85 euros/119 usd x 2

our wood burning stove that heats our house

Today was a good day and a bad day.  Most of my days here are really good.  I wake up without any agenda.  Don't have to go to work, don't have to deal with the business, don't have to do anything if I don't want to. We go for long bike rides in the french countryside, eat great food and drink amazing wine.  I'm loosing track of the date and sometimes the day.  A friend told me when I start to loose track of the month then I'm really on sabbatical.

2 days ago we were rushing off to dinner at B&A's, our good friends.  Funny thing, they invited another couple who's first names also are B&A...all the mens names start with a B and all the womens start with an A...we are the three B&A's.  Anyway, I wanted to keep the fire going while we were away so I stuffed a bit too much wood in the stove.  I went to shut the door and there was a piece of wood sticking sticking out and "crash"...yes, I broke the glass on the wood stove.  ARGH!  

that wasn't good mom

our stove sans glass

It was 7pm and nothing we could do that night, so we put out the existing fire, which was so painful.  We keep the fire going all day and night so that the house stays nice and warm (well relatively warm), so putting it out and knowing that we would be coming home late (actually arrived home at 2:30 am) to a freezing house didn't make me happy.  

So the next day we took the glass over to a shop in Villefranche to get a replacement.  They told us that it would take 2-3 days to order it, so now we'd be without a fire for 2-3 days.  Thank god our lovely neighbors loaned us a kerosene heater a few weeks ago, because if we did not have it there would be no way we could live in the house.  

Yesterday we drove down to Albi - a lovely city about 40 minutes south of us.  I wanted to buy some clothes, some going out clothes (going out in the cold clothes).  I actually wanted to find a skirt, I brought some but they are not cold weather skirts.  I found one from Esprit along with some leggings to go under it and 2 tops.  I was a happy girl...now I need some black boots.

fountain in Albi

main square in Albi

we're thinking someone really big lives behind these doors

 I didn't bring my black or brown high boots with me, just because we didn't have the room in our bags.  I did bring my everyday boots that I wear to the studio and around, but they are getting so beat up being here in the snow and rain and I feel like they always have chicken poop on them.

So today we went to Villefrance to pick up the glass for the stove and to look for some boots.  We ran into B&A, our friend Fabrice and his girls and our friend Jean-Michelle...a busy day in Villefrance.  We also picked up 2 bottles of Gaillac at the marché de Noel in the main square.  Then off to find boots.  We went to 2 shops and the 2nd was the best.  I tried on about 8 pair and the last I tried on were the ones...they are beautiful and comfortable and will look so great with my new skirt - on sale $85 euros.  What a deal.  You can have them just below the knee or fold them up to cover the knee (pirate like).

ah, no chicken poop on these boots baby!

Then we stopped at the kitchenware shop where we ordered our replacement glass.  Bruce ran in and when he came out said to me "it cost 85 euros for the new glass".  WHAT!  For a piece of glass?  I know it has to be special glass so that it won't break with the heat, but come on, it's only about 9x11.  But we had to buy it, no way around it.  And we found out that it happens to everyone (probably only once).

So, today we spend 85 euros on 2 different things.  One makes me very happy and I'm wearing my new boots and new outfit out to St. Antonin tonight. We are going to an art exhibit from major artisans in the region.  Good connections for both of us.  We also have a fire going in the fireplace, Bruce installed the new glass this afternoon.  It will be the last time I spend 85 euros on glass, but probably not the last time I spend 85 euros on boots!