Sunday, April 14, 2013

The Frenchies have landed... (Part 1)




Escargots
The Frenchies have landed, and they are taking the Pacific Northwest by storm...

 Leaving behind the [French] concept of moderation and embracing local delicacies with wild abandon...

French grandparents inquired:
"Do you approach this sucker with a fork and knife?!"

 Enjoying the many perks of the glorious Pacific Northwest spring weather...

It's cold, but not too cold for a grandfather and grandson
to partake in animated conversation...

French Popsicles and their American dog...

 Meeting friendly locals... however strange they may be...

Des nains de jardins... (garden gnomes)

D'étranges créatures... (strange creatures) 

Un bouquet d'oiseaux? (a bunch of birds)
Un hippopotame déraciné (an uprooted hippo) 

Experiencing the Wild Wild West...




Giddyup!



Enjoying themselves and making new [American] friends along the way...




French Grandpa and Mademoiselle Bisou...

To be continued...

A bientôt.



All photos by French Girl in Seattle.
Please do not use, copy, or Pin without permission.
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47 comments:

  1. La Table De NanaApril 14, 2013 at 4:04 PM

    Ahhh..you were chez the cowgirl:-)
    Love seeing you..your parents..your son..the ranch et all:-)
    Those escargots are trip cute too:-)

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 14, 2013 at 4:05 PM

      Dear Nana. I wasn't. But it could have been Moi in another life... :-)

      Delete
  2. ConnieApril 14, 2013 at 4:17 PM

    Ahhh..complete Western immersion!

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  3. AlisonApril 14, 2013 at 4:42 PM

    Bienvenue to your family! It looks so cold there, brrr. Now, I'm wondering after that second photo caption...how do you say "this sucker" in French!?

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 14, 2013 at 5:01 PM

      Merci Alison. Will pass it on. This sucker. A tough one to translate. How about "Ce truc," or "ce machin?" :-)

      Delete
  4. MaryApril 14, 2013 at 4:53 PM

    Ooooo! Great pics, Veronique. I can't wait for part 2. :) You look as though you're all having a wonderful time.. cold, but wonderful. You all must wear the Pacific Northwest fleeces. lol.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 14, 2013 at 5:02 PM

      Bonjour Mary. Oui, my mom did borrow a fleece jacket... but she is still wearing her [very] Parisian shoes... Let us see what happens over the next few days... We did get a freak hail storm today between sun breaks...

      Delete
  5. poodletailApril 14, 2013 at 5:11 PM

    Bienvenus aux français!

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  6. AmandaApril 14, 2013 at 5:19 PM

    The Pacific Northwest is so beautiful. Enjoy your parents Veronique!

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  7. gApril 14, 2013 at 6:01 PM

    LOVE IT-ALL OF IT!!!

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  8. SarahApril 14, 2013 at 6:17 PM

    Looks like the family is having a grand time, even with the chill. You all should come to TX. It is beautiful here and temps are in the 70-80s. Enjoy your family visit........Sarah

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 14, 2013 at 6:41 PM

      My dear Sarah, it would be a pleasure to visit you in Texas... and for the record, I am envious of your warm weather! Thank you for stopping by...

      Delete
  9. AnonymousApril 14, 2013 at 11:27 PM

    What lovely pictures. Here is SW France we went from snow and not enough wood for the fire to 27 degrees and OMG isn't it hot overnight. Don't know what happened to spring, I think we skipped it.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 6:15 AM

      Well at least you are warm now... And without fire wood! :-)

      Delete
  10. CraigApril 14, 2013 at 11:31 PM

    Hi Veronique - what a treat for you to have your parents visit and for us to see the happy gathering. And a view of the yellow dog too - lovely! Isn't that the ranch of your cowgirl friend I spy? Enjoy your time together.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 6:18 AM

      You have a good eye Craig! Yes, we visited the cowgirl on Sunday and she regaled us with a Western brunch. Weather wise, it felt a little bit like we were in Scotland!

      Delete
  11. biebkriebelsApril 15, 2013 at 3:18 AM

    That is nice for you to have your relatives over from France. Must be great to show them around, have a nice time.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 6:20 AM

      You're right, and they had not been back for quite a few years, so they are both happy to get reacquainted with the Pacific Northwest...

      Delete
  12. PeterParisApril 15, 2013 at 4:08 AM

    A long way to visit you and your family, but it's certainly worth it!

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  13. miss bApril 15, 2013 at 5:52 AM

    Great photos comme d'habitude! Looks like you are all enjoying some quality family time together but it does look very cold over there. What an unusual and cute napkin ring and that's certainly a generous sandwich.... very difficult to eat in a ladylike fashion!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 6:27 AM

      Bonjour miss b. It is spring break here, and we are all enjoying the slower pace. School schedule can be grueling when one has a teenager in house...

      Delete
  14. LieneApril 15, 2013 at 6:08 AM

    Isn't it wonderful to have family visiting? To be able to show them what your daily life (and maybe weekend life as well) is like, watch them with your children, see their reactions to food and local customs and imagine how you may have had similar reactions when you first arrived?

    I hope the rest of the time with your parents is wonderful (and a little warmer?)! Bienvenue aux Etats Unis from me also!

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 6:28 AM

      Merci Liene, I will pass it on at the breakfast table this morning...

      Delete
  15. DianneApril 15, 2013 at 6:47 AM

    How wonderful to have your Family visiting ... I'm sure they will love your new corner of the world.

    "All Things French"

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 9:02 AM

      Thank you Diane. My parents have been visiting the Pacific Northwest for the last 17 years on and off, so it is hardly a new corner of the world for me, or for them, but we still find new things to do, believe it or not. It takes some creativity, granted, but we do... :-)

      Delete
  16. MichelApril 15, 2013 at 6:59 AM

    I am so happy for you that your parents are able to visit you in the Northwest. I am sure they are having a great time seeing the sights but I am confident the best part for them is being with you and their grandson. Too bad the weather is not showing warm hospitality. Enjoy your time together.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 9:03 AM

      Merci Michel, and you are correct. Spending time with their daughter and grandson was the main reason for the [expensive] trip :-)

      Delete
  17. MalyssApril 15, 2013 at 7:59 AM

    Ta maman aussi se revait en cow-girl?.. J'adore cette photo!
    il n'a pas l'air de faire chaud mais vous êtes tous souriants, la vraie chaleur est là, la plus importante!
    j'ai hate de voir la suite!
    Bon séjour aux visiteurs et bises !
    PS j'adore ce magasin où tu vas trainer!:o)

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 9:05 AM

      Ma Mère a toujours été enthousiaste et de bonne composition. Ce que je n'ai pas montré sur le blog, c'est que la descente de la selle a été plutôt périlleuse. La selle a glissé et maman a failli atterrir sur la guéridon que tu aperçois derrière elle. Si je n'avais pas été là... :-)

      Aujourd'hui, nous partons faire un tour à Pike Place Market. A suivre...

      Delete
  18. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderApril 15, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    Dearest Véronique,
    This is great and it will make for lifelong memories! Enjoy it while you still have them with you and the fact that they still can travel! My Mom can no longer be away since she is on kidney dialysis for 5+ years since March. Their last visit was in October 2005 for a full 6 weeks.
    Hugs to you,
    Mariette

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 9:06 AM

      Merci Mariette. I know my son and I are lucky my parents are still able (and willing) to take that long trip to come and visit us here, in Seattle. We are very grateful and enjoying their visit. They are here for another week, fortunately.

      I hope all is well with you in GA. Hugs to you.

      Delete
  19. Chic DelightsApril 15, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    You have a lovely family. It's so nice that your parents were able to visit.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 15, 2013 at 9:37 PM

      Thank you Pamela. My folks are wonderful people indeed.

      Delete
  20. VagabondeApril 16, 2013 at 5:25 AM

    It must be so nice to have your family close for a while. I wish I had some family or even some friends so that I could speak French with them – I have not spoken French since we went to Paris in May 2011! I miss it. It looks like your weather is not too warm in your picture – I hope it is getting sunnier.

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 16, 2013 at 7:33 AM

      Bonjour Vagabonde... Tu habites près d'Atlanta, n'est-ce-pas? Tu devrais peut-être approcher l'Alliance Française et participer à quelques évènements organisés pendant l'année? Ce serait une bonne façon de rester en contact avec la communauté française... A bientôt.

      Delete
  21. kimberlyApril 16, 2013 at 7:29 AM

    Your parents are absolutely delightful! I hope that they get a bit more sunshine this next week and enjoy the rest of their stay!

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 16, 2013 at 7:34 AM

      Merci beaucoup Kim. Ils ont été ravis de te rencontrer la semaine dernière. Nous avons aperçu le soleil hier, heureusement...

      Delete
  22. Marie-ThérèseApril 17, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    We were just about due for another French invasion. It couldn't happen to a nicer family. How much fun for everyone!

    The pictures are absolute gems. I don't suppose you have any idea how much you and your maman resemble each other? I thought so. You've heard it umpteen million times. Still, it bears repeating. You're both lovely.

    I do so hope the weather cooperates for your parents.

    Also, I hope to see you later this summer.

    Big bisous, M-T

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 17, 2013 at 11:43 AM

      How kind of you, M-T, thank you.

      About my mom and me: I am sure I do not know what you mean, and I am positive NOBODY has EVER commented on the resemblance... :-)

      Delete
    2. Mariette VandenMunckhof-VedderApril 17, 2013 at 1:00 PM

      Chère Véronique,
      Mais oui; cette photo avec Maman: Giddyup resembles an older copy of you. We do not all the time resemble our Parents but for the keen observer there are some expressions that look like copies.
      Hope your time has been a pleasant one so far with some sun rays as well; that makes all the difference.
      Big hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  23. CatherineApril 18, 2013 at 7:34 AM

    glad the spring weather has arrived in the NW - lovely shots...

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    1. French Girl in SeattleApril 18, 2013 at 12:35 PM

      I can only assume you are being sarcastic, Catherine :-)

      Delete

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