Pink Photo Challenge, Paris Blooms

A Rosy Note has issued a photo challenge, and you know I'm always up for a challenge. Isn't that how we learn to stretch ourselves beyond what we think is our limit? Photographer, I am not....but my wonderful family gave me a Nikon D40 for Christmas a few years back.....it was difficult to leave film behind, and I still wish I had that instant film developing ability....staring at over 600 photos of Paris..... which ones to I email for printing?

We are talking PINK for the challenge....I knew this one would be perfect.....Across the street from Notre-Dame is a small park with blooming trees. The pigeon in the tree making all the noise caught my eye first, but he (or she) would not stay still long enough for my camera to focus. The tree was an easy target!

aahh.....springtime in Paris!

So this is more pink blossoms near Notre-Dame.....the flower market....

Now, another special photo taken at Marie Antoinette's residence in Versailles, Paris

Flash photography NOT allowed, so this was tricky.....I had to edit it in Picassa, then special effects in Picnik....

One more close up look of the pink blossoms....

Have a great weekend.  We are praying for the grieving families that lost loved ones in the 5 state tornado disaster.

Linking up with A Rosy Note:

Rosemary Chicken

This will be a recipe post. I have had numerous request for my rosemary chicken. This is not my recipe. I learned to make it the summer my son and daughter-in-love were living with us while in transition from Tampa to Knoxville....Mandi liked to watch Rachel Ray....so there I was, watching this amazing lady cook a complete meal in front of my eyes in 30 min. I learned a great deal about cooking that summer, but this has been my favorite recipe from Rachel. You can look it up on her website but it is not listed.

I use fresh Rosemary.....either from Publix or the garden....

chop rosemary fine....wash 3 plump chicken breasts and drag into rosemary...

Cook in Olive Oil....or as Rachel would say " EVOO"......when chicken is done, drain on a paper towel.....cut into small, bite size pieces.

Extra light....since I have been on Weight Watchers.....

As the chicken is cooking, unwrap a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls......

I pull the triangle and broaden the base as much as possible, without tearing holes in the pastry....

Next....place a few small pieces of chicken on the triangle, then add a tablespoon of fig preserves....

any brand of Fig Preserves will do....and Havarti cheese....hopefully the husband will not have used it all on his ham sandwich.....

Top with the cheese.....I did run out of Havarti....so later I substituted Parmesan (fresh) and my husband could not tell the difference.....

Pull the triangle together and seal the sides....edges so the fig will not escape....

I cook these in pampered chef stoneware, approx. 20 min while the pastry cooks.

what is funny is.....I forgot to take a pic of the end result. So later, I placed the left overs on a plate to photograph....I had already put up the vegetables I served with the meal....but you can use your imagination. Serve with a salad, green beans and squash for a delicious treat.

YUM!

I have taken this dish to folks who needed a lift....they always call and say " What in the world is in that pastry?" They usually can identify the chicken, but not the other ingredients.

Bon Appetite! 

Linking up with parties this weekend!

Easter 2011

My daughter Lindsay made this wonderful chocolate cake for our Easter gathering.

I just love peeps! This looks so much like a sunflower.....It tasted just as great....chocolate with chocolate icing.....wonderful, of course the vegetables and ham we feasted on was out of this world...

oh yea.....green princess.....pink goblets.....beautiful settings....thanks to my sister, Patsy and her husband, Wayne for hosting the gathering....

It will be difficult to return to normal, everyday life after this.....

6:00 A.M. will come ever so early.....

Bye, ya'll

Linking up with these parties:

Easter Blessings

He has risen....shall we celebrate?

This imagine is from the Graphics Fairy.....she is so generous with her images

Check her site out .....marvelous images....

Since I was linking up to Tablescapes Thursday, I had an opportunity to try out my new Lenox Butler's Pantry Gourmet dishes recommended by my sister. The last set of dishes we used was Pfaltzgraff Evening Sun. They chipped more than usual so out they went.

The table is set for Easter brunch...

Then....I made the mistake by clicking on #16. Julio....on the blog party Naps On The Front Porch

click here:  Then click on #16. Julio....

This amazing lady has the most beautiful backyard I've ever seen.....makes my kitchen look pitiful...but someday soon.....the dream kitchen will come..So we have to make the best of what we have been blessed with!

I placed the old bunnies I made when the kids were little in the foyer.  They are made out of Fimo clay you bake in the oven.  The grass is made with a garlic press....the eggs & bunnies have a tooth pick inside to keep them from drooping.

These are Dept. 56....my mother gave these to the kids years ago........they just hang out here in the secretary cabinet during the off season.....

I did finally add some roses from the garden....

And .....the Martha Stewart bunny napkin fold...

I think I need more practice.....

I think the table is ready for bacon, eggs, grits and chocolate bunnies.... ( not at the same time)....

John 3:16

" For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"

Acts 1:4,7-8

" Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my  Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."....It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Easter Blessings to you and your family!

...Be sure to leave me a comment....would love to hear from you. Thanks for stopping by.....

I'm linking up with Donna's wonderful resource:

The Best of Easter 2011...

Clocks of Paris

Bonjour peeps! In Paris I noticed clocks everywhere.....so I decided to take lots of pics around town during our stay. The grandest clock that we were not allowed to photograph is inside the ORSAY museum. It is totally awesome.  Let's begin with the most fashionable one.....I call this one Burberry....

I have several pics of the Lourve on the outside....the framework for this large bill board was placed days before the poster went up. I thought they were just renovating the outside.

Before the poster went up.... you can see the framework on the left...isn't this a fab clock?

Since the Louvre was not what the royals wanted....let's journey to Versailles to see what kind of time they keep there....

OK....so the clock is a little blurry....but flash photography is not allowed...and it is really dark in some areas....I kept thinking....could we just turn the lights on .......but I would hate being stuck with the electric bill......

This one is from Marie Antoinette's Trianon ...

I love this side of the building with the red brick and chimney....it adds more color.

Now we are looking out from the top of the bell tower on Notre-Dame......

It is 3:45P.M.  I do not know the name of the bldg. we are looking at with the black roof. I will need to locate the map.......

This clock is on top of Sainte-Chapelle......have we been up here for almost an hour???

How many pictures can you take???

The Hall of Justice is between Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle

This clock is just outside the Orsay Museum......

{Thanks for visiting the clocks of Paris}

Au Revior!

Don't forget to leave me a comment. I do appreciate the time and effort it takes!

Gargoyles of Notre-Dame

PARIS...spring break....I can hardly believe we went...the time passed so quickly......   our small group waited in line for a while outside the Notre-Dame bell tower. I did not keep time....but to pass time I walked around the structure and took some photos.

The girls located a crepe shop and we just enjoyed a little down time. Once inside the gift shop, I was shocked the cheapest silver charm was $75....later we discovered inside the main church, a small book stand sold silver charms for $20....not as large but the other one was huge... At the top we had climbed close to 400 steps...my legs felt every one...but  the view......it was so worth it!

Gargoyles: an architectural, a stone medieval work of art, but throughout all ages..... a means of water diversion....
to a church....since most folks were not literate....images were the best way to convey ideas....also they were used as a representation of evil....to scare folks into coming to church...reminding them the last days were near.....

This one is not as scary as others....

I don't even want to ask what this one is eating.....

From this angle....you can see the spire. This 300 foot masterpiece is the product of Eugene Emmanuel viollet-le-Duc the architect in charge of the restoration work done in 1860....very impressive....

It looks like an old gentleman travel looking over the edge on the corner....and the alien with the large tongue hanging out..... in the other corner....what were they thinking?

This gargoyle has a terrific view......

I think the pelican was our favorite.... My daughter took a wider pic with the black roof building and it's clock showing....I'll post later all the collection of pics of clocks in Paris.......

This one brought over some grapes from Italy to eat.....

A friend that visited 5 years ago said there was no fence then.... Is the fence for safety???

To get shots like this you have to place your lens between the wire....

We had a clear blue sky.....

Hope you enjoyed looking at the view from the bell tower of Notre-Dame.....now for a look inside the tower and the bell.....by the way.....it rang when we were taking pictures....so that was an added bonus...

I saw a photo that included this gargoyle...so I took several of this view....If I had used the polarizing lens, the sky would have been bluer....

Above....the apostles look out toward the city....the architect at the top, right ....is pointing to his work of art......

Well, it you ever get to Paris....take time to visit Notre-Dame and the bell tower....I did not see the Hunchback of ND.......

Leave me a comment if you please......