I'm Susan — devout Francophile, mother of twins, writer, creative director, and aspiring author. I've been sharing my life here since 2010...thanks for reading!
I love these vintage decoupaged globes by ImagineNations…no two are alike. When I was young I always had a globe in my room, and it really inspired me to travel and explore other cultures. Sometimes I would just spin it and wherever my finger stopped, I would imagine going there. Did you ever do that?
These record temps are making me crave ice cream. In Paris, of course.
image source…and a previous post (and photo) by moi
In the past few years I have been devoting a good bit of time to my family history, as I am so fascinated by it. To be fair, I'm the daughter of a history buff and a librarian, so researching my family tree is in my genes. These photos are of my paternal great-grandmother Hattie, circa 1880. They were taken in Boston where most of my father's family lived, however I have traced this particular line all the way back to French royalty! I am now focusing on obtaining more information on my mom's side, which is from the Alsace Lorraine region of France…they have been tougher, although I am five generations back so far. For me, understanding my roots has helped me develop a stronger sense of self, and has explained a lot in my life (hello francophilia)! I'm curious…what is your heritage, and do you feel that knowing your family history helps you identify more with yourself?
this little guy is the light of my life, along with the (bigger) guy holding him.
I am going to apologize in advance for being a bit of a downer today, but I feel it is important to share the good and the bad. If you are a regular reader, you are aware of some of my recent health issues. However, since then, more has developed. I am dealing with two other health concerns (won't bore you with the details), but they are both concerning and frustrating. However, the worst news is that my father was diagnosed with cancer last week. I am very close to him, and this was a shock to us all. We are all doing our best to stay positive, but the truth is, it's extremely upsetting no matter how you spin it. This year has not been good for our family health-wise…and it is freaking me out a bit. Our little Billy had to have a second surgery on his knee…but he is probably the healthiest of us all. I keep joking that I/we are a "hot mess" right now, but the truth is, I'm scared and a bit depressed. Doing my best to stay strong…
"Dark Seas" artwork by Tastes Orangey