Category: Settling into French life–year 1
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October 23, 2023–“It wound up on the cutting room floor…”
One week from today, Darrell and I will be on a one-way Iceland Air flight to Raleigh, NC. He and I will each be loaded down with two giant suitcases, as well as a rolling carry-on and shoulder bag/backpack containing all of our remaining shoes, clothes, toiletries, and a few French souvenirs. (If I never…
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October 15, 2023–These are a few of my favorite things…
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm, woolen mittens…brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are few of my favorite things.” Just reading those words, you probably started to hum that little tune didn’t you? I absolutely loved The Sound of Music growing up and watched it many times–loving…
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October 8, 2023–The Final Weeks…
Last evening, we returned to France after spending a week in the Pacific Northwest with our immediate family, my mom, extended family, and some friends. We even got to dogsit Coco for five days–I got lots of kisses from her! We were treated to especially glorious weather (which can be hit or miss this time…
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September 26, 2023–Two realities can (and often do) exist…
I am well overdue for a blog…it has been exactly a month since I’ve written, and our lives since my last blog are taking a bit of a different direction. First, let me say, we are good; our marriage is good, and we are healthy and clear headed. Now…with that out of the way, let…
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August 26, 2023–Love Where you Live (Part 2)–From the United States of America to France
Almost one year ago today, we sold our house on Bainbridge Island–it was the first major step into realizing this dream of moving to France. For the next few months before we arrived here, American friends (and strangers) would ask, “have you always wanted to live in France?” or “why France?” The focus was often…
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July 26, 2023–Love where you live–Part I…from Asheboro, NC to Ribérac, France
When I was growing up in my small town of Asheboro, NC, I thought it was a great place to grow up…we had wide, leafy streets with lots of hills to bike in the summer and sled in the winter. Even though many streets didn’t have sidewalks, we could walk to school, taking our time…
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July 21, 2023–Refilling my bucket…
Today, I’m getting back to my blog, after almost a month away and I’ve missed it (it has been super busy)…today, also marks our 6 month anniversary of starting the B&B! So I thought I would start with catching you up on our progress and how we’re doing. Just six months ago, we welcomed our…
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June 28, 2023–It’s wedding season…
Last week on June 21, Darrell and I celebrated 26 years of marriage. When we married, we had both just turned 23, had very little money, and really had no idea of what we were getting into. Our wedding day in my hometown in NC was very hot, 98 degrees, but our family and friends…
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June 22, 2023–Summer Storms…
These last few weeks in SW France we have been having summer storms. Just like in NC, when I was a little girl, the air grows hot and heavy–the humidity often about 75% without a drop of rain in the air. Just moving feels like an effort and all you really want to do is…
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June 12, 2023–The Place with the Blue Doors
Yesterday, I turned 49. My younger self would have considered 49 to be the age where one is fully turning the corner into older years. Like many of you, I feel young inside, and then I catch a glimpse in the mirror, or stand on my feet for too long, or get asked to do…
A Cariad Life 