Sept 11,2001

Early morning, Sept 11,2001, this is the view we saw as we drove from the airport to our bed and breakfast, Ireland.
But wait, what is that we are hearing on the radio.
We listened in disbelief, and drove as fast as we could to our b and b.
We'd left the night before, Sept 10.2001 from Newark airport,our car parked there in long term parking, flown overnight, and were exhausted. But suddenly, we were fearful.
Would we be able to fly home a week later?
This was a long time planned trip to celebrate our 30th anniversary, the past May, but hadn't been able to get away due to D's travel schedule, and taking our son to his first year of college.
So here we were in wonderful beautiful picturesque Ireland.

That first day, at the b and b, the TV in the lounge was on, and people were quiet in respect.
It was a shock and the dinner theatre we were scheduled to see that night, was cancelled, as most people sat quietly in pubs, or their homes, listening to the horror unfold.
I will write more this week about our trip in Ireland.
Although it was beautiful, it was horrifying as we learned more.
Our college kids called us that night, and that first day,and for a few days, we didn't know when we would be able to leave on our ticketed date, due to the flight restrictions all over the world.
This is the kind of event, that one remembers forever.
Forever emblazoned in our minds.

More Vietnam-Halong Bay

Yesterday I showed you a picture of an oil painting done in Hanoi of traditional schoolgirls.
This is a picture of our day spent in Halong Bay.
I won't go into the details about it, only to say it is really a once in a lifetime experience.
To ride in a boat among this beauty and then stop and sit quietly taking in this amazing scenery.
Anyone thinking of going to the Hanoi region of Vietnam would enjoy taking in Halong Bay.
Quiet, serene, awe inspiring. Much different than the busy traffic, bicyles everywhere, and honking cars that are distinctive to the busy city streets of Hanoi.

Ao Doi Schoolgirl uniform

Thought you might like to see a favorite painting of mine.
The all white Ao Doi school girl uniform is traditonal attire in Vietnam.
This painting of traditional Vietnamese school girls is one of my favorite purchases from overseas.
We bought this in Hanoi Vietnam from the area there where artists abound.
It is an area in Hanoi where local artists paint knockoffs of well known Vietnamese artists.
The tourist trade is their livlihood.
Just watching the artists paint is an experience in itself.
I enjoy this painting everyday as it hangs over my mantel.

One year later.. remembering Provence

One year later July 1,2007, the day we returned from our two week vacation in Provence, brings back such happy memories.
My husband had a work related conference in Lyon, then we took the train to Marseilles, and rented a car and drove to our friend's home in Provence.
They were getting married the next day, and that evening a party for all guests was held under the stars at their restored home.
Beautiful, too beautiful for words is Provence. The sights, sounds, food,wine, people all just so delightful.
The next day, the wedding day, we all walked in procession to the town hall where they were married, then by car caravan drove 45 minutes to the hotel amidst the lavender fields where the wedding reception was held and all guests were lodged for the night.
It was such a once in a lifetime event, that thinking about it a year later, it is as if it just happened.
We will cherish this memory forever.
The pictures speak for themselves of the sights as we drove along.

Isn't this decadent

No I didn't rent this.
When we were stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge headed to Sonoma for wine tastings in our little rented car this very pink beast drove by us and parked ahead. My daughter snapped this and we laughed and laughed. What a way to go sightseeing.

Hiking on Skyline Drive

When Megan was here from San Francisco several weeks ago we were able to drive to Skyline Drive, and eat breakfast at Big Meadows. Patrick was our tour guide as he is the resident outdoorsman and loves his hiking, rock climbing and other adventure sports. He picked a short hike on the N end of Skyline Dr. After our hike, on a fairly clear but hot day, we were able to picnic before heading back to the interstate and back home.
Have any of you out there either driven on Skyline Drive or hiked there? A unique experience and I have been reading a lot lately about President Roosevelt's funding and the CCC camps which enabled the Skyline to be built,starting in April 1933. It is a unique history and an intersesting place to travel/visit.

My Lavender

Last year after our S of France trip and seeing this and many more fields of lavender I decided to plant a row of lavender along our stone wall along our entrance driveway. I planted it in October, it took root, and it is now in full bloom.
No it doesn't look like this beautiful field of lavender in the picture, but hey this isn't France this is Virginia!
It's another hot hazy day in the valley here and I have my windows open with the breeze blowing so I can hear the cows mooing and birds chirping and the dogs barking.
Something about being all locked into my air conditioned house and not hearing summer outside just doesn't feel right.
But when the temp hits close to 90 this afternoon I will close the windows, put my freshly baked cookies in the glass cookie jar and turn on the AC!
Its another beautiful summer day.

Oh and I suppose anyone who's read any of my other entries has figured out lavender is my perennial/herb of choice!So this is sure to not be me last entry on lavender.

My Park

A year ago this time we were living in Tokyo and I called this'my park.'
Well it wasn't but it was not even five minutes from our apartment. But it was where I went everyday to watch the fishermen, or the school children throw pebbles into the water. It's where I took a book or my cappacino to sit and watch the locals around me on their way home from work school or the grocery.
It became my park, it became my home away from home and I miss it.
I miss city living. I miss the local coffee shops, and the expatriate friends I made there, I miss the International grocery store and bookshop. I miss the sights and sounds of another culture.

More Fields of Lavender

Because June is harvest time for lavender in the fields of Provence and because I am a nut for lavender I am remembering last year this time in France.
Another vista of a field of sweet smelling essence.
Too beautiful to describe.
I am ready to go back.

Homecoming

In honour of our daughter arriving today from San Francisco here is a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge from our visit there several weeks ago.
I've been busy the past weekend finishing all of the outside yard work and flower beds.
Then I switched to inside refinishing a pine wall cabinet, including staining it and a coat of finish wax. After that cleaning and putting a vase of peonies in the guest room. My daughter and some of her friends will be here for dinner tonight, so soon I will begin some dinner prep so that by the time she arrives we can relax and do some errands.
Always glad when she arrives for a week several times a year. The time goes too fast.

Lavender Love

When our car rounded the corner and I saw this view I knew I was in love.
Love--really in love. Have always enjoyed the scent of lavender, have grown lavender, dried lavender, collected books on growing lavender.
But non of that compared to how I felt when I saw this view. For miles and miles and miles.
I'd heard of Provence but until I was right in the fields of lavender I had no idea. Non. The love goes on.

Homekeeping

Today has me thinking about care of the home.
Stripping the beds and doing laundry.
Making the Saturday batch of oatmeal walnut chocolate chip cookies.
Running the vacuum.
Cutting peonies to put in vases.
Putting away the week's collection of newspapers and bills and filing and organizing other accumulated paper work.
Measuring a wall cabinet to hang to use for storage.
Sweeping the porches.

No matter where we call home there are the daily or weekly chores that make our space more pleasant.
And while doing the above, burning the lavender leaves scented candle that makes the house smell sweet.
The picture is our friend's home in Provence where the scent of lavender perfumes the hills.

Much better

Thanks for everyone's kind comments and emails.
Feeling much better today. After shaming myself and looking at the wilting state of potted plants sitting outside waiting for someone to take care of them I have determined that as soon as I warm up a bit outside I will go.
Watering and fertilizing, also stopping by a store to get some bagged mulch, to plant these babies in the ground!
I had stayed up much too late last night, and also up before 5 this morning, so if I get to work before my momentum leaves I just might get some things done around here.
The picture is off my back patio several weeks ago, a western view, before the leaves were fully out on the trees. That special time of year before the world becomes awake with greenery.
Happy day to all of you.