Friday, November 11, 2011

Deco Amsterdam

Interior at the restaurant in the American Hotel‎ on Leidsekade, just off Leidseplein

Apartment building, Tesselschadestraat, Amsterdam

One of the things I love about Amsterdam is the number of Art Deco influenced buildings that it has. There is even a deco style named Amsterdamse School style of architecture. Most of the buildings in this style were built in 1915-1940.

Near Amsterdam Centrum, there is even a whole neighborhood, the Rivierenbuurt, designed by architects from the Amsterdamse School. I've only ridden through it, in taxi, bus or tram, but one of these visits I'm going to have to get out and walk through in order to get some pictures.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Bedroom Secrets


It is strictly verboten by the museum, but while the guard was in the other room, I snuck a photo of my friend Markus while he was looking at one of Van Gogh's best loved works, The Bedroom, which is the focus of a special show about its restoration at the museum.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Oh, the Brushstrokes!


As seen at the Van Gogh museum last Friday, The Pink Orchard, oil on canvas painted in 1888 by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). He painted a series of ~14 orchard paintings from the end of April to the end of March that year. They have three of the orchard paintings hung side by side at the museum. (see them in this video) They are more beautiful in person, of course -- a lot of wonderful movement in the trees.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Cyclamen Naturalisée

I've never seen cyclamen growing wild. I think of it as a pretty, if somewhat overly common, plant that people have in the house for a little color through the winter. When I went up to visit the house of a friend on the Montaigne Noir this week, there was a beautiful drift of Cyclamen Hederifolium, a hardy, miniature cyclamen, in bloom under the trees near the chateau on the property. Gerard, the owner of the chateau, said that he had planted the first corms 20 years ago and gradually spread them out. I love that he took the care to create this beautiful sight in the grounds around his large old house, but then I have often said that the French have a wonderful aesthetic.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

le Monstre de la Tarte

See those twirly, eye lookin' things in this monster face made of tarts? Those are the tartes au citron that the bakery around the corner from me has started making. They are the perfect balance of crust to lemon filling to whisper light, soft, toasted meringue. I'm getting hypnotized by their twirliness just looking at this picture, lemon tarts have started to invade my dreams...and they are only 2€ a piece.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Anémones à la Lumière



Can't get enough of this week's bouquet of anemones in the afternoon light.
Anemone's of the type Anemone coronaria were 4€ a bunch at the market in Revel.

Friday, October 7, 2011

des Lignes de Toit (Roof Lines)

From inside the Bemberg Foundation in Toulouse which I toured with John Norton today.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Les Feuilles Tombent

Love the color of the leaves on the grape ivy vine on my petit balcon in the autumn.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

La Lumière Encore

It is Sunday and we have a blessing of soft Fall light and warmth.
It was even a little too warm at the vide grenier in Roumens.
The house on rue Ferlus was nice and cool when Gwen & I came back for lunch.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Heart Clang


The light and breeze de l'été indien (of the Indian summer) coming
through my front door today was making my heart clang.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Car Share a la Soreze

It's a little Renault Twingo. And in France that rhymes: Ren-oh Twin-go.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

New Landscape


"God has shouted 'Yes! Yes! Yes!'
To every luminous movement in Existence."  says Hafiz.  

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Bye, Bye Corn Tiger


The Corn Tiger and his mom having a little snack in the park near South Station, Boston, before they board the bus to NYC. Miss them already =,o].

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Life is Complex.


Detail from Mark Perlman's "Wallow."  Encaustic on panel, 80 X 60.  Hanging at Phantom Gallery, 9077 Windsor Rd., Windsor, CA.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

In a New York Summer


On hot mornings we like to go to the park on the East River to have our coffee and almond croissant.

Friday, June 3, 2011

The Artist Discusses Her Work


Reception last night at the Phantom IV Gallery in Windsor, CA, where LC and three other artists are showing their work. This gentleman was saying, "I really like this one!" regarding the painting in the center.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Rapture: The After Party


As seen on Clement Street in SF on Saturday before 6 pm. We rapturously consumed piroshki, mushroom and cabbage types, and borscht from the Cinderella Bakery on Balboa for our dinner.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Did I ever show you this one?


Apple blossoms in the back yard, distracting the lady with the new lawn mower.  xoxoLC

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Digitalis

The Foxglove was holing full heads of flowers high above the front yard when I arrived home. It looked like they were waving hello with those gloves for foxy fingers. I have been trying to get this plant to naturalize in front of the porch and it looks like it might have made some progress in that direction this year, as there were four miniature starts down below in the mint-run-rampant. I cleared some space in the mint for the little foxgloves to grow.
Maybe they will be the plants with tall spires next year.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

New Amsterdam

New York is showing its Dutch roots this Spring, tulips are everywhere.

Friday, April 29, 2011

rumor


Rumor has it that a train will one day soon pass this way.  Poppy puts the warm bed to good use, grinning orange.  

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Un Bouquet Extravagante

I love peonies ( les pivoines, say pee-vhw-ons. I know, it's not easy.). I've tried to get them to grow in my garden back home, with no success thus far. They always have great varieties in the market in France in the Spring. These don't have any scent, but they started as intensely pink balled buds and watching them unfold has been très amusant.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Drenched


From The Night Before's rain, the roses at our spiritual center are resplendent in the morning light.  

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Au Coeur de la Forêt



This walk starts just outside the restaurant À la Prise d’Alzeau which is in the forest up on the Montagne Noire near Saissac. We walked along the river Alzeau, one of the sources of the water for the Canal du Midi. The variety of fresh, new green was satisfying in a way that complemented the delicious meal we had just finished at the restaurant.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Garden Girl Tea


Creativity.  Feminine.  Powerful.  Friendship.  Support.  Excitement.  Inspiration.  Two colorful cups, a pot of tea  + friends = an hour well-spent!  Gail and I send love, and are looking forward to you sitting with us, after planting 213 tomato babies!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Bénédiction des Arbustes


You know me, not a big church-goer, but I do like me some gregorian type chanting in a cavernous cathedral from time to time. A hankering to listen to some singing got Stacey and I down to En Calcat yesterday on what just happened to be Palm Sunday. Around here people bring branches from home to be blessed, boxwood being the preferred branch type and olive a close second.

When I was a catholic school kid, the church provided palm fronds at the end of the mass that had been blessed during the service. The French country approach seemed more "grass roots" and participatory. The place was packed. We ended up in backstage seats, i.e. on the benches set up in the area back of the altar for the overflow crowd. Amazing for a catholic church out in the countryside.

The chanting was purt good, too.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Dans la Forêt

The three ladies setting out for a walk in the woods. It was warmer than it looks in this photo. We had just come out of the restaurant into the shade of the woods. It was a glorious Spring day and the green of new growth was all around.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Past, Present and Future... again!


She looks so much like her Mama did at this age it startles me!  She has filled the ceramic pot with charcoal from the ashes, planning to embellish her chalk art on the sidewalk (which she did!).  We had a very busy and productive day, painting, drawing, talking, fixing and eating things which go with peanut butter, AND taking a walk down to see the horses!  Yes.  I call it a good day!

Two Hundred and Sixteen


216 happy little tomatoe plants say, "Good Morning N2!!!  Soon you will be home to plant us!"  What are we thinking, Little Friend?  Two hundred and sixteen.  Hmmmmmmmmm.  ((smiling))

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Into Dramatic Flowers Today


The Callas are bursting out everywhere.  Love the landscape of them.  xoxoLC

Une Soirée de Pizza et Bière

The pizza man brings his oven in a van to the parking lot around the corner on Wednesday nights. Last week Peter and Anne came over from Durfort at 6 pm. We ordered up our pizza and ate it at one of the brasserie tables with a glass of their good Belgian Leffe beer. This is a ritual worth repeating.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Dentelle Verte (Green Lace)

In the warm evening I can almost hear the delicate unfolding
of the leaves on the allee of platane trees around the corner.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Perfection


Coming out of my Spring "grunge" to find the Camillia in full bloom, even the fallen blossoms are perfect. As I have said before, this is my favorite pink.  Perfection.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

La Porte Ouverte

It has been so warm the last couple of days that I've kept the bedroom door open in the afternoon. Glorious sunshine!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Vol d'Oiseau

Birds eye view of Toulouse and the Garonne River, which originates high
in the Spanish Pyrenees, heads north through Toulouse and then hangs a left,
and flows west emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Bordeaux.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Marché à Revel

The market is even more delicious when the sun is shining as it was on Saturday.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Tapas Bar


This is a place on Calle Lagasca, just down the street from my hotel, that I have been passing for years. I ate at three tapas bars on this visit to Madrid, but have yet to try this one. La próxima vez!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Summer Dream


They're up, and have been transplanted (Thank you, Jolee!) to the sixpacks.  Jolee is grumbly about "...the old fashioneds.  They just are harder to start."  And it appears to be true, they are smaller and less leafy than the others.  I am going over in a few moments, in between laundry loads, to talk to the babies.  I believe they need some encouragement.

Petit-Déjeuner à Madrid

Writer's breakfast Madrid: tortilla española (eggs and potatoes w/ no flour) and café manchado (literally "stained coffee" the stain referring to the milk). After staying in the
NH Lagasca over a 14 year period, I just discovered this cafe cater-corner from the front
of the hotel where all the locals from the Salamanca go - the men for café y burros (large churros) and the women for café y pan con tomate (toasted bread with ground
tomato paste). So much better than even the full buffet at the hotel.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

el Arte de Persianas en Madrid


Another example of shutter art in Madrid. This stuff has tagging "art" beat to a pulp.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Bummer Lambs


Maggie Mae and Trixie in the Lane at our driveway.  Their mama died, and they now are living at Joni's, with Bently the Great Dane pup, a few ducks, a couple of goats, untold ponies, a cowdog and a few people.  Well-tended.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Waiting for Madrid


What my garden looked like Thursday.  Not much better today, though the stream through it has slowed somewhat.  In another month, these strawberries will be hale and hardy.  Right?

Friday, March 25, 2011

100th post!


Wearing something purple today to celebrate Sonoma County's Epilepsy Awareness Day, organized by Elisabeth, celebrating and bringing love and awareness to this pervasive condition.  Blessings.

xoxoLC