chickens!

spring

Spring is starting to spring... it's still cold out but I woke up this morning to the birds chirping and a bright sunny day stretched out ahead. I took this picture last week, we had had tons of rain, the tail end of Xynthia that cut power and ripped off roofs across France. We just got buckets of rain dumped on, no other storm damage. The rains did overflow the rivers and streams and this is not a lake in the picture but farmland flooded by the little river that flows nearby. We have had the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets recently, I catch both ends during my morning and evening commute and along with some fabulous audiobooks they keep me entertained on my 100km drive. I always wish I could pull over and capture these beautiful scenes but I'm always in such a hurry to get to work or to get home again!

Home is going great, we are all moved in and getting things done bit by bit. I painted over the loft last weekend and we'll see what we work on tomorrow. Today I'm going to relax, enjoy the sunshine and head over to the coast to check out the farmer's market. After being cooped up in an office all week all I want is to stretch my legs and take deep breaths of fresh air. Today is the day for that!

In my hot little hands...

All in all it cost me a grand total of 430 euros (9 hours of driving and 2 driving exams). Better than the 1,000+ euros it costs new drivers but more than I wanted to spend... oh well at least it is all taken care of now! Coolest thing is that I can show this as ID instead of my carte de sejour lol.

talented friends

One of my friends from college graduated with a double major - French/Art Studio. After graduation she decided to try to make it as a painter in Portland. She has done amazing things and after everyone told her she never would she is making it. Making beautiful art.

Check out this video about her work, or her website.

This picture is of two mini portraits of my good friend Claire and her husband as a wedding gift.

*tap* *tap* anyone there?

I know, I'm a bad blogger, poor orphaned blog was getting lonely! But things have been insane around here. We're working on the house all the time and last weekend we moved all of our crap from V-town out to the house. It was a big game of tetris, not helped by the fact that the tile guy hadn't finished all of the grouting or the tiles along the walls. So we had to find spots to put all of our stuff, and we've got tons!

But that's done, we haven't moved in yet because again we are waiting on other people. The electrician and plumber show up when they feel like it but at least it is all tiled now. So this week we're staying with the in-laws but hopefully (fingers crossed!) it should be liveable by Monday at the latest when the electricity company comes by to hook us up to our permanent contract.

In other big news I retook my driving test again and passed! Avec un "petit oui" as the lady said. She wasn't impressed with my driving but apparently saw no major problems so she gave it to me, thank god. I was so sick of paying for more and more lessons and tried not to let the stress get to me. She did that oh-so-French thing of huffing and puffing with a big Gaelic sigh, "ohhhhhh bahhhh voyons, il faut regarder derriere vous quand meme... siiiiiighhhhhh". Whatever, I just told myself, like water off a duck's back, like water off a duck's back... it became my mantra.

So that deal's sealed, hopefully my big pink drivers license will come in the mail soon!

Work is busy and staying with the in-laws has added an extra part to the commute, it's a nice drive during the day but with these short days I'm leaving at night and coming back at night so I can't enjoy the view. That should be changing soon! I'm still enjoying my job but wondering a bit what will happen when my contract ends the end of February - those 6 months sure went by fast!

I'm starting to get my application in order for my citizenship request... once we're in the house I'll take a look to see exactly what I need and what documents need to be requested from the States and then find a certified translator.

So like I said, busy busy!! I'm looking forward to a bit of calm when we move in... and taking a long hot soak in this:

Snow!!! 5-7cm!

Happy New Year!!!

As we are about to ring in 2010 (if I manage to stay awake...!) I thought I'd post a quickie for my ever dwindling readers - not that I blame you!
Between no Internet at home* and of course no blogging at work, a list a mile long of things to blog about but no time it's been a busy end to 2009!
I'm looking forward to 2010 & all it brings, the new house, new adventures and experiences.... I'm sure it will be great!
So have a safe and happy new year and see you all next year!!!

* we were planning on moving the last week of December but there were of couse delays so luckily our landlord is letting us stay until the end of January! But of course for once the Internet gods moved our line on time! So no Internet at home, thank god for the iPhone!!! More house pictures to come, it's looking SO great!

Sent from my iPhone

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes from MilkJam & Mystery Guest!

Christmas party

Tonight is the office Christmas party and since I don't know what to expect; I've never been to an office Christmas party (and because 90% of me colleagues are British), all I can picture is the drunk karaoke scene from Bridget Jones' Diary... You all know the one right?
Sometime I feel like I live in that movie... Maybe I should rename my blog!

Milk Jam's Diary

Does that have a good ring to it?

Sent from my iPhone

MIA but I'll be baaaack :-)

Happy thanksgiving!

No luck :-(

Just took my drivers test, the guy was so mean. He totally stressed me out, it took me 4 tries to parallel park (normally i get it in 1 try!!!) and then he made a snide comment and another one when I didn't understand what he was saying in French. But the kicker was I had to turn right at a stop sign onto a busy road - looked to me left, nothing, then to the right and finally another check to the left: nada. So I went, then as I was shifting up a big jeep passed me and I failed then and there because I didn't pay attention!?!?! I never saw the guy!!
So at a yield sign I was yelled at for not not pulling out quickly enough and then failed for a car I never fricking saw.
Might not get my license for another 6 weeks now :-(

Big boo.

Sent from my iPhone

Enjoying a hazelnut caramel holiday latte in Paris

My new baby!!!

Just bought my first car ever!!!! Isn't she pretty??? 2001 Volkswagon Bora. I think she needs a name... any thoughts??

Fingers crossed I pass my test on Tuesday...

** update, found out that the same model in the states is called a Jetta :-)

siding goes up up up!

Just a little house update! The siding is going up!! The west side (above) is done, even all the detail work under the eves and around the windows.

The south side is going up as well and then it will work around to the east and finally the north. Looks great doesn't it???? I love the color! We were worried that it would be too orangey-yellow but it is just the right shade!

In other house news we now have toilets (not installed yet but bought!) and the tile for the downstairs has been ordered - what a headache picking THAT out! The state of the inside really is a construction site, so no photos for now, but it is being drywalled so the heater dude can come in and put in the heated floor downstairs! Yea! No more cold feet for MilkJam! :-)

So that's my micro update for now, got to get back to looking for a car! I pass my driver's test on the 17th now and would like to have a car ready to go if possible, but man do they get snatched up fast!

trick or treat

Happy Halloween!



The first couple years I lived in Caen I tried to spread the Halloween spirit, but like so many others have said France just isn't with the program. Not that they should be, they have Carnival and that's fun too.



But they tried, I saw kids dressed up, even had a kid come trick or treating a few days before. When I asked why he was early he said he couldn't go on Halloween cause they were leaving on vacation so he's doing it early.



Yeah, that and broad day light just doesn't cut it kid.



So I stopped carving pumpkins and having candy ready. This year I was tempted to carve a pumpkin but seeing as how we are still in our appartment we don't have a real front door so I decided to save it for next year.



Late this afternoon as the sun was going down I heard the doorbell ring, thinking it was a late birthday present I scampered down the stairs. By the time I got there and unlocked the front door no one was there. I looked around the corner and saw a Mom and her kid walking away, the little boy was probably 3 or 4 years old and dressed up as a ghost. When I said I was sorry but I didn't have any candy the mom told the kid "make the lady cry" and he yelled "BOO!" It was so cute!



Then later once Mystery Guest got back from work we heard the doorbell ring again. This time there was a group of 5 kids, dressed up as witches, spiderman and monsters. When they asked for bon-bons I had to say I was sorry but no candy. I felt horrible! Here they were in the spirit of Halloween and I didn't have any candy! It didn't even feel like some lackluster imitation, I felt like I was back in the States for a minute. By the time I realized that I had some candy upstairs left over from treats for the lycee kids they had gone and no one else came to ring the doorbell.



Next year kids we'll have a jack-o-lantern and plenty of candy for you!!

Fall leaves

PS what do you guys think of the new header?

Everything and the kitchen sink... Seriously

sneak peak

Provided by Mystery Guest

parc asterix

Mystery solved.

Yes, yesterday's post was a picture from the Parc Asterix near Paris! Bravo ladies! Mystery Guest planned the whole thing for my birthday, it was a big surprise! He told me a couple weeks ago to keep the weekend of the 24th open. Then on Thursday he said I needed to pack an overnight bag... I had no idea what was in store for me!

We drove out to Paris Friday night after work and stayed with friends outside of Paris. Then on Saturday we went out to Parc Asterix! Totally kicks Disneyland's bootie!!! I had such a blast, there was some great rollar coasters, we did the water rides (and got soaked!) and even though it pretty much rained all day I had such a great time.

Thanks again M. Mystery Guest! You sure made my 28th birthday special! I got to feel like a kid again :-)