Petite fille, Rueil Malmaison
Ah, the places I've been. The stories I could tell. The photos I could post.Dommage. Panne d'inspiration. Lacking inspiration. We returned from our most excellent adventure a week ago. I have thought several times about writing a new story. The poor blog has been a tad neglected on this trip...Thank goodness for Facebook: I would not have been able to stay in touch, otherwise.I could use the standard excuse: I have been busy. And it is true, I have.Junior if off sailing with his Dad on the Puget Sound, a summer tradition. This means I have the house to myself for 13 days. Youpie! (that's "Ya-hoo," in French, folks!) What have I been doing?Catching up with mes amies, of course. You may remember the cowgirl. She has adopted a new furry friend. Sweet *little* thing, all 400 pounds of her. She has just arrived at the ranch, and she already follows the cowgirl around like a dog... A bit shy still, but she will get better. Naturally, I had to go over and meet her!
Peeps, meet Calliope, the "mini-cow..."
I have met other friends, too, and - as you might expect - there has been plenty of...Is that an uplifting sight, or is that an uplifting sight?
I have also been re-engineering my house. From top to bottom. Room after room. Pulling out unused, unwanted items, and preparing two huge piles: One for Goodwill. One for the dumping station (I love taking stuff to the dumping station, don't you? So liberating...)
Once a Type A, always a Type A. Who says all big house cleaning has to be done in the spring? I say: "Why spend time outside baking in the sun like the rest of Seattle? I am being productive while protecting my baby skin."Au revoir, la sorcière. So long, witch.
Hope you find a good home to park that broom!
Recognize this neighborhood?
I always knew I would attend Hogwarts one day...
There was the day Junior and I drove around Paris in a refurbished "Deuche" (2 CV.) I can confirm: Everything looks much, much better through the window (or the convertible top) of a Deuche. That is a fact.
Wearing my nicest t-shirt in case I bump into royalty...
What a big ego, a lot of money and an awful lot of taste can do...
Have them (and their sandwiches) removed and sent to la Bastille!
There was the day I visited the lively, colorful, crazy world of London's Camden Markets... and went on a shopping spree at the cute Lily J. store. I even invested in a dress and a skirt. And my girlfriends know this French Girl does NOT do dresses! Wait until they see me wearing that lacy number...Horse Tunnel Market: Best section!
Spooky. Choke-full of vintage clothing and accessory stores.
Chez Lily J.: Bad, Bad, French Girl!!!
Local fast food joint: Cooler sits than chez McDo!
There was the week I returned to my favorite spots in beautiful Nice, over and over again...Favorite breakfast place,
a hidden spot a few feet away from bustling Cours Saleya...
Favorite dinner spot: Le Gésu, Old Town...
Favorite market: Cours Saleya
Finally, there was the week we remembered why Spain remains one of the most popular destinations in Southern Europe...Dalí Museum, Figueras
Senor Pepé's Paella: A family tradition
La Escala, Costa Brava
Two grand-parents and their grandson looking at the "Big Blue"
Empurias, Costa Brava