Lynda of Lakeland

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Paris-Top Ten Sites

I've been thinking about the top 10 things to do in Paris. This is a difficult task but I've narrowed it down....The best trip was planned by Laurie Johnson (French teacher) and my sister Michelle. So I can't take credit...but I did take notes!

10. Versailles although this may be at the top of your list...I viewed far too many castles on our trip in 1978 and had my fill of gold-filled rooms and paintings. This town is amazing and not to be missed for sure. The less than 45-min. train trip from Paris is worth it..... if you go early...I mean leave Paris by .....8 A.M....I know but you can sleep when you get home.

My neck was tired from looking up after 30 min.

9. L' Arc de Triomphe but I'll warn you about the climb....just take note of more steps to climb... no elevator here...nice view of the city in the eve....but not so good for photos....

This fella must have climbed to the top too!

8. Place De La Concorde, walking down Rue De Rivoli....stop in @ Angelina's for hot chocolate (they make it to go...) Turn right on Rue Royale (Laduree for macaroons...just buy something for the cute box) and view Place de la Madeleine

7. Musee D'Orsay (it's an injustice they won't let you take photos inside...not even without a flash....what I would give for the nerve to sneak a shot of the clock from the upstairs)

These were taken outside. The line was really long....busload of students...but we noticed the reserved entrance....and yes! We already had the Paris Museum Pass!

6. River Cruise down the Seine ( good shots but go before 4 P.M. for the best light)

5. Sainte Chapelle (pray for the LORD to allow streams of light from the sky to pierce the stained glass windows) Notre Dame is in the same block. You must wait in line on the side of the church to enter an upstairs shop...and then continue the climb to the bell tower. Take note the silver charms are less in the main Notre Dame shop open to the public ...front entrance without waiting) Climbing the stairs to the bell tower can be a challenge, but worth it for the view of gargoyles and the city. After the tour walk down the street past the Palace de Justice and see La Conciergerie and Marie Antoinette's jail cell. Then cross the street next to Notre Dame to see the Shakespeare and Co. oldest book store. Buy a book just to get it stamped. (I received a special surprise there. I'll explain in a different post.)

Jesus' Crown of thorns....minus the thorns....shown only on the 1st Fri. of every month and on Good Friday....sorry we missed it....

St. Chapelle

Notre-Dame

Shakespeare and Co... oldest book store

4. Opera Garnier (we went the last day but did not get in....the sign read "no tours today...sorry for the inconvenience) What inconvenience....we only left one of the best parts til last because the tour was in English at 2:00....oh well, another time, I'm sure.

3. Musee Du Louvre / Jardins Des Tuileries... There are no words....only digital film...Thank the LORD you can use a camera but no flash...so Mona is behind glass and a little tricky...before you leave the area...in the corner of the property is the Musee De L'Orangerie....Claude Monet's Water Lilies and more...

2. Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre-- A large white church on the highest hill and the most amazing
artist park and reasonable artwork to be purchased directly from the artist! Oh My! We were to visit this area once....and came back 2 other days! A favorite area with affordable shops and restaurants, beautiful scenery and a group of teenagers posing as deaf students trying to con the tourists....we saw them talking to each other at the end of the day...

Shopping in the artist park was our favorite!

1. La Tour Eiffel-- day and night we were blessed to be 2 long blocks (10 min walk) from this amazing icon. Worth every penny...the views from the top...pack a load of patience...long lines for ticket sales and to ride the elevators...Do not attempt to walk down...as we did...legs turned to jelly....

ok...so I am just giving you a tease so you'll come back for more. I will eventually post about each area giving more details and pics so you can plan your trip! It's doable...dream big sister! And PLEASE take time to leave me a comment! I would love to hear from you!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Let's make a necklace

This artist caught my eye years ago in the Mary Engelbriet's magazine Home Companion. I researched her name and ordered some supplies for making a bracelet. A few years later I ordered her book Making Connections regarding cold joins...jewelry making fancy talk....but quite a publication....way over my head....

Then.... I read an article that she was making a deal with Michael's Craft Store....next thing I know her products are being sold right in my home town....and yours probably....Susan Linart Kazmer! So....I had to buy a few pieces and make this crazy necklace. If you've never tried jewelry making....they make it so easy these days....just open the jump rings by pulling one end toward you and the other end away...add it to the necklace or bracelet ring and close...that's all folks!

So make your selection at the store....Michael's Crafts sold these....choose the ones on sale it you like them.....

I selected two lengths of chains and linked them together with jump rings....added a black leather thread.....

The knots just come with the job....

guestimate placement.....you may measure it you are type A.....

open the jump ring

place the charm on the ring, add the chain and close.....

funky junk necklace ready made to wear.....I hope Donna likes this....

You could add some rusty nails...just paint with clear nail polish so it won't mess up your Easter Dress...you are wearing a dress this Easter???

Well, the LORD will love you no matter what you wear....

Ecclesiastes 3:11 " He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Happy Easter! He is Risen!

Linking up with the party:

Monday, March 21, 2011

Paris, spring break 2011

Bonjour Peeps! Did you know they paint the trees in Paris?

Not really....but they do look painted with all the colour variations....

We had a wonderful time in Paris. It went by so quickly..... I will have more pics later....there has just been a slight delay on locating the SD cards....my 8 gig and 4 gig w/1500 pics was not in my suitcase when I arrived in FL on Sat......what could have happened to them? A real bummer.....

It's all Nana's fault....(Pylones)

I'll explain.
In the shopping mall under the Louvre.....I purchased a fancy cheese grater in the shape of a girl. The grater is her skirt. The only problem was in packing my carry on suitcase, she ended up gift wrapped and in the middle of the suitcase..... which raised suspicion during the exam going through the security check point.

So she had to be opened and exposed...In the meantime the security guard requested me to open the top of the suitcase....which I believed housed the plastic bag with the SD cards. If they dropped to the ground no one would have heard it. I was too busy trying to open the wrapping without destroying the paper and the box it came in to pay attention to other items in my suitcase. I just don't have any other explanation. The good news is my daughter-in-love downloaded the pics everyday. Hopefully I will have a copy in a few weeks.

So for the time being I will just have to show you the artwork purchased in the Montmarte district near the white church, Sacre Coeur. It was one of our favorite places....and we visited the area 3 times during our 7 night stay.

This one found in a store near the area.....and the only one not purchased directly from an artist.

But I think a great find....and I loved the colors....

This one purchased from the artist. My sis took a pic of me with the artist....I'll add it later...but the artist name was Georges, interesting since I am married to a George....

This one a water colour done by a local female artist....it is signed but I can't read her writing....

This one a bit on the modern art side.....

The artist that did this small book mark (his canvases were out of my price range)....had taught for 20 years @ the Univ. of Teheran. His name is B. Borojeni

Notice the top of the Eiffel tower appears to be a mask???

Then before we left....our last trip up the hill....I found these two jewels....loved the watercolor and black lines.....

The artist had completed a large painting of Sacre Coeur and the surrounding area which I would have loved to take home. I am guessing it was 20 X 30 and 300 euros.....way beyond my budget. He had added palm trees to the painting....so he had such a sense of humor. ( I did not see one Palm in Paris)

So much for the artwork.....now I have to go out and buy frames for all of these.....anyone have any extra Hobby Lobby coupons????

And last .....the one of me in pastel chalks.... ??

perhaps when I was 25......

au revoir!

Linking up with the parties:

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Signs of Spring

Thank the LORD spring is on it's way....at least around here there are many signs....I forgot to take photos of the hedge in full bloom...perhaps I will add it tomorrow....

The tree outside my office at school is in bloom. I am not sure what kind of tree it is (Dogwood) but it was nice to see blooms instead of another wasp nest.....

I have been quite busy cropping.....putting pictures in photo albums and making more albums. A friend's daughter is getting married on the beach next month so I completed a photo album for her to place her preliminary photos....you know....the kind folks give you that are amateur photographers.....since the real photographers keep you in limbo for several months....