ABC Wednesday—W is for "wanderlust"

This blog is 9 years old today (!).  I think
a lot of us have become a bit
"blogged out"—I know I don't always visit 
my friends' blogs as faithfully as I
used to.  But I still enjoy feeding this one
(especially when I'm able to collect
photos for it from far afield—and I have
definitely not lost my wanderlust).  And, of 
course,  I'm still very grateful for all the 
wonderful friends I've made because of it.

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

inSPIREd Sunday

This is Cathédrale Saint-André, in Bordeaux,
which I also featured here.

Happy first day of 2017.  I'm hopeful that this
year will bring some positive changes
(along with the ones that I'm, frankly, way 
less than thrilled about).

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

inSPIREd Sunday

Colorful candles in the Saint-Eustache church,
in Paris:  This late Gothic masterpiece
was built between 1532 and 1632.  Noted Parisians
baptized here include Cardinal Richelieu, 
Madame de Pompadour, and Molière, who was 
also married in this church.

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

The Weekend in Black and White

Next best thing to a fire in the grate—at a
restaurant that was new-ish when
I visited Budapest a couple of years ago.
The owners were welcoming and the
bread was freshly baked (always a good sign).
I hope they've made a success of it.

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

each light a prayer

. . . a good thought, an intention, a pledge,  
a memorial, a thanksgiving, or 
whatever it may be.  These were left in the church 
of Santa Maria in Trastevere, in Rome.

[Linking back to The Weekend in Black and White
and to inSPIREd Sunday.]

Thursday Challenge—"lights"

In the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere,
in Rome, this child's mother gave him 
a coin and told him he could light one candle.
He did put the coin in the offering box, but
he definitely did not stop at one candle.

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

Happy Blogiversary . . .

to me!  Six candles for six years—
and counting.  I'm still having fun, so I hope
you are too.  And I hope that all my blog pals know just
how much I appreciate their friendly presence here.
With luck, I'll get to (actually) meet
even more of you this year!

[These candles were in the 12th-century church of
St. Germain des Prés. To see more churches
from around the world, visit inSPIREd Sunday.]

The Weekend in Black and White

When the holidays roll around, my cousin Kay
makes sure all the silver is ready for festive dinner 
parties. There are tall, elegant candelabra, 
but I like these little candlelights—which were
waiting to be polished and set around the table. 

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

The Weekend in Black and White

I can't go into a church without lighting
a candle—or taking a picture of them.
These represent the prayers, wishes, thanks
of visitors to Basilica San Marco, In Venice.

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.
I've also posted to my monthly Paris blog, here.]

Photo Hunt—"one"

I was in the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere, in Rome,
and I saw this child's mother give him a coin and heard
her tell him he could light precisely one candle.
Well, i ragazzi saranno i ragazzi.  Mom moved away,
and the kid lit his one candle, then proceeded
to add about 10 more! (She didn't scold him, btw.)

[To see more "ones" visit tnchick's meme.]