Lawn Care

I've traveled a bit in our world, but before this morning I have never in my life seen anyone, anywhere, combing their lawn. But this man was out there whistling and combing his lawn with a tool that looked like hairdresser's razor comb, on a stick, like a rake. There were big piles of brown grass to one side. The lawn he'd finished did look better!

Mail Delivery

My sister and I have a running joke about how bad La Poste is. Our address is 1 Rue de l'Église, which is immediately adjacent to 1 Place de l'Église and this has caused no end of problems. I've practically taken to running naked in the street in an attempt to get the postman's attention so as to alert them to the difference in these addresses. There are too many postmen and the weather has been too cold...

Anyway, found a video that explains it all:

http://www.culturepub.fr/videos/dhl-france?hd=1

New Old Armoire

There is a flea market in Paris that is legendary, but no one would call it affordable. We have been stunned at the prices they've invented. We were just certain that there are more affordable options patronized by the locals and last week Tata took me to the REAL flea market.

I was charmed by this antique armoire. This is not our usual style; like Helmut Lang I think I might have been influenced by our watching of Game of Thrones. 

I don't know if we'll bring it home with us or not. We are lucky that we get to try it out before committing like that. And if we sell, armoires of this era go for a lot more on eBay so it's basically a risk-free trial.

Daddy says this armoire is like another house - it has doors, windows, curtains....

Anno 1719 - that's pretty old

As wood carvings go I think these are pretty. They remind me a little bit of our work. Note the pegs holding the joints together.

Here is a close up of how the pegs work to join the pieces of the cabinet together.

How to know if this is real? I don't know.

More pegs holding it all together.

Here's the inside of the lock. I don't have a key so I can't know if it works.  It seems a key can be made.

This is the outside of the lock. 

There are places where it is in poor condition. That's why it was so inexpensive.

Garlic in your belly button

Lots of friends are talking about ways to beat the flu. But our nanny has it all figured out. All you need to do is take an unpeeled clove of garlic and put it in your belly button. Put a band aid over it so it can't fall out. Leave it there three days. Works for her every time!

NO PHOTOS! :)

Snowy Days: Scary for Everyone

Actual French Driver, do not try this at home

The French like to joke about how unprepared they are for snow, and how when it snows everything stops. After watching this driver wind her terrified way down a fully passable street, I have a single simple suggestion for road safety. She's cleared herself a 2" by 5" peephole on her windshield, perhaps a bit more snow removal would go a long way for safety?

That said, I'm happy that the local expectation is that everything stops. If these drivers are on the road I most certainly want to stay home.

Oh Happy Day!

The cold has ended. This morning we threw open the windows and they're still open.

That is all. Hurray!!!

How cold is your apartment?

This sounds like a 'Yo Mama' game. How cold is our apartment? The olive oil went solid in the pantry...

Primroses are the only organisms happy at this temperature