The colorless days of white and grey are passing ever so quickly, yet not fast enough…for Spring holds new adventures. The sun only shines for a limited time, resulting in the longest nights that our lives have yet to encounter. A glimmer of Spring arrives in a bundle of white lilies dotted with delicate rose centers, and tulips as yellow as a lemon drops. Stretching to meet the last rays of light the day has to offer, they too dream of Spring…
Are you too dreaming about Spring?
Thank you to “Important to Madeleine” blog, another 18th-century French history chaser, for this lovely post!
I’ve finally found someone who is as interested in French history as I! She doesn’t just have an interest, she has a Master’s in European History to back it up. Meeting Elissa (online, no less) is a prime example of what I’ve always told my kids about life. You just really never know what can happen. Many of the very best things in my life have just fallen into my lap with no prior planning, expectation, or even conscious hope. So it was when I happened upon Elissa’s blog, was emboldened by the fact she was from Texas, sent her an email to ask her a simple question about Paris, and, from that, almost instantly, we decide to meet in Paris in March. For five years, I’ve wanted someone with whom I could discuss the ins and outs of French history and, suddenly, here she is. It’s so fantastic that it’s easy to be unintimidated by the fact that she’s young and adorable. It helps that, as a Texan, she’s also down to earth and just a really nice person.
Instead of trudging through my version of Elissa’s, and her husband, Matt’s, (who, by the way, is a chef which dovetails nicely with another interest of mine) glittering evening at an actual Versailles masked ball, you can read her sparkling description on her blog: https://thetravelingpear.com/2011/07/10/591/
And, the section of the blog that prompted me to email her:
https://thetravelingpear.com/2012/09/24/reblogged-versailles-a-private-tour/
If, by some freak occurrence, someone stumbles upon this blog and shares this obsession, let me know and you’ll be welcome to join us in Paris.
Interesting in Chasing French History too? Drop me an email…
Winter. Snow. Eiffel Tower. Sounds magical right?
Ever experience the Eiffel in Winter? Nope…neither have we. If you said yes, then you’re a lucky one!
We’ve seen her in Autumn when the days gradually grow shorter and gold leaves tumble in the breezes beneath her. In early Spring when she towers ever so slightly under a blanket of grey & rain. And finally in Summer when tourists swarm her like cut ants on a rose bush. Not the most idyllic of images, but that’s the poor gal in the Summer.
I image she’s even more majestic clouded by a haze of glittering snow…maybe this will be the year of Tour Eiffel in Winter.
For now I dream…
Totally something the Chef and I would do.
{La tour eiffel sous la neige}
Why don’t I own this???
{Winter in Paris Globe Ring}
Or instead of dreaming I can layer up in a coat, scarf and mittens, walk out the front door and gaze upon her myself! Yes, there admist the bustling traffic of Rockland, Maine is the *Snow* Iron Lady herself…
Made especially pour moi by the uber talented Chef!
I know, I know…it kinda resembles a pizza oven (our friend’s first thought) or maybe a missile? Another guess we heard. You wouldn’t believe the gazes, gawks and stares of bewilderment we received while construction was taking place. Our neighbor, who also got a little artistic (her creation–Year of the Fish) not far away, was puzzled and a little unsure it would even take shape. She made sure the pedestrians passing by weren’t confused by its phallic like shape. She just didn’t want the police to show up…it did take a on rather profane image for a while. Alas…”Don’t mess with Texas..we’ll get er’ done” thought the Chef. And so he did!
So what’s your year going to be?
Saying goodbye to the year of transition–2012. From Texas to Maine. We look back at our greatest highlights…
delighted in a 3 month vacation to the Park Hotel…aka home in Texas with Mom & Dad
took a trip to the vast open plains of West Texas
chased chateaux through the Normandy countryside
photo: marie z. johnston
became the princess of my very own domain…if only for a moment
photo: marie z. johnston
made new friendships
photo: marie z. johnston
learned how to speak the language of Brad the lamb
photo: marie z. johnston
roamed the hidden stairways and private corridors of Versailles
photo: marie z. johnston
motored across the eastern half of the US--over 2500 miles
searched for a new home…in Maine
tamed the lion that sits upon the owls head
became acquainted with the local eats
Chef found his new calling
meandered to the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse… farthest eastern point in the US
joined the lobstermen in their annual lobster boat races
enjoyed the first of many sunrises at our new home in the state of Maine…where’s its always vacation time
Photos of Versailles & Chasing Chateaux: Marie Z. Johnston
Adventures of a Shepherdess in Normandy: Stanzes Blabla
snow
a : precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F (0°C) —Webster Dictionary.
b: something that is radical, cool, or otherwise awesome. something that is snow is generally the shit, being top score, bitchin, etc. the word is derived from the fact that snow is generally off the hook in its beauty, power, and pimpery —Urban Dictionary.
silliness
absurdity: a ludicrous folly
wicked absurdity
snow+ silliness = precipitation of small white ice crystals that produce a ludicrous folly of radical, cool beauty, power and pimpery… pimpery, huh? Let’s go find that pimpery.
a winter wonderland awaits
Look Momma, no mittens! The one and only time it ever snowed during my childhood (circa 1982) in Texas I had all of 5 minutes of radical snow fun because I refused to wear my mittens while building a snowman and was forced back into the house. I admit, I was warned, but the awesomeness of the snow had me mesmerized. What Texan child wouldn’t be? The sight of crystals falling from the sky is epic people. Heck, snow in Texas is an urban legend, or like winning the Powerball. Just doesn’t happen. So with one huge swoop of Momma’s arms I was nabbed up, taken inside and pacified with a Barbie. It’s Ok Momma, I know it was for my own good…I couldn’t get my mittens on fast enough after this shot! Burr!
sharing the silliness with a local…see the mittens are back on
look who I discovered…a bundled up Chef looking way to suave or is he practicing his Parisian Frenchness
hey kid…our snowman is bigger than yours! nanner, nanner boo boo
I think we’ve found our pimp..ery.
oh no a fallen snowman?
hey kitty..come here kitty
Have any snow follies of your own? Do share.
I believe we’re in for more snow…it’s fallin’ once more and with the constant roar of the snow plows passing by it must be wickedly awesome!
thetravelingpear.com 