Escaping the Empty Nest

Vegetable Gallery

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Toilet Gallery

In Case You Missed It:

Things I Thought Were True until I Moved to France

I thought that by the time I turned fifty, I'd have a few things figured out. I was wrong. Here are a few of my misconceptions that were debunked once I started living in France. A friendly smile will open doors. No. In France, a neutral expression is best. A big smile for no reason...(read more)

Versailles vs Fountainebleau

Versailles is known worldwide as The Most Beautiful Voluptuous Palace Anywhere. This means that it is The Most Crowded Palace Anywhere. If you will feel like you just didn’t do France properly without seeing Versailles, then by all means go to Versailles. If, however, you just want to see a beautiful French palace, then go to Fontainebleau. Here...(read more)

Currants

I was in my neighborhood open-air market the other day, looking at the currants. I wasn’t sure they were currants, because I couldn’t read the sign. Some French words are easy to translate. “Banane” is banana. “Tomate” is tomato. But currants are “groseille.” “Gros” means large, but I don’t know what “eille” means. While I was wondering, a big black bird...(read more)

Living in Paris is Like...

What is living in Paris like? Living in Paris is not like vacationing in Paris. Vacationing in Paris is like going to a concert by your favorite musician. Someone who’s a legend. Someone who’s still terrific, even though they’re older than Moses. Someone like Paul McCartney. During the concert, you just soak it up, forgetting everything else. You lose yourself...(read more)

Cranberry Beans

These beans waited for me in the produce market. Every time I shopped, they called to me. “Yvonne,” they said, “take us home.” Not being that crazy about beans, I ignored their pleas. Finally, I gave in to their siren song and bought a handful. After all, they looked beautiful. I asked the clerk how to cook them, and she told me to shell them (I got that...(read more)

Creepy Things at a French Street Market

In Paris, somewhere between Les Puces (the Cadillac of flea markets that you see in movies) and selling-hot-stuff-from-inside-your-trench-coat, there is the the neighborhood street market. These markets pop up once in awhile, and there is a lot of clothing, mismatched dishware, shoes, purses, toys, jewelry, records, small electronics, anything small...(read more)

Paris Flea Market Shopping

When we moved to Paris, I was very excited about the flea markets. I love old furniture with character (except upholstered furniture--I’m sure there are bodily fluids in there), I love reusing things instead buying new, and I love getting in the communities where real people do their stuff. Moving to Paris with no furniture was the perfect time for me to start...(read more)

My Half-furnished Apartment

Would you like to take a tour of my half-furnished apartment? Ok, let’s go! Here’s our backstory, in case you’re new. After years of getting furniture at Goodwill, Ikea, yard sales, and Toys R Us, and with only one kid left at home, we were finally ready to get some decent furniture. Then we decided to move to Paris. Shipping our crummy furniture...(read more)

How to Go to Paris

Go to Paris, the city of love and light! It’s really worth it, but it takes some work to make your trip wonderful. Follow my tips and you’ll be ok.
Before you go: Where will you stay? I prefer Airbnb, but Home Rentals are great, too. I like to have room to spread out and get to know the locals, and I also found the prices at Airbnb and Home Rentals...(read more)

How to Rent an Apartment in Paris

Have you heard about French bureaucracy? It’s immense and far-reaching, penetrating the depths of your soul. But if you want to live in France, you’ll get used to it. Here’s how to rent an apartment in Paris. Really, I recommend that you be employed by a company that transfers you to France and has already leased apartments which they funnel...(read more)

Airplane Etiquette

Flying is no longer the elegant, special thing it was during aviation’s early days. Now, air travel is more accessible and more affordable. It’s more casual. And sometimes, it’s meaner. Airplane etiquette consists of regular human decency with extra sensitivity to others mixed in. Let’s begin. 1. Do not bring your pet snake on the plane. 2. Keep your lawyer...(read more)

Dear Bored Man

Dear bored middle-aged man sitting on a bench in the ladies shoe department,
On behalf of all middle-aged women, I salute you, sir! You are doing the hard work, the taxing work, the work we truly need done. I’m serious. We don't need someone to leap tall buildings in a single bound...(read more)

I'm New Here: Thoughts on Being a New Expat in France

I’m still in the honeymoon stage of life in France. Culture shock is due to set in soon, but for now I just think this place is lovely! Everything is pretty. Food is delicious. Groceries are affordable. The weather is nice. People are friendly. Here are some nice pictures for you...(read more)

I'm Yvonne, and this is my blog.
The kids are leaving, I’m retired, and I’ve got miles to go before I sleep. If you are as perplexed and excited as I am about the second half of your life, come eat, travel, and figure it out with me.

In Case You Missed It:

​Airplane Etiquette

Airplane Etiquette