France

  Here we are in beautiful France. The main purpose of this trip was to come visit our friends scott and shawna and their son Zien. We have been friends for at least eight years. We met when z was a baby and shawna was carrying him in a back pack by our house in Nevada city. We started chatting and that lead to a long friendship. Scott is Australian so they ended up moving back to Australia for a while  then Switzerland ( I think) then Southern California . We kept in touch the whole while and then just six months before we moved to Santa Cruz they moved to Felton. They are the kindest most loving people you can ever meet. Shawna and I started to study the bible together along with z and we became very close friends, so they are very special to us.

  We flew into Geneva. Where they live is near the border of Switzerland in the village of annecy France. It's stunning. The hills are so green and there is so much variety of trees and foliage everywhere. Chateaus seem to be around every corner. Fields with cows who actually wear bells. A river, a sparkling blue lake and luminous jagged mountains make this one of the prettiest places I've been. We were here six years ago with the kids. I never thought then that I would be back visiting with friends. 

  On our way home from airport we stopped  at the grocery store. It was like a field trip for Jimmie and I. The French grocery stores are like a work of art. They don't mess around with food. It's to be taken very seriously. In my opinion the foodies of the world. We went to the local boulangerie and cheese shop for the bread and cheese. Aaahhhh France how I love you. Warm baguettes and tarts and smelly soft cheeses came home with us. 

   Scott and shawna took us to the local bric a brac store. A thrift store in a tiny village with the most amazing mountain view I've ever seen. It was a treasure trove of old French pottery and farm house finds and even nice clothes. We had a great time treasure hunting. 

  It's nice to just relax and catch up with friends. Tonight we will go to the Kingdom Hall with them and we are looking forward to that. 

 I'm heading down stairs to have my coffee with shawna. I can hear the birds singing, the cowbells ringing and the sound of the river in the distance. It's truly beautiful here.