went to our woods... blissfull hours, alone in deep snow , skiing along the river, up the hills, following deer footprints...

My dogs are not too keen on the snow..trying to convince how fun it is to play in the snow

I am off for some Xcoutry skiing...

A Bientôt,

Francine

A winter white tale...

We woke up to a perfect snowy magical land on the day after Christmas

I guess you may have figured out that I really love snow...

We left Connecticut, after a few grueling days trying to send our Christmas guests home (JFK had turned into crazy man land) and relentless shoveling, on to Whistler for some fantastic skiing...

I'll admit, you have to be a little nutty to ski by blizzard and total white out conditions...

but I would not miss it for the world!

Back from Whistler snow to find this ....fortunately, I was able to get back to work, but Luke had the privilege of shoveling our courtyard for 2 days...mumbling (for no good reason) as to why did he agree to a gravel courtyard which cannot be plowed.

image: news.flourishagency.com

I tried to convince him to fly for the week end to Quebec for a lovely romantic escape and rest from all the shoveling. I will not share his comments, but he basically thought that i had lost my mind...

James Bond in Die Another Day (fanpop.com)

If James Bond can look so stylish in extreme cold, I see no reason to

 complain about the rather low temperature in the hotel.

image spaceports.blogspot.com

At least James Bond had a lovely time, in the Sweden Ice Hotel

Doesn't this look incredibly romantic?

We can even bring some colorful furniture to warm up the space

image interiordesign-center.com

Couldn't convince Luke or any of my friends to fly to Quebec or Sweden;

 these fabulous rooms could be a nice compromise.

image: Ssara Dorio

image: perrylakes.com

 image: Shutterstock

 image: Residence Decoration

image from: Residence Decoration

This bed will keep me warm while I dream of snow

Anyone ready for more snow?

64 days to spring