Monday Never Looked Better

 

How is you Monday panning out? Oh mine, well, the same ole same ole. Hanging out in a dusty place in Paris with a bunch of half nude men. Could be worse, but I don't know how.

I wish I had a proper chair, sitting on the radiator kind of hurts if you know what I mean.

The floor is done, the floor boards will be added later.

 

 

As I watched the trio doing their thing, I thought about changing my mind.

I thought if blurting out, "Let's rip it out and keep the original floors! My brother Mat thinks hard wood is the only way to go!"

The floor alone will cost 2100 Euros (not including the work) for 50 square meters. Hard wood floors would have cost 7000 Euros and it was not the top of the line.

So my thought was... not your main house. Stop.

But today I thought, "Ripping it out would mean seeing these guys doing their thing ... longer.

I could so take the word longer for a ride, but I will keep my blog clean and nice.

 

 

Yann took the truck back last week, and he will bring the third load next week.

I am missing him.

Missing him.

Missing him.

 

Photo via Ma Cocotte, restaurant at the Flea Market in Paris.

The words above are tender endearments such as we would say, Honey, Darling, Sweetheart, Babe... In French (in order) the words literally are:

my flea -- ma puce,

my rabbit -- mon lapin,

my doe -- ma biche,

mon chou -- ma cabbage,

ma poule -- my chicken,

ma caille -- my quail,

ma cocotte -- my casserole (seriously!).

 

I call French Husband, Cherie FM, after a French radio channel, with the same name, that he listens to.

 

Yesterday, Chelsea and I went to the brocante in St Ouen. It was Chelsea's first time. From what she said she liked at the flea market, I would claim her to be true to her generation, "Mid century modern."

We had lunch here: Ma Cocotte, mid century modern.

 

 

Cherie FM come back.

Guys rip out the floor for my brother Mat.

Chelsea does this mean when I die you are going to put our house in a yard sale?

I got to stop writing my blog at night after a glass of wine.

What do you call your loved one?

Comments

[Charland]

So I'm worrying about the swans from yesterday. I hope they came home with you as I fear it will be one of those lifetime regrets if they didn't. I still remember a dress I didn't buy while I was in Rome nearly 50 years ago. And oh, my heavens - did the floor really get ripped out?

[Wendy]

Hi Corey, you met Miller - he is my ITBT (IT Boy Toy) A term of endearment in Silicon Valley :)

[Chérie FM]

... et encore :
Mon poussin (Souch)
Mon poulet...

[Julie Loeschke]

Don't stop.Have another glass. :)

[Bev S.]

I call them, "Sweetheart."

[RebeccaNYC]

Bunny. ste-VEN when I am annoyed.

[Carol L]

Hi Corey,
I had the same thought process when we put faux wood floors in our second floor bedroom which is approx. 600 sq feet. After they delivered the flooring I thought "Oh no did I make a mistake?" The whole main floor of our home is hardwood but as with you the cost determined my choice. Its been two years now and I can honestly say the only difference between faux and genuine is the faux floor is slightly colder to walk on in the winter. Don't worry, it will be lovely.

[Erin Perry]

The first picture immediately made me think of "Les Raboteurs de Parquet" - by Gustave Caillevotte, a wonderful picture at the D'Orsay of several young men working on a floor. It's reputed to be one of the first paintings showing working men in such detail.
Erin In Morro Bay

[Marilyn]

So fun to see the progress and thought struggles with the floor. My daughter is mid century modern also, though she has acquired some older pieces just because they were free from family. Who can turn down free?

[Jeannie]

You will always know those floors are there and when you win the lotto, you can restore them. At least, that is the fiction I tell myself when faced with a decision between sentiment and practical. When we were "river rats", we were "Bubba and Toots". Now it is Peach or Sweetie. He is my Prince Charming and Knight in shining armor, but gets embarrassed when I say that. :) Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Hard, but true.

[Julie Schaefer]

I'm with Chelsie--LOVE MCM! I have collected quite a bit--the biggest score a complete walnut dining set w china cabinet and sideboard--very "Madmen." Went to a garage sale and came across the set from the estate of a bachelor attorney. The set was in mint condition, original finish, and the table leaves were still in the box with the original invoice dated "June 19, 1960." Pretty sure this was a once-in-a-lifetime score.

[Star]

I love that Cherie FM has commented on this post ;)

I usually call my mister Hon (short foe Honey) or Bear (long story).

Keep,the apartment updates coming!

[Rhonda]

Oh, how I too love that man of mine. I call him Babe, he cooks, I clean, a match made in heaven. You go ahead and drink and blog, I love it.

[24/7infrance]

I call my FH cheri or bebe and as for your glass of wine - sante!

[Christine Barker]

Why are these workers shirtless? Too funny! I call my husband a couple names, depending on how much he's been misbehaving. When I like him I call him Sassy Pants, but when he's a jerk, I call him by his first and last name. :)

Thanks for sharing! I would love to live in France someday and love hearing about your adventures!

Christine Barker
www.ScarletCalliope.com
California

PS: Did I just read about swans? I hope you brought them home!!!

[Robin]

I call JeanPaul "Love Bucket". I am so enjoying watching the renovation. Okay, I am so enjoying watching the shirtless young men. They are adorable.

[Jude]

mon cherie is "Cracker Jackers."

[annie vanderven]

when my children were young, I would call them " mon petit lapin, mon choux... Have done the same for my grandchildren, although being Americans they still loved it....They call me Grandmere which is the sweetest sound one can hear...My Grandmother would call me " cocotte" which is also used for chicken...

The view IN your apartment is delightful, all these rippling muscles!!!

Annie v.

[Monica]

Choux as in puff pastry!

[jeanne stone]

So hard being in all the "mess" of remodeling, but keep heart... it is worth it when you are done. Just not too much fun at the point that you are at now. My husband and I built a house in the mountains, on the weekends, in our spare time ( LOL) after working a full week. I can definititely appreciate where you are at, and myself, have at least a master's degree in sweeping sawdust. Looking forward to your progress and know you will love having it done.

[La Contessa]

OH BOY.......we call each other PAPA and MAMMMA!

[Gail]

I see a painting of these men... Great post

[jeanie]

Hi, Corey,

I love all the endearment words. I think I have more endearments for the cat than I do for Rick -- mostly I call him my biker boy because he is rarely without his bicycle! I can see why you hate saying goodbye to the workers!

[Sel]

it would be a never ending haunt about floors...no, i would stretch myself, and just, do it....knowing what
could have been is enough to drive one crazy.

Anyway, love your post on this adventure, soon, time will
come for the finished product....will you have misgivings
about anything? who knows, but the enjoyment hopefully
will overshadow it....

[Patti Lloyd]

I am not sure how it started, but my honey and I call each other "Tweety". I think it is a form of Sweetie, but somehow a small yellow bird comes to mind.

[monika]

We call each other "Bun", or "Rabbit". Occasionally, "Lapin" or "Lapin d'amoré" ( the Franco-Italian variant).

What I really, really, REALLY, wanted him to call me was "Ma Sirène", and I wanted to call him "Mon Lèzard", but the names never took; they belonged to others.

You see there is a story there, a very Parisian story: one time when we were in Paris, on my must-visit list was Stern Graveur. Stern Graveur when it was still owned by Mme Stern and in the Passages des Panoramas.

Mme. Stern, élégant and formidable as French women over 70 tend to be, gave us a wonderful tour and schooled us in engraving. At the time, I was still nursing hopes of a wedding with beautiful invitations. The most beautiful invitation I have ever seen sat propped in her vitrine: huge, on creamy thick soft paper, a gauffré mermaid and lizard circling each other. Mme. Stern explained that when the bride and groom came in with their mothers to pick invitations, they couldn't decide on anything. She had noticed that they kept calling each other "ma sirène" and "mon lèzard", and asked why... They would go diving together, but actually, *she* would go diving, while *he* liked to lay around and sun himself on the rocks by the sea. Mme. Stern had the perfect solution, as she had the (forget what they are called) stunning mermaid and lizard for the embossing. And perfect it was.

So of course, when we were expecting our first child, Pierre was on the phone to Paris, ordering birth announcements. ( I suspect that not many people in Ottawa to have used Graveur Stern!) Mme. Stern, as expected, was rather scandalized when she learned our daughter's name -- first time she ever prepared announcement for a baby named "Tallulah".

http://dianepernet.typepad.com/diane/2007/05/paris_secrets_a_1.html

Mme. Stern told us that she was now alone in what had been a family business; when she retired, it would be sold. And so it has been :-(

I LOVE your blog!! Thank you for always reminding me why I love France so much!!

AND DO THE WOOD FLOORS -- not only do I want to see more stunning pictures of your stripped-down workmen, but you know won't be happy if you don't.

[monika]

The Franco-Italian variant? Lapin d'Amoré!

[monika]

Oh no... something happened with my post: the text has been cut off and truncated on the right side!

[Brother Mathew]

I call her Hun Bun. Anyway I can save money and time using margarine, powdered mixes for soup stock and bread from Walmart. I will opt for the cheap food now to feed my family. Where does that leave me.

Save money and second home. I don't understand. Pay a little extra for the real deal. Live. Isnt that what your blog is all about?

[Cindy]

I remember learning in high school French class the expression "mon petit chou" and we would all laugh! Who would call anyone a little cabbage? So silly! Then, I met my husband-to-be and we decided we both needed 'southern US' type names and 31 years later we still call each other Louie Bob Joe Mack and Mary Sue Elizabeth Jane and LAUGH. I don't think 'ma puce' or 'mon chou' are so funny at all now -- they seem really sweet! (Love your hunky working photos!)

[monique]

Hello ! little error in translation about "ma cocotte" ! it does not mean "ma casserole", but "my little hen" even though the word "cocotte" also means "casserole".
Sorry about possible mistakes in english, I'm French !

[Mary in MN]

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/collections/works-in-focus/search/commentaire/commentaire_id/les-raboteurs-de-parquet-7073.html

I also thought of that painting immediately--Caillebotte, a picture that Corey probably knows well. Caillebotte's bequest of his personal collection formed the nucleus of what is now the Musée d'Orsay's Impressionist treasure trove.

Love the chiaroscuro, Corey.

[Mary in MN]

Very hot summer in Paris and no A/C. Bravo to Corey's crew from Marseilles.