Spring Break!

Moms visit to France for my spring break.

So actually these three photos should go after our trip to Fontainbleu, but thats ok. We went briefly to Chartres, on our way to Normandie, the driver needed a "cafe" after all the driving.

So as some of you are aware my mom did come for a visit to coincide with my week of vacation for spring. We went to pick her up in Paris and then decided to see Fontainebleu, as soon as she got off the plane. The photo above is us on the stairs in front of the chateau, the little red dot is my red scarf, we look so tiny!!
If you were to ask a French person (for example Jeremie) he would tell you all about the Forest of Fontainebleu and would forget to mention the castle. This is around back of the castle where they have amazing grounds and lots of fountains.

The castle in itself is quite interesting because much of it was built at different periods and then redecorated according to the changing styles of the eras, so it is kind of a royal "mix" of to put it simply "stuff".

A photo walking into the front courtyard, we are staring directly into the sun, so my eyes are closed.
No we didn't just magically teleport to Versailles, but close!!! This was built by Francois I, to imitate the hall of mirrors at Versailles. It was originally a covered walkway from his quarters to the church, but he decided that he didn't like walking outside to get to church everyday. Francois I used to carry the keys to the passageway himself so that only he could access it.

Jeremie has his listening device telling all the details up to his ear.

the rest of the kitchen photos! :)

My view of Jeremie from the balcony!
The other side of the kitchen (side with the front door, just right of the closest cupboard. You see Puja guarding the wine locker.
Kajol at my feet soaking up her moment in the sun.
Puja sleeping with the other side of the kitchen, with our new stove top and ventilation. It heats up things like you wouldn't believe!

We are starting to get more settled in, it feels good to have all of our food supplies in the kitchen, so we don't make trips back and forth from different parts of the apartment where we had stored food, pots or pans.

The past few days have been really warm, actually reaching highs hotter than Santa Monica! Take that California! We are having a really early spring, but we have already had one thunder storm so far, so we are hoping that it lasts!

I am excited to see my mom who arrives the 17th in paris!!!

apt updates

Sorry about the delay, but we have been just painting painting and painting.....This is so far what the kitchen looks like. The black tile on the wall is where the stove will go (electric one set in) with a ventilation above. I managed to repaint (with a little help from a friend of mine, who paints for a living) the ceiling and the walls of the kitchen before they starting installing so at least it is done. This weekend I got the primer coat and ceilings of the bathroom done.

The door for the bathroom, a sliding door, very modern. Which was difficult to install because they had the cut the frame of the bathroom door because apparently the other doorway is not staight, so it was always an inch open. All is well....
The younger dog, Puja, was terrified of the vacuum cleaner so she crawled into the old dog Kajols bed for comfort. But it is still very cute.
Much love, Sarah

updates

This is a photo from my bedroom of the new "closet" that I had built. It still needs a little help, Jeremie and I bought the shelves for it the other day, but have to paint and then we will install them. It will be really nice when it is all done!!
Our bedroom with our new nightstands and dresser. It's nice to be woken up by the sunlight, though we have to still put in the curtains.
This is the bathroom at the moment, the grought had just been put in when I took the photo -ils venaient de faire les joints pour les français qui lisent mon blog... :) They haven't put in the actual sinks which is where that ugly spot on the wall it at the moment, nor the part that covers the bottom of the bathtub, I think they are actually working on that right at the moment, I haven't gone into the bathroom.
And a close up of the tile for my mom who sounded curious about it. It's really dirty at the moment but thats because it just got put it.

Much love to all!

with furniture

construction updates

As of yesterday Jeremie and I are living back at the new apartment. Friday they put in the hot water heater and the bathtub. As well as a temporary sink in the kitchen for us. The first is our hot water heater, which is on the closed balcony that the old owners used as a kitchen. We are using it for the hot water heater and the washer/dryer. Today we are trying to hook up the washer again today. The bathtub is very nice I am quite happy with my choice.
Still waiting to figure out when all the rest gets here. Stay tuned for more.
:)

The new place

Hi everybody-
I am not sure if everyone knows but Jeremie and I are buying our first apartment and moving next week. The two photos above and below are views of parks on either side of the apartment.





Today I spent the day painting our "new" room, which is the one right below. It has it's own balcany, facing South, so the afternoon sunlight was really nice today while I was painting.





The photo above is our second bedroom (for guests -this is where your staying mommy when you come in April).
We have another bedroom that will be Jeremie's and my office area. It's much smaller than the other two bedrooms.



The last two photos above are the living room. It has a small alcove off to one side that will be our "dining room". The last photo I have posted is where the kitchen will be. The people before closed off one of the balcanys to make a kitchenette, because they never cook....Which is silly, but while we put back in the kitchen, it means we can cook on the balcony.
The best part of this place is that we are on the 9th floor and have balcany or windows on three sides of the comlexe, meaning our bedrooms are somewhat larger.
We are both really excited about moving, yesterday we went and bought paint, so I painted the one bedroom, this week I am hoping to have a little free time to go by and paint another one at least. The workers are starting this week or next week (most likely next week).
Much love, Sarah