Jet Lagged, Decorated & Inspired
I am sitting here listening to the Josh Groban Christmas album, all of our Christmas decorations are finally up and even though this year we have seriously paired down the "hoopla", there were still 6 boxes that needed to come down from the attic! Its that irresistible mix of loving to decorate with the love of this time of year and Christmas itself, that makes it difficult for me to say no to one more adorable ornament or table decoration. Needless to say my poor husband has a lot of heavy lifting to do around this time of year [decoration photos will have to wait until a further post since I have so many other pics to share….]
Needless to say, I have returned from my wonderful travels to Europe. Somehow I am still jetlagged and am regularly falling asleep on the couch by 9:00 and waking up at 1:00 or 2:00 am [which would normally be the time I would be going to sleep in the first place] ready to start work! Eric is just a bit tired of it but the kids think its hysterically funny when I fall asleep on the couch and they manage to play all sorts of tricks on me before Eric catches them and sends them to bed! The things we do for entertainment around here, I tell you!
My trip amazing, restful, tiring, enchanting, hard work, encouraging, beautiful and inspiring all at the same time. As usual I have way more pictures to share than I have time to crop, format and upload them! I thought I would start with a few of my favorites from Paris and then later show you Madrid, the classes we taught, etc.
As usually some of my favorite sights and sounds of Paris are their outdoor markets whether it is in summer or the dead of winter. They never cease to amaze me in their color and variety…..
The evening view from the bridge that we had to cross every evening to get to our little hotel on the ile de St. Louis, one of the two little islands in the middle of Paris….
I don't know what it is about French menu cards that I love so much. But as you walk along many of the little side streets in the Latin District especially you will find several in front of every cafe or brasserie…
You can probably barely tell what this is but just a few doors down from our little hotel was this little dinner cafe where we ate dinner on two occasions, at this very table. When I walked by it the next night and saw that it was empty, I took a quick shot through the window. Just looking at it makes me dream of romantic trists…
At the foot of the market street La Mouffard, is this enchanting little church. There is just something about it that makes me want to stop and sit….
Evenings in the little districts of Paris are my favorite moments. Although I am not really that big of a shopper, I do love to window shop. Just staring at some of these stores from the cold outside air makes my imagination swim with ideas…..
What could be more Parisienne than scarves and scarves are a plenty in many of the stores in every color and style imaginable. This is just one little display of scarves in a store with a middle eastern flavor….
The view from the rooftop of the Galleries Lafayette is one of the best free views of the city. This time we managed to get up there before it closed, right at sunset and watched the wonderful scene of the sun slowly setting behind the tower…..
More tomorrow.
Talk to you soon.
About The Author
Jeanie | 16th Dec 08
Lucky girl:) I dream of going back to Paris and staying for a very long time……..someday!
Bren | 16th Dec 08
Oh how I love your photos of Paris!
xo, Bren
wilma | 16th Dec 08
I love your vacations. I love the pictures.
wilma
Miss Jean | 16th Dec 08
I’m glad you are back home and safe and sound. Your trip sounds wonderful and the pictures are beautiful. Can’t wait to see more.
annie from San Diego | 16th Dec 08
How delightful….thank you for sharing. Enjoy your holiday. I can hardly wait for more pictures and stories. You are such a kindred and romantic spirit. XXX Annie
Sherri | 16th Dec 08
The photos and your descriptions are just wonderful…I feel as if I’ve had a mini-vacation!
Carrie | 17th Dec 08
Oh, Paris. These pictures make me dreamy.
Stephanie | 17th Dec 08
I’m ready to pack my bags! Just beautiful.
Angela Yosten | 17th Dec 08
Beautiful! I bet you and Lissa had a blast!
Abbie Simpelo-Dyer | 17th Dec 08
I’ve been trying to send you an email to thank you for the package, but it kept coming back to me? I think the link posted on your page does not have the correct info? None-the-less….THANK YOU JOANNA!!!
Carrie | 17th Dec 08
Love your photos of Paris, sounds like a wonderful time. How could you choose just one scarf, they are perfect all together!
Merry Christmas!
Carrie
Kristin | 17th Dec 08
The pictures a just wonderful. I feel like I was transported to Paris while I ate my lunch. I WILL get there some day.
josie | 17th Dec 08
Oy Vey!!!
What amazing pictures!!! I am “fig tree green” with envy! I hope to get to Paris one of these days – and I’ll be looking for all the sights you enjoyed. Can’t wait to see how all this inspiration turns into Fig Tree magic! Joyeux Noel to you and your fabulous family!
BJ Lantz | 18th Dec 08
Bonjour! I too just returned from Paris late last night ~ inspired, jet-lagged & sporting a souvenir cold. I can’t wait to feel a little human again and get back to work ~ so many wonderful ideas swirling around. As soon as I get my camera downloaded (and catch up with the holiday stuff!) I’ll be posting some pics on my blog as well. I LOVE the shot you have here peeking through the window at “your” table ~ it conjures such a lovely, cozy feeling.
Kris LeBlanc | 30th Dec 08
Thanks SO MUCH for the wonderful pics & notes … if we all can’t BE in Paris, at least we can enjoy it vicariously!!
I feel like I just had a little lunch hour getaway …
C’est bon!!
Sharon | 1st Jan 09
I love your photos!! How pretty! It’s just beautiful.