Sunday with Friends

Sunday was spent with good friends Dawn and Michael at their lovely home La Charmeraie in Louveciennes. Blog readers may recall my September visit.

What started as a dreary and rainy day in the city ended as a cheery and sunny afternoon in country. Once again, Dawn provided an amazing feast for everyone. She served tomato basil soup, followed by roast chicken, basmati rice and cauliflower gratin as the main plate, a cheese course, then my favorite…chocolate cake and coffee for dessert.

The table looked inviting. Dawn has more sets of dishes than anyone I know. These, by Gien, depict the gardens and fountains of Versailles.

After lunch, we all watched The Harvey Girls, starring Judy Garland and Angela Lansbury. It is no wonder we watched a musical, as Dawn and Michael are incredibly gifted vocalists. In fact, their son, Ethan, who is living and studying in London, has completed his third audition for X Factor, the British version of American Idol. We’re all keeping our finger crossed.

By the time the movie was finished, the rain had stopped and we all enjoyed the sun drenched terrace. The garden is bordered with thousands of purple pansies and rows of lavender creating a fragrant and welcoming retreat from busy week-days in Paris.