Not a whole lot to report since my last update over a week ago. I got a couple of outlets fixed, had the gas line to the kitchen removed, had my annual review with my investment manager (yikes), tried to go to a brocante (flea market), worked on the house, and released a new YouTube video. Sewing costumes for Carnevale continues. I’m starting to crave pumpkin baked-goods, but finding pumpkin is a challenge! So many projects underway, and not many results yet. I like results! [Read more…]
Life Has Been Busy!
At the end of September, I had my first doctor appointment within the public health system. The weekend of October 1, I took the train to Paris for a short weekend. I went to the library, walked around the city, and enjoyed a wonderful evening celebrating the birthday of a friend. Then last week, I had appointments with a kitchen planner and an electrician. Life has been busy! [Read more…]
YouTube! Writing, Renovating, and Trying to Stay Warm
Today I finally get to just write about the last week. I’ve been writing, renovating, and trying to stay warm. I’ll be able to talk a little more about some of the milestones from last week too. [Read more…]
Milestones & Set-backs
I’ve been living in my new house now for 3 weeks! I’ve had a few milestones –
some more important than others, and a few set-backs. [Read more…]
New Home and Traveling Again
I still don’t have my residency card, but I’ve moved into my new home! No more living out of suitcases. Phew!! I’m going to try posting weekly, so that my posts will be able to include more details of my daily efforts to renovate the “chateau” and get my business rolling. When too much time passes, I end up writing summaries about what’s been happening. [Read more…]
Vacation in the French Alps
Only a week until I get the keys to my new home in Bourgogne! Then the real work starts, so it was nice to take a few days to visit friends at their chalet for a vacation in the French Alps. The landscape was stunningly beautiful. In many ways, it reminded me of the PNW, with the thick underbrush, evergreen trees, and alpine lakes. But it was steeper, studded with alpine meadows, and sprinkled with clusters of cute chalets on the mountainsides. [Read more…]
Starting My Business and Settling In
I arrived!
My arrival in France launched a whirlwind of social activity. When it came to starting my business and settling in, though, the fabulousness was mixed with challenges. I set up in my tiny Paris studio apartment, saw old friends, made new ones, went to an 18th century ball at Château de Versailles, visited new towns, saw amazing museum exhibits, ate delicious food, went fabric and clothes shopping, found treasures at the flea markets (brocantes), and found my own chateau to buy (follow along on Instagram: ChatelaineLife). [Read more…]
Off to France
Hello again! Well, hasn’t it been an interesting couple of years?? Lots of time alone to think about things, resulting in big news – I am making the leap to go back to France this month… indefinitely. Scary! Exciting!
Watch this space for updates, because I’ll be looking for a big 18th-century house to buy as an event space and part-time B&B, as well as launching a new business venture. Love antique french textiles? Wish you could buy yardage to actually sew with? Stay tuned! If you are interested in daily french life, I will be starting to blog again and will definitely be spamming Instagram.
À bientôt! See you soon – from France!
Summer Update
A brief run-down of amazing events: I finished my first year of grad-school, the Versailles Ball was magical, I did research at the national library in Paris, I presented a successful conference paper in England for the Costume Society, I buzzed around the UK with my daughter seeing new sights and doing research, I received conference travel grants from the Society for the Study of Early Modern Women as well as my university, and there are exciting opportunities developing for my PhD! I’m feeling very relieved, hopeful, thankful, inspired, and TIRED. [Read more…]
See you in the Hall of Mirrors?
Plans finally firmed up and I am excited to be going to the costumed ball at Chateau Versailles in France! [Read more…]