As I was doing the laundry and cleaning, I realized how simple my life is here in Toulouse. It felt good that I have few things that I have to be concerned about in life.

The first realization is that having only a limited number of clothes is so much easier to deal with both in what to wear each day but also in keeping it clean and orderly. This really hit home when folding the cleaned clothes (that can be dried on a single drying rack) took less time than to boil water in an electric kettle and steep tea. It took less than 10 minutes. Lesson to be learned from this is to do laundry once a week in Alexandria as I do here. Since I have many more clothes (too many) in Alexandria, I usually wait until I need to do wash and then it takes much longer as there are many more clothes to clean and fold. Here, I have just enough clothes (socks, underwear, running clothes) to last a week so laundry is done once a week.

For shirts, trousers, sweaters, etc., again, I have limited selection so dressing each day is not a difficult decision. I have only enough again for a week and all are in the same color palette. I have blue, black and grey options. I did add a pink shirt and a green shirt but those are the only different options.

This has made me think that I need to do some purging when I return to Alexandria. I think it each time I return but this time I will have to have discipline and do it. It will make me happier and relieve stress.

Another part of the simple life is cleaning the apartment. The apartment is small but perfect size for one person, living room/dining combination, galley kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and toilet. This is not much different than the apartment I live in Alexandria. The difference is I have a lot more furniture, rugs, art and knickknacks. Cleaning this apartment is very easy, I vacuum the rugs and floors, clean the kitchen floor and cabinets, and do the bathroom and toilet. I am guessing the square footage here is smaller. I cannot really say anything about cleaning in Alexandria and I have a cleaning service that cleans every two weeks so I do not have to do that much cleaning.

The last simple is that I have a regular routine that I do here. I do not have to think of things to do and who to see. I do not have to think about much except which day it is and where I am going to eat lunch or dinner a couple days during the week. Also, what I am going to buy at the markets.

I have gotten good at being able to cook good meals with limited kitchen accoutrements. It does limit some of what I can cook but I find that simple meals are good. There is less clean up and preparation time. Does not mean I do not make good meals. I had marinated chicken – Greek style – lemon, oregano, olive oil and vinegar marinade. I steamed broccoli and had salad. The indulgence was a chocolate eclair for dessert.

I went to Le Boutique de Vin for my wine. A very nice little wine shop that has good selections and nice people. I asked for a different regional wine from around Toulouse. Valerie knew I had been buying Fronton so suggested Marcillac. The wine region is about 2 hours from Toulouse. The main grape is Fer Servadou. AI says it is rustic, aromatic and deeply colored. I can agree with that description. It cost me $17.00 which I think is a great price for the wine.

While wandering, I saw a picture that I love in a gallery window. It was vibrant and eye catching. It is a cityscape of Toulouse and reminds me of my watercolor of Charleston. The painting is acrylics I think because of the vibrancy of the colors where the watercolor of Charleston is more muted. The similarities are how it blends different views of the city into the painting. I am addicted to art and my apartment in Alexandria shows it as there is are on almost any open space in the apartment even under window. I would love to buy the painting but I have no where to hang it. I do not have space to hang the art I already own. The painting is the post picture.