Highlights

…of a wonderful ten days with our grandchildren. In fact, make that eleven days, since their flight was delayed a day due to a winter storm back in Boston. We were so glad our daughter was able to join us for the last few days & be a part of all of the activities. We packed in a lot of eating & lots of fun. It was sad to see them leave early this morning. The house is so quiet now.

 We are already missing them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Entertaining

……some very special house guests…

…this week…

…. the weather has been crazy…

…. one day we are cold…..

….& the next day …

…. we were at the beach!

Hope your week has been fun

& full of surprises!!

Najac

I recently discovered an interesting article about the 1920's British couple, 

Jan & Cora Gordon. 

Although well known & respected in their day as artists & prolific travel writers, they have been virtually forgotten today. What really caught my attention about this spunky couple was not only their creative & free spirited lifestyle, but  also their connection to the village of Najac, France.

They lived & painted in Najac in the year 1923, writing the book

 Two Vagabonds in Languedoc.

 Because Najac is one of my favorite places & very near where I spend my summers in France, I am most anxious to read this book about their experiences. It will be interesting to view village life 91 years ago through an artist's eyes.

Looking at this painting of Najac by Cora Gordon I recognize it immediately & can see that not a lot has changed.

Above is a photo I took last summer & below a photo from the 1920s.

I love the slate roof tiles in Najac. 

Could these dormers I shot last summer be the two in the photo below?

Here I am walking underneath the covered portico one can see below.

 Really it seems very little is different.

The old fountain is still pretty much the same.

From this old post card one can see that everything is much as it was, except for perhaps what people are wearing.

 With France on my mind today, I am hooking up with Paulita on An Accidental Blog for her Dreaming of France meme.

Goofy 'N Green

Feel'n the green….

….& a little bit goofy too….like this Gumby & his camera I spotted  decorating a boarded up doorway….why???….I have no idea…. but I definitely related….

…this old place just says something about the south to me….but what… a sort of abandoned green grocery… southern style??

…..those snowy egrets that look so elegant from a distance sitting in the marshes… aren't always so pretty close up….but you've gotta love this homely little fellow….

I also love the blue green of my neighbor's giant century plant  looking a lot like it belongs in the Little Shop of Horrors 

…& if you are longing for a "green" vacation why not try this yurt  on an organic farm in Malibu…

…..go ahead…. feel goofy….feel green…. & above all enjoy your weekend

Spring Forward

The clouds have parted & the sun has come bursting out.

The skies brightened just as the clock sprung forward.

With the sun, buds opened…..

….even though the rain had already knocked many petals to the ground.

 Spring is in the air.

And the clean up begins after a long winter.

I know that we are way ahead of most but I offer this to you as an eternal hope. 

Spring is indeed on its way.

Grey Day

Not much is happening around here today. It is a grey & wet day.

 Doing a little drawing though, trying to over come a bad case of painter's block. Maybe that's why I liked the first photo so much, a sort of coded message to self.