My New Beach

back in the states,

i'd walk the beach.

here, i walk to the eiffel tower.

i try and get out for a walk

when the older kids come home 

from school.

just half hour by myself.

to clear my head before

the dinner rush.

last night i went out

at dusk.

i think it's my favorite time

of the day here in paris.

the soft lighting in the sky

and in the paris flats.

the lines out the door each 

evening at my local boulangerie.

i got to trocadero 

just as the tower was 

being lit for the night.

it's like watching

the sunset on the beach.

that sight never gets old.

bonne nuit paris.

museum weekending

any weekend that involves a trip 

to a museum,

is a great one in my book.

this weekend we visited two.

today..steve and i snuck out

for a bit.

there was an antique fair on 

the champs elysees that 

i've been wanting to see.

it was a beautiful but very 

high end antique fair.

i bought a book.

:)

we walked across to the 

petite palais and had a visit.

it was a quick tour

but so many beautiful pieces

of art.

the building itself is a work of art.

built for the 1900 World's Fair..

right across the street from

her big brother..

the grand palais..

which was closed today.

loved her..

carrying her baguettes.

it was a lovely visit.

and nice for steve and i 

to get out alone.

not great of will..

but it was FREEZING

and he would only pose for one.

saturday, will and i went on 

a tour of the museum of arts and sciences

it was through his school and it

was a nice day for will and i 

to get out together.

this was such an interesting museum!

and so great to do with a tour guide.

we learned so much.

this is the original model of

the statue of liberty.

the very first camera.

this camera filmed the first 

movie projected.

did you see the movie hugo?

clement ader's bat like plane..

got off the ground 13 years before the wright brothers.

this lion and snake are made

completely out of glass.

i love weekends at a museum.

People Watching in Paris

probably one of my most favorite 

things to do in paris.

if i had an entire day to myself here,

i'd probably find a cafe

with a great view and sit all day.

i don't even think i could focus

on reading a book.

and you all know how much i love that.

griffy and i went for a walk today.

of course we ended up at the eiffel tower.

trocadero is a great place to people watch.

there is such diversity here.

people from all over the world.

you can hear many different languages.

often times a rally is going on.

or bands playing.

or a film being shot.

i sometimes crash into people

because i'm so busy staring 

at the people sitting at the cafe's.

passing by 

le coq.

most definitely a cafe

to see and be seen.

and oh how i love the heat

lamps..

so we can still sit outside.

although, i do believe that 

the french sit there to smoke.

thought i'd share my walk home 

in paris.

A Soiree and Some Soup

it was a nice weekend.

plenty of sunshine,

but cold.

we walked to the playground

near the eiffel tower

and ate cotton candy.

steve and i saw ARGO

and loved it.

here is a funny story.

early last week we received 

a letter under the door.

opening it, i found

a beautifully monogrammed french

name followed by handwritten

words in french.

the only words i could

decipher were..soiree,

and samedi fevrier 16.

excited, i call steve and tell him

we've been invited to a soiree!

later that day i noticed everyone

else in the building had the same 

envelope tucked under their door.

then i started to worry.

see, we haven't really hit it off 

too well with the neighbors upstairs.

so i start to think...should we go?

will it be awkward?

i quickly dismiss those feelings and think

about buying a new cocktail dress and 

a lovely hostess gift.

as the weekend approaches,

steve takes the invite to work..

to have his french co-worker translate.

steve tells his colleague how excited his wife 

is to be invited to a soiree.

his colleague is laughing hysterically.

apparently, we aren't being invited to

the soiree.

we are being notified ahead of time

that they will be hosting a soiree for 

their son and to please excuse the noise.

you have no idea how close i was 

to going.

can you picture me knocking on the door?

i made a big pot of Smitten Kitchen's 

lentil soup this weekend.

SO good.

and SO easy.

thanks to my neighbor back

home in the states who emailed me

and told me about it.

thanks Kyle! 

miss you guys

and jealous of all the snow you've been getting!

i couldn't find swiss chard or kale

so used spinach instead.

and unless you plan on eating the 

entire pot of soup in one day..

don't add the chard/kale/spinach 

until you're ready to eat.

i am SO buying her cookbook.

i started

and finished

Someone at a Distance

this weekend..

by Dorothy Whipple.

It's one of the Persephone classics.

i can honestly say

that it's probably one of the best

books i've read.

i do have quite a few favorites 

but this one is right up there.

i have never had such strong

feelings for the characters in a book before.

i've read two of the Persephone books

so far...and looking forward to more.

happy monday!

Fifty Roses

on my way home from the market 

this evening,

i stopped at the flower stand.

i picked up 6 red roses..

one for each of us.

the man in front of me was 

picking up these.

i asked him..

in english..

how many there were.

he said fifty.

i said..

that is one lucky woman.

he said..

they're for my mother.

one for each year of his life.

(i'll wait while you wipe away 

the tear from your eye...)

now..

the two colorful bunches of roses

next to the red ones were for his wife.

not too shabby either.

it got me thinking tonight..

and over dinner with my own

3 boys..

(steve is on the train home from belgium)..

i told them how important it is

to remind the women in their lives

that they are loved.

isn't that all we want?

 to know that we are loved?

ok, sure..

fifty long stem roses 

is a beautiful gesture..

but at the end of the day..

no matter what day it is..

it's the feeling that you are loved

and thought of is what matters most.

and as i was leaving with my 6 red roses..

this little boy placed his order.

maybe for his mother.

and then i ran home and 

had roses sent to my mom.

happy valentines day!

Persephone and a Few Favorite Things

i need to talk about persephone books.

i've mentioned them before..

but that was before i started reading them.

i'm completely obsessed and want to 

collect all 100 persephone books.

i recently finished 

Cheerful Weather for the Wedding.

it is a quick and wonderful read.

i'm now reading 

Someone at a Distance

by Dorothy Whipple

and this one is a page turner as well.

most of the persephone books are 

wrapped in a soft gray cover.

however, the ten persephone classics

(which are sold in the us)

have beautiful covers that are

works of art.

here is the link.

you can receive their catalogue

and biannual magazine for free!

what is on your bedside table?

mine is loaded down with 

books i'm reading 

and waiting to read..

jewelry,

little boxes and child made heart dishes

that hold rings and pins.

my grandmothers hand mirror..

and my other grandmothers tea cup.

hand cream, candle and journal.

and of course a cup of tea.

and hanging above my table..

some of hannah's artwork.

my new tea cup 

and earl grey tea bought in london..

are a few of my favorite things right now.

another favorite thing.

reading books in bed

and eating popcorn

with this little guy

on a cold and dreary paris afternoon.