Friday, April 25, 2014

La Petite Blonde Avec Une bottine Noire

Kitchen Details - 1 -


You know how a guardian angel is assigned to all of us when we're conceived? It wasn't the luckiest day for my angel when he got me! It all began when the doctors told my mom she'd never be able to keep me in for nine months... in a year I'm not going to tell you, but early birth didn't give as much chances of surviving as today!

Vous savez qu'un ange gardien nous est attribué lors de notre conception. Eh bien, le jour où le mien a reçu l'ordre de me protéger n'était pas son jour de chance. Cela a commencé tout de suite quand les médecins ont dit qu'il y avait peu de chance que je tienne neuf mois dans le ventre de ma maman à une époque (que je ne donnerai pas) où la prématurité n'était pas bien maîtrisée du tout.



Guardian Angel did an amazing job then. But since, he's just had no time to rest with me constantly having little accidents... I'm the clumsiest person!

Ange Gardien a fait du super boulot à ce moment-là. Et depuis, je ne lui laisse pas de repos puisque j'ai une petite tendance à cumuler accident idiot sur accident bête. Je suis très, très maladroite.


Fast forward to last Thursday. Guardian Angel had had a long day: I had to drive to work when having a headache and he truly watched over me with great talent. When I came back home, I decided to mop the kitchen floor. Guardian Angel thought "What could happen to her when mopping the floor? I've been checking on her all day and I really need to pee!"

Retour de nos jours. Jeudi dernier, Ange Gardien a eu beaucoup de boulot: je conduisais pour me rendre à l'école, puis pour revenir à la maison avec un sacré mal de tête, ce qui n'améliore pas les réflexes et il ne m'a pas lâché d'une semelle. Une fois à la maison, j'ai décidé de faire un peu de ménage. Ange Gardien s'est dit: "Que pourrait-il lui arriver en passant la serpillère? Je ne l'ai pas quittée des yeux de la journée, et là, il faut vraiment que je fasse pipi!"


The moment he disappeared behind a tree in heaven (I can't imagine heaven with toilets, can you?), a mean drop of boiling water in which I had added vinegar and essential oils jumped in my eye!

Au moment même où il a disparu derrière un arbre (j'ai du mal à imaginer le paradis avec des toilettes...), une méchante goutte de ma préparation habituelle (vinaigre, huiles essentielles et eau bouillante) a sauté dans mon œil.

In a nutshell, I burnt some keratin in my eye and it does hurt especially in the light, which explains why I haven't read as many blogs as I usually do in the week. The light from the screen isn't my best friend right now! The sexy doctor I saw on Tuesday at lunch time said it was nothing serious, so no worrying needed, only patience.

En deux mots, je me suis brûlée la kératine de l’œil. Rien de grave, l'ophtalmo me l'a confirmé en me donnant quand même des petites choses à appliquer pour accélérer la cicatrisation. Cependant, la lumière, et notamment celle de l'écran, me fait mal, ce qui explique que j'ai lu moins de blogs et que j'ai mis tant de temps à écrire cette histoire.

That, plus the fact that I still don't get any updates by email from feedburner...

I told you that story because I know my little adventures make you smile! And how is this related to my kitchen, other than mopping its floor with my dangerous home-made cleaning product? I'll get to it right now.

Je vous raconte cette histoire car je sais que mes petits malheurs, parce qu'ils ne sont pas graves, vous font rire. Mais en quoi est-ce lié à ma cuisine, mis à part que c'était elle que je m'apprêtais à nettoyer? J'y viens tout de suite.


I have a second guardian angel (I need at least that) in charge of all DIY projects: it's my grand-father. I can see him watching over me, slightly amused, whenever I try a new project. Since he died many years ago, I've had a picture of him, that my mom took, in my kitchen, above the lightswitch.

J'ai un deuxième ange gardien (c'est le minimum pour moi), plutôt responsable de moi quand je me lance dans le bricolage. Mon grand-père me regarde en effet d'en haut, parfois moqueur, parfois fier. Depuis sa mort, j'ai toujours eu cette photo, prise par ma maman, dans ma cuisine, au-dessus de l'interrupteur.

It might seem like a weird place, but it's really the best. See, when I was a little girl visiting my grand-parents, every morning when I was having breakfast, my grand-father would switch off the light of the kitchen while I wasn't watching this direction and every single time I would giggle and scream "Oh, Papy!" It's one of my treasured childhood memory.

Cela peut paraître un drôle d'endroit, mais il est lié à un souvenir d'enfance. Lorsque j'étais petite et que je passais les vacances chez mes grands-parents, tous les matins, pendant mon petit déjeuner, mon grand-père entrait dans la cuisine sans que je le voie et éteignait la lumière, ce qui me faisait immanquablement crier: "Oh, Papy!"
 

I had it in a simple white frame and I had a feeling it was missing something and I should make it better to put it in the new kitchen.

J'avais cette photo dans un simple cadre blanc, au dessus de l'interrupteur, dans toutes mes précédentes cuisines, mais je voulais lui rajouter un petit quelque chose...


For some reasons, the top frames in that black and white gallery wall appealed to me. But I didn't think a white background was such a good idea... So I just did the contrary: white frame and black backrgound.


J'aimais bien l'effet noir et blanc des cadres de la photo ci-dessus trouvée sur Pinterest, bien sûr, surtout ceux du haut. Mais le fond blanc ne me semble pas forcément mettre en valeur la photo. J'ai donc décidé de faire l'inverse: peindre un cadre en blanc et ajouter un fond noir.


For now, it's on a shelf in the dining-room, as  don't want to make any hole in my perfectly painted walls until I know exactly what it going where. But it'll be perfect above my light switch... as soon as the kitchen is done... which by the way has been postponed to one week later than the original date by the contractor!


Pour l'instant, la photo est sur mon petit meuble à partitions dans la salle-à-manger car je ne veux faire aucun trou dans mes murs fraîchement peints avant que les meubles de la cuisine ne soient posés, mais ce sera parfait au-dessus de mon interrupteur (tout neuf)!


I think the black background (I used gift wrapping paper) allows all the details of the black and white picture to show a lot more. Do you have a favourite colour to use as background for pictures?

Je trouve qu'un fond noir fait ressortir tous les détails de la photo. Avez-vous une couleur préférée à utiliser en arrière-plan des photos?

See you soon,

A bientôt,

PS 1: This is supposed to be the first of a series of posts about little (very little) projects I have about the kitchen... They were meant to be very short posts because I knew I would be very busy at the end of April and beginning of May... I mean, how long can a post about a single picture of my grand-father be? Somehow this is probably the longest I have written!
 Je ferai une série d'article sur des petits (vraiment petits) projets que j'ai commencés pour décorer la cuisine quand les meubles seront posés.
PS2: You can contact the kitchen contractor to tell him how pissed you are that things are delayed!
Pouvez-vous contacter le cuisiniste pour lui dire combien vous êtes tous furieux après son coup de fil où 'il m'a annoncé que les choses allaient avoir "un peu" de retard?

PS3: I'm going to some parties with my grand-father!

 Dwellings-the Heart of You Home        The Dedicated House         http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.fr/2014/04/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no210.html       
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31 comments:

  1. Je n'ai pas de couleur préférée pour les photos car je déteste mettre des photos, je n'en ai aucune, j'en ai bien sûr dans des albums et depuis plusieurs années dans mon ordinateur.
    Suis je dénaturée???
    Passe un bon weekend. Bises. Babette

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  2. That is such a sweet story about your Grandfather ~ I'm sure you made him smile when you wrote it! I hope your eye is feeling better!

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  3. I am sorry for your eye!I hope you are better by now!AriadnefromGreece!

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  4. I love your picture frame for Papy! He would be proud!. Damn that contractor. Show him all the bad publicity he's getting on your blog and perhaps he will speed up his schedule.

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  5. That's a beautiful photo and a really sweet story. What are the odds of splashing right into your eye?!

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    1. The odds are about as low as those of having a chest dislocating itself right on your ankle... But I managed to do both ;) Maybe I should try playing the lotery!

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  6. That's terrible news about your eye, and I hope your eye heals quickly without side effects. I really like the photo of your grandfather. I tend to like whitish backgrounds for photos, but I think most of the ones I have out don't have a background, just a frame that I picked up at a second hand store.

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  7. Oh dear. You have got yourself into some trouble lately. Take care of the eye. Rest a lot.

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  8. I am glad that your guardian angels are keeping you from anything life threatening - BE CAREFUL!

    I love the photo of Papy - he shows a lot good living in his face.

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  9. Your lucky to have 2 gaurdian angels Magali! And with that I know your eye problem will get better soon! I love how you framed papy, he's got such a nice smile and can go anywhere in the house if you ask me! I miss my grandfather too, not to brag, but I knew I was his favorite and the funny thing is, I can still 'smell him' and remember the 'feel' of his wrinkled hands, now I wish I had a similar photo to display at my house!!!!

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  10. I'm sorry you had an eye mishap, Magali, but happy the doctor said it's not serious. I like the way you framed your grandfather's photo. Your memory of him is so sweet. He liked to tease you, just as my late husband liked to tease our granddaughter. When she was about four and liked to play restaurant, her Papa (that's what she called my husband) would pretend to be a customer. She would come and say, "May I take your order, Sir?" He would answer, "Yes, I'd like the roast beef, please." Now she had a little box with play food in it, and there were toy hamburgers, a chicken leg and a hot dog. But no roast beef. So she would come back and say, "I'm sorry, Sir, we don't have roast beef." And he would grin and say (knowing full well that all she had was hamburgers, a hot dog and chicken), "Okay, I'll have soup and a sandwich." Poor Emma would frown at him and say, "No, Sir. I don't have that." And Papa would grin even wider and say, "Oh, then how about spaghetti?" Emma would sigh -- very frustrated -- and say, "Papa! You're supposed to say 'I'll have a hamburger.'" And he would wickedly smile and say, "Ok. . .give me a pizza." She'd fold her arms over her chest and glare at him. Finally, he'd give in and take the hamburger. The funny thing is, she never tired of playing that game with him. It was their special connection and so much fun to watch. Thanks for spurring this memory from the past. xx ~ Nancy

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    1. What a sweet memory! My grand-father was a teaser as well, but kept saying you only tease the ones you love!

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  11. I am glad that your guardian angels are working overtime and your eye was not permanently damaged! Your newly framed photo of your dear grandfather is very nice - I do love the black with the white. My children called my father, 'Pappa' - similar to your sweet nickname. I love to re-frame photos - I guess my favorite colors would be cream and pale green. I hope you figure out the headache problem soon. xo Karen

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    1. I love pale green... But the picture is actually going to be hung on the pale seaglasss green walls of my kitchen... God knows when!

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  12. As we say here in the south...bless your heart. I do hpe the headaches go away for good soon and your eye heals with no damage. I love the picture of your grandpa...what a sweet looking grandpa he was. Love the way you framed the picture and love the story even more! Have a restful weekend....Vicky

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  13. Dear Magali,
    I hope, you will revoer quickly, must be painful... Your guardian angel should be glad to have you as his protegee - never getting bored, many nice journeys and a most beautiful house to live in (and a new loo, why take a tree? That was so funny!). What a pity, that your cupboards will be delayed - you did not give us the mail-adress of the contractor! Perhaps this guardian angel of yours could pe persuaded to take a side job as avenging angel?
    Have a nice wekend!
    Yours Sarah

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  14. Perhaps your guardian angel arranged a little accident so that you could visit your sexy doctor again. Maybe he's more into looking after your emotional state !
    I think you re-framed your Grandfather's photo perfectly, and he looks perfectly adorable and very French.
    Now give us your contractors details and we'll get onto him and PLEASE look after yourself !

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  15. Your Grandfather looks like Robert De Niro !!!
    Love the sentiment behind this post - and the fact that you'll hang it over the light because of what he did - too special!
    XOXO

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  16. I agree with Suzan above about your grandfather. I hope your guardian angel is back on duty. We still have not started our kitchen update because the guys redoing the garden shed are so far behind. We are all at the mercy of contractors!

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  17. Your grand-pere photo is so sweet and the mat is perfect. My Dad is my guardian angel, the good part is he used to be able to fix/make anything and sometimes I feel like he is watching over me when I attempt to repair or DIY something. The bad news is he was a bit clumsy--and so is his daughter.

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    1. We're a bit alike then. It's always good for my mood to know I'm not the only clumsy one!

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  18. That's so sweet, what a lovely memory, you Papy has such a kind face.

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  19. Dear Magali !
    I need cheering up, what better way then to come visit you !
    Thank you for sharing a wonderful story about your Papy ! :) I know your Papy is looking down from heaven on you and is smiling proudly.
    Sexy French doctor ? I feel like I am going to faint ! Hihihi
    Seriously, get well soon. Hope you are having a good weekend. Love and hugs, Izabella.

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  20. I just adore the photo gallery wall !! Maybe I will try it in my hallway, it could be a fun entrance. Well, maybe more than just fun, it could be a wall of sweet memories.. Hope you had your share of illness and headache for at least a whole year, so that you can enjoy a great summer!! Keep well... Marcy

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    1. Marcy,
      If you want some more inspiration, I have a board on Pinterest about Gallery walls as I plan to create one in the dining-room... whenever this room will be redone and decorated!
      Magali

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  21. I am going to give your contractor a piece of my mind. As soon as I get to France. In about 5 years. I'll let you know what he says. So sorry about your eye. OUCH! I do love the sentiment behind keeping your grand-pere's picture in your dining room. I am also very close to my Grandparents and treasure them.

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  22. Maggy, Maggy, must I come to your house to help out your guardian angel? I sometimes frame pics with various colors-especially if it is a black and white photo! But you know me, I got to have color!

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  23. Lovely post about your Papy!! And tell your guardian angel to get a pair of adult diapers! He can't be taking breaks!

    -andi

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  24. Glad your guardian angel is watching over you, as well as your Papy! I think photos always look best against a black background.

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  25. Such a sweet story about your Papy...beautiful post! Hope you eye gets better! Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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