The Bold Soul

One of Georges' colleagues, who is transferring to another office, gave Georges this potted sunflower plant. It looked so perfect that at first I thought it was silk. Mais non! It's the real deal. We have been having weather that is so cold and miserable that its more like early March than nearly June. Maybe the sunflower will bring the sunlight and warmth back to Paris.

After a small delay in scheduling this week (we usually like to post on Mondays), the latest adventure of Frogeo and Mouchette' -- who are still at the beach in the south of France, by the way -- is here. They have a glorious beach day... and as usual Frogeo nearly gets into some serious trouble!

And... it's another birthday. This one' 52. Fifty-frigging-two. You know that expression, "You're as old as you feel"? I'm starting to understand it, because no one who is 52 would ever be able to say they feel as old as that actually sounds when you say it out loud. No one believes it is ever going to happen to them: the being older than 50 phase of life. But... it is what it is. And it's fine. I was saying to Georges today that I think I am the poster child for late bloomers...

I was wending my way through the streets around the Saint Germain-des-Prés quarter on Thursday evening, on my way from having a late lunch with two of the most fun women from Chicago EVER (you girls know who you are!) I was planning to do a little cafe-writing at my usual spot near La Sorbonne before meeting Georges for a movie after he got off work. I came around a corner. And there it was: this ethereal-looking purple-flowered tree. No idea what it's called. And don't care. I just love how...

I know that originally, I really thought I'd be up for actually DRIVING around the southwest of England all by my lonesome. And I'd like to say now, to those of you who wrote in to tell me I'd be freaking out of my mind and that I should just take the trains: YOU WERE RIGHT. OK' Are you happy now' You were right. The trains were a piece of cake. Mostly on time. No problems, even at the Eurostar passport control going from Paris to London (where they can be super-strict -- but where the...

In Paris, you will often hear someone describe something as being "deux pas" (two steps) away, which means it is allegedly very nearby, quite close, convenient. In real estate parlance, of course, we know this claim to be total bullshit. But when it comes to love, maybe it really IS closer than we think. Perhaps... only "deux pas" away.

Frogeo and Mouchette went on their first-ever vacation recently... for sun, sand and lots and lots of ice cream! Join them in the South of France!

I returned home from my British Countryside Literary Tour on Thursday just before midnight. I'm still putting the finishing touches on getting all my photos organized and uploaded, and will share what I saw and did over what will probably be many, many posts -- because I sure packed a lot into 4 1/2 days! Luckily I have my travel journal and about 600 photos to help me remember what I DID see and do there. Otherwise it would be a blur! Keeping a travel diary the old-fashioned way But let's...

Hysterical article about what CHILDREN say about marriage and dating. It was too good not to share with all of you. Some of my favorite quotables: "God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with." (Happily, I got "stuck" with the right one, so... thanks again, God!) From a 6-year-old: "No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married." (So jaded already, at only 6?) "Even boys have something to say if...

I'm on the Eurostar as I type this and my phone battery is at 15% so I've got to make this fast. I got to spend time with my literary patron saint today: Jane! Details to follow but for now, enjoy: