Monday, June 24, 2019

The Paris Apartment


I bought this book decades ago and never imagined that one day we would rent our own Paris apartment.


Too bad the dress form in the master bedroom wasn't wearing a period costume.


When we began traveling with our adult children, we opted to rent houses rather than hotel rooms - it is more economical than multiple hotel rooms and we love the convenience of having the space to spread out.


Once we booked our flight to Paris, our daughter-in-law took on the task of finding a place for us to stay for 10 days. 


Aylin sent us a list of 6 apartments on VRBO to choose from in various areas around the city and we unanimously agreed on one choice due to the location, appearance and amenities.


I was so excited when we turned down our street


 and I spotted the doors - a good omen for someone who lives in a house with a red door.


Once inside the vestibule, we looked out French doors to a courtyard


and another set of doors led us to the stairway.


After a 12 hour plane ride, a 1 hour taxi ride and a 50 pound suitcase, the stairs to the third floor were a challenge.


By day 10, the stairs were a breeze and I never tired of the view out the windows on the landing- I'll admit that I did not carry my now 55 pound suitcase down the stairs.


Gray doors led us into our apartment


Surprisingly, we walked right into the dining room, but I imagine that it was not the dining room in the 1600's when the building was new.


We knew, from the pics on the VRBO website, that our apartment was filled with art and cultural items.


The apartment had a huge living room


filled with art,


amazing windows,


and a fabulous chandelier.


What I loved most were the floors and the detailed moldings around the ceilings of each room.


We did not cook any meals in the kitchen,


but every morning Steve rose earlier than the rest of us, headed out to different pastry shops and always brought back an array of treats.


Heading out of the living room, there was a hallway and on the left there were two small alcoves (one with a day bed another with a spiral staircase) that had been made from one larger room - none of the pics of those rooms turned out. I never climbed the steep spiral staircase to the room Joshua and Aylin used.


At the end of the hallway there were 3 doors with royal blue glass- the door on the right was the shower, the door ahead held a sink and toilet


and the door on the left held a tub.


This lovely pattern was found on everything (including the toilet) in each room - how I would love to have that sweet pattern in our bathroom.


The master bedroom was filled with curiosities


and I never tired of looking at the little treasures.


The mirrors and the chandeliers throughout the house were spectacular.


As lovely as our apartment was, we spent little time there 


because in addition to our various excursions, we walked over 50 miles exploring Paris.


Be forewarned, the next few posts you read will be a visual journal of Paris, Versailles and Giverny.


I'll take you to the Saint Jean de Luz in the Basque region of southern France and a quick pop into Hondarribia, Spain.


Thanks for indulging me - I tried journaling, but my penmanship is abysmal these days due to arthritis so my blog posts will be my French journal.


Monday, June 3, 2019

Spring Into Summer


Welcome to the "Spring Into Summer" blog hop 


hosted by Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home.


If you are hopping in order then you were just visiting Katie, Let's Add Sprinkles, who has the cutest style.


I wish I could say that our "garden room" has a beautiful blue sky right now (this pic was taken in early May), but late May and now June have brought us a dull white sky.


Blue skies or gray, Lulu is happy to be in the garden


and we welcome all visitors.


The Adirondack chair had been on the front porch for years, but no one ever sat in it.


It's now in a perfect spot to sit and read.


Until it's time to use the outdoor fire pit, the corner behind Steve's studio is usually ignored, but the old ladder and green chair (found on a street corner) are now bursting with color from pots and a basket of blooms.


 My sister recently gifted me a beautiful tablecloth that belonged to my mother.


The tablecloth is just the right size for the garden table and soon the weather will allow for al fresco meals.


I moved one of the chaises so I could relax outdoors and enjoy this view of the garden.


The flowers in the old wheelbarrow, another street side find, are blooming and each day I check for new flowers.


The chaise, with the wheelbarrow behind it, is one of my favorite views from the living room windows.


My garden house is another view I love.


I brought the shopping cart outside for summer and added Gerbera daisies.


The second chaise is in front of the living room and easily moved to follow the sun,


but as you see, the sky is white and has been for way too long.


If you are new to Art and Sand, you might not know that my husband is an artist and our home is his gallery.


He actually began his art career painting on surfboards - the only board that remains is this one hanging on the ivy covered wall.


I made a few changes from my last post, Hooray for the Red, White and Blue.


I added buoys and a bucket to the old window and brought Mr. Goose outside.


We leave on vacation Wednesday and will be away for 11 days.


I will miss all the different views of our garden,


but Lulu's sitter has promised to water while I am gone


and maybe, just maybe, the sky will be blue by the time we return.


Now it's time to send you off to visit my friend Judith at Botanic Bleu.


I hope you take the time to visit all the blogs on the hop because this group of bloggers always provide oodles of inspiration.


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