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Normandy State of Mind Part Deux

Like I said, the best thing to do in Paris in the summer… is leave. For my husband’s 48th birthday (I think he's 48 but I never really asked), we took a quick 1 hour drive outside of Paris to beautiful Normandy, the little village of Étretat specifically. I wanted to see the famous beautiful cliffs that inspired so many of Claude Monet’s paintings… and that is just what we did. My voice is still weak so I cannot do a long blog so I am just going to let the photos do the talking. If you want to read Normandy State of Mind Part 1 click HERE.
 





 
 
 
 
 













One thing is for sure, as I looked out to the beautiful Atlantic Ocean my only thought was, “Ahhh, America, land of the free, customer service and Dairy Queen.” My second thought was, “I want to come home.”
 
*Something you don't know about me? I hate the French. More on that later.

39 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos! I say a prayer for you each evening when I walk my dogs. The fat lady has not sung, my dear!
    I love America and value America. You need to be here for the sunshine and the dipcones.see you soon.xo nancy in texas

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    1. Ellie - You are looking good, Precious... Happy Birthday to your Beloved.
      That picture of the gate with the cottage just beyond it transported me...
      enchanting.... Celebrating the Fourth here.... tip a stem there, why
      don't you? Love and Blessings ~

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  2. A little slice of heaven on earth.....I'm coming next yr since my plan for being there xmas '14 got squashed because of my surgery.....xo

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  3. Had no idea where those cliffs were. Was I raised by wolves? Beautiful shots of an area I'm not familiar with. But if you want to know about Beverly HIlls, West Hollywood and environs I can help you there. Although I don't think you need any help. Always thinking of you. Now back to read your previous post on Normandy.

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  4. You look wonderful! Good for you for stepping out. Dairy Queen, split cone, chocolate/vanilla.
    You are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. I look at the book again and again and it makes me feel like I'm kind of with you there. Keep going beautiful friend. (the next outing will have sunshine !)

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  5. beautiful photos! In sorry you hate the French again. But I'm afraid it's simply a mad, mad, mad, mad world and must remind you that American people have chosen Donald Trump to be one of our two fucking choices for president. and the other is Hillary Clinton. I used to say it'll be a frosty day in hell before I ever vote for a Clinton. Brrrrrrrr! So maybe the world is united in the fact that it's all gone to shit. But I did slice off the tip of my thumb (on accident, no I wasn't drunk) the other day so perhaps I'm just pissy too. That said, I will drive down the street and take a photo of the fab old vintage Dairy Queen sign for you. I can't work with 1.9 thumbs so I've got nothing but time this week. It's healing well though. So no worries, my handjobs will be back up to par any day now. You're welcome to come to me for 4th of July celebrations! I'll have a cookout in the afternoon and then will kick everyone out and play yacht rock really loud inside and out to drown out the noise of the fireworks and attempt to keep my dog-and therefore me- from having an anxiety attack when people start setting off backyard fireworks. My hope is always that they are hurt or at least rendered infertile by firework burns and someday in the future we might leave pyrotechnics to the professionals. It must be a genetic predisposition to think of colorful explosions + rockets as a DIY hobby. Goodness this got long. I'm sorry. You can barely speak and I won't shut the fuck up.

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    1. SAJ, if Barbie really suffers from fireworks you should ask your vet about the drug Sileo. I read about it yesterday in an article about how terrible the 4th of July is for dogs. The 5th is the busiest day in the year for animal shelters because dogs will run and run and run trying to escape the noise. Sileo is a calming agent, not a knock-out drug.
      PS Funniest-strangest thing I ever saw (and visited) were 2 ginormous stores in Alabama where alcohol and fireworks were sold under the same roof. What a concept! That made me proud to be American. Oh wait, I'm a Canadian. We might not have that clever ingenuity but likely have more digits intact.

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    2. "Yacht rock"?? Does that exist? Or is it just a typo do to your incapacitation? Regardless, thanks for making me laugh Mr. SAJ.

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    3. Yacht rock is actually a temporary channel on Sirius XM radio! It has some nice music on there even though I can't stand Christopher Cross, but I'm a bit peeved that they removed Road Trip Radio to put Yacht Rock on. Stephen Andrew, I adore your responses even if (or maybe because) they are wordy!
      Ellie, I hope you get to come home soon. Thank God for the internet so we can all read your lovely (and not so lovely!) thoughts!

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    4. Dear God man, you never fail to make me laugh or at the very least, smirk.

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  6. My ITALIAN has the same sediments as you THEREFORE, I had to take the SONS TO PARIS!I think it's more of a culture thing for him and the small portions of food!
    YES< WE ARE THERE ON the other side of that ATLANTIC OCEAN we will ALL BE WAITING FOR YOUR ARRIVAL!!!!!!!!
    I can see it NOW the airport would be PACKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    The ROAR Of ELLIE ELLIE ELLIE.........would drown OUT any ones conversations!!!!
    YOU enjoy what YOU can of FRANCE...................THAT VIEW, THAT APARTMENT...........THAT BEAUTY.SUCK IT UP!
    DAIRY QUEEN will be HERE!!!!!!!
    LOVE TO YOU,
    XOXOXO

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  7. Ellie, do you not need your breathing machine any more?
    I just realized you don't have it on in one of the pictures!

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    1. Hi Kathy! Unfortunately, I still need my breathing machine 24/7 but I just took it off for the photo... I am basically holding my breath. Xoxo Ellie

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    2. Kathy, I will just pop in hear to help save Ellie's voice - she can take off her breathing mask for a moment or two while doing things like posing with her Hottie, I mean her Husband. Er, hee hee (but is David growing a beard? That so can't happen.)

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    3. Holy Smokes Ellie, I thought Dr. Cox had performed a miracle.
      You're a hoot. Holding your breath. You look great. Looking forward to your postings from the US! Take care. Thanks Heather for jumping in.

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  8. Lovely, lovely photos. I used to spend a work week in Deauville every summer with a client and always loved the coast, architecture and the flowers. As an American who spent a decade in Europe, I do understand your homesickness. There's nothing like American junk food - especially in the summer. I did some dipping myself at DQ as a teenager. There's a special talent in keeping the ice cream from dropping into the chocolate sauce. I'm glad you are able to take day trips. I think about you every day and look for you first thing every morning on Instagram. Sending love and good mojo across that Atlantic.

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  9. So gorgeous there and that looks like a nice lunch too. I can't wait to read all about how the French are annoying you. Thinking of you and sending love. XO

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  10. Oh, Ellie, you write a beautiful poem in pictures about France. But what is wrong? MacDo's cones are just as good as Dilly Bars, and they don't have that waxy coating. I was in a DQ last summer and it was, I promise, the totality of everything you hate, from the people to the food to the decor.
    You live life more fully than those DQ customers. I assure you. You are an inspiration.

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  11. So glad you made this trip.... come home... if you come to NYC... Let me know... Okay... The weather is perfect and you can make a visit to DQ for some soft white.... Hugs... Polly in NYC...

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  12. Yes, come on home.
    What an adventure you've had.

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  13. Gorgeous photos. I love a moody sky; seems more honest somehow. xo

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  14. I absolutely agree that EVERY American should see the American Cemetery and the Beaches! It moved me beyond words. I'm so glad you posted this to remind us Americans of the sacrifice of the brave souls who lived and died there. Thank you for making the effort to go there and share it with us. Praying for you always, Ellie.

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  15. PS. No matter how drunk I am I always check your blog....jus sayin'!

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    1. And lucky me . . . I'm one of Nan's drinking buddies! And I always check your blog, too!

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  16. So happy to see that you were able to get out and about. The scenery is beautiful! Still praying for you.

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  17. Dairy Queen? DAIRY QUEEN? It tastes like chemicals to me. ;)

    I picture you at some independent artisan ice cream shop eating ice cream made of rose petals and limes . . . or something like that.

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  18. Isn't it ironic that there is both so much to love and hate about the French!! Love the pictures, thank you for sharing. So good to get a glimpse of you-looking good. I still think you are the female Stephen Hawking!!
    Take good care and do come home for a boost-we all LOVE you!!

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  19. Now, I am clearly just looking for trouble but...are you sure you miss America? You know that I love my country and whined far too much for it, but as Stephen wisely opined, the degree of idiocy that is accepted as just part of the common good these days is enough to fell an elephant. Now, if we could just fly you back to Montecito directly, that would be another story. ;)

    I am sooo happy that you were able to go back to Normandy, it is magic there. Made me "homesick" to see those beautiful Frenchy photos. Go ahead, call me "traitor!" That said, hating the French is an important part of any expats daily rituals!

    Love you as much as that view over the ocean. Always,
    H bis

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  20. Beautiful photographs. So nice to catch a glimpse of you and your husband, too. Thank you for taking us to places we may never have the opportunity to see for ourselves.

    Mrs. Petrie

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  21. Oh, so beautiful. And you look great. And, yes, definitely hot. xoxo Mary

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  22. I'm glad that you escaped Paris for a day trip. Normandy, the Alabaster Coast and Giverny are beautiful/memorable. Hope that you continue to travel, and back to the US if you desire and are able. Hugs from Olivia.

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  23. Ellie, my heart swoons over these photos. Love, love love! Et Bien sur, the photo of you and David. You continue to share and inspire. Thank you a thousand times over.

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  24. LOVE your shout out on eonline.com today! Such a blessing to have such wonderful friends who support each other through thick and thin. Thinking of you, Ellie. http://m.eonline.com/news/777037/why-i-m-team-yolanda-hadid-despite-having-never-watched-real-housewives-of-beverly-hills

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  25. Thank you for taking us along on your Normandy excursion. It is beautiful, as is the love in the photos. Thank you for sharing. I wish you your dreams come true. xoxo, Nicole

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  26. You may feel like hell, but you look beautiful.

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  27. Only ONE hour by car! Lucky duck. 2h20 by train and bus. Still I loved every minute of it. Looks like you ate moules at my hotel, La Residence but then every resto has red-checked table cloths so qui sait? Def my hotel in the pic above. Well we might have passed each other on the 'board' walk. I have not been here long enough to experience much home-sickness though I do miss cheese danishes and Kinko's pink eraser tops...

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  28. What a great article! She's one of us!! The only ones who matter...Ellie/Yolanda admirers. :) Thanks for sharing it.

    I was in Normandy hitchhiking many many years ago and was offered accommodation by a wonderful French man (a professor of wine) and his family (all proper!) and he 'reworked' our route through France. He guided us to another wonderful French man in Quiberon, Dr. Tacher, who ran the Institute Thassalotherapie (sp.?) where we ended up staying for a week, something he did for many travelling young people! The beginning of a wonderful year in Europe starting with Paris. Soooo.....love the French (I know you do too! You have the best French man of all!!... hi David :) I do understand homesickness though.

    Many hugs and prayers, Basia XXOO

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  29. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your sweet Bunny....happy to see you are still getting out there....and with Bunny ~ your Bunny
    is an officer and gentleman......Big 4th of July over here.....and it is gorgeous on the Gulf of Mexico.....thinking of you
    all the time.....perhaps, road warrior, you can come back over the pond to the USA for a visit....good Cali weather
    ....XOXO

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  30. What a treat, you, your sweetheart's birthday, Entretat, and wonderful photos to take this armchair traveler on a great ride. Thank you, and know I'm thinking of you and wishing you wellness and happiness!

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