Surfing in Tahoe?

Song - Say Hey (I Love You) Giants Version by Michael Franti & Spearhead

Just returned from a weekend wedding in Lake Tahoe.  My nephew Paul got married on Saturday and it was a wild & crazy day.....weather-wise!

Friday afternoon and evening were beautiful at the Lake.  We sat out on the deck and enjoyed the evening stars.  Chilly but clear and calm.

Saturday morning we woke to high winds.  The pine trees were thrashing against the cabin.

We visited with my beautiful parents, enjoyed the fall color, went to breakfast and then a drive.

My parents were in Tahoe for the wedding as well!

 


Due to the winds the waves were big for Lake Tahoe.

Then guess what we saw?????

Ashley dipping her toes in the ice cold water!  Burrrrr.......


AND


Surfers on the Lake!

Until this moment, I had only heard that sometimes you (not me but you!) can surf the Lake.

I personally was amazed!

Mr. B, Andy & Ashley, and Jon all voted to return to the cabin to light a fire and play Canasta with Tyler!

Out of 8 boxes of cards we could only find 1 that was complete.

So then guess what happened?

Yep.....it began to rain, then snow.  It was majestically beautiful!



And oh so very romantic for the wedding.............


.....except the bride and groom were planning on getting married outside!



But as the 4:00pm wedding time began to roll around, the sky parted and sunshine showed it's sweet little face.  I think Mother Nature heard the brides prayers!

The staff set the chairs up on the dock and lit the heat lamps.

Then guess what happened?

Grandma Betty and Grandma Tillie came out as the "flower girls"!

And the beautiful, happy bride Katie and her father came down the isle.

Sunset on Saturday night.



Sunday morning we woke to a warm and calm day.  Go figure!


A GIANT footnote about the wedding:

Now, my nephew and his dad (my brother) are Giant fans, so since the wedding was being held during game 4 of the World Series, they were kind enough to leave a TV on in a separate room so those of us that just couldn't stand the torture could occasionally peek!  It was a great win and wedding!

Thanks Paul & Katie!

Thanks Giants!


“I don’t have a great answer for that (inspirational speeches),” Pence said. “I’ve read a ton of books. Not one in particular, but I consciously try to find the good in everything in every situation that happens. Was it Voltaire who said, ‘I choose to be happy because it’s good for my health”? Why not? Even through some of the toughest things that’ll ever happen to you, there’s something that makes you stronger, something you can reframe to make it good. It’s what I believe. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but it makes me feel better.” --Hunter Pence (a Giant star!)

Par-eee

Paris is always amazing!

 

Last Tuesday we dropped our car in Avignon and took the TGV into the Gare de Lyon.

 

 

Then checked into our favorite little hotel that feels like an oasis when the hustle & bustle of Paris feels overwhelming.

 

We went to the Cluny Museum and saw the "Heads of the Kings of Judah" which were discovered buried on a farm in the 1970's.

 

 

......St. Sulpice which was made famous for Dan Brown in his book "The DaVinci Code" with the meridian line running through the church.....

 

"The meridian line is a fascinating astronomical instrument of the 18th century, used to study the planets and determine the date of Easter each year. The sun's rays enter the church through a small opening in the south transept and rest on the line at various points throughout the year. On the winter solstice, the rays hit the obelisk; on the spring and autumn equinoxes, the bronze table. The obelisk bears a Latin inscription that doesn't quote Job, but describes the use of the meridian line. "

 

 

 

 

....enjoying one of my favorite places The Luxenbourg Gardens...

 

 

 

 

.....and the Pétanque guys.....right next door to the sweet crepe maker....

 

 

.......great food, wine, cheese, desserts and art......always!

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed the Marche Raspail........

 

 

......as well as the Marche aux Puces - the famous Paris Flea Market

 

 

Rode the Metro and climbed a lot of stairs...a whole lot!!!

 

In fact my thighs should be rock hard by now......if I didn't enjoy that wonderful French cheese so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Mr. B trying to look casual while they were doing a fashion shoot right behind him in the beautiful glow of the late afternoon light on the steps of Sacre Coeur.

 

 

Au revoir Par-eee.....until next time!

 

 

 

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The Calm Before Paris

The church bells just rang 11 pm in the little town of Fountaine de Vaucluse. I'm tired but can't seem to sleep. Recalling our last 3 weeks and all we have seen & experienced.

Maybe a little homesick too but also realizing that we only have one more week before heading home!

I spent the morning sketching in our beautiful courtyard surrounded by 3 streams. One flows under our hotel and the other two flow on either side of me. There are trout in the river to my right and waterfalls on the other two.

Later in the afternoon, Mr. B and I drove to Gordes which is a village built on a cliff overlooking a beautiful valley of vineyards.

We also stopped by the Abbaye de Senanque which I'm sure you have seen on postcards, photos, etc. In the spring & early summer the fields around the Abbaye are filled with lavender flowers.

However they are done flowering for the year which made my time here extra special as there were no crowds or tour busses.
It was built in 1148 and we caught the light just as the sun was setting behind the mountains. The bells rang 7 times and a mass had just begun. Incredible singing from the Monestary.

Returning to our hotel we walked into town and enjoyed a casual pizza & salad. So refreshing after so much Foie Gras, duck & pastries!

Bon nuit......

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French Men's Fashion

OK. I have to tell you that I have been working on Mr. B to return home with a true French man's outfit. Pants, shirt, scarf & shoes! Voila!

 

In Normandy & Brittany we saw a lot of "shants". You know a combo of shorts & pants! But he wasn't biting. Ugg. Me either.

 

 

But overall, I have found men to wear bright colored shoes....

 

Or .... A form of bowling shoe perhaps?

 

 

But boy do these guys love their brightly colored pants! Both in the country and in the city!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if the bright pants didn't quite get you, then bright shirts surly should!

 

 

 

And everyone wears a fashionable scarf.....both men & women (even if it's 90 degrees outside!)

 

But no go for my guy!

 

So far all he will do......

 

 

 

Is carry a man purse!!!!

 

 

 

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