I am very pleased today to share a guest post from one of our readers, Debbie Ambrous. I met Debbie through this blog, and she has has just published a book called A French Opportunity
I admit that I am infatuated with France. My friends say I must have French bloodlines, with the shadow of castle towers in my background and a previous pathway of ancient cobblestones.
South Alabama blood flows slowly in my veins, with the shadow of the giant Opp, Alabama water tower looming in my past, not castle towers or the Eiffel Tower! My pathway was strewn with sawdust from Daddy’s cabinet shop, not centuries-old stones in a historic lane. I love it all just the same! While Daddy’s saws were buzzing and whirling my imagination was soaring to foreign, exotic, enticing parts of the world. My feet touched many of those places, but the one that seems most like a second home to me is France.
I try to add a petite dab of French mystique with a bit of French accent on the Ambrous name since it isn’t spelled as the typical, ordinary Ambrose. When I hear, “Where ya’ll from?” I find myself saying with a tilt upward of my nose, “My husband’s family is from France.” Husband Jim’s accent leaves no doubt that any French nobility or serfs in his bloodline were conceived many years ago. He throws cold water on my castles in the air image when he blurts out, “We’re from Opp, Alabama, but she fell on her head when we crossed the Seine in Paris, and she hasn’t been the same since.”
In my book, A French Opportunity, Jim and I stay in a beautiful farmhouse in the Loire valley at Brehemont.This wonderful home with owners from Alabama was our starter house in France. How fortunate we were!
We travel further south to Burgundy, Dordogne and the Lot. We are continually drawn to the warmth of the farmhouses at La Prairie.
Luxurious Chateau hotels are a decadent treat occasionally so I can improve my mystique and shake some of the sawdust from my Alabama feet, but it’s the surprises along the way that we enjoy most of all. The following is an excerpt from the book about a trip to a Langeais, France market:
If we had lingered much longer (at breakfast), we would have missed the market. I didn’t know that it started so early. The parking lot next to the market had some extra excitement. A chicken was loose and three people were chasing it from car to car. It would hide behind the wheel of a Peugeot and just as they started to grab it, it would shoot out the other side squawking its cry of freedom and chicken dancing across the pavement to the flower hedges. I was laughing so hard that Jim said I sounded like a cackling hen on the loose too. The chicken rustlers finally got the hen without my help, although I wanted to join the roundup. I thought I could put that on my list of lifetime achievements. When the chicken was back in its coop the lady vendor stood next to me and laughingly said something in French. I don’t speak French but I believe it went something like this, “Back on the farm, that hen wouldn’t walk to the other side of the barn to see the Brad Pitt of the rooster kingdom, but when we took her out of the coop, she flew out of there like a feather duster on speed. Go figure! If I had known that I had to chase a crazy chicken in the parking lot, I would have stayed home and introduced that hen’s neck to the Marie Antoinette treatment.”
Jim wouldn’t let me buy a live chicken. Instead, I bought green beans, tomatoes, eggs, raspberries and pretty purple and yellow pansies to plant in the garden. How could I ignore the photo opportunities? A large red-faced man with a few teeth missing was animatedly selling huge heads of cauliflower that were heaped on the bed of a small blue truck. Then we had the Victoria Secret market. Girdles hung on display with extra heavy-duty brassieres, probably like the ones my Grandmother wore. Now, don’t expect me to wear those under my simple housedress if I ever live my country home dream!
Debbie, many thanks for sharing your French experience with us. You can buy Debbie's book, A French Opportunity, in the kindle edition or in paperback.
In the COMMENTS: Our last post, "French Confections of the Lustful Kind", made Julie gain weight just reading it. Suzanne, why DON'T French women get fat, with all these goodies? (I did try to explain it in this previous post, but I'm still working it out). The photos made Hampton head out for salted caramel ice cream, but Hampton, at least you rode your bike! Thanks as always for all the nice comments.
14 thoughts on “Under The Tower: From the new book “A French Opportunity””
very happy to see Debbie’s story on your blog. My wife and love her stories and recipes. She and her husband Jim are good folks, we have known them for more than forty five years and love them. Again thanks for printing their story! KEN
Debbie sounds lovely and Jim must be hilarious. The story makes me want to go to France and chase chickens, too! What a great story.
I just finished reading Debbie’s book, “A French Opportunity” and enjoyed her anecdotes. I never knew France was such a wonderful place to visit and learn about. Her story telling has me hooked on France.
Debbie, I love your lines about “the shadow of castle towers” in your background and “the previous pathway of ancient cobblestones…” The last phrase is much like one I wrote in my journal after my first visit to the Louvres, something about “following the cobblestone paths that my French ancestors trod so long ago.” I DO have French ancestry: Boucher and Demontbrun, by way of Montreal and finally KY.
I also loved the part about the corsets and brassieres at the market, because my Grandmother Age, on the French side, used to wear corsets and bras just like that. I used to share a bedroom with her when I was a child, and I can still see her getting dressed in the morning – not a speedy affair. Best of luck with your book, and thank you, LYNN, for bringing us all together on our virtual trips to France.
Thank you, Suzanne. I’m extra happy that Lynn graciously allowed me to share my story. I have an uncle working on my family’s ancestry. He hinted that I may have French ancestors. I’m waiting hopefully for further news.
Debbie Ambrous
http://www.AFrenchOpportunity.com
Lynn, Debbie’s post was absolutely delightful!
She has a way with words and a talent to make us feel that we are sharing in this adventure with her and her hubby.
What a wonderful way to begin the weekend! (and enjoy some pleasant dreams!)
THANK YOU!!
Thank you, Natalia! Your comments spread sunshine on my weekend. I just returned from a jaunt in the Jeep in the countryside and listened to the birds sing in giant oaks. A story to share another time… Keep following those pleasant dreams!
Debbie Ambrous
http://www.AFrenchOpportunity.com
Oh, I will be buying that book soon! And in a few months, my husband and I will be back in the Loire Valley to visit our youngest daughter. We will be in Orléans for the Jeanne d’Arc festival. We are looking forward to that.
Thank you, Jan! You have some great plans ahead with a visit to your daughter, fun at the festival, and I hope an enjoyable book to read. My husband and I plan to be in the Dordogne later this year. I can hardly wait!
Debbie Ambrous
http://www.AFrenchOpportunity.com
WOW! Debbie, It seems like it was just yesterday when you shared your story idea with me. I’m very proud and happy for you and Jim.
Debbie is synonomous with French Country. I live vicariously through her. I enjoy daydreaming whilst reading her stories. I’m so happy to know people like Jim and Debbie. And I’m so delighted that people get to read their stories.
Debbie loved your story. It’s like I can just picture you helping out and chasing the chicken. Most definitely a way of making you feel like I was there. Keep up the great work Debbie.
Debbie, your stories are as charming as you are. I am sure there will be many more. I made my first trip to Paris when I was fourteen. It was a school trip for two weeks. Being so close to France our trips were easy enough. Switzerland and Paris were on the agenda every year in the UK for school trips. Nice eh!. We stayed in a hotel that had been occupied by the Germans during World War Two. The hotel was still not quite up to the standards today. That was 1948. Just three years after the end of the war so refurbishing had not been done yet. Keep up the wonderful writing. I miss you and Jim. Let me know when you will be visiting us.
Love, Cathy
Debbie Ambrous is my cousin. I’ve know her all her life. We played together as children. She is a gracious southern lady. She has written a lovely, delightful book. I can almost feel myself with her as she wanders through France. Her humor sounds a bit like her fathers but yet different. I hope she will continue to write such joyful stories.