1 Travel Plans

 Sometimes the best laid plans of bears and men often go awry.

Back in April when a French pet portrait client invited me to house-sit her apartment on rue St-Dominique for 2  months I hesitated but everyone said,

"GO! DO IT!"

Then in June when I mentioned I'd be arriving 2 days later than planned, my apartment lender took a walk and never again responded to emails, phone messages, or prayers.

I was left with an AirFrance ticket that needed changing

 And no roof over my head in Paris.

 Fortunately I was able to rent again my tiny studio in the 11th for a few nights.

 Frenchie by Meg Zimbeck

Fortunately a darling PB reader invited me to Frenchie the first nite I arrive. wow

 And terrific food blogger Mardi Michels of eat. live. travel. write. has invited me to to a recipe testing class at La Cuisine Paris on Monday.

 There just happens to be an Hermes scarf sale starting Thursday that would be fun to browse just for kicks. You can read about a past sale on Mary Kay's blog.

 I'll be spending my euros at the other Herme thank you very much. The current 5 jardins collection is very colorful and nicely designed.

 Another affordable luxury is following the footsteps of both Chanel and Audrey Hepburn to Angelina.

I wonder if they have iced 'hot' chocolate?

 Fortunately over the Bastille Day holiday I'll have a very nice roof over my head in the Loire Vallee indeed.

 And I'll be communing with darling chateau pet, Dimitri.

 Then I'll head to western central France to commune with gorgeous Biff

 And his mistress, author Karen Wheeler of Tout Sweet, Tout Allure and Tout Soul. She has invited me to visit and report back on her bucolic life in the French country side. I can't wait.

 The good news is the rains have stopped and the sun has come out in Paris!!

 Bear is completely packed and raring to go as always.

Me, I'm behind the 8-ball as usual.

But at least things have probably worked out for the better.

Way better!