Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'

One of the Loire's earliest Renaissance chateaux, Azay le Rideau,

located about 150 miles southwest of Paris in the Loire Valley,

was built in the 16th century.

And like Chenonceau and Cheverny, it was created by a woman.

Gilles Berthelot, a financier under Louis XII and Francois I,

left the details of construction to Madame Berthelot.

When Gilles was accused of embezzlement, he left the area

(fleeing to Lorraine) where he died a few years later.

Francois I confiscated the chateau

(from Madame Berthelot) and gave it to one of his officers

as a token of his appreciation.

The story reminds me of Vaux le Vicomte,

a similar story of a finance minister to a King creating something too beautiful.

That story inspired the building of Versaille

(after the imprisonment of the finance minister and confiscation of his property,

architect, painter and gardener).

Moral: Never one-up a King!

(Photographs copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Wizard of Oz~ 70th Anniversary Encore Event

They're doing it again! This Tuesday November 17th at 6:30pm.

After a few streaming and other problems, a requested encore will take place this week.

After the show last time, I witnessed a near fight (between middle-aged adult males)

outside the theater over someone's noise level during the show

(during which a theater employee had to be called in).

They both told each other the other needed to grow up!

Who knew The Wizard of Oz could spur near violence between 'adults'!

Can't wait for the encore presentation

(hopefully with less problems and a more~or less~ mature crowd).

Today is 11/11/11!

I always assumed it was just me~ that ominous feeling I had anytime I saw 11:11 on the digital clock but apparently it is a phenomenon that many have attached meaning to. I always felt like it was the time I would die. (Some things became eerily clear the day I saw my birth certificate and realized that my time of birth was 11:10am. So 11:11 was actually my very first moment on earth.)

This month, in numerology, the entire month adds up to 11/11: November being the 11th month and 2009 adding up to 11. And 11 is considered a Master Number- the others here being 22 and 33- which mean even greater intensity.

According to Christine DeLorey (Creative Numerology), for the first time in our lifetimes, we are now, today, experiencing the energy of 11/11/11 and as rare as this is, it will occur twice this month, again on November 29th.

Let's look at some of the numbers associated with today's rare energy pattern:

1~ is the symbol of Light, associated with the sun. It is Life Force itself. Beginnings of all things and energy that changes form. A high degree of mental vision. Intuition. Illumination~ truth coming to light.

2~(1+1=2)- is unity and correlation. Reproduction. Cohesive thinking. It is adaptability, common sense, a pacifying influence. It is peace.

3~ (11 x 3=33)- is activity and action. Catalyst. Communication. Expression and optimism.

Now when the numbers are doubled, the energy changes, both in intensity and potential. They become Master Numbers.

11 is about illumination, vision and inspiration. Intuitive knowledge and mastery. Or as DeLorey points out, "elev-ated intuition".

22 combines the power of 1's vision and inspiration with structure and cohesiveness. It is the power of manifestation.

33 is about using the imagination to combine 11 and 22 with enlightened communication.

6 is about our personal home base. Priorities, family, healing. Responsibility.

With all of this knowledge, there are a myriad of ways to spend the day. Me? I believe at exactly 11:11 on 11/11/11, I will be in a state of meditation, focusing on...World Peace. No wait! That was from my Ms. Enlightened Universe speech.

I will be having a phenomenal meditation partay for 1!

(Actually, World Peace will be on my list! And in regards to 2012, there are also any number of ways to read today's energy with all of the above information. But as DeLorey states: "...this is not a time for speculation concerning the future as if it is something set in stone. On the contrary, it is what we do or don't do between now and 2012 that is all important." )

(Image from Graphics Fairy)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'

A little creperie in the Medieval town of Chinon, once the favorite residence of King Henry Plantagenet (of England). I love how the river (Vienne) in this window painting flows into the street reflection of cobblestones (or vicy vercy).

The town, in the heart of the Loire Valley, was once a Roman camp and later, the birthplace of the famous French writer Rabelais, a Renaissance writer and satirist, doctor and humanist.

One of my favorites of his quotes: "Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words."

Chinon was also visited by Joan of Arc in 1429 who announced herself to the King of France as "a messenger of God". A statue of the Angel of France graces the Place Jeanne d'Arc.

If I were here now, I would water my horse with the region's Cabernet Franc red and order une crepe avec beurre et sucre.

Do you have a favorite crepe?

(Photography copyright: Kirsten Steen)

A Fall Soak...

After doing massages recently in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon,

I stopped at a couple of lakes for a walk in the Fall sunshine,

then headed to

Belknap Hotsprings

for an early evening soak before driving home.

Belknap has two mineral pools,

a Lodge for overnight guests

as well as cabins and camping options

and a lovely garden walk

(photos to be added in a future post).

The lobby was

dressed for the holiday...

...and the grounds still awash with

summer's last blooms.

Ahhhhhhhh.....

Drunk with minerals, sunshine,

lake and river views,

skyhigh Doug Firs against the deepening blue skies,

the sunset glow and the entire body soaked in hot water.

Divine!

~Pool facilities are $7 per hour or $12 per day per person.

Hours are from 9am to 9pm Sun-Thurs.

9am to 10pm Fri/Sat.

Bathing suits required.~

(Mineral Springs content: Lithium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, cesium, fluorine, chloride, bromide,

iodine, antimony, copper, mercury, bromine, lead, arsenic, magnesium, calcium, strontium,

barium, manganese, iron, phosphate, silicon dioxide, sulfate, carbonate, bicarbonate!)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'

In honor of our upcoming trip to Paris, I'm showing a whimsical little video with Carla Bruni's L'Amoureuse. I'm so behind the times. I knew that the new(ish) wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy had been a model but was surprised to find that she is a singer as well. I know. I really should know these things.

Hope you enjoy the video as much as I did!

(P.S. To enjoy the video without interruption, go to the bottom of this blog and click the Pause button to stop the background music--which is now L'Amoureuse.)

Living Visualization Picture Book~ San Francisco

Something's working! Whether it's the Angels doin' their Fetch-and-Make-People-Happy-Thing or the proper amount of affirming and visualizing, vibrating at previously intended levels or what-not, things are happening.

Yesterday I got word that one of my short stories won an Honorable Mention in the Writer's Weekly 24-Hour Contest. Besides being Honorably Mentioned, it also means door prizes!

And after spending some time this summer trying to create the perfect Writing Retreat but not finding the suitable elements so as to make it affordable, not too distant and without taking too much time off work, a writer friend invited me to join her and another writer at the OWC (Oregon Writer's Colony) Beach House. One week a month is set aside to be used as a Writer's Retreat at a VERY reasonable price and I have booked myself in for at least 2 of those weeks next year, possibly more as we get closer to scheduling dates.

And the biggest news...After putting it out to the Angels a short time ago, 'The Ed' found that our carrier 'suddenly' lowered their mileage amount criteria for European Travel after the new year.
So we are booked for early next year to return to our Home Away from Home (Paris) to check on things, eat some Foie Gras, visit family and shop the open air market. Not thinking this was possible any time soon, we are elated and find the rain slightly less bothersome. Travel has a way of enhancing one's perspective.

Speaking of which, I've decided that as we go along here, this blog will also serve as a sort of Living Visualization Picture Book and since I hope to one day (once again) live in or near San Francisco, I am occasionally including shots to remind me of my inspiring City.

The above photo was taken at the little Hyde Street Park at the top of the hill (up which the Hyde Street cable car travels) and directly across from Lombard Street. You know! The Crookedest Street in the World?! If you go past the tennis courts and follow one of the little paths to the right all the way back to the furthest corner facing the Bay, you are greeted by a most famous and enchanting bridge.

When we lived in the City when I was a teenager, our house was three blocks from this little park and we walked our two dogs here (Peppie and Camille~a black, male poodle and a blonde, female afghan). While the neighborhood has become even more gentrified than it was when we lived here and most businesses have changed venue or at least owners, Swenson's Ice Cream still serves some of the same flavors it did in the early 70's.

What is your favorite City and/or memory about a snapshot where you grew up?

(Photography copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'

This photo of the Petit Palais seemed appropriate after my Angel post. This exquisite building was created for the Universal Exposition of 1900 and houses the Musee des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris housing works by some of the best Impressionists including Pisarro, Cassat, Manet, Gauguin, Renoir and Morisot.

Avenue Winston Churchill, 8th Arrondissement

Metro Stop: Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau

Open Daily: 10h-17h40

Closed: Mondays and Holidays

I'm putting it out to the angels for another trip to Paris soooonnn!

Will keep you posted!

Bon Semaine!

( Photography copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Angels in the Air

Sorry to be away so long but I've been kept hopping these days. As I told a friend yesterday, Boy, make a little request to the Angels for more work and then...STEP BACK! Not complaining. Thrilled, appreciative...and in awe.

Last week as I was listening to a tape about angels on the way to my newest work venue, I pulled into the parking garage and had a few minutes to keep listening and put my head back before going in. Straight ahead, at eye level just a few feet from my car was the license plate of the car on the next level---in my face. And the word on the plate read: ANGELZ!

So as they say...Be careful what you set your heart upon!

(Artwork from The Graphics Fairy.)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'

During some of my travels, I 've been known to take Door and Window Series photographs and this is from a little French town, the name of which I have forgotten. This door makes me think of all the things I am missing about France: Foie Gras followed by the taste of Sauterne, champagne before dinner, escargot, open-air markets, the rushing sound of the metro, boats on the Seine, old cobblestones.

And Family! Missing all of you!

Happy Lundi!

(Photographs copyright: Kirsten Steen)