American Food Found

the eiffel tower yesterday.

isn't she pretty?

yesterday griff and i walked

to a store i had heard about.

the Real McCoy.

it sells american food.

it's comforting to know

that i can buy a box of cake mix

and a jar of frosting.

even though the two would

cost me about 20 bucks.

i was so happy to find crisco sticks!

for years i've made homemade apple pie

and used the sticks for the crust.

and the kids were excited about the oatmeal

for breakfast this morning!

i'll be cooking our thanksgiving

dinner today.

bon weekend mes amis!

A Nostalgic Thanksgiving Day

although it's thanksgiving,

the kids went to school..

steve went to work.

just another day here in paris.

i was looking at pictures from last years

thanksgiving.

and it made me yearn for 

my grandmothers china

and my pretty decorations

and our families.

but i am thankful for so many things today.

like the fact that my 19lb american sized turkey

fits in my european sized fridge!

and in my tiny oven!

although, that is sans pan.

happy thanksgiving 

to all of our friends and family!

Paris Marches de Noel

paris is getting ready 

for the holidays.

the christmas markets,

window displays

and lights

are beautiful!

yesterday griffy and i walked

down the champs elysees.

i'm looking forward to walking

it at night to see the lights.

we stopped in Laduree.

i snuck a few photos..

and bought a few macaroons.

i'll take everything here.

the colorful luggage.

the shoes, the hat

and most definitely the coat.

while the window displays 

are still being put up,

the christmas market is in

full swing.

i'm betting this is gorgeous an night.

i think being in paris

at christmas will be wonderful!

August Rap Up

i never posted about our crazy

few weeks back in boston

and on the cape and the vineyard.

we spent the first week in boston.

 faneuil hall is a favorite of ours.

the shopping

the food

the history

and the balloon guy.

we also visited the museum of fine arts.

after a week in boston

we spent a night on the cape

with steve's dad

and then headed to 

the vineyard.

we stayed at the winnetu on south beach.

it's a great place for families.

the kids love the giant chess set

ag fair with the cousins 

is a tradition

we packed and unpacked our car

too many times to count.

will is squished in the way back.

no doubt, very unhappy.

dinner at baxters boat house

on the cape.

it was a very stressful, crazy couple of 

weeks but it was great to spend time 

in boston 

and on the cape and the vineyard

with our families.

we are blessed to call it home.

Meet Olive

today is market day.

and i brought home an olive tree.

and i named her olive.

:)

it was a good day at the market.

saturdays are really crowded

but it makes it fun.

fresh dinde.

turkey.

joel thibeault's stand

is probably the most popular.

i stood in line for a half hour 

waiting for fresh bay leaves,

sage and beets.

joel is a well known farmer here

and a descendant of one of the oldest families

of farmers around paris.

they call him the king of vegetables.

his aren't the prettiest vegetables 

at the market

but you can bet they are the most

fresh.

he is always there with a smile on his face

chatting with the customers.

i love market day.

and thank you.

to all of you that left comments and

sent me emails after yesterdays post.

i do appreciate them so much!

today is a better day.

:)

My Trip to the Boucherie

yesterday was a really bad day.

like..i want to go home (to the states) bad day.

like..i called steve and then my mom crying bad day.

after bribing griffin with hot cocoa at starbucks,

i finally got him out of the house.

after starbucks

we went to the boucherie 

for pork,veal and beef to make meatballs.

the cashier rings me up..

29 euro (37$)

for 1/2 pound of pork

1/2 pound of veal

1 pound of beef

this is not what i was crying about..

although i should have been.

i didn't have euro

and the credit card machine was down.

i told them (in the worst french possible)

i'd walk back to the atm

and be back with cash.

now, griffin was riding his trike.

i was apprehensive about letting him ride it

as the last time he did,

this  happened.

well..it happened again.

almost exactly in the same spot as last.

right in the middle of a busy paris street

his bike broke apart in 3 pieces.

as i'm picking up the pieces

the light turns

and cars are beeping at me

and again..

not ONE person stopped to help.

i don't get it.

i guess it's time

for a new bike.

p.s...

visit tiggy&grace today!

kimberly just opened her online shop!

i may have treated myself to an apron

you all know how i love an apron

:)

In My Autumn Kitchen...and My LIfe Now

in my kitchen lately...roasting and more roasting.

tomatoes and all kinds of root vegetables.

the oven seems to be constantly on.

the farmers markets here are bursting 

with beautiful fruits and vegetables...some i've never even seen before.

while we were in tuscany..

we ate dinner..twice..

at Restaurant Di Lamole

we had such a great experience the first night

we went back again.

The food was delicious and 

the service was amazing.

We were treated like family and when

i think of tuscany..specifically the chianti region..

i think of the meals we had there.

our waiter brought us some olive oil

that had been pressed just 4 days earlier.

it was so good..

i brought some home with me.

i don't think there is anything as good

as freshly pressed olive oil.

griffin is having a hard time here.

he still asks daily to go "home to the other house"

he refuses to even talk about potty training.

he is still sleeping in our bed.

and he doesn't EVER want to leave the house.

EVER.

it is a battle getting him out every day.

i know this won't last.

someday this will be home to him.

he will be out of diapers. (please)

he will sleep in his own bed.

and he will want to go out

and maybe even go to school.

and then i'll have hours to myself

to see paris

and sit in cafe's

and visit museums

and learn french

and take a cooking/painting/photography/writing class

and shop.

but right now..

my little 3 year old needs me.

paris will have to wait.