French by Heart

French by Heart by Rebecca S. Ramsey was not a book on my to read list, but when I stumbled across it at the library, I figured it looked good enough to read. I wasn't disappointed, as there were parts of it that made me laugh, and I think Rebecca did a good job depicting her life in France. She and her husband Todd moved to France because of her husband's job with Michelin with two school age children and her almost one year old son. They are from South Carolina, and spent four years living in a not well known city in France. Her neighbor Madame Mallet is a character that shows up in many chapters as Rebecca tries to navigate life in France. She finds some new interests-Joan of Arc, Lourdes, and statues of the Virgin Mary. Anyone that has lived overseas might like reading about the adventures and challenges the Ramsey's faced, but you might also enjoy this book if you have been to France or studied French in high school or college.
While I was reading, it made me think that maybe I would like to live overseas for a while. Or at least visit France even though I know no French.

And for Amanda, yes, I did like the book. In fact, it might be one of the choices that I bring for book club when it is my turn to bring books. I think that Ramsey is working on a book that tells how life for their family was when they returned to the States.

moving

I am in my new place-a rental house. It took about two hours to relocate nearly all of my belongings. It included one van load, two pickup truck loads, and two trailer loads. So far, I am glad that I now have a garage for my car to live in, a washer and dryer in the basement to use, and only three steps to my front door. It is going to be an adjustment to not have as many closets (my old apartment had seven), but overall I have more space. My bedroom and kitchen are organized, but I have about a half dozen boxes with odds and ends that need to be sorted and stored-photos, letters, and other random items. A couple more perks of the apartment-I live one and a half blocks closer to work (it is now two and a half blocks instead of four), I have a three season porch and a backyard, and it is on a quieter street. Thanks to Cathy, Leland, Marcia, Joel, Bill, Snookie and Vi for all their help.
If you are a relative, you may be getting a note in the mail shortly with my new address (if you haven't already). My phone number has not changed.

What I made this summer

This is a little girl dress I made. It is from Simplicity pattern 9602 and this is the newborn size, though from experience I think it would fit a nine month old. I love the seersucker fabric.

This is a dress for a two year old. It is Simplicity pattern 5118. I made another one like this for my friend's two year old daughter and it was bright blue and white checked.
My new purse. It didn't take long to sew and the fabric is leftover from my heart quilt I made this spring.
A simple pillowcase.

A zipper pouch that I made with the help of my sister.

This is the quilt that I made in June. It is a small twin size that I am keeping for myself.

I also made several tote bags (two for my own groceries and one for my aunt), some napkins, and a simple backpack for my niece Mariah's birthday.

Same Kind of Different As Me

This book got on my reading list because my friend Cyd recommended it. We both read a lot, though I read a lot more fiction than she does. This book,

Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, tells the story of a unique friendship. Ron Hall and Denver Moore live in Fort Worth, Texas, but in very different circumstances. When they cross paths, both of their lives change in ways that they never could have predicted. Not a fairy tale by any means, but a book that will make you think and wonder what kind of impact your life is making on others.