Hi,

this is not the house that Jack built, it's the farm house at Versailles and I'd love to live in it.

I'm just back from 4 days in Paris, the whirl-wind tour. My friend Emmanuelle took me every where and feed me like a queen. She is a native so she knows where to get the real French food, not the tourist version. It was worth every calorie and the 5lbs I've gained.

Right off the plane she took me to Montmartre, the 'artsy' area. It is the ultimate in touristy but you have to see it... or so says my tour guide.

We spent Friday dealing with Emmanuelles' purchase of another condo. She plans to rent this out as an income property. It was interesting to learn about the real estate transactions in Paris. The new place is 30sq.m (1075 sq. ft) is in downtown Paris and very cute.... but very very expensive to buy. We shopped for furniture and met with a painter for the apartment.... she has her work cut out for her to get it ready to rent. That night we went to celebrate her acquisition at a Thai restaurant, yummy!

Saturday we drove to Versailles. What a castle, what a piece of property, what a lot of rooms to clean. The line to get in was forever so we walked the grounds. I much preferred seeing the gardens, Marie Antoinette's little castle and the farm. You can see the privileged goats that I fed. In my next life I want to be a goat at Versailles, now that's a fun job.

We had dinner at a little restaurant that only the locals know. It was heavenly French cooking and so typically French. I was completely won over by the couple that run the establishment. So charming, warm and inviting... it helps having a Parisian show you the ropes.

Sunday we walked the city, the Seine, Champs Elysee's, around the Louvre... just about every where you could trek in downtown Paris. I wore out a pair of walking shoes. We lunched in the Jewish quarter of the city and I took over the food tour. Emmanuelle had never had Jewish deli and this was the best smoked turkey sandwich I've ever eaten on an onion bun with home made pickle relish. To die for! Dessert was hammentaschen poppy cookies, another first for Emmanuelle. She was ready to become a Jew.. Dinner was at another little French place, more great food & wine. The only way they stay so slim in France is because they walk every where. I'm taking my hiking boots next time.

The flight home was a breeze. US customs only detained me for ½ an hour this trip. I'm on their hit list and get hassled every time I enter the US now... what a pain in the ass! I have to find out how to get off the 'Osamin Bin Ladin hit parade'. It's terrible.

Marshall kept sending e-mails to make sure I came home and didn't decide to stay in Paris, taking care of Emmanuelle instead of him. Not to worry. I came home like a good girl and tackled the laundry.... I know my man needs me. Back to work.

xox

m

Designer Knit Wear

Hi,

here it is, the latest Marilyn sweater creation. Ralph Lauren has nothing in his line as handsome as this. He's such an amateur.

After knitting an Aryn sweater as a fund raising donation for St. Mary's hospital, Marshall quietly asked if I could make one for him too. Sure, why shouldn't my man dress in style and flair. He picked out the yarn and style, decided on a zipper front rather than buttons, made sure I was adding pockets and a high collar, then left me alone to do my best Madam DeFarge imitation. For those of you who do not know who Madam DeFarge was, either Google her or go back to your grade nine copy of Charles Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities", and brush up on your literature or I won't pick you to be on my Trivial Pursuit team.

Marshall's new sweater jacket is chocolate brown acrylic yarn (itch proof and washable). I think it deserves a matching hat. The whole thing took about 8 weeks from start to finish. My dad has a similar sweater in off white that I made for him about 25 years ago. He still wears it. These jackets are toasty warm and timeless fashion pieces. I even have "Made by Marilyn" tags that I sew in the garments.... trés chic. My next knitting projects are 5 baby sweaters for assorted friends who have become new parents or grandparents. Baby stuff is easy and fast, it's not very big so it knits up quickly. I'm on a roll. Maybe I should start taking orders? Nah, my labor costs are too high. Scratch that idea.

I did get a great compliment in JoAnne's Fabric Store when I went to buy the zipper. The ladies at the fabric counter were checking out my knitting and trying to figure out how I did the pockets. They were impressed by how they 'hide' on the garment, inside & out (no seams or visible stitching). It's nice to show off to other crafters when you do good handy work. One woman said I should give classes on finishing techniques. I must be a better knitter than I thought.

Back to work, there are balls of yarn calling my name.

xox

m