beauty in daily life

{view of the front of our apartment -- isn't it perfect that it sits atop a paper/bookstore?}

Now that we're trying to approximate a daily routine here, I'm trying to get out in the morning for a short excursion, then back in the afternoon so Eva can take a nap and I can rest my weary feet and knees (yes, that's knees plural -- my left one is hurting now -- maybe I'm abusing it somehow in my efforts to favor the right one?).

I thought the boys would be raring to go and explore, but surprisingly their homebody tendencies have followed them to Paris. That or they're worn out from the week-long trip they took with their Dad (more to come on that). It's a good thing I'm a homebody, too.

Anyway, we've been staying pretty close to home in the last few days. On Monday, we went to a bigger grocery store in our neighborhood that does deliveries. Hallelujah! We filled up one cart with mostly drinks, and another with food. Lucas kept saying, "Uh, I think we have enough stuff, Mom." But anything we can have delivered will save me from hauling it home. Now we are pretty well stocked.

{plenty of Orangina, Badoit, Coke Zero, Schweppes Agrumes, juice, and shelf-stable milk to keep us going for awhile}

{you've gotta love how 1/3 of our meager pantry space is taken up with Kinder treats for the kids, chocolate, Nutella, little cakes, Smarties, and of course our favorite gaufres liegoises...}

I love the idea of shopping each day at the bakery, the butcher shop, the produce market for what you need that day -- everything is so fresh! So beautiful! But I just don't have the patience for it. Maybe if we come back sometime when I don't have to wrangle a stroller on these shopping trips...


Yesterday was another holiday, I have no idea what it was, but most things were closed. I was absolutely determined to get Max's hair cut. He was overdue when we left, but it was one of those things I ran out of time to do. Now he's so far overdue it's scary. He was feeling a little nervous about going to a French salon, so I tracked down one just for kids, it was open despite the holiday, and it's even in our neighborhood! Sweet. I called and made an appointment, and we headed out with 1/2 hour to spare, just in case. Well.... I never could find the place. I had the address. I found the address with little difficulty. I just never could find the salon! Meanwhile, I had an appointment, so I felt badly that we never made it. I called them when we got home and asked if they had moved. No, they were still in the same location. I apologized for missing the appointment and explained that I couldn't manage to find them. The woman I spoke with sounded very perplexed.

So today I was even more determined to find the place. I left the boys at home to play and went walking with Eva. I double-checked the address, and this time I walked down to where the street begins, so I would be sure to cover all the bases. I walked on both sides of the street, just in case I missed it when looking across the street. Sure enough, I found the address, but there is no salon of any kind there! So what gives? Was the woman fooling with me, and really they have changed location? Is there a secret passage in the back of a dentist's office or boucherie that leads to the salon? Am I really such a dunce that I can't find a shop right in front of my eyes?? France! I had to admit defeat and come home. And Max still looks like he is wearing a wig...

The good news is that I saw these beautiful sights as we walked:




and I was left wondering: Do all the people who live in Paris appreciate the beauty that surrounds them? I never see anyone else walking with their heads up in the air, marveling at the beautiful architecture, the intricate ironwork, the carvings in the stone, the wonderful shady trees everywhere. Is it possible that they are so used to all this that they take it for granted? Do they wonder why I stop to take photos of the buildings? I guess it's a matter of perspective.


I wonder, can beauty ever become mundane? I sincerely hope it never happens for me.