Fur Really

I found this the other weekend, it is vintage from Munich Germany (the tag says). You all know how I love fur.

It is fox fur collar but I'm not sure what the rest is it might be mink. All the fashion magazines are showing fur for Fall and Winter.   

Gypsies

I have not blogged about our neighbors across the street till now. I do talk about them a lot to my friends and family on the phone or when I’m at home. Everyone always asks why I call him or her “the Gypsies”.  

It started 2 years ago when we moved in. We look directly into their house (the kitchen 1st floor – 2nd floor the bathroom – 3rd a bedroom) and vice versa they can see right into our house. The window covering they had in the bathroom was 4-inch stripe navy and white curtain with 6-inch bananas on them. This drove Joe absolutely nuts. So nuts he really didn’t want to live in the house when we were looking at it. Plus we never knew who lived there – different people were coming and going at all hours of the day. From what I could tell there was a guy and a girl that were always living there (College age).

So basically this is how they became known as “the Gypsies”

They moved out about 5 or 6 months ago…this is where you should really be careful for what you wish for. Joe was so excited but…a whole new set of crazy gypsies moved in. I have enough stories from the past couple months to write a book…I will just give you a couple highlights.  

They like to hang out their front kitchen window and sit on the window sill.

I really think they only have one key. This is why; sometimes they jump out the front window and leave it open while they run to the corner store then climb back in it.  

One day the gypsies were all sitting in front of our house in the street where Joe parks our car. We have a garage under our house so there are "no parking" signs on the garage meaning we always have a spot saved on the street for our car.  I tried to shoosh them away by looking at them from the window but that didn’t faze them. I then tried to call Joe on his cell to warn him about this crazy thing going on but he didn’t answer. So when Joe pulled up he tried to pull into the spot and they just sat there like they were in a protest. Then they pointed at the no parking sign to Joe and smiled…His response was “My House”. They just all laughed and scattered across the street.
A couple days after the above situation, one of them saw Joe come home and as he was getting out of the car, he opened his window and yelled “My House” at Joe.  They all enjoyed a good laugh.  

This past Friday night they had a huge party that went to the wee hours of the morning.  

Then the next day (Saturday) they had a picnic in front of our house I went out there with Joe's camera and said “Je voudrais prend la photo svp” basically I would like to take your photo – what were they going to say, no? they were sitting on my sidewalk. Then we had a brief conversation about what I take photos of and what I’m going to do with this one. Yes all in French, I was impressed with myself.  (Joe was gone this weekend or else he might have had a heart attack)

That is it…here is the photo, so now if I ever mention the gypsies again you will know who I am talking about. The guy in the blue shirt is the leader of the pack.  One more thing I should add, we really don't live in a bad area or close to the college-they are not our typical neighbors.

The Gypsies! 

Fun Friday

The circus is coming for 80 days!!

No Car Day

This was our 3rd time to experience no car day on Sunday. If you have not heard of this before it is when the whole city of Brussels is free of cars! 

It is a fun day but for me who only rides once a year it is hell. I thought we could ride towards a bead store by the Marolles market, I forgot that meant I had to go up a big hill and ride on avenue Louise.

You have to navigate the narrow streets with slow little kids, adults and teenagers zooming in and out not to mention Horses all packed on the street.  I just need to remember that I need to stick to the quieter streets next year.

Yes that is a horse

Foxy on the other hand loved it. We upgraded from last year's vintage milk crate zipped tied onto Joe's bike to a new basket with a cover so she could not jump out or go flying out if Joe got into and accident.  

Hi Grandma! 

The castle is free of scaffolding. 

Donkey's 

Yes Donkeys by the Marolles at a cafe - only in Brussels

Busy & Crowded Ave Louise

Brocante

Saturday was our neighborhood Brocante or garage sale in the US. It sounds much more glamorous in French saying brocante. Here are some photos of the day and some finds.

Our neighbors

Organ grinder walking around 

Huge China Set- lots of plates and bowls

This summer we brought back my parents Polaroid camera here is our first photo from it. It is from our balcony looking on to the street. 

Starbucks

Another reasons for going to the airport. 

We finally have a starbucks in Brussels. The closest one before this was in Germany now it is in the airport, however Joe still will not drive out there for coffee (I have asked him to do this for an earlier post)

Foxy and I enjoyed our hot chocolate and muffin, but the muffin was bad I don’t think it was cooked.

Airport

There were a couple reasons Foxy & I needed to go to the airport on Saturday morning. Which is an easy trip if you do not have luggage. Via bus and a train.

(Foxy waiting for Joe)

The main reason was to meet Joe coming back from the US. 

Another reasons was our trip to Italy in November has been a nightmare since I started booking it and the nightmare only continues. The short story is that we booked a 5 day trip then the airline changed it’s route and had us leaving a day later and coming home a day earlier, so basically our 5 day trip turned in to 3 days. (With bad travel times) We got it changed so we had our original dates but were flying two different airline (changing in roma to fly Alitalia to Naples then on the way home flying from Naples to Milan on Alitalia)
Now if you have not heard the news Alitalia is not going to be able to fly past this month because of money problems they are saying. 

From Roma to Naples it is 1 ½ trains ride, so that is how we have decided to get to Naples. However from Naples to Milan is an 6 hour train ride and Joe thought that was too long for a train ride and that is why we cut it a day short to fly directly from Naples to Brussels. So that was why I had to change the tickets again.

While I was waiting for Joe down stairs I saw these guys come through that I knew something was up then a guy with technical equipment came by and stop with the other guys. HMMMM…they are with a band I said to Foxy. Then one of them turned around and I saw his jacket. It said “Snoop Dog” I tried to get my camera out of my bag before they started to leave but they were moving really fast with a huge body guard and a small Belgian guard from the airport (in the reflective vest below)…the photo is not the best – I was running while carrying Foxy and have an auto-focus camera that was taking long to focus. Any way I saw Snoop’s entourage in the airport…it is funny because when we saw the poster advertising Snoop coming to Brussels Joe and I were joking we should go.

this was them walking out the doors...

What the...

I went down stairs to get my laundry out of the washer on friday and to my surprise there was water all over the floor.

Then I opened the washer and saw this…

My table cloth some how got wrapped around a smooth rubber surface!

After what seamed like an hour of unwrapping it this is what the inside of the washer looked like.
Don’t even ask me how this happened because I don’t know. It is just one of those things that happens to me.

I promise better blogs than this on later this week...i'm working on them-Saturday and Sunday were crazy days

Fun Friday

I know this isn't as glamorous as when I was on the Cannes or Berlin red carpet.

 

Who knew Oostende had a film fest! 

 We noticed it when we were there for the beach...which explains the capri pants, straw hat, sunglasses and flip flops.  The wool sweater is because we are in Belgium in August. 

If you would like to see the other photos click here.

Drive-in

Saturday we the last drive-in movie of the summer.  We saw the movie "wanted" with Angelina Jolie.  Here are some photos from the night.

Front row spot.

People were tailgating...we did this last year with Anne & Erin

Foxy & I in the car...it is blurry because we kept moving - so Joe said. 

I almost forgot...there was a guy dressed up in a "Chips" uniform- helmet, sunglasses, badge and high boots  (the t.v. show chips - police officers) that came to our car and spoke in French,  however Joe told said "I'm sorry I speak English" I guess he could tell we had the American accent and said "don't be sorry you saved our ass in the war."   That is the first time that has ever  happened. 

 

First Day

This is what I wore to my first day of French class…I haven’t had my picture taken for the first day of school for a long time.

(navy pants by Zara, sweater & tank top by J.Crew and shoes by Paolo. it was also 49 degree when I left the house)

I was very happy that 3 of my other friends were in my class. Rosa from Peru, Martina from the  Czech Republic and Joanna from Vietnam/China. The only one who speaks English is Rosa and just a little bit.

I did have the usual people from countries that start with I’s that we are at odds with and in their country. There are two new countries that I have never had in my class that make me a little nervous. The country that starts with an "A" and has an old bad man with a beard is hiding in it and Kosovo. Today we had to draw and explain what our country is known for. The girl from the "A" country drew the old bad man with a beard with a tank…I drew the statue of liberty with out the book in her hand and it was pointed out by Martina. So I quickly added it. This could be an interesting mix in my class giving the state of the world today.

Also Joanna made me eat these little fruits. They are called longan not sure what they are called in English. They were ok but she kept giving them to me so I took some home.

You have to peel the outside off then eat the clear part and spit the seed out. 

Dinner

Un Des Sens is where we went for our dinner Friday night. 

 We have been there once before and had a wonderful meal...and on Friday night it did not disappoint. Even with the waitress calling in sick and the "owner" who says he has this restaurant as one of his hobby was playing waiter. The food was wonderful!  

New Market

With the new PlaceFlagey finished they have now moved the market from the ponds to Flagey. 

Place Sainte Croix (across from flagey in front of the church) is now where all the flower vendors are set up.

Flagey has the regular vendors we see every week and added some new ones too. It was much  bigger than I had expected, they now have any thing you can imagine,

Honey anyone? Or do the chickens look good?

What about some cookies in bed wrapped up in your new hand made quilt. 

I can’t wait to go there in the weeks to come and get some fruits and veggies.

Yummy carbs! 

Fun Friday Two, Deux, Dos,Due or Zwei

What do you do at 9:00 in the morning when 2 police officers are at you door?  

Open it of course...If you can picture this I was wearing my Hillary 2008 t-shirt and Joe's boxer shorts and haven't combed my hair yet. (your not even safe to wear american t-shirt in your own  home) After questioning me about my ID card, who lives here and is the house ours or do we rent they left.

 Two years ago when this happened I knew about the surprise visit and was ready...this time they totally caught me off guard and asked more questions. Thank god I found my ID card the other day it was missing for a while.  

Fun Friday

Happy Anniversary Husband! 

(From the wall of love in Paris)

Saturday Supper

Here are some photos of Joe's dinner on Saturday night.  If you can believe it this is the first time we made mussels.

 

 If you look at the chair next to Joe you can see Foxy peeking up. 

the perfect gift

Our 5th wedding anniversary is this Friday-the traditional gift is "wood."  I have been cleaning out and working on my closet since spring - I have 15 shopping bags of clothes for goodwill and now I have nice organized closets with new "wood" hangers.  (this is only one closet I have just finished the other 2 and my dressers) Joe never knew there were so many different kinds of hangers-skirt, pant, suit and regular not to mention different types of wood.

I actually enjoy organizing my closet every season.  

Thank you honey. I love you and my closets!

Cafe des Deux Moulins

Bonjour! Last Wednesday I took a day trip to Paris - by myself.  I did a walking tour of the Montmartre area and some shopping of course. 

 This is the area Joe and I explored in late July - but cause our computer died my photos of one of my favorite place's is still on the hard drive and I never go to share them with you.   

Cafe des Deux Moulins is the cafe where Amelie worked and where the movie was filmed.  I highly recommend the movie-It is one of my favorites. (it is in french though with English sub-titles) Actually it is the first movie date that Joe and I had.  

(The second video in is the dvd-they were selling it at the local dvd store)

If you have seen the movie you know this little guy the traveling gnome. They actually had the Polaroids from the movie hanging up behind the bar.  (I believe this is how the company got the idea for the traveling gnome from this movie)

This is of course where I had my lunch that day...Joe didn't even have to ask where I ate, he just knew I was going back there.