parasseux = lazy AND sloth

One of my favorite things about the French language is the double meaning of things. Like the fact that the word for lazy is also the word for sloth. Because sloths are lazy. Or the word for avocado and lawyer are the same word: avocat. the word for wood-stove and frying pan are awfully similar, the only difference is that the first is feminine and the second is masculine : la poêle and le poêle.

But the point of this is that I have been a paresseux paresseux. A lazy sloth. Because when I have a lot of time on my hands I tend to do absolutely nothing with it. So here is a little update.

February

we went to this sort of 'bed and breakfast' where we stayed on this farm for one night and had a very awkward meal with the family there.

but here you can see these little balls of leaves that grow on trees here in France. I am told that they are some sort of invasive species/weed but I like the way that they kind of look like Christmas ornaments.

April

The cherry tree bloomed and the garden started to sprout.

Then the tulips.

And then I my contract came to an end. And I got piles of drawings from cute kids. And took lots of pictures with each class.

These were one of my favorite CP classes (1st grade) The little boy in the front row in the green shirt is named Corentin. He is the tiniest little boy. And when I would come into class he would just smile and smile. Well, they all would. And it was very good feeling to see how much they liked doing English with me.

Then a little spring get-away to the country house to see the sprouting fields and the new lambs.

 A visit to Père Lachaise Cemetery to see Mr. Wilde.

A free trip on the escalator of Centre Pompidou for one of the best views in Paris.

June

A Sunday afternoon walk across Pont Alexandre. If you look closely you can see someone getting arrested.

Favorite new coffee shop. Coutume. It takes about an hour to get there, but it is worth it.

A trip to Musée Rodin. And thinking.

A trip to Perigord.

Where we swam in the river

And Bernadette became Thelma.

Hmmm...

The prettiest hotel in all the world.

July

An exciting offer and a big decision to come home.

my last trip to the house in Champlemy

A little last minute rearranging. 

And remembering many good memories.

for momma

For my momma, some pictures and words. 

la biblothèque nationale. it is four buildings made to look like books standing open. on of my favorites, although i've never been in it. they have a sunken forest in the middle of them all. 

Caudry. It is where I work. And this is my walk from school to the train station. Where I pass by a bakery and have to hope that I have no money so that I don't buy the 4 for 1€ coconut macaroons. 

blizzard à la française. not too impressive. but beautiful. 

train ride to work. sometimes i don't sleep the whole way and I get to see things like this.

oh christmas tree

OH christmas tree! Oh oui!

Montreuil. And sparkle lights.

Do not underestimate socks as a gift. Especially personalized socks.

A bonne année in Bruxelles.

A very chilly Bruxelles

But a very beautiful one too.

And then I attempted to cross-country ski. 

And there were blue skies and sunshine and -11 temperatures at night with night sledding and pig dice and Genipy liquor and fires in the fire stove. 

life lately...

Things that have been happening lately, in photos.

Halloween à la française

I look like a tiny child.

before.

(first time pumpkin carvers)

after. spooky!

also, no children came to our door to trick-or-treat. And i didn't get to dress up.

i finally let the lasagna cook long enough to be delicious(and fully cooked...)

someone got a year older.

a chilly day at le jardin des plantes

and thankfully slightly heated greenhouses

and after cooking for over a day straight....thanksgiving dinner à la française for 15 people

miam!

hello pies!

dinner = a couple kilos of mustard/tarragon roasted turkey breast, garlic mashed taters, roasted chestnut/sausage/sage stuffing, maple roasted sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce(!), gravy(half from a jar and half home-made), pumpkin pie, pecan pie, maple whipped cream, WINE! (also, no cheese to the French's disappointment...)

oook. I have been back in Francia for about a month now and besides not working because of the strike and dealing with lots of hip pain (im I TOO young to have arthritis?) here is what I have been doing.

weekend trip to the country house with surprisingly good weather and comfy chairs to read in.

a birthday celebration and marathon sessions of belote. (its the most confusing card game ever)

lots of train-rides back and forth. but not enough. 

old world deli potato salad à la française! Not quite the same, but delicious none-the-less. 

got to see this on the walk home from a friend's fire-juggling performance. 

felt very lucky to live just next to here.

and here.

attended my very first 'manifestation'

played yams aka yatzee next to the fire place

home-made profiteroles! later to be stuffed with ice-cream and drizzled with chocolate and devoured. 

wishing that I, too, could just cuddle my belly up to the radiator like Kiko to nap. 

(she is really passed out and even snortling a little in this picture)

and appreciating more views on my rides home.