stephmodo: Chores are More Fun in France

Chores are More Fun in France

• 06 March 2012



Last night I was poking around my computer trying to find a family photo and I stumbled upon this little video I took of my husband last year when we were in Beynac; needless to say I decided to post this instead :))  When I view little snippets like this, that whole experience feels surreal.  In fact, sometimes when all is quiet in the house, the kids are in bed, and Ben and I are still plugging away on work/projects into the night, we marvel at it all.  There is so much love built into those walls!

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share this clip with you (even though I don't ever like my voice on video), as it captures a "live moment" during Project La Maisonnette.  And since Ben has his power drill out, this might be a good time to share a few interesting notes about tools in France, for those interested in such a topic...here we go:


1.  Random things like tools happen to cost a small fortune in the French countryside.  A tape measure?  $50 USD.   A power drill? $850.  I'm not kidding!  Suffice it to say we don't keep our household scale in our bathroom...nope, it's next to our suitcases.  Because when we head over to take care of business (i.e. home projects), it's all about maximizing that 50 lb. weight limit and filling our suitcases with tools (I'm sure the people scanning our luggage are intrigued!).  In fact, at this point, almost all of our tools are stored there at La Maisonnette and will stay there from hence forth :)

2.  One of the most fascinating aspects of the renovation was watching local artisans use old world methods as they assisted us in bringing vibrancy and life back into that little cottage.  It was like stepping back a few hundred years, I'm not kidding.  Read a medieval book about how they built structures and that's pretty much what they still do today.  It's incredible.  And it lasts!!

p.s. another great video is this time lapse of our friend Scott putting a jack hammer to good use on one of our interior walls (Scott, we love you for this...still).  Our goal was to expose as much stone as possible, but man was it tedious.  I'm glad I wasn't the one doing it!

Thank you for indulging me today my friends...it was so nice to relive this moment again.  Have a wonderful day!

image of cottage by night by Scott Lunt

10 comments:

  1. Steph, I'm so glad you posted this video - it brings back so many wonderful memories of when Dan and I stayed at La Maisonette. What an incredible little cottage in an incredible little village!

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  2. I'm glad you liked...I wasn't sure if anyone would enjoy it but I'm glad you did! Sometimes a live moment captures the essence of a place more than images ever can on their own. Had to do it ;)

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  3. I love it when you talk about La Maisonnette. I can only imagine how lovely it must be in person.

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  4. Thanks for sharing this little snippet of your French life. I'm so envious!

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  5. A gorgeous backdrop is right! I can't even imagine living there. I've never been to Europe (I know, I KNOW!) and I'm itching to go so badly. I know now who I'm calling when we'll be in France:)

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  6. Glad you liked, despite the incessant power drill in the background! :)

    It's fun for me to dream too...

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  7. So beautiful; makes me want to move to France:). And you have a lovely voice!!! xox, Blair

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  8. Hehe, I feel just the same way about my voice recorded - however yours is lovely! You must all be longing to get back to your little piece of French paradise, great to have the pictures and videos to keep you going.

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  9. Blair, you're too kind. I will never like my voice on video, but I appreciate your kind words the same :)

    Petra, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one! And yes, we long to go back all the time. Alas, so many variables have to align at the same time to make that happen...sigh.

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  10. Fun video. Been to France again and would love to go again, we just had more children in the meantime so now have to cough up more for plane tickets! Darn kids! ;)

    I tape my little son all the time on my iPhone and play it back and think, "Ugh, why did I have to talk!" My voice always sounds so bizarre to me!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to drop a line. I really appreciate it!

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