Martin longed for his job to be transferred to Marseille, and his goal was finally achieved this year. Chelsea and Martin started looking for a home in the south of France. I asked them what was on their dream list for a home; it was at least ten pages long. In the same breath, they told me they had a few houses they would look at in the coming days. Time was of the essence, so I started to look for a home in our town that matched the ten-page list. My determination to find them a home was purely selfish. Since my only family in France is Yann, Chelsea, and Sacha (Sacha lives in Seattle, and Yann’s family, of course, counts, but you know what I mean.) I thought this was my only chance to have them live next door or at least within walking distance.
A miracle of all miracles or luck would have it, or my determination paid off. I found a house that met their ten-page dream list, and they bought it. I still cannot believe it. Happiness knows no bounds. My beautiful daughter, my dear Martin, and the little Pickles will live here in our town.
Next to their home is a maisonette, a small 450-square-foot house. Today, we refreshed it, as Chelsea and Martin will live there while their home is renovated. In the torturous heat, we scrubbed and painted. When they move into their home, we will renovate the maisonette and possibly rent or sell it. But that is for another day.
Chelsea wanted to test a terra cotta-colored wall before having a room in her home painted that color,
So she tested it in the maisonette.
It is the color she had at their wedding, which is very Provencal.
The maisonette is next door to their property. Their new home is much larger and sits on over an acre of land. There is no way I would want to take care of that much land. Luckily, they have a well, especially given that our town is under water restrictions and the sixteen historical fountains (from natural sources) are dry. That doesn’t mean they will have a plush lawn and a manicured yard.
You can see a peek of their home-to-be through the maisonette’s kitchen window.
While we painted, Olivia cooled off in the kitchen sink.
Oh, to be a child and do such things while eating a cookie.
Gabriel was fascinated by the tools; the air gun was a welcome relief as he blasted our backs.
He painted too. Well, if you have children, you know what that means.
Olivia was in her glory with a rare treat. She held a packet of chocolate cookies for dear life.
She has a sweet tooth, and she follows in the footsteps of my mother. Remember, my mother said one of her secrets to a long, happy life is to eat candy for breakfast and throughout the day.
Meanwhile, Yann played swords with stick with Gabriel in the empty dumpster.
Rene, who renovated our place in Cassis, will renovate their home.
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