There are always flowers....

In Paris and I just can't get enough of their beauty!

"Beauty is something you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical." ~ Sophia Loren

Flea Market Day

After much planning and down dressing and security measures (no jewelry, hidden money & small secure purses, etc.) we took the Metro to Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen on Clignancourt in the 18th. Unbelievable!!! So much to see it was impossible to do more than a small portion in one day. We could go every day for a month and still not see it all. It was more like a little village than a flea market in the states. You walked down streets to get to the different areas of the Market. I found a nice etching & a Provencal plate. Jackie found beautiful linens and Sydney found several lithographs.....small and very large. Mmmmm....I wonder how large her suitcase really is? Next time we will need to order a shipping container!!!


"They say a reasonable number of fleas is good for a dog - keeps him from broodin' over being' a dog." - Edward Noyes Westcott

Then there were....

....other areas of the Flea Market that looked like Restoration Hardware!


Shopping Flea Markets Tradition

Flea market: And while we are on the subject of bugs… Have you ever wondered where this saying came from when you were out buying antiques or the “nearly new” already used items?

There seems to be a consensus among the educational intelligentsia that this phrase was a literal French translation. Le Marché aux Puces literally translates as “market of the fleas.” During the 1920’s American Art Deco period this was a popular place to shop in Paris. (French Art Deco was much earlier in the mid-1800’s.)

OK Boys

Get ready because the pink suit is back in fashion!

~ "Pink is not just a color its an attitude." -- Anonymous

Pierre Herme

Yes it really was an incredible croissant! Yesterday morning for breakfast we walked over to Saint-Sulpice and found Pierre Herme's beautiful little shop. They only had 5 croissants left by 11:00am. My friend Sydney got one with rose jam in the center! All I can say is...Yum and we will be back!

Antique Linens

My friend Jacqueline is looking at beautiful antique linens at a little speciality shop she has discovered, La Tuile A Loup. We had a wonderful time Today exploring a new little neighborhood!


"Remember that the most valuable antiques are dear old friends." --H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

More flowers.....

It just amazes me how beautiful the flowers are displayed around here. This shop is in a little neighborhood area in the 5th. They had everything one could want, from blooming white scented Lilac trees to small bouquets of Tulips for your chic Parisian apartment.


“You reap exactly what you sow, that is, you cannot grow tulips from zucchini seeds." --Anne Lamott

Poilane

If ever you are in Paris, stop by Poilane's for some bread. It is just simply wonderful! They have ancient baking ovens in the basement that I would like to get a tour of one of these days.

"Bread for myself is a material question. Bread for my neighbor is a spiritual one." --Mikolai Berdyaev

Fresh flowers

Once or twice a week our hotel gets fresh flowers for the public areas. They are always spectacular and unique. I could not let the day go by without a note to my dear friend Jill.......


"When things go well it is possible to live life on the surface of things; but when sorrow comes a man is driven, to
the deep things in life, and if he accepts it aright, a new strength and beauty enter into his soul" 
--Author Unknown 

Louvre Window

While walking down the staircase at the Louvre today, I spotted this beautiful window. I was thinking about all of the artisans it took to create such a masterpiece.



“But tomorrow, dawn will come the way I picture her,
barefoot and disheveled, standing outside my window
in one of the fragile cotton dresses of the poor.
She will look in at me with her thin arms extended,
offering a handful of birdsong and a small cup of light.” --William Collins

The Louvre

What an incredible experience the Louvre is. So much to see that it's overwhelming to me at times. But today I had all day to take in her beauty. I was able to slow down so the hoards of people didn't get to me. I covered the entire 2nd floor then stopped in Angelique's cafe for a late lunch. This is a photo of The Bather, known as the Valpinçon Bather by Ingres and is amazingly beautiful.



"One must keep right on drawing; draw with your eyes when you cannot draw with a pencil." -- Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres

Painting Detail

I love the painting detail of this woman's gloves, jewels and lace. I'm normally not into realistic painting but I do appreciate the talent! This was only a small portion of a very large painting.

"Keep good company - that is, go to the Louvre." --Paul Cezanne

Saint-Sulpice

As I walked into the cool church of Saint-Sulpice, I realized that there was a class of art students sketching different views of the churches interior. This is supposedly the largest church in Paris, Notre Dame included and was used in the movie The Da Vinci Code.

Soul Mate

>
Black is still in fashion in Paris....and red hot shoes!


"A shoe has so much more to offer than just to walk". -- Christian Louboutin

Cooking in Paris

My friends and I went to a cookware shop, E. Dilherran which has been open for over 190 years. Now we have been there several times on other trips but today the shop keeper (who doesn't really care if you purchase anything or not) was insistent that we not ship our items home (like we have in the past) but to pack them in our suitcases. So off we went, so happy with our purchases. (Shhhh....don't tell Mr.B. he has a suprise coming!) However, once we were a few blocks away, I realized that these rather heavy items might just push us over our weight limit at the airport on our return flight.



     “In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport.” --Julia Chlid

l'Ecoute

After shopping at E. Dehillerin we visited an amazingly beautiful statue between the church and the Forum Les Halles made by Henri de Millers, called l'Écoute. L'Écoute means "the hearing", and that is what the hand and the big head show you.  Kids love to climb all over it and graffiti artists love to paint it. While I was there a little boy exclaimed "Pa Pa, the man has lost his head and now it's just laying on the ground!"

 "There is more to life than simply increasing its speed."    Mahatma Gandhi

Guess What's Back?

And in fashion? And you heard it here first! Yes, those old flowered, rubber swim caps! I can't wait to paint some of my buds wearing these at the local pool.


"My mom said she learned how to swim. Someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. That's how she learned how to swim. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim.' "
--Paula Poundstone

Shop Flowers

This young woman invited me inside to photograph her incredible floral arrangements. Every one of them was just exquisit! Look at the size and color of these Peony's especially with the Snowball Viburnum and I love how she tucked in one oddball color to delight the senses.


"Hold out your hands to feel the luxury of the sunbeams."    Helen Keller

Picasso's Sculpture

Picasso's homage to Apollinaire is a tribute to the artist's friend, the poet Guillaume Apollinaire. It was erected in 1959. It is now a small park near Cafe du Magots.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." --Pablo Picasso

Even the Sweet Peas are in bloom!

Wonderful soft colors........That just melted my heart. Thought of my mom who loves her Sweet Peas and grows them every year! The scent was heavenly.


"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom."  ~Terri Guillemets

Dinner is served!

The pigs cheeks were delicious but I went with the roasted chicken & purée (mashed potatoes).....


“It was better than bacon. It’s like bacon butter” – my friend Jenn said after eating pigs cheeks
(from things overheard at the Canadian Celebrity Chef's Event)

Wine & Appetizer

Our waiter recommended a wonderful Chablis to go with our melted Camembert with toasted honey on top. Yum!

"After one taste of French food ... I was hooked. I'd never eaten like that before, I didn't know such food existed. The wonderful attention paid to each detail of the meal was incredible to me. I'd never really drunk good wine before, and knew nothing at all about it. It was simply a whole new life experience." --Julia Child

Dinner

My girlfriends and I are getting into the late French dining experience. We dined at a little bistro called Le Petit Pontoise and it was incredible. Staff was friendly and the food was tres bien!


"A good meal ought to begin with hunger."
- French proverb

Door knocker

Along my Sunday stroll today, I came across this beautiful grand knocker on a lovely painted door. Not too sure what it is but I recognize the serpents and the little guy at the bottom is up to your imagination!


"Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls."
--Joseph Campbell

Men's fashion

Here is the newest in men's shoes. They also have them in red & purple suede in case you are interested?


"Funny that a pair of really nice shoes make us feel good in our heads - at the extreme opposite end of our bodies."  ~Levende Waters

Sunday Stroll

Flowers are everywhere in Paris. In the garden, on the streets, in the parks, inside shops and even beautiful porcelain Foxgloves inside store windows.



"Because of our routines we forget that life is an ongoing adventure."    Maya Angelou

Parisian Gentlemen

This little gentleman picked some posies in the Luxembourg Garden for his sweetie! Who was most likely his mom!!

"The most beautiful action in the world is to love. The second most beautiful is to give."    Bertha von Suttner

Then Back Home

After a rainy and adventurous day out, we returned....to our cozy little hotel in the 6th!

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child, 
and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. 
Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.". -Ashley Smith

Spring Flowers

At the Luxembourg Garden......The flowers are in full bloom and the air is perfect!

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."-Denis Waitley

Flower Show

The gardening equipment was gorgeous.

A Parisian Flower & Plant Market

Today we left early to go capture the sights, sounds, scent and energy of Paris! First on our list was to go to a plant and flower show just outside of the outskirts of Paris at Manson Saint-Jean de Beauregard. It was a beautiful warm day and everyone was out enjoying the weather and snapping up deals!

Our balcony

It's wonderful to sit outside & have our breakfast in the morning looking out over the Paris rooftops.

Good Morning Par-ee !

Bon Jour-

The flight was.....well, let's put it this way, I'm here!

As the taxi brought us in from CDG, we were crossing the Seine and there she stood...the Eiffel tower all lit up seeming to welcome us to Paris!

We slept with our balcony doors flung wide open all night and woke to birdsong in the morning!

. The birds know it is Spring in Paris!!! There must of been hundreds of finches & chickadees in our little hotel courtyard.

Blossoms

Blossoms are all around me today. Late yesterday afternoon after I finished packing, I poured myself a glass of wine and went outside to water my lovely little potted flowers. It was a beautiful Spring evening and walking around my garden always has a soothing effect on me. I pay attention to the details. I notice what needs my attention, what's beginning to bloom, I listen and watch the birds, I notice the light changing color and I mentally plan what changes I might make in the garden or in my life. It's a transitioning time between a busy day and getting ready for evening.

Today however, I am trying to embrace this fear I have of flying.  An old habitual fear? Or maybe I'm just overwhelmed with the idea of the chaos of traveling in general? Or the notion of uncertainty?  But whatever it is, I need to examine it and embrace it.  As Pema Chodron says " We are all very familiar with the experience of fear escalating, or the experience of running away from fear. But have we ever taken the time to truly touch our fear, to be present with it and experience it fully?  Do we know what it might mean to smile at fear?"

Today I will walk on that plane with a smile!

I know I have used this quote before but it seems especially appropriate today......

"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."  --Anais Nin

Travel

Why is traveling such a mixed bag? It's exciting to plan and shop for your trip as well as read about all of the places you want to visit. But then a little fear slips in, a little homesickness (even though you haven't even left yet). Maybe it's more of a "what will I miss while I'm gone....the roses will just begin their first bloom and the Wisteria too, I'll miss opening day of baseball, how about what's going on with friends and family, oh and I'll definitely miss my home and Mr. B and my lovely friends, my doggies and my painting classes...... 

 I proceed to not sleep at night because I am worrying about the flight (I'm a very nervous flyer) and I wonder if I'll get to see and do everything on my list. Then... when I'm just about ready to POP, I'll get on that airplane and spend an uncomfortable 19 hours in flight & hauling luggage around airports. 

Then I'll arrive at my destination just giddy with anticipation! I'm here!! I love it! I've left  behind the cooking and cleaning, the bills and laundry, dental appointments and errands. For a few days or weeks I'll have no real schedule. I'll live in the present and enjoy every second! When it's time to head home, I'll be a little disappointed that I didn't go to every museum, park, restaurant or shop that I wanted to. I'll cry a little because I'm excited to see my family and friends but disappointed that the party is over.....at least for awhile.  Does this ever happen to you? I guess that's why I keep going back to Paris. Because I'll never see or experience it all! How wonderful is that?



Sacre Coeur from the d'Orsay



"Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth" — Pema Chödrön

The Eyes Have It

I have been working on a series of farm animal paintings from photos I took of cows and sheep in the Tomales area, also from chickens in my own backyard. When I paint an animal at a distance it ends up feeling more like a landscape to me.  

Odessa

 But when I zoom in close and get the feel of the animal through it's expression, I feel like I have captured something exciting!  I especially love to capture the eyes looking straight at me because as I am watching this amazing animal, he is checking me out.



Charlie



Annie



 He is trying to figure out if I am a threat or not.  The little ones run close to their mother but the older animals usually stand their ground, stop eating, check out the situation, then resume whatever they were doing before I came along.

If I am patient, I usually get some good shots.  In the last month, I have sold three of the "cropped close" paintings and I think it's because of the wonderful energy these little paintings exude. 

"I would like to paint the way a bird sings."   - Claude Monet

Intention in March

I am loving my OLW (www.bigpictureclasses.com) for this year. The word I have chosen is INTENTION.  Mmmm....or did it choose me?   For the first month or so, I wasn't sure it suited me but the more I explored the depths of this intriguing word, the more I have felt it resonates with me.  I have found myself to be more mindful during my days in both action and thought. Once that happens, people interact differently with you.  I feel more connected with myself, others and spirit.

“Then I remember, surprised

I could have ever forgotten,

that I am a part of everything

and everything is a part of me.

Our identities are inseparable.”

--Baxter Trautman “Spirit of the Valley” 

Daffodil Sunday

Today is a rainy day here in the Bay Area and since I am leaving for Paris in a few days, I figured it would be a good day to begin packing.

Wardrobe color - Black - check.....Chic boots - Black - check....Camera gear - check.....Passport - check.....Plane tickets - check....Restaurant recommendations - check....Sketching gear - check....oh my!  

I have several lists scattered around the house.  I think it may be time to pull those all together and cross reference them!







I have been asked by several friends and family as to why I keep returning to France, especially Paris and for me, there is something about the attention to detail that the French people have. 




Beautiful Parks & Flowers

Outdoor cafes and incredible food everywhere!

Boutique Hotels and shopping!!

Petanque in the park

the Kwah-sohn !!!

Open air markets

Museums !



....Amour

"Paris is always a good idea " - from the movie "Sabrina"