20 - FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE CHARM, lemon harvest & thoughtful details

Video Description

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. ☕️ If you wish to show you support, you can buy me a coffee :) : https://buymeacoffee.com/frenchcountrysidediary * 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