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A crystal beaded headpiece, glittering evening wear and fur for a holiday gala at Galeries Lafayette, Paris.
Check in daily for more photos of Paris shop windows, dressed in seasonal finery. And I'm hosting a little holiday giveaway. On Friday, Dec. 7, I will draw a name from those readers leaving comments for this post. The winner will receive a copy of Rumi: The Book of Love, as well as a holiday souvenir from Paris.
This post is unabashedly sentimental. So if you don't "do" sentiment, maybe you'd rather look at some Paris department store windows. As I was coming out of the metro this afternoon, it started to rain. I felt a flash of annoyance, as I forgot my umbrella and my shoes would be ruined. But I soon realised neither of these things mattered.
After about 15 minutes in Bon Marche - buying treats for a dinner party we're hosting Saturday - I came outside to the sound of bagpipes. A demonstration was just beginning, manned by the children of war veterans who lost their lives fighting for freedom. The war orphans were protesting the lack of compensation for their families, under French President Nicolas Sarkozy's government.
I ignored the rain, while taking these men's and women's photos. Some of the orphans stopped walking to pose for photos; one man explained their concerns. Suddenly I found myself tearing up. An older gentleman asked why I was "triste" (sad), as "C'est ne pas votre histoire." (It is not your story). I responded, "Monsieur, it is a universal story, for all humanity. I am sad for all victims of war; for those who have been left behind, who are struggling and for all that has been lost." The man smiled and nodded, "Oui, bien sur. C'est vrai. Solidaritie! Merci!" (Yes, of course. It is true. Solidarity; thank you)!" And onward he marched.
To all those families of war veterans who have lost loved ones; to the soldiers who have come home permanently injured, either mentally or physically, I salute you. Earlier this week, I watched the 1946 Oscar-winning film The Best Years of Our Lives. Despite the 60 years between World War II and the Iraq War, I was struck by the similarities and difficulties soldiers face trying to readjust to life after combat. All too often, soldiers returning home receive little sympathy or understanding. They don't get adequate advice or counseling on coping with traumas they have witnessed or endured and not nearly enough specialised medical care and assistance with housing and jobs. They deserve our respect and our help.
P.S. As soon as I posted this, I checked email and had a message from my friend Scott. Sadly, his father has died. The Sacramento Bee did a feature story about Lloyd Nutter's heroism as a World War II B-17 navigator and later, prisoner of war.
"France, why have you abandoned us?"
Bagpipers from Brittany, some of them dressed in regional costume.
"Eternal glory to France and to those who have died for her." - Victor Hugo, French writer, poet and playwright, 1802-1885
"Shame on those who forget that our parents have given their lives for the liberty of France."
The marching band provided musical accompaniment to the demonstration.
More musicians.
"Nation" is the operative word in this banner.
"No to discrimination!" The banner refers to compensation the French government has provided to orphans of Jews who died after deportation, as well as orphans of those who killed in resistance fighting or massacres. The children of "patriots who died for France" during World War I or WW II have not been compensated, nor have orphans of soldiers who died in civil conflicts or combat. Children of prisoners of war who died in concentration camps also have not been compensated. The protestors are seeking "justice and equality, which are our legitimate rights." They claim they have been "forgotten" by the government.
"Same suffering; same recognition," this sign proclaims.
Protestors from the Haute-Normandie region.
Delegates from the Rhone.
A sea of French flags amidst hundreds of peaceful protestors.
War negatively impacts every generation.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair..." A daily dose of holiday windows from Paris department stores.
Rapunzel and forest creatures.
An elaborate headdress and table setting in the middle of a snow-covered forest.
A seat at the table. Check out the gold lame boots!
An elegant holiday table setting is spoiled by the addition of a camera phone.
Twinkling Northern lights, with fur and chiffon.
Note the fox in the background of this wintery scene.
Are you ready for a journey to the North Pole? Or perhaps you'd prefer Norway or Sweden?
Don't forget your handbag and tickets!
This mannequin with the auburn elongated braid - as featured in Monday's photo - is wearing a colourful party confection of ruffles and feathers. Fur (either real or something like it) is a recurring theme in several displays. Check back daily for more Paris department store windows, dressed in their best holiday finery.
Letter slot in an iron-studded wooden door, York, England.
For the Writers Island prompt, "the letter," a poem about memories invoked by a love letter. I wrote this poem quickly; it still needs work. But I've been too busy to participate in Island prompts the past two or three weeks and didn't want to miss another. To appease my perfectionist tendencies, let's call this a first draft:
The letter was written
in your trademark green ink,
a fine distinctive script
on heavy cream vellum.
You pressed it into my hands
that morning at the airport,
urging me not to read it
until I was on the plane.
Your words spoke of undying love
and made promises that would go unfulfilled,
even with the best intentions,
because timing is everything.
Waiting impatiently,
longing for the mail:
envelopes stuffed with pages of prose,
revealing how much you missed me.
Romantic reassurances
until we met again
in some foreign capital
for a honeymoon of sorts.
You phoned from Madrid
and talked about London;
then there was New York, Miami,
and glittering foreign capitals.
The shopping trips
where you offered anything I wanted,
in a bid to compensate for long absences
and preserve the status quo.
Remember the expensive designer suit
I returned to Saks Fifth Avenue
to buy a plane ticket
and surprise you in Miami?
The embroidered, bejeweled dress
you chose at the Kuwait souk?
It was your favourite colour;
you never noticed it didn't suit me.
Simply a matter of time,
we lied to ourselves,
until the many reunions ended
and I'd become your wife.
But the longer the space
between visits,
the less appealing that
prospect appeared.
You chose the marble floors
of that beautiful villa, without consulting me.
The house was nearly finished, when I saw
what might have become my golden cage.
All these years later,
that grand family villa
remains unloved and empty.
A caretaker lives in a nearby shack
to guard against more broken dreams
and preserve the architectural showpiece
haunted by ghostly illusions
of living happily ever after.
Check back every day this week for portraits of Christmas windows in Paris department stores. I braved the crowds and lots of energetic children to take more than 100 photos of these chic and imaginative holiday displays. This one featuring an endless braid is from Printemps. And if you missed my photographs of unusual hats at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, check out the links at the fabulous blog carnival at HATastic. It's enough to make you rush right out and buy a hat!
A grey, rainy day view upriver from the terrace of the Chateau Royal d'Amboise, Amboise, France.
A bell over the castle's wide entry ramp, originally designed to accommodate horses and carriages.
Amboise city rooftops as seen from the castle's walls.
A broad view from the castle ramparts shows the Amboise bridge over the River Loire.
The marble bust of artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci was erected in 1869 on the spot of the 12th-century Florentine church where da Vinci was originally laid to rest. In the 19th-century, his remains were transferred to St. Hubert Chapel on the chateau grounds.
This manicured Oriental garden lines the medieval southeast rampart. It is a tribute to the Emir of Algeria, Abd el-Khader, who surrendered during France's colonisation of Algeria. From 1848 until 1852 - when he was liberated by Napoleon Bonaparte - the emir, along with about 80 family members and attendants was under house arrest at the Chateau d'Amboise. He died in 1883 in Damascus.
Details of brickwork from the Sentries' Walk, from whence guards could survey the Loire. The architectural variations show the transition from the French late-Gothic style of Charles VIII to the Italianate Renaissance style preferred by Louis XII-Francois I.
A royal crest and carved cherubs over one of the castle's main doorways.
A decorative chest in the castle's entryway. My husband said signs were posted forbidding photos, but I didn't see them!
A Renaissance table and hand-carved throne.
The St. Hubert Chapel was built in Gothic style by Charles VIII, on foundations of an oratory built by Louis XI. Initially reserved for the royal family's use, the chapel contains a crypt for the body of Leonardo da Vinci, Francois I's good friend. It is believed that da Vinci's remains were removed from the crypt and returned to his native Italy.
The chapel has its doors flung open for visitors.
The ornate facade of St. Hubert's Chapel.
A close-up look at the carved scene over the chapel entrance.
Details of the chapel's heavy wooden Gothic doors.
The stained glass windows were produced by Max Ingrand in 1952. They illustrate the life of the 13th-century crusader and king Louis XI.
The altar in St. Hubert Chapel.
The town of Amboise, as viewed from the walkway next to the chapel.
A photo of Clos Luce in Amboise, France, artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci's home during the last three years of his life. The chateau is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and open to the public 365 days a year. Charles VIII purchased Clos Luce in 1490. Etienne le Loup, major-domo to King Louis XI, built the house in 1471 on 12th-century foundations. It remained a royal domain until the French Revolution. Charles VIII transformed the manor house into a summer residence of sorts for his bride, Anne of Brittany.
As no interior photographs are allowed, I bought the book Chateau du Clos Luce Watercolours by Beatrice Saint Bris. Da Vinci arrived in Amboise in 1516, having crossed the Alps riding a mule. He was accompanied by his disciples Francesco Melzi and Batista de Villanis and his servant. In his saddlebags, the 64-year-old Leonardo carried three major paintings, as well as his notes and manuscripts. Two of those paintings, the Mona Lisa and St. John the Baptist - the latter completed at Clos Luce - are part of the permanent collection in the Louvre, Paris.
The main entrance of the 15th-century manor house, which was built of pink bricks and white limestone. An underground tunnel linked the house to the castle, 400 metres away.
The doorway to the oratory, or chapel, built for Anne of Brittany. Holding her Book of Hours, the queen often prayed here for her children, who died young. Her Book of Hours was commissioned from Jean Bourdichon, an illuminator from Tours.
Beatrice Saint Bris's watercolour depiction of the chapel's exterior doorway.
A doorway in the parapet walk and watchtower, built under Louis XI. It is the last surviving piece of medieval architecture, when Clos Luce was a fortified residence. During the Renaissance, the parapet walk was converted into a gallery, similar to an Italian loggia. The court and its ladies would sit here to watch tournaments and festivities that Leonardo da Vinci organised for his friend, Francois I.
A watercolour of the parapet walk. It is now the main entrance for visitors to Clos Luce.
Leonardo's bed chamber and the window from which he viewed his Renaissance garden, as well as the castle of Francois I. Leonardo's drawing of this view is part of the Windsor collection, owned by the British royal family. The Renaissance canopied-bed is sculpted with chimera, cherubs and sea creatures.
Leonardo wrote his will in this room, leaving his manuscripts, and notebooks of drawings and sketches to Francesco Melzi, his disciple. He died on May 2, 1519, after receiving the holy sacraments. Tradition has it that Francois I was with Leonardo at the moment of his death.
The chapel where Anne of Brittany spent so many hours. A framed quotation from Leonardo hangs near the gothic doorway: "L'amour triomphe de tout," or "love triumphs over everything." I spent several minutes absorbed by the peaceful atmosphere in this beautiful oratory.
The Chapel bears the three fleurs-de-lis of the French coat of arms, surrounded by the Collar of the Order of St. Michael, founded by Louis XI. The chapel also features a Romanesque ribbed and vaulted ceiling, painted deep blue and punctuated with gold stars. Three restored wall frescoes are attributed to Leonardo's disciples, including A Madonna of Light, an Annunciation and an Assumption. The Virgo Lucis, or Madonna of Light, is carrying the Infant Jesus, her feet resting on a crescent moon.
Watercolours by Beatrice Saint Bris; photographs by Tara Bradford.
It's no surprise that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day in the United States. The French spread their Christmas shopping out over a period of weeks, but get a head start on holiday decorations. Giant Christmas tree ornaments and glittery stars and twinkling lights adorn Les Passages in Boulogne-Billancourt.
A deer is part of the group of animated forest creatures with moving heads, currently on on exhibit at Les Passages. Despite the display's obvious popularity with children, security guards told parents they couldn't take photos of the exhibit, or of their children admiring the exhibit! Bah, humbug! I took these photos before the guard noticed and told me to stop.
Children try to pet the deer, as he turns his head.
A doe tends to her spotted fawn.
Grey rabbits lean forward and kiss, while in the background, baby bunnies frolic.
A red fox takes care of two young cubs.
A family of rabbits in this woodland scene.
Some children attempted to feed this red squirrel, much to the security guard's annoyance.
A Christmas elf or garden gnome helps look after the forest creatures. Gnomes are popular in France, particularly following the 2001 film Le Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, better known as Amelie in the US and the UK.
From our Thanksgiving table in Paris, Moroccan lanterns, an Arabic coffee pot and empty bowls to signify those who go hungry every day. French friends joined us for a late lunch. The resident chef (that would be David) cooked a turkey, along with roast potatoes, Nigella Lawson's cranberry-and-orange stuffing and various accompaniments. I made RJ's Sho Nuff Famous Sweet Potato Pie - and yes, it was a hit, even with the French. Hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends!
A boulangerie display in Amboise, France.
Counting our blessings... Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
The view of the Renaissance garden from artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci's bedroom at Clos Luce in Amboise, France. Leonardo lived here the last three years of his life, at the invitation of King Francois I. The king was a fan of Renaissance art and greatly respected Leonardo's artistic achievements, as well as his intellect.
Roses drenched by rain in Leonardo da Vinci's private garden.
More rain-soaked Renaissance roses at Clos Luce.
Just back from a quick trip to Amboise and Chinon in the Loire Valley. While hampered by nearly continuous rain and road detours, it was a nice break from the transit strikes in Paris, now in their eighth day. France's high-speed TGV rail network also has been damaged by a "concerted campaign of sabotage," the SNCF state-owned rail operator told reporters. Acts of sabotage overnight, including fires, created further delays to TGV services.
On a brighter note, I find it inspiring to visit Leonardo da Vinci's home, as well as his friend and benefactor's castle. Last time we were in Amboise, I didn't have a digital camera; this trip, I was able to get some good shots, despite the rain and photo restrictions at historic sites. The absence of crowds of tourists certainly helped. After Thanksgiving, I will begin posting images and notes from the journey.
As we Americans pause Thursday to give thanks for our many blessings, let us remember those less fortunate and resolve to help in any way we can. Wishing you and yours a joyous holiday celebration.
A marble sculpture of a weeping cherub at York Minster Cathedral, York, England
For Read Write Poem, three American sentences, each comprised of 17 syllables:
The Constitution is under threat from those who swore to protect it.
Sacrifice civil liberties for politics; everyone loses.
The dollar plummets, in direct proportion to our reputation.
An exit stairwell when walking the city walls perimeter in York, England.
We are on a short break in the Loire Valley. Paris Parfait posts will appear automatically, all being well. Will be back in time for holiday turkey and to wish my fellow Americans a Happy Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has some explaining to do. Lately she's been surprisingly complicit in Bush & Co.'s self-serving agenda. She recommended Michael Mukasey for attorney general, even though he has refused to call the illegal practice of water-boarding "torture."
Then she cast the deciding vote to confirm Judge Leslie Southwick. You may recall Southwick took custody of an eight-year-old girl away from her mother, simply because the mother was involved in a "lesbian relationship." Now Feinstein says she supports immunity for AT&T and other telecoms that helped the Bush administration illegally spy on phone calls and emails of millions of Americans!
I leave you with an excerpt from the poem "Non-commitment" by Chinua Achebe:
"Hurrah! to them who do nothing see nothing feel nothing whose hearts are fitted with prudence like a diaphragm across womb's beckoning doorway to bar the scandal of seminal rage. I'm told the owl too wears wisdom in a ring of defense round each vulnerable eye securing it fast against the darts of sight..."
Some lucky soldiers might be back home from Iraq or Afghanistan, but this story is a stark reminder that their traumatic ordeal is far from over. Read photographer Luis Sinco's moving account in The Observer of what's happened to James Blake Miller, the subject of this iconic photograph here.
Sinco writes: "Back home, I tried to put Falluja behind me. Yet not a day went by that I didn't think about Miller and Iraq. National Public Radio interviewed me. I became a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Bloggers riffed on the photo's meaning. Requests for prints kept coming.
"In January 2006, I was on assignment along the US-Mexico border when my wife called. 'Your boy is on TV. He has post-traumatic stress disorder,' she said. 'They kicked him out of the Marines."
Luis Sinco photo of James Blake Miller via The Guardian.
Trompe l'oeil at York Minster Cathedral, York, England. This is the second of three posts about York Minster.
An ornate astronomical clock was created by craftsmen at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It was presented to the Minster to commemorate 18,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in World War II, when flying out of bases in Yorkshire and the Northeast.
Sweeping ceiling views.
An intricately-detailed embroidered cloth drapes this altar.
Another marble angel bearing a shield over the choir loft, next to tall gothic pillars.
A small chapel with stained-glass windows.
A clock on the exterior wall of the nave.
A memorial panel at York Minster.
The Prince William of Hatfield Monument in the North Quire Aisle.
Velvet seats in York Minster's nave.
An ornate tableau and altar.
The uppermost pipes of the pipe organ in the choir room.
Modern sculptures added to the ancient stone.
An altar representing Anglican churches in Southwark, Winchester and York.
Painted iron and gilt scrollwork.
A modern portable baptismal font.
Update: Day seven and still no train service. Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France as teachers and civil servants staged a 24-hour walkout, joining striking transport and energy workers. C'est ferme! The Paris metro map at my neighbourhood metro station. On day four of the Paris transit strike over workers' pension and retirement benefits, train service is erratic at best. Line 10 has remained closed for days, with no alternative routes offered. This presents a problem, as I must return to the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille to pick up the second of two antique Moroccan lanterns purchased last week - and the brocante ends Sunday!
An electronic sign at the metro station provides a status report for metro lines and the RER trains. On Friday night, David picked up his son and daughter arriving from London at the Eurostar terminal at Gare de Nord. What should have been a 20-minute drive across town, took three hours, due to heavy traffic. Aren't you glad you're not in Paris at the moment?
This is the first of three posts about the Anglican church York Minster Cathedral, York, England. A starburst and stained glass windows adorn the ceiling of Chapter House at York Minster. The Chapter House, built in the decorated Gothic style and octagonal in shape, was begun in 1260 and completed in 1286. Its walls contain some of the Minster's finest carvings, dating between 1270-80.
Decorative tile pattern on the floor in Chapter House.
A starburst design at the top of the pulpit in York Minster Cathedral.
Crowned heads in marble sculptural panels at York.
An angel bearing a shield overlooks a choir loft.
A crucifixion scene trimmed with gold gilt.
Carved oak panels in the choir room. The woodwork in the choir was replaced following a fire in 1829.
Prayer candles and decorative iron fretwork next to a private chapel.
Painted iron grills mark boundaries in an area of the nave.
An altar and hanging tapestry.
Decorative Florentine paint detail with gold leaf at York Minster.
A heavy wooden door with swirled silver and iron trim.
Photo of suspended sculptures of lighted words at Centre Pompidou in Paris by Jordana Shalhoub.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and a coalition of government watchdog groups have launched governmentdocs.org. The site consolidates United States government documents produced by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from various organizations. The FOIA requires the federal government to disclose documents detailing its activities, when asked.
FOIA requests seek to hold the government accountable for abuse, corruption and unfulfilled promises to citizens. Governmentdocs.org allows visitors to search a database of documents uncovered by watchdog groups. Registered site users may comment on the documents.
This photo of the Nile province in Sudan is from the breathtakingly-beautiful book Sacred Earth, Places of Peace and Power by photographer and anthropologist Martin Gray. He spent 20 years trekking to the far corners of the earth, photographing 1000 religious and mystical places, both natural and manmade. These sacred places are portrayed with such reverence and beauty, readers might be inspired to chart their own journeys.
Recently Frida of Frida's Notebook wrote about the difficulty of finding fruits and vegetables and even eggs in Afghanistan, contrasting with the abundance of choice with which she'd been presented during a visit to the United States. In a post Wednesday, Gillian of Indigo Blue in effect suggested that in the holiday season, we - who have so much - donate to those with less. We all are aware of the enormous imbalance in the world, when it comes to wealth, education and even basic food and shelter. An ongoing exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris speaks to the urgent daily need to help feed the hungry. The photo above the dishes is of people lining up to receive food aid.
A jumble of empty dishes, representing the millions who go hungry every day. Photos at the Centre Pompidou by Jordana Shalhoub.
This rare printer's collection of 18th and 19th-century French and European wax seals was found at the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille, now underway at Place de la Bastille, Paris. The Medicis' family seal is at top left. On the bottom row, seals of Spain, as well as those of Florence and Sardinia are displayed. On the back of each card are descriptions of the colours mixed and decorative details such as crowns and chevrons required for each seal. For centuries, prominent families, noblemen and royalty had their own unique seals for all correspondence and official documents. I plan to have the cards of seals framed separately. Click photos to view detail.
Black millinery plumes were another fortunate find, alongside business documents from a company in Cognac, France.
These French cheques and a receipt are dated 1922, from the same company in Cognac, as above.
More stories from 1001 Nights depicted on advertising cards produced for Le Bon Marche, Paris.
A petite 1940s gilt and beaded chandelier with aqua opaline glass matches a set of aqua opaline wall appliques I own from the same period. The brocante at Place de la Bastille continues daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through November 18. But check public transport availability before setting out, as transit strikes are currently underway.
Notice the dust collected on this wine bottle? Yes, this superb Bordeaux was definitely worth the wait! After the excellent birthday champagne Monday, this wine was close to perfection. I highly recommend it for a special occasion or no occasion, other than the pleasure of indulging in a fine wine. And thank you for all the lovely birthday wishes for David!
I also must thank Rosemary, Kay and Guatami for honouring me recently with blogging awards.
Rosemary at Living as Rosa presented me with another Thinking Blogger Award - and one can never have too many of those! She also wrote the nicest, kindest things, which made me wonder if she's available to do publicity for my book.
And Kay at As It Happens, gave me a Shameless Lion's Roar for Powerful Words, as did Guatami at Rooted. In return, I am encouraged to post the award on my blog; list three things I believe are necessary for good, powerful writing and then pass the award along to five blogs I wish to honour. These bloggers then will pass it on to five others, etc., etc., "sending a roar through the blogosphere," as Shameless says.
For me, the three essential ingredients in good writing are courage, a poetic use of language and authenticity/accuracy. In addition, imagination, humour, conviction of the heart and the ability to look at all sides of the story are equally important. These bloggers have these qualities in abundance. They dare to say what they think and are not afraid to venture into dangerous emotional territory. Although they come from different geographical areas and diverse backgrounds, all five have one thing in common: they dig down deep, taking intense personal experiences, examining them and bringing them to light for all to consider and ponder. We are enriched, educated and/or entertained by their writing. Recipients are listed in alphabetical order by first names:
Amber at The Believing Soul
Holli at Baby Faith
January at Poet Mom
Marilyn at Moojo Cafe
Rethabile at Poefrika
Meanwhile, the mail today brought packages from two dear Canadian friends. Gillian of Indigo Blue sent me the inargural issue of the second incarnation of Victoria magazine, along with the wonderful Halloween collage she made. Maddie of Persisting Stars sent more of her lovely photographs; some that I purchased; two that were gifts.
And in the "we know you're going to love this" category, Cath Kidston sent a Christmas catalog and my favourite London department store, Liberty sent me news of a stunning acquisition of Japanese handblock prints by Kamisaka Sekka, with images from the Chigusa ( A Thousand Grasses -1899) and the Momoyogusa (A World of Things - 1910) series. How did they know I'd be in London soon and unable to resist a visit??!!
Yellow spotlights from a light sculpture at the Centre Pompidou, Paris. Photo by Jordana Shalhoub.
My husband David and my friend Rebecca at Cre8tiva are both celebrating birthdays today! David has taken the day off work and we have been out celebrating with a lovely lunch at Lavinia. Rebecca is throwing a party; join in the fun at Cre8tiva.
On Friday, David's son and daughter arrive from England, for a belated anniversaire celebration. And on Monday, we'll take a short trip to the Loire Valley. We've been before and enjoyed it, particularly Amboise, home of Leonardo da Vinci in his latter years. His home and studio, Clos Luce, are ripe with history and inspiration.
Today also marks the birthday of my late maternal grandfather. I was thinking earlier that he wouldn't have known what to make of Paris - probably too busy and bustling for his liking. But I expect he would have appreciated the food. Speaking of which, must help the chef prepare the birthday dinner, avec champagne, bien sur! It's a milestone birthday, after all. See you later!
Checkered tin canisters and a perpetual calendar are on offer at Blandine Bavoux's Jolie Trouvaille at the Antiquites Brocante at Place de la Bastille, Paris. The brocante is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through November 18th.
More tin kitchen canisters, a box of ribbons and fabric. A set of copper canisters also is on offer.
A rare advertising tin holds allumettes or matches.
Traditional porcelain cafe au lait bowls are found in a variety of patterns.
French enamel coffeepots and biggins are popular collectibles, but increasingly hard to find in good condition.
More enamel coffeepots for sale at Jolie Trouvaille.
This original rose pattern is so popular, reproductions are now produced. These dishes are originals.
Coffee, anyone?
An old-fashioned shaving mirror and brush stand.
Bolts of fabric for tablecloths, dishtowels or curtains.
A thermometer advertising
An opposing pair of handpainted vases. Check back Tuesday for photos of items purchased at Bastille.
All photos taken at the Jolie Trouvaille stand at Bastille. To purchase items online, email Blandine Bavoux or visit her website. .
A stone statue commands center stage in a display at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the Antiquites Brocante currently underway at Place de la Bastille, Paris.
More details from the scene pictured above include a marble angel, hand-carved wooden pedestals and a collection of coral and shells.
Pillars, books and a bust at Anges et Demons. You can see more examples of Sophie Pretelat's styling skills in Michele Lalande's book Secrets d'interieurs in France or The New French Decor out December 1 in the UK, US and Canada.
Two mandolins share a table display with a blowfish skeleton and a metal crown.
Mercury-glass candlesticks and vases are best sellers at Paris brocantes.
A closer look at two rare mercury-glass serving platters.
A hand-etched double-glass round box sits atop old French documents.
A plaster head at Anges et Demons.
An Empire gilt and enamel clock and candlesticks on a marble-topped fireplace mantel.
A 19th-century giltwood painted icon sans hands, from a French eglise or church.
An early 20th-century lantern from Morocco or Tunisia and a mother-of-pearl and olive wood mirror from Syria. Two antique Moroccan lanterns came home with me.
A late 19th-century doll carriage, with an early 20th-century porcelain doll. Check back this week for more posts about the brocante, including photos of unusual finds that proved irresistable to this collector.
Photos of trees flaming with fall colours along the Canal St. Martin, Paris
"...I no longer work up a master plan before I begin a novel. When I was younger I used to sit down and write out such plans, but I never finished such projects. Even with The Executioner's Song, where, after all, I knew the end of the story, I was careful not to be too versed in too many details ahead. I preferred to do my research up to no more than a hundred pages ahead of where I was. I wanted to keep the feeling that I didn't know how it was all going to turn out. I needed something like the illusion that I was inventing each detail. Obviously, I prefer doing a book that is not too carefully prepared. Some of my best ideas come because I haven't fixed my novel's future in concrete. Once you know your end, it's disastrous to get a new idea. That can only take you away from your prearranged conclusion. Yet the new idea that you didn't follow may be worth more than the denouement you planned in advance." - Norman Mailer, The Spooky Art: Some Thoughts on Writing, 2003
Photo of bust and various items for a dressing table at Sophie Pretelat's Anges et Demons stand at the Antiquites Brocante at Place de la Bastille, Paris. Pretelat's superb display skills with antiques and collectibles are featured in the new book Secrets d'Interieurs by Michele Lalande and Gilles Trillard. The book will be released December 1 in the UK, US and Canada as The New French Decor.
Next week, public transport in Paris will be affected by a series of strikes. So I'm off today for a second round of treasure-hunting at Bastille. The brocante continues daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Nov. 18, strikes or no strikes. Happy hunting!
Photo of an early 20th-century advertising card for Le Bon Marche, Paris. The cards feature stories from "des Mille et une Nuits," or "1001 Nights." As a child, it was one of my favourite books; I still find it enchanting.
I do believe some of Aladdin's treasures are now on offer at the Antiquites Brocante at Place de la Bastille, Paris. I've just come from an exhausting round of shopping on opening day at one of the city's biggest twice-yearly brocantes. My eyes were as big as saucers, rather like Aladdin's in the illustration (above). Yes, I have treasures; lovely unusual treasures to show you in upcoming posts. And yes, I'll be returning to Bastille for more shopping Friday! Stands run up and down both sides of the Canal St. Martin and it's difficult to visit them all in one day. The brocante continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through November 18th. If you're in Paris, get your skates on, before the best things disappear!
The lovely Brenda Walton joined me for most of today's expedition; a few collectibles went home with her too. No doubt she'll be writing about the experience on her blog. Brenda and I saw an unusual Japanese man shopping at Bastille. He was so stylish, we couldn't take our eyes off him. He was probably early '30s, long black hair in a ponytail and had a big black object - like a small sword or bone of some sort - stuck in one pierced ear! He was also very tattooed, wearing a long leather coat, jeans, high black leather boots - as though he stepped off the cover of GQ. I was dying to take his photo, but it would have seemed too awkward.
He bought several antique glass jewelry boxes from my friend's stand. As he didn't speak French, he had an interpreter with him. Later, my friend told me the guy was a jewelry designer and had bought several similar decorative boxes last year at Bastille. As they proved a hit in Japan, today he bought all my friend had - nearly a thousand euros' worth!
The landscape may have changed, but the exterior look of Le Bon Marche remains much the same as depicted in this illustration.
This 1924 photo of an Egyptian bookseller is part of my collection of Lehnert & Landrock photos and heliogravures. This image was produced from an original L&L plate at the Cairo-based publisher and bookstore.
Is there such a thing as having too many books? I don't think so. Here's an excerpt from Australian poet's Zora Bernice May Cross's (1890-1964) take on the subject:
"Oh! Bury me in books when I am dead,
Fair quarto leaves of ivory and gold,
And silk octavos, bound in brown and red,
That tales of love and chivalry unfold.
Heap me in volumes of fine vellum wrought,
Creamed with the close content of silent speech;
Wrap me in sapphire tapestries of thought
From some old epic out of common reach.
I would my shroud were verse-embroidered too---
Your verse for preference—in starry stitch,
And powdered o’er with rhymes that poets woo,
Breathing dream-lyrics in moon-measures rich..."
Undoubtedly you're familiar with prize-winning photographer Steve McCurry's astonishing work in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan. His new book In the Shadow of Mountains, features gorgeous portraits, landscapes and street photography taken over the last 27 years in Afghanistan. It's published by Phaidon and you can order it here.
If you're not familiar with Jeffrey Yamaguchi's excellent ideas in 52 Projects, you should be! His book (and his blog) is chock-full of creative projects for everyone. Check out his new book Working for the Man. I suspect anyone who's ever worked in an office - particularly on software and computer development projects - will relate to Jeffrey's wry look at daily challenges in Cubicle Land.
Typeface letters spelling "Merci" are a gift from my friend Gabrielle. She sometimes reminds me I must tell my stories. "If you don't tell them, they will be lost forever," she says.
Thank you for all your wonderful, supportive comments Monday on the happy occasion of writing one thousand blog posts. As always, your encouraging words are much appreciated. I am so lucky to be part of this amazing international blogging community!
Today I had a rather unpleasant session in the periodontist's chair, so am not feeling up to much writing. While waiting for the doctor, I discovered photographs of my friend Julie's (Agape) beautifully-decorated apartment in the October-November issue of the magazine Maison Francaise.
I came home to find invitations for the Antiquites Brocante which begins Thursday at Place de la Bastille, Paris. (Guess where I'll be spending the day?) Even better, Gemma sent me a lovely card and some gorgeous pages from a 19th-century scrapbook found in her attic. Thank you, Gemma! You are so thoughtful and the pages are fabulous!
Speaking of fabulous, no doubt you're familiar with my friend Maryam's delightful blog My Marrakesh. She's a finalist in the Best Middle East and Africa blog category in the 2007 Annual Weblog Awards. If like me, you're a fan, you can vote for My Marrakesh here. Strangely enough, in this contest, you can vote once a day through Thursday, Nov. 8. Bonne chance, Maryam!
You might not notice this crumpled napkin on the cobblestones outside a pub (in York, England). I see a bird with wings to fly.
1,000 posts. 125 poems. Nearly 500,000 visitors. These are the stats, but the benefits of beginning this blog nearly 21 months ago? Absolutely priceless. I've rediscovered forgotten skills; gained some new ones and perhaps most importantly, renewed confidence thanks to the encouragement and support of several kindred spirits. I've made many wonderful new friends, including a few I've had the privilege of meeting in person.
I started Paris Parfait as a way to force myself to write every day. I found it difficult writing in the dark, so to speak, with only an editor in London to critique my latest efforts. I was starting to lose perspective about my own work, so I decided to shake things up a bit.
For many years I was a journalist, which often meant rushing out to breaking news events, reporting on-the-spot. I enjoyed the interaction with sources, other journalists and photographers. In San Francisco, I worked in software development, technical and business writing, also involving much social interaction. As a writer working from an apartment in Paris, all that chatty comraderie is lost. But Paris Parfait has given me welcome interaction with other writers and artists and creative thinkers. You've provided me with more emotional ballast and support than I ever could have imagined. Whenever I begin to grow weary of producing blog content on a daily basis (in addition to working on my book), a reader - perhaps a friend or even a stranger - unwittingly sends me a message, saying the very thing I need to keep going.
One of my proudest moments was when a young woman sent email saying she'd "always known there were single mothers out there, who managed to work and travel overseas." Until she read my story, she'd never known of a specific example. At the time, she was at university, surrounded by well-meaning naysayers insistent that she and her child should remain in the relative safety of their community. I wrote her an encouraging note; a few months later, she emailed me from another country, where she was working on her master's degree and loving every minute!
Another unexpected delight was when a publisher in Budapest asked to use my photos in an English-language book about Paris. Last week, a theatre company in Belgium asked to project my photos onscreen in an upcoming production. Meanwhile, several writing projects have come my way, thanks to exposure via this blog.
On the down side, a woman emailed me asking for various tips about visiting Paris. After I responded, she thanked me. A few days later, I received spam featuring a product sold by her family! In another email, a guy asked if I had Marie-Antoinette's marriage documents!
As every writer can attest, sometimes one stares at the blank screen at a loss for words. Other times, the words tumble out faster than I can type. That is when I am in the moment, focused, sure "...I am doing the thing I was meant to do," as Anne Sexton said.
Amidst the solitude of writing, I am aware of symbolism and meaning; of signs and portents along the way. I am superstitious about talking about a work-in-progress and won't let anyone other than my editor read my work. Like an artist creating a painting, I want to keep it under wraps until it's finished.
I can see my childhood dream of writing fiction coming to fruition. In the not-too-distant future, the book will become more than some abstract notion of edited pages, but a reality. My wings are unfolding slowly - stretching - getting ready to take flight in 2008. Thank you for encouraging me to fly.
The photo of a vintage birdcage with an open door was a gift from my dear friend, the talented photographer Madelyn Mulvaney.
Would you like to join me for a Sunday stroll along the River Ouse in York? Let's start on this side of the river, looking across at the 19th-century buildings and boats.
Check out this ground-floor apartment window. Isn't it fun seeing glimpses of other people's decor and taste?
A modern exterior stairwell has been added to a warehouse converted into live-work spaces.
A sea-themed look in this cottage window.
Now we're at the town centre. Look at all the vintage costume jewelery - brooches galore!
Not much else of interest in that section of town; mostly restaurants and office buildings. Let's walk along the quay on the opposite side of the river, back towards the Skeldergate Bridge. Check out the Japanese geisha art in that window!
As we enter a small a park, a retro bicycle bears signs advertising a nearby cafe.
And what would a park be without a carousel? Tickets are sold from this brightly-painted caravan.
At twilight, the carousel takes a final spin, sans riders.
The Skeldergate Bridge gateway, which is also a cafe. Let's walk up the stairs to the bridge.
The Skeldergate Bridge at twilight. Isn't it lovely, even with rush hour traffic streaming past?
The central point of the Skeldergate Bridge.
The trefoil, six-point star and white rose symbols linked with York's history hold prominent positions on the bridge railings.
Flowers adorn lanterns at each end of the bridge.
The view from the bridge, looking back at where we've walked.
This historic warehouse will soon be converted to a supper club/restaurant and/or apartments. Neighbourhood residents are concerned about the noise factor and are protesting the plans.
On the opposite side of the Skeldergate Bridge, a glimpse of our temporary residence. In the evening, the lanterns from the bridge and the moonlight reflect in the river, making a lovely, peaceful scene.
Our apartment is the ground floor one with the orange and white sign barely visible behind the tree. It has a delightful terrace with unobstructed views of the river, but enough privacy that passersby don't stop and stare. Want to come in for tea or a glass of wine? We can sit on the patio and watch the boats go by...maybe we can persuade David to cook dinner while we admire the view!
Carrefour des Cascades, allee de Longchamp, Bois du Boulogne, Paris. Across from the waterfall is La Grande Cascade, an elegant restaurant where Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor once hosted their wedding dinner. It features a Napoleon III pavilion and Belle Epoch furnishings.
Standing beneath the Carrefour des Cascades in the Bois du Boulogne. The waterfall across the road from Hippodrome de Longchamp is a ten-minute walk from our apartment.
Water bounces off the rocks beneath the Carrefour des Cascades. Photos by David Holmes.
Chrysanthemums and assorted flowers are for sale at an open air market in York, England.
I like how all the fresh fruits and vegetables in this York market have signs depicting their place of origin. They look as good as the fruits and vegetables so plentiful in France, but not widely availabe in England.
A list of tasty British cheeses on offer at the outdoor market. Of course France produces more quantities and varieties of cheese, but the British ones have their own loyal following. Vive la difference!
End-of-season rose, photograph by David Holmes.
In the Halloween giveaway, studiowellspring has won the drawing. An illustration from a French children's book and some antique French documents will soon be on their way to San Francisco. Congratulations to studiowellspring, who has just marked her first blog anniversary!
