Why I haven't been blogging, Part 1: Walks

So as you & I both know,

I haven't really been blogging

since I've been back for my West Coast visit.

But I have been taking lots of walks 

near my parents' house,

accompanied by FQ & Koda:

My mom & dad:

And my adorable nephew Ben:

What I love about

"going for a walk around the block" 

in my parents' neighbourhood

 is that it takes at least an hour.

Well, it's rural, right?

That means one big block!

Plus there are all sorts of interesting things to look at.

For example, the neighbours' creative mailbox:

The view across the fields towards the Fraser River:

 

And the local horses (particularily photogenic on this occasion!)

We usually walk through Thornhill Park,

where I used to teeter-totter & gossip with girlfriends

back when I was a teenager.

And where the dog likes to splash around in the creek.

On the home stretch down the hill back towards my parents' house, 

I always admire the view.

This is what "home" looks like to me.

Dear Emily,

Do you realize you've gone for 
more than a week without blogging?

More than a week?
Really?!!

Don't you feel guilty?

Sincerely yours,

Your Blog

***

Dear Poor Neglected Blog,

Not really,

because the truth is 

I'm just having way too much fun 

visiting with family & friends

to update you.

(Sorry to tell it like it is, but c'est la vie, non?)

love,

Emily

P.S.  I have taken a million photos
which I will share with you soon, promis!

Bonjour, Valentine!

This florist in Annecy's old town always has beautiful flowers out front,

but they really went all out with their Valentine's display, non?

This February 14th, I'm in Victoria visiting Erin.

We have plans to drink Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce lattes

& get pedicures.

Because nothing says Valentine's Day like red toenails, right?

Happy Trails

I went for a walk with Koda & my mom & dad
in the trails above their house this afternoon.

Hooray for big trees, ferns, fresh air, happy dogs & parents!

Oh & no bear sightings.   That's good too.

Dear Mount Baker,

View of Mount Baker from my parents' yard, July 2010.

It's so nice to see you again!

love,
Emily

P.S.  Dear Family, 
You too!
XOXO

En route!

Outside the Geneva International Airport

And I'm off!

While you're reading this, 

I'll be smack-dab in the middle of 

the surreal nowhere & everywhere of international travel,

somewhere between Geneva & Vancouver.

Next update will come to you en direct from the West Coast!

Photos du week-end

We had a lovely weekend.

Our friends Camille & Charles spent Friday night chez nous.

Saturday morning, we woke up to absolutely gorgeous weather.

It was so nice to see the sun again
after what seemed like weeks of chilly, grey days.

We walked along the lake...

... across the Pont des Amours...

... and into the old town.

Annecy is beautiful no matter what the weather,

but the sunshine doesn't hurt, does it?

It created all sorts of interesting shadows, 

on the ramp leading up to the footbridge...

... & on the buildings in the vielle ville.

(This photo reminds me of the ones I took in Budapest.)

But the most amazing shadow was created by this streetlamp:

Isn't that gorgeous? 

(The mini-daffodils don't hurt, either.)

Sunday, the weather was just as nice,
so we took another long walk by the lake.

Lots of people had the same idea, as you can see:

I couldn't believe this woman's outfit!!!

Not exactly what I would choose for a Sunday stroll by the water...

We sat down on a sunny bench for a while.

Check out that guy on his bike behind me.  Too funny!

We admired the view:

Then I stretched out for a bit & looked up at this:

I think I got my fill of sunshine & vitamin D these past two days,

which is a good thing, considering the fact 

I leave for Vancouver tomorrow(!!!)

And while I am way too excited to be back for a visit,

it might be a little while before I see such blue skies again.

Chez Nous: Le Salon

Comme promis yesterday, here's a peek into our living room.

Please admire our big comfy couch, 

which we ordered back in September
& received just after Christmas.

(Now that's customer service!)

I scored the Bay-blanket cushions in Victoria a few years back

for something like 70% off the original price.

Love!

As seen from the sofa:  dining area & entrance to our bedroom.

Closer look at the mantel.

Good thing our TV's not flammable!

Hey Vancouverites: 

please note the little statue in the alcove above the clock. 

You can take the girl out of English Bay, 

but you can't make her give up her view of the Inukshuk!

Chez Nous: La Cuisine

So we're thinking about trying to organize a  
home exchange this summer.

The idea is that we trade a stay in our apartment in Annecy 

for a week or two in somebody else's home. 

Et voila... an interesting & affordable way to vacation!

It would be great to spend time in another part of France

that I don't know yet.

(Brittany? The Atlantic coast near Bordeaux?) 

Or why not swap houses with someone in Italy or Spain? 

I really like the idea of being on vacation
somewhere new 

but with a home base

& it's always fun to pretend you're a local even when you're not. 

("Mais oui, I live just around the corner from here...
until next Saturday, that is!")

Anyway.

Today I took some photos of chez nous 

so that I can complete our profile
on the home-exchange site we've chosen.

While I'm at it, I thought I might as well post a few on here.

Let's start in the kitchen, shall we?

Here's where I eat my breakfast most mornings.

That's a wi-fi radio on the table, which means I can tune in to CBC Vancouver while sipping my tea.

Isn't that great?

 

This kitchen is much bigger than the one in our last apartment,

has about six million times the cupboard space

& features a dishwasher!

Hey presto, 99.9% less bickering between me & FQ
about whose turn it is to faire la vaisselle!

 

More cupboards & drawers & storage, oh my!

(Also, looks like it's time to clear off the front of the fridge.

Again.

Where does all that stuff come from, anyway?!)

 

Oh, this photo isn't going on the home-exchange site, 

but I thought you'd like to have a closer look
at my retro-licious new canisters.

Aren't they fun?

 

Coming up tomorrow: the living room.

Can you even handle the suspense??