Shells, Sand and Shovels

 

 

 

This is our backyard.  Even when it's not so warm, it's still fun to play on the beach!

A Country Trek

  

 

A group trek was planned for the bank holiday, and it amounted to a 10k hike.  We passed a ruined village that led us to a view of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert.

Going to a Wedding

We attended a wedding at the new City Hall in Montpellier, FRANCE...it was an immense modern structure lacking the quaintness and history of the old City Hall.  While waiting for the bride and groom to greet their guests, Joel and I had a mini photo session, testing out the lighting and backgrounds.  We aided the official photographer for the wedding, later on, in the couple session.  At the reception hall site, there were some interesting walls that were excellent backdrops for some quick shots.

New Website

Thanks to the diligence and genius of my husband, we have an updated website (www.maisontoe.com) that is Iphone and Ipad friendly.  Although there are a few bugs to be worked out when viewing with Internet Explorer, you should have no problems if you are using Firefox or Safari web browsers.  I have yet to add an engagement gallery, but I'd like to share photos of a lovely couple, Jo and Jimi.  It's been over a year and since then, they have gotten married and are the proud parents of a baby girl!  Congrats guys! Much love, Z

A Winter Wonderland

One of the best things about living in France is the close proximity to the Alps.  This past winter we spent a week in the snow, sledding, snowboarding and making an igloo.  The country is so beautiful under snow, with every little detail enhanced by the white ice.

"C'est beau la vie, pour les Grands et les Petits"

Can you guess what that dress is made of?

La Ville d'Uzès houses the Musée du Bonbon Haribo.  Hans Riegel de Bonn, a name + a city is how the brand name HARIBO came to be.  While the kids enjoyed seeing how candy was made, what interested them more was the park next door.  Trampolines, go-karts, blow up jumping castles--a kid's dream! 

Saving the Green

So...People have asked us how we are able to live and travel like we do. I'm not an "expert" and I don't presume to have all the answers. What I do know about life is based on my own experience. I can't say how I live my life is for everyone, but I do live a life that most people only dream about. How I got here is not about what I did, but rather what I don't do. It's the extra luxuries people treat themselves to, that I forego in order to have the bigger things. I don't buy Starbucks everyday. I don't ever go to a hairdresser. I don't get my nails done. I rarely eat at restaurants. I don't smoke. When you calculate the money spent on these things, it's quite a bit of money saved up.

Then what do I do? I cut my own hair and my family's hair, I do my own nails and I cook for myself and my family. Being self sufficient and doing as much as we can ourselves, allows us to visit a new place every month or every other month. Here are some recent shots from various locations around France and Italy. All photos shot by Joel Toé.