8x8 Shutterfly book of our trip.. above..Trip Advisor had sent me a free voucher..:)
From my IPad..I have not mastered Ipad photography either;)
Summer..is extraordinary here this year..like summers of my youth..where everyday was sunnier and warmer..
we all hung out at the community pool..had "clubs" ..we had named ours The Princess Club..we made forts..brought our books..snacks..games..so much fun.
Margaret..Susan ..and eventually Gwen.
Such innocent fun..no computers..just books and toys..and not many.
Nancy Drew..La Comtesse de Ségur..
Barbie..Ken ..Midge..Skipper..Scooter..Ken had velveteen hair..my Barbie had the blonde pony tail..and bangs..I loved her red velvet coat and pillbox hat.I put her hair in buns sometimes..straight pins..right through her scalp:)the pearly pins:)
Midge had a flip..brunette..Skipper looked like my friend Susan..blonde long straight hair and the bangs.
Summer memories.
So the summer temp is ideal for bread baking..because the house is warm and the bread rises:)..but the oven has to be on in early morning..
I love Ricardo's bread..it's great on the BBQ w/ garlic butter..and /or straight up w/ honey butter..jam..:)
The roses...
The Bonicas..Morden Blush..Champlain..William Baffins ..I love the Explorers!..are blooming..even the tiny Fairies..I still favor those..the morning glory is scampering up the arbor..Betty Corning..
Ville De Lyon..Arabella..Jackmaniis..Blue Angels..are in full bloom..for some strange reason the back of the garage ones are not blooming yet..just one..
Every year in a garden can be so different..one to the next..
this unstoppable heat and sunshine are playing havoc with my gardens routines..
The daisies and feverfew are at their peak..the lilies have buds.
My hellebore seeds took..:)
I did get to Sennelier while in Paris..for much too brief a moment.I only bought papers..a block..postcards..and a horizontal book..I think Nancy only bought pens and pastels,not sure..we had to rush they were closing for lunch..one of the blocks I bought is the one above.I love it..isn't that always the way?
I can get lovely Fluid ones here at Curry's online so I am not crushed..but isn't it fun to use something you bought on a trip and enjoy it?
Although..I tasted a wine in France..that was left in our apt. by the owner I guess..and I LOVED it..cannot find it anywhere..
Les Hauts De Veyrac 2015/Languedoc..
..apparently even Monoprix sells it..so it is or must be very reasonably priced..but not the Monoprixs we went to..you would have to search every one:(
Smooth..light.
What do I know? Lol..nothing.
I bought the workbook of Betty Edwards also..upon my return and have been practicing Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain..Derek had introduced me to her book so many many many years ago..so I am practicing..just starting..hoping it will help..at drawing what I see..I drew a peony in a vase and painted..I used a stamp to write the date..generous idea form this talented artist..not only in watercolor but photography..she also taught the splatters again..remember Ronelle teaching them too?
the others are from the 2x3 inch little Paris Visual Journal by Strathmore I had brought..
I had pre-stamped pages w/ some of my Paris stamps..
I brought everything in a small xbody pouch..a gift ..WN pocket set..water brush..teeny tiny spray ..and the book..bottle..micron..pencil..eraser.UniPosca white pen.
By the way just wanted to show you groupings that I love in the garden..BIG hostas..BIG Daddy ..Sugar Daddy..Blue Angel....alongside white Astilbe and Lady's Mantle..just lovely..
You know..my hostas do as well in the sun as the shade..I am not particularly fond of their unruly flowers.. often cut a bouquet..pretty..but rarely leave them on the plant.
They are proven winners in a garden.
Birthday wise..Noah is second in line..date wise..July 4th..8 ans!
We have a tradition.. each Little gets to pick a restaurant for lunch..and shopping for his gift after..
Noah..keeps telling us he wants to be a chef:)
Pretty cute chef..my San Gimignano apron;)
His mom and dad also do a party..a magician came..and mommy had loot bags and tattoo shop.. all organized..
For lunch with us..Noah picked Pacinis..there's a grilled bread bar;)
Look how grown up he is getting w/ his new adult smile..you're looking at his dad right now;) and his mom..his mom and dad look alike..
Le bread bar:)
He lucked out for his gift..
many chipped in..and Toys R Us were wonderful..
♥Kudos ToysRUs
Cooking /baking wise..I made cookies that..had too much butter so they did not hold their youthful shape in summer and a pasta dish..that even though I added garlic from our garden(too soon..to pick but still delish)..tons of basil..chives..parsley..garlic scapes..it still left too much to be desired and shared..
I have to add..I prefer sun-dried tomatoes NOT packed in oil..I find rehydrating them in boiling water and keeping the water..much more flavorful..more sun-dried if you wish..
so..no..not sharing..not good enough..but see what's back? My beautiful..edible..borage flowers♥
I did want to suggest something..a climber..if you need a very vigorous climber..a Kiwi vine..the leaves are so pretty ..dark dark green..but some..are pink at the tips..it makes for such a lovely contrast..
it does get huge..we are concerned our wood arbor is going to buckle and break..we had no idea it would reach such proportions..tiny kiwi-like berries form..
Eager for your favorite Paris Day! I love seeing your watercolors in your journal. You have much talent. I need to practice for I know that is the only way to make progress. I took Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain the first year I retired. One must continue to practice though.
ReplyDeleteA sweet surprise arrived in the mail....a visit from Philomena. You of course made my heart sing! I must get a post created with my Peter soon. So slow to pull things together. Please be patient with me. '-)
My sister is here visiting this week. We spent the day together doing what we like best......browsing around in antique stores in a small town near Austin. The best kind of day!
I can well imagine!
DeleteI still want a sister!♥
My husband tells me I have the patience of a Saint:)
Sarah..you don't need to post a Peter post:)
I have to go backward. I love that vine. They do grow here so I'll be searching for one. Oh Noah. Precious. The garden is beautiful. Do you remember from year to year how it's growing or have to write it down? If I wrote it down, I'd forget where I put it. You are still playing with toys Monique. Now they are paper and paints. So sweet and I love the way you paint. You must just relish the summer there since winter is long. The Paris trip still special too. It's all good.
ReplyDeleteI find with the years the gardens are less fresh..like me..
DeletePerhaps the lack of rain is making things look older..a malcontent..I love sunny days but wish for rain for all the vegetation..Noah looks so different now..they all do except Oli..al. So busy now that summer is here with day camps and swimming soccer..football..I do love to paint..and photo..and bake lol..reading is taking a backseat!
It's all good.
Quel merveilleux carnet de voyage ! J'attends la suite avec impatience ! En attendant, il est mignon comme tout et pousse comme un champignon, ton "petit" Noah ... UN joyeux anniversaire à lui avec un tout petit peu de retard !
ReplyDeleteBises
Hélène
J'aimais sortir mon petit trousseau le soir..Oui un vrai champignon.~!!:)
DeleteIf I could do watercolors like you, I wouldn't bother with photography. You capture the feeling of the place perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you could:)Try;) You will see.
DeleteBonjour chère Nana,
ReplyDeleteTout d'abord, je tiens à souhaiter un joyeux anniversaire à ce grand jeune homme !... avec plein de bisous !
Je suis sous le charme de tes aquarelles qui mettent en avant ton petit séjour parisien... Tout en délicatesse ! J'adore !
Un carnet de voyage qui demeurera sans aucun doute dans le tiroir des bons souvenirs de ta mémoire.
Je te fais des bisous et merci pour l'ensemble de ces magnifiques photos.
Je feuillette quelques fois celui de la Provence ..et de l'Italie..nos souvenirs en somme..:)
DeleteMerci Martine~Alison.
I love your water colors, Monique. Like 'Taste of France' above said, you do capture the essence of your surroundings so perfectly. We are going to Colorado, soon, for a month. I may use your idea of journal painting different scenery in water colors while there. Your memory of Barbie dolls could be mine, as well. I would use beaded pins for their earrings. And, I learned to sew by making Barbie clothes on my mother's Singer pedal sewing machine. Wow! That was so long ago. Happy Birthday to your precious Little!
ReplyDeleteI can still feel their clothes if I concentrate..you have access to great little kits in the US for watercolor..I bought one that is like a purse..at Cheap Joes..you fill your little ensemble w/ your paints..Oh I hope you do it!!
DeleteTrés ADORABLE!!!
ReplyDeleteMerci Carol..beaucoup.
DeleteChère, chère Monique,
ReplyDeleteI am behind in my correspondence, including a sending a special little package to Canada and in leaving comments. I love to see how you are expanding your creative directions!! I loved seeing the journal images, bien sûr! and happy to see that you are inspired by your voyage. I loved reading about those happy boys. Ah, summer memories, I have such nice ones too...It is beautiful here too, though I do better in fog and rain! Bonne journée, more soon, Rita
:) Isn't it funny how we all favor certain weather? I am not comfy in humidity..I would say that's my weakest link:)
DeleteI made a birthday card for Giuliana.. she will be 15 in August..I used some dots:) to raise little hears..Thank you!!
Beautiful drawings in your journal. You know how to capture such pleasing images. One day, I will try the bread recipes. It makes perfect sense to make some in the summer, when the house is warm. Who could resist that happy little face. Noah is growing up so fast. Sounds like very special birthday celebrations for your littles. We are enjoying nice temps this week. Thank you for your sweet compliment on being a great grandmother again. Happy Thursday.
ReplyDeleteYou should be in the World Book Of Records..still shaking my head at the GG:) I hope I get to meet some GGrandchildren:)
DeleteI love seeing your watercolors. It inspires me to pick up a paint brush again.
ReplyDeleteIt would certainly help zen like:) While waiting for St Joseph:)You will be so busy again soon:)
DeleteYour beautiful loaf of bread looks delicious! I haven't baked bread in too long. Noah at the bread bar ♥ What a great tradition with your boys. His gift must have been very special. Love that he wants to me a chef. Happy Birthday to Noah! My hostas look much the same - I do love them and they are quite happy in our partly shady yard. I started with perhaps 3 or 4 years ago and now I've divided and transplanted them all over the place :) I hate to see that my clematis are at their peak already, although Jackmanii S is just starting as the deer ate most of the early growth.
ReplyDeleteThe sketches of your trip on that wonderful new spiral bound watercolor board are lovely! You'll have to tell me about the stamps one day. I had to smile at the fact they were closing for lunch. The wine! We usually have a wine from Languedoc at our favorite French Bistro where we celebrate our birthdays and anniversary. We will be going there for the latter soon :) I'll have to see if they carry that one.
Can't wait to see your favorite day in Paris!
The stamps are just rubber stamps I seem to collect..I have one from 45 yrs ago..somewhere:)My mom had bought a stamp w/ her name.. think and one for me..for our books..and the rest is history..I don't have tons..but a few;) Didn't see any in Paris..but I do have some Paris ones..
DeleteI wonder if he will always want to be un chef:)
x
I always love seeing your posts, but this one is exceptional packed with lovely photos of your garden and your paintings are wonderful or as Carol said ... Trés ADORABLE . Your carnet de Voyage looks like it's packed with so many watercolour sketches, I hope you'll show some more.
ReplyDeleteBelated Birthday wishes to your lovely Noah,
Thank you dear Babraba:) Oh some no one will ever see LOL..trying to parctice everything in one shot.Trying to be what I am not..c'est la vie!
DeleteHave a great weekend!
Everything is all the more beautiful through your eyes...Noah is just the cutest boy. He looks like he is just so much fun to be around! There is just a certain twinkle in his eyes!
ReplyDeleteBisous xoxoxo
He has both his parents twinkle for sure..so many mannerisms..gestures..airs.. of Alain..so many words of Mylène:)
DeleteHe is the fireccracker. 4th of July..and he is the firecracker:)
This post is so very lovely! So is dear Noah with his sweet smile. I miss those young birthday celebrations. Now, we take them when we can get them.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
They cange so fast Bonnie..the proverbial..blink of an eye!
DeleteAren't Shutterfly books the best? I do one for every trip. Something tells me that yours is a showstopper! But I love your fabulous sketchbook even more. The size/spirals remind me of mine, which I love. I need to get better at sketching onsite. I'm much better from photos. All wonderful, Monique!
ReplyDeleteI find I am better from photos too :)
DeleteI can't seem to translate nature onto a piece of paper..I actually like copying something the best..Ann-Laure said it was because when one copies..the art has already been translated..so smart! Have you looked at her work? You might love it:)Have a nice weekend.
The bread is beautiful. What time did you get up to bake it so your house was not sizzling? Bread on the grill must be a very good idea. Noah looks so handsome for his birthday celebrations. There is something about him that reminds me of Frankie. That kiwi vine is pretty but it sounds like wisteria, a beauty to admire but not have in your garden. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteI get up 7.30-8 every AM..so it was in the oven around 9..
DeleteI baked a pie at 4 on Wednesday:) SO HOT.
The vine is over 10 yrs old..so huge..should have trimmed..I think we did twice;)I tried wisteria..not good here..never took..not the right zone unfortunately..
there are so many things in our gardens I would NEVER have planted..had I known..Oy.
Oooo! I see you are doing a book. WONDERFUL.
ReplyDeleteNono..just some Paris pages in a TINY Strathmore:)I'll leave the books up to Hugh and yourself:)
DeleteLove your summer memories. :) You are absolutely right, I love the summer temp for baking bread. But instead of baking early morning, I make them at night and I just finished a loaf as I type! Guess I'm a night owl. Noah is absolutely the cutest chef I've seen. Thanks for sharing. and I love the Borage flowers in your pasta dish, so lovely!
ReplyDeleteYou are like Noah's mommy:) A night owl:)
DeleteLove that your hellebore seeds took. Is that the plant I have that is also called Lenten Rose that blooms in early spring?
ReplyDeleteEager for your best Paris day :-) I have to remember to use my borage to decorate our salad. I have been using bee balm in our salads...love it.
Your bee balm has bloomed already? Wow..soon mine..will try..peppery right? Like nasturtiums?
DeleteYes lenten Rose..they have just baby leaves right now..1 or two..I have high hopes though:)Have a great weekend:)
Your grandsons are so handsome and happy! Did you buy the seeds or take them from a plant? Yes, the bee balm just started blooming this week. Yours will bloom very soon :-)
DeleteA friend sent me seeds last fall..I put them in the bed that I was planting my garlic..I thought they were a no show..but sure enough..I was able to spot at least 10..later on..so I have moved them to where I want them to be..they are babies..If I get seeds..next yr I will think of you.
DeleteThey are happy kids..I find the parents are very very devoted parents..:) Like your son:)
Loving all your Paris photos...so many memories. Musée d'Orsay is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI too remember my simple childhood. Games, forts, faux baking under a willow tree with my aunts pans! My kids are the last generation to lead this kind of life. Electronics have taken over. (I belong to a beach club....their number one rule: no cell phones. Good for them!)
I agree..our children were of the last generation of children that was tech free.
DeleteI am just wondering when Lucas..11 soon will have a phone..I hope it's not too soon.
I just read an interesting comment about girls and their phones..taking thier photos all the time..all the time..of themselves..what a waste of time:(
And too concerned with looks..it's not good..looks fade..or can be taken away w/ an accident etc..
Jacques doesn't have a phone..and mine is a dinosaur/relic/antique dumb phone from when I worked.
I only like the photo capabilities of the new phones.
I had a lovely young friend over with her daughter..who had recently got a phone..I was so impressed..she never used it and we visited for a long time..she never even looked at it.
Such a wonderful young girl..so bright.
PS..LOL
Deletelast night we watched a beautiful special about Paris..and it was all about Paris/Nord..we vsited inside the Garnier..etc..we feel 1 week is not enough to realy see Paris..we saw A LOT..but nothing in depth as we were trying to pack it all in..a whirlwind really ..too fast..
PS..LOL
Deletelast night we watched a beautiful special about Paris..and it was all about Paris/Nord..we vsited inside the Garnier..etc..we feel 1 week is not enough to realy see Paris..we saw A LOT..but nothing in depth as we were trying to pack it all in..a whirlwind really ..too fast..
Monique, your watercolors are always beautiful! I had to smile at your Princess Club....weren't those days wonderful? We played Library often and then ended up with a Monopoly game that extended day after day....I think we must have "borrowed" from the bank! Happy Birthday to Noah! He is so handsome...and so grown up!
ReplyDeleteI think I loved my childhood games and toys:) I could have done w/out the bullying..so happy people have cracked down on that:)
DeleteKate..you are KIND:)
Monique, you always inspire me to watercolor, just stunning! Noah is such a cutie, beautiful smile!
ReplyDeleteJody:)
Monique, I am late commenting on this. I started to the other day, but then someone came and I had to abandon my attempt! Sorry for being so long! There is so much to love here, but not the least your beautiful paintings and your lovely little Noah. You have such handsome grandsons! I loved reading about your Princess Club. We had a Barbie Fan Club. I was the president. WE had little cards and everything. It was so much fun. One of the girls used to make her own costumes for her Barbie. She was good, medieval ones and everything! Good clean fun. Oh that children were still so innocent. Love and hugs! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI always love when you share your sweet watercolors with us…especially these now that are from your trip to Paris. I'm so happy that your beautiful garden is doing so well in the heat of summer. Miss my summer gardens in Maine, they were so lovely this time of the year. Getting ready to do a major landscaping at our home but it will be mostly palms and foliage.
ReplyDeleteHi! This watercolour painting book of Paris is amazing and so delicate! I am always impressed ~
ReplyDeleteYour journal takes my breath away. I love every single page you showed and hope you will show more! I know what you mean about buying art supplies on a trip. On my first trip to Paris I bought a set of brushes that you fill the cannister with water and they're always ready (for on-the-road work!) I know you can get them here but when I went I'd not yet seen them. I use them all the time, sometimes even when a jar of clean water is at hand. Your France trip has made my heart sing! I'm so very glad I discovered your blog!
ReplyDeleteOh, and by the way, many thanks for your comments and visits while I've been away (but still posting.) Your words mean a lot (especially when it comes to encouragement painting!)