à Paris Dansant - a wakingdream, france from dancing doc design

winter prescription:mellow yellow cocooning

2012-01-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

Eventhough the skies in the south of France are still bright

it it well known that this is cocooning season

full of rest, good strong coffees, teas

lots of reading

luminous yellows

taunt the cold winds

time to rest ,

risk

chance

dream

create

open up

drink it in

l i f e g i v i n g

do you not agree?

meilleur voeux 2012

2012-01-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

May the Light of the New Year bring good health ,love and good fortune

to all

May the Traditions both old and new

offer us connections and understanding

in any weather

May we flush away the negatives ,the harsh judgements and prejudices

we are all one

all connected

all energy

love

anticipation

2011-12-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

Et voila - the real reason for Christmas--

note bien: that these folks portrayed in this rendition of the famous french song : IL EST Né le DEVINE ENFANT
appear to be from the middle east -

wonderful reasons to open our hearts to all !

and yes ,the stairs are in -- stay tuned

strong women -artful dancing and change

2011-12-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

Amazing women of the blogosphere

amazing women friends

and family

have on their shoulders

the holidays

the joy making

from their hearts

their history

they creat great tapestries

celebrations

traditions

storng in body and mind

like the waters of birth

the oceans of imagination

a film that captures this vision

of women

their strength

love

and

creativity

for their families

and

communities

see it sooooon

La Source des femmes

Cela se passe de nos jours dans un petit village, quelque part entre l'Afrique du Nord et le Moyen-Orient. Les femmes vont chercher l'eau à la source, en haut de la montagne, sous un soleil...

Birth of a sweet tooth

2011-12-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday mornings ,reading the newspaper, drinking a good cup of coffee
with the sun shining into a new week....

thoughts ........ and reading take me to a chocalatier

This talented woman is a New Englander ,

situated in Newport ,RI

yum!

would have loved to have these delicious,

truffles at an outdoor soirée

as we all know : chocolats have a suprising effect on all !

upward looking from the inside

2011-12-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

these boots ,I mean shoes,are made for walking. yes, our much anticipated stairs, ok, 4years of waiting, are finally coming next week

they will be not unlike these babies,

they will be cement/beton made by an artisan from Carcassone!

to bless our little abode:) here in the south of France

much anticipation

wide eyes, patience and love

just in time for the holidays

i found the most delightful blog :castles,crowns,andcottages

stepping up

2011-12-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

C'est vrai! I do not enjoy doing the menage! and I enjoy a cup of joe when I must clean the house!

i prefer arranging objects into scenes of art

and yes, i am waiting for the stairs to be installed ,finalement:)

all eyes are on the project !

then designing the relaxing spaces of the grenier!

if you click on the photos you have their links... if i did it correctly

2011-11-13T07:46:00.000-08:00

yes ALL, let us give them, our children a STEP UP!!!

A look toward the future not for just 1% but for the MAJORITÉ

do something !!

get off the couch ,though I dare say it looks comfy!

get your crowd together and talk about the tough stuff!!

we can make a difference!

we are in this together ---- our world is one !

a little visitor in stripes

2011-06-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

yes, this divine bird visited my little garden here in the south of France!

do you know its name?

hoopoe

.....the virtue of gratitude is said to be found especially in birds called hoopoes,

which being conscious of the benefits they have recieved from father and mother in life and nourishment, when they see these becoming old make a nest for them ,feed them , plucking out old & shabby feathers with their beaks, and by means of certain herbs restoring their sight, so that they return to a state of prosterity.

Leonardo da vinci(friedman226)

they are known to care for their parents or old birds !

HOOPOES: Has long been a symbol of inspiration. It is said that in ancient Egypt, in the days of the Pharaohs, the Hoopoe appeared in hieroglyphs as a symbol for gratitude.

calm & assuring

a concept to celebrate

thoughts of women's rights, choices and solidarity

as DSK claims his innocence?!!!

this was a photo exhibit from Venise's recent show !

sublime pinks for Easter!

2011-04-24T13:36:00.000-07:00

take flight

2011-04-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

take off your warrior gear, your protections

dive in and notice the chickens nearby

yes, there are contrasts and inconsistancies in life

take a breather

then put on those dancing shoes

dream

move

create

and fly off into your destiny to do good

to try to make a difference

eventhough it is hard

in this new space

and time

here in Europe

where

your degrees

have no

value

believe

pray

wish

move

go for it!

2011-03-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

get off the couch ,DREAM BIG

you are definately noticed and valued

move, dream, dazzle

do NOT let anyone tell you no!!!!

or restrict your belief in your dream

imagine new horizons

ready ,set, GO!!!

enjoy the ride!

blessing to you!

Dreams of spring !

2011-03-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

in our hands we like to feel ,oh so in control , at least , I do,

and yet the world and our lives reflect back that change is all we can count on.... oh, but to dream otherwise is a gift

now is spring in France
and I can finally step away from the heated spaces of our home .....

and away from the kitchen's cosiness and out into.....

a little light number like this doosy! ah, to dream, yes,

to plan for the balmy breezes of summer at dusk....

to sashey along in bright Chanel Red lipstick and powdery blues

to tip my hat to the wind on my way to a city lunch or Parisien marriage

just to imagine that the sun will bask on me and all the world with kindness and good health

have a great weekend

deep colors and vibrant tints

2011-01-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

talents of beloved

2010-11-27T09:31:00.000-08:00

plunge - into a dream out of sync with the seasons!! Here is a summer scene

showing Thierry's talented design and construction.

- oh, yes, I miss the hot sun of the south

of France

my beloved , mon amour , is multi- talented

voici - une piscine he designed and his team here in the south of France made a reality

breaskfast in bed ,anyone? alas, this is Cinq et Sept, a luxury gay guest house, I did stay there - but, it is more often frequented by gorgeous males! Check out the landscape, ladies and gents!
But, really the point of my little post is to highlight my hubby's talents!

blessings to all during your shopping madness ,post Thanksgiving bonanza- no ,I have not started! eegads!
In fact , we are celebrating Thanksgiving demain, at a fellow expat american's home ! I am preparing the turkey from the marché. The gents there were fascinated with the whole pilgram/ indian history!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!!

all photos in this post _ Bryan Lancaster

under dust, hidden from time,-- Paris treasures

2010-11-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

Imagine some 70 years ago a young Parisien girl had lived in this apartment in the 9eme arrondissement.

It was WWII ,the Nazis had taken hold of the City of Light and people were fleeing to the south of France.

Suppose the apartment in Paris had continued to be paid for all these 70 years....though,it remained closed.

Why ? Who had lived there? What memories were frozen in time?

This was so for the apartment of the decest French actrice, Marthe de Florian!! It is said that her Grand Daughter fled from this setting during the Nazi occupied Paris never to return.

According to many sources, including the Luxe Chronicles,

" Marthe de Florian, actress and "demimondaine" or "cocotte" whose beauty once won her the ardent favours of George Clemenceau, 72nd prime minister of France and Italian artist Giovanni Boldini (1842-1931) amongst others, left her flat to the care of her family upon her death. Her granddaughter lived in the flat located near Paris' red light district of Pigalle until she fled for the South of France just before the outbreak of WWII never to return again."

Why did romantic story become uncovered after 70 years?

apparently....

"Marthe de Florian's granddaughter recently passed away at the ripe old age of 91. Among the dusty, cobweb filled effects bequeathed to her by her grandmother, the executors of her estate found a stack of racy love letters bound neatly with a ribbon and a fine portrait painted by Boldini of a young 24 year old Marthe in full bloom. While the painting's value was estimated at €300 000, it fetched a cool €2.1 million at auction, a record for the artist whose famous patrons once included the Marchesa Luisa Cassati."

Luxe Chronicles

Imagine Marthe and her grand daughter peering into this ornate dressing table!!

This story became an international fascination because Marthe, apparently of exquisite beauty, kept her love letters from each lover tied up in a separate colored ribbon and because she was painted by Boldini.

Included in this illustrious setting were many period pieces!

Why was this finding so intriquing?

Here from the UK Telegraph

"Entering the untouched, cobweb-filled flat in Paris' 9th arrondissement, one expert said it was like stumbling into the castle of Sleeping Beauty, where time had stood still since 1900.

"There was a smell of old dust," said Olivier Choppin-Janvry, who made the discovery. Walking under high wooden ceilings, past an old wood stove and stone sink in the kitchen, he spotted a stuffed ostrich and a Mickey Mouse toy dating from before the war, as well as an exquisite dressing table.

But he said his heart missed a beat when he caught sight of a stunning tableau of a woman in a pink muslin evening dress.

The painting was by Boldini and the subject a beautiful Frenchwoman who turned out to be the artist's former muse and whose granddaughter it was who had left the flat uninhabited for more than half a century."

Amazing- a story of loves, life lived fully, generations, secrets,

and the treasure of a master piece, Boldini !!!

"The expert had a hunch the painting was by Boldini, but could find no record of the painting. "No reference book dedicated to Boldini mentioned the tableau, which was never exhibited," said Marc Ottavi, the art specialist he consulted about the work.

When Mr Choppin-Janvry found a visiting card with a scribbled love note from Boldini, he knew he had struck gold. "We had the link and I was sure at that moment that it was indeed a very fine Boldini".

He finally found a reference to the work in a book by the artist's widow, which said it was painted in 1898 when Miss de Florian was 24.

The starting price for the painting was €300,000 but it rocketed as ten bidders vyed for the historic work. Finally it went under the hammer for €2.1 million, a world record for the artist.

"It was a magic moment. One could see that the buyer loved the painting; he paid the price of passion," said Mr Ottavi."

Amazing- a story of love, life lived fully, generations, secrets,

and the treasure of a master piece !!!

Big spaces,Big eyes....Bold Appeciation!

2010-11-16T14:34:00.000-08:00

those deep fall colors continue to draw me in ,

rich textures and patterns-

love them

warm and soft to the touch

while I await for my noisette at this café , I admit to you that I do enjoy wearing abit of daytime embellishment

on my cape!!!

why wouldn't you?

at home...

this looks like a snuggly couch( from about the same period as those I found at the brocante-)

where I could sit and read my french novel, Celeste.

take a look at Peggy's post on reading under the covers!

Elegance of age!

2010-11-10T11:59:00.000-08:00

Olivia de Haviland as seen in the Figaro's Madame Figaro Magazine

aspirations for the young !

as a young actress

stunning

here she is with her sister , Jane Fontaine- such fun, no?

blue dreams

2010-11-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

photo -simply seductive

blue skies

dreaming

photo - unknown,do tell if you know

wishing you all

cozy connections as we enter into the weekend

Falling Back....into my blogosphere en France!

2010-11-01T03:06:00.000-07:00

cocooning much?

feasting much?

mums and cozy rugs

meet us inside or out !

the autumn light here in the south of France highlights the ochre colors of these slower days

we find, or at least I find my lull of energy joining the arbres/ trees and the land after the vendange/grape harvest-

I am attracted to the plum tones, the oranges, the tame yellows and the flat greens of the lingering vines!

My tea cup is full of soothing flavours of gentle spices and mild herbs...

My wine glass sipped full of hearty regional reds...

My heart full of gratitudes for a long spring and summer and the gentle fall !

For me ,these seasons held shared times with family and friends- what a gift!

Are not the seasons a gift to our souls? and our senses forcing us to pause or change pace?

Dites-moi

Tell me your favorites seasonal pleasures?!

refreshing spaces!

2010-07-31T15:15:00.000-07:00

from MarieClaire

this photo by Bryan Cavanaugh

Stay refreshed and cool and inspired!

turbans and glamour

2010-07-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

vibrant spring orange! an invitation to celebrate!!!

2010-03-30T04:28:00.000-07:00

outdoors in a slim fittting elegant dress!!!

This one by Isaac Mizrahi

the Tour de France passing through our little unknown village---inspiring me to bouge....move ...for me it is not on a bike .

and ,yes still working on stair ideas...this one is loooking fun and funny especially after my recent jogging frenzies....Ouch!

these chairs do brighten up a bland landscape and as such they pushed me to go for it with our wrought iron set----bliss even on a rainy day

join me in a little prayer or good thoughts for Moscow 's families after the recent terror attack---it makes me think of John Lenon's song "Imagine"

This photo is from a favorite blogger and well known journalist Tara Bradford , from Paris Parfait

yes, from words to dreams to change

2010-03-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Aqua dreams

2010-03-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

welcome

bienvenue

yes, still working on the bathroom redo

though my eyes are longing for the blue days of summer

beachside

and yes, the grenier is still unfolding

though that does not stop the reverie

and the stairs are also evolving

enjoy your days

bisous!

Have a restful weekend!

2010-02-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

carmel colored open spaces

snuggle time

photo-Elements of style

reading a good novel or two...

dreaming

with the angels and the birds of spring to come

blessing to all :)

photos-NYT magazine

An Artist lighting the way,Lhasa

2010-02-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

Lhasa was too young to succumb to an early demise from breast cancer, yes, this is so. She recently passed away at the young age of 37 on January 2010 after a 21 month battle.

She was an artist known for her cross cultural Mexican/Canadien background whose passionate voice transcended the language she chose to sing in...whether spanish,french or english ---she took and still take us as listeners on an intense journey of the deepest kind.

It is as though she distills the essence of human emotions using her heart felt vocals ----her music take us away to another time and place or encounter held deep within our universal memory

Like many artists , she continues to light our way with her heart!

Enjoy !
Please visit her own website Lhasa-

coucou, even the little ones get it!

2010-02-17T05:12:00.000-08:00

yes, coucou , in french means, a friendly hello! as in peekaboo obvious, as this darling bird from Tara Bradford's, Paris Parfait blog seems to say, "coucou from where I sit......"

is it not obvious ???

is it not time darlings, to notice.....

even the wee ones get it by now.....................right you asked , what are you talking about????

These are numericale facts that even the "retards" IQ range

might be able to see that

that my man,

Obama is doing one hellava job

trying to turn around the Bush/Wall Street massacre

this graph is crystal clear!!!!!

The far reaching corporate greed has reached over here into the European Union,

which we knew,

during the last years of Republican tyrany

and folks like JPMorganChase &Goldman Sachs have pulled the same crappola with the credit-swap derivatives in GREECE & ITALY

that they used , with others to undermine the average mortgage holder in the USA

check out Huffingtons Posts/ NYT

Wall St. Helped to Mask Debt Fueling Europe’s Crisis

and

Matt Taibbi's article for historical background,brilliant!

When is enough ,enough for these folks?

another OBAMA idea that has caught on.....

check out this super video satire - worth a giggle or a gawfle kind of

Campaign video by Richard Curtis and Bill Nighy, about the Robin Hood Tax, a tiny tax on bank transactions that could raise hundreds of billions for public services and to tackle poverty and climate change

smiles all around

2010-02-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

who might pop in?

2010-01-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

yes, you know i have been at the cafés with the girls,marvelous really, a tasty noisette ,a chat and a brisk walk afterwards

then yes, a bit of lunch,light fare indeed!

and home for a luscious bath

one never knows who may pop in!:)

have a gorgeous weekend!!!

a non bikini winter day,you say?

2010-01-06T15:47:00.000-08:00

right , not driven to put on the swim suits and head to the med?
I dare say, these cute little dolls

kind of remind me of my twin sisters as infants, though my Mom had us all four girls in blue and white polka dot suits, so she could spot us all easily....smart lady, no?

here it is fireplace weather,

snuggly, down comforter weeather,

featuring hot coffees,teas and letter writing and reading ,

You know, it slows one down ,does it not,? to have all those fun ,thick layers of clothing on?And by the way,

, here one can feel a draft through the old french window if one is not careful....;we are meaning to replace these ancient, bubbled glass panes which are original to the house.....

but,it does take time

this spot, while not actually too cozy, made me think of one sister who is renovating,/ restoring a Medici Villa, and it caught my eye because of the high ceilings and lighting----though frankly, this is not at all their style....

and while the french hubby has had mega barters with the artisans from his team, the attic is not yet livable,

the russian group who came to replace the roof did, make an unplanned entry through the ceiling of the kitchen ,in circus style-----, the fellow's feet dangled from above after he jumped inadvertently down from the rafters onto the trap door....being the ever ready doc, I scurried to the grenier, to find them all laughing!!!

They are gone now and we await their return to finish things.....patience here is not just a virtue ,it is a vital sign- without one could easiely get an ulcer....because nothing is more sacred than lunch hour and vacations and holidays.... hence , I take refuge in my collection of photos of finished attics/greniers !

here's to coziness,have a great day!

la reverie de la nouvelle an!

2009-12-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

Just because we may be far away some of those we love ,

from family, friends or

our new friends in bloggy land

does not mean we can not D R E A M ourselves into a festive mood for the New Year!!!

so here goes a mental exercise for us all:

take a moment to yes, lovingly look over our last year, ok, you do not have to go crazy & review the last decade ,but if you must be kind , let's face it it went by like a flash

right, it is about opening the door to the future ,
ok, I might not be striking this sexy,vampy pose,

who really knows? I mean living in France does affect one's sensibilities so!!!

take my taste in cloths! luscious ,no?

and word has it that I finally found the clawfoot , original fer forgé baignoire ,

not plastic bathtub ! dreamy!

I suspect this dress shouts opera or ball rather than the country dinner with our artists friends

for the Réveillon!

for my hostess gift perhaps .....

and via my newfound favorite blog crush,

Une Femme d'un Certain Age

Bouquet glasses by Vincent Breed

a glass artist from Lyon

key here is that one can use them for the wine and the champagne!

and of course,

they will go beautifully with Daphné Verley's DV Collection!

note bien her sale is over sooooon!!!

"Beautiful objects celebrate our everyday rituals" daphne verley

2009-12-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

remember,i told you about Daphné Verley? well, looky here...These original designs are finally available!!!!

yummy!!!

yes, they are here ,these very special dishes designed by daphné verley

who could resist having a morning coffee or afternoon tea sipping from this lovely mug! and the prices are

outrageously reasonable!!! and there is a discount too- love that!

ok, do not spread the word tooooo much ! really!

super ideas for wedding gifts, graduations, birthdays

and i could not agree more about having beautiful objects which indeed do,

"celebrate our everyday rituals!"

photos mbverley photography

punchy pinks and purples in holiday wishes!

2009-12-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

photography by Kristwn Loken

yes, i did it again,i tried to imagine a perfect holiday and well, my imagination is pretty good----thus, back down on earth,

it involved seeing people and places who are far away from our sweet home here in the south of France , well it has been a real reality check!

are you awaiting family or friends for the holiday?
we were but, illness has them staying in Paris and our prayers go out to them as they face a particularly difficult cancer diagnosis--kisses and hugs and prayers!

dreams of miracles

in broad strokes of healilng pinks and purples

hugs to you all!!!!
photos credits coming ----have to run but its a promise!!

Wreaths,clogs and Chanel ,oh,my!

2009-12-19T10:01:00.000-08:00

I am en retard for the Holiday decorating!
how about you?

rich palate of midnight blues and black via Sarah Klassen, a gorgeous blog

,photos from Living Etc

love the irony of the Chanel & the clogs!

stay warm! it is freezing here!

HOLIDAY

2009-12-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

family with grippe A and the case of the shrinking photos!

2009-12-16T10:55:00.000-08:00

kitchen in old house before ,during and afters below....

dancing doc danced away for a while because her computer crashed!!! alas, i have still been trolling your fine blogs when the chance arose

all my photos have shrunk!!! hope you are all well and readying for the holidays in good spirits !

the race

2009-10-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Women of substance, Aunts as Icons

2009-10-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

my AUNTS

great ladies,strong 1st generation immigrant women who worked all their lives outside the home

raising large italian families

in the NYC area- like Brooklyn and on Long Island

they were my childhood Hollywood-ish icons who wore glamorous cloths and big teased hair

they went out to chic NYC night clubs to dance to the music of the big bands

they drank strong coffee one after the another,chain smoked and debated with each other and anyone else who happened by

they were my secret heros

strong women who wore "the superwomen" badge before it was even in fashion

they worked since their early teenage years until way past retirement age

they made the ultimate sacrifices for their Italian brothers- who garnered educational rights because they were the" boys" in a large, depression era family of nine children.

on any given night in Long Island , my three dynamic aunts would drive up to their local diner in their Cadillac and confidentally take over a window seat after greeting the owner and gals behind the counter.

They would pull out their cigarettes and order their regular fare of strong coffees and perhaps a muffin .

They would spar among the 3 of them about this or that,each convinced their take was over the top the correct one on the specific subject.

My red headed Aunt B,would make faces as the others talked--especially if we, the little ones were close by in another diner booth ! She could easily cast a humorous tone over any debate- her sweet hubby was a jazz pianist in NYC- a real cooool cat,as was the lingo!

My Aunt R, solid ,slim and energetic worked from the wee hours of the morn to late nights- ,she cooked up a mean pasta , veal &; chicken cutlets to out strip the heavy hitting chefs of NYC's Little Italy- a gift she passed on to her own children. She was seen at the family weddings challenging Grandma,recall a mere 4ft something inches, to a fast passed foxtrot!

My Aunt L. had a voice that commanded attention and could have been a stellar attorney or politician - she was a master debater, I recall in my mind's eye that she had a hollywood styled living room , you know the type --sunken down 2 steps ,all white, thick drapes, couches that looked like they dropped in from a Fred Astaire &; Ginger Rodger's set. She had the classic american kitchen knook, again shaped in a half moon perched near a window.

As a child the best part of being in their homes and in their care was the feeling of safety and a sense of family magic- as though their homes were magnetized to draw still more fmily members to drop by, for more coffee with say a sesame seed italian cookie or better still, a canoli,-yum!!!

As I recalled the family seemed to come from everywhere at any hour, before & after work shifts, for meals , between meals ,there was always a sense of fresh anticipation, healthy debate, lots of love and support .you were always welcome!

One day,my father, known as a serious surgeon type, showed a good sense of humor!!!

In our old Pontiac, our young family arrived from New England after a 3 hour impromptu drive with my tiny brand spank'in new twin sisters asleep in a basket---

it was twilight , if I recall correctly--- well ,Dad drove up to Aunt L's Tutor home and placed the basket at the front door, rang the bell and hide himself behind a bush. Meanwhile, my other sister and I- and my good spirited Mother ,pressed our

noses up against car window panes !

Aunt L. answered the door in a sort of indifferent delight ,picked up the basket and quickly closed the door ,shouting out Thank you!!!

Imagine that night, we all laughed over and over retelling the story of our clever spoof - and it seemed like so many other Aunts & Uncles and many cousins arrived! and typical to my child-like perspective it seemed to get bigger and funnier and more clever!

here is wishing you a wonderful week of family time - what were your most precious memories of Aunts or Uncles?

fall comforts of the kitchen

2009-10-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

a day in the kitchen ,listening to jazz,baking apple pie, fresh butternut squash and grilled chicken with fennel,fresh salad with tomatoes and vinaigrette!

enjoy your sunday!

take it slow!

ride a bike

check in with family far away

peace and gratitude to you!

my favorite phrase this week for my children/adolescents was gleaned from an elegant elderly Parisian woman who is now a grandmother of young adults - we shared a passionate discussion in the late summer at a dinner by the sea-

There are no privileges with out duties !

yes ,i liked the sound of that notion because it cuts through a kind of underlying sense of ease and entiltlement that the pre-recession generations seemed to have grown accustomed to ...there are hidden gifts everywhere,it seems.

photos-last two mine,others unknown but, searching as we speak!

Strong Warriors in Pink

2009-10-15T06:14:00.000-07:00

because Anali 's first Amendment fine blog inspired me!:)

ladies and gents(who are urged to push their beloved women) please take note that October is half over and it is Breast health month---time to get organized with self health- mammograms,continued self-exams , talk to your female friends,relatives alike - it very well may save their lives...as it did mine!

true ,it is the last thing you want to do, really,

was it a guy who designed those wretched mammogram machines?

do you think they would ever consider smashing their scrotums/testicles into pancake thin objects to get a good view?Ah, no,i think not....

but, right now it is the best we have for initial screening and it serves a darn good purpose...

and i have debated whether to tell you my story,but,

it might inspire ,even one of you ,to get a move on this goal for self health.

Now some years ,(12 )ago, i was lying in bed at night after a weekend of pediatric call, answering say 6-10 calls an hour, when i thought it was a good idea to do my self exam,even if i was so exhausted i could barely see straight....

i used what in medicine is called the pizza method of palpating the breast,

pressing the fingers on the breast tissue from the center outwards, in yes, a pizza slice pattern, doing this concentrically until all tissue has been felt for unusual masses,ie tiny little pebble like objects-

incidently -, i was breast feeding my 3rd child ,when during that night I felt what seemed to be a quarter-shaped pebble,- lets say,rock, immobile and non tender, hence unlikely to be related to lactation----

YIKES,i said quietly, nb: hubby who can sleep through a war ,did not budge-

that is when i began talking to the BIG GUY UPSTAIRS?" LOOK?" i pleaded," NOT FUNNY! I JUST OPENED MY PRIVATE PRACTICE, I HAVE 3 LITTLE ONES TO CARE FOR?

THIS IS NOT GOOD TIMING AT ALL!"

and then in my medically trained head a rush of adrenaline had me evaluating that post partum breast CA is usually deadly---crap this was not going to be a good night's sleep!

however,with fear pulsing through my veins, i marched myself to the Ob-Gyn the next day and got a mammogram - where a suspicious calcified density suggested cancer and the recommendation was to get it out ASAP,

So i tried!
I went to the leading Breast Surgeon,who had written the books and lectured throughout the world
& he was not,
shall we say, very assertive about my problem or not taking this mammo seriously-

"ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME ",
i wanted to shout at this pompous surgeon from Alabama,-

he actually,wanted to put it off another month because of his lecture travels-

i, of course, insisted,listening to that little voice we call intuition.

the next day ,in the OR,operating room,

i recognized my old medical school classmate even in his mask, and smiled adding that" i would be back to my growing practice tomorrow!" the true grit of a committed physician,i thought!

Alas, i recall in my foggy awakening, hearing the southern drawl of the famous breast surgeon/ lecturer describing the lesion over the telephone,

then i recall seeing Matt ,the fellow medical classmate- and i offered-" i hope you did a little breast augementation while you were in there ,hee,hee!"-somehow, as i grimaced in my stupor-

although,funny, he was not smiling!

Next ,i recall asking for a coffee, which was over the top delicious until ,

i saw my Dad, as the Chief of Pediatric Surgery he stood wearing his white coat,

my handsome hubby,

and the now notorious, squat, southern Breast Surgeon with a tupée:

Then,as through a tunnel, i heard him say- "well, i am sure glad i decided it should come out right away- what ?,my strong ego chiming in ,i thought, " did he say -He said He decided"- as i recall i was dogmatic, and rightfully so, ----about being quick about this!!!!

next,letting my ego be droned out by his next words -
"You have cancer -you will need more surgery,lots of chemotherapy and radiation!

my eyes diverted to my Dad , remember, a surgeon himself, healer, taking care of everyone else's problems, Dr. In Charge,at that moment his eyes went watery & looking down -

well, i bucked up nearly shouting so all his colleagues could hear in the recovery room--
-"Dad, DO NOT WORRY!!

I AM FIGHTER !!!

I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING ALL MY LIFE -- I WILL BEAT THIS ONE TOO!!!

and

TO MY HUSBAND-I SHOT A LOOK IF CONFIDENCE!! I WILL BEAT THIS!

and so what is the moral of the story-!! instant warrior recognition!!!

do your SELF -EXAMS
jump on any questionable abnormal finding you may think you have
Breast cancer is not just a disease of only the OLDER woman- pre -menopausal cases are rising
get your mammograms annually after 40 or earlier if you have a family history
recall breast feeding does not prevent breast cancer!
Early diagnosis and early treatment works to decrease mortality and morbidity of the disease
you must be your own patient advocate!!! do not let a famous specialist determine your fate!
you are a partner in your care
FIGHT BACK ---insurers,fight pharmaceuticals who limit your care to less than the STANDARD of care as deemed by the ACOG (amercian committee of ongology)
always get 2nd opinions
network
for me prayer,dance, being around only supportive friends and family was key to surviving my long course of treatment,8 years
finally if you feel deep inside that the ongoing treatment is not working or the risks outway the benefits-- think of options-you know your body better than anyone else!!
DO SOMETHING!

Lastly, I took to be being an advocate, to lecturing ,

and using the arts to tell the human story of breast cancer- it is a story we are gaining on slowly,

one I hope my daughters do not have to witness again in their own lives--

here is a pin honoring the warrior spirit of the cancer patient

Twin mothers of some of my patients created

my pin- it is of Nathor -

have a super day- get those mammos!!!!

1 Enchanted Evening for the Dancing Doc

2009-10-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

"snap out of it girl!"-i said to myself!!! "up and into your special dress for willow's ball tonight!!"

photo-Simply Seductive

i can be from here to there in a snap if i try!

photos-Lagerfeld

some might say,my date has a full and rather important agenda,but,he would not miss it for the world!!

if we have to fly off as the clock strokes 12midnight ,i will have my very own

fairy spy shoes on!! (à la 007) luscious numbers yes?

frissoni shoes

you have know idea what is loaded into that diamond bird beak - bad guys beware! and i am talking to you health insurance lobbyists,---- when i dance things could get ,well, a little crazy....

after champagne and the chocolate sweets at Willow's Manor's Ball -
my dance card and shoes will have been put to good use-

photos-Country French Antiques
so happy to see some of the other special invitées-Yoli from Musings and my favorite Cuban in London

ah ,when rest and modern medicine can not seem to heal fast enough -Dancing sure Can!!!

do stop by Willow's Manor she indeed will be expecting you!

have a great night !

under the weather, still looking glamorous!

2009-10-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

look ,i'll admit ,i am exhausted! i did have a spell of what may have been a run of the mill ,cold or it could have been the dreaded swine flu thingy- my daughter and i had the symptoms ,each and every one ,down to a tea!--- and it has lasted nearly 2 weeks- so maybe that is why all the fatigue etc,etc

i don't much feel like playing games or have much of an appetite so - we called the doc and have antibiotics for a localized infection ----just a little sinusitis- !

onto more amusing subjects:

have i told you the story about a local criminal who was recently caught on video stealing women's lingerie off their clothing lines ,bizarre little fellow- women in the local villages had to go to the station to actually identify their delicates so that the police could create a case for proscecution!

personnally, i am happy to know blummers are still in vogue! because,truth be told he preferred the thong type undies....

and i meanwhile

have been resting up and visiting local brocantes for special antiques /collectibles!

lookey here,who knew princess phones would be also a prize possession?

here is one like the one my sisters and i had as tweens in the 70's!

Carl Jung

There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

still i personally want to defy these odds with more happiness than sadness-care to join me???

photos-blog this is glamorous , MAbelle

Strolling Strong

2009-10-11T05:10:00.000-07:00

Dimanche or Sunday

a day of rest

Family Time

prayer

good food

longer mealtime

photo- tangobaby

strolling

photo-mine

ok, maybe in heels,

photo- Chanel shoes via blog -beautiful things to share

here's a wish to you for a dazzling day where ever you are!

photo-mine

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living. - ANAIS NIN

a fall ,healthy for all!

2009-10-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

have a wonderful cosy weekend!

ALBERT EINSTEIN

True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.

fall has arrived but, not in terms of the chilly weather -

my daughter and her friends are dining outdoors tonight under the stars

no need for the fur hats or faux fur

via Luxe Chronicles Rochas

some have traveled from the states,others from other parts of France

sitting cosy by around my Grandma's round New York wooden table

making apple pie for dessert

eating the end bits before the pie is really finished!!

ah, the slow season of gathering indoors or close to home after a walk in the vines or along the Orb river!

ALICE WALKER:

Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn't make us better, then what on earth is it for.

bonjour willow!!!!! from Life at Willow Manor

dancing with a french boar!

2009-10-09T04:11:00.000-07:00

yes, i was driving my golf cart sized car during the French hunting season

photo & design emersonmade

I was, you see,on my way home alone ,driving along the windy country roads on my way back from a birthday party ,

it was dark and there, about half way home, i reached down to change the radio stations -suddenly,when i looked up --- quite a surprise was waiting for me

yes, indeed---- he was a member of the pig family- not nearly as cute as say,

babe,

right---

he was though, the biggest darn wild boar i have ever seen

{-in fact he is the only wild boar i have seen alive}

and he chose to join moi

under the moonlight -

so,instinctively

i honked and he seemed to dance or skip to my French tune , then off he trotted toward the bramble along side of the road.

photo-emersonmade

............it is beautiful time of year here and as such

... i have been giving some thought to the new

smells here , you see there are interesting

scents wafting around these days in our little village in the south of France-

photo and design emersonmade

Imagine if you will ,the midnight and 2am runs of the wine makers out to their vines are now over,

still there lingers a sweet,yet almost sour smell from the large vats of local vignerons- is it alchemy? perhaps--- no actually they are changing the various vats.....summer is really over here...

the large tractors which had carted the grapes,whites and reds, syrah, merlots have quieted until next year

photo-emersonmade blog

.... as the French can only describe them best--"red wine with bursts of rubies and notes of honey & spices

whereas others have the flavors of very ripe berries and persimmons which grow wildly here,

still others possess elements of amandes and the spray of the Mediterranean sea!

from my escapades with the wild life let us just say that
--Life here is quite earthy!!
fields change colors and texture each season,not like Vermont or other parts of New England but, in a crop or agricultural sort of way! The hills are spotted with people, young and old ,trimming vines ,picking plump grapes or melons, almonds, olives and the smells in the air are enriched by these natural elements.

In the end, it is to the table where the families meet , where the friends gather, where the wine is poured, where the smells of the earth mix with a hearty fall meal of roasted meats with sweet onions

or say, with

fragrant ,rather pungent cheeses mingled with wild purple figs and honey-

yes, it is here in a small village in France where I call home.

photo paris apartment

What do you smell ? What are the scents of fall for you- is it a fire of fallen leaves or brush? Tell me !!and do join me for a glass of red
wine?
landscape photos and more information are from Le Languedoc Roussillon

chromosomal talents and creative links

2009-10-08T02:57:00.000-07:00

f a m i l y t a l e n t s

daphné ---is a gorgeous ,kind , and awesomely talented ceramicist ,& mother of 4 brilliant young adults
who defies gravity with her stellar pottery-
she employs a unique use of color and organic forms which invite one to want to hold and own these items- they just look and feel precious ,like the clay has been transformed from raw earth into a kind of blessing for our homes.
Actually ,i am the proud owner of a rather large,copyrighted collection because she is my talented sister in law and she is ever so generous when she visits!!!
apparently though, my envious friends will have an easier time of ordering these beauties because she has been discovered ! i am not kidding by a rather big enterprise---ooola la and congrats to her!!! Also she has her own awesome website now http://www.daphneverley.com/about.php

the evolution of her ceramics is a wonderful testament to her journey as a woman and a talented artist
so do visit !!

daphné to share in the adventure! now this photo brings me to yet ,

more
t a l e n t e d f a m i l y

M. bénédicte verley ,her bliss has taken her around the world with a camera, giving memories a solid ground for weddings and fashion and travel and family portraits.....these are the kind of photos that no digital can really ever pretend to capture- she has this knack of portraying the essence of the person's spirit on her film-

MBV Photography

another sister in law, this time her media is photography--
unbelievable photography--

well renowned across the USA - featured in mulitple Wedding Magazines !!

needless to say, Ben is a mother,traveler and career woman with a profound depth and a strong quest for truth and authenticity- this translates into her work and that is what her photos reveal , a beautiful ,near naked truth!! love it!

Today was a tribute to just a few members of the family or family -in -law talent tree! i hope to dedicate a day each week sharing !
and as a funny aside- check out this coincidence which led to this post-- recently,i really needed a bit of encouragement for blogging -et viola---
i received an email from daphné like this:

Hey ,

C'est moi, your computer challenged (but improving) sister in law to let you know how beautiful your blog is and that I joined it today after a friend told me about it without realizing that you were one of us!!

How's that for wild and crazy!?

She tells me about this cool blog,"Dancing Doc" from France. I respond oh, what a coincidence, my sister in law is just such a creature and then she continues to elaborate that Beni and Alix are mentioned there as well.

So I go to the site while we're on the phone and suddenly realize that it's your blog! You've gone GLOBAL !!

I am impressed with the content and with your ability to create such an appealing site. Great job!

Love seeing photos of all of you. Take a look at my web site and stay tuned as it's becoming a selling site as well as looking.

I have a project under my cape that takes too long to type and that I will further fill you in on via phone. I will also need your help in getting word out of new production product available soon.

Hope this finds all of you well and happy in your little slice of heaven.

Sending love and hugs and kisses,

daphne

have a super day and one never knows when the little connections and efforts we make will go out into the world and make ripples --- one of the reasons i love blogging and following so many of your blogs!!

bisous

Sacred Transformations

2009-10-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

& a lot of love and hard work....

for my birthday last year my sweet soul mate of a hubby opened the ceiling to our Napoleon III style house to reconnect the first and second levels-- actually in many areas it would be the 2nd and 3rd floors- just to give you a sense of height!

why? because a super space with strong beams and bright sunlight had sat for years unused--perhaps since the war, when the Resistance,I am told, had a strong hold in these parts-

you may never believe it but actually,I found an old small table with what looks like a handmade telephone or Morse-code-like wires /bolts on it...hum...

yes, i have an great imagination not to mention

an elderly French neighbor who has Alzheimer's thus she recalls the distant past with vivid color & clarity

alas , the grenier beckoned to us more this past summer... and a friend /client/colleague kindly sent us,as a kind of awesome barter, a small crew of eastern Europeans

to point the stone walls!!:)(striping away the cement from the local rocks over a 3 day period )-

these guys did this job holding

jack hammers nearly horizontally! yikes!

Indeed,like characters out of the fabulous film,Under the Tuscan Sun ---They were great fun & enjoyed their coffee and cigarette breaks Interestingly, they also found that a small glass of red wine helped their weary,might I say jostled /jolted muscles at about 4pm each day--

so ,I would climb the ladder with my little tray carrying the appropriate snack items. There I tried to converse in a mixture of French, Italian, English and good ole' fashioned sign language - their native tongue was Romanian so

needless to say I sounded like a goof - but, we all smiled and laughed !!

we also made them lunch each day and when they finished I had the children sign a thank you note

the note was created in about 10 different languages...my husband's

sense was this was a first for them---

upon further musings--and a load of logic about budgetary limits, I came to the conclusions that we will not expect a slick NYC loft type thing to emerge out of our more rustic space ,yes there are bats- why did you ask?

we rather just long for a setting for gathering with friends and family ---or perhaps a bedroom to welcome visiting family

in other words--- a sacred place to

to toast anything worth toasting.... incidentally,

last Saturday night we had a soirée up there

it served as a kind of blessing where my family & I welcomed friends to a night of music, played by other docs and a very fine architect

ingredients included:smooth music

laughter,

good local wines , soft lighting,a bit of dancing

and a great big ,fall, full moon

As you can clearly see we are, by no means no where done !!!

There are many miracles and barters needed but, just making an effort to live and celebrate each other's company around a meal has already transformed an old attic into a magical place of potential.

What are your favorite spaces for gathering and your favorite transformations??

health, fashion ,France !

2009-10-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

ok, now breath...I just took a gander at the news bout the healthcare debate....slash manipulations by the GOP in the USA---and well, I kinda need some air!!!

I am nearly gagging over their support of the insurers who in my experience as a physician of 17 years, have scammed all parties: patients, government programs, like Rite aid , senior aid, like physicians and hospitals ,nursing homes, small businesses and big businesses alike

....REALLY FOLKS---let us wake up !

Did the insurers ever take an oath to do NO HARM ? I think not!

do they ever go the extra length to make things easier for patients? I know not!

Granted they have super manipulative advertising campaigns which depict a warm and fussy picture of their gracious care.... and in RI, that advertising was listed as actual care when they did their accounting- not kidding! by word of their CFO when I reviewed their year end reports during my pushy patient advocate years(:

why in heavens would those gents and occasional gentille femme in the houses of the Senate and Congress, who have great health care deny other human beings a PUBLIC OPTION or any other option?

Let's step it down a notch ....here is a thought --- maybe we should consider letting them go without insurance themselves for say, half a term?

Let them ride bareback like the 45million and growing families in the wealthiest nation in the world.... see how it feels , how their meds are not covered ,how their treatments are not covered....

you do know that America looks really nutty to the rest of the world.... right??,, we have money to bomb in the name of democracy,freedom and peace and yet, turn our backs on those within are own nation who are at war to survive illness and often the povertythat illness can bring????

Just testing my memory by reviewing the definition of ----DEMOCRACY

1 a : government by the people; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections 2 : a political unit that has a democratic government 3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the United States Democracy — C. M. Roberts> 4 : the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority 5 : the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges

ok, right? the definition does ACTUALLY ,include that there is the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges-----hum?

I am relieved to read that cause I thought that had changed,

that some bizarre conservative,righteous folks who call themselves good "religious folks"

or such

that they somehow justify that other people ,

not in their own particular grouping of religion, or set beliefs, or color or ethnic group or who do not say,carry a gun to a local town hall meeting ,

are well, not entitled to health care.

-I urge myself to seek facts, numbers, examples, to compare healthcare outcomes in other democratic ,industrialized nations-

and see that taxes may be higher but,

they pay for better education and better healthcare,

Right you are

they are strict on the warring because their histories tell them of the the horrible truths about war!

Europe has learned about the abuses of the privileged!

and is not Corporatism another form of tyranny?

is not

corporatism- capitalism without

the protection of a functioning democracy ?

Just a few perplexing questions I have while trying sort through the facts....

YET....

my my mini tirade has gone on too long !

good grief, I sound like one of those pundits who

jon stewart has such fun with each week night.

But honestly, aside from trying hard to perfect my french.....

Learning about the history of France and its former leaders has been one of my passions-because it gives me a context in which I can better understand the culture I now live.

& as such

I am currently reading about the mother of Louis XIV- and man, it was a tough time all around-

I imagine those who wore the latest fashions then and held the power during the 1600's also had the best healthcare for their times-superior leeches and surgeons trained in the greatest schools of the times

I for one, am counting my blessings for a number of things, one is that-well, that fashions have loosened up a tad...

and seeing as I found a set of these chairs,as you may recall from my previous posts, in a local brocante I am happy to testify that their chairs,unlike their fashions, seem to transcend the test of time....

and well if I really want a dress made to swish around the maison in style ;I could always find a seamstress to whip one up like this luscious number below....

It does make you want to dance !!!

to celebrate the end of the Vendange,the grape picking season!

tommorrow night, we will celebrate in our own way,

in our vast unfinished grenier or attic -

with a small feast for nearly 20 of us, over candle light and local foods and wines!

So here is a toast:

HOPE for change

and

for gratitudes HUGE and AMPLIFIED BECAUSE THEY ARE SHARED!!!

HAVE A SUPER WEEKEND§

a bed for all

2009-09-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

ok i have blog block! is it because i am outraged about the current healthcare debate in the usa?

is it because i am embarrassed by such a debate? i am!

is one life more important than another?

where have these parties gone astray?

money ,capitalism,insurance lobbies, or the nonsense about healthcare---

is it really more of a " health scare"?

are the studies being presented really reflecting how an illness can cause bankruptcy, family crisis, or even suicide?

can these stresses cause undo negative health effects?

does it not contrast the founding tenets of the USA 's constitution? which equates equality and justice for all?

photo-loulou kitchen

does that mean access to good food , education , health care ?

are we not all made from the same cloth?

photo-loulou kitchen

do we not all enjoy good music and dance and beauty?

yes, we can have a different way of decorating, dressing , a particular choice of religion or philosophy ,yet we all eat ,sleep, love ,anger and resent ,we are more alike than different!

no matter our tastes of food !

or drink or art!

in the end , we live to love and to connect and to dream .....

let us push for access for healthcare for all , not for an imagined elite which hides behind a conservative right hat .....all should be admitted and treated ,not eliminated because they do not possess a plastic insurance card indicating their are card carrying members!!!!

right, let's contemplate, pray, meditate ,look into the eyes of those less fortunate , reach out to include them in the healthcare and educational goals of the supposedly richest nation!!!!

i am praying for this health care reform ,for a healing of the dis "ease" of our nation , for the health care of all---- a nation or society which cares for and respects the weak and the sick!!!

are we not a refection of that caring? i remain hopeful! contact your congressman or senators and push them to do the right thing!!! what would Jesus do, or Buddha do,or any other Enlightened being?

may you have a super day!!!!

Love in the Sun

2009-08-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

Come in my friends I have missed you, I have somethings to share....it is delightful,really

indeed ,it is a warm and sunny day near Fontainebleau, quite near Paris, the landscapes have that kind of surreal feel of days gone WAY by---ok, let's take it back to the period of Katerine de Medici,shall we?
if you poke your head in you, can see the lush grounds where we are invited to have a wine tasting....

quite right, it is as if in a dream,

champagne will be served cold after the service where friends and family glowingly wish the newly weds love ,health, and great happiness forever

some of the little ones play in the garden...

this garden sports a feisty looking wild boar sculpture which reflects the Chateau's long history of

hunting,jousting and feasting,in fact, it is where King Henry II was mortally wounded in a jousting match in the 1500's

Right you are , this is more of a peaceful place ,breathing deeply....

full of graceful plants ,dominant old Oaks, fig trees, wisteria, roses, lavender ,where the lawn is full of music piped down from the chateau, the music .... bellowing yet,lustful with the sounds of Opera ....enchanting soulful voices which seem to be nearly dancing with times past...

yes, celebrating the bride and groom who are simply brilliant ...

taking a quick peek into the ancient chapel, which incidentally, served the marriages of many of the Condés Princes and Princesses....

are you getting the idea ,here?? it is pure magic!!!

In the late afternoon sun, let's have a seat before the dancing,singing and feasting begin

they are stunning!

Alas, they remind us all of love in the sun , in its, simplest,unblemished form,

they shared their day, thank you, allowing so many of us to bask in their light....

it seemed the gist of the day was this:

" The Measure of True Love is that, True love is without Measure"

Chateau de Vallery XIII----ChateaudesCondes

what have been your most memorable weddings? do tell!

while this is not Opera- it is truly amazing!!!beautiful beyond imagination!!

s u m m e r

2009-08-30T06:34:00.000-07:00

Refresh & Relax-A Powerful Response!

2009-07-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

photo-anthropologie via ma vie privée

photo marieclaire

photo-susan brown

photo-grange du charme

photo-provence et fils Ursuline convent table

do not be shy come on in ,have a seat, personnally, I feel like a queen for the day in this pretty framboise-rasberry-ish kitchen, isn't it perfect for a summer's day?

photo-marieclaire baccarat

might you.....

photo-unknown?do you know?

or more suitable for the fine heat of the summer.....

though really when is coffee NOT divine?

....except when there is something refreshing like this....

Pour 10 persohttp://www.peches-mignons.fr/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/P1020010.jpgnnes

Purée de fruits : - 800g de cassis frais - 1 litre ½ d’eau - 80g de groseilles rouges

Sirop : - 200g de sucre semoule - 20 cl d‘eau - 3 cl de liqueur de cassis de Dijon

Portez l’eau à l’ébullition et jetez-y les grains de cassis et les groseilles, puis faites rebouillir quelques secondes. Tamisez au chinois et passez les grains de cassis ramollis, ainsi que les groseilles, au moulin à légumes ou à la centrifugeuse. Vous devez obtenir environ 450 g de pulpe. Mélangez dans une casserole l’eau et le sucre et portez à ébullition. Laissez refroidir puis incorporez la pulpe de fruits. Ajoutez la liqueur de cassis puis faites glacer en sorbetière, et réservez au congélateur. Pour réaliser un sorbet framboise mixez les fruits afin d’obtenir 600 g de pulpe, puis ajoutez seulement 200 g de sucre, l’ajout d’eau n’étant pas nécessaire.

and here is the delightful french site which makes my mouth water for these simple SORBETS,(ok for me, a bashful cook- not so simple)

These fruity deserts come to life-

they are not too expensive and quite healthy when compared to its ice cream relatives

so.....check out the Péchés Mignons

Are you really relaxed and refreshed?

photo-joseph marek pool

cause later we can take in an old movie outside in the fields, it will feel like we are little again, no messy adult responsibilites or worries , just bliss, love, and creative & compassionate horizons...this is my Dream-wish-prayer-hope for you and me too!! Have a super day!

photo- susan go lightly blog? will verify this source--- do love it! merci!

Reframed! Life is a matter of perspective,yes?

2009-07-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

life has no definite plans! we are always on a ride of unknowns!

love rules

joy in the small steps....

like father ,like son or perhaps the inverse??

gorgeous daughters with hearts of gold and talents yet, unfolded...

siblings making connections, brother leading sisters

love within faith and courage

time and perspective,prayers and patience

dancing in the rain

inside our hopes and dreams....

let our boat sail on ...

have a super sunday!!! and 3rd week of July!!

Inside Views

2009-07-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

have a great weekend!

our bubbles are connected!

2009-07-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

don't we all wish we could float away or along some gust of wind....away from the toxic smokes .... Brilliant photographer,Sokolsky used this vision of fashion within bubbles during the 1960's He inspired our imagination then as now .Having visited Desert Diva blog,( a favorite!)

she kindly reminded me of his work..... And then I got to thinking about a favorite video ad for a music web site....

funny...

A rhapsody in music is a one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, colour and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations

Rhapsody MP3 store -a weightless plunge into sound!

great fun...the work of imaginations , collective conscious perhaps !!love it! thanks for visiting ! hugs to you! ps I just saw a big scorpion in my kitchen sink, needless to say, I am no longer hungry and yucko... this is one downer about living in the south of France ...uh, right I wish there was a bubble to take him off somewhere else other than my home....lest it be said he is snorkeling now in the depths of the plumbing system!! !!!yuck!

Castration?Voice & Michael Jackson

2009-07-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I know that I am late in my reactions and I feel sad for all but, mostly I feel sad for Michael Jackson who I imagine had a more challenging life than we know !

Below are some of my unsettling medical musings about his childhood and his death....

As a pediatrician and music lover , I have pondered Jackson's life and death from many different angles:

How might his pediatric development been affected and perhaps,more importantly, why might it have been?

I speculate that given his gorgeous high pitched childhood voice that perhaps

financial and family

pressures might have

existed to artificially maintain his voice before puberty changed it to a lower manly sound.

Yes,sadly,I am suggesting that money and his Father's

severe handling of the music pop star's normal development could have led to unethical decisions and interventions like...say----

Could this be called CASTRATION ?

(By the way, it can be surgically or

chemically induced.)

Check this out---

"But the most intriguing reasons for prepubertal castration was to be found in Italy, where from the end

of the 16th century it was carried out to preserve the male unbroken

voice into adult life. In an age when cruelty and barbaric punishments were common, its popularity was such that for a period during the

18th century the voice of the castrato dominated opera throughout most of western

Europe".http://www.usrf.org/news/010308-jenkins_lancet.html

2 .Was he facing life as an individual whose body was essentially severely altered ?

Castration is described below to affect the physical features in the following manners:

"The manner in which the castrati appeared to their audiences can be judged from our clinical experience of eunuchoidism due to spontaneous primary hypogonadism.

A tallness of stature, which was unusual in the 18th century, was commented upon by contemporary writers and was due to failure of the epiphyses to close at puberty, thereby allowing the unopposed action of growth hormone and other growth factors. There was a smooth pale skin, with, later in life, fine wrinkles around the eyes, no beard, plentiful scalp hair, a tendency to obesity, rounding of the hips, and narrowness of the shoulders; the pitch of the speaking voice was similar to that of a female."

3) Could these hormonal alterations have affected him emotionally? could they explain behaviors or affeminate affectations or his desire for severe body image changes?

Below, a scientist describes-

Dr. Richard Wassersug is a professor of anatomy and neurobiology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.Chemical castration is the common treatment for advanced prostate cancer, and more than 250,000 American men are taking these drugs. But few people know of any men taking them, simply because we hide. It is shameful to be castrated.

This Dr. says "My initial response to the therapy was typical. My mood plummeted along with my testosterone level. Hair vanished from my arms and legs. Muscle disappeared, fat appeared. My memory suffered. Not only was I now more likely to lose my car keys, I occasionally couldn't remember where I left the car."

I suspect Michael died of an overdose and that he was treated with Propofol(which was found previously in his home),whether this was the cause of death or not will remain to be seen

However,what would be of interest in the coroner's report would be any evidence of castration and dating of such an event. If this had occurred as a child in the care of his parents it would certainly give further pause to the courts about the guardianship of his children. I hope that his children do not become props for Joe Jackson and that their memories are of the essence of Michael Jackson's spirit,music and the voice of angel where love delivered despite its high costs!

definition of the fatal syndrome:

Propofol (2, 6-diisopropylphenol) is a potent intravenous hypnotic agent that is widely used in adults and children for sedation and the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia. Propofol has gained popularity for its rapid onset and rapid recovery even after prolonged use, and for the neuroprotection conferred. However, a review of the literature reveals multiple instances in which prolonged propofol administration (>48 hours) at high doses (>4 mg/kg/h) may cause a rare, but frequently fatal complication known as propofol infusion syndrome (PRIS). PRIS is characterized by metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis of both skeletal and cardiac muscle, arrhythmias (bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia, bundle branch block and asystole), myocardial failure, renal failure, hepatomegaly and death. PRIS has been described as an 'all or none' syndrome with sudden onset and probable death.

Hot Lazy Days and blogging friends

2009-07-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

summer landscapes, smells of exotic oils and fresh fruits

Really friends,

not a day goes by without my thinking of you all and your yearning for beauty

,like mine,

each flower bloomed,each new song, each shadow on the beach shore,each glistening fresh fruit at the marché, is reeling with thoughts of you all!!!

I think it is true magic really to have you each and every one of you in my minds eye when I look out onto my southern french landscapes,

your poetic words ,

your music ,poems and mere presence in my gallery of friends is pure hope and summer sunshine!!!

I can not wait to share more with you all-

yet, these strangely longer days full of bright sunshine

until 10pm seem to not hold as many moments for me at the computer...

is it so,?

because I am visiting with our summer visitors or friends or family ...

taking in outdoor music or gallery

openings

or family days at the beach swimming along the med fish ,collecting tiny shells,

sipping transparent rosés and munching on tasty fruits and veg???

perhaps.....

but, let not one second pass that I

am not mightily grateful for all that I see here ,

made better because

its value is amplified by the thought of sharing them with you ... now if I could just organize myself a bit more.....bear with me though, and I promise to be back with more good fun in the sun