The Invention of Paris~ Teaser Tuesday

Hosted by MizB at shouldbereading.

Here's how to play:

*Grab your current read,

*Open to a random page,

*Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page,

*Please no spoilers!

*Share the title & author.

From The Invention of Paris: A History in Footsteps" by Eric Hazan. (p.15-16)

"In the Middle Ages, only three places in Paris were permanently illuminated at night: the gate of the Chatelet tribunal, where Philippe le Bel had placed a wood-framed lantern filled with pig bladders to deter the criminal enterprises that were hatched right outside; the Tour Nesle, where a beacon marked the entry to Paris for boatmen coming up the Seine; and the lantern of the dead in the Innocents cemetery. Those heading into the dark of the city were advised to make use of an escort of armed torchmen, as one could hardly trust the protection of the watch, whether civic or royal. 

At the same time as Louis XIV made Paris an open city, and launched the construction of his new avenue, he took two measures that marked the beginning of the modern age: he had nearly three thousand lanterns installed in the streets--glass cages protecting candles, hung from ropes at first-floor level-- and he established the post of  lieutenant-general of police, in command of a significant armed force. (It was the first of these officers, La Reynie, who emptied out the courts of miracles and embarked on the 'great confinement', shutting up beggars and deviants in the new prison hospitals of the Salpetriere and Bicetre.)"

Will most likely be inundating you with a few new photos of Paris this week. And trying to catch up on a little Parisian history! 

Dreaming of Poilane~ Travelin' Tuesday

Since we missed 'Missing Paris Day' yesterday,

we'll just travel to Paris today. 

Some of you who know me,

or have been coming here very long,

know that I love Poilane's window displays.

Just down the block from us,

they create charming Paris window scenes made out of bread crust.

Besides the little animals here, 

(in case you're having trouble making them out,

that's a chipmunk on the ground and a cat scoping out a bird on the bench, looking ready to pounce),

don't you love the precious snowflake cookies falling from the sky?! 

Poilane is famous for these little cookies.

At the moment, I sit writing at a local spot,
pleasantly perched next to the fire,
having visited with a friend who just returned from Santa Fe.
I do so love hearing other people's travel tales.
Speaking of which, maybe it's time for this spring's book giveaway!
I'll keep you posted when I know more.
A bientot! 

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers~ Travelin' Tuesday

Enough with rain and grayness. 

Let's travel to a place literally growing, teasing out, burgeoning with color. 

One of the things I love about San Francisco

is Golden Gate Park's ethereal Conservatory of Flowers... 

with its white wedding cake frosting...

we enter as 

'spiritual window shoppers'...

to balmy rooms filled with jewels of such sweetness

they help us grow sweet again...

...eager faces lifting toward the light,

jewels of such tenderness

they are crushed by the slightest touch...

epiphanies close to the edge...

love stories naked

 healing wounds...

essences overflow

in a fragrant rush of fresh mounds and raw dirt...

sacredness radiating in beaded mist...

minerals spin in plants

just as souls move in changing light...

 chance meetings

the clearest signs of grace...

power and magic
frequent occurrences...

Ahh, the wisdom of spring. 

Rain, shine or misty fog,

Golden Gate Park's temperate botanical garden

is a treasure trove of rare and exotic, tropical plants. 

At the Conservatory:

April 7-Oct.30, 2011

Don't miss

'Wicked Plants: Botanical Rogues and Assassins'.

The Special Exhibits Gallery at the Conservatory

"introduces visitors to living examples of dozens of infamous plants that have left their mark on history

and claimed many an unfortunate victim."

For more information, click here.

(Photographs copyright: Kirsten Steen

Words inspired by The Soul of Rumi)

Each Moment is a Gem~ Buddhist Thought for the Day

"Each moment you are alive is a gem. You only need to breathe gently for the miracles to be displayed." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

The birthday card my aunt sent this year

had this sentiment on it. Little did she know, the Buddhist calendar The Chef got me for Christmas

had this very sentiment for the month of February. So when I read it, I knew I'd seen it before and I needed to pay attention. 

A friend of ours from Greece survived colon cancer

and his daily motto is:

"Each day is a gift!" 

And each motto reminds me of the other. 

Wishing you the miraculous gift of every single day!

(Photography copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Velos in Paris~ Missing Paris Day

While I have yet to brave riding the velos for rent in Paris, 

with spring now officially here,

it seems the perfect time.

I'd bike on down to the Eiffel Tower 

to watch the lovers and children 

laying~ and playing~ in the grass.

...Ride down to one of my favorite boulangeries
(with the gorgeous old painted windows from days gone by)

to pick up one of those evil,

full-gluten, white-flour baguettes

to nibble while on the move,

just like The French!

I'd pick up a colorful bouquet of flowers

to attach to my purple, handlebar basket...

Then meander along the Seine,

taking in the cranky bouquinistes

and their artsy used and antiquarian books, 

posters and postcards,

buying a few to send by post.

I'd park outside one of the long-standing cathedrals,

wander in silence and meditate on the smell of ancient dust 

and ghosts of historical significance. 

By now, it's surely time for a decadent patisserie~

or maybe a crepe with fresh butter and jam.

Licking sticky fingers, I'd make my way down to 

the Hotel de Ville for the latest free photography exhibit... 

...Park myself at my favorite cafe 

for a few hours of writing

while sipping a bubbly Kir Royal...

...then meet The Chef at a museum

to glimpse a few painting snapshots of old Paris

before dinner at our favorite, tiny bistro 

in one of the island's oldest recorded spots in Paris.

We'd drop off the bicyclette at the nearest velo a louer location

and metro home in time to see the tower glitter from the bridge.
Ahh, spring in Paris.

What does your favorite day in Paris look like?! 

(Photograph copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Happy Spring and Prayers for Japan

ENFIN! 

Spring has finally arrived!

And I, for one, am truly thankful. 

***********

Among the many ways one can donate help for Japan,

(after sending your donation if you're able)

consider adding your prayers.

Author Jennifer Lauck 

(Found, Blackbird, Still Waters, Show Me the Way)

has started a donation of Heart Sutra prayers through her blog.

"GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA"

The Dalai Lama's translation:

"Go, go, go beyond,

Go thoroughly beyond

And establish yourself in enlightenment." 

Say it in its original form or in English

and add yours to the count. 

We are over 8,000 prayers and counting. 

Go to her blog below and add your prayers for the people of Japan.

(Prolifically Raw) 

I am dedicating mine to Japan,

to peace for our world in crisis

and for our beautiful, struggling planet. 

Strength

image via brown dress with white dots/tumblr

symbol via JNT.com

In Honor of Japan...

(All Photographs Copyright:Octavia Hunter)

A few photos today 

either from or inspired by

Japan.  

As we all wait and watch

to see how this tragic story unfolds,

please pray~

for them...

for us...

for our environment...

for our future.

images via OctaviaHunter.com

and

Sweet and Savory Photography

Sending All Angels (and Prayers)...to Japan

Hearts and prayers going out to Japan, 

for the lives lost and missing
and those still awaiting word

and for our earth

which has now shifted on its axis. 

Calling all angels...

(postcard via The Graphics Fairy)

A Medieval Walk in Ribeauville~ Travelin' Tuesday

(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

 On a ski trip with friends and family 

in Lorraine's Vosges Mountains in France awhile back,

The Chef and I opted out of speeding downhill 

in the freezing cold on packed snow and ice...

...instead preferring to take a drive 

and enjoy lunch in Ribeauville,

one of the lively medieval villages of Alsace,

with an ample cache of my favorite style of historic abode:

the old wattle-and-daub.

(You can always count on me for

food and window-shopping

as an alternative to skiing.)

I love to wander...
 and wonder what life was like in Medieval times.

I can hear the chiming bells and smell the sharp aroma of Frankincense

wafting from the Gothic St. Augustine and St. Gregory churches...

...See the glow of rosy bloom on farmer's ruddy faces

or the cherry-cheeks of peasant women 

selling homespun wares at market.

...Hear the clop-clopping of horses hooves

and see the scallop shell emblem of St. James adorning pilgrim's hats and robes. 

Except for a few paltry details (like torture, violence, disease, vermin and sewer issues),

I would pay great sums to be transported back in time 

to walk European villages in the Middle Ages. 

When I get a hankering for that old time machine (and can't be in Europe),

I open up one of Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth' series

and devour as much of the time and place as possible. 

(While The Chef called them "Medieval Soap Operas",

he inhaled every one!)

Is there a time period you would most enjoy visiting

if you had the chance?

Walks in Paris~ Missing Paris Day

Just a 'plain' corner in our neighboring 7th Arrondissement.

One of the things I love about Paris

is how even a simple, residential corner

can be so visually, delightfully stunning. 

Paris is one of those mysterious, magical places

that makes me feel the need,

on a moment-by-moment basis,

to check my spinning totem. 

Have you checked yours today?!

Costume Malfunction in Alsace~ Travelin' Tuesday

This poor old Alsatian pastry troll 

looks like he's had it! 

Just the words flanking him

give me a rapacious hunger for the sweetness 

of sugar-dusted Gugelhupf (marble cake),

a cold Riesling and the region's famous, doughy Flammekeuche

(tarte flambee made with creme fraiche, onions and lardons). 

Ok that's it,

I'm off to the kitchen! 

Fireworks in Paris~ Missing Paris Day

Happy Day-After-The-Oscars! 

A whole new list of movies to see

(for me in the foreign and documentary categories).

And in a few more months, 

we'll see what the French have to say in Cannes. 

Bon Semaine!

Snow Day!

Just a little view of our winter wonderland today.

We don't get much snow here 

so, after trying twice to get down my hill to get to work

and losing control of the (4wd) vehicle both times,

I hightailed it back home

and took my camera for a walk.

Just thought I'd share. 

Be safe and cozy

wherever you are! 

A Thousand Days in Venice~ Teaser Tuesday

Hosted by MizB at shouldbereading.

Here's how to play:

*Grab your current read,

*Open to a random page,

*Share a few “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page,

*Please no spoilers!

*Share the title & author.

From Marlena De Blasi's "A Thousand Days in Venice":

"The forever barman at the Monaco is Paolo, dear Paolo, who had stuffed newspaper into my wet boots eight months before, when I'd missed my first rendezvous with Fernando. He herds us out onto the terrace into the luster of a slow-ripening evening. He brings us cold wine and says, "Guardate. Look," pointing with his chin at the mezzotint, the Canaletto, live before us in the rosy leavings of the sun. His everyday tableau delights him, surprises him. Paola can never be old in my eyes...

.....The promontory is raised up above the lagoon on a million wooden pilings, and at the summit of the building's stone tower twin Atlases bear up a great golden sphere, a perch for Fortuna, goddess of all fates. She is beautiful. A timid wind tries to dance with her now. And slim shards of light become her. "L'ultima luce. Last light," we say to each other like a prayer. "Promise me we'll always be together at last light," Fernando says, needing no promise at all.

If I could give Venice to you for a single hour, it would be this hour, and it would be in this chair that I would sit you, knowing Paolo would be close by, clucking about over your comfort, knowing that the night that comes to thieve that lush last light would also make off with your heartaches. That's how it would be." 

Not only is this wonderful writer's prose inspiring (she had me sobbing at the end at 7:30 in the morning), but once the romantic adventure with love and with Venice is over (for now), she includes recipes in the back from the couple's first few days together.  So tonight I made the very first recipe in the section called, "Food for a Stranger": A Gratin of Leeks made with mascarpone, nutmeg, 'just-cracked pepper', fine sea salt, vodka and Parmesan cheese. It was fabulous. I'm not a chef but I'm so excited to try a few more of her recipes. 

Reading and researching Venice for my WIP (love my hobby/job!), I found her descriptions of Venice dreamy, luscious, evocative and left me begging the angels to let it rub off on me. I'm going straight to her next book!

Tough Winter

While the weather has been fairly mild here,

the climate has been more than a little sad this winter. 

Last month, I lost one of my elderly clients, 

a man I had seen, in his home weekly,

for the last year. 

While I knew Karl was not well,

I wasn't aware he was slowly leaving. 

In the last few weeks, 

a family member has undergone, not just chemo

but also the process of a bone marrow/stem cell transplant for blood cancer. 

And now, two young, beautiful souls,

a friend's 17 year old boy

and friend's of friends 18 year old son,

were whisked out to sea in an instant and drowned

while their friends tried to help them 

and could do nothing but helplessly watch it happen. 

Our community, and our teenagers, are reeling. 

One of the boy's uncles said to the throngs of high school students at his memorial service,

"Children are a parent's message to the future.

What I want you to do, right now today,

 is absorb as much of this as you possibly can

from what you hear today.

Figure out, really focus on, what that message to the future was in him

 and carry that message forward." 

Of the many beautiful, touching, heart-wrenching things I heard that day,

this was one of the most powerful.

Please say a prayer for these families

struggling with an incomprehensible loss. 

And for our family member

working to build back healthy cells after chemical destruction. 

And me, besides these prayers,

 I'm also praying for spring

and the promise of life 

to bring hope and beauty to winter's sadness.