Kathleen Botsford

Paris

 

We arrived in Paris just after noon.

 We strolled down de Champs-Elysees

and found an adorable FRENCH cafe.

After a tourist lunch of escargot, french onion soup,

beef tartar and red wine

we wandered the streets in a satiated fog,

soaking up the Paris atmosphere.

I had mentioned at lunch how I hoped to "stumble" upon the historic sites

the same way I had in Greece years ago.

Steve laughed and shook his head. 

When suddenly I turned  and

Voila'!

The next day we started at the famous bookstore near Notre Dame.

Steve found a cafe and a beer

as I wandered the haunt of some of the most

famous authors of our time.

A bibliophile's heaven...

We wandered back across the Seine to the doorstep of Notre Dame Cathedral.

 

I took photos and photos and photos until we needed an espresso/Heiniken break.

We returned to find the Cathedral locked down and swat teams everywhere.

No one seemed to know what was going on except the Police

and they were not sharing.

The next morning Steve was reading the paper

and we found our answer.

Stayed tuned for part 2

Saturday Night

 

Another weekend at Notre Dame.  This time with no sporting events attended.  Victoria sings in the Choir at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Saturday evenings.  This past Saturday was her first time and she was a touch nervous.  They sang in Hebrew and Latin and she had only a few days to practice.   The girls sounded like angels, each and everyone. 

 

After Mass we celebrated one of our favorite "son's" birthday with a dinner at our usual restaurant before the kids went out to celebrate Saturday night as only college kids can.  Oh, to be young and frivolous again!  Actually, I am more than happy with my current age even with my sometimes lapses in good sense and glass or two of wine too many.

 

 He who knows he has enough is rich.

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Red Feasting Wine

I love wine labels.  I love the wine too but lots of time it's the label that grabs my attention.   My studio is full of wine bottles whose labels I cannot bear to throw away.  I have been trying to get these labels off the bottles in one piece for some time.  Somtimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  I don't have the courage to try to separate my favorite labels from their homes.  I don't want to ruin them and as long as they are still on the bottle, the possibility of saving them is still intact. 

This label came off easily and then became the focal point of this collage.  Wouldn't it be fun to design collages for wine bottles?  I can think of all sorts of "careers" for my next chapter in life.  Too bad there isn't much of a market for them!

Rocky Mountain High

 

 

 

I finally got my camera equipment back from the snow bunnies.  These are a few shots of breath taking Aspen mountain.  We spent a long weekend there last week.  The girls took ski lessons.  My husband and I walked around and ate.  Then we walked around and drank.  Then we napped.  All of the progress I made this fall with my exercise regime is falling down hill......fast!

P.S.  I did read "My Life in France" by Julia Child.......enchanting!