Book Love~

My favorite book so far this year ....Fiction../Non Fiction..Was the Art Of Hearing Heartbeats~A keeper..in my books:)
I have read quite a few this year..thank goodness for Goodreads that keeps me up to date on what I actually read..I forget about books!Sometimes covers change.. I start reading  and think..I've read this!Goodreads is a Good thing~

But.. a totally different genre of book has just charmed me to bits.Remember last year I bought the Artist's Journal Workshop..I LOVED and still love that book ..and what would you call it? Fiction/NonFiction?
Or Art?  If Art is a category..then the one I just read is my favorite Art book this year  but..it's associated w/ non fiction also as it's a true ..journal:)
For all of you that like to play with paints..or dream of France..or dream of journaling ..or dream of visiting France and journaling..
This one's for you~

I was excited when I got it..same day I received a book I bought for Noah..our July 4th grandson..for his birthday...
But this one was for me..
In a font I enjoyed..made me feel young :)  With pictures:)..  art actually..that inspired me.. and a very neat journal,from the author..Vivian Swift..
The cover really says it best..Le Road Trip~The title alone caught my attention when I first saw it~
But there are also a lot of very informative tidbits..for travel..and a sweetness about her love story..:)
I visited parts of France..(Not nearly enough..)  We genuinely desire going back..

I know my friend Shel wants to go too..I went w/ Diane..and our husbands.Ronelle a very gifted artist.. lives in Tours..I met Ronelle through blogging..not in person..but she is the instrument to me knowing about Tours..
Barbara lives in France..Fifi's sister lives in Provence..Susan is another talented artist /blogger/nana friend of mine:)
My friend Nancy lived in Paris and the Southwest of France...My friend Terry lived in Paris..

Paris..we'd like to go to Paris for a few days..but we are country folk....and are looking forward to one day going back to the small towns  we discovered..and to discover new small towns:)

I am so grateful to Carol..Paris Breakfasts..  whose blog I follow  and love.. she was the one who brought up Le Road Trip on her beautiful inspiring blog.
She is a fabulous artist..La reine de Paris  in my eyes:)And told us about this book..
I've Googled many things after reading Carol's blog.from perfumes..to a lovely little artist's watch..to bakeries..
She is so generous with tips on watercolor..and I think I have saved her images for yrs now:)
Just love what she does..

Ok getting back to the book....Canada Day weekend is when I read it..after a day of gardening.,church(with wonderful music and light pouring through the old windows not unlike the ones in France..).. we finally sat out back w/ a glass of wine..and I finished the book..I handed it to my husband..who loved France and loves wine and makes my favorite wine..and I said:" You might enjoy this one"~
He is..
In fact he came in a little later while I was preparing "grelots" for his chicken..  the best chicken I have ever eaten apart form the honey lavender chicken we had in Gordes...that I tried to recreate and offered to Fifi for her magazine..and he said :"That is a cute book..I will continue reading it..":)
How cute is he?
So it's for everyone~

Bon..enfin..she inspired me to get out a journal.. my little WN pocket set.. and my watercolor brush that always has water in it~  My case to carry the brushes and kit and white crayon and marker and pencil and eraser.

I also took a photo out of my  Europe album..one of J..(You see that's another thing I liked about her book..You have all heard me mention Jacques a million times..but usually in emails..or letters I write J.. as she did in her book to name her husband many times..I know this is of the least utmost importance (is that an oxymoron?)to my enjoying the book but it was just so de rigueur to me)in a boulangerie that we had liked in Bonnieux..  I wish I had taken a photo of J in the wine co-op when Audrey Tautou's twin was helping him..First time I actually saw my husband.. try and be more charming:)
Although when I look at how I painted the boulangère's face..Audrey's twin was better off unphotographed by me to eventually be immortalized in a quick watercolor.

Can you see J's mustache?  and the scale?  the bread?:)The lavender?

I think it's a mess..and I will work on this one..

But how great is it to be inspired to get the paints out Canada Day weekend after dinner w/ a glass of wine and try:)

This book does that~

Enjoy!

Footnote..I enjoyed and will continue to enjoy this book so very much..I have ordered When Wanderers Cease To Roam~

And that small rose  w/ the reading angel?Is my favorite rose in the garden at this time of year~

It's hardy in my zone..I didn't even cover them this year~And it blooms at the same time as Lavender~

Should I ever redo ..or make new gardens..I think one area would be just for these roses and lavender.As it is one sits at the foot of the entrance of my round cutting garden on each side..

and two others are elsewhere..but here? The greeting is so nice.

Footnote..July 13th 2012..
I received When Wanderers Cease To Roam yesterday..it is just as charming..and a keeper book too.