Saturday, December 31, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


I'm ending 2016 with this image of an
 old whaling boat up in the Arctic, a
part of the planet I visited for the first time
this year and that surprised me with its

interesting history and incredible beauty.
Happy New Year to all of you!

[To see more b/w images, visit
Dragonstar's meme.]

Friday, December 30, 2016

Skywatch Friday


As usual, I'm hopping a plane and heading
a bit south to ring
 in the new year in a
peaceful
 place very far from Times Square.
Hope you'll be wherever you
want to be too!

[To see more Skywatch pics, go here.]

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Thursday Challenge—"celebration"


I'll be wearing this fetching little chapeau
day after tomorrow at our otherwise
relatively quiet New Year's celebration.
Hope you're planning some fun for that evening.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, go here.] 

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

ABC Wednesday—Y is for "yuletide"


Two of the magazines in our group had a
friendly gingerbread-house
smackdown recently on Facebook.  And
the winner was . . . this cute little log
cabin made by a couple of the folks
at FamilyFun magazine.  (I guess it was
okay to use no gingerbread whatsoever in the
making of your "gingerbread" house.)
Whatever.  It's so cute.


[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Holiday fun


I have some of those glasses that let you
see
your Christmas lights in various
shapes, including reindeer, Santas, wreaths,
gingerbread men—and these stars. 

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

Monday, December 26, 2016

Happy Boxing Day . . .


to all my far-flung friends who are
 celebrating today!

[To see more Macro Monday pics, go here.]

Sunday, December 25, 2016

inSPIREd Sunday


This pretty little church was established back in
1842, in Rocky Mount, in the Blue Ridge
Mountains of Virginia. Some of my VA cousins
sing in the choir here.
{Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to
 all who are celebrating today!}


[To see more churches from around the world, go 
here.]

Saturday, December 24, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


Did some last-minute Christmas shopping
downtown.  When I  turn the corner
and am greeted 
by this sight . . . well, it
never fails to impress me.


[To see more b/w images, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Friday, December 23, 2016

Weekend Reflections


A very Merry Christmas &/or Happy Hanukkah
to all my fellow reflection addicts
and blog pals wherever you are and however
you celebrate at this time of year.
Are you all ready for the festivities?  I'm not!

[To see more Weekend Reflections,
visit James's meme.]

Thursday, December 22, 2016

signs, signs


Back in the (18th-century or so) day, if
your footwear was better than your
reading comprehension and you needed
to have your boots repaired, I guess
you'd just have to look for a sign like this
to
 know you'd found a cobbler.
(I spotted this one in the heart of Bordeaux.)

[To see more signs, go here.]

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

ABC Wednesday—X is for "extra X's"



When I saw this, I just saw X's—but
this is the mast that three men climbed
to board their dirigible in 1926,
and took off to be the first to fly over the
North Pole.  They made it, but
never knew that they had.

There's a plaque on the mast that
commemorates their accomplishment.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Where are you?


This is Lady (according to her tag), who
was waiting patiently for her
human outside our local food co-op.
Despite her fur-trimmed coat and blue rubber
boots, she was shaking from the cold.
Not to worry—her owner was paged and she
was soon on her way home.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]


Monday, December 19, 2016

Monday Mellow Yellows


These yellow and orange flowers 
shone through the snow and
added a spot of bright color to my
Brooklyn neighborhood.

[To see more Monday Mellow Yellows, go here.]

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Shadow Shot Sunday


Here's a quiet corner behind the scenes
at Paris's most beautiful opera
house, the Opera Garnier, where it's
mostly ballet that's performed these days.

[To see more Sunday shadows, go here.]

Saturday, December 17, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


Did you want something? 

[To see more b/w images,
 visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Friday, December 16, 2016

Weekend Reflection


Rue Théophile Roussel, right at the entrance
 to the Marché d'Aligre, is 
reflected in the window of Le Baron Rouge
(oysters, anyone?) and in all those
wine glasses too.

[To see more Weekend Reflections,
visit James's meme.]

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Thursday Challenge—"everyday"


This may not be an "everyday" sight for
many folks, but I have this view
of the Chrysler (my fave NYC) Building
every night on my way home from
work.  And I never take it for granted.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, visit Dale's meme.]

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

ABC Wednesday—W is for "wall o' water"



Are you thirsty?  Or I should say, T'as soif?
If you're in Paris, you're in luck.
(First of all, the tap water's just fine.)
Or you can choose from among many, many
brands of bottled water—as in this
display at Bon Marché's Grand Épicerie.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Away in a manger


The biggest menorah you ever saw has not

been set up yet, but the nice crèche 
is there at Grand Army Plaza. Not so sure 
about that tree, though.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

Monday, December 12, 2016

Whirlybird


One morning recently as I took my usual
walk over the Brooklyn Bridge,
I was accompanied by this police helicopter 
that circled the bridge the whole time.
It was hovering in place when I took this shot—
must say, it made me feel safe . . .
and also creeped me out.  I kept wondering
just what it was looking for.

[Linking back to Blue Monday at Backyard Neighbor.]

Sunday, December 11, 2016

inSPIREd Sunday


This is the church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris.
The current building dates to the
17th century.  The façade was renovated in
the 18th century; the north tower
(the one on the left) was renovated, but then
the French Revolution halted the
renovations and the southern tower never
was replaced.  (It's always bothered me
that they don't match.)

[To see more churches from
around the world, go here.]

Saturday, December 10, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


I think it's beautiful in color, or all
lit up after dark—or like
this, in good, old-fashioned
black and white.

[To see more b/w images, visit
Dragonstar's meme.]

Friday, December 9, 2016

Weekend Reflections


I look forward to this every year:
For about a week before Thanksgiving, 
all the trees across from my
office get wrapped with thousands
of little white lights.

And when I leave work in the dark the
next Monday, they're all lit up.

[To see more Weekend Reflections,
visit James's meme.]

Thursday, December 8, 2016

cubbies


I recently switched allegiance to a new nail salon.
These little drawers for regulars' personal
polish reminded me of the restaurant Chartier,
in Paris, where some faithful customers
would get to store their own napkin in a cubby
much like these (although, granted, a bit
more elegant—it's Paris, after all).

[Linking back to signs, signs.]

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

ABC Wednesday—V is for "vineyards"


And also for this spectacular view of those
vineyards and the rooftops of
Saint-Emilion, where some of the best
wine in the world comes from
and where every square inch of land is
given over to the vines.


BTW, when these photos were
taken, it was almost time
for the harvest.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Deck the halls with . . .


berries and bulbs and . . . orchids.
I pass this flower shop near Grand Central
Terminal nearly every day.  They
always have orchids on display, but for
the holidays they add all this plus


glittery white branches and
poinsettias too.  Their
windows are always a bit over
the top—in a good way.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

Monday, December 5, 2016

Greece? No . . .


This is in Paris's 14th arrondissement.
I got a kick out of the Greek-themed mural 
filling a 5-story wall next to a
Chinese take-out joint—in France.

[Linking back to Blue Monday at Backyard Neighbor
and Monday Mural at Oakland Daily Photo.]

Sunday, December 4, 2016

inSPIREd Sunday


In the foreground is the Tour Pey-Berland,
the belltower of the Cathédrale Saint-André, in
Bordeaux.  The church was consecrated
in 1096. Here in 1137, 13-year-old 
local girl
Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII.
Most of the current structure was
built
in the 14th and 15th centuries, and as you
 can see from the scaffolding at right,
upkeep is ongoing almost 1,000 years later.

[To see more churches from around the world, go here.]

Saturday, December 3, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


I love these beautiful ballerina lamps, 
which can be had (for a price)
at the gift shop at the Opéra Garnier.

[To see more b/w images,
visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Friday, December 2, 2016

skywatch reflection


Reflected in a Louvre pyramid:
fluffy French clouds in a
beautiful blue sky.

[Linking back to Weekend Reflections
and Skywatch Friday.]

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Thursday Challenge—"rare"


On our Arctic expedition a couple of months ago,
on a day when we found ourselves in
the midst of a herd of reindeer, we were also
lucky enough to spot this Arctic fox.
Our guides told us that is very rare indeed!

[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, visit Dale's meme.]

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

ABC Wednesday—U is for "up the stairs"


This beautiful staircase is in the
Musée Marmottan Monet.  The museum
is off the usual beaten (tourist) path,
in the 16th arrondissement.  In addition
to the impressive (pun intended)
collection of Monets and other works, is
the building itself—a former hunting lodge
at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne.
{Note: no picture-taking allowed here. As if!}


[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

after-school snack


French kids like to enjoy a little gouter
after school.  Looks like this boy
decided to share his with the pigeons
in the Jardin du Luxembourg. 

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

Monday, November 28, 2016

"Tanglewood"


That's the name of this self-supporting (!)
sculpture by Shayne Dark at
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  It's
made of reclaimed and painted cedar logs.
(Do you suppose that when it's
time to un-install it, they'll just pull
out one strategic log and the whole thing
will come crashing down?)

[Linking back to Blue Monday
at Backyard Neighbor.]

Sunday, November 27, 2016

inSPIREd Sunday


Here is the Chapelle du Saint Sacrement,
 in the church of Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois,
which I also featured here.
This was the parish church of the kings
of France when they lived
in the Louvre.

[To see more churches from around
the world, go here.]

Saturday, November 26, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


Here's what's happening in the garden
right now: beautiful in all seasons.

[To see more b/w photos, visit

Friday, November 25, 2016

Weekend Reflections


If you're ever lucky enough to get to
Cap Ferret and you don't have
a meal at Chez Hortense, you'll really
be missing out.  And if you don't 
have their world-famous mussels, then
you're just nuts.

[To see more Weekend Reflections,
visit James's meme.]

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thursday Challenge—"bright" (#2)


It gets me every time!
{And a very Happy Thanksgiving to
all my American friends.}

[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, visit Dale's meme.]

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

ABC Wednesday—T is for "tusks"


These creatures are so cumbersome on land,
and yet strangely graceful in the water.
Oh—and they're kind of nasty.  Just sayin'.
Still, I'm glad I was able to see 

them up (fairly) close.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

This old wine press . . .


is at the entrance to the caves of the
Chateau de la Rose Brisson/
Moulin Galhaud winery.


They were dug out with pickaxes under the
streets of
 Saint Emilion many years
ago,
 and there's lots and lots—and lots—of
excellent wine stored here. Cheers!

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

Monday, November 21, 2016

Hot!


These are Gold Bullet habaneros, which
added some bright yellow color to all 
the wonderful Thanksgiving-type veggies
for sale at our local greenmarket
this weekend.

[Linking back to Monday Mellow Yellows and Macro Monday.]

Sunday, November 20, 2016

inSPIREd Sunday


This 17th-century angel Gabriel (by
Gian Lorenzo Bernini!)
lives in l'eglise 

de Saint Bruno, Bordeaux's first baroque 
church, built in 1611.

[To see more churches from around
the world, go here.]

Saturday, November 19, 2016

The Weekend in Black and White


This statue, in the northeast corner of
the Tuileries, is called Retour de Chasse
(aka Home From the Hunt), sculpted
by Antonin Carlès and completed in 1888.
It depicts a young man returning
from the hunt with a deer that he has killed
with a bow and arrow.

[To see more b/w images, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Friday, November 18, 2016

Weekend Reflections


Thank you, city of Bordeaux, for putting
a reflecting pool across the road
from the Palais de la Bourse, and lighting
the building to make this
lovely reflection for me to post here.

[To see more Weekend Reflections,
visit James's meme.]

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Thursday Challenge—"bright"



                                            This week's "supermoon" would have been a
perfect subject for this challenge.
Unfortunately, it was too overcast where 
I am for me to get a good picture.
However, I was in France on September 14
and was able to witness the 
penumbral lunar eclipse—and take a 
picture of the very bright moon that night.


[To see more of the Thursday Photo
Challenge, visit Dale's meme.]



                                          

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

ABC Wednesday—S is for "stream"


And also for the island of Spitsbergen,
and Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago where
it's located.  And for surprised—I
never expected that the Arctic would be
as beautiful as it is.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]