Week 12 - Inspiration: Trash

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right." - Mark Twain

#2019dogwood52 #dogwood52 #dogwoodweek12

French Friday: Je pense à toi sans cesse...

« Paris sera toujours Paris. Qu’est-ce que tu veux qu’il fasse d’autre ? » - Fréderic Dard

On se rappelle les chansons, un soir d'hiver, un frais visage, la scène à marchands de marrons, une chambre au cinquième étage, les cafés crèmes du matin, Montparnasse, le Café du Dôme, les faubourgs, le Quartier latin, les Tuileries et la Place Vendôme.

Paris, c'était la gaieté, Paris, c'était la douceur aussi. C'était notre tendresse. Paris, tes gamins, tes artisans, tes camelots et tes agents, et tes matins de printemps. Paris, l'odeur de ton pavé d'oies, de tes marronniers, du bois. Je pense à toi sans cesse. Paris, je m'ennuie de toi, mon vieux. On se retrouvera tous les deux, mon grand Paris.

Évidemment, il y a parfois les heures un peu difficiles, mais tout s'arrange bien, ma foi. Avec Paris, c'est si facile. Pour moi, Paris, c'est les beaux jours, les airs légers, graves, ou tendres. Pour moi, Paris, c'est mes amours et mon cœur ne peut se reprendre.

Paris, c'était la gaieté, Paris, c'était la douceur aussi. C'était notre tendresse. Paris, tes gamins, tes artisans, tes camelots et tes agents, et tes matins de printemps. Paris, l'odeur de ton pavé d'oies, de tes marronniers, du bois. Je pense à toi sans cesse. Paris, je m'ennuie de toi, mon vieux. On se retrouvera tous les deux, mon grand Paris. - Paris, chanté par Édith Piaf

Links I Love • March 2019

“Link yourself with those who think and ink like you.” ― Michael Bassey Johnson. Here’s what caught my eye this month…

La joie de vivre:

• Wine and Macaron Parings - Pourquoi pas?! I enjoyed Champagne macarons to celebrate Le Jour du Macaron - March 20th - does that count?

• The Founding Mothers of Champagne - Clicquot, Pommery, Bollinger, the story of the Champagne empire and the “Merry Widows” who ruled it.

• A Dead Poets Society Reading List - Whitman, Thoreau, Tennyson, Shakespeare — Seize the Book!

• Five Ways Photography Can Change Your Life - This is 100% true for me.

• Best French Versions of Disney Songs - I went to Disney World in January and Paris in February, so this month, I’m combining the two experiences. For the record, I would add these songs and these to the list.

Paris and Beyond (I may have just returned, but I’m already planning for November!):

• The Ultimate Paris Bucket List - I’ve done 8/12. Still to do: cooking class, jazz club, private tour of the Louvre, and a night at the opera. Time to go back!

• The Disappearing Chimney Sweeps of Paris - I’ve often wondered how many of those iconic Paris chimney pots are still functional.

• Explore France’s Loire Valley in the Footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci - Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise, Blois — I love the châteaux of the Loire.

• Why is the Paris Métro so Good? It’s easy and efficient and most stations are pretty clean. I’ll always choose the Métro over the bus or a taxi, but, if you’re able, walking is still the best way to get around Paris.

• Get Out of Town! There are so many great day trips that you can take just outside of Paris.

• And a bit closer to home: Tall Ships are Returning to Wisconsin this Summer - and some are sailing through Sturgeon Bay.

Paris Fashion Week Recap:

• Watch Karl Lagerfeld’s Final Chanel Fashion Show - Before showing the Fall/Winter 2019 collection in the Grand Palais last month, the world said goodbye to Karl with a one minute silence. What’s next for Chanel under new leadership?

• Why Was Coco Obsessed with Camellias? I featured this video in a post two years ago.

• French Films All Fashion Lovers Should See - I’ve only seen 1, 2, and 9. I hope to watch a few more during Spring Break.

• All of Paris Fashion Week on 4 Minutes - I saw tents, models, and photoshoots during PFW in February, but here’s what I’ve been missing.

Coincidence

“When spring came, even false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest.” - Ernest Hemingway

It can’t be a coincidence that today is the first day of spring, National Happiness Day (Why is there just one day?), and La Journée internationale du macaron!

Champagne macarons from Le Rêve

Week 11 - Composition: Fill the Frame with One Color

“May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!” - Old Irish Blessing. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️

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French Friday: Fleurs fanées

« Sache que la fleur la plus belle est aussi la plus tôt fanée. Sur son parfum penche-toi vit. L’immortelle n’a pas d’odeur. »

- André Gide

It’s one of the things I love most about Paris — you never know when you’re going to stumble upon something beautiful. On the morning of my birthday, we were walking down the rue Cambon to pay our respects to Karl at Chanel when we witnessed the changing of the fleurs. Apparently these lovely white tulips (my favorites!), pale pink ranunculus, and purple and white anemones were too wilted to stand before the formidable Mademoiselle so they were replaced with fresh white hydrangeas (another favorite) and calla lilies (not a fan). Still, I couldn’t help but feel like these discarded beauties were like a birthday bouquet that are now preserved forever in my memory and on my blog.