Les huitres!

It's oyster season in France. Two dozen went down the hatch today, and I have a little blister on my shucking hand to show for it.  It was my first time cracking that many. Fortunately I didn't run the shucking knife through my hand like my brother did a few weeks ago. Oy!

Spanglishfrench

Well, that was awkward.  Let me give you some background info.  

I take Allie to school every day but Wednesday.  I pick her up for lunch and bring her back for the afternoon session on those school days.  She has been at the Ecole Maternelle now for about 6 months.  By now, all the parents and nannies recognize each other but very few chat while waiting for the doors to open.  To me this is very unnatural.  As Americans, by now we usually have networked, planned the next play date and where we should take the kids for the next vacation.  

From what I can tell there are very few conversations going on at this particular Maternelle. Just in the past month however I have been seeing a change in how I am viewed by the French folks.  Some, albeit very few (because let's face it I am an American in France) are beginning to realize I am here to stay.  So, lo and behold I got a couple bonjours!  Great.  I can definitely handle that with a mild level of fear it may go farther.  

It was bound to happen though.  The little monkey has taken a liking to a little boy whose mother picks him up for lunch as well.  They have now begun to play and walk with each other as we make our way toward our homes.  Do you see where I am going with this?  Well, that leaves me and his mom to chit chat as we walk. HA.  

Bursting with the uncomfortableness of it all, I used my best miming techniques as well as my spanglishfrench to attempt to talk to her.  She claimed she spoke no English and from what I could tell she said she actually speaks Polish, but talks in French here.  Great.  This of course tells me why she is actually speaking to me.  She isn't even French.  

I tried to say that her son has grown taller since the beginning of the school year.  To which she said "grand". That means tall.  That is good I think.  Then I attempted to tell her I would like to learn more French.  She then I believe asked me if I was English, to which I said yes but later remembered I am American...very different.  Then we discussed how old our kids are.  I got that her son is four but when I tried to say my monkey is four as well I think I might have said "He sits there" or something to that effect.  Anyway, it ended quickly, thankfully, because they live close to school.  I was able to get in a "Bon appetite" and I think she might have said, "don't talk to me again." Actually, I think she said "and you as well".  So I am making strides from second grade French to third grade French today.

It sure is a good thing Troy is taking the intense language class isn't it! :)

A morning stroll

Today, I dropped the little monkey off at school and set out for a morning walk.  Temperatures are in the high 30's, sun brightly shining and the best part is the city is just waking up.  No dodging tons of people, dogs, or kids.  (They go to school before sunrise!)

The walk began at Victor Hugo Place,

continued on to the Trocadero, which is absolutely wonderful when there are no tours and throngs of people getting their first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower.  A quick pass by the little monkey's favorite carousel, cross over the Seine river, under the Eiffel Tower and through to the Champ de Mars.  Make a U- turn at the Ecole Militaire and on back up to Victor Hugo via our favorite boulangerie.  Finally, back down to our apartment.   A beautiful morning walk to start the day in Paris.

French treats!

One of the joys of living in France is the exquisitely prepared desserts. Check out the little morsel to the left, called étincelant ressucité.  I can't figure out the real translation, but it might be "risen brilliance" or perhaps "rise and shine".

It is a little raspberry cake surrounded by mango custard and topped with a shaved chocolate leaf and groseilles, which are like tart little cherries (yes those are real!). Dee-friggin-licious!

When Christmas trees fly

What does one do with one's Christmas tree in Paris when the season is over? Why, you toss it out the window! Captured in this series of images is the bon voyage of le sapin as it is bagged, poised, launched and landed in our courtyard.  With Dana spotting to make sure no innocent bystanders were mauled by the flying fir, Troy gave it the heave-ho-ho-ho from 3 stories. Really, it's easier than dragging it down stairs with a trail of needles, right?  Farewell, good tree, and thanks for your faithful service!