this just in.

Tomorrow I retrieve my daughter from some undetermined location in France to begin her 3+ week visit. I say undetermined because lack of advance planning means she will arrive at Charles de Gaulle and proceed to one of a few choices in "gares" and select one of a few choices in train options to land at one of a couple of cities not too, too far for me to drive to.

Hopefully she will have some sort of phone service to alert me. (don't ask).

In the meantime, the completion of my new chambre has coincided nearly precisely to allow us each our own resting space. I came home from my language class yesterday to a completely serene bedreoom - Jean-Yves had emptied it, finished off all small details (some electrical outlet plates, sanding here and there), swept, vacuumed and mopped the floors and stairwell! There are studios in Paris that aren't as large as my bedroom and without the gorgeous stone fireplace.

After I gushed, teared up, and danced a jig ( I SO wanted to hug him) ... we set off for Perigueux in "ma camionette" and purchased insulation.  I'm kicking myself I didn't get a photo ... we had 3 HUGE rolls affixed to the top of the camionette and the interior filled with more rolls.  The effect was our car looked like one of this miniature ones you see in the circus.  you know, driven by those men who belong to that secret society.   (smirk)  ((refer to my blog photo for a visual of said smirk)).

Now, when we left Brantome for Perigueux it was sunny, clear, and HOT.  We had lunch at a nice place by the river in Perigueux.  As usual, we laughed our way through lunch and then on to BricoDepot.  It is funny because I really don't observe a lot of the French laughing as much as we do.  We got to BricoDepot, sorted out the insulation, and then went into the main store to buy the rest of the things on the list.  More giggling and checking off of J-Y's list, and then we exited to discover completely dark and menacing skies and the beginning of drops.  

He raced around to add straps and tighten them and leaped into the cab of the vehicle just as the heavens parted and the deluge began.  "Trés typique!" and more cracking up as we returned home.  We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies in a hurricane.

So today, I have to move the bed into my new room, sort out the set up of the other bed (not an easy task because it is a queen-sized bed and the boxsprings is still down in the atelier because the movers couldn't figure out how to get it in the window but J-Y swears it will come).  I can only envision our peals of laughter as we attempt to maneuver it up the wall, onto the roof and through the window with nary a centimeter to spare.

Meanwhile, insulation will be installed in the "grenier" and much "nettoyez à l'aspirateur" will also occur up there.

Here's some various photos of the finished room, including a picture of the view from my new "chambre".  Today, when I opened the shutters I saw three rabbits scamper away across the yard.  I hope that's good luck.