Bonjour!
In today’s video, I’m capturing the last days of winter by infusing a bit of sunshine into my home. I’m gathering fresh lemons from our tree to make both homemade Limoncello and a creamy Lemon Curd, reminding me that spring is just around the corner. There’s something so comforting about using produce grown in our own garden, and I’m even using the freshest eggs from our hens, which makes the whole process feel extra special.
To guide me, I’m turning to my two trusted references:
– “Preserving Book” by Lynda Brown : https://amzn.to/3D4jG2x
– “Vivre à la Champagne” by Monique Duveau : https://amzn.to/43i2AbR
I’ll share the recipes in the description box below, so you can try them yourself if you like.
After preparing the lemon curd and setting aside the limoncello to infuse, I spend a moment at my desk revisiting the first book I ever wrote : “Esprit de Famille” (published in French 16 years ago). It’s all about sewing and crafting with antique fabrics. My tastes and passions haven’t changed much over the years, and I’m happy to see how relevant it still feels! One of the projects in it involves transforming a simple matchbox with vintage paper, so I recreate that craft today to add a personal touch to our Airbnb in town.
I also dress up the mini jars of lemon curd I made the day before with ribbons and labels, these will be a sweet surprise for our guests. I head into the city of Saintes to put the finishing touches on the Airbnb. Fresh flowers, a small jar of homemade preserves, maybe even a handwritten note, these thoughtful details can make a short stay truly memorable. And while I’m there, I take a quiet stroll through the old town center, admiring the Charente River’s left bank and Saint Peter’s Cathedral with its unique zinc dome. Saintes has such a fascinating Roman heritage and a rich local culture, which makes it a wonderful place to live.
I hope this video brings a bit of sunshine to your own winter days and inspires you to find small joys in preserving, crafting, and welcoming spring in your own way.
* Recipes *
– Limoncello :
6 organic untreated lemons
1 litre of fruit alcohol
400gr granulated sugar
50cl of mineral water
Wash and brush the lemons in cold water. Peel the zests thinly, avoiding to peel the white membrane which would cause bitterness.
Put the zests in a glass jar, pour the alcohol over it and leave in a cool dry place, away from any light source for 1 month.
A month later, prepare a syrup by boiling the sugar and water and let cool. Pour the syrup in the jar, filter and pour the limoncello in glass bottles.
Keep in the refrigerator or freezer, limoncello must be drunk very fresh.
– Lemon Curd (for 3 jars) :
150 gr (5 1/2 oz) butter
450gr (1lb) granulated sugar
juice and zest of 4 organic lemons
4 very fresh small or medium eggs
Put the butter in a saucepan, let it melt over a medium heat, then add the sugar, lemon juice, and zest and stir until the sugar dissolves and no gritty bits remain in the mixture.
Turn the heat down low and add the beaten eggs to the pan with a hand whisk. Then stir the mixture for about 5-8 minutes until it starts to thicken.
Pour into warm sterilized jars, seal and label. Store in a cool, dark place and refrigerate once opened.
* Amazon storefront : https://www.amazon.com/shop/audreyfitzjohn* Our
*AIR BNB in Saintes, Charente Maritime : https://bit.ly/4fxFxg0* My
* Instagram account : https://www.instagram.com/audreyfitzjohn/?hl=fr
* Pink silk blouse : https://aml-paris.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopYk3i8aeqRpoQyaWuQCkan6npVmTQnCBfJbo1WEAxt9vuGhsFu
* Aubergine pants : https://www.zara.com/fr/fr/jean-z1975-droit-taille-haute-p06164059.html
* Brown gumboots : https://amzn.to/4ieArH4
* Brown jacket : https://eu.rails.com/fr-fr/collections/womens-jackets-coats/products/gallery-coat-espresso-houndstooth?variant=44346343915701
#FrenchCountryside #FrenchCountrysideDiary #SlowLiving #LemonHarvest #Limoncello #LemonCurd #HomePreserves #AntiqueFabrics #FrenchCountryStyle #Saintes #FarmhouseKitchen #DIYCrafts #Cottagecore #CountryLiving
46 Comments
You are so meticulous and gracious in your presentation. I absolutely love your style! Definitely carry On.
Merci pour ce moment tout en douceur ! Je pense que c’est une de vos plus belles vidéos ! Vous devenez une pro du montage 😜
Vous avez le sens du détail ❤
With love from N Z❤
Thank you! ❤
Beautiful visual treat. The birds singing in the background are perfect. 🍃
A wonderful peaceful video with delicious bits. Wonderful to see your town and I was interested to see you turn your jars of lemon curd upside down something I have never done before having made jams and preserves for ever. 🎉🎉
Magnifique ces citrons 🎉ils sont presque orange 😊. J'adore cette région. Ma fille étais infirmière à la Rochelle et je suis allé à Sainte en passant et je confirme c'est très beau 👍🏻.ont s'ennuie jamais sur vos vidéos. C'est trop chouette 🎉❤❤
Witam , czy mozna poprosic o adres w jakim miescie znajduje sie ten przepiekny Apartament
Pozdrawiam
What a lovely trip you've taken me on.
I so enjoyed it. The doors, windows, tiles from centuries ago, all so beautiful.
Thank you for providing the lemon receipes. I'm looking forward to trying both.
How old is your lemon tree? It produced so many lemons.
Here in Palm Desert, CA. we have many citrus trees so I'll be trying your lemon curd very soon. Maybe grapefruit or orange. Thank you again for your video.
Just lovely.
You are a dark horse! Publishing a book too.
Love the little jars of gold. Inspires me to buy a lemon tree. Thank you for the visual treat xxx
I can’t tell you how much joy your vlogs give me as an Australian girl obsessed with all things French who is striving to live a life of beauty and peace. You encourage me greatly! Thank you! 💕
Your videos are true examples of real class and perfection. There is so much to enjoy and learn at the same time… 🍀
Beautiful as always💗🌷💗
It is not money that creates elegance , if it were so all the rich would have it (and most do not). Elegance comes from within, and you embody it. Everything you touch, even the most mundane becomes elegant. Love your town.
Bonjour. Saintes prés de St Jean d’Angely ? J’ai grandi en Charente Maritime. Désormais je vis dans l’Herault 🙂
Soo beautiful as per usual….
thank you so kindly for the beautiful tour of Saintes
OMG! Your lemons look divine, they are so orange. Amazing video, top notch ❤ thank you
Audrey, I truly enjoy your videos! Thank you!
Audrey, thank you for the historical walk of the town. I appreciated this video so much. Lemon looked so yummy. Have a wonderful weekend with your family. Love from Texas
Perfection!👌
Just beautiful thank you for the inspiration and recipes.
As soon as I see a new video from you I stop whatever I am doing and sit down to watch it. I love everything you present and watch each video several times! Your town is beautiful as is your home and way of life. We have a lemon tree and we make and love lemon curd. It is truly a pleasure to watch your videos. Thank You from Arizona, USA
You can use a funnel next time when you pour the lemon curd into the jars to avoid from spilling… It made me nervous 🤣 when pour you it directly in the tiny jars with the pot without a funnel. 😁
❤ Content glad I found your channel. Watching from the Philippines 🇵🇭 ☺️
Wow! I was mesmerized by the content of your video, its presentation and your talent. Thank you for sharing such beautiful and relaxing content.
You are so,so classy in everything you do!Thank you for your presence here❤
I truly enjoy your video's its my kind of Fridays movie vibes. Thanks for sharing! Looking for more ❤ from Las Vegas USA
Bonjour et merci pour votre partage de belles idées. J ai notée celle des boîtes allumettes ! Vous créez vos etiquettes collantes ? Les images de Saintes ont fait ressurgir de beaux souvenirs car j ai aimé cette ville (mon mari etait en poste sur Rochefort) et flâner dans ses ruelles. La cathédrale est supérieur et la Charente apaisante. Passez un très bon week end.
Your city stole my heart, it's absolutely beautiful! I must have to go there someday. I love your videos and my daughter, who is 10, and I are eagerly awaiting new episodes 🙂
Such gorgeous lemons! What is the name of that variety?
What a beautiful, charming city. Can you remind me what it's called?
I love your content, is pure joy. Thank you.
Une fois, de plus, je suis, littéralement, tombée sous le charme de votre dernière vidéo. Chacun de vos gestes est d'une douceur et Ô combien rempli d'élégance.
Quel travail derrière chacune de vos scènes, les angles ont, certainement, été, soigneusement, choisis.
Quelle belle lumière sur chaque angle.
J'apprécie, volontier, cette promenade matinale, cette belle architecture encore intacte où tout semble vous appartenir pour un instant.
La dernière touche de poésie tout le long de votre journée, les brins de fleurs redonnent vie instantanément dans la demeure.
En plus de votre belle culture j'aime la langue française que je pratique régulièrement.
Je parle l'américain avec mon frère et parlais le Laotien avec ma mère.
IL faut de L'âme pour avoir du goût.
Merci à vous.
So charming!!!🏵🏵🏵
Un video che è quasi una fiaba. Aspetto con trepidazione il prossimo. Adorabile 🤍
I envy you those beautiful, freshly picked natural lemons, not coated with wax! Drying the peel is a great way to use every bit of this fruit. The aroma of homemade lemons must be indescribable. Best wishes! 😊🍋
Maravilloso lugar , el departamento, los detalles .. amo este vlog .. me gustaría que compartieras la música que utilizas para los distintos ambientes .. todo cuidadosamente pensado … admiración total 🤩✨
Lovely as always. I so enjoyed your preparing the Limoncello. My grandmother was from Bari ,Italy her family would make this as well. In Spring I always think of her.She shared with me so many things but especially her love of gardening and cooking. I love your peaceful videos , they somehow remind me of those precious days I spent with her as a child.
So exquisite. Love your style and minimal esthetic. Continue on – I always await your videos for inspiration. xx
Je crois que c’est l’une de tes plus jolies vidéos, bien qu’il serait impossible pour moi de choisir ❤ Je viens de commander sur Vinted ton ouvrage, j’ai hâte de le feuilleter. Saintes a l’air particulièrement jolie, j’espère pouvoir arpenter ses ruelles un jour. J’ai beaucoup aimé découvrir toutes les étapes de préparation du lemon curd. Comment prépares-tu tes étiquettes? utilises-tu Canva ou autres? Les meringues en forme de coquillage, une idée particulièrement belle. Merci Audrey pour ta délicatesse 🙏🏻
Bonjour,encore une très jolie vidéo. C’est amusant de voir la personne qui était derrière ce joli livre qui m’a beaucoup inspiré il y a quelques années lorsque j’avais plus de temps pour créer. Je vie à La Rochelle et je ne suis jamais allée visiter Saintes. Ça me donne très envie. J’ai malheureusement le pied dans le plâtre mais cet été je me promet d’y aller flâner. Hâte de voir une nouvelle vidéo, grâce à vous, je me nourrie de belles images tout en progressant en anglais.
Stunning❤
Those are the most golden lemons I have ever seen–I must begin one of those trees–what species of lemon is it?♥
Many thanks form Maine for the beauty you share🧡🩶🧡
Those lemons are beautiful..
Such a lovely town! Thank you for the glimpse into the places you reside. I especially liked your message of the rituals that embody our lives. Let's hope Spring joins us soon .