Post #2... It was not that hard, now, was it?

Bonjour!

I decided to start this blog at the beginning of the year, but never really got to write anything... Life happens... I was not inspired... Excuses, excuses...

Here we are, a few days away from our annual trip to Paris. My husband offered me an early Christmas present: a fabulous little camera, perfect for beginners (Moi!)

So, as part of my new year's resolutions, and because I have run out of excuses, I have decided to start blogging... in English, in French, en franglais, whatever the case may be. This should be interesting, fun even.

For my first post e.v.e.r. (you will agree that the first one, below, does not really count), I thought I would mention some of the wonderful people I have had the privilege of meeting while teaching French in the Seattle area for the last 10 years.

Last Thursday, a group of French students and I enjoyed our traditional Christmas dinner at a new local bistro, Luc. These students are special. They have been visiting me au Studio (my teaching studio at home) for the past 6 or 7 years. We always have fun together while learning French and over the years, our little group has bonded, even though we welcome newcomers now and then.

Anyway, back to Thursday evening chez Luc. We were lucky to get a table. Luc (and Madison Park, a wonderful Seattle neighborhood), are popular on Thursday evenings. Le cadre (the environment) was lovely. The restaurant belongs to a famous Seattle chef, Thierry Rautureau (they call him "the Chef in the Hat" because he always, always wears a fedora hat). The restaurant is named after Monsieur Rautureau's father, Luc. I loved the giant painting of Luc and his wife, above our table. The food was typical bistro fare, well prepared, and overall, quite enjoyable. As always with that group, discussions were animated. We were welcoming a student who had just returned from a two week trip to India. It was a lively dinner, people eating, drinking, laughing together- and a late night.

I was testing my new camera and most of the pictures came out pretty well. Maybe there is hope for Moi, the blogger/photographer/teacher, after all!