My New Year’s Resolution
My poor blog has been so neglected. Aside from a recent post about a dear friend who passed away recently, I have not committed my thoughts to paper (so to speak). As I read over my postings I realized how much of a memory jogger these little snippets are. My plan from here forward is to fill in the blanks randomly. So here we go!
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Monday, July 31, 2017
MY FRIEND ANN
My friend Ann died last week.
I met Ann about 20 years ago through the Master Gardener program. Although we were a generation apart in age, we were instant friends. I loved visiting her garden with it's mixture of wild and cultivated plants. Plants grew along the side of the road, up and down the slopes, in the fields, among the weeds. Ann loved plants. Over the years, we shared garden stories, family stories, thoughts about current events, and, of course, we shared plants. Many times I'd find pots of plants on my porch that she had dropped off. I was always happy when she had a chance to visit my garden. I depended on her to help me identify my "unknowns". And she often left my garden with a plant or two.
We had little gettogathers with other gardening friends at her house under the tree. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed. Once, Ann even invited us to a tea party courtesy of her daughter, Jill and Jill's friend, Raymond. We had so much fun!
Ann was an earth mother. She was an observer of nature. She noticed the intricacies of plants and uniqueness of animals. The tiny clay animals she shaped and glazed reflected her powers of observation. She wrote a garden column for the Morning Sun to fulfill her volunteer Master Gardener hours. Later, she contributed gardening articles to a local magazine. I loved her writing, forthright and down to earth.
Ann was generous, generous with her time and generous with her love. She saw beauty in nature, she saw beauty and potential in people. I can honestly say the world is a better place because of her.
I will miss my friend Ann.
I met Ann about 20 years ago through the Master Gardener program. Although we were a generation apart in age, we were instant friends. I loved visiting her garden with it's mixture of wild and cultivated plants. Plants grew along the side of the road, up and down the slopes, in the fields, among the weeds. Ann loved plants. Over the years, we shared garden stories, family stories, thoughts about current events, and, of course, we shared plants. Many times I'd find pots of plants on my porch that she had dropped off. I was always happy when she had a chance to visit my garden. I depended on her to help me identify my "unknowns". And she often left my garden with a plant or two.
We had little gettogathers with other gardening friends at her house under the tree. We talked and talked and laughed and laughed. Once, Ann even invited us to a tea party courtesy of her daughter, Jill and Jill's friend, Raymond. We had so much fun!
Ann was an earth mother. She was an observer of nature. She noticed the intricacies of plants and uniqueness of animals. The tiny clay animals she shaped and glazed reflected her powers of observation. She wrote a garden column for the Morning Sun to fulfill her volunteer Master Gardener hours. Later, she contributed gardening articles to a local magazine. I loved her writing, forthright and down to earth.
Ann was generous, generous with her time and generous with her love. She saw beauty in nature, she saw beauty and potential in people. I can honestly say the world is a better place because of her.
I will miss my friend Ann.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL
Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris is a majestic ediface, 420 ft long with two 226 ft towers. The spire reaches 295 ft. The most famous of its several rose windows has a diameter of 42 ft. Construction on this gothic style cathedral began in 1163. It was completed in 1345.
The most famous features of Notre Dame are its gargoyles and its flying buttresses (arched exterior supports). Interesting facts from Wikipedia:
The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses.
After the construction began and the thinner walls grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the
walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built
supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the
pattern. Many small statues were placed around the outside. These were
crafted individually and served as supports for columns and water
spouts. Among these are the famous gargoyles. These were originally
colored, as was most of the exterior. The paint has worn off, but the
grey stone was once covered with vivid colors.
Many of the cathedral's sculptures and gargoyles were removed or demolished during the French Revolution. A 23 year full restoration began in 1845.
Notre Dame is located on the Ile de la Cite, a small island in the heart of Paris.
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| View from the Seine |
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| Interior |
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| Rose window and Gallery of Kings |
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The Louvre
The Louvre is one of the world's most famous museums. The Louvre Palace which began as a fortress in the 12th century became a royal residence by the 14th century. It was during the French Revolution that the Louvre was transformed into a public museum.
Anyone who has viewed the movie, "The DaVinci Code", can easily identify the building with the glass pyramid as Musee du Louvre. The pyramid was designed by the famous architect, I.M. Pei. The structure was completed in 1989 and serves as the main entrance to the museum. (The pyramid and the underground lobby beneath it were created because the original main entrance could no longer handle the enormous number of visitors). The museum averages 15,000 visitors a day.
Over 35,000 works of art are displayed at the Louvre. The painting collection has more than 7,500 works dating from the 13th century to 1848. Of course the most famous painting in the collection is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
The Wedding Feast at Cana is the largest piece in the collection (262 in × 390 in).
Anyone who has viewed the movie, "The DaVinci Code", can easily identify the building with the glass pyramid as Musee du Louvre. The pyramid was designed by the famous architect, I.M. Pei. The structure was completed in 1989 and serves as the main entrance to the museum. (The pyramid and the underground lobby beneath it were created because the original main entrance could no longer handle the enormous number of visitors). The museum averages 15,000 visitors a day.
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| Interior |
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| Interior |
Over 35,000 works of art are displayed at the Louvre. The painting collection has more than 7,500 works dating from the 13th century to 1848. Of course the most famous painting in the collection is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
The Wedding Feast at Cana is the largest piece in the collection (262 in × 390 in).
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| Mona Lisa |
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| Portion of Wedding Feast at Cana |
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| Venus de Milo |
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| Winged Victory of Samothrace |
Saturday, June 16, 2012
VERSAILLES
In direct contrast to the bucolic setting of Monet's residence, we next visited Versailles. Versailles was formerly a hunting lodge, built by Louis XIII in 1624. Louis XIV expanded the hunting lodge into one of the largest palaces in the world. The Palace covers 37,000 acres and at one time had 1400 fountains.
The French court was officially at Versailles in 1682. During its height the Palace is said to have accommodated 20,000 people, including 9,000 soldiers and 5,000 servants.
Interesting tidbit:
The smell at Versailles was said to be "unique out of all the palaces in Europe" (duc Saint-Simon). There were no functioning toilets until 1768. By the time of the French Revolution in 1789 there were only 9, and those belonged to the King and his closest family members. The rest of the palace simply had to live with the constant smell of the privy-chambers clinging to their clothes, apartments and the general atmosphere. Although banned, chamber pots were constantly emptied out of the nearest window. (from Wikipedia)
The 1919 Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
This room, with one wall lined with 17 beveled mirrors opposite windows overlooking the gardens, has 10 crystal chandeliers along its length.
The gardens at Versailles were designed by landscape artist, Andre Le Notre.
The stiffly formal gardens include ornate fountains with "magically still water expressing the power of humanity over nature."
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| Gate at Versailles |
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| Courtyard |
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| View of garden from Hall of Mirrors |
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| Hall of Mirrors |
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| View of Garden from Hall of Mirrors |
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| Queens Bedroom |
The French court was officially at Versailles in 1682. During its height the Palace is said to have accommodated 20,000 people, including 9,000 soldiers and 5,000 servants.
Interesting tidbit:
The smell at Versailles was said to be "unique out of all the palaces in Europe" (duc Saint-Simon). There were no functioning toilets until 1768. By the time of the French Revolution in 1789 there were only 9, and those belonged to the King and his closest family members. The rest of the palace simply had to live with the constant smell of the privy-chambers clinging to their clothes, apartments and the general atmosphere. Although banned, chamber pots were constantly emptied out of the nearest window. (from Wikipedia)
The 1919 Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
This room, with one wall lined with 17 beveled mirrors opposite windows overlooking the gardens, has 10 crystal chandeliers along its length.
The gardens at Versailles were designed by landscape artist, Andre Le Notre.
The stiffly formal gardens include ornate fountains with "magically still water expressing the power of humanity over nature."
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| Gardens at Versailles |
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| Gardens at Versailles |
Sunday, May 27, 2012
GIVERNY AND MONET
Giverny, a village in the province of Normandy is about 50 miles northwest of Paris. On day two we traveled by motor coach to my most anticipated destination of the tour, Monet's Garden in Giverny. We passed fields of bright yellow canola, drove along the Seine, saw a barge, and marveled at the quaintness of the homes and churches in the small villages.
Monet's Giverny residence was a former cider farm. Monet transformed the neglected two acre vegetable plot into his famous flower garden. He planted flowers according to color and height, with trellises and arches carrying the color skyward. Monet didn't constrain his plantings but allowed them to grow and ramble freely.
In 1893, Monet purchased property across the road and created the water garden that is so prominent in nearly 250 of his paintings. The water garden is full of asymmetries and curves, inspired by Japanese gardens. There is the famous Japanese bridge covered with wisteria; other smaller bridges; weeping willows, bamboo and, of course, the beautiful water lilies.
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| Canola field and tree infested with mistletoe |
Monet's Giverny residence was a former cider farm. Monet transformed the neglected two acre vegetable plot into his famous flower garden. He planted flowers according to color and height, with trellises and arches carrying the color skyward. Monet didn't constrain his plantings but allowed them to grow and ramble freely.
In 1893, Monet purchased property across the road and created the water garden that is so prominent in nearly 250 of his paintings. The water garden is full of asymmetries and curves, inspired by Japanese gardens. There is the famous Japanese bridge covered with wisteria; other smaller bridges; weeping willows, bamboo and, of course, the beautiful water lilies.
PARIS, A WEEK TO REMEMBER
The first time I saw the TV promotion I knew I was going to go. "Paris, A Week To Remember", visit Monet's Garden, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, The Louvre, ooh la la!
Visiting Paris has always been at the top of my bucket list. And so it came to be, I went, I saw, I loved it!
My sister, Alma, was my traveling companion. She flew from Baltimore to Detroit to connect with the tour group. Our plane, scheduled for 9:40 pm was delayed but I had passes to Delta's Sky Club so our three hour wait for departure was very comfortable.
Rose was our tour guide, she made sure we were well taken care of from start to finish. Robbie and Jim were the TV station celebs who accompanied the tour. They were great hosts.
We arrived in Paris about 1:30 pm. Charles de Gaulle airport is about 15 miles north of Paris. John Andre, our local guide, met us at the airport. On the motor coach to the hotel he oriented us with interesting facts about the city and culture and identified the sites we passed.
Some interesting tidbits:
Population of Paris: approximately 2 million
Area: 41 square miles
Highest point: Montmartre
The Seine bisects the city, there are 35 bridges that span the river
The two islands in the Seine are Ile Saint-Louis and Ile de la Cite.
Visiting Paris has always been at the top of my bucket list. And so it came to be, I went, I saw, I loved it!
My sister, Alma, was my traveling companion. She flew from Baltimore to Detroit to connect with the tour group. Our plane, scheduled for 9:40 pm was delayed but I had passes to Delta's Sky Club so our three hour wait for departure was very comfortable.
Rose was our tour guide, she made sure we were well taken care of from start to finish. Robbie and Jim were the TV station celebs who accompanied the tour. They were great hosts.
We arrived in Paris about 1:30 pm. Charles de Gaulle airport is about 15 miles north of Paris. John Andre, our local guide, met us at the airport. On the motor coach to the hotel he oriented us with interesting facts about the city and culture and identified the sites we passed.
Some interesting tidbits:
Population of Paris: approximately 2 million
Area: 41 square miles
Highest point: Montmartre
The Seine bisects the city, there are 35 bridges that span the river
The two islands in the Seine are Ile Saint-Louis and Ile de la Cite.
We passed the Stade de France, the soccer stadium which seats 110,000, and the Bois de Boulogne, the famous Parisian park that is 2 1/2 times larger than Central Park. Finally, we reached our hotel, Puhlman, Eiffel Tower.
Our first dinner in Paris was at Le Baillide Suffren, a bistro near the Eiffel Tower. The croque provencal was delicious.
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| La Baillide Suffren |
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| First view of the Eiffel Tower |
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