colour

Sony Bravia's ads are the best!

watch the colour (or foam ;) flow...

c'est si bon...

This blog is FANTASTIC.

Garance Doré

take a little trip...allez! go visit it quick!

*merci beaucoup Stephanie*

Fireworks!

Does everything come from/begin in China?? ;)

Just read a bit of history on fireworks...these low explosive pyrotechnic devices began in China.
"The earliest unequivocal documentation of fireworks dates back to 12th century China,[1] where they were first used to frighten away evil spirits with their loud
sound ("BIAN PAO!!!!")* and also to pray for happiness and prosperity."
*emphasis added :)

From New Year's celebrations, to independance day, to even Guy Fawkes day ("Remember, remember the 5th of November...") Fireworks are still considered a necessary and pleasing aesthetic form of entertainment.



Just in case you want to go to the BEST firework shows in the world, I have composed a little list for you:

1.The biggest fireworks event in the world is held in Madeira, Portugal at the New Years' Eve celebrations, as documented in the Guinness World Records.

2. Sydney, Australia. Where they are the first to be seen for New Years Day!

3.November 5th, London for Guy Fawkes Day
---In 1605 Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators attempted to blow up the Parliament of England while the King was inside. Fawkes placed 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellars of Westminster Hall. On 5 November, Fawkes was arrested and Parliament was saved. That night is now celebrated, both in the United Kingdom and in former British colonies such as South Africa and New Zealand as Guy Fawkes Night or bonfire night by filling the sky with exploding fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.

Remember, remember the fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason, and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Will ever be forgot.

– a children's rhyme about the events, still spoken today...

4.Thrissur Pooram fireworks, India

5. Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in New York



*All information retrieved from Wikipedia
*Song? From a band called Paper Route.
(and everytime I type Paper Route, I keep writing Paper ROUGE! just thought I'd share a vice :)

POETRY as an art form may predate literacy...

Poetry (from the Greek "ποίησις", poiesis, a "making" or "creating") is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. Poetry may be written independently, as discrete poems, or may occur in conjunction with other arts, as in poetic drama, hymns or lyrics.

Poetry as an art form may predate literacy.[4] Many ancient works, from the Vedas (1700–1200 BC) to the Odyssey (800–675 BC), appear to have been composed in poetic form to aid memorization and oral transmission, in prehistoric and ancient societies.[5] Poetry appears among the earliest records of most literate cultures, with poetic fragments found on early monoliths, runestones and stelae.

The oldest surviving poem is the Epic of Gilgamesh, from the 3rd millennium BC in Sumer (in Mesopotamia, now Iraq), which was written in cuneiform script on clay tablets and, later, papyrus.[6] Other ancient epic poetry includes the Greek epics, Iliad and Odyssey, and the Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.


Kay Ryan may be the only American poet who describes her writing process as "a self-imposed emergency," the artistic equivalent of finding a loved one pinned under a 3,000-pound car. These "emergencies," she says, allow her to tap into abilities she wouldn't normally have, much like a father who single-handedly lifts a vehicle off his child. In Ms. Ryan's case, however, what has survived because of her efforts over the past three decades is a singular voice and vision. Her poems - with their compact size and technical precision, their wit and sharp intelligence - have been praised by critics for their ability to do and say things that none of her contemporaries can match.---Elizabeth Lund, C.S. Moniter 2004

Blandeur
by Kay Ryan

If it please God,
let less happen.
Even out Earth's
rondure, flatten
Eiger, blanden
the Grand Canyon.
Make valleys
slightly higher,
widen fissures
to arable land,
remand your
terrible glaciers
and silence
their calving,
halving or doubling
all geographical features
toward the mean.
Unlean against our hearts.
Withdraw your grandeur
from these parts.

***Love the photos? It comes from one of the best blog posts EVER.
Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries
Second is Bob Dylan, writing away in a Cadillac...photo by Daniel Kramer(?)

ONYX

"I've been 40 years discovering that the queen of all colors was black."
---Auguste Renoir [French painter, 1841 - 1919]

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!!!
---Matthew 6:23(KJV) * (magnificent!)
Image via NY TIMES

-----------SO I guess I'm in a dark mood. Last evening I saw "The Dark Knight". Now I confess that I am not the biggest fan of "Spiderman" or "The Hulk" but if I may say so myself, this film was impeccable and deserving of an accolade or two! The direction,(Christopher Nolan) the set/set-locations,(Hong Kong,China!!)the actors...Heath Ledger's performance was hyped yes, but truly he gave what I think will be an iconic performance--insanity with brushes of humour throughout!...

Peter Travers, film critic for Rolling Stone stated this about the performance: "mad-crazy-blazing brilliant," Ledger takes the role to the shadows, where even what's comic is hardly a relief. No plastic mask for Ledger; his face is caked with moldy makeup that highlights the red scar of a grin, the grungy hair and the yellowing teeth of a hound fresh out of hell." ...the buzz is that it is oscar-worthy...over all a great film!

-----------Speaking of dark...black that is, I just purchased some Birks for life! (part desire, part functionality--I'll be strolling in a big city soon (PARIS!)and these shoes are made for walking! Here they are...I purchased the Birko-flor in what else, BLACK. Classic and simple.

***And for those of you who think that birkenstock's are for fuddy-duddies. Well, I fully acknowledge it!
I am the fuddiest of duddies. Found a pic of a fellow fuddy-duddy Maggie Gyllenhaal, actress of "Dark Knight" sportin' Birks. Hah! ;)

Something Delightful and not black :)


*MMM...I ate a "fuzz less peach", (a.k.a. nectarine!) yesterday. In fact, I ate two!

Nectarine and Prosciutto Pizza
(Adapted from Eating Well)

3 ounces shredded provolone cheese
1 ounce crumbled blue cheese
cornmeal for dusting
about 1 pound prepared whole-wheat pizza dough (I used my favorite recipe)
3 tablespoons basil pesto
1/2 cup thinly sliced prosciutto
1 large ripe nectarine, pitted and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 450 with a pizza stone placed on the lowest rack.

In a medium bowl, toss together provolone and blue cheese.

Sprinkling enough cornmeal to slightly cover a pizza peel. Stretch and roll out dough to a rough 14" circle and transfer to the cornmeal-dusted peel.

Slide the crust onto the stone and cook until the bottom begins to crisp up, about 3 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and place the crust, uncooked side down, onto a cutting board. Quickly spread pesto over the crust, leaving about a 1/2" border. Scatter three-fourths of the cheese mixture on top. Arrange the prosciutto slices and fruit on top - sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Au Pair Encore?

---10 miles from the center of Paris. 4 kilometers south-east of Versailles. Jouy is a direct translation of Latin gaudium, both meaning joy. Josas was the ancient name of an archdiaconate of the archbishop of Paris.

Is Jouy-en-Josas to be a future residence for moi? --- on va voir...

***Already, I have been on the look for a church in Paris. Check out Christian City Church.
Also, The American Church of Paris...a more established place...

Awestruck Spirit

First, some food: "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." -C.S. Lewis

The Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. -1 Cor. 2:10

Isn't it amazing how the Holy Spirit makes me sensitive, makes us so sensitive and so aware of things we never thought before...


Second, a joyful recap!:
---God has been so gracious to me...I have been blessed with such wonderful friends! Friday evening we had a 'fete' ...a little summer party at Ivanhoe. The official title of the party was "A Midsummer night's dream"...fitting,non? It sure was swell, I tell ya. Lemonade with fresh mint leaves, my record player swirling non stop with Motown, treats n'salsa galore, and a hula-hoop too!! The party started at 8...but people didn't arrive till 10ish...so it was a couple of hours of roommates chilling with lemonade and the occasional hula-hoop contest! A blast :) *


Third, some beautiful designs...Vicente Villarin and 40's influence...






And finally!,"Regardez la petite abeille." ---such a precious clip!

There's a mouse in Ivanhoe Cottage!

So. There you have it.
Ivanhoe Cottage,--------------------------->
has a MOUSE. This rodent...this vermin (who I have to admit, is slightly cute dang it!)...has been scurrying and SNACKING on our food. The mouse revealed himself through a package of Chip's Ahoy in our pantry. There was a small hole, about the size of a dime on the white packaging! Oh what a cookie mouse-monster he/she is!!!

Last night, that wee punk revealed itself to us...well, to Agnes. We were in the living room when all of the sudden, a loud and piercing cry came from the kitchen! It was Agnes and she had seen the mouse! I ran in with my other roomies: Margee and Megan. We saw the vermin scurrying along the top of the Triscuit box!! Margee, my sweet "vegan hampshire" friend, demanded that we not kill it. Alas...he snuck underneath the floor board before anything could be done, but one day...it shall be caught. For nobody messes with Agnes' cookies. Nobody!

On a lighter note. Here is a fun lil' video by this group Cazals!

The Shop Around The Corner...

---Books. Secret Correspondance (via letters or the modern day e-mail). Love. All three are captured in the films : 'The Shop Around The Corner' and 'You've Got Mail'. I am enamored with the idea of a small bookshop, as seen in You've Got Mail, where the aroma is nothing but new books...old books...children...and the occasional sugar-scent (preferably from a batch of scones!! I do love a good scone...)

Here is a clip from the original 'You've Got Mail'...'The Shop Around the Corner', starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. The film is set in Budapest instead of NYC and they begin a secret-letter writing relationship...neithor one realizing who their pen-pal is...until one day.... :)

J'aime...

What do you love?


1."little people" (kids!) in "big people" clothing...as seen here.

2. This song! If it could be transported into a food...it would be ice cream, non? mmm...


*Promise this site will not consist of "all things french"...just mostly

Discoveries

A Gauche! --(to the left) my dear amie Holly in Paris.

Aaand, A Droite! (to the right) are some lovely photos by Serge Leblon.


***J'adore the last shot. Love that free flowin' hair...

Nostalgique

Photos:
1) child-like-wonderBoy! How precious is this photo of my older brother Brandon in the late 8o's! River child...

2) What: sister Allison, cousin Elizabeth, et moi. Where: in a photobooth outside a theater. When: June 2008 after a viewing of 'Prince Caspian'

Speaking of Lewis...I demand a Lewis quote!

"'Something of God...flows into us from the blue of the sky, the taste of honey, the delicious embrace of water whether cold or hot, and even from sleep itself."

C.S. Lewis...My oh my how I adore that man.