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Surprises At the End of the Lake.


 
My husband always tells people that the reason he loves me the most is because he says, “I find the beauty in everything.” Isn’t that sweet! But it’s only partially true, because I can find the ugliness too. He says that he is envious of me because the smallest things make me happy (this does not happen to him because he is… French.) This is true that the smallest things make me happy because yesterday I had a mini explosion of happiness over a chestnut tree. But then, he says that I over exaggerate. This is not true. It is merely that I am enthusiastic. Then, I tell him that his complements are backhanded. I am very familiar with the backhanded compliment because my aunt is the master of this. She says things to me like, “It’s so cute that you’ve gained so much weight.” She has passed this trait down to her daughter, my cousin, who gave my husband for his birthday a beautifully wrapped self-help book.


This week, as we are still at the lake (Lac du Annecy, France), we have had a very exciting time, according to me. It was a week of “scoring.” Or as Charlie Sheen would say, “Winning!” However, there is always the ying and the yang in life. While all of these good things were happening to me, I also noticed that my voice is getting weaker. The ALS is kicking in. I chose to ignore it but, of course, my husband freaked out and told me that I had to pace myself with speaking. Buzz kill. The boss of me, my husband, said I can only do a few blog postings a week. So there you have it. That’s the bad news. But the good news outweighs the bad. Here’s the good news…

Should I save the best for last? No, I’m impulsive, so I’ll tell you now. Now remember how my husband says that I over exaggerate, but this time my “enthusiasm” is completely founded. I don’t think that there is a human being on earth who would not have been excited by what happened. And if you would not be excited then you are dead inside and you should seek therapy or kill yourself. Let me start by saying that when this incident was occurring, I totally kept my cool because I’m a lady for fuck’s sake. So…on Saturday we decided to take a long drive around the lake to the end of the lake.  It could not be more remote. It just so happens that at the end of the lake there is a beautiful, serene, exclusive hotel called L’Auberge de Pere Bise. We decided to have an afternoon drink on the terrace. Considering it is the end of the season, there were only three tables occupied. Ours included. We had the perfect table right at the edge of the lake. I did not want to be facing the sun directly so I had my husband turn my wheelchair horizontal to the lake which caused me to be staring directly at the table next to me. As I was looking at the menu, my husband kept saying, “Ellie, what would you like? Ellie, what would you like?” I was not answering him. Why? Because I was absolutely speechless. There was a woman sitting at the table next to us staring right at me. It only took me about half a second (because I’m a professional) that it was none other than Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Monaco. Princess Grace’s daughter!
 
 
Let me state for the record that I do not get starstruck. I do not, as Erin Foster says, “change around celebrities” like she says she does. :-) Never ever do I do this. Until this day. I honestly think I felt a tear come to my eye. Remember, my daughter’s name is Grace and I unabashedly and absolutely will admit that I named her after Princess Grace. And here, on this odd Sunday in September at the end of the lake, here I was sitting next to Princess Caroline and all of her history and all that it entails. Here are the details. She was having lunch with two of her children, the boys. She was wearing a white linen button-down shirt, cropped jeans, and low Converse sneakers. The epitome of chic. She was wearing sunglasses at a point and exchanged them for her reading glasses. She was tapping away at her iPhone, no doubt on Instagram. She had a beautifully groomed dog with her as well. And here’s the best part… Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Monaco was smoking a cigarette. I was actually relieved when she left because I could start breathing again. My husband refused to take a picture on the grounds that he has some class. So, all I have to show for this glorious occasion is a picture of her table…after she left. It will have to suffice. Use your imagination. Look look look…
 



 So I’m not sure if anything I say from here on out will be as exciting as that but everything else we did this week was at least half as exciting, but exciting nonetheless.

 So…if I do say so myself, I have an uncanny ability, I think, in my opinion, to be able to find things that have great style without breaking the bank. I have to be very careful about not breaking the bank because I have to pay my stupid caregivers. Apparently, they don’t work for free. And by the way, I’m pretty sure I’m allowed to use the word “stupid” considering one of my caregivers started to wash my face today with a bathmat. So, I get very excited when I find something that is “chic and cheap.” This happened to happen all week this week. First of all, we stopped by the local Zara shop to find a scarf for my husband’s ailing mother, and my selfishness took over because all I could concentrate on was a leopard jacket that I saw out of the corner of my eye. Price check €70. Ellie “winning.”

 Secondly, in a little teeny tiny poor excuse for an antique shop, more like a junk shop, I spied with my little eye my Creuil Montreau Monet cerise china pattern! The little old French lady had two pieces. A cake plate and a fruit plate. Price check €50 for both! Ellie “winning.”




 
Next up, the little brocante. A brocante is our American version of grandma’s attic sale on the street. I don’t typically go to these brocantes because I’m not a big fan of bric-a-brac, tchotchke or crap but I love accessories. There’s a difference. While this brocante was complete shit, mostly Romanians reselling things that they had stolen, I did, with my discerning eye, manage to find three charming accessories. In a dirty old little box something blue caught my eye. It was a little tin container I think from the 70s that used to hold coffee from the company Ricoré. It looked perfect  for a bouquet of little garden roses. I asked the little old French lady wearing a house dress and no teeth the price…Price check one euro. Ellie “winning.”

 


A few dumpy booths later, I found a little tin Quimper box exactly the same as my grandmother had used for her sewing tools. I thought it would be perfect to put my French anti-anxiety “crazy pills” in. I may be crazy, but at least I’m classy crazy.
 

 
At the last booth, sitting inside a neon green plastic box, I found this gorgeous polychrome water pitcher that I thought would be perfect as a vase with autumnal flowers on my paisley tablecloth. Price check eight euros. Ellie definitely “winning.”

 


Unfortunately, we do not think that the little lake house will work out because of the treacherous driveway, the steep interior staircase and the fact that the owner only wants to rent the house until March. Begrudgingly, I was forced to “look at other options.” As I am the master of this, I of course, found an interesting option. There is an old house that has been on the market for over a year. It is for sale. My idea is to convince the owner to rent the house to us until it sells, which it never will. I have watched every single episode of Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and New York so I am legally, not legally, a real estate agent. I even pulled together the “comps” of the neighborhood to prove my case. Yes to your question that my husband thinks I’m a pushy American. But guess what? This girl gets shit done.
 


I have also included a few pictures that we took from just driving around the lake. Look look look...

 




So that’s the week in review. Definitely, a winning week. I think we have to leave our beloved Lake Annecy at the end of this week and go back to that dump called Paris. :-) Stay tuned… And we will continue our Art Of Entertaining series.

25 comments:

  1. Another thoroughly enjoyable post...thank you. I have a similar vintage leopard coat...what do you plan to wear with it?

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    1. Hi there J. W.! So glad you liked the post. I think I will wear with my leopard coat, my skinny jeans, a black thin Cashmere turtleneck and my orange Prada loafers. What do you wear with yours? XO XO XO

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    2. Good morning! I think, this year, I'll wear my skinny jeans, a white or black top (too warm here in Southern California for cashmere under it), and probably black flats...though I think the idea of orange loafers is great!

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  2. I'm selfish so of course I was disappointed to hear that you have to cut back on the posting, but can we talk about that fruit for a minutes? It looks so good that I thought it might be fake...then I remembered what I was reading and knew that wouldn't fly.

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  3. How did Carolyn look? The last few pictures of her I have seen - she did not look good. As if the smoking was impacting her face. Great post as always. Just curious as to how you write these. Hate that you will have to slow down. So enjoy reading what you write.

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  4. Hi Ellie. I so enjoy your posts and look forward to new ones. We are definitely kindred spirits and I agree with you on so much. You are an inspiration to me and I'm sure countless others as you maintain your sass and spunk and zest for life

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  5. Just ordered that darling leopard jacket to wear (every day) this fall - will be perfect with skinny jeans and a loose T underneath. Fall wardrobe, DONE. :-)

    Also, OMG - Caroline Onassis?!?!? I would not have been able to keep my eyeballs in my head!

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  6. As long as you keep posting whenever you can I think most of us will be content with that...I saw her twice but once was in the metro and I couldn't believe hrh would ride public transport and the only reason I relented was her green croc Kelly. I find her daughter a stunner too. Good luck with everything and please let us know what happens

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  7. I too have been obsessed with Caroline and Grace, so excited that you got to see her in person and right next to you. Selfish that I am disappointed that you will be doing fewer blogs but only because I enjoy them so!

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  8. I'm sitting in my office in Shanghai and simply adore seeing the photos of where Princess Caroline was seated... just last night I wanted "To Catch a Thief" for the ump-teenth time. I am so very much enjoying your little triumphs and joys. You deserve them all! I'm counting my days till I fly off to Tuscany for such a break... tick/tock!

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  9. Ellie you are the BOMB! So entertaining! I am sorry about ALS affecting your voice. My husband has Parkinson's and sometimes it is on the move too. You are so right - Ellie "winning". I love you!

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  10. For some reason when I read your posts I want to laugh (for obvious reasons), sigh (because you have a great eye) and swear (because of the ALS). Thinking of you.xob PS. you inspired me greatly after your last post on flowers and I went mad in the garden cutting lots for a beautiful arrangement in a champagne bucket…I smile at you every time I pass it:)

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  11. i love you....i so really love you. all the way across france and the atlantic and clear across the north american continent to a tiny little island tucked up in the northwest, you bring me joy and mini-explosions of bliss. thank you. i'm a latecomer to your blog and want to start from the beginning. you are in my heart and my prayers. ellie....always "winning." always.

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    2. So glad you enjoyed the blog… All the way from your tiny island in the Northwest. I used to go to Orcas Island all the time. Are you near there? I hope you're having a great day.
      XO

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  12. Your husband sounds DIVINE!We are two lucky ladies I can tell already!HOW EXCITING to see her with the SONS!I wish you could have said, something about naming your child after her MOTHER!I had a similar experience when THE KARL walked right at me with his escorts!I was fighting with myself all 30 seconds do I be the TACKY AMERICAN and snap a photo or do I pass this opportunity up..........I SNAPPED!!I need to go back and read your older POSTS to see why you want to move to the lake..........everything you purchased was loverly......I being the antique Goddess concur your prices were TERRIFIC!YOU are a GEM it sounds like.............so happy I found YOU!THANKS PENELOPE!

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  13. You have got a great writing style! I really enjoy your blog and I want to see that lake and go into those shops!

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  14. i am so thrilled, no, elated to have found your blog. my dear friend, monica e (your old neighbor in sb) turned me onto your blog a few weeks ago, and i've been hooked ever since. your posts make me laugh out loud, yearn for a european daily life and help me see, and appreciate the small things in life. thank your for your wit, humor, sarcasm and candidness. your are a breath of fresh air. i only wish we'd met when you still lived in sb. you are winning!

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  15. As it is currently snowing here in Canada, your posts are so bright and warm I can actually feel the sun again! Your Joie de Vie is fantastic. From one "lady" to another, thank you.

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  16. You are so funny and you make me laugh out loud!
    Cindy F
    xx

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  17. I’ll bet Princess Caroline knows what it means to “have some decorum”…it might be her royal family mantra – ha! Looks like she had a salt-rimmed Margarita with that cig…and a side of turquoise water and blue Annecy Mountains. If that doesn’t relax you nothing will!

    Ellie, I'm with you. The smallest things make me happy. I share your enthusiasm for the beautiful and naturally lean toward the positive (think Pollyanna). Of course ugliness is blatant and obvious against the sharp contrast of beauty, but despite the extremes and yin-yanginess of the world…I choose beauty. Your writing is beautiful, funny and totally engaging. Thanks for taking the time to share your stories...whenever. It's not the quantity but quality that matters.
    p.s. My Grandparents had a lone chestnut tree in their yard when I was a child. Those crazy balls that fell to the ground were a fascinating study in contrasting textures – pretty exciting :)

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  18. Love your pictures!! Those turquoise gates! all of them!!!

    Love your blog!!!

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  19. I think that beauty in all of its shapes and guises is the one thing that we can truly count on in our always high-speed evolving lives. So if we have an appreciation for it, we are rich lucky ducks. Digging that leopard print coat too. :)
    Time to go. I am reading a few of your posts every morning, going backwards (why I don't just go from the beginning...) and my dogs are less than amused as I am walking them later to do so!

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  20. Oh this was a fun read.
    And who is your favorite on Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles? I love Josh Flagg, and I miss Madison on this season.

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