Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label excitement. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Day 2575: Can you blame me?






access:  junk mail collage.












Want music?

 




Click here for  Al Green, People Get Ready.
then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?








I am thinking more and more about this upcoming trip!
Still so much to do, and how is it August 13th already? 




Arts in Provence is run by David and Liz Atkinson 
from a group of typical Provençal village houses.  
They moved to France in 1990 with an ambition to create 
a place to run workshops, providing guests with 
memorable experiences in their chosen creative area. 
The workshops are run from a typical Provençal village 
house full of character, with traditional spiral staircases, 
low beams and terracotta floors. The house which dates back 
to 1487, was converted by us from a group of semi-derelict
 farm buildings. The studio was originally the sheep barn!
The bedrooms are simply furnished, some are ensuite, 
others have shared bathrooms. I have a private room, 
sharing a bath with Marj. There is a well-stocked library 
for artists to use. The painting studio, the dining room and 
terrace look out over the swimming pool towards the 
Alpilles hills,and take in the astounding red ochre of 
Roussillon and the spectacular village perché of Gordes.
After work . . . after a day’s art, there will be time to enjoy 
the terrace and the pool, often accompanied by a beautiful 
sunset, before joining for a convivial evening meal.





Food has played an important part in making Les Bassacs 
a success. Using fresh local ingredients, 
the meals have a distinctly Provencal flavor. 
A breakfast of croissants and bread fresh from the local 
boulangerie begins the day. We can also enjoy fruit, 
muesli and yogurt as well as fruit juice, coffee and teas.
Lunch is a buffet, or sometimes a picnic in the countryside.
The evening meal is a three course dinner, taken in the 
dining room overlooking the valley. 
We serve local wine with lunch and dinner.

*Side-note: I rarely drink only because I am a lightweight, 
I live alone and I drive, so it just not doable. 
However, in France, my meals and wine are paid for 
and I am not driving!




        
Surrounded by cherry orchards, vineyards and olive groves.             There are lavender fields all around the hameau and 
the wild garrigue is just a few minutes walk from our door. 
The small lane that leads out of the back of the hameau 
 takes you out into a perfumed wilderness. 





We (11) will travel by mini-bus daily into  the markets, 
countryside and villages of the Luberon. 
As well as being met on9/7 and delivered back 
to the Marseille Provence airport on 9/21.
Seven of our eleven are on a return tip, some, their fourth! 
Four of us are novices to European travel.  We'll learn.





I have my new passport. I have passed paper screening for 
Global Entry, but my interview appointment is scheduled
for October 10! ;op  I will get travel insurance and a 
European Health card at the PO. Lots to think about?

About 50% of my waking thought are drifting to this trip.
Can you blame me?







just because ...








JB/just because* is a new addition to the blog's  
When I come across unusual work that I think you might enjoy?
And, I will credit the artist when the name is available.









A smile for Wednesday ...








Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Day 2483: I knew his name at the time.





Dawn: junk mail collage & digital.










Want music?

 




Click here for Pharrell Williams, Feel
then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?








Ready for more from the recent trip to ...



These photos will be from the Blue Rain Gallery.


Dan Friday, Sxwo'le Anchor, $5,500.



The Gallery Director, Peter Stoessel, saw me studying piece above.
It brought back memories of working with clay 100 years ago.
But, I was wrong, this is hand blown glass and cedar bark.






I loved the work by this artist. I knew his name at the time,
and thought I would surely remember? 
But, that was two weeks ago and it's gone.
















Today was a meeting for my September  trip to Provence, France.
It is my habit from childhood, not to get excited until the event happens, as cancellations happened often back then and I learned.
I have my flight, and will pay the balance of room & board in June.


But today's lunch meeting stirred the excitement embers.
11 ladies will fly to Charles de Gaule airport in Paris, transfer to 
a flight to Marseille to be picked up and taken to Les Bassacs.
Four of us are newbies, seven have made the trip 1-3 times.



This will be my home for two weeks. 
I have my own room and share a bath with good friend, Marj.
My to do list is long, and a lot to get done between now and then.
More to come, I am sure.











A smile for Tuesday ...





Saturday, May 13, 2017

Day 1752: WonderWoman and me.





bike, junk mail collage postcard












Want music?

 




Click here for Adam Levine, Let's stay together
then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?








Thursday morning WonderWoman drove us to Palm Springs!


WW & her Mom



A gorgeous locale that we have memories from over the years.





After lunch at Downtown Las Casuelas & the world's best tacos ...






and we went to a show in a fancy theater where the seats recline...






we stayed at Rancho Las Palmas in Palm Desert.





This is a Palm Springs bug close up. 




and this WonderWoman's reaction inside the car!






Then there was shopping at El Paseo, an requirement really.






Dinner at the Yardhouse, and unbelievably ...





we felt obligated to fit in a cone from Ben & Jerry's!
Not bad for Day 1 of a Mothers-Daughter getaway?
Thank you WonderWoman!












A smile for Saturday ...







Sunday, December 11, 2016

Day 1599: Living large?





"A+", acrylic & junk mail collage













I am working ahead! Wow!
Not something I do that often.
But as your read this I am on my way to Palm Springs!
Or, I'm already there wolfing down the world's best taco at
WonderWoman & Daughter #2 organized 
this get-away for my 75th birthday!
And, my good friend Denise is driving from Yuma to join us.
It will be a sleep over at the beautiful Rancho Las Palmas,





including dinner reservations at P. F. Chang's.





Win - win - win - win - win -win - win!
It pays to hang around for 3/4 of a century!









A smile for Sunday ...




Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Day 1525: I♥NY Last Hurrah!







top deal, junk mail collage








 

TMI Notice:
I admit I have been fixated on NYC for awhile now.
It was my first trip to NYC & a fabulous Mother/Daughter trip!
In brief form, while on the actual 5 day magical trip,
(9/14 here, 9/15 here, 9/16 here, 9/17 here & 9/18 here)
& lately filling in with some of the 600 photos!
(9/20 here, 9/22 here, 9/23 here, 9/24 here, 9/25 here, 9/27 here)
So today covers our last NYC days & the trip home. Done.
Images will creep into my artwork though, so be forewarned.






Sunday morning
we were up early in order to fit in as much ...


as possible before heading for JFK.




We stored luggage & walked to ...




 Central Park.




843 acres in the middle of the 305 miles of NYC ...











 
and it's 8.5 million people.








We loved it! Then ...

















brunch reservations at Tavern on the Green.









 
Back to the hotel with NY's finest & the start of UN week.











Then, a cab to JFK airport ...







leaving New York' JKF for ... 




Orange County's Long Beach








 

Thanks to our daughters for 5 perfect days!






 

Trip sidebar:


Friend, and artist Jan commented: 
"Jacki, another lovely "travel along" post. 
I love your photos but I'm exhausted just following along :-)"


I responded: "Thanks Jan! It was a fast paced trip 
but the girls had everything so well planned that 
I wouldn't have changed a second of it. 
I do admit when I got home I was beyond exhausted, 
but it was so worth it. 
I am almost back to my normal snail pace!"










A smile for Wednesday ...