Paris, Oct 2012 - Finally

Friends were just asking me where we stayed in Paris in October, so I thought that it was about time to share some pics of our trip. Sue and I decided to head to Paris for our 20th anniversary and were joined my sister Allison and her girl Midge. We shared a 5th floor walk up apt at 55 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île that offered ever changing rooftop/sky views and shelter from the rain. It was a particular relief when the four of us made it up and through the apartment doorway!

Notre Dame and all of its' glory was in our front yard. We barely stepped inside of the church but walked by at least once a day.

 Al in our doorway!

 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île

  Eating and stitching around the world!

 It was quite rainy the whole time we were there. Here is Al trying to stay dry.

We tramped all over town in the cool rain, and one of my personal goals was to stay upright and avoid if possible, a crash and burn on the slippery cobblestone sidewalks.

Our longest around town journey took us about 8 miles.

Over the week we managed to get to:

Musée d'Orsay 

Quai Branly (A+++)
Musee de Cluny

 Eiffle Tower

Jardin de Plantes

Luxembourg

Tuileries (has an amazing small garden bookstore)

 the Marais

the Latin Quarter

 Sue, Allison and Midge with a crepe!  

We had delicious fruits veggies from various markets including the very rainy Bastille.

Breads, pastries, coffee, chocolate and cheeses from everywhere!

David D Downie Tour 

 

Sue and I planned a surprise tour with writer/historian David Downie. I had found his book "Paris, Paris" just before my first trip to Paris in 2011. David is an American living in Paris and has written essays about people and places, past and present. It is a most entertaining and educational read. Highly recommended if you have been or are going to Paris!

 

We learned so much about people, politics, buildings, very old protective walls, narrow roads, churches, coffee, cafes, gardens and squares...just to name a few subjects. One could wander the streets for days with David and only begin to tap his wealth of knowledge!

We also had a great lunch and a couple of first rate cups of coffee with a great speaker of the language! Thanks David for a really great day!


His Newest book will be available April 15, 2013!

So we had a great week, food for the soul at every turn. Window shopping was so inspiring! Beautiful clothing, shoes, jewelry, art work, architecture, the people, the food, the river, the rain, the sun, the bridges, graffiti...

It was a great trip, with much left to explore.

And now it is just days away from our 21st Anniversary and I want to thank Sue for another great year of living the dream!! xxxx

Paris and the New Chicken Coop, Quilting Arts and Squam!!!

My new computer has finally arrived!!! So I can proceed!!!

It has been quite a month. Almost no sun, but things are growing like crazy! Things are clearly alive and thriving in the cloudy, rainy, foggy atmosphere! Carrots, beets, lettuces, potatoes, onions, eggplant (well, something is dining on the leaves), peppers, spinach, asparagus (yummy, our first year) all doing well so far! Just had our first strawberries....

Went to Paris in May with my former husband Ed Booth (of Newport BioDiesel) to meet up with son Donald Booth.  Don has been traveling and working for a year through a website called Help Exchange. The site matches up folks looking for help with projects with adventurers looking for work in exchange for a bed and food!

The boys having a toast in Montmartre....

Hot Chocolate from Angelina's below....it was really unbelievable....

We had a great time being super tourists, eating and drinking lots of chocolate, consuming baguetts, croissants, checking out the sights and sounds with thousands of others! And unlike my New England neighbors, we had beautiful weather!

 The Paris markets were filled with beautiful and abundant items like these organic eggs!!

Meanwhile, back in the USA, our chicks continue to grow from little fluff balls into miniature chickens with wings and tails. They are in their new digs and the garage seems so lifeless and quiet. They have adjusted to the outside world and are doing their chicken thing in their new area! Thanks to my offspring Pete and Don they have a nice new home!!!

Quilting Arts Article! 

 I was pleased to have some of my work published in Quilting Arts this month. It is an article about gelatin printing and doll making. Check it out and give it a try! The magazine is filled with amazing work that will inspire your creative selves!!

Last week I was lucky enough to head out again and landed at Squam Lake in NH for the Squam Art Workshops! It was a wonderful time working with saws, drills, crochet hooks and a yoga mat! Saw old friends and met more good women!

There were beautiful faces and busy hands, good food and laughs, music, and a bit of cold windy weather. Follow the links on the Squam site for images of the event. I took my camera and left it in the bag....

Back home and back at it.  Cleaned up in the studio this morning and hope to get some work done. I am so grateful for my life and am sending good wishes out to the world!