Food!

Wine, cheese and meat...what more could you need?

Dinner!

Breakfast!

This is our breakfast, which you will read about in the post below.

Othello

This is Othello, whom you will read about in the post below.

Paris Day 2

We rose bright and early and had our included breakfast in the tiny hotel breakfast nook. Everyone gets 1 croissant, 1 crusty bun, a butter pat, a glass of juice (it was so good, apricot I think) and a pot of coffee with hot, frothy milk. Oh, and I must not forget, a selection of Victor's homemade jam...18 different kinds, I like the grapefruit the best. These breakfasts in a cafe run about 9 Euro, or about $13.00 (each), so having it included in our room price was a substantial savings. Plus we got to enjoy the company of Othello, the sad eyed beagle who came looking for treats, and then sadly wandered away when it was evident that nothing was forthcoming. However, we were warned by Victor that if we gave the dog any of our food, then the next day we could expect Othellos food on OUR plate! One day I had buttered part of my bun and then realized that my butter had vanished. I figured I had dropped in in the newspaper that I was reading, but I couldn't find it, I looked on the floor and it wasn't there, soI just assumed that it was stuck on me somewhere and that it would turn up as soon as I stood up. I continued eating until I felt a scratching on my lap, I looked down to see Othello scraping his teeth across the tinfoil butter pat that had fallen on my leg. I quickly grabbed it from him and hastily crumpled it up and tucked it beside my coffee cup. Othello gave me a glare as he walked away, breathing butter fumes onto the next guest. "But, I digress." This morning is all about Disneyland Resort Paris, as it is called. Maria, the owner, gave us instructions on how to best get there, which involved taking the Metro. We actually managed to do that just fine, and you can purchase the Metro ticket and your Disney pass right at the Metro ticket place. Very handy. So we hopped on the train and off we went! It's only a 20 minute ride and before you know, there you are. Disney is Disney anywhere I think, it was just like Disneyland and Disneyworld, and Abby had a wonderful time and ended up the proud owner of a fancy, fairy dress.

More Day 1

We wandered down the road beside the Seine, I can't really tell you the name of the road...not because I don't know it, but because it changes every few blocks. Eventually we came to one of the bridges that cross over to the small island called Ile de la Cite, which is where Notre Dame is located. It was a beautiful day, although very chilly, and the church looked phenomenal against the blue sky. You can't really tell how huge it is by the picture, the interior alone is about 1,200 feet long, and the church can hold 6,000 people. The stained glass windows are also just breathtaking. We wandered around inside and then decided to have a cup of hot chocolate at a little cafe across the street. When we realized that a small paper cup TO GO was about $6.00, we decided that we didn't really need it that badly. Abby had some, being a child and all, and I whined a little bit, but neither Chad nor Nicole would buy me any...We then walked behind the church where there is a small park and you can view the flying buttresses that are so famous.

Paris day 1

Finally! After a rushed start (phone call from the travel agent: "You can leave Cranbrook a day late since the flight has been cancelled, or you can leave in 4 hours!) and then a slow ending ("the flight from Montreal to Paris has been delayed an hour due to snow...delayed another half hour...delayed another half hour...") I finally land in Paris, a little worse for the wear, but still reasonably alert. Not alert enough to take the Roissy Bus and then the Metro, which was my original plan, but alert enough to find a taxi driver and suck up the cost of said taxi to my hotel. (42 Euros...about $63.00. Yikes.) I arrived only a few hours late, and to my joy, Nicole and Chad were at the hotel, so after a quick lesson on how to use the keys (don't laugh, it took me a few days to actually learn how to lock my hotel door, until I learned, I went in Nicole and Chads room, downstairs and through our connecting bathroom door). This is my sweet little room, sparse but comfy with a huge sunroof sort of a thing that opened to the sky. Not only to the sky, but to the view of everyone who happened to look out and down...yes, they could see right into my room. It took a few more days to learn how to operate the remote control that not only opened this odd window, but rolled an electric shutter up and down as well. Until then I just made sure I didn't stroll around naked. *sigh*. Anyhow, after tossing my suitcase in my room and brushing my teeth, off we went on a little walking adventure. Our hotel is perfectly located...a five minute walk to the Eiffel Tower, a 5 minute walk to the Metro oand bus stops on every corner. I'll talk more about Rue Cler, our marvelous street, a little later.
It was a little windy and chilly, so we bundled up and headed off to walk beside the Seine and down to Notre Dame Catherdral. Below is a picture of my travelling friends, and also a view of the Seine.

Here comes the twins...at noon! Lunch time I suppose.

A Rare Sight

I do not often break out the needles and thread, as a matter of fact the last time was probably years ago. Today however, take note that I hemmed 2 pair of pants and I am so amazed at myself that I have posted this to share with everyone!

Yet another new addition

This is the "infamous" Harley. Have you SEEN "Wild Hogs"? Enough said!!!

*sigh...waiting...*

This is how I feel when I am waiting in airports.

Happy 2008 everyone! It's been a while since I've posted anything, you know how it is, sometimes you just get into those moods where nothing seems interesting enough to write about. I am in the midst of planning my trip to Paris, so I'll be writing about that soon enough, plus I have a new camera to play with, so I'll be posting lots of pictures too...assuming I can figure it all out.

And the dog was nestled, all snug in her bed
Ignoring the Santa hat placed on her head.

Finally!

It's taken forever, but finally I managed to see exactly who is eating the apples and it's the 2 little ones. We couldn't see where the mom was, although I'm sure she was nearby as Gypsy was on the sundeck out back barking up a storm. I opened the front door and managed to take these couple of pictures before the siblings wandered off to look for more treats at another house.

Caught in the act!

 

 
 

"Your're positive that no one will mistake me for a deer?"

oops...

Ummm...the truck is a 1991 not a 1981.

Gypsy looking a little arrogant as she surveys "all that is hers."

The Tank

Announcing the newest addition to our family, this is "The Tank". Born in Aspen, Colorado in 1981 and moved to Vancouver a few years later, Tank is a Toyota Landcruiser with all the bells and whistles that were available in 1981. Steven went and picked him/her (not quite sure yet) in Vancouver last week and drove him/her home just before The Blizzard of the Year. He/she is a welcome addition to the other Toyota's in our family and Gypsy adores him/her since she has the whole back seat to herself...lots of room to look out and stretch out for a little sleep.

N