Chateau De Usse'

 

I wasn't able to blog yesterday due to an awesome appointment we had with a French immigration office. It included a full physical. It was awesome! Ha!

 

This is the first castle we found Saturday afternoon. It was starting to rain and the kids had been in the car for about two hours, so we were all so excited to be here. This is Chateau De Usse'. This is the actual castle that Disney used to model Sleeping Beauty's castle in the movie. They played up that fact well with all the props and mannequins in the front tower. The chateau really did look like the movie, but the pictures don't make it as obvious. It is set in a hillside and there are large retaining walls to keep the commoners away, so full chateau pictures were not easy to capture.

 

 

 

Chateau De Usse'

(that is Scout's head, not a finger!)

 

 

The Chapel

 

 

This room was part of the entry way into the main castle. This is a ceiling and was painted to resemble marble.

 

 

Scout loved the model of the chateau, maybe more than the actual full size!

 

This is a secret passage that ended way in the woods. An escape root!! We were allowed to walk down into it and it was cold and dark. Super SPOOKY!!

 

 

The only original piece of furniture that is still in the house.

 

 

Beautiful Staircase

 

Awesome Mannequins on the staircase!!

 

Formal Dining Room (in bright yellow!)

 

Bedroom

 

Main Hallway facing the Courtyard! GORGEOUS!

 



 

 

We finally made it up the hillside to the stables and found this cart that was similar to originals from the time period the castle was built.

 

 

There were large storage rooms and cellars in the hillside. (Again cold, dark and Super SPOOKY!!)

 

 

We climbed over 100 old, wooden, creaky stairs to the top of Sleeping Beauty's tower!!

 

And, if you look really close we found an actual princess at the top of the tower!! Princess Emma!

 



 

 

Then to let off even more steam the kids and I raced all around the gardens. This is a memory I don't think I will ever forget. The scenery was gorgeous and the kids and I were having so much fun!

 

 

 

 

This chateau was beautiful, but overall a little spooky. I was all set to stay the night in a castle, then with this being our first one to visit I quickly backed out of sleeping in one. I thought it was amazing to visit in the bright of day though! Emma obviously loved this one the most. Attach Disney to anything and my kids are totally...SOLD.

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

Megan

 

Inside of Chateau De Chenonceau

It has been blistering cold here in Paris yesterday and today! And..it has been snowing here all day and piling up like small blizzard. To top it all off there is construction going on in the store front underneath our apartment and it is LOUD. I thought it was drilling AKA jack hammer. Now  I am onto the theory that it must be a very loud generator because it never takes a break. You would think if that was a drill the person running it would need a break. Right? So, it has to be generator. I am really not into reading blogs of just whining, but today I am gonna whine. Either the snow needs to dry up and go away so we can get out of our 700 square foot of heaven OR the generator needs to go.

OK, I'll stop. Onto happier things!

It was gently brought to my attention by one of my devoted readers (my dear Aunt Nancy!) that I did not post any pictures of the inside of the castle yesterday. She thought maybe we weren't allowed inside. But, we were!! I just forgot about the inside. So, today after my rant and raid about the conditions and noise I will leave you with pictures of the inside of Chateau De Chenonceau.

 

The chapel inside the castle

 

Servant eating areas

 

Kitchen

 



Grand Hallway

 

 

 

 

 Bedrooms

 

 

Until Next Time,

Megan

Chenonceau

 

We have had a gloomy, gloomy last few weeks in Paris. My family has went through a terrible tragedy with my precious uncle loosing his battle with cancer after only three weeks. Jarred and I were unable to get home due to the ice storm that hit at the exact same time as his passing and it has just been sad. We have done several fun and new things in Paris, but I have been unable to blog or even really enjoy these things because the sadness and loss have been so present in our hearts. Our family has never went through something this hard and I have had the hardest time not being there with them. So, to try and adjust the scenery Jarred took the kids and I on a little road trip this weekend. We went through the French country side in search of "real" castles. By no means are we "over" our loss, but changing the surroundings, riding in a car, feeling the sun, and just being out of the city has been a good distraction.

 

 

LOOK WHAT WE FOUND!!!

 

We found an AMAZE BALLS castle!!!

 

This is  CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU!

 

 

Isn't it unbelievable?? It was built over a river and dates back to 1499.

 

The kids had an amazing time. Scout thinks real "primpresses" live in the castles we go in and continually yells "Primpress come out!" The other tourists do not find it as enduring as his mother. What's their problem??

 

 

 

Obviously, Emma feels that this is Rapunzel's castle because there is a tower for her to let her hair down!! We were not allowed to climb this tower. The kids were sad. My thighs were happy!

 

This was my favorite castle!! It has beautiful gardens, fountains, a farm, ducks, goats, old cars, a moat and a draw bridge. Yes, a working draw bridge!!

 

We saw several and I will write separate blogs about each one, but this was just my favorite. Walking through the gardens here I felt a peace. I did not have on a coat, the weather was beautiful, we were there on a Sunday morning and I just felt peace. It was nice.

 

 

Oh, BTW I want one!! I told Jarred I need no more shoes, clothes, handbags. I now NEED a castle!! The Chateau De Megan...now that has a nice ring to it!

 

 

Until Next Time,

Megan

 

A Lesson In Being Chic!!

When Jarred and I found out we would be moving to Paris it seemed like everyone talked about how chic and glamorous this city is. It seems to be known for fashion and it does feel like everyone around here has way more time invested in their appearance while doing small tasks. I mean right outside of our apartment you can easily see a seventy year old woman walking her dog in heels and a fur coat. I mean REALLY?? Back home I run to the mailbox in a house coat and slippers. Now granted I am praying to Jesus please do not let anyone see me, but still...it happens!

The point in my comment is we Americans have one little task that I feel we could teach these Parisians a little chicness. What is that you might ask?? Well, going to the grocery store and hauling your groceries home. That's right! You heard me.

Last night we had went to a museum and then to dinner with friends and on the way home I offered to stop at the market and pick up a few things we needed at home. I was a little more dressed up than usual because of our afternoon/evening plans. So there I am at the market with my fashionable jacket, dressy jeans, and clogs (I said somewhat dressed up!). Now, when you walk up to the line you have to unload your groceries from the basket and put them on the belt (like in America...hang in there), then the cashier simply runs the groceries across the scanner and gives you a total. (it must be noted the cashiers do not dare get off their stools in this task!) Now, you have to sack up all your groceries and if you forgot your reusable tote you get to pay for their plastic Wal-Mart like sacs. Now I say Wal-Mart like because they are tiny and clear. Not frosty, clear. And, not everything fits. I point this out because if you need any personal items...they are no longer personal in this process! Ha!

Now I am worked up into a half sweat sacking up all our groceries and paying in my winter bundle and I am headed out the door. This is when I realize I must blog about this. I am walking down the gorgeous, chic streets of Paris headed home in my "dressy" clothes carrying four clear sacks of groceries in one hand and a large package of toilet paper in the other. I then realized it is quiet difficult to look and feel chic while hauling your TP home like a pack mule!!


Until Next Time,
Megan

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I hope you all had a very lovely Valentine's Day!! We had a lot of good fun here in ole Paris!! We did get another mouse like rat on our trap the week before (the head was all that fit on the trap, therefore I will continue calling them rats!)

My new friend Stephanie (and yes, that is what I call her every time I reference her in conversations to others. Ha!) took our kiddos to a chocolate museum called Choco Story the morning of the love holiday. The kids had a ball and yes, we did eat quite a bit of chocolate!!! We read about and saw exhibits on the history of how chocolate was first discovered and how recipes have evolved over time. (I was particularly impressed with the Spanish recipe. Go figure!!) We saw many tools that are used in making chocolate and we even saw several pretty cups that were used exclusively for drinking chocolate. Then we watched an actual chocolatier make chocolates and he let us eat them!!! He said you have to study and apprentice a minimum of three years to be a chocolatier. Wow!! That is a long time to study chocolate! Before we left the museum we each had a delicious cup of hot chocolate!! Can you say HEAVEN!!! A whole museum of chocolate.

On our way home the kids and I were mesmerized by all the yummies in the windows of the boulangeries and we just had to bring home a strawberry something that tasted unbelievably good (because we were still needing sugar after a whole museum of chocolate, right?) and a heart shaped baguette with two hearts for my two Valentines.

Jarred brought home roses and other treats for the kids and we had a great dinner in!!

All in all it was a pretty great day!! Hey, check out Scout in the pictures! I could not get him to cooperate and give me a normal smile. He is such a little ham!!!


Until Next Time,
Megan

Just A Little Giggle!!

Oh my do I have a story for you!! I have no pictures, but I DO have a story!!!

Two nights ago Jarred and I had put the kids to bed and were laying in the floor of our apartment watching Lonesome Dove on Netflix. (we were on the floor because we have to sit up straight on our tiny love seat of a couch) (Oh! and we were watching Lonesome Dove because Jarred assures me it is a classic!)  All of a sudden a large life size rat comes running toward us on the floor and we both jump up and stumble around in sheer confusion. Now keep in mind we live on the third floor and there are sleeping people above us and below us, not to mention our own children are in the next room asleep. So, we are doing those whisper screams and yells every time we see this little guy. And, oh he is not being shy about making his presence known.

A little side note. My mother was a wonderful mother growing up and there are very few problems or life situations that I can pin on her, BUT my fear of mice I CAN!!! This woman has let out death curdling screams, acrobatics, and even tears. Oh, many tears over these little rodents. She gladly passed this down to my sister and I!! Seeing our mother go into sheer panic whenever a mouse was even mentioned has had a little affect on me. You may notice that as this story plays out!!!

So, back to Wednesday night!! I am now standing in a little red chair of our apartment holding a tennis racket in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other and directing poor Jarred where it is. My night in shining rat killing armour is armed with a metal pole from the closet and a small rug for trapping. He informs me that I am gonna have to help him and I am telling him "Oh, no" Oh, no" as I begin walking toward the rat. We get it trapped behind the TV stand and Jarred informs me this is just a "mouse". Like that makes it any better???? NO!!! And, for the record this sucker is black with a long tail. It is smaller than I originally thought, but a baby rat is still a RAT. Well, the night in shining mouse trapping armour lets it get away. We couldn't find it anywhere. We had no idea how it got in or how it may have gotten out. The sucker is gone. So, Jarred finely talks me into going to bed. I slept none.

The next morning, Jarred goes on to work and I do not tell the kids about the night before because they are a bit like their mother and seem to get all worked up over small rodents. Well, while sitting on the couch the rat runs around a corner of the kitchen into the living room and back and into a cabinet then out again and back up and down the wall. Emma looks at  me and says, "Is that a rat?" I told her it was. Scout, Emma, and I sat on this tiny love seat and pulled our feet up and every time the little rodent ran we screamed like a roller coaster scream. Then when the little critter ran into the cabinet we were dead silent. This went on for several minutes. Screams, silence, screams, silence....you get the idea?? I finally called Jarred at work and demanded he come home and kill this rat. I said "it is terrorizing us!". He had a hard time wrapping his head around how a small rodent could be terrorizing three humans, but it totally was.

Jarred walked into this apartment with a mop. Really, a mop. He quickly determined the rat was not going to come out of hiding to be whacked with his mop, so he ran down to the store and bought some traps. He baited one trap with American peanut butter and one with French stinky cheese so we would for sure know the country of origin of this rat. Guess what?? It only took about fifteen minutes for the smell of the cheese to lure the little rascal out of riding. It was a French mouse. We are sure. May he rest in peace.

So, Jarred has convinced the children that this was just a little mouse. I am still not so convinced. That was one long thick tail, but maybe French mice resemble the American rat. Who knows?? My mind may just not be able to make that little sucker harmless, because it never felt harmless when it was playing mind tricks with us.

So, I hope you can all have a little giggle. I was not laughing then, but now I am!!


Until Next Time,
Megan

Complaints and Blessings

We have been back in Paris for almost 2 weeks. I would say that we finally are back into a routine, well for us. I may need to warn you that this post will probably have a little more whining than I usually put on here, hang in there you'll see why.

First, jet lag stinks!!! I mean STINKS. We went through an entire week with the kids up, eating meals at 3am. They would go to bed when we asked and it was "bed time" and lay and cry because they couldn't go to sleep. Then they wanted to sleep until 12pm and we were trying to get them up because that is how you get them to sleep at night. Let me just emphasize it was NOT FUN. We seemed to all sleep through the night last Saturday night and since then we are doing much better.

Second, due to the aforementioned sleep craziness getting us back into any kind of a "school" pattern was next to impossible last week. I thought I was OK, just going with it. I have since discovered this week...I am not. I am feeling all kinds of panicked over missing several days of work. My O.C.D. is in over drive and now I am seeing poor Emma being in kindergarten forever because her mother and father moved her to Paris and couldn't get their sleep schedules worked out and she will never learn to read and therefore never become successful and self sufficient.Whew!! Y'all see how my brain works. It ain't pretty.

Third, this city is GREY. It is one thing to be cold and rainy, but grey for about a week and a half. I CANT TAKE IT MUCH LONGER. Well, I don't have to. The sun finally came out earlier this week and I wore sunglasses. (It wasn't that bright, but somehow it helped my psyche!) I actually saw on some website I was browsing that there is a color of paint called "Paris Grey". I am back and forth on if that will ever be used in my home. I'll get back to you.

OK, OK, OK, I will stop complaining and start counting my many blessings. (count them one-by-one) You know you were thinking the same thing!

1.We found the American food store!! It is called The Real McCoy and makes my heart happy. Well, finding pop-tarts for the kids and baking supplies to make cornbread and having labels I can read....that makes me happy. Having to pay 9.50 euros for a (yes, that is singular) package of Oreos for Jarred.....does NOT make me happy. But, a little comfort food helps the soul, right?

2.We have also been so blessed to find a babysitter to help us out during our French lessons that is so sweet. She really seems to enjoy our children and it is so nice to have another American that we interact with weekly!!

3.We also found a doctor that speaks great English and has the quirkiest and funniest sense of humor. I have never giggled and laughed so hard while someone was examining my kids. They thought he was totally weird. Who isn't?

4.The most exciting thing that has happened since we have been home is.....we made some new friends. It was a match made in christian, speech therapy, homeschooling, Paris HEAVEN!! Yes, we have all those things in common with another American family living right here in Paris. We met through a friend of mine that I go to church with (Jennie) and this girl (Stephanie) went to college together. So, when Jennie saw on facebook that we were both posting things about living in Paris she played match maker and set us up. I owe her one, BIG!! I don't think my entire family has ever hit it off so quick than with this family. They are precious!! They have a daughter (who is just a little older than Em) that has become fast friends with Emma and Scout. She is a very sweet and funny little girl, I really enjoy her company. Stephanie and I have a lot in common and it has just been super easy to hang with her. I am so thankful.

The gang in front of Saint Michel Notre Dame last weekend.

 

 

 

Then we moseyed to the American Library in Paris. (They are sitting in a reading nook that looked like a cave) The kids loved it here!!

 

 

Scout fell asleep on the way home! See!! That was super exciting to this Mommy and Daddy!

 

 

 

Until Next Time,

Megan