Sunday, April 29, 2007

Bon Jour

I am finally a resident of Paris. My sweetie and I, along with our two little cats, arrived this morning. I am spacey as heck, desperately in need of a good long sleep (although the nap helped) and discombobulated. A pet transport company is moving the two big cats - they are just too hard to manage in the airport. The boys are currently in Frankfurt and will arrive tomorrow, if all goes as it should. And it better, because the French officials who have to accept the cats will be on holiday for a week starting Tuesday.

This is a picture of the one room in the house that is decorated - my husband's office. The mantle is gorgeous isn't it? The accessories are all Egyptian. The hardwood floors, set in a herringbone pattern, are beautiful but very noisy. I feel sorry for our neighbors downstairs.

I put little pink harnesses on the girls, and that helped amazingly getting them through airport screening. I had something to hold onto, as well as the leash wrapped around my wrist in case they managed to get away from me. Once here, it only took half an hour for Lily to start happily exploring. She's having a great time, but Pokey is still under the sofa.

I have to go explore the apartment myself. I don't think we'll make it outside - it's raining right now. See you later.

30 comments:

Joyce said...

Wonderful to hear that you have finally arived. Hopefully all will go well with the other two cats. The room looks beautiful.

Fiona said...

Fabulous news - you just made 'April in Paris' by the skin of your teeth.

Anonymous said...

How nice to finally be "home!" I hope the settling-in process goes smoothly for you.

Judy said...

I'm so glad you're there and hope the kitties arrive as scheduled tomorrow. Things should be so much easier for you now with you both being in Paris and beginning yet a new adventure together.

Good luck you!

Nellie's Needles said...

Glad to hear you're finally THERE. Hope your big boys get THERE on time tomorrow. Now for the fun of settling in and making this beautiful place yours.

Dianne said...

Yay, Tonya! So glad you're there, at last, and that the little kitties are settling in already. The harnesses were a GREAT idea. I'll be holding every good thought that the big boys make it from Frankfurt today without difficulty.

So wonderful you are all together again, and in beautiful Paree. Don't forget to visit the quilt shop, Le Vouvray (As If!)...it's a great place. "Real" life begins again...

Unknown said...

Bienvenue to you all - tres bien!

Tanya said...

Congratulations! Wow, I didn't realize it was this week you were moving! Please post right away when you get all your furry family there! I feel sorry that these animals don't know that all will be fine and they are loved despite the upheaval! Still considering the Wonky Word quilt. Black huh? The major vote (which I hadn't even thought of) was for piano keys. I was going to look through my scraps and see how much leftover fabric I might have.

Mary Johnson said...

Glad you arrived safely, I can just picture the cats in their pink harnesses in the airport.

Unknown said...

You are there at last! So glad for you! I know how it feels to be in relocation limbo, and yours has gone on more than long enough. Time for you to start living in the NOW!! Have a fabulous time exploring your new hometown. What a great place to be!

P. S. Did I use enough exclamation points?

Anonymous said...

Yay! I always knew you'd make it for *April in Paris*!!

Elaine Adair said...

Oh Tonya - I'm so glad for you that you have arrived, finally, safely. And that your babies/boys/girls/DH are almost all settled.

Keep us posted and keep quilting!

YankeeQuilter said...

Woohooo! You made it! The cats will recover quicker than you will - trust me. Love the fireplace and the floor...when we moved to Georgia DH and son were in the new house two weeks before I got there. The only things unpacked were the TV, Computer, and stereo. They were eating off paper plates! Men....

Tracey @ozcountryquiltingmum said...

YAY!! great news, Tracey

Clare said...

Bienvenue au Paris. Goodness that fireplace is to die for. Hope the boys have arrived ok. Tomorrow is a bank holiday, and the 8th and 17th are too. Can't believe you are "just up the road" so to speak.

Passionate Quilter said...

SO glad you finally made it! It's been a long haul for you, but now that you are there, life can finally get 'normal' again, whatever normal is for you!

QuiltingFitzy said...

Glad your family is almost intact again.

You've been VERY brave thru the whole ordeal..congrats!

Quinta da Quilter said...

Welcome to the other side of the Atlantic!

Let the fun begin!

Quinta da Quilter
way down south in Portugal

Anonymous said...

You lucky duck; Paris is my favourite city. Be sure to check out Le Droguerie on rue du Jour in the 1st—it has an amazing selection of beads and buttons and trim.

KC Quilter said...

Yay! Congrats on arriving safely in Paree! Can't wait to live vicariously through your photos and experiences. Hope "the boys" will be joining the family soon too.

McIrish Annie said...

so glad you and les Chats arrived ok. Avoir l'amusement explorer Paris ! (Have lots of fun exploring Paris!)

Unknown said...

Bienvenue a Paris! Bonne chance avec les chats domain!

Judy said...

Bonjour! I read "two girls" and immediately though...Oh no where are the boys" I hope they arrived today as scheduled. You will have quite a good time in the next few weeks getting settled. Those poor babies have seen so many houses in the last years they deserve a few days under the sofa!

Hanne said...

Welcome to Europe :-)

Holly said...

Hope the boys made it home okay. Happy for your safe journey too.

atet said...

Hooray! Paris, it's still spring time, and your kitties should be there tomorrow! Congrats -- you made it!

Nettie said...

Wonderful news! What a beautiful room--love how the Egyptian artifacts go with the Fronch architectural details. What a beautiful floor. Friends i was visiting in Paris told us that in consideration of the neighbors, people don't walk around in hardsoled shoes on those wooden floors.

Nettie said...

Also good news about the cat-checking officials being on holiday. I remember bringing my cat from Japan to Germany via the Frankfurt airport. All smoothe sailing, except for his being terrified in the airport. On the plane, he was in a carrier and allowed to sit next to me on the seat, even though that officially wasn't allowed. The stewardesses were really kind about it (Lufthansa), until Wolfgang escaped and ran through the plane.

Hedgehog said...

Congrats on your arrival in Paris!!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh it is beautiful! I talked to Bonnie about how jealous I was of her sewing time with you before you left! Gosh, it is sooo exciting!