Fall Break for College Girl

Meggar is home for a couple extra days of fall break. I am excited to catch up on news and craft projects. Why is sleeping in always the first thing on the agenda? In the first two days, Meggar went to a friend's garage sale, had tea with Vee and Constance, voted at the Courthouse, enjoyed a massage, got a root canal done, and interviewed Mic-o-Say tribesmen for her Folklore project. Then we did a little shopping in Kansas City and met her high school piano teacher for a special meal at the "Cafe De Amis" French Restaurant. Gotta take the good with the bad, I always say, and enjoy the tea cup even when it is half full.

Welcome Home, Meggar

The fall break has begun! Meggar was home in time for appetizers and wine before my special Beef Stroganoff supper with chocolate fondue for dessert. Of course, Hannah was here--she is like part of our St. Joseph family now.
Also, we send "Happy Birthday" wishes to Domitille in Paris!

A French Dinner

Dorito just got home! So we treated our older two to a French dinner on the patio at Cafe des Amis this evening, while the twins were still at hockey practice (don't tell them). Meggar was here last fall for her senior photo shoot, and we dined here at the end of volleyball season. The proprietor is generous about offering his suggestions to all guests, which made us feel more pampered. Of course, his food was over-the-top. We sighed over our French wine, Bouillabaisse, lamb chops, elk steak, cheese plate, and chocolate mousse. Good food makes Dorito more talkative (!) and we were eager to hear his stories from the Scout trip to Canada. Meggar likes any chance she can dress up and she said several times how content she felt this weekend. Grown up?! More and more this summer.

It's Bastille Day

and I'm free to be French! The celebration of France's Independence is not as widely known in the Missouri territory, as one would imagine. ... But since our land was first "owned" by the French, I feel justified in having a fete of some sort. This year, I again made Madeline cookies and with my new tins, the process went faster than before. They are like British shortbread or English pound cake--really the ingredients of ice cream plus a timid amount of flour--baked into shell-shaped delicacies. They sit nicely in my new silver stand, whose antique qualities captured my attention at the Brookside sidewalk sale last wekeend. And Jennie is coming over to enjoy my cookies and promises to bring French champagne. She is the closest thing to an exPat, having studied a year in Paris. She wants to see Meggar's pictures and talk about our trip.

Political Viewpoints in other Cultures

As I reflect on our wonderful holiday in Europe, it strikes me how beneficial it was for Meggar to sit in people's homes and participate in their regular lives. So much of the political, economic, and religious views of each family came into the conversation and way of living. We heard about Cambridge students complaining that their higher education may no longer be completely free/provided by the government. My college student's ears pricked up at that one. And we looked at our receipt from the department store to see a shocking 19.6% sales tax. We enjoyed reading the free newspapers on the London Underground because the World Cup was featured as well as articles about the newly-elected coalition government in Britain (Cameron and Clegg). In France, the weekend Newsweek had an English-language insert so we could read about Michael Buble and laugh at the cartoons of President Sarkozy. We watched the Frechet children doing vast amounts of homework on Saturday. School is not out for the summer until July. Charlotte was busy with exam preparation and getting letters from universities, though she still doesn't know which ones will accept her yet. She is graduating at the end of June. The French family has also just sold their home and bought a flat closer to a city Metro station. The cost of housing was staggering to this Midwestern mind. In Germany, the posters for the Normandy celebration were everywhere. And lots of concerts planned for Chopin in the 200th year since his birth. Not only was it beneficial for Meggar but also for me to step outside of my comfort zone/Missouri perspective. It enlivened me to have so much world news at my fingertips again. Of course, I also relished the opportunity for deeper conversations with the moms (Aliette and Jutta and Lisa and Daphne and Marian) about the future our children and grandchildren will inherit.

Paying for the Toilet

As we tell stories about Europe, the boys tell us stories about Canada. Back and forth it goes excitedly as one memory helps recall another. The twins can't believe you call it a "wash room" in Canada. And Meggar couldn't believe you pay for using the water closets (WC signs point the way). On the motorbahn, it was 80 centimes per person at a truck stop, then at the Paris airport it costs 60, but we only paid 20 centimes at the Quick Burger in Versailles. You can imagine--you get what you pay for.

Scrapbook from Paris

Here are all the photos we took in Paris (Days 10 & 13).

Sunday in the City

Mass at the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is phenomenal. Another in the list of cathedrals where we have knelt to pray in awe. The parking on Montmarte is definitely difficult on a Sunday, yet we managed to snag a spot quite close up and arrive in time for a good pew. The Society of Jesus (called Jesuits) was founded here--I learned this today and am mindful of the prayer we've memorized back in homeschool by St. Ignatius Loyola! A nice unit study tidbit to share with the boys. The view from here is tremendous and gives a 360' look at all of Paris. Afterward, we enjoyed lunch in the artist district and a tour of the stalls with painters and silhouette cutters. Au Revoir, Paris! The whole Frechet family drops us off at the airport, and we are sad to leave this city of food and culture. We promise to make plans to see them again--in America and in France!

Photos from Giverny

Here is a link to see all the photos from our scrapbook taken in Giverny, France (Day 12).

Giverny--Home of Claude Monet

Wife's one request was to visit Giverny, the home and studio of Claude Monet for over 40 years. It is not far from Frechet's house, because they live on the western side of Paris already. It proves to be a short drive by car, and we are overwhelmed by the flower gardens out in front of the house (a dozen long paths). During a tour of the house, I was happiest in his blue kitchen and yellow dining room. These are pictured in my cookbook "Monet's Table," which was obtained from a quaint little French restaurant in Atlanta by Captain for our 11th anniversary. Good memories and good introduction to the Giverny. Next, we went across the street to Monet's Japanese gardens to see the water lilies, which only bloom if the water is kept warm for 30 days continuously. I'm sure gardeners must work hard to keep it visually appealing to tourists year-round. There are actually three Japanese bridges, but the famous one is covered with wisteria (here). And the paintings are everywhere in the studio. Breath-taking. And some even brought tears to my eyes!

Full Scrapbook of Versailles

Click on this link for a full scrapbook of our photos at Versailles (Day 11).

Dining with a French Family

Meggar was right about how French people give more importance to food and dining! Patrick has given us St. Joseph Wine (in honor of our hometown) and now Macon Wine (in honor of the town nearest Truman State). Both French names obviously come from the time when Missouri was part of French territory. That was before Thomas Jefferson's presidency. Aliette's meals this week follow the classics of authentic French cuisine: Quiche Lorraine, Filet of Beef, Roast Duck, Gateau, and Crepes. They are practicing their English for my benefit, and Meggar is picking up on the French phrases when they are tired of thinking in English. How easily we are made part of the family. The lovely yellow dining room and living room are soon to be abandoned. They have just sold the house one day before we arrived and will be moving further into Paris, near a Metro station, to accomodate their daughter's university studies and for easier access to the city.

Versailles Palace in the Sunshine

Although we met some American students in the line outside the Chateau de Versailles, nothing could squelch our enthusiasm for being in these gardens on a sunny day. The place is quite large, as you can see from the view at the base of the steps to the gardens. The walking paths are lined with lemon and lime trees, but there are other gardens just as large beyond the camera's view created around labyrinth paths, or decorated with statues and fountains. Elaborate! And inside the Palace you can see the Hall of Mirrors and all the furnishings from King Louis XIV's time.
The roses are everywhere--for Marie Antoinetee. Their fragrance is everywhere--probably because of the morning dew. Later we walked into the town to explore the churches, antique stores, and cafes.

Scrapbook of the Louvre

Click on this link for a full scrapbook of our pictures in the Louvre and around Paris (Days 10 and 13).

Finally -- The Louvre and Mona Lisa

Meggar's No. 1 priority for Paris was going to the Louvre and seeing the "Mona Lisa" because last year she only saw the Musee d'Orsay after they discovered the National Museum was closed for Bastille Day. So, we left the house early with Aliette (teacher) and her daughter (student), which was just as well as we could avoid the crowds. Once the Metro tickets were sorted out, we arrived in good time and visited an Au Marche for breakfast croissants. Then we bought a neon red Eiffel Tower to clip onto Meggar's new red bag. Then we went inside the heavenly palace of artistic beauty. Of course, we rented the audio tour!
The 45-minute guided narration took us 90+ minutes--but we were thrilled with Venus de Milo statue (shown), and Michelangelo's two slaves, and finally (!) Leonardo's "Mona Lisa." After pushing through the teeming throng we retreated to the opposite wall an met Veronese's "Wedding Feast of Cana" measuring an incredible 22' x 33' (if I have converted the metrics properly). Staggering size and amazing detail/color! Fun.
I became giddy with the Renaissance works such as Botticelli and all the Madona paintings, which are featured annually in the Catholic Arts Calendar which Uncle Clint gives me every year for Christmas! To see the real pictures?! was like walking around in a dream-come-true.
Lastly, we visited the French masterpiece area which included three enormous paintings by Delacroix, whom Domitille mentions as her favorite artist. A full day of art, but you cannot see everything in every gallery or you will die--of happy exhaustion.
We ended in the Gift Gallery and bought "Madeline" children's book in French for Meggar to read aloud to her charges, future students, and future children.
In an old house in Paris
that was covered in vines,
lived 12 little girls
in two straight lines.
They left the house
at half-past nine,
in rain or shine;
the youngest one
was Madeline.

Reunion with Domitille

Domi and her mom met us at the Du Nord train station. What a joy to see our exchange student again and to meet her family and stay at their home. Here is the "Parly2" shopping mall near La Celle St. Cloud. The girls wanted to spend some time and money here: Megan bought linen slacks, blue ruffly cami, and Pink Panther PJs.

Leaving Germany & Travelling to France

Here is a scrapbook of our photos from Germany (Days 6-9). We decided not to hire a car for this next portion of our holiday, and that turned out to be a good decision. It was raining all day, so we let Thalys do the "driving" from Cologne to Paris. Later, Megan posted her new Facebook status as: "Megan is home--in France."

She Chooses Truman State!

Meggar made her college decision today--after additional prayer time at Mir House and fortification from Starbucks! She is going to accept the Truman Piano Fellowship, a full ride scholarship which she won at their competition last month. This will allow her four years to major in music education and a minor in Literature with plenty of room for French courses, too. She is very excited!

Hats off to the Scholar Bowl Team

Meggar went with the Kansas City Catholic Homeschool Scholar Team to Maple Woods Community College today looking very scholarly. (Her beret was a Christmas gift from Becka.) Wallace felt a bit left out, and he borrowed Dorito's hoodie for while. But it was too dark and warm for indoors--not the same as having a hat.

The 15 rounds of 10 questions each--ranging from ancients to bizarre and zany. We were disappointed that more questions were trivial rather than trivia this year! We must have a different definition of Scholar Bowl than the organizers.

Winter Olympics Begin

The opening ceremonies were wonderful, especially Wayne Gretzky, but I did a little searching around and found an intriguing Catholic connection to the Games. The Olympic Motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius" from Father Henri Martin Didon, a Dominican priest at a college near Paris, who used the discipline of sport as a powerful educational tool. One day, following an inter-schools athletics meeting, he ended his speech with the three Latin words meaning swifter, higher, stronger. Baron Pierre de Coubertin decided to make this the Olympic motto "for people who dare to try to break records." De Coubertin is the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

The Olympic Creed: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for the creed from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot from Pennsylvania at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The creed and motto were added in 1924 and meant to spur athletes to embrace the Olympic spirit and perform to the best of their abilities, but it is also fitting for all our athletes in Vancouver and at home today.