Mom in France

Goodbye Old Man Winter

Has it been only 15 days since Old Man Winter decided to visit the Riviera?  As soon as he showed us his worst he retreated and the first scents of spring have arrived.  Yesterday was the first day I was able to lunch outside, without a coat. Yippee!

Further evidence - the rosebushes are getting as excited as I am:

  Boo takes advantage of a warm noon-time to practice his sprinting:

First Bites (finally!)

OK - not too much navel-gazing, please.  Is it annoying that I'm writing a post about how our almost 8-month old Little Guy is finally eating off the spoon?  I guess it just shows my own anxieties.

Which is funny because with #2 I'm supposed to be more relaxed, right?  What Boo taught me first hand (and that we all read about) is that babies take their own time in achieving milestones.  That I don't need to worry too much that Little Guy does, or does not, do certain things at certain times.

And on the surface I don't worry.  Because, let's face it, I simply don't  have the time to agonize over every.little.moment.  But there are things that do nag at me. Why won't he eat of the spoon?  Why did he stop breastfeeding at 6 months (nothing to do about that one)? When will he learn to sit up on his own?

Then I tell myself (again) not to sweat it because, one day, he will will do it.  And I was very happy for him this weekend when he ate all his meals enthusiastically and he can now join us at the table, side by side with his big brother.

Snow!

I know my friends in D.C. and along the eastern seaboard of the US have been reveling in a blizzard this past week but imagine how strange it is that it's snowing on the Croisette of Cannes...and here in Valbonne!  I knew to leave the moment that it started snowing in earnest - there is no snow-clearing program on the Riviera (obviously).   My idea was to just get home for a conference call and then pick up Boo and Little Guy afterwards if it seemed like the snow was going to continue.

Once I was in the car I knew I was going to have to pick up the boys right away, and skip my meeting.  When I arrived at our nounou's house it was snowing in earnest and just beginning to stick. When I left 15 minutes later there was an inch of snow on my car and the roads were covered.  It's 1.5 miles from her house to ours, and about 1/2 a mile from home I had to ditch the car.  E rescued us with ski boots for Boo and warmer coats.  I put Little Guy into the carrier and we walked the rest of the way, dodging skidding cars.

Here's what I found when I came home:

(no, it's not nighttime - just heavy snow and no flash.  Pictures taken at noon)

Some Inspiration: Sun Rooms

We're meeting with the architect on Saturday and I'm trying to add to my pile of inspiration photos.  I'm not having much look with finding enclosed verandas that I like.  I've tried all sorts of search term variations but inevitably I end up with either the cheesy suburban aluminum lean-to or Edwardian conservatory. Definitely NOT the aesthetic we're going for.

At any rate, here are a few things I have on file - old and new.

This is a looking into a sun room from the attached deck at a house in Los Angeles.  I like that the room actually looks like a used living space and it's not filled with patio furniture.

Picture from House Beautiful

This one reminds me a bit of the Case Houses in LA. I love how the wall just disappears when it's open.

From Living, Etc.

Giant sliding doors.

 

From Coté Maison

And another one:

 

From Coté Maison

Which reminds me of this house though no sun room (both are in the l'Ile de Ré.  The color scheme is modern classic for the area).  I like the blend of materials, and the darker window frames against the white house.

From Coté Maison

Last, and maybe my favorite. It's more formal than we will ever be but I just like the glass house look.

From Coté Maison

What do you think?

Boston Care Package

I miss Boston. Sometimes I think about that night that E and I want walking in the late-night, snow-covered hushed Back Bay at the end of January. There were few people about in the extreme cold and the city seemed so glittery in the frigid dry air.  With no one about, we walked out a few yards on the completely frozen and snowed over Charles River.  It was so magical that I lay down and made a snow angel with the surrounded by the lights of Boston and Cambridge and with the sound of a Red Line train crossing the Longfellow Bridge.

Our last visit was spring 2008 but it seems so much longer ago than that.  I have no idea when we'll get to go back.

Imagine my happy surprise when my Boston friend, K, sent me a perfect birthday present that reminded me perfectly of my once-adopted city and our friendship we had there.  Among other things - a Cook's Illustrated (based in Brookline), a birthday card with a photo the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Public Gardens, a magnet with a quote from Emerson. Not in the picture are a pair of black leg wamers - necessary under-jeans attire in a Boston winter, but also useful here in France when the Mistral is blowing.  Lastly - most awesome pair of "yoga socks" which I immediately put to use.

Thank you thank you, K!