You Can't Take Me Anywhere

Well, it's almost all Hallows Eve, or Halloween as we like to call it.  This is the scariest thing I could come up with (or it could be my parrot Birdie trying to pluck my eye out as I work on this blog).  During our 10 day trip to Paris this spring, we forayed two hours east of Paris, in the Loire Valley, and went to Chartres and Chambourg.  I really enjoyed this and heartily recommend spending a day or two around there to see how they live outside of Paris.  Tiny towns, or villages, dot the countryside in a patchwork mosaic of planted fields. Many of the homeowners also had large gardens.  I will show more of Chartres later, though I can't remember whether many of the pics are Chartres or Chambourg, but this old window was definitely in Chambourg.  Of course, you're not supposed to open the windows, so what did I do, yes, as my friends scattered, I had to lift the beautiful old latch and open the window.  Just inches away, on the sill, was this little bat.  It looked up at me and followed me with its eyes.  I looked up to see if it had fallen from the roof line, but saw no others.  Since bats aren't out during the daylight hours, I surmised it must be sick.  Rabies?!! Sorry little bat, I wish I could help you but I'm outta here.  I  took my photo, then gently closed the window.  See what you miss when you always follow the rules.  BOO!

Ryuichi Sakamoto - The Wuthering Heights(Trio World Tour 96)

A Small Gift

One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite pianist/composers.

Oldest Paris Church

This large silver-rimmed shell holds holy water in the oldest church in Paris, St-Germain-des-Pres.  Originating in 542 when most of Paris was still swampy, it was mostly burned down during the French Revolution by the mobs.  Remarkably, it was heavily restored in the 19 century and looks beautiful today.  A powerful Benedictine Abbey in its day, it was built by the Merovingian ruler, King Childebert, to house holy relics.  You can tell it is a much older church; beautiful original painted columns and walls retain original symbols painted in wonderful colors.  I love this photo.  St-Germain-des-Pres, given its age, has seen many great and horrific moments in Parisian history, but is worth a visit.   One famous tomb includes that of Rene Descartes.

Cipher This!

As is often the case, I have to figure how to do things myself.  Frustrating, yes.  Knitting, painting, sculpting, sewing, carving, writing, cooking/baking...I would much rather have someone show me how.  It would save much trial and error, research, etc. I want to make my own cipher to use on my prints/artworks.  After several hours of attempting the smallest of workings and carvings, I had to drive to the city/crafts store yet again, for more supplies and another third attempt. I am the poster child for learning from mistakes.  I know I'll finally get one, but this journey is not more fun than the destination.

And Then There Were Two

Can you believe it?  Another huge mouth to feed!  This brown girl showed up last month.  She left her pastures and crossed a fence and eighty acres to get here.  Guess she was lonely and hungry too by the look of her ribs.  I expect this animal cruelty from our neighbors, but not from her owner, who is a school superintendent of a rural school system.  

Hosannah no likey brown girl - has to share her feed now.

You better not bite my knee!

Hosannah thinks that's hilarious.

She finally decides to lie down though when I moved an inch, she popped right back up just in case I might have hidden some graham crackers from her.

To all my dear blog friends that haven't had comments from me, I am still not able to comment on some of your blogs, but am reading and enjoying them.