Yes - today was a VERY magnifique day because I found Libby's pumpkin puree, and there is currently a load of homemade pumpkin bread cooking in my oven. Ohhhh it's going to be a glorious morning!
There is a petit and I mean petit American store called "The Real McCoy" located right by school - where one can find what the French consider "American" groceries. For example - Reese Puffs, Quaker Oatmeal, Duncan Hines cake mixes, canned frosting, marshmallow fluff, cream cheese, Campbells soup - and yes, Libbys pumpkin puree!! You can only imagine my excitement upon finding it! The wheels turning in my head of all the delicious things I would make with it! However, my excitment died down a bit when I realized it was 5euro a can, but it's totally worth it! I just have to be spare with the things I bake - to make sure I am using it to the best of my ability! So - I beg of you to send me your best pumpkin receipe so I can get to baking! I have used 1/2 can on some "Old Maine Pumpkin Bread, ' currently in my oven. But there is 1 1/2 cans left to make cookies, pie, muffins, smoothies - you tell me! I did find one AMAZING looking recipe for Paula Deans "Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes" but unfortunately too many of the ingredients are unfindable here -so that will have to wait until next fall. But - send me your best stuff! I also picked up some extra crunchy JIF! OH to have PB again.
My pantry is now stocked, and opening it to my stock of yummy spreads puts me in a frenzy of joy.
Have I mentioned yet that today was GORGEOUS! It was a picture-Paris-perfect fall day! After class, I knew I had to go somewhere and take advantage - so Caroline and I hiked over to Pere Lachaise Cemetery, a very famous cemetry in the 20eme. It was beyond cool. It is absolutely huge, and in France all the graves are above ground, mostly in these little gothic style plots that look straight out of a horror movie, all moss-covered and broken. Among the people there are Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Chopin, and Oscar Wilde - who had the coolest grave by a longshot. We visited them all, but Oscar's was my favorite. Covered in lip-stick kisses and insrctiptions from loving visitors, it sits near the back of the cemetery. If the red kisses and scribbles weren't enough t
o make it stand out - it has this really unique design and right above the ground it says "here lies the greatest man who ever lived." What better phrase could you think of for your gravestone! You must admit it's hard to beat that! Below that sign, is a small notice from the French government, urging people to not deface the grave stone of Oscar Wilde, which clearly no one has obeyed. But is kissing and "Je t'aime, Oscar" really defacement? No one esle buried there had love notes on their grave - only shrubery. Flowers die, but a kiss - is forever.
o make it stand out - it has this really unique design and right above the ground it says "here lies the greatest man who ever lived." What better phrase could you think of for your gravestone! You must admit it's hard to beat that! Below that sign, is a small notice from the French government, urging people to not deface the grave stone of Oscar Wilde, which clearly no one has obeyed. But is kissing and "Je t'aime, Oscar" really defacement? No one esle buried there had love notes on their grave - only shrubery. Flowers die, but a kiss - is forever. The Importance of Being Earnest is my favorite work of Oscar Wilde. I think I may watch the Reese Witherspoon version tonight in his honor!
Today I was, again, thinking of how much I LOVE being here, and this thought was only stressed after spending the day in such a cool, Parisien place, I got to thinking - can you really put a pricetag on travel?
Luckily, for now, I am young and still under the support of my wonderful and unbelievably generous parents. But when I become a "real person" and my money needs to go to paying the bills, and buying clothes and food, and taking care of my puppy.... I promise to remind myself of these four months. That what I'm doing right now....there is simply no way to put a price on this! And I made some sacrifices of my own to come here - I worked hard all summer, I saved my money, I barely shopped for months! And a small part of me wondered if it would be as great as I imagined.... I can't even begin to describe the ways that my expectations were suceeded in my first month alone.
Is there really any reason good enough NOT do this if you can? For me.... no! I just know that this is apart of my life now. God created a huge, beautiful, world for us - and I have got to experience it. It's hard for me to think of somewhere I don't want to go! If it means that I will have the most modest of apartments, a less-important job, the end of gourmet restaurants, and that I'll never be able to afford a Caviar bag....so be it! I'd choose a plane ticket in my hand over a Chanel bag anyday.
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