France: Paris

When we got to Paris we took the train to Mabillon and went to our flat.

Day 1 We went to the Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris and went inside then we went to the arc de triompfe and we went to the top. From the top we saw the Tour Eiffel, Sacre Coeur, and Notre Dame. We also went to 18 Kleber ( the house people in my mom's family lived), the Trocadero where we got an up close view of the Tour Eiffel then went to our flat.

Day 2 We went to the Jardin de Luxembourg and we watched the boats float around the we went to Sacre Coeur and went inside then we returned to our flat. Then for dinner we met at the city hall then we went to Centre Pompidou then went to a friend's house in Paris.

Day 3 We went to Versailles (which is not in Paris) with some friends and we toured the whole castle and gardens and some. That night we went to another friend's house in Paris.

Day 4 We went to Le Musee D'Orsay and saw the entire museum and then went to Serge Gainsbourg's house.Then we went to the Louvre but we didn't go in. Then we visited le Musee de l'Armee and les Invallides. In the musee de l'armee we saw guns that were 12 ft. long. In les Invalides we saw Napoleon's tomb which is a little to big for him.

France: Loire Valley

Right after we landed in France we immediately rented a car and drove to the Loire Valley and during the 4 hour drive I was also throwing up.

Day 1 When we arrived in the Loire Valley we immediately visited the gardens of the chateau de Villandry and the church saint Etienne.

Day 2 We went to the chateau de Chenonceaux it was amazing because it spans the Cher river. We went to the chateau de Chaumont We also went to the chateau de Fougeres sur-bievres it was the only medieval castle we looked at.

Day 3 First we got a flat tire then we visited the chateau de Cheverny. Cheverny still has people living in it and it is Tintin's house in the Tintin series. We visited the Chateau de Troussay which also has people living in it and it is the smallest chateau in the Loire. We also visited the Chateau de Beauregard. Beauregard has a room with 100 portraits in it. That night we stayed at a great hotel on the Loire river.

Day 4 We visited the biggest Chateau in the Loire the Chateau de Chambord which has a spiral staircase that has two sets of stairs. Then we headed to Paris on the A10

France update

Sorry that I couldn't a post sooner but I finally got to a computer. We're in Paris, everything is going fine and we're having fun. We settled into our flat. I am enjoying the Metro a lot. I will do more blog post when I get home and I will download all the pictures.

A picture of our house in 1911

Today (06/16/09) A neighbor came over with a picture our house in 1911.

For the past year my mom and I have researched our house but during 1900 and 1915 they lost the books. 17 families lived in our house and a couple times it was completely empty.

06/06/09 Jumping

Today's horse lesson was the first in 2 weeks but today was one of the best lessons ever. I did everything correctly and followed instructions. I jumped about 2 1/2 ft. Here is a picture.

My new artwork: textiles

For years my mom has designed and made quilts I've always wanted to try. Yesterday I did. I picked out some fabric and arranged it in a pattern and my mom showed me how to use the sewing machine. I made two quilted pillows one for me and one for my dad. The best part is learning how to use the sewing machine and fixing it when it breaks. I hope to keep experimenting with new colors and designs. These are the two pillows that I've made.

Video Camera Battery

I have been wanting a Sony NP-F330 video camera battery. Because the old one from 1999 does not hold a charge to last longer that 3 minutes. I can use the camera when it is plugged in but I have to be mobile!

Chick update

Honey Pie, Prudence, and Lucy are officially 6 weeks old. they have grown to be quite large. They are still sleeping in the dinning room at night but during the day they are outside in the temporary coup that I built. It won't be long until they leave Ad. Seg. and join Gen. Pop.

Chocolate chip cookies

The secret to the best chocolate chip cookies..... browned butter! You a foolish if you don't do this!

2009 Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon

Every year I am in the Silicon Valley Kids Triathlon. It has been going on for ten years, I am in 5 of them. This year my time was 39 minutes. This picture is me just before the 4 mile bike. My favorite part was the biking and swimming. All competitors who finished got a medal and a free loaf of bread and a pound of butter from Whole Foods, among other things. I'm going to improve my swimming this summer so will do better next year. I do look awfully good in red white and blue (bleu, blanc, rouge).