From the day Dan and I married, I have always had a garden.  One of the first things I do when we move into a new home, is plant flowers.  There is something about getting my hands dirty, working the soil, and creating my flower beds in my mind and on paper.  I am like a kid in a candy store exploring the local nurseries. 

This weekend was no different.  Although, lugging soil, window boxes, tables, chairs and plants took a lot longer and more planning. 

Our little garden has been in the works for a couple of weeks.  I have made purchases here and there and lugged them home using "les wheels" (my workhorse) and my son (my other workhorse).  He is so much like his Father; so very capable, such a helper and so strong. 

I was certain that my flower boxes would have red geraniums.  I can't wait for them to spill over the sides of the railing.  I have a shady corner on the balcony and purchased a beautiful lace fern, a bright pink fuschia along with a fragrant gardenia. 

Walk into our apartment, look to the right and this is what you will see.  It puts an instant smile on my face.  I love pretty things, I love little vignettes of beautiful spaces.  This little balcony is my new outdoor room. 

Wrought iron and the beautiful scrollwork takes my breath away.  The bright white chairs make it pop.

We have two balconies that get morning sunlight.  One is large enough for a few plants and the table and chairs.  The other is not very deep and holds two window boxes and a small ivy.

Max and I enjoying the morning sun, and a cup of coffee from my favorite mug my Dad sent to me.  I think of him every morning, I somehow love him even more than I thought possible 5000 miles away from his caring eyes and winning smile. 

I adore the morning sunlight spilling into our living and dining room, I am so thankful that I have a place to sit and watch the world go by.  I am so glad that the kids enjoy our new outdoor room; they have already sat coloring and eating snacks.  I am tickled that Dan loves it, that he takes the time to squirm into the tiny chairs, knees knocking against the table, sun in his eyes, admiring our new room. 

It's been a busy day and I am having a blast.  Max and I have enjoyed searching for flowers and planting the quintessential European window box bursting with red geraniums. 

I'll be back tomorrow with the "big reveal".  My own little Garden of Eden.....

If you come for a visit to our apartment, make sure you exercise your index finger.  You will be pushing lots of buttons.

First, you will need to push the buttons on the outside keypad.  Once you enter, look to the side of the long corridor for another button to light the way.  Walk to a small dark vestibule and push yet another button for overhead lighting so you can find our name on the apartment resident list.  Push the button next to "Johnson" (this will ring the apartment upstairs).   I will push a button from my phone and the entry door will unlock.  Walk into the entry and look to the left and push another button to light small entryway.   Push the elevator button and wait for its decent.  Walk inside and push number five to get to our floor.  (If you prefer to walk all five flights, make sure you push the buttons on each level to provide overhead lighting for you so you don't trip.)   Once you make it to our floor, push the button for the doorbell. 

It is not just our apartment that requires lots of "button pushing".   If you enter a bank, you will need to enter through large doors that will close behind you.  You will see the tellers and the beautiful bank through glass doors; the tellers and customers will stare at you while you stand in the small vestibule wondering how to enter.  Look for a button to push, it will unlock the glass doors for you and you will be able to enter. 

Let me also warn you that many of the metros require you to push a button to open the doors to get on and off the trains.  I remember the first time I tried getting on the metro, I stood in front of the train doors, everyone looking at me from inside the train, I waited and waited for the doors to automatically open like they do in the United States.  The next thing I new, the train whizzed away.  I made sure to watch the other passengers and realized that once again,  I would need to push a button to enter and exit the trains. 

One more thing, many small stores require "button pushing" to exit; not boutiques but more of the service centers.  Some cell phone stores, the store where we purchased our metro cards, etc. 

The moral of the story is "if you are stuck inside or outside of a store or train in Paris, look for a button!"

This is one of my greatest pleasures about our apartment.  It  is what draws me when I look out our living room window.  I get to hear the bell chime all throughout the day.  I get to watch the dedicated walk into this beautiful church to stop, sit and reflect. 

So often, the parishioners are older; stooped over, taking small steps, hanging onto the railing as they pull themselves closer inside, step by step.  I wonder, where are the young people?  

I admire the dedication of these people.  It is a part of their daily life to slow down and worship.   It is a lesson that I get to watch everyday.  It is having a profound affect on me.

I have witnessed two funerals from our balcony.  I quietly watched as the priest blessed  the casket while the grieving spouse stood by.  The rest of the family come pouring out of the church, flowers are carried and sit on top of the casket,  filling the entire back of the car. 

I wonder who is sitting at the feet of Jesus, leaning back against him, resting peacefully?

I have had the privilege of sitting quietly in this little beauty.  We do not have a church in Paris yet.  Our Sundays have been full so until I find our church home, this will be where I sit quietly, listen and woship.  

I look forward to the weddings and baptisms I will witness quietly from our balcony.  Church is life to me, it is joy and sorrow and everything in between.  It is home, a touchstone and a  beacon that calls to me. 

I don't think  I showed you the office, bedrooms and bathroom.  Come on in and have a looksey........

 After you pass our entry, make a left and come down our very loooong hallway.  The first door on the left is our bathroom with tub and sink.  The second door is our closet......I mean, it is where our toilet sits and I will not post a picture.  Everyone has seen a toilet before.....

Walk a little further down another hall and you will walk right into our office.  We were going to turn it into a playroom but we really do need a small office and the kids are doing just fine playing in their bedroom.  Who knew?

Walk past the office and down the hallway and it will spill out into our bedroom......  I am not sure what to do with it just yet.  We have a huge armoire on one side of the room and then Ikea furniture fills the rest of the room.  I am not happy with it and need to search the flea markets for some goodies to make it our own.   We look out onto another apartment building behind us and down below is a big courtyard. 

If you take a left from our bedroom, you will walk "sideways" down a narrow hallway into a small room with a shower and sink and off to the right is the kids room.  The hallway is narrow because the landlord installed a closet which was needed and the extra storage is invaluable.  It is worth the narrow pathway to the kids room.  Sophie put her hopscotch on the floor.  I like her style!

The shower is "Dan's bathroom", it is the size of a small closet and this is where my man get's ready everyday without any complaints. It is right next to the kids bedroom.   It is probably about 4 x 4 feet. 

Excuse the toys scattered throughout but Max always has something in the works.  I brought their comforters from home along with some of their pictures that were on their walls in Texas.  It's a bright room and very quiet.  

This is where our guests will sleep.  Ha.  We have an airo bed for the office that the kids will sleep on and then whoever visits will be sleeping under a racecar or kitty comforter.  Hey, it's a free!   

I was so excited to get the kids off to school  because I had a few ideas "up my sleeve".  I was going to begin decorating our little apartment. 

I love our kitchen, it is tiny and all the drawers roll out easily, there seems to be plenty of space for pots, pans, dishes and I have a dishwasher.    I adore our tiny table where the kids have their breakfast in the morning and I sit; nursing my coffee in the mornings, staring at the wall.  I can pull up a chair for me from the dining room and sit with the kids.  "You need an extra spoon Max",  "No problem", as I stay seated and reach for the drawer and pull it out.  "You need more milk?"  "Here, let me bend over and open the refrigerator."  "You want me to throw that in the trash?"  "Sure, ahhhhh, (longer reacher), done!"  It's a snap to clean too. 

I bought the cyclamen flowers this afternoon.  It snowed lightly most of the day and was 33 degrees.  Why I chose to do my grocery, flower and froo froo shopping today?  I have no idea.  Although, now I am so happy I did because our little kitchen looks so much happier.  

Don't forget to notice the lamp I found today, so petite and slender, just like the french women.  Hate them! 

Our view from the kitchen isn't pretty.  It faces all of the other apartments and at the bottom is a small courtyard where they keep all the trash.  Hum, not sure that we will keep our kitchen windows open much.  I have noticed that everyone has lace curtains on their kitchen windows.  Great idea!  I found these crisp, white, sheer, gauzy little numbers that will hang like a cafe curtain. 

I will leave you with my favorite part of the kitchen.  Our little table.  I LOVE sitting at it with the kids in the morning.  I LOVE our after school snacks at our table and our nightly homework sessions.  Every now and again when we are having leftovers, I cram all four of us at the table.  No complaints yet. 

I think I would climb inside my family if I could.  They are comfort and joy to me!   Hope you enjoyed the pictures, now go and have a fabulous day!

I finally don't feel embarrassed to give you a peak into our little french beauty.  We had our boat shipment delivered on Thursday and after I unpacked at warp speed to get rid of our boxes, organize and my personal favorite; re-arrange.  I have a glimpse of our sweet girl for you.  She is so dreamy and I haven't even shopped the flea markets or flower shops for her jewelry and make-up.  It's all about accessorizing, isn't it?!

So come on in, have a look around.............

Climb up the five flights of stairs (or take the teeny elevator) to our front door.  Notice the sunlight trying to escape into the hallway. 

Her bright and warm yellow walls greet us everytime we enter with a smile, even on a cloudy and grey day. 

Her windows are flung open acting as her arms to embrace us.  Do you hear the churchbells, the birds, the children playing in the Catholic school?  What about the motorcycles zipping by? 

These pictures are a bit overexposed, but you get the idea.  We have our dinners at the dining room table every night.  Breakfast and afternoon snacks are in the kitchen which I will post when the kitchen is presentable.  Sorry Mom, but it is coming. 

I will let you soak in her beauty.  This is no crush for me but a full fledged love affair with our girl!