Odette in Paris
Bonjour, mes amis, and welcome to what some people call their Christmas letter, but because I procrastinate, this will be my Valentine's Letter. As Deano always tells me, we're late bloomers.
It seems that 2013 was hard for many of us. My sadness started in 2012, when I lost two of my oldest and dearest friends. That hurt a lot. But nothing prepared me for the crushing pain of the death of my mother at the end of the year. And even our precious dog Boo passed away on the day of mom's funeral. There was a huge hole in the fabric of our lives. We had been a family of 5, 4 generations under one roof. But our daughter Crickett had moved back to Vermont with her son, James, in late autumn, and suddenly we realized that we were rattling around in this big old house alone.
From the outside it looked like the same old warm and cozy farmhouse, but on the inside it was so quiet. And lonely.
I started 2013 in a real funk. It didn't help that I saw a really BIG birthday in March [which turned out to be such a fun day. Thank you, Deirdre!!]. But I refused to be depressed. I thank God for my wonderful husband, who did all the shopping and made excuses for me for social events. I think the things that got me through this time were my two women's Bible studies, and the loved ones and friends who prayed for me. I knew God would not forsake me.
And before I knew it, it was the end of March and we were on our way back to France! My spirit soared again!
We headed out of Orly in our rental car and drove down to our favorite place in the Normand countryside, Le Perche [ If you click on this link takes you to the first article I ever read of this place, and I knew it was going to be a coup de coeur just from the description.]
We spent a wonderful week in Le Perche and met the nicest people, some of whom I had first connected with on Facebook, some,just in the nature of friendly French people.
We went out looking at houses to buy, and saw quite a few, but nothing seemed like it was made for us. The one we really liked the best was just too expensive, and also was 15 minutes outside of the Perche.
But, oh so cute!
This one was way out in a field with no road to the house. We had to hike 15 minutes to get to it. Needed too much work. I loved it, but Deano said "uh-uh".
This one was nice inside, but neighbors too close on both sides.
His favorite place on this trip was a museum that was new to us...
From the outside it looked like the same old warm and cozy farmhouse, but on the inside it was so quiet. And lonely.
I started 2013 in a real funk. It didn't help that I saw a really BIG birthday in March [which turned out to be such a fun day. Thank you, Deirdre!!]. But I refused to be depressed. I thank God for my wonderful husband, who did all the shopping and made excuses for me for social events. I think the things that got me through this time were my two women's Bible studies, and the loved ones and friends who prayed for me. I knew God would not forsake me.
And before I knew it, it was the end of March and we were on our way back to France! My spirit soared again!
We headed out of Orly in our rental car and drove down to our favorite place in the Normand countryside, Le Perche [ If you click on this link takes you to the first article I ever read of this place, and I knew it was going to be a coup de coeur just from the description.]
Château de Monthimer, La Pérriere, le Perche
Isabelle, Christian, and Jean Loup
Bistrot des Ecuries and Martin at Relais del'Horbé
We went out looking at houses to buy, and saw quite a few, but nothing seemed like it was made for us. The one we really liked the best was just too expensive, and also was 15 minutes outside of the Perche.
But, oh so cute!
This one was way out in a field with no road to the house. We had to hike 15 minutes to get to it. Needed too much work. I loved it, but Deano said "uh-uh".
This one was nice inside, but neighbors too close on both sides.
So we didn't buy a house in le Perche.
Not in the Spring.
It snowed while we were in le Perche,but it was gone by the afternoon.
It continued cold during our next week in Paris. So much for chestnuts in blossom. But it didn't rain and it didn't curtail our fantastic time.
And Dean bought me my belated birthday present
His favorite place on this trip was a museum that was new to us...
