Back to Wonderland with a side of French Fries-New 3/15Mix up culture w/fun

[Lady Lallie]

I love your Thanksgiving photo, very cute.

I love your Holiday decorations. My mom started collecting snowmen when I was younger and let's just say....she has A LOT of them. I think we lost count when she reached over 150. I should take a picture of them for you. She says she loves them because even though they are all snowmen they each have their very own personality.

I loved lincoln logs growing up, our family cat was even named Lincoln after them. I must find my very own Wilderness Lodge!

 

[jenjolt]

Okay I just adore the Wilderness Lodge lincoln logs....awesome!!

I also have a hidden love for snowmen and often I acquire one or two different snowman each year!

I'm excited to see how your French Fridays go along with what French gifts are going to be left under the tree!! And yes your trip is right around the corner...WOW...you'll be in France before you know it!!!!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Sorry about the books, the water damage, the mold....yikes.

Vent away........we're listening.

Hope the weekend isn't a total bust and you can enjoy the rest of it..

Thanks Jordan...

Hi ho...hi ho...taking off the roof we go...I'm at home and the roofers are here working...Their boss just told me that we have like 8 inches of roof stacked up-they've pulled it down...when you are supposed to have 1-2 inches...apparently the way it was fixed in the past was just to keep recoating on top ...which isn't the way you are supposed to do it...(the people who lived in the house before us and an interesting maintenance plan...)

we have mold/mildew in there...I think I need to get us hazmat suits...luckily I can close that room off but still...

Thinks could always be worse thought...

So sorry about your books...I have a large amount and would be devastated if something happened to them.

Thanks......I just hate the waste of it all...

I can relate! I feel that books are friends, and re-read many of them. About 13 years ago, a pipe burst in our laundry room and ran most of the night. Unfortunately, the laundry room is right over the storage closet in our ultra-dry basement. So there went all of my old childhood books, 45s, an old Parade magazine that had the cover article, "Will the Beatles Last?", old school-books, and many other things. My friends kept having to tell me, let it go! when we were cleaning up. I did replace some of my old books by going online. but it is heartbreaking to lose so much! I hope you are able to straighten it out soon!

Oh wow...double hug right back at you...so sorry about your losses especially your childhood books......I agree with you that books are friends...

I have caught up on all my tr's and was perusing the threads and your title drew me in. I do have a suggestion for a Disney French films. The Aristocats is set in 1910 Paris. My dd loves that one. She is watching right now actually. I would feel the same as you if something happed to my books.

really glad you came over......I'm usually more upbeat but this just got to me for some reason...

I love the Aristocats......the backgrounds are lovely...

Oh crap, I'm sorry your books were ruined.

lol...thanks ..."Oh crap" just about sums it up...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh what a bummer! I would have cried and cried and cried!

I have a lot of my books at my inlaws in storage and I worry about something happening to them. I actually went and looked at them today. Sometimes I just go down there and open up the boxes and remember all the great books I have.

I did cry ....

I love the image of you going down to visit your books in boxes...

Oh, Patricia, I can totally imagine your feelings of desolation when you discovered your books had been damaged! My eyes had tears in them when I read about it!!!

Hey Jackie ...I know you get the crazy book fetish thing so yes desolation is a pretty good description...

More hugs coming your way...

So sorry about the mess in your library! I'm glad homeowners will cover the damage, but I understand your sadness about your books.

Thanks Amy......not looking forward to doing the whole homeowner's thing either...they can have this way of making you feel like you're trying to cheat or rip them off...the whole thing makes me uncomfortable...

Oh - I'm so sorry about your poor books! We have a library, too, that is really just a small room with built in shelves and tons of books (some day it will have a cozy couch). I'd be heartbroken if I lost my books.

Thanks...I had a cozy couch...but now its a cozy mildew couch...

Patricia, I am so sorry about your books. I would need hugs too!

Thanks...right back at you...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh Patricia!! I'm so sorry to hear about your books!!!!! Hope you are having a better week today!!!

Hey Jen...thanks......I am having a much better week...

Oh! I would be devastated! I am so sad. Sending you a big hug, albeit a few days late....

Oooo Cynthia...I just remembered the Sanaa photos...I have some...they're not great but you are welcome to use them if any help...and thanks for the well wishes...

I'm so sorry about you books. I'd be crushed. Even though I have tons, I never seem to want to part with any of them.

Thank you...books are like friends...

Well, I'm more than two weeks late for this PTR, but I just wanted to pop in and say "hi". I am so sorry to hear about your books. That is truely a bummer.

Enjoying reading about the fam again and since your trip isn't for awhile - well - I'll be hanging out until then!

Hey ME...glad your here and thanks...

Oh no! What a drag. We have a library (called such for the same reason!) and I know we would be soo soo sad if that happened. What a drag. I hope the cleanup isn't too hard to manage. Maybe some you can salvage?

Yes...my library is/was/will be again just a small cozy room but DH teases that we're probably better stocked than some some local public libraries...and if you count in everything throughout the house including the kid's books-we probably are better stocked than some small libraries...at least a bookmobile...

The clean up will be ok...I just feel like my home is/was under siege...I know it's really silly sounding but that's how it feels...

 

[Charleston Princess]

Beautiful Christmas decorating! I love the Magic across the mirror and all your snowmen. Personally, I like the feather boa as snow with your village.

The Lincoln Log Wilderness Lodge is too cool! Connor would get such a kick out of that!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Yes, I agree! We haven't been back since Henry was 8 months old.

Our house is currently on the market. For a while we thought we would move to Minneapolis/St. Paul; however, both of us have been longing to move back to NYC.....I've been looking up apartments in Brooklyn & Queens! Now if the darn house would just SELL (of if we could come up with $20K to bring to closing...)


Love your idea of the French Friday's! Very cute. As far as a theme for Alice's bday, I would do the mixed idea. Some funky teenage stuff and very Alice reservations - she will love that and it will be an unforgettable birthday for her I'm sure!

Love the pics of the kids in their costumes too!

I'm VERY sorry to hear about your library!!!! Were you able to remove any of the books that are currently safe - just in case?

Ooo...how cool Brook if you were to move to New York...Dismeet...

Actually I used to read a series of book that I loved when I was a kid that took place in MN...Betsy/Tacy...I don't know if you ever read them but I ADORED them...I wanted to move to Deep Valley, Minnesota...


and I am definitely going to mix Em's bday up a bit...I think it might get a little Stepford Wives/Daughters creepy if I made her do everything Alice...

NYC? Would DH be able to transfer? What type of work does he do?

Hey Jordan...there are a lot of nice churches here on the East Coast too you know...

OMG P! I'm so, so sorry about your books!! I can totally understand you feeling the way you do! Something very precious and dear to your heart has been ruined. No matter what that's awful and I'm so sorry again!

Thanks......it's all going to be good...I just have to make lemonade from the lemons...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh, my! I would totally freak if I lost my books. If any any of the damaged books were older or rare, let me know & I'll help you look if you want to replace them.

Hey April...nothing rare was destroyed......but I'll bet you have some awesome indie bookshops where you live...

I think we all go through those moments where we are completely bummed out about life in general! I am glad that seeing New Moon and hanging out with Em cheered you up!

Yes it was very cheering......btw...did you see it...and am I the only one who thought Edward was just the tiniest bit whiny...?

You have to ride Phantom Manor for me Patricia and make sure you give me a very detailed report...I so want to see that one...of all the HMs and we know how I love HM that is the one that I really really want to see!!!

Love your Thanksgiving Family photo

I will take photos and report back to you Jen...I'll have to see if there is PM merch that is unique to Paris...

Floss sent me an extensive listings of must dos for DLP and that's on the list...(I'd have probably done it anyway cause its one of my favorite's too......and its in their Frontier land so that should be very interesting to see how it is the same/different...

I think my family is a keeper...but the pets are a little bit nuts...

 

[mousescrapper]

Hmmm...I'd like to see those...

still have to dig them out.....

but glad you are feeling better and the roof will be fixed soon! Love the start of your Holiday decorating! I think the feather boa should stay...

Can't wait for the French Fridays to start too.

J~

 

[aprilisis]

I LOVE your Thanksgiving photo & the WL made from lincoln logs. That is SO cool! You are right, too, that those 105 days will fly by. I have a countdown at home that I have been neglecting- I checked it last night & it said 57 days- I'm already down to 39. Time goes by super-fast at this time of year!
I noticed that cow painting in the background of one of your photos & it looks JUST like the paintings hanging in craftsteak at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in CT. John has been dying to get one! Where did you get yours?

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I just realized when I was going through responding and thanking all of you for your well wishes how much it sounded like I was thanking you all for coming to a funeral (and books can be replaced but people can't)......and my desolation over this is really over...but thank you all so much for listening...

I'm glad that you are feeling better....
Love the Thanksgiving photo!
Your Cosette looks like our Boston Terrier Fenway!

lol... yes her black and white markings do look a bit like a Boston Terrier don't they?... I think Boston Terriers are adorable btw...

Great name...Fenway...

​

Love the photo

And the spirit! I almost bought a bracelet for myself yesterday at a jewelry party..."Happiness is not a destination, it is a path"

Instead I went for "Speak kind words and you will hear kind echo's"

I decided I needed that reminder more!

I like that quote......I think many things are a path, not just a destination...take the holidays...getting to Christmas isn't just about that one day but all the little things we do before it comes...

I like the kind words and you will hear kind echo's also...

I have a feeling you would be quite a dangerous shopping buddy for me...it's probably for the best that you live on the other side of the country...

Hi Patricia, nice picture of your family! Very bold wall colour!

I have also been meaning to post additional suggestions for your French Fridays (did you ever get around to start them?)!

My parents tried to help me to come up with additional films and books and that's the result:

book: Desiree by Annemarie Selinko, it's the story of a young woman from Marseille who was first engaged to Napoleon and then married General Bernadotte who later became King of Sweden, so she ends up being Queen. It is a wonderful book and used to be a bestseller in the 50s. I read it when I was 14 and loved it. It was also made into a

film: Desiree (1954) with Marlon Brando as Napoleon.

book: Nicholas (Le Petit Nicolas) by Jean-Jacques Sempe and Rene Goscinny which is a very loveable children's book (I guess you might have read it in school it is very popular here in French classes)

film: any of the Louis de Funes films. He is a French comedian and there are lots of films with him. They are all rather silly and they used to be quite a lot on German TV when we were little and they always were great family films. Our favourite was "L'aile ou la cuisse" or the English title "The Wing and the Thigh".

Thanks about the photo...that wall color is bold......but very warm...it makes the darker furniture pop...it's a bit of an Asian red...

Wow thank you for all of the awesome suggestions...you know I will be looking them all up today......(I had heard of the Nicholas book and that it is very humorous...

Is Macintosh a Cairn Terrier? My friends have a dog that looks just like him. Of course, I am partial to Cosette (I love that name) because I love cats since I have 3 of them!

Macintosh is a wheaten Scottish terrier...you see most of them in black but there is a recessive gene for the ivoryish color...I think a lot of the smaller terriers look a like...

Cosette is a major lap cat...she would sit on your lap all day...she loves attention...

Cosette was here first and when we brought Macintosh home she wanted nothing to do with him......he tried to curry her favor but she wasn't having any of it......now they have an uneasy truce going on...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Great Thanksgiving pic.

So funny that the pets won't even face each other! it's like they're saying "Hmph"

You read that 100% accurately...

You have the wilderness lodge in Lincoln logs?????????????

That is SO incredibly cool!!!!!!!!!!

I really wish there was something Disney I could add to my village but the series we have doesn't offer any. I would love a touch of it in there.

Sigh about Rabbit and the Santa question. I got a lot 2 years ago, a couple last year but none so far this year. They both admitted that they peek when they go to the bathroom xmas even though! Which freaked me out as Jeff and I are usually working around the tree for a good 2 hours. They peek from the upstairs balcony. I'm going to have to be more careful this year.

Yeah I think the LL WL is pretty cool myself...I also know I'd love the Pacific Northwest...

sigh...the length of childhood just isn't what it used to be......I'm sure by next year Rabbit will have figured the entire thing out...

 

[TyRy]

I've been a really bad Disser having been off for about three weeks! So now I'm catching up (again!)

So sorry about the books, I would have been if I walked in on that. Glad they are already working on fixing the roof. We also have my books just about everywhere and DH just shakes his head everytime a new one is added.

Love the Thanksgiving photo - frame worthy!!

Can't believe it is only three months until Paris...I've never been anywhere, so I can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[MrsSpratt]

Hi, Patricia!

I, too have been a bad Diser - and I was devastated for you that your beloved books were damaged!

Did you know that they are re-issuing All of the Betsey-Tacy's in hardback? I've asked Santa to bring them....we will see....

Keep your chin up with the roofers!

Jaime

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Hey P... I was behind a bit (again!) but I'm back up to date. I so love that Lincoln Logs Wilderness Lodge and had the same thought when I saw your "snow" feather boa..... I think its perfect!

 

[eandesmom]

You read that 100% accurately...


Yeah I think the LL WL is pretty cool myself...I also know I'd love the Pacific Northwest...

sigh...the length of childhood just isn't what it used to be......I'm sure by next year Rabbit will have figured the entire thing out...

I think a trip to the NW is a great family vacation....



Rabbit might surprise you. I have a hard time believing the E's still "really" believe at 9 and 10 but boy they do a good job of faking it. Which I appreciate. I also appreciate big siblings who roll with it!

Of course Jeff's jingling bells about 1 hour after they are down probably doesn't hurt their belief system either!

 

[Happydog]

CUTE snowmen and I think the boa adds some fun flair! From one red-walled house to another, I agree with you -- the color really does enhance things. We have a lot of black distressed furniture, and we found the red really staged it well... Great art work I see!

How exciting, Disney Paris! It will be here before you know it. You will get your house back, too. That will come!

Looking forward to more fun photos! AND WLV is very very cool!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Rabbit might surprise you. I have a hard time believing the E's still "really" believe at 9 and 10 but boy they do a good job of faking it. Which I appreciate. I also appreciate big siblings who roll with it!

Even Chelsea is still faking it at our house and she is 12. I can't imagine that she still believes in the 7th grade (I have heard the discussions among middle school students), but she plays right along with it all. I suspect she thinks the loot would be lessened if she let on.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Even Chelsea is still faking it at our house and she is 12. I can't imagine that she still believes in the 7th grade (I have heard the discussions among middle school students), but she plays right along with it all. I suspect she thinks the loot would be lessened if she let on.

That is so cute.

 

[brookelizabeth]

NYC? Would DH be able to transfer? What type of work does he do?

Joe is a server administrator, working primarily with VMWare. The company he works for (that I used to), was a small Minnesota company, but was bought out in 2008 by Thomson Reuters, which is HQ'ed in NYC. His boss has told him (years ago), that he could work from anywhere...and he truly can. He works from home 2 days a week. Chances of them letting him go are VERY slim because he is the only person who knows how to do what he does - which is vital to the company...so.... they are in the process of training in someone else due to the HUGE risk factor of all that, but... if the house sells, he'll be able to stay.

Ideally, he would transfer to the Thomson Reuters in NYC though, pay raise + local. Even if that doesn't work, he'll probably be able to eventually find a job in NYC due to his experience and knowledge.

Love your decorations! And glad to hear it, along with the girls night, has been lifting your spirits about everything.

Ooo...how cool Brook if you were to move to New York...Dismeet...

Actually I used to read a series of book that I loved when I was a kid that took place in MN...Betsy/Tacy...I don't know if you ever read them but I ADORED them...I wanted to move to Deep Valley, Minnesota...


and I am definitely going to mix Em's bday up a bit...I think it might get a little Stepford Wives/Daughters creepy if I made her do everything Alice...

Yes! We'd defiantly have to meet up - even if we just visit this year, we'll have to figure something out!

I've never heard of the Betsy/Tacy books...and I'm not sure I've even heard of Deep Valley! Is it a real place? You've got me curious now... I was big on local authors when I was in high school, so I'm surprised I never read these!

Ahhh...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy-Tacy says Deep Valley, MN was based on Mankato, MN, which is only about 1.5 hours from my house. It's a nice area...COLD THOUGH! But we do get lots and lots of snow...

I just might have to check these books out! I've been looking for a new read.