30 - Elderflower Champagne & Bathroom Renovation Story

Bonjour, I hope you're well. Elderflower season is in full bloom here in the French countryside and there's something wonderfully reassuring about the return of these delicate blossoms each year. A lovely reminder that nature always leads the way, quietly marking the passing of time and inviting us to move with the seasons. Every spring I make what we fondly call elderflower champagne, a softly sparkling alcohol-free drink that tastes just like spring itself. It's very simple and I look forward to it every year. I gather about eight elderflower heads, mix them with a litre of bottled water, a sliced lemon and 100 grams of cane sugar. After a few days resting under a cloth the first bubbles appear. That's when I know it's time to bottle it up and let the magic continue in the fridge for another week. You can enjoy it then or release a little of the gas before sealing again just to be safe. It's a tradition I treasure. Each year I find myself checking on the elder bushes as if greeting old friends and waiting for just the right moment to begin. This spring we've experimented a little more. We're infusing apple cider vinegar with the blossoms for a floral vinegar I can't wait to drizzle over summer salads and we've also begun a liqueur which needs to rest at least a month. I'm quite curious to see how the flavours will develop. It feels like bottling up a piece of the season. Life here can seem very peaceful and it truly is but it took us time and a fair bit of hard work to reach this place of calm. Our home was a large renovation project and today I thought I'd take you down memory lane with me as I spend some time in the children's bathroom, a room that holds so many precious memories now. This corner, yes right there, was once all there was to the bathroom. And that dark patch, a leaky chimney. And then came the day we removed the roof entirely. But that's a story for another day. The children's bathroom as it stands today began with these antique tomates, 18th century terracotta tiles we find near Paris. The house had lost most of its original features over time so we tried to bring back as much character as we could. Each tile had to be cleaned by hand and placing them was a bit like working through a puzzle, no two alike, all just slightly irregular as handmade pieces often are. My husband did a wonderful job with floor and our youngest joined in now and then determined to help. We chose a communal style sink. I've always loved the casual charm of it and it felt perfect for a space shared by little ones. The walls and shower I finished in handmade Moroccan Zelige. I adore the way they catch the light. On either side of the room we built shallow ledges which keeps soaps and toothbrushes within easy reach of small hands. And the cupboard is made from antique doors we sourced nearby and that's where we store towels and body products. It's a room that is usually full of life and laughter from mirror singing contests to siblings playing endlessly in the bath. And so the days unfold one after the other, quietly, gently, shaped by the rhythm of nature, small joys at home and the work of our hands. I hope this glimpse into our springtime brings you a sense of calm and inspiration for your own season. Thank you as always for being here.