Saturday morning cup o'

Having time for a sit-down, weekend breakfast is something I look forward to these days, especially if we haven't had weekend days off in a while. We've started making time for the works: scrambled eggs (if we're lucky, farm fresh eggs), sausages or bacon (fake, of course), and some sort of pastry. We mix up the pastry bit of it- we've had croissants, toast with jam, morning buns, and we just tried hash browns this morning! And of course, C doesn't have anything other than French pressed coffee...

The indulgences in life!

Summertime hike

A leisurely, July 4th weekend hike. Southern Massachusetts, 2011

Paris, at anytime

We've been busy and I haven't had much time to blog about much of anything lately, but it's not an indication that much hasn't happened. Quite the contrary: we've traveled a bit and now, summer is finally here (90 degrees today!). One major trip that we made between February (the last post) and now is a two week escape to Paris.

We had debated about going someplace tropical and warm in March, but it was slim pickings with Mexico out of the question (Christopher can explain why, when asked). Early/mid March was still a bit too cool for a Mediterranean vacation, so that was out too.

Paris was beautiful. We certainly made the right choice. Having the time to really enjoy the city like a true Parisian and ample days just to meander the streets day or night in one of the most beautiful cities in the world is something I'd recommend to anyone.  After New York, Paris is not far behind as our second favorite city. There was so much to be taken in and I, for one, was inspired by so much that I observed and saw.


We ate, relaxed, photographed, and ate more for two whole weeks. We've shared all the pictures previously, but these are some details again, that I think really capture the beauty of everything. C’était vraiment la vie de rêve. 

Prayer candles in Notre Dame

Dusk outside the Centre George Pompidou

Dusk at  the Musée du Louvre

Returning to the Louvre at night

Window knob detail at the Petite Trianon, Versailles

Night falls on Avenue Montaigne, one of Paris' most prestigious streets and across from the Hotel Athénée- our new favorite hotel

A stroll through the Jardin de Tuilleries

Truly the City of Lights

First Photo: the Paris metro at Saint-Germain-Des-Prés- taken by Chris on his iPhone 3Gs- how impressive is that one?!

Valentine's Skate

I surprised C with a out-of-the-ordinary activity last Thursday. I arranged for us to have a VIP skating night at The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square! I told him we'd be doing "something fun," but we both thought it would be more fun if he didn't know what it was until the day of. C guessed a gaggle of things: apple picking, Celtics game, cooking class, and jewelry making class (like that would be "fun" for him...)! 

But he really had no idea until we showed up at the skating rink. It was a great night, because there weren't as many people as there would have been at the rink at the Commons- just the other people who'd signed up for the same thing. I was pretty mediocre at skating, but C was great! I could honestly say he could beat me at ice skating.  

Though it was COLD, a great time was had by all. We even got complementary hot chocolate which C claimed was "the best hot chocolate" he's ever had.  

Now, that's a good surprise!

Monsieur Speedy

All in a days work

Though most days are not like this, I spent the morning in the beef barn at school.  I usually like to take photos with our "good" camera and not my Blackberry, but it looked really nice out there and my phone was all I had. 

It was so cold out there and after two hours outside (the current temperature is 24 degrees) I was sure my toes would be purple when I came back inside.  Thank goodness, they're still alive.  We have another foot of snow in the forecast tonight so I'm crossing my fingers for another snow day tomorrow.

Winter Commons at night

Last night, we went to see The Fighter.  This was an impromptu photo I took with Chris' iPhone as we were walking across the Commons to the movie theater

(I fiddled with the settings to make it look a little dreamier).  

It was just such a pretty sight, with the building lights in the background, lights draping from the trees, people skating at the Frog Pond, and the massive cloud-like piles of snow that have been pushed together.  There were a few people sledding down the big hill.  I enjoy walking through Boston Commons the most in the evenings when there aren't too many people around and all is quiet on a brisk night.  It was pretty perfect.

Snowed In

We got more than a foot of snow overnight.  It was a serious blizzard.  School was canceled for me today, and Chris got to work from home.


This is the view from outside our window.  It doesn't look like that much here, but this is what it looked like when we took Harry outside...

We also spent about forty-five minutes shoveling out the car tonight.  Chris did most of the heavy shoveling while I scraped down the sides of the car, the windows, and the roof.  I definitely can see the benefit of having a smaller car when it comes to shoveling and de-icing.  Another couple across the street started a little after us and finished about fifteen minutes before us!