Beauty of the Sleeping Woods

Typing away to you from the hotel in Rigny-Ussay (spelling?), home of the castle which apparently inspired the story "The Sleeping Beauty." We are in the Loire Valley, biking around for the next two days! In French it translates technically as the Beauty of the Sleeping Woods, but we aren't picky, especially when tired from a day of full biking on busy roads, a tough diet of croissants, french delicacies (calvados, anyone? DA=18) and squabbles over whose teddy bears are bigger and who is taking up all the scarce coat hooks.

These are real arguments people. My Frenchie grandparents make teenagers in love look unadorable. Their (amusing and light) bickering and endless nicknames are a source of romantic inspiration. I'm going to write an epic love story about the older generation, who in my opinion are underrepresented in the theaters and in need of chronicling. Which leads me to my current conundrum.

As my loyal followers on this blog, they've (Granny Peppa and Grunkledooddledoo) decided to censor themselves so I don't put anything embarrassing.

*Word to the wise: don't tell people when you write about them. Thattaway you get sued when you're rich and famous, not stifled when you're a threadbare student with too quick of a tongue.*

Also, please know, I LOVE COMMENTS. If it doesn't work for you, please email me! I'll email you back!

Spotted today:
-Man who sang us the star spangled banner as we got our bikes (aside from the high notes, you were wonderful)
-playing poohsticks at this random castle on our route. For the record, I won all the important contests. Poohsticks is very competitive in this family. If you don't know what it is, visit

-Swans, who turned out to be ducks, much to Granny Peppa's dismay.
-A store in Tours (yesterday) with the name "Mangez Moi." Literally, "Eat Me."

Various photos for your enjoyment, as I'm sure you've been waiting anxiously for. If we are friends on facebook, I'll be uploading a big album soon!

By the way, a convo I forgot to post earlier.
Queen Pickles: Ou est la salle de bain? (very good french for her :))
Waiter: C'est juste la!
Pickles: Gracias.

-Ma