Saturday, July 10, 2021

Passer du Temps Sur le Porche et à Paris en Juillet

  




It's been a busy week. My son and his wife sold their house and are staying with us for a bit while they wrap things up here. It's been a while since I've chased after a five-year-old and a two-year-old...What fun I've had! The kids have loved spending time in the sandbox and the tiny plastic pool in the backyard, filling the bird feeder, picking tomatoes and kale, and chasing bubbles. I had to pull out the picture books, of course. Favorites? Where is the Green Sheep? along with The Napping House, King Bidgood's in the Bathtub, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!




What I Read Last Week:

Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay ⭐⭐⭐
A Passion for Paris by David Downie ⭐⭐⭐
Maggie Finds Her Muse by Dee Ernst ⭐⭐⭐
Quiet Corners of Paris by Jean-Christophe Napias  ⭐⭐⭐⭐



What I'm Reading Now:

The Belly of Paris by Emile Zola
The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris
Discovering the Hidden Wisdom of The Little Prince by Pierre Lassus
Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim
Crepes by Suzette by Monica Wellington







I shared my favorite modern art from Centre Pompidou this week: Modern Art at Centre Pompidou in Paris. Did you know "modern art" doesn't really mean modern art? I did not.

I listed my favorite French-ish books and tried to figure out why I love these books so much: Why I Love French-ish Books (And Why You Should Love Them, Too!)


To help me celebrate Paris in July, my sweet friend, Rae, of Powerful Women Readers, brought over some pain de chocolat and a lovely cheese board. Thank you, Rae!






Good Thing #1:
My friend, Lisa, who is just starting her cancer journey: "I try not to share every aspect of how I’m doing but today I’m flying high! Every one of my tests I had to endure came back with great results! The cancer has not spread, all my vital organs look good, and the mass itself has already gotten smaller from just one chemo infusion!"


Good Thing #2:


We are delighted to have our son and his wife, Jon and Steph, along with our two grandkids, Wyatt and Annie, hang out with us. The front porch is a favorite spot. Wyatt is never seen without his boots and hat.




Good Thing #3:
Our nephew, Nathan Eovaldi, pitcher with the Boston Red Sox, was chosen for the All-Star GameHe, like That Other Fast-Ball Pitcher, is a hometown Alvin, Texas boy.








I'm happy you found your way to the Sunday Salon. Sunday Salon is a place for us to link up and to share what we have been doing during the week. It's a great way to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. 

Some of the things we often talk about at the Sunday Salon:

  • What was your week like?
  • Read any good books? Tell us about them.
  • What other bookish things did you do? 
  • What else is going on in your life?

Other places where you may like to link up over the weekend are below. Click on the picture to visit the site.

        

My linkup for Sunday Salon is below. 

64 comments:

  1. What's on my mind this week is climate change and how it is affecting global food systems. The heat waves and other disruptions to what was formerly normal are very threatening right now, and the climate-change deniers are going to look even stupider than they have been looking.

    Your Paris reading for the week is impressive, and I hope you review all those books. I have read some of them, and will look forward to your opinions.

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. The results of climate change are worrisome. It's big and it feels outside my control except by sharing information like your post with others.

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  2. You are having a full week ahead as well. It must be lovely to have family staying even for a short time.
    Your Paris themed books make me green with envy.

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    1. I've been saving up these Paris-themed books, some of them for a year.

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  3. It sounds like you've had a really fun week with those sweet grandkids. Enjoy them. As you know, they grow up too fast.

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  4. Aww sounds like you're having fun with the grandkids.

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  5. It sounds like you had a wonderful week. Always great to have the grandkids around to spend time with. I am glad your Paris in July is going so well, Deb.

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  6. Sounds like you've had a wonderful week! Your grandkids are adorable. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus was a huge favorite of ours when my kids were little. We would laugh every time we read it. Congrats to your nephew!

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    1. I still remember when I ran across Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Mo Willems!

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  7. Enjoy your time with your grandkids! I had such a special relationship with my grandparents and wouldn't trade it for the world. I love the pain de chocolat! The Starbucks at St Jude in Memphis had them and when Will was having a procedure my sanity saving treat was one of those and whatever drink called my name. Have a wonderful week and enjoy your Paris in July!

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    1. I shared a little of mine with my friend, Lisa, who is having a hard time finding something she wants to eat during chemo.

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  8. Sounds like a busy but fun week with your family. I love the sound of all your Paris-related books. I hope you have a great week!

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  9. I'm glad you get to spend so much time with your son and his family before the move. I love Wyatt's hat and boots! The pain de chocolat and cheese board sound divine! And what wonderful things you've chosen for your three good things!

    Enjoy your week!

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  10. Congratulations to your son and your grandson is so cute in those boots.

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  11. Sounds like a fab week and love all Paris week. Lately I've been having dreams about people speaking to me in French. I do have a friend who can speak French fluently and a few coworkers, but I wonder what gives.

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    1. I find that French is so close to English that I can understand it aloud much better than any other language I've tried to learn.

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  12. Congrats to your nephew, I will be sure to show my husband.

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  13. You're doing great with Paris in July this year. I'm still on my first book. So glad you're enjoying the time with your grandchildren... Wyatt is so cut in his boots and hat. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. I've actually read quite a bit during Paris in July, though I have not had much time.

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  14. How great to have so much time with those adorable grandchildren! Great photo, and I love all of your good things.

    I am having a pretty good week...enjoying books and what I hope will come next in my life. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES

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  15. How wonderful to have the grandchildren around. They sure keep us on our toes. Have a great week!

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  16. Oh I can just hear all that Granny Cheer coming through your post. So glad you are enjoying time with your kids and grandkids. Congrats on your nephew being chosen for the All Stars Game! Baseball isn't a game that is played here in SA. I think I might have enjoyed it though! Rugby, Cricket and Soccer is the games to play here. Especially Rugby. Politics and all.

    Aaaah Paris in July... It sounds wonderful. I have a Parisy book on my Kindle, maybe I should read it in support of this. It will throw my Library Card in dire straights again, but so what, it's not as if I generally stick to it like glue!

    Hope you will have a good week ahead and enjoy all the noise in your house!

    Lots of love,

    Elza Reads

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    1. I know nothing about baseball either, but it looks like a sport I'd like if I liked sports.

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  17. Good job on the Paris reading.

    You sure have a lot of good things. Will keep your friend Lisa in my prayers.

    Your Grandkids are so cute! I know how thrilled you must be that you can spend some time with them.

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  18. Congratulations to your nephew on being chosen for the All Start game, that's really exciting!

    You must be an exhausted, but happy grandma having those 2 adorable grandchildren to visit. I love the miniature-size porch seat you have for them.

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    1. A friend gave us that porch seat for them to match the grownup porch seats we have.

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  19. That's exciting about your nephew! I'm sure you're loving have the grandkids, although I'm also sure it is a bit tiring. I read Maggie Finds Her Muse a while ago. It was good, not great, which it looks like you felt the same. Have a great week!
    Lisa Loves Literature

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    1. Yes, my reading for Paris in July has all been pretty banal, but, hey, it's set in Paris, and that's something.

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  20. Aww that's so nice to have your grandkids around! Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is one of my daughter's favorites! Enjoy your time with them :)

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    1. I could read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus a thousand times in a row. In fact, I think I may have done so when I was a librarian.

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  21. Yay! Paris in July. I plan on reading the tea shop book this month too. Have fun with the grandkids :-)

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  22. Sounds like you and your grandkids are having a ball. I love it when kids get stuck into wearing certain articles of clothing. Small children are natural actors and mimics and their love of dressing up and pretending is adorable. J'espere que vous lisez beaucoup pendent Paris en juillet!

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  23. Ohmygosh those grandkids are too cute!!! And that book about a king in a bathtub sounds fun!

    Very exciting about your nephew!!!

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  24. How cool that your nephew is a favorite of ours. We are life long Boston Red Sox fans and I didn't realize he was related and/or even from Texas. What an awesome player. Your (2) grands are adorable and yes little ones 5 and under are exhausting. ours are now 7. 7. and 9 so a little less hands on but still tiring for someone my age. Have a great week Deb.

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    1. Diane, that makes me happy that Nathan is a favorite of yours. He and his wife, our niece, are such kind and good people, too.

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  25. Yay for good thing #1, so glad to hear positive news. Your grandkids are adorable. Congrats to your nephew. My grandson (7) is a huge Red Sox fan along with his dad.

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  26. Ah the three good things are wonderful! Continued good wishes for your friend. And, your friend, Rae - total keeper! A friend who brings you sweets is the best. Can't wait to hear what you think of Lollipop Shoes. I loved Chocolat and held off reading Lollipop Shoes because I think I felt a bit afraid I would be letdown. Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Let me know if you'd like to read it, Iliana, and I'll mail it off to you when I finish.

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  27. I'm so happy that your friend is doing so well. I'll continue to keep her in my thoughts. How wonderful to have time with your grandchildren. My cousin is coming next week with her 6 and 3 year old daughters. It'll be fun, but I'm sure I'll be worn out! It's been a few years since I've watch the All Star game, but you've given me an incentive to relax and watch the game. Hooray for your nephew! Have a great week, Deb.

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  28. That’s great news for Lisa.
    Love Wyatt’s boots.

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. My daughter-in-law loves horses and everything country.

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  29. Sounds like a great week! I'm looking forward to the All-Star Game this week. It is great to see so many of the best MLB players in one place. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  30. Awww what a sweet friend to bring you gifts to celebrate Paris this month!

    And how fun to have all that time with family. Congrats your son and his wife! Sounds like it will be a wonderful move for them. And love that little cowboy hat and boots!

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  31. You are busy as usual. So many books about Paris, although you have your grandchildren at home. That must be very nice indeed.

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  32. Oh, my! That sounds very busy! And very fun. I'd love to be able to have extended time with the littles -- although I'm not sure I could keep up with them!

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  33. What a nice post. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
    Thanks again for the mini Cat books!

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  34. How exciting for your nephew and for you to have the grandkids with you for a bit. Love the boots and hat :)

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  35. The grand kids are adorable! The hat! The boots and his name. :)

    My kids loved the pigeon books when they were young. I still have them to hand off to them when they have their own kids.

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  36. I love the Napping House! I am glad you have this extra time with your son and his family. And congratulations to them for selling their house! I am reading Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop right now. I hope you enjoyed it. I am so happy for your friend Lisa. I hope the news remains good for her. And congratulations to your nephew. That's so cool. I hope you have a great weekend and week ahead, Deb. I am sorry for such a late reply. It was a crazy week and I got so little done that I hoped to accomplish. Such is life. Take care!

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