Posts from the ‘peaceful’ Category

Hair – The Musical & Other Stories……….

HAIR – THE MUSICAL

1979 movie poster. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Okay, well, it’s not the musical, but I’m so happy, it should be.    I may share a TOWEL with my husband cause we’re too cheap to add more stuff to our tiny apt,

but I don’t sacrifice when it comes to my hair.  Went to Jacques Dessange, the fab Parisian Hair  place which  I actually used to FLY TO PARIS for, back in the 90’s –  when I was an airline person – just for the weekend.  Yeah, I’m such a brat.   So, now, I’ve continued the tradition………..only I don’t have to fly anymore.  I’m here!!

For 3 1/2 hours they spoke to me in French and I have NO IDEA what they said to me, honestly.   I also spoke to them in French – and GOD KNOWS what it was that I really said –

but the good thing is – my hair came out okay.   Don’t you think?

THREE THINGS:

I LOVE THIS PLACE   –   I LOVE THIS PLACE   – –   I LOVE THIS PLACE

The Poissonnerie:

1. for the very first time, I ordered fresh fish – watched him  weigh it,  clean it,   and present it to me – can’t wait to cook it tonight.  It was SOLE.

Me to the Fishmonger:   – “I don’t know how to clean a fish, I want to learn by watching you”   in very bad French.   Fishmonger to me :  Shakes his head with a smile

2.   This is actually what happened:

I unwrapped it to cook it up in the sizzling buttered pan with fresh lemon for my husband tonight and I see that the head is still attached to body of fish, so I took out my favorite big knife and WHOPPED it right off .  Not only  that- but – well, I discovered , inside – it was still the INSIDES…..and I’m thinking, hmmmm, how do I do this?  So, I started cooking it and it kind of took care of itself.  Then I scraped the beautiful white pieces of flesh off – and it came out really good.  This is what was left in the pan:

“If you come to the dock early in the morning”, the Tourist Bureau tells me, “then you can get fresh fish from the little fishing boats, but you have to be early.”  “How early?”  I ask…..” they’re in by 8am.”  Okay, then, that ‘s what I’m gonna do.   Going to the port in Cassis and place my order and hope they’ll clean it thoroughly this time, and I’ll watch and learn – then try to do it myself  – – –  eventually.     NOTHING like fresh right from the SEA!    🙂

My husband,  happy about the dinner……………..

Those are my stories for today, and I’m sticking to ’em!!!!

Have a nice night!

Bon Nuit!   🙂

UPDATE              UPDATE                UPDATE

Have seen the fishmongers in action at the port.  Here is what I have to do…………….

I Lift Up My Eyes Unto The Hills – From Whence Cometh My Help

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Hi Grands!!

You know what  one of  the best things about going to school is?   – Getting up very early! For when you do this – you see things you don’t ordinarily  see.  Today, for example, I got on the bus before dawn and when I could finally see out the window the most gorgeous hills came into view.   I immediately thought of the verse above.!!   It’s from Psalm 121.   It really made my day as it was going to be a difficult French day.  Please remember that verse whenever you need help.  Okay?  🙂

And do you know what I was able to see on the long walk to the school?    A huge flea market had just opened up with such beautiful items on display, but it was so early that I actually watched them take all the items OUT of their vans, and proceed  to put it all together in the most organized way I’ve ever seen! They work so very hard, as it’s a beehive of vendors  unloading, setting up tables,  placing lovely cloths on them,  lifting up canopies, arranging the items ever so carefully, taking fresh fish from containers of ice,  displaying them in an appealing manner, the meat vendors, the produce vendors  doing the same – it’s all so unbelievable to watch.  I walked past so many items of clothing, all sizes, even baby things, and then bric-a-brac, ribbons, yarn, crochet hooks, threading, pillows, materials (usually those lovely bright Provencal prints)  baskets, linens, more specialty foods, more cheeses, and the vegetables just jump out at you because they are so vibrant with color.  They also had huge brown eggs in big baskets, chickens that were so fresh, (but I would have to tell them to please take the head off for me;  😉  –  fresh fish, fresh shellfish, scallops, moules (mussels) and calamari.  How to take some calamari without it smelling up the classroom, eh?  Hmmm.  Would have to wait for that.    I did buy some linens (as you probably read about my loving them on the last blog) however, these were only 3 euros, hardly PORTHAULT, but that’s okay, it’ll do the trick.  I have to use my bad French to get questions answered.  It finally worked.

Well, it’s afternoon already, class was great, and I’m heading for the bus.  The wind is blowing, so by tonight we’ll have a full MISTRAL.  It will last 3 days, 6 or 9.  It’s really blowing out there.
Here is the view of my walk home when I get off the bus.

Not bad, eh?

EVERYwhere I look – I see these hills……..even coming out of the grocery store!        

Well, my shutters are hitting each other, so I’ve got to close them.  (I’m home now  – and will rest a bit before Papa’O comes home as he won’t be off the train until 11PM!! )   I like to go outside and greet him when he drives up in our new little used car!)    Here’s a picture of it:  

Have a very good week you 4 and remember the beautiful verse above.

Love, Babcia

JACKIE KENNEDY ONASSIS HAD PORTHAULT – I HAVE TO SHARE TOWELS WITH MY HUSBAND

or – it doesn’t matter where you’re living, sometime the “COMFORTS of HOME” are just plain PARAMOUNT…………..HENCE:

CLEAN TOWELS 

Oh, I must have been a laundress in another life, as I have an extreme fetish about clean sheets and towels.  When you don’t have access to a washer, it can drive you mad!   First of all, we had so few towels in our first apartment, that David and I had to share the same bath towel.  I thought , yuk, but actually is wasn’t bad after you get used to it.

Then we got TWO towels, and that was luxury.

Amy brought them from Miami, plus sheets,  regular sized pillows and even blow up beds. I could now have company – of which she was the FIRST!  LOVED it AMY and your VISIT!  🙂 

When we moved into the apartment in the South of France recently, we again were at a limit.

One towel was used for a bathmat, and the other we shared again.  Towels must be dried outside here.  There are few to NO  DRYERS here in France. That is just plain wasteful and so non-eco friendly in their eyes – and the sun shines all the time (well, 300 days) down here in the South, so no excuses.  PUT THE LAUNDRY OUT!

We did get an extra towel or two from the landlord, so that was a bonus, but they’re tiny.

Just like everything else…..  TINY cups,, tiny glasses, tiny plates, tiny towels, tiny living spaces, tiny cars, tiny washing machines, tiny receipts, TINY EVERYTHING.  David says even the mosquitos are so tiny we can’t  even SEE THEM.   True. Did I tell you our apartment is tiny?  Here is how we deal with that.  ————>

This is our friend’s AIRSTREAM.  They lived in this for 10 years.  If they can do it. WE can do a 33 sq. meter Apartment!!!

Think how everything is oversized in America.  Think of those “Big Gulps” at Quick Trip, or the mammoth automobiles, or the oversized plates of food in most restaurants. Got the image?  Okay, now think totally opposite.  That is France.

our tiny dinner

as we failed to go to the market today – see the 3 lonely grapes?   🙂

Anyway – about the linens – – sorry I got off of a tangent…….

When I don’t have a fresh washcloth (they don’t use those either) and a clean towel, sometimes it would push me over the edge.

I may live in a prole neighborhood back in Saint Louis, but when you come to my house, to stay overnight,  you will be treated as though you were staying at the RITZ.  I will use my best linens and they will be ironed or have been sun- dried on a clothesline, and the bed will be fluffy and comfortable.  I know, I’m probably in for my guests staying longer than 3 days because I make them so comfortable.

Bed made up with bed linens with blue and green highlights (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I should have had a B&B.

Check out this amazing linen boutique.  It is my dream to be able to afford just one set of sheets from here. I understand that if you take a trip to LILLE, there are factories there where the linens can be found for one half the cost of the Paris store.

http://www.dporthaultparis.com/www/

Jackie Kennedy ordered all the sheets and linens for the WHITEHOUSE from Porthault Paris.  Oooh la la – to be a guest then.

Like I said, I think I owned a laundry once,  was a laundress, was Chinese, belonged to royalty of some sort – maybe owned a Porthault Store – in another life – because fine crisp clean linens – are enormously popular with me. My comfort is wrapped up in them.

Now to the beach – with my lone thin towel that I’ll again share with my husband as we sit on the sand.  🙂       Not bad.      This beach is in BANDOL

http://dporthaultparis.com/www/

Letters From Marseille

Sept 14th 2012

Dear Sharon,

I know how much you love doors and windows so have included some for you.

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These were taken in the “old Vieux Port” of Marseille today near where they film a popular soap opera. It’s called “Plus Belle a Vie”. It would have been the “plus belle “ for me today as it was a French class outing, the kind I love because we have to read a questionnaire in French and complete a scavenger hunt.  When we could not find the answers – we’d resort to asking a native.  They are SO eager to respond and are proud of their city.
Unfortunately, I developed a “Martons Neuroma” on the bottom of my foot so it was very painful to walk the distances and steep inclines.  Errrggggg!!!
I’m seeing a local doctor and will find a remedy hopefully soon.

Love and hugs

M

The Apartment – Final Stage – Sleep

We are in CASSIS, pronounced CASS – See –

It is magnificently beautiful.       

Our apartment is tiny.  But it’s okay.  We’ll be OUT – a  LOT.

Here are the last stages of getting a place to LIVE……………..

Step 11)  Find the agency via car- let hubby out while Marti PARKS said car – not easy – and give copious amounts of Deposits, Agency fees to our agency girl, Natalie,     Then find the INSURANCE company in this little village –  to buy the rentor’s apt insurance, bring back the satisfaction of the insurance TO the Real Estate Agency, so we can proceed from there with the mandatory break for lunch (2 hours)

At this point, we have decided to enjoy an espresso and a beer while we wait and wait for the AGENCY to re-open after their mandatory 2 hour lunch.

Step 12 ) This next step is to accompany the Real Estate Agency Angel, to the apartment  at 3:45pm (2 hours later ) – I had a nap in the car as it was rainy and cool and wanted to be DRY after walking in the rain.   We are now to meet with the Electrical /Energy Inspectors to determine the square footage of the apartment -( we don’t really want to know this, as it’s half the size of our Paris apartment)  & what we’re going to be  in for  – each month –  for an electricity bill. ( It shouldn’t be much  – it’s SO TINY!)

However, before this can take place, – David, the Guarantor has to complete a HAND -WRITTEN statement in FRENCH, stating that he is willing to guarantee his wife’s student status.  (Even though we’re married and this is not your typical STUDENT APT LEASE). It’s about 4 pages long.   He must hand-write this – like I already reiterated.

CONTRACT

In reading the contract, it’s all in French, ofcourse;  we must read and accept various conditions – the conditions of the furnitures, the amount of the furniture, how many pieces of dishes, cups, plates, saucers, flatware, pots, pans, casseroles, coffee pots, (broken) , tea kettle, table, chairs, wicker, sofa, TV, etc, there are.

But then, there are additional “TAXES” for the apartment – – the yearly garbage tax – occupancy tax – calculated  on – and based on money earned.  Since I am unemployed (at the moment )-  I shouldn’t be held responsible for the occupancy tax….She says.  “You’re a student”.     Garbage tax, however, yes.

Sign papers without knowing about washer/ WiFi/ garbage tax/ or occupancy tax

Get the keys, drive to apartment, open the doors and fall  into the big bed – in the tiny apartment.

Bliss

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FYI

If you would be so kind, as to SIGN IN to WORDPRESS, and get my updates, it would count as “readership ” for me – and would mean a lot.     If you read only from FB, then I don’t get credit.

Thanks.

Marti

The Apartment – Stage Three – Driving where no man should drive

Repeating Step 8:

Step 8 )   THis is where the RED BULL and copious amounts of  Expresso’s  start to take kick in  – and we  drive into a city where NO MAN HAS EVER GONE _(meaning – NO ONE IS SUPPOSED to DRIVE IN PARIS, least of all TOURISTS, – as PARIS is NOT the city for cars – especially tourist cars – BUT – we had no choice. )  You say, “But, there are lots of cars in Paris.    WHY can’t you drive in Paris? —Why?   (It’s just not done. It’s not even done by Parisians.  All those cars in the city?  I have NO IDEA who they belong to, but they’re not Parisians, and certainly not tourists.)   ANYWAY, we must drive into the city streets of Paris BECAUSE we have, in our possession,  an inferior , to say the least ,  – GARMIN GPS that did not speak the street names.  This meant finding  another FNAC to return the Garmin, for any GPS that SPOKE to us.    Marti Drives along the fast Peripherique (the Paris Beltway)  when she sees a huge sign “FNAC”  –  on a tall building.     VOILA!!!    This is a SIGN, in more than one sense of the word!!!!!   She  swerves,  at 80 MPH,  into the EXIT lane and drives around and around trying to find where this huge  building is located with the FNAC sign.    We park.    We walk.  We ask 50 migrate workers   – who are in a big group waiting for jobs on this street corner – – “IS this the FNAC where we can exchange our INFERIOR GPS????”  Atleast 20  heads are now peering inside my FNAC BAG – with my GPS, and  David thinks that they think that I’m trying to SELL a hot GPS that I’ve swiped from some rental car.  David expects them to start bidding on the “HOT GPS” any moment as they are talking among each other.

At this point,  I have to EXPLAIN, that I just want to E X C H A N G E this inferior GPS not SELL it. IS THIS THE FNAC I should go to?   Blank stares.   We reach the entrance of the FNAC building and the GUARDS  stop us and say, NON!

We say, “NON?!?!?!”   They say  “NON!!! – C’est ne pas le Magasin FNAC – – This is not a FNAC store, it’s the HEADQUARTERS of FNAC, you cannot exchange anything here.   BUT!  Here  is where you need to go.”   They walk us down the long steps and point us in the direction – somewhere in the busy streets of Paris. I’m thinking, “OH NO, I HAVE TO DRIVE IN PARIS!!!!!!” 

The real FNAC store is somewhere in a big mall on the Place d’Italie – in the South of Paris.

We go around many times, – similar to my going around & round the Arc d’ Triumph –  when I was 15 (with my mother )- and we actually find an indoor, underground parking garage below a little FNAC sign.  Eureka!

We are now back in business.  THREE HOURS LATER.   We are the proud owners of a workable GPS, (now a TOM TOM, for an additional  99 euros) that actually TALKS to us and gives us STREET names and tells us when to turn,and when we are going through school zones and beautiful vineyards (okay, well, not the VINEYARD part)  –  all in a fine female British accent.  To get this gem of a GPS,  We have waited in line for what seemed like an eternity, did more paperwork than I’ve ever done for any return in my life -described what was wrong with the Garmin- waited in more lines –  – take that NEW paperwork  to another FNAC clerk, and finally, FINALLY purchase the new GPS that actually SPEAKS to US.   It’s  a beautiful thing.  

STEP 9)  Drive South – out of PARIS streets – back to the HIGHWAY and towards Marseille

Step 10) 2 days later – arrive in Cassis  – the most beautiful village I have ever seen in all of France,

(and I’ve been everywhere).

Here is what we saw when entering CASSIS……………………..

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It’s bliss  –  but it’s not over………………

THE APARTMENT – Stage Two

Last post – I left you in PARIS – where we had no idea where we were going to live ……………

Step 4)  – Come back again (this time a weekend trip via TGV – – -) Stay at an APT/HOTEL with a discount thanks to David’s jobpost,- & look again.  Nothing.  No keys, no apt owners available.   THEN VOILA!  We travel to this port town of Cassis just for fun and giggles and to get away from the big city.   It is better than a picture postcard and actually takes our breath away.   It is where we have dreamt to be – and is a mix of David’s Island roots (UK and Dominican Republic, and a teeny teeny bit of where I grew up  –  Miami – & Miami Beach  –   Miami Beach,  only with MOUNTAINS !!! )    But, can we live here?   Is it AFFORDABLE?     Well, we found a place to stay one night on the Air BnB and fell in love. Our view from the terrace was THE LARGEST CLIFF IN EUROPE – that is over the SEA.

Step 5)  LOOK FOR A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE PLACE OF YOUR DREAMS?

Easy , right?

Non!!!!

SO, we’re looking around, walk into the town square, go  into an art gallery that I wasn’t keen on, but David was, and because of this art gallery, was told by the proprietor, that if we’re looking for an apartment to go to FALQUE AGENCY across from the fountain.   What fountain?  The ONLY big fountain in the center of town.

The Agent shows us happily a place,  within  10 minutes –  an apt on the SEA.  It is far away (need a car) and it’s a STUDIO. However, it has an AWESOME view from the terrace.   It was BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful, but SMALL  – no washing machine. and the kitchen – a counter with a hot plate.  Hmmmmm.

Step 5) Return to Paris, assured that this is where we will be, tiny, no kitchen and all, because we just NEED a place!   But first we must complete copious amounts of paperwork, via INTERNET, sending  Income Tax returns, proof of employment, 3 months of paystubs, passport photos, proof that David has a CDI (permanent WORK STATUS –  means – can’t get fired)  AND, ofcourse, promise of our first-born (that’ll be a miracle) to them via e-mail.  None of these documents sent to her via our computer get to her as we have a MAC , so we must copy and paste all of these into a WORD DOCUMENT so the AGENCY can read it!!!  Okay, this is do-able. SLOWLY.

Step 6)  Return  to  CASSIS via TGV and think we will get this studio on the sea , – with a Murphy Bed and 2 bunk beds in the front hallway – not really sure  if this is what we want — but it’s affordable.  Suddenly,  the Agent says, Oh, I have one more to show you………there’s NO VIEW, but it’s nice. It’s a ONE BEDROOM!  SO, we decide to see it.  We said to her, “NO VIEW –  not even out the window?”  “None at all?”

“NON! ” came the response.  But when we arrived at this stone cottage – and opened the shutters there was a  view – of huge palms , stone steps to the bottom (of something) and the huge pool next door to us.   The view out of the front was a multi-leveled terrace which we were told  was not “for our use” we would have to go in and out via this terrace quickly.  No loitering about.   Hmmmm.  Okay.  Fine. We can do this, but I walk slowly, so I’m going to take my time walking to the gate entrance because, well, I walk slowly anyway with bad knees (sometimes).

But then, we find out that the owners “should not mind so much” – after all, I tell Natalie, our Real Estate Agent, “LOOK AT US Natalie!! We’re hardly going to be having huge ruckus parties……..the wildest thing we might do out on that terrace is – READ A BOOK – on a KINDLE!!! ”    Well, Natalie TOLD the owners this – wherever they were on vacance, and because they (apparently) liked this response & that we were this  “quiet older couple” – gladly said yes – to us living there.  This was good news as we were now at the end of our “MOVING money.”

STEP 5)   Natalie, our very smart  enterprising agent tells the owners more about us  –  and it’s not only okay for us to move in on Monday when we arrive, but we can actually USE the multi-leveled terrace, and patio to our heart’s content-  (Just not their pool).   Okay.  We’ll deal with that.   🙂

STEP 6)  Go back to PARIS, pack up the apartment in MONTMORENCY amidst huge tears – BECAUSE (why even put “because” in there) –  we really really loved our little 65 sq meter one bedroom apt. Even the guardian was so sad to see us leave.  We gave him big hugs and a “bonus” for all that he’s done for us.

We  leave PARIS for the last time.   I want to say goodbye to Mary our Boulangerie wonder woman – but can’t turn the car around with all the traffic.

Step 7)  OUR RENTAL CAR – is positioned towards the Mediterranean and now we DRIVE south towards CASSIS with a MUTE GPS!!!!!!    How can I drive if  the GPS doesn’t tell me where to turn and where to go?

It’s IMPOSSIBLE.

Step 8 )   THis is where the RED BULL and copious amounts of  Expresso’s  start to take kick in  – and we  drive into a city where NO MAN HAS EVER GONE _(meaning – NO ONE IS SUPPOSE to DRIVE IN PARIS, least of all TOURISTS, – as PARIS is NOT the city for cars – especially tourist cars – BUT – we had no choice. )    WHY?  Because of the INFERIOR GARMIN GPS.

(forgive miss-spellings – no corrections – I have limited WiFi and have to rush constantly)

STAYED TUNED FOR  “THE APARTMENT” – DRIVING IN PARIS –   STAGE THREE

THE APARTMENT

TODAY – THE APARTMENT – TYING UP THE LOOSE ENDS –

What most people don’t realize is that getting a place to live in another country, especially FRANCE – is e x t r e m e l y difficult, tiring, full of angst, lots of sound pollution (phones ringing constantly while you sit patiently in the AGENCY)- motorcycles revving their engines outside the door – lots of fast french talking, lots of FRENCH period. After you have completed (what you think is) ALL of the paperwork, which you began back in your PARIS APARTMENT, think again. It’s not that easy. You must now, – while you are in the agency, trying to obtain the apartment you need – wait for the Electrical Analysis Inspector, who must check the electric outlets, gas, water & you must meet him. “Then YOU,” she says, (meaning David, my husband) “must HAND WRITE a COPY of the contract as GuaranTOR, (ALL in FRENCH) “– since my husband has to be a guaranTOR for me (moi) Marti Graham, the STUDENT. (We got a good rate for a STUDENT APARTMENT. It has to appear that I have no income, which is easy, because I don’t have any. Not a problem.
Anyway, this must be completed in person – in FRONT of the AGENCY CLERK.
Then,
maybe,
you might
get the keys to the apartment……………

Before all of this – here was the progression:

Step 1) Find a place to live NEAR your job
Step 2) The job is in Marseille – do you really want to live in Marseille or do you want to live away from Marseille?

Step 3 ) FIrst check out Marseille – which we do by making two separate trips from Paris,  one on the TGV (expensive, if you don’t have a SENIOR carte ) or AirFrance (Zed fare from Paris – this is a “non-rev thing” as I’m retired from the airlines. ) The first was a ZED fare on AirFrance, where we went from airport to bus to main Marseille station to another bus, another metro, to get to our Hotel/Apartment – all with a fare amount of luggage and my bad knees.
This is to check things out. This is not only expensive, but extremely time consuming and frustrating to say the least because when you arrive, no one has the keys to the apts we had planned to see because it’s AUGUST/ VACANCE time – and apartment owners are no where to be found.
The few apps you do see in the city of your work – (Marseille) are found only by taking buses and metro’s in a totally unknown city – where you are just getting your bearings, and learning very quickly how to navigate to the addresses that are on the torn and ripped pieces of paper in your hand. When you arrive to these places, you must listen to the GuarDIAN – a diatribe of what you need to supply to them to satisfy that you are a good risk. THEN you see the apartment. If they had just showed us the apartment FIRST before going into the hour diatribe of what was needed, we could have saved them a LOT of talking time. They were incredibly  – UGLY – I mean UGLY in the nicest sense of the word. UGLY – didn’t even do it justice. The other apartment, well, though a quiet area near the Stade, (until there was a game, ofcourse, ) – had gardens about it, but the inside was a virtual prison, and we nixed that immediately as well.

We go back to Paris – without a clue of where we might live.

Stay tuned for  Step 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and so on – WHEN and IF I get WiFi – which I only have now

because I’m sitting at a MacDonald’s somewhere on the outskirts of Marseille………………

This is Gracie’s handmade card that I keep with me!!!!   🙂

Letters from Marseille – RED BULL ROCKS!!!!

Dear Ryan,
Why, oh why did NO one tell me about RED BULL before? That stuff is awesome ( I know you hate that word ) but it kept me not only driving for HOURS – and sweeping round those “round-a-bouts all towards the Mediterranean, but I’ve never moved so much in a stationary spot (driver’s seat) in my life. I think others might call it “DRIVE DANCIN’ ” –  Ofcourse the car stereo was rockin’ as well. Thank goodness for great tunes on what could be a boring drive.
Today, we saw a town called Mirmande, a village that is alteast 700 years old and was first seen by us (me and Daco)  in 1995. It is more lovely than ever – and I went to the spot where the IRISes were beautiful to me (17 years ago) but it wasn’t the season and other flowers were there instead.  What a
fabulous car ride down south. We’re now near GORDES,& BONNIEUX  and will complete our journey tomorrow. If you want to know what those towns look like – check the upstairs bath- I have posters in there of these places.  Also check out the rose garden – we’ve hired someone to take care of the garden for us – and for you – Iris will love it.
Miss you, MISS IRIS, Miss Anna – and hope you all are doing fabulous and going to some Warrior’s games! I LOVED the pic of Iris at Evan’s game with her hands folded intently!!!!  She knows her football already!!
Life is good. The SUN is SHINING brightly. We’ve left cold Paris behind. (It was chilly when we left on Saturday!)

Love,

MOM & Daco