Starting Early

I've been fighting a bad back and haven't been able to get out and about.
Here are a few fun things I did find this week.

Autumn arrived and the cornucopia makes an appearance.

You can learn more about the cornucopia and celebration of the harvest here.


In Musashi's Garden, the plumeria are still blooming.






Of all the pretty Autumn table-scapes I've seen,
I think I like this one the best.
Vibeke is Norwegian and her blog is gorgeous. 

Do you enjoy armchair traveling?
Do you love Paris and all things French?
Enjoy watercolors?
Then you should visit Paris Breakfasts.


On the way home from the grocery,
I noticed this:

A neighbor got the jump on Halloween!

Everyone knows I love Halloween,
but even I don't start this early!



I'll leave you with a few words of wisdom from
the Fortune Cookie Journal:

"Nothing good comes from jealousy but
there is good to be found in jelly beans."



Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Willy Nilly Friday

Five on Friday

Mosaic Monday

This and That

A memory from Paris.

1. I finished reading A Paris Apartment by Michelle Garle. I enjoyed it, but thought it could have been even better! Based on the true story of a treasure stocked Paris apartment that had been closed for seventy years. Amazing!

2. The Rice baseball team is away this weekend, which means I have the weekend to do whatever I want. The weather is supposed to be close to perfect, so sitting outside near the pond and reading sounds like a good idea.

3. The Final Four is in town ... lots of traffic. No, I'm not going, but will watch on television.

4. I'm getting a hair cut today and then off to the grocery store.

5. I've put my crochet hook down and got out my knitting needles. I find that crochet is easier on my hands, but I found a knit shawl pattern that looked pretty quick and easy so I thought I'd give it a go.  

It's so nice to have Nancy back with Random 5 Friday.

Willy Nilly Friday

Five On Friday

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Yarn A Long

One of my sisters-by-choice is a member of Annie's Creative Woman Kit-of-the Month Club.

She doesn't crochet and since I do, she sent this kit to me.

I'm between yarn projects (just finished an afghan).

I needed an easy project while I decide what I want to try next. 

When I'm finished I'm going to send the scarf back to her!
Surprise!

When I need to take a break from the crochet hook,

I grab a book.

I'm reading Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod.

I was lucky enough to visit Paris with my knight in shining armor.

The Louvre with its amazing art collection 
and the crowd around Mona trying to get a picture of her.
The amazing windows of Sainte Chapelle.
I could spend days just sitting there.
Notre Dame
The amazing gardens and parks.
The Eiffel Tower -- it seems to hide and then suddenly -- there it is again.
The bread.
And, last but not least, 
I can still imagine the taste of the lemon tart I had in the little store on the Rue St Honore.
One must remember not to hurry these experiences, but stop and enjoy.

In Paris Letters we learn that Janice has job burnout.

She wants an answer to the question:

How much money does it take to quit your job?

She finds out, gives the reader suggestions,

and plans to spend a couple of years traveling in Europe.

She finds romance and a new business. 

Janice has a blog that you can find here.

I also follow Carol Gillott's blog.

She is another Paris lover and I enjoy her adventures in the city.

Wishing YOU well, much joy, lots of new yarn and a good book! 

Yarn A Long with Ginny.

Memories

I've been scanning photos and thought I'd share some from Paris in 1995.

The magnificent Eiffel Tower was built to impress visitors to the Universal Exhibition of 1889.

It was meant to be a temporary addition to the Paris skyline.

Paris is dotted with many areas of parkland, intimate gardens, and attractive tree lined squares.

Each is a reminder of the French capital's past.

The flat Jardins des Invalides and the landscaped Champ-de-Mars were the grounds of the 

Hotel des Invalides and the Ecole Militaire. They were the site of the Paris Universal Exhibition, whose reminder is the Eiffel Tower. 

It seems as if you can see forever from the top of the Eiffel tower.

On a clear day you can see some 45 miles.

This was not a clear day.

The Palais de Chaillot with its huge, curved colonnaded wings each culminating in an immense pavilion, houses four museums, a theater and the Cinematheque. Designed in Neoclassical style for the 1937 Paris Exhibition, it is adorned with sculptures and bas-reliefs. 

The shady Jardins du Trocadero sloping down to the river from the Palais de Chaillot were planted after the 1937 Universal Exhibition. Here is the largest fountain in Paris and fine views of the river and the Eiffel Tower.

There is no better way to see Paris than to walk along the River Seine.

Thank you for sharing this short trip down memory lane.

A big THANK YOU to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday.

Wishing you well and a JOY filled week.

Postcard Friendship Friday

Postcard Friendship Friday is brought to us by our wonderful Postmistress, Marie.

We have friends who traveled to France this last September.
They sent us this beautiful postcard.

Notre Dame Cathedral is certainly impressive.
But it was the message on the back that got a few smiles from us.

The back reads:
"Paris is amazing -- the fresh bread, the cheese, the
... wait, who am I kidding ... the wine!
Maybe I can convince the bosses, Bentley and Mathilda,
to let Bulldog Postal have a Bordeaux Happy Hour!"
David, Lisa and Benjy

(Their business is Bulldog Postal and Bentley and Mathilda
are their bulldogs -- who welcome all the customers.)

Here's to wine and mail call!

Be sure to visit Postcard Friendship Friday.