Iconic Images

Do you need to see another picture of

any of the countless icons of Paris?

We saw them.

The Rodin, Picasso, and Cluny museums.

D'Orsay, Louvre, Notre Dame.

Le Tour Eiffel, L'Arc de Triomphe,

Luxembourg Gardens, Tuileries,

Chanel, Hermes, Louis Vuitton.

The list goes on... 

I have pictures and ticket stubs

and amazing memories

to enjoy when ever I want.

 

Today I offer a few of the humbler images

that will also represent Paris to me ...

 

 

including the cobblestones.

 

This is our terrace. 

 In our neighborhood. 

The three windows represent the hallway, living/dining area and the bedroom. 

 The building across the street was a community rec center.  One weekend it was used for an artisan's fair.  The next weekend it housed a vintage market.  During the week classes were held there.  I watched from the terrace windows as fencers performed their warm-up drills.  Dance classes included the tango and flamenco. Grace in motion.

 

 

Our wardrobe which, thanks to  

Naphtali's lavender sachets,

 smelled like summer sunshine when we opened the doors.

 

 

This is a terrible picture, but,

on the far left you can see that the women's skates are

made to look like high heels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

I should have taken more pictures:

Umbrellas piled inside shop doors.

Dapper men in their toggle coats.

Laughing women d'un age.

Children.

Dogs.

Plates of beautiful food.

Display cases of beautiful food.

Windows of beautiful food.

Menus.

Impossibly small tables

laden with lunchtime paraphernalia

with the diners shoehorned in

around them.

The overhead coat racks.

 

Surely, someone has taken those pictures

and compiled a wonderful book

or created an instagram album

or Pinterest page

 to help us

relive the unique experience

that Paris represents

to each of us.

 

I'll have to look...

 

 

 

 

 

Bon Appétit!

In general there were three questions

asked after my return from Paris:

What did you see?

What did you buy?

What did you eat?

 

This was the most difficult

post to compose.

Hardly surprising when we consider how the textures,

aromas, presentation, and accompanying

soundtrack of conversation and clinking tableware
contribute to our dining experience
as well as the actual taste of the food.

Alors, in no particular order,

a few impressions:

 

Our breakfasts of variations on

 toast or croissants,

 cheese,

creamy yogurt,

and mandarins

were a delightful start to each day.

 

We cooked at home several times

with frozen selections from Picard (!)

or fresh-from-the-market ingredients.

Local-resident chic.

 

Bread.

 

Omelette Concorde at Ladurée?

Delicious in it's simplicity.

The macarons purchased on our way out the door?

Everything I expected.

 

Bread.

 

A leek soufflé with champagne butter

and caviar at Bon Marché?

Exotic.

(That's Naphtali's butternut soup in the foreground)

 

Fresh tomato basil soup on a rainy day stop at

Galleria Vivienne?

A reminder of why I leave certain

tasks to professionals.

 

Wine and frites to fortify us for the final

leg home on a late night.

Bracing.

 

Bread.

 

The arrival of my chocolat chaud:

two small pots

- one of chocolate,

one containing hot milk -

flanking the small white cup

in which I will mix my own drink.

Decadent.

 

We scoffed at the warnings of the dangers

of sidewalk crepes - until we shared one.
 

Haricots, mushrooms and potatoes

will henceforth elicit

an inside-joke smile from me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fragrant reminders

 

 

The official start of each day was marked with

 the invigorating burst of citrus

as the first mandarin

was peeled. 

 

(We consumed soooo many of these little gems.)

 

In the way that warm and cold currents run through

a body of water

the aromas of Paris washed over us in turn.

 

Baking bread? Check.

Melted butter?  Bien sur.

The sleepy scent of chocolate?  Mmmmm.

Falafel?  Just around the corner. 

 

Fresh cut trees.

Roasting chestnuts.

Espresso.

 

 

 

 

Flower markets.

Fish markets.

Herbs.

Oils.

Cigarettes.

The occasional cigar or pipe.

Today's special.

 

 

Lavender sachets.

Soaps, lotions,

and perfumes.

She chose SacreBleu.

 

Close at hand

 

 

My visit was further enhanced

by various tactile expressions: 

 

Vin chaud and a new wool wrap

to ward off the chill.

 

Stiff linen napkins at Ladurée.

 

The heft of silverware at Musée D'Orsay.

 

Heavy, elegant menus.

 

Chilled fingers

stealing heat from a cup of chocolate.

 

Silk wall coverings at the Carnavalet.

 

The supple warmth of

a nutella crepe.



 

Eric Bompard's cashmere.

 

The exchange of bills and coins.

 

Sorting through bins of used books.

 

Vintage furs, silks and leather bags.

 

New "furs" and silks.

 

Soothing lotions.

 

A hot shower and warm bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evocative echoes

I loved my trip to Paris.

It was a sensory-intensive experience

from beginning to end.

 

We had many drizzly, but mild, days of

walking to and fro

about the city, absorbing the nuances of its 

quotidian rhythms.

(I wish I'd snapped a shot of the le Pain Quotidian)

My clothing selection was

adequate

- which is all I had asked of it -

in light of the laundry

facilities in our

charming apartment.

 

So, what did I hear?

 

I was awakened several mornings by the

sound of the rasping broom of a

street sweeper below our windows.

 

 

This pianist livened the street corner

at a flea market on a dreary day.

 (We kept hoping the ladies would break into song.)

Rain on my umbrella.

Church bells.

The organ at Notre Dame.

A boy's choir performing the Hallelujah Chorus.

A piano recital in a nearby church.

The melody of conversation.

The whine of approaching motorcycles.

Car horns.

An accordionist on the metro.

Street musicians doing their best with the Beatles.

Laughing children.

The click of heels on cobblestone.

Late-night revelers.

The hushed reverence of memorial places. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Packing Report

This was the original packing list from our recent trip. 

I've crossed out the items I didn't use.

 

4 sleeveless/short sleeve layering pieces:

berry

gray

charcoal

ivory

4 long sleeve tees:

ivory

tan

charcoal

mustard

3 V-neck cashmere sweaters:

navy

gray

teal

3 button-front shirts:

denimish

gray/teal plaid

gray paisley(tunic length)

2 pants:

white cords

charcoal

1 navy skirt and tights

1 charcoal wool blazer

 

With temperatures unexpectedly warm

- upper 60s and 70s -

layers weren't necessary.  I never wore the blazer.

We didn't do any "fine" dining, so the skirt

remained in the suitcase.

 

It's reasonable to assume that many pieces

can be eliminated, because

in Paris I will have access to laundry,

but, December weather should call

 for some layering pieces, so

I'll be looking for that happy medium

to allow more room for

shopping!

 

These items worked for me.

The color combinations were easy and

flexible.  I felt well-dressed and appropriate

in my choices.  The white cords were

fun to wear, though I don't see them

making the trip to Paris.  My boots

proved to be very comfortable.  I had casual shoes

in the bag, which I did wear, and need

to decide which pair of

shoes will accompany my boots

across the pond.

 

Overall it was a relief to see how versatile

the carry-on bag can be. 

It eliminates a certain amount of "stress"

to know that I can do this,

though it's not a convenient system if there are several

overnight stops involved. 

Everything had to be loaded and layered

rather precisely in the bag

(it was full)

which made for less-than-fun repacking

every morning. 

I'm looking forward to having a destination

allowing me to unpack once.

 

 



Senior Discount

I've noticed that many

retailers

restaurants

service providers

calculate senior status

beginning at different ages.

 60 being the most common with
an occasional 55 to be found. 

 

Apparently This Old House marches to its
own beat on this one.
Or has a terribly slow/thorough process
for finding seniors.

 

This came in the mail for me today:



 

 

Such a deal!

 

 

 

Thursday Morning

My haiku challenge has ended.

On Tuesday the last one was composed and posted.

You'd think that after a solid year, those few minutes

would still automatically beckon.

Nope.

No topics clamored for expression as I walked to work

and back yesterday.

No snippets pushed their way into my

consciousness as I woke this morning.

Seems odd that something so vital to your

everyday rhythms for that length of time
could so easily stop.

 

I am thinking of planning on a new

- but less formal -

challenge.

How to go about it

will require some thought and

coordination.

It will take me waaay

outside my comfort zone, as they say.
 

But I can remember thinking

that kickboxing/gymrattery was waaay

outside said zone.

A new ten-week session has begun at the gym.

There are 60+ students

and four of them are part of our regular

class time. 

I've agreed to be a coach, assisting

a woman who has done this

for previous sessions.

We're not instructors.

 

We help/support the newbies as they
sort through all the terms and techniques,
 easing them into the mainstream
of class activity.
Four days in and so far, so good.

I'll get back to you with that other project.

 

 

 



Reflections on a Lazy Night

It's Beggar's Night in Grimes.

Answering the door falls to me, so

tonight's tasks can't be anything that needs

undivided attention.
With knitting and reading out of the question
this seemed like a good way
to occupy my time.

 

I've been enjoying the rhythms of the season.

Harvest has ended for many local farmers.

One has begun planting posts for

snow fencing.

 

The trees have been lovely.

Over the weekend we drove past a

fairly new tract of homes

and I was encouraged to see how many

new trees had been planted.

For some reason those spindly trunks topped by

their brilliant scarlet leaves

made a statement about young

(presumably young) homeowners

investing in the future

when a new patio set may 

have had a more immediate payoff.

 

I'm also feeling a certain

squirrel-like urgency in these last

 few days before daylight savings ends.

Darkness late into the morning  and

falling early in the evening

makes the day too short and too busy 

when there are projects to tackle!!

 

Throwing in the Towel

It has been cool here these last few days.

We've enjoyed having open windows.

Fresh breezes.

The chatter of squirrels

and birdsong as our soundtrack.

 

google images

 

Yesterday was overcast,

cool, but humid. 

  So. Very. Humid.

You could be whereas I was covered with a clammy film

just standing thinking about work.

Just thinking!

 

Today it will warm up,

to what would still be considered

open window weather,

but it means the humidity

will intensify.

Intensify!

When I finish this post

I'm closing the house and turning on the AC.

 

I will wear my badge of wimpdom in comfort.

 

 

 

 

All in a Day's Work

Driving home from my class this morning

the truck in front of me

advertised this:

 

ScooperTroopers

Pet Waste Removal Services.

 

I kid you, not.

 

 

Sunday

Our project this weekend was to replace

the window in the upstairs bathroom.

 

According to the papers that accompanied it

professional installation

would require approximately

one hour.

 

Whatever else we may be

professional installers

we're not.

 

Some creative problem-solving was required, involving

several additional trips up and

down the ladder.

 

What really slowed us down, though,

was stopping to watch the green beans grow.

 

Seriously.

 

google images

 

Last week Tim planted green beans

in the garden box on the south

side of the house.

The ladder to the window was set

just beside the garden space.

 

When we started the box was empty except for three (3)

fingernail-sized, green nubbins,

just emerging through the black soil. 

 

Over the course of the next 90 minutes

we watched those three nubbins 

turn into stemmed plants with

 leaves unfurled.

By the time we packed up the ladder

four more nubbins had emerged.

 

Amazing.

 

 



Whoo-whoo!!

150/365!!

 

That seems like a significant number.

 

Today we have sunshine,

humidity,

and sore muscles.

 

So back to the boxing gloves...

The class I'm involved in uses a combination

of kickboxing and

strength training through resistance bands.

They also emphasize healthy nutrition.

Six days a week.

Alternating KB and ST

and rotating upper and lower body workouts for each.

 

Monday was LB KB.

Tuesday, LB ST.

Today was UB KB

 tomorrow will be UP ST

and Friday should be LB KB again.

 

I was told the class would include a variety of

ages,

shapes and

abilities

and that has proven true.

 

I was also told to expect a

community/camaraderie

among the participants,

which has also proven true.

 

This is so far outside any comfort zone

I've ever imagined.

The schedule/accountability

is just what I needed to get out of my slump.

The people are a good influence

in many ways.

 

I don't quite have the proper technique

for the hook

but I have a killer upper-cut!

 

More soon.

 

 



Milestones

Just a few quick observations to go with today's

 100th (100th!!) haiku.

 

Recent conversations with my sister

and a local friend

have reminded me how fortunate

 I am to be where I am,

involved with

family

and friends,

to have work I enjoy,

time to call my own,

to be healthy,

happy,

content.

 

Here's hoping the same for you...

Friday Morning

Sunshine!!

And 31 degrees - but

Sunshine!!

 

I love this room in the morning sun.

I also love it cozy and dim in the evening.

Add a fire? Heaven.

 

Right now Charlie is enjoying a patch of sunlight on the floor.

His coat is glowing.

And in desperate need of a trim.

 

We had 2.5 inches of rain - on Wednesday.

Yesterday was a combination of rain and sleet.

At times it came sideways in the wind.

 

But today we have sunshine.

And laundry.

Mending.

Bleak House with Gillian Anderson.

You Have to Laugh

I brought this book home from the library recently:

Overdressed
The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
by Elizabeth L. Cline.

 

Of course, the next day,

JCP had a flier in my mailbox promising

everything I need for summer

for $20 or less.

 

I already shared the opinion

(and have tried to be responsible in my attitudes and consumption)

that there was something amiss in

the way clothing is

 perceived,

marketed,

produced

 and/or procured

so it won't be a life-changing read.

 

 

One comment, on page nine of the introduction, elicited

a "Seriously!?" when I read Ms. Cline's

earnest exhortation to

"...develop more of a relationship with the things we wear."

 

While I understand, and agree with the

basic premise,

I couldn't help but think that I have

family/neighbors/co-workers

with whom I need to develop relationships!

Please don't add my wardrobe to that category!!

 

 

 

 

 

Friday Evevning

Quick!

Name the last time you felt sorry for a squirrel!!

 

google images

 

Yesterday morning throughout the whole

 neighborhood the sound of

cardinals, finches

and robins

(there were/are others)

was replaced by the drone of power tools.

Not your average

grass blower

(though I have heard them recently)

but the deep throaty roar of big chainsaws.

The neighbor behind us was having his tree trimmed.

At least that's what I thought.

 

I will admit it was fun to watch them

rig all the support cables and then one guy

began to pull himself up the tree in his harness;

 a skillful, oddly elegant, process.

 

Saws were raised,

 branches were lowered,

breaks were taken

and I had to leave.

 

 When I returned several hours later

the silence was the first clue that the job was finished.

Imagine my surprise when I realized

that the tree hadn't been trimmed

it had been removed!!

 

It was a towering maple

and I can't help but think of all the history

that tree has seen.

I hate seeing trees cut down

and this one was a beauty!

I honestly hope that it was an agonizing

 decision for the neighbors.

 

There were so many birds and squirrels

that made their home in that tree.

The poor squirrels just kept running back to sit

on the stump as if maybe this time

the tree would be there.

 

I know - they're squirrels - even so

they had my sympathy.

 

 

A post...

I'm loving all the fall looks - this one is from Pinterest -

and magazine covers are graced with comfort foods and
 fall cooking (you know what I mean)

but it was 100 degrees here yesterday!!

We leave Friday morning for Oregon.  There are piles everywhere

waiting to be consolidated into packable containers.

Two busy days left to pull it all together.

Can't wait!!

A Tip of the Hat

How many times have you seen cheerful quips about new beginnings? 

Frankly, they (the cheerful quips) (maybe even the cheerful quippers) annoy me.

How can a beginning be anything but new!?

I am, however, a firm believer in hoping the best for those:

embarking on a new adventure

 setting a new course

blazing a new trail

building a new life

 taking their mulligan

making the most of a fresh start. 

google images

Flotsam and Jetsam

My Karl Malden days are far behind me - these days I'm always leaving home without my ...

camera!

It seems that blogging inspiration can be directly tied to that particular accessory - so today you're getting random observations - apropos to nothing
  or nothing without a lot of work.

You know that I am a simple person of simple tastes.  I like what I like, but I can be swayed.  

You may remember that several, really!?  several?!  yes, several years ago - with the big 5-0 approaching -I felt that it was time to cultivate some adult/mature traits.
Tales of cozy tea-drinking episodes held a certain appeal and I decided to learn to drink tea.
I tried.  Really tried.  Really hard.  

I longed for the soothing effects and intimate confessions that seemed to accompany any mention of tea in novels, movies and the real-life anecdotes found in magazines...

It didn't happen.

As I have abandoned my attempts to become a tea-drinker, some other quest must fill that void.  After much consideration I have a new adult pursuit:

I shall learn to eat cheese.  Uncooked.  Cold.  Without a vehicle.  Go ahead laugh - I'll wait.

I can - and do - enjoy melty cheese in any number of delicious applications.
This is different.

I'm already well into my second (!?) year of this experiment and there has been progress.

It wasn't that long ago that I could only eat *half* of one of those wedges distributed between my standard serving of 6 triscuits.  That is no longer the case.  Please hold your applause til the end.

Recently I tried to combine this with learning to drink red wine.
 I know - how hard can it be.

In November my annual checkup indicated that I have elevated triglyceride levels.  As my primary health care provider the doctor was prepared to send me home with a prescription that day, but we decided that I could have the next 6 months flying by to address the situation through diet and exercise.
Her recommendations included fish oil caplets on a daily basis.

Tim, my secondary health care provider, or do I have that reversed? recommended 4 ounces of red wine before bed.  

It didn't happen.

I gave it an honest, generous month.  

I don't like red wine. 

 I find it medicinal.

Drinking it requires that I eat something with it, like cheese and crackers, 

which seems to complicate the whole process...    

The caplets are working just fine for me, as I hope the fish oil in them is.

Next, I'd like to introduce you to what I must imagine will become my new best friend:

One of these days I'll need to take it out of the package.

The textbook for my math class asserts that there is no such thing as a brain for math - it is within the reach of all of us to solve quadratic equations.  I'll get back to you on that one.

While I do consider my self a simple person I do not consider myself ignorant of the world as it moves outside of my immediate sphere - but please - 

Does it seem unreasonable to you that a calculator - granted: a *graphing* calculator - should cost over a hundred dollars!?  Maybe I need to enlarge the borders of my sphere...

Another recent event took place last weekend as I visited my mother to celebrate her approaching birthday.

I had my first massage.  I loved it.  The masseuse had a great touch and
I can see myself doing it again.

I also had my first fried ice cream.  Not the same success as the massage.  I could only finish less than half and don't foresee it ever happening again. 

Finally, today, prompted by the howling wind and frigid air temps, I have taken some of the

 excellent chili we made for Christmas out of the freezer.  

I also made a pot of rice to go with it. 

We got this little gadget for Christmas and I will say that it makes a good pot of rice.

Looking ahead - I have been invited to attend the Yinghua Academy's Chinese New Year celebration the last weekend of January.
I promise to take my camera...