Isn't it romantic?

So. I am alive and well in France! The Bernard's are so kind and hospitable. Iam in love with everything already...each night,dinner together...a different meal, a new wine, plus those silly and goshdarncute kids!

Paris has been oh so lovely and has captivated my heart once again. I took a bateau mouche the other day...I usually stay clear of concentrated groups of tourists...but when will I ever be able to view Paris from the Seine?!

Jouy-en-Josas is quite charming. It is where the Toile industry began...you know, that fabric your mom buys,printed with peasants and countryside. Also, the house of the Bernard's, on rue 10 Victor Hugo is where the romantic man himself around 1834'hosted' his amoureuse Juliette Drouet. It is where he wrote la Tristesse d’Olympio.

I suppose I should pay hommage to the man and visit him at the Panthèon in Paris!

Today I ate lunch with the 2 boys Hadrièn and Alexandre, plus their neighbor Gabriel! It is a mad house with 3 boys...I made biftek and purée, yum! Flore eats at school. Ok, that's enough of that!...don't want to bore you too much!

à bientot!

Ahh the Utopian life.

Express yo' self Cynch!
Here is a video via Cynthia Leigh of the dear girl painting. A modern take on Rothko non?


Dear friend Katherine Holly, is now Mrs.Katherine Holly Everett! She was wed and I was a maid to the sweet bonnie bride last Saturday. Holly and her hubby are in Santorini-Oia, Greece. I was there just a few seasons ago...here is one of my favorite discoveries: Atlantis Books

progress IS beautiful.

I'm not so sure if I fully believe that 'progress is beautiful' but this commercial's music is. It is intoxicating no? I want more, I want a cd full of it! Anyone know who the music is by?

By and by I wait on the terrace, to board my plane to Paris...
*hence why I have found a tv commercial to post! ;)

Jouy! Joy!

The Bernard family home in Jouy-en-Josas...soon to be my new home for almost a year!

Been listening to this lately...

All I wanna do is...

Paper books. Paper planes.

Friday has been a bit dreary with it's rushing winds from Texas and skies full of clouds. So I'll post about Thursday.
--Ice cream party was a success, but we still have 3 gallons left over so do come to Ivanhoe with your sweet tooth!
--What once was planned to be a somewhat frat-tastic evening turned out to be relieving...80's night instead at the Spanish Moon w/ Lulu and Agnes. To finish off the night what else but a stop at ole Louie's Cafe where we gorged on hashbrowns, burgers and where Lulu purchased me a "Don't Stop Believing" black Louie's tee.(In return I promised to take a photo in front of the Eiffel tower sporting it!)

Also, I purchased another book by Anne Lamott. Known for her humor, honesty, and humility...I just adore her. I think hopeful is the key word in all of her writings...so much hope! Here's someone who's aesthetically eye-catching.I love the style of this frenchie gal Lou Doillon, who happens to be the demi-soeur of actress Charlotte Gainsbourg...so naturally this must run in the family. Finally, I cannot seem to get this song out of my head (as many others in this nation can't):

Lovely photo. Lovely poem.

Photo by Stancy Richards. (Paris, France)



---Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–89). Poems. 1918.

34. ‘As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme’

AS kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies dráw fláme;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: 5
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves—goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I do is me: for that I came.

Í say móre: the just man justices;
Kéeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces; 10
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is—
Chríst—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.

join, or die!

---Since Gustav, the abominable hurricane that left us, (east baton rouge parish)without electricity I have been pondering over a few things...and here they are:

Anne Rice, former athiest and New Orleans native known for her fascination with vampires and doll collections became a Christian around '96-'98 and has written a novel called "Christ the Lord". It is supposedly the beginning of a trilogy that will chronicle the life of Jesus Christ. "Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt" begins with Jesus at the tender age of seven...I have bought this book and am intrigued...I believe she researched for almost a decade to prepare.
John Adams, the mini-series from HBO that came out last year I believe...I have been wanting to watch it since it's release but have not found the time! Hope to see it soon...what a fascinating being.

Also, when in boredom, one often reminisces...I think I will pick up my once and short-lived hobby of collecting stamps! And, I just had a flash back..I am in the Houston Museum with my french class...visiting the French Impressionist/Symbolist showing....I came across Eugene Carriere and was stopped and stunned. Here is a picture of the painting that I adore: "A Mother's Kiss". Euguene was a fin-de-siecle artist known for his brown monochrome palette...and it is said that he influenced Picasso's blue period...