Cottage & Countryside Living

a weekly journal

Bonjour! Hope you are all well. This week has been probably the most stressful week of the move to France yet. It started Tuesday with the final kitty appointment. We had to take all 4 (Agnes, Charlotte, Remy and Teddy in for their final appointment to get their paperwork certified. Things we learned that day:

• when we faced their cages towards one another in they stopped crying. I think being able to see each other gave them some sense of calm.

• all their microchips are working and they ae all in good health

• you do not walk out with papers- they are sent via Fedex overnight. That was Tuesday, as I am typing this Saturday morning they still have not arrived.

• this whole process has cost us about $2500 between all 4 kitties

• Teddy officially weighs 17 lbs! #hereallyisabear

Then Wednesday we were having major issues with our moving company that we needed to scramble to find another one on short notice. This has probably caused the most stress partly due to the large amount of money it’s costing to our personal belongings moved abroad. I know we probably could have sold everything and started over but some things have meaning to us and we don’t want to completely start from scratch. Luckily I was able to find a moving company within budget but now the move has been moved to Monday instead of Friday.

Au revoir la voiture: Dropping off our BMW at the dealership

Thursday was car day. We not only had to pick up our rental car but that was the day that the final two cars: BMW and Spitfire were sold. We made the decision to sell all the cars and start over in France since it can be a bit of a logistics nightmare when moving a car from the US abroad. So lots of coordinating, paperwork and emotions especially for the Spitfire which the hubby had for 12 years.

Once Friday rolled around we were drained but we pulled it together for the house signing. Since we won’t be in the US for the house closing we had to go to our lawyers to pre-sign all the paperwork for the closing. That’s was the icing on the mental wellbeing cake. Reading every paper, signature after signature, reviewing all the numbers again…it was a lot. Then we also had a homework list after which included reaching out to the insurance companies to cancel policies &arranging final utility bills.

Saturday the list continued with runs to the donation center, UPS and Fedex and then the bank to send the wire transfer to the moving company. Then it was back home to finish packing everything so I could finish the inventory list for the moving insurance. This week has been non-stop: physically and mentally. At one moment, I feel like I was super prepared with everything and the next minute I felt like I was scrambling. Again, still a lot of things pending prior to Tuesday which means the anxiety level is high until all the boxes are checked. We keep saying it will be all worth it once we land in France. Then the REAL work begins….

Stay tuned for more on our new life in the French countryside.

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Sunday Saves

Things that caught my eye this week…

• More Than Hygge: The Wintering It’s a term that is starting to trend but effectively “Wintering” is something many cultures including the French have embraced for decades. I ordered the book for the plane ride- it’s a very good read so far.

• A traditional winter drink in France: vin chaud. It’s not only served during the holidays. You’ll find this being served at the outdoor markets, cafes and restaurants all through the winter months. Here’s my go to recipe.

• I’m on a big soup kick lately and that will be an easy make during the kitchen renovation in France. Here’s 24 soup recipes for the winter season you should try. Tip: freeze half the batch for another meal at a later date.

• Speaking of kitchen renovations, deVOL’s creative director is sharing why artwork is important in the design of a kitchen in this article. Believe it or not, it was these prints that led to my design for the kitchen at the cottage.

• The French Use A Special Ingredient For The Fluffiest Mashed Potatoes and it’s not what you think

• 6 Benefits of Lemon Water, Explained by the Experts via Vogue. I started this a few weeks ago and I am already seeing a difference in my skin & appetite.

• This Tiny Paint Tweak Can Make Your Home Look More European and 2x as Fancy

• How to Adopt the French Lifestyle from Anywhere

• If you are joining me or plan to join me in France on one of my Vintage hopping Retreats: New travel requirements taking effect in 2025 for domestic and international destinations. I am NOW BOOKING for the September Vintage Retreats, click here for details.

• Why You Should Always Order Ginger Ale on a Flight funny enough I’ve always ordered this when I fly.

• ICYMI: This week’s Friday Finds are all available via Amazon and you can shop all my French inspired Amazon finds here

• Lastly, I think we have all be horrified by the devastating wildfire destruction in California this week. If you want to donate in any way, here are some great resources that will help the people who have been directly impacted that need it the most and also support those who are working hard to contain this fire.

Merci beaucoup for following me here on Substack. Please note that some links are affiliate links in which I make a small commission at no additional cost to you when you shop from those links. It helps me to continue to create free content like this a well as on my social media channels. Have a great week & see you in France!

à bientôt- Jenna