'Tis the Season . . .

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As it is the season to be merry, just wanted to give you one last blast from Paris in 2010, and wish you all the best for 2011 !
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This past Monday la Grenouille and I and our two tadpoles went into Paris to see the Monet exhibition at the Grand Palais, which runs through the 24th of January. What a treat. They have assembled 200 paintings from collections around the world, some of his finest work from all periods of his life. A true pleasure to peruse ; music for the eyes.
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To get to the Grand Palais we parked under the Place de la Concorde, and had to walk up a stretch of the Champs Elysées, where a Christmas Village has been created, to cater to all the tourists in Paris for the end of the year festivities, who were out there strolling along despite the bitter cold weather.
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Old Saint Nick was out there too . . . supervising things, and ringing that bell, just like Johnny B. Goode.
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Frosty was there too . . .
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In case anyone might start feeling a little hungry after all that hiking in the cold, hot roasted chestnuts could be had by the bag full.
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Hot roasted salmon could be had too, it looked pretty darn good to me . . .
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Candied kumquats for those with sweet tooths . . .
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Even cramberries . . . huh . . . c-r-a-m ? What are those ??? Maybe for students with exams to cram for ?
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Paris bags for carrying all your Paris stuff around . . .

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Quite a bit of very dubious art was on sale. The Monet show was better !
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Blue lights . . .

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Lifesize sculptures for sale with interesting forms and nice grain . . .
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For those seeking a better view of the Tuilleries and the Champs, the ferris wheel was turning above the Place de la Concorde.
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Now, having got all the preliminaries out of the way, who will join me for a colorful drink to see in the New Year ??? Cheers to one and all of you !
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Driving On Into Dreams of the New Year . . .

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Back in September, in the back woods of Pennsylvania, driving down a back country road, far at the back of a vacant lot I caught a glimpse of something that flashed a spark of immediate recognition in my mind; I slammed on the brakes, turned around and drove back there. I had no choice in the matter. It was inevitable to me that this was an unavoidable rendez vous with chance, with hazard, with whatever you'd like to call it, yes, the dippity-do of serendipity had struck again.
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Barely visible from the road were three old Volkswagen buses quietly abandoned there. Finishing their days with the vacant expressions of a vacant lot, forgotten, forgotten save for probably the extremely rare passerby such as myself who might actually turn around to come take a closer look. But how could I not ? In another life long ago I owned two of these beasties. Not at the same time. Both of them came to tragic ends. Perhaps they also now inhabit some place like this. I don't know. But I do know there was something quite magical for me in this place.
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While I was there admiring the three VW buses visible from the road, a large four wheel drive pickup truck pulled into the lot, and I admit to having a moment of serious apprehension that it might be a local redneck ready to have me arrested for trespassing, or worse. In fact, it turned out to be the owner of the land, who lived just up the road, where he has a thriving VW repair business. He was quite friendly, when he realized I had a little bit of a passion for old VWs, he suggested I go poke around in the woods up the hill from the vacant lot, where there were a few dozen more old VWs finishing their lives in the underbrush. I didn't need to be asked twice.
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So what better way to head into the new year coming up soon, than to take a little trip down memory lane to a small corner of dreamland, inhabited by dream cars just waiting for someone to stop by and appreciate them. I was pleased, tickled pink in fact, to have been able to play that role that fine autumn day. (and many thanks to you, Craig, if you should ever see this ! )
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Some of the vehicles in question had obviously belonged to Grateful Dead fans. But just as the Grateful Dead died when Jerry Garcia passed away in 1995, so too did the need for so many VWs like these which carried Deadheads from concert to concert, back in those days long ago. "How ya Phillin" is of course a reference to the Grateful Dead bass player, Phil Lesh.
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As there are a few reflections in some of these windows, am including this in the Weekend Reflections series over at James place.
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More Grateful Dead art in a window sticker... dancing bears, terrapins from Terrapin Station, and the raven...
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Still more Grateful Dead VW art . . . VW buses going forever in a circle on a VW window.
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VWs were not the only vehicles abandoned there . . . a school bus was hiding in the trees, ready for another road trip, further on down the road.
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This blue bus was nearly identical to the first one I purchased, out in California. ("I'll meet you in the back of the . . . blue bus, the blue bus...")
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The jungle seemed to be on the verge of winning the battle. In another year or two these beautiful old cars may be totally obscured. I wish I could have brought a few back home with me. They make great lawn ornaments !
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Many different models and colors were available ! All in varying degrees of dilapidation.
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Who could ever forget the dashboards in these babies, and the wacky shifter diagram they had on the ashtray ?
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A pair of hubcaps was lying forlornly in the autumn leaves. With the owner's permission, I did bring one of them back home, it was all I could fit in my bagage. A dead WV souvenir.
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Winding Up 2010 . . .

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2010 . . . what a crazy year it has been. Now it is winding to a close. Some of us will be crawling across the transition line to 2011, after the Xmas season madness. After the weather tantrums. Without mentioning any of the world's many woes.

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May your holidays be full of music and joy and the peaceful satisfaction you may rightly enjoy as your reward for simply having survived another year on planet Earth.

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To serenade you through the coming days, I found a couple of singing frogs.
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And hoping you have had a very :

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European Meringue Pie . . .

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The snows of Siberia are upon us. A polar depression is apparently forcing cold arctic air down to European latitudes. Resulting in more snow that I've ever seen here in the Paris area. Our table where we like to lunch in the summer was transformed into a meringue pie. Which is fine by me, I love lemon meringue pie ! This one was just a little frosty. The roads are a nightmare, which is wreaking havoc for some of us who still have some miles to go before they sleep.

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Although it is already Sunday night (! Where did the weekend go ? They go fast when one works for 15 hours from Saturday through Sunday morning, digging out from the snow mess...) there is still time to check in for the end of James Weekend Reflection series. I was with James when I did these next two photos, he may recall where they were in the labyrinth of alleys in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. I'd also like to dedicate this image to Roxana, who inspired me to try to catch it.
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This is where the above detail came from . . .

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Just a few days ago on his Something Sighted page, James posted a photo from Père Lachaise in Paris, under the title "Factory of the Dead", an image of the crematorium there. This next shot is another take on the same subject, or the smokestacks at least.
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The public poetry of loss and longing. Christmas is a poignant time of year for those who may be missing someone. Be well. "Go quietly amidst the noise and haste."

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In Memory . . .

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. . . . . . . . Anne Lorraine Schmitt, 1984 - 2007
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Three years ago, in November 2007, Anne-Lorraine Scmitt, a vivacious 23 year old journalism student, was stabbed to death on the RER D train line which runs north from Paris to the city of Creil. It was a Sunday morning, she was going home to celebrate mass with her parents, when her life was cut brutally short by a severely deranged man, a man who had already served prison time for a rape at knifepoint, who had been released early, without serving his full sentence.
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Yesterday her murderer was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 22 years to serve before he could be considered for early release again. We sincerely hope he will serve the full sentence of life in prison, only to be released in a coffin. And burn in hell forever after, if there is such a thing.
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This tragedy hit particularly close to home for us, because the train line it happened on runs through the town we live in, and Anne Lorraine was found dead in the train car at the end of the line, with 34 stab wounds, just a few kilometers from our home. One of my daughters was in the same school class with one of Anne Lorraine's younger sisters at the time. Over 2000 people came to the funeral mass in her memory at the Senlis Cathedral.
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Being a father of two daughters myself, I cannot imagine the nightmare that her parents and family have endured since that awful day. Every parent's worst nightmare. My heart goes out to them.
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In the days preceeding the trial, her parents sent out a message, asking that it be circulated widely. The least I can do is print that message here, in memory of Anne Lorraine.
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Letter from Elisabeth and Philippe Schmitt
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Subject: ANNE - LORRAINE SCHMITT
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2010
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Après trois longues années d’instruction, le procès du meurtrier « présumé » d’ANNE – LORRAINE est programmé les lundi 13, mardi 14 et mercredi 15 décembre 2010 à partir de 9h30 devant la cour d’Assises de Pontoise 3, rue Victor Hugo.
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Nous serons présents au procès, en famille, à la fois inquiets mais déterminés.
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Inquiets :
- Parce que nous savons que les armes ne sont pas égales …
L’accusé pourra récuser des jurés, pas nous …
L’accusé pourra faire appel du verdict, pas nous …
- Parce que nous craignons que son avocat salisse la mémoire d’Anne - Lorraine pour justifier l’injustifiable, excuser l’inexcusable …
- Parce que, quel que soit la peine prononcée, nous savons que dans quelques années un juge d’application des peines, légalement irresponsable, aura la possibilité dans le secret de son cabinet, en catimini, de défaire ce qu’un jury populaire aura décidé avec tous les risques que cela comporte…
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Mais déterminés :
- A affronter ce barbare qui, lui, nous a déjà condamnés au chagrin perpétuel
- A lutter sans esprit de vengeance mais sans compromission pour que d’autres filles ne connaissent pas le sort tragique d’Anne – Lorraine …en croisant de nouveau son chemin
- Et donc à mettre tous les acteurs du procès face à leur responsabilité quant au sort de ce prédateur…
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D’avance merci à ceux qui seront disponibles pour nous entourer et nous soutenir pendant ces trois jours et aux autres qui seront aussi avec nous par la pensée ou la prière.
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Elisabeth et Philippe Schmitt
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PS : vous pouvez évidemment rediffuser ce texte !
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Un mail de condoléances à été ouvert. Il s'agit de l'adresse mail suivante:
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condoleances.anne.lorraine@gmail.com
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Translation :
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"After three long years of preparation the trial of the "presumed" murderer of Anne-Lorraine is scheduled for the 13th, 14th, and 15th of December at 9h30 in the Pontoise Court, rue Victor Hugo.
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As a family we will be present, worried but determined.
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Worried :
- because we know that the arms are not equal
. . . the defendant can have jurors refused, but we cannot
. . . the defendant can appeal the verdict, but we cannot
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- because we are afraid the defendant's lawyers will attempt to tarnish the memory of Anne-Lorraine to try to justify what cannot be justified, to try to excuse the inexcusable
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- because no matter what sentence is pronounced, we know that after some years a judge responsible for the application of sentences, legally not responsible, will have the possibility in the secrecy of his chambers, quietly, to undo what a jury decided, along with all the risks implied...
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But determined:
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- To confront the barbarian who condemned us to perpetual chagrin
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- To struggle without seeking vengeance, but without compromise, so that other young women will not meet the same fate as Anne-Lorraine ... by crossing his path again
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- Thus placing all the participants in the trial squarely in front of their responsibilities concerning the future of this predator
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Thanks in advance to those of you who may be available to support us and accompany us during the three days of the trial, and to those who will be with us in thoughts or in prayer.
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Elisabeth et Philippe Schmitt
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You are welcome to widely distribute this letter!"
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Wish Upon a Star . . .

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Someone had a birthday just the other day, sweet seventeen. She is a shining light in my life. La Grenouille made a rasberry topped dessert for the occasion, for someone who loves rasberries. Happy Birthday Honey !
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And to you good people who drop in here from time to time, I'd just like to say "Thank You" for your comments on the post below this one. If I could blow out a candle and make a wish, or make a wish upon a star, it would be to wish that one day that dream will come true. Where there is a will... right ?
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Pictures At An Exhibition . . .

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On a late October Sunday afternoon, James and I were strolling through the Belleville area of Paris, when we found this spot in a park with a surprisingly good view of nearly all the city of light, and the sky above. James took quite a few more photos from here than I did, so I will be curious to see what some of his pictures look like; as two photographers will never take quite the same photo of the same time and place. (and I thought I saw a few angels flitting about up there in the clouds)
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Shortly before we got up to that high point in Belleville Park which had such a good view overlooking Paris, we came across a bar (which unfortunately was closed, as I could have used a spot to drink) with a big mural photo across one side of its lowered security grates.

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Native Americans ? Sad to see that someone had defaced the image.

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But to the right of the shuttered up bar, there was a second part to the Bar Floreal, with a big neon sign in the window proclaiming "Bar Floreal Photographie". Now that caught my attention. Not only because I love neon signs, but what a great idea, to combine a bar with a photo gallery. Now why didn't I think of that ??? And to boot, there were some reflections visible in the window, which thus makes this perfect for James Reflection Weekend.

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Apparently the Bar Floreal also does photography exhibitions. I'm going to have to go back there at a time when they are more likely to be open, for both a drink and to take in some photography. And perhaps also to kick around with the owners of the place a little idea that has been trotting about in my cluttered mind for quite some time now.

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For a number of months now I've been thinking that it would be wonderful to be able to organize an exhibition in a Paris gallery somewhere of photos done by several bloggers who are doing simply extraordinary work. Work which merits attention. Yes, their work is visible on the internet for the whole world to see. But the internet is not the same thing as a gallery in Paris, and actual high quality framed prints of photographs are not the same thing as seeing them on a computer screen.

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I don't know if one joint exhibition, or a series of individual exhibitions would be the way to go, but I think it would be a fabulous experience for all concerned if it could be made to happen.

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There are so many excellent photography bloggers out there that I'm almost afraid to begin a list here, in case I might miss someone, but just a few of the artists in question whose work I would love to see on the walls of a Paris gallery are, in no particular order :

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- Roxana : Floating Bridge of Dreams (pure magic)

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- Clo : Photo Sans Cibles (sublimissime)

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- Loulou : Indiaphragme (incomparable photos from India)

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- Springman : Pine River Review (If you enjoy Eliot Porter, you will enjoy Springman)

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- James : Something Sighted (also of Newtown Area Photos linked above)

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- Scotty Graham : Last Flight Out Photography (unreal underwater and other...)

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- Lisa : Stickup Artist (some of the finest photos of California I've ever seen)

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- John : John's Photography (look through his archives for abandoned cars !)

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- Tom B. : Tom b. Photography (both on Tumblr, and find his previous Blogspot blog)

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- A few poems could be read also by Nevine during the exhibition opening

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- Virginia : Paris Through My Lens (her love of Paris comes shining through)

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- Priya : The Plum Tree (for her lovely charcoal drawings)(currently with an exhibition happening in Bangalore)

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- K'line : Through My Looking Glass (with her magic wand she transforms...)

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- Lynne : Décolleté Glimpses & Ragzedge Arts (for her photo montages and paintings too !)

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- Rima : The Hermitage (for her out of this world paintings and creations !)

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- Karine F. : Un Jour Une Vie (look through her older posts)

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- Karine Arnou : Peintures, Photos, et Humeurs (extraordinary watercolors and photos)

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- Jeff : Life Is Beautiful (a little quiet of late, but hopefully returning with more photos and philosophy)

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Just imagine their photos and paintings on these walls . . .

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I loved how the neon light was reflecting in the plate glass, creating a red echo.

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Winter Came Early . . .

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Just a few days later
After photographing the chinese lanterns
For the first time (in previous post)
After discovering their existence
The snows came
To give them white coverings
While I lamented
The passing of autumn
Before its time
But even the cold crystaline snow
Could not put out their fire
So they shall be my emblem
In the coming cold months
These glowing magic lanterns
With a halo of snow
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Even on the smallest place of purchase
The snow crystals piled up improbably
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We hadn't had time to prune the hortensias
As we do carefully every fall
But the fall has fallen into the cold dark abyss
Of long winter nights
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A cold green steel fence caught the snow
Where I left our garden
And wandered off into the woods
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In the woods there were magical visions
Of snow barely clinging
To leaves not yet gone brown
A cruel winter who comes before her time
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I wandered further into the woods
On the winding path the wild boars use
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One red leaf hung on hopefully to thoughts of fall glory
Blazing reds and golds now buried in ice
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Despite some of your generous offers for Noisette's fur from the last post, as she huddled on the porch in the cold afternoon, she decided she would rather put it to good use herself . . . staying warm. Even the carnations here in the foreground were caught by surprise in the snow, almost ready for one last late bloom... frozen in the bud.
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