Flat locked for 70 years contains €2.1 million painting

A woman left her Paris apartment before World War II and never returned. After her recent death, appraisers opened the doors of the flat for the first time in more than 70 years. Among many other antiques, they found a 19th century portrait of her grandmother painted by Giovanni Boldini, valued at €2.1 million.

Now that's some procrastination, not dealing with your Paris apartment for 70 years!

So Matilda's first day of school at Grattan was a success.

She was cheerful walking over. And when we turned up Cole Street towards her school, she noted, "This is the way to my new school."

And when I said, "Yes, this is the way to Grattan."

She said, "That's the school I always wanted to go to!"

And as we approached the school she started singing, "Grattan is so fun! Grattan is so fun!"

(Mind, she hadn't spent any time there except in the office while I filled out forms.)

More forms and then we went to the classroom. Teacher Helen was in a meeting, so we met Teacher Helper Lisa. And then I got to meet some kids.

Amara was almost exactly Matilda's age, and she'd been there last year so she knew all the rules and what went where. McKenzie was 3 and a half, but she was the tallest kid in the class. Very agreeable. Quan and Fulton were recent additions and still exploring stuff.

Then we met Teacher Helen, who was youngish (late twenties), and blonde. She'd worked the previous year as a curriculum specialist at another school and then got this job teaching pre-K right as the school year began. So she was new to the school.

And though she was young, she had no problem commanding the class's attention and getting them focused.

Kids arrived at different times, and all were there by 10am. I learned all their names, and it was a true cross section of San Francisco ethnicities:

Amara, Maya, Keilah, Phoebe, Olivia, Quan, Fulton, Luca, Kevin, Linda, McKenzie, Asa, Calvin, Omar, Louise, Jazlyne. And Matilda.

I stayed all day and played with them and helped Matilda get in the groove. Several kids gravitated towards me during the day so I played a lot with Olivia, Phoebe, Quan, Linda and Keilah and Asa. Though I did get some quality time with all of them just to suss out their personalities.

We stayed through school lunch where Matilda ate all her spaghetti, and I had vegetable medley for the first time since I was in 6th grade. Then we left as they were settling down for nap time.

Tomorrow, Matilda goes it alone, though only for half a day. Friday is her first full day with naptime and afternoon.

So far so good.

I love Kanye's Isle of Sadness on that map.

Hec, how wonderful! May the transition continue to be seamless.

Hec, how wonderful! May the transition continue to be seamless.

You'd really love her school, smonster. After lunch everybody scrapes off their plate into the recycling bucket. Gardens all through the interior courtyard and around the perimeter of the school. Her class had a fishtank and a terrarium with stick bugs. Teacher Helen was hoping to get a guinea pig this year.

I was worried that the school facility wouldn't be as nice as her private preschool, but that wasn't the case. Parents in the area have ponied up a lot of money to upgrade the playground, and library. The room itself was really nice, with a central mat area to meet and talk with the teacher (and sing songs. Much Laurie Berkner.). But also a separate area to read books in nice chairs (one of which was surrounded by a curtain so you could have some private reading time). Painting area. Kitchen area with fake food. Tons of toys. Excellent outdoor play area with water table and sand box, play structure and many tricycles as well.

I know the dominant gripe for years in the country is the failure of public schools, but this is a really nice school and a very lively happy place.

Well staffed: Two extra teacher helpers, plus another teacher to sub in when Teacher Helen has a break, or goes to a meeting. Plus somebody from the kitchen to bring in the food, set up, and then clean up.

Also there are a lot more girls which is good for Matilda.

Finally, an electric Snuggie appears

That's exactly what the Coz-E is. It's a wearable blanket just like the Snuggie and the Slanket, but this one heats up for those extra cold days. It has an included remote control to let you crank up the heat if you so desire, and it's just as fashionable as the original. For only $68, how can you say no?

Very easily.

it's definitely aided by moving so much in the Air Force so I can date stamp them by the places we lived.

Same here. In fact, my earliest memory is moving from Alabama (where I was born) to Iowa at almost 3. I remember watching our house out of the back of the car and being sad to leave.

And, yay for a good first day, Matilda!

I have become that mother that sneaks vegetables into food, but for myself. Before I discovered zucchini bread, I was frantically grating zukes and throwing them into existing dishes in my freezer. I'm now eating chili with added zuke, and you totally can't taste it! Yum.