Prairie

Pétanque

I'm blogging about France again - and telling my story with photos.

This is St.Paul - a timeworn city belonging to the distant past.

It's primitive buildings and cobbled streets are surrounded by

a buttress of stone wall. Firmly fastened to this hill, it looks out

over a panoramic valley of rolling, green vista. It was here, that

I watched my very first game of boules - the French are

passionate about it ! I will tell you about my day with photos.

I happened to take this woman's photo as she was boarding

a bus. A most unique hairstyle - reminds me of some sort

of exotic animal - and the coat helps with that impression.                                                                                

Wonder if it's real or faux fur ?

Want to see her again - here she is.

Honestly - she creeped me out a bit.  My imagination is running wild

now - the stripy, wild animal hair  and fur coat.  Maybe she eats people.  

Most likely she's an artist.  This area is a haven for them.  All I know 

is my Grandmother never looked like this ! Maybe she's an alien...

When I first saw these trees in the town's Market Square, I thought they

had been wrapped in some sort of camouflage fabric or netting.  At closer

inspection I saw it was the bark !  They're called "plane" trees.

A very pregnant Mother cat peering at a frustrated little boy 

who was attempting to fixing his bike at the bottom of the stairwell.

A clever artist has created and perched this little iron bug 

sculpture in a niche, right next to his front door - "13 Rue Lacoste"

 Are these not the oldest doors you've ever seen? Impressive. 

Yes - I get very excited over doors - I'm a bit mad that way.

I loved this metal man sculpture, staring forever into infinity.

I was compelled to look up into the sky myself .

One very lucky horse !

As I walked down the hill towards a coffee shop, I came across 

two serious games of  boules. It looked like great fun and I wanted

to join in - but I stuck to observing and taking photos and getting 

in their way - while I was taking photos.  The French love boules !!

Much like I love playing pinochle.

Pensively posed and studying the opponents moves - very serious stuff.

What a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon.

I was watching the lady, the one in the photo above - playing

boules wearing heels when I suddenly saw this fellow. He was

wearing a bright red beret and had a face so full of character,

I could not stop taking his picture - I was smitten with him.

He was marvelous !

Now how many guys can carry this off, wearing a red beret and 

a hunter green, quilted coat ?  I do believe he was American.

I was trying not to get in his way or annoy him but at the

same time I so wanted to frame his hands in the picture.

Almost - not quite.

He looks like a Rembrandt painting here - simply wonderful !

Arriving back to Nice - just in time to watch the sun set on the 

azure sea.  I loved this day !

"The game of boules, otherwise known as pétanque , is perhaps 

the sport that is closest to French hearts. Similar to British lawn 

bowling or Italian bocce , the French version is traditionally played 

with metallic balls on a dirt surface beneath plane trees, with a glass 

of pastis at hand. The local boulodrome is a social focal point in 

southern France."  - quote taken from Discover France website -                                                                                                                                                                                       

Constance Amiot

I love this artist - sharing some music with you today !!

Images of Nice, France

I have a few more photo to share with you - a bit of this and that.

This will be dreadful - sort of like when you go to someone's house

and they get out the snaps of their latest holiday and bore you for

hours - hope you are not too bored.  Allow me to narrate ..... ahem !

Took this photo as I was walking to Nice Port. It's a brighter ocher 

colour but I've toned it down some - because I like it better that way !

Nine little sailboats being tugged out to sea to play.

Thought it fun to do a black and white and colour one sail.

Nice Marina is amazing - so many lovely boats !

I spent a few hours just watching all the activity.

The Promenade all decked out with stands for an up and coming event.

I loved how the line of them went on forever - I love patterns and repetition.

Back to Nice Harbor - I love how the architect used these massive cement

blocks (bollards ?) not only in a practical sense but an artistic one as well.

Form follows function ??

A lonesome little fruit, vegetable and flower stand in the village of St. Paul.

I captured this image while on the bus to Eze - it's been dropped into 

photoshop for a play.  I love the comic book effect.

This was taken in Grasse - an old wall advert painted in an alley.

Another "taken from the bus photo"

I almost took this little kitty cat home with me - she had the most beautiful 

green eyes.  She was very chatty - meow, meow, meow.

Nice Market - love what this vendor has done with her radishes.

Nice - looking as beautiful as ever.

Those little sailboats have been cut loose to the sea.

I was trying for a Retro image of Nice here - I really like it !!

Fluffy clouds - blue sea - perfect.

Noisy gulls crying "me, me , me !"

And off into the sunset they go - au revoir little boats.

Gosh and good golly - must clean my lens one of these days !!

The Gifted Child

I listened to a delightful interview today on NPR's website.

Ethen Bortnick - is a gifted little boy who knew from the age of three,

that he wanted to play the piano.  Not only does he play it well - he

has composed about thirty songs.  So you know, the interview is about 

seven minutes long - but is worth the listen and will make you smile.

When you go to the link , just click the "LISTEN NOW" at the top of page.

What a cutie pie -  I love this child !! 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98482724&sc=nl&cc=es-20090118

The Promenade

Walk with me along the Promenade and see it through my eyes.

 

A Perfect Day !

Every Monday, Nice Flower Market's fruit and veggie stands are replaced 

with a fabulous antiques market.  I spent most of the day here - looking through 

treasures. Buskers wander here and there from cafe' to cafe '- singing all genre of 

music from Italian and French ditty to Elvis compositions.  The sun was shining 

and it was a perfect day to wear a hat.  Come to think of it - everyday is a good day

for wearing a hat !!  The sidewalk cafes were brimming with people soaking up the

sunshine and drinking their espresso, wine or beer. I do believe, I've started 

smoking again - cough, cough, hack, gag !  It almost feels that way as I've been 

forced to gulp buckets of second hand cigarette smoke - gosh, good golly - this 

is a cigarette smoking country !!

I love the Promenade and could spend all day watching people.  Not only 

are the people fascinating to watch, so are the puppy dogs - all breeds and 

sizes. The French love their dogs and treat them exceptionally well. Dogs 

seem to be very well behaved here and are even welcome in restaurants - 

sitting in a chair at the table along side their owners.  Now that's something 

you never see in America or England - puppies at the restaurant dinner table.

Some dogs like to fish !!

What a splendid way to spend the day - sitting seaside and enjoying the sun.

It was about 57 degrees Fahrenheit and bright, full sun !

I watched this young man for a very long time. He was very good on

his skates. I must have snapped about 50 photos of him.

The ochre tiled rooftops of Nice.

Nice harbour

Looking at other people's laundry in Old Town Nice !!

 

She's great - just one of the many great characters you see by the sea !

En France

I explored the ancient city of Eze today.  Perched on a pinnacle of rock 430 

meters above sea level, Eze is a historical, fortress village built somewhere 

around the 1400's ( guessing a bit here) As you might imagine, it's a village 

steeped in history, with the most pristine views over the Mediterranean Sea. 

It's charming, winding pebble streets lead up to a serene tropical planet and 

cactus garden, complete with lovely statutes and a man made waterfall.

My internet connection is really unreliable in this flat and has knocked

me off several times already and I've had to post these images several times

over. Very frustrated and so will say bye for now and hope you enjoy the photos !

Moo Cards

 

I was really happy to see my lovely Mini Moo Cards finally arrive in the post.

I was somewhat anxious about the quality of my images and how they 

might indeed, transfer to a teeny card measuring 1 x 2.25 inches.  

I love them !!  The back of the card is simple: my name, phone number 

and email address. Everyone I show them to - asks if they can have one.  

Not your typical biz card and a great marketing tool for my photography. 

If you would like one - send me an email with your address and I'll post 

one out to you. Check them out !  www.moo.com

Leave it to me to order from a company named Moo. 

Oh, how I love my cows !

Then there's La Pêche Enterprises - my little greeting card, cottage industry.

Born by accident and a big bolt out of the blue even to me.  True, I had sold a 

photograph here and there over the last five years to one or two patrons, but 

never thought my photography would take off so well.  Goodness - now I've 

got them in Borders Books even !!  Hoping to launch them on Etsy this year.

http://www.la-peche.co.uk/

I have to admit that I've lost the plot a bit since the New Year.

Maybe it's the grey sky and lack of sunshine here in U.K. - winter blahs.

I originally planned to blog more about being an American living in 

England, the differences in culture and my day to day unexpected 

experiences living in the Cambridgeshire countryside, but instead I've 

created a mish mosh of  little topics that really don't amount to much,

except to me.  I think in the next few months - this blog must go through

an evolution of sorts. I will get it right. 

Okay - will stop my whining now and show you one of my 

lovely cow photos.  I've made him my official mascot. I think he needs a name.

Any suggestions ? I rescued him from a local charity shop for 49 pence (74 cents)

The night temperatures in England have been bitter cold lately.

I wonder how my Limousin cows and little sheep are doing ?!

Whilst all the other cows were taken out of the fields - hopefully

back to a friendly barn and not to a dinner plate - these busters have

been left out in the pasture to fend for themselves for the winter months. 

Early in the morning, they huddle closely together, next to a hedge of trees

for warmth. The cow on the left, with his head in the trees, is trying to keep 

his ears warm I think. Have never seen anyone bring them hay nor is there

any sign of feed pellet leftovers on the ground.  Just call me cow crazy.  

I'm thinking for 2009: calender, post cards, canvas, exhibitions

and retailing to shops in London.  How about shooting for Country Living ?!!

Now that would be a dream come true.  Wonder if they would like a feature

cow article - hmm. Maybe I should have a local exhibition - of cow photos.

Anything is possible.

I so need a holiday.

Gassy Cows

You probably have gathered by now from reading my blog,

that I'm very fond of bovines.  Smelly, drooling, gassy cows !!

I found this hilarious video some time ago - cute animation.

Also - it has a sheep in it - just like the little sheep that lives

with the herd of cows at the lakes near my house. Cute buster !

You really must read my very first post - "The Land of Tea and Lovely"

to understand the relationship between these two critters.

TV Gets Colour

Childhood - why was it that watching TV at someone else's house was more 

fun than your own ?  My cousins lived only three minutes (if I ran really fast) 

from my house. But at eight years old and in the middle of watching 

"Alice In Wonderland"  I dare not risk missing one single frame of that cartoon 

movie.To think I use to watch TV cartoons in black and white !!

 

Between 1946 and 1950, the research staff at RCA laboratories 

were working away like busy little bumble bees, on an electronic, 

monochrome, compatible color television set. December 17th, 1953 

saw the official launch of that first color television in America.  

Good Golly Miss Molly !! TV culture certainly has evolved, going 

from innocent entertainment and the nightly, family bonding 

session - to sex, violence and yes, the depressing six o'clock news.

Believe it or not - there were no news broadcasts when television first

began and at the first, broadcasting was only a few hours each day.

I remember watching in the afternoon from noon to four p.m.

Today it's 500 channels and not a thing to watch.

 

Suddenly, every home in America in the 1950's had this set of metal TV

 trays tucked away somewhere in the corner of the living room or the 

hallway closet. Picture this for family night: little Suzy and Johnny, 

along with Mum, Dad and Grandma, all watching "The Ed Sullivan Show" 

and eating Jiffy Pop Popcorn on TV trays. My generation grew up watching 

programs such as: I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith and George and Gracie.  

What did I happen to switch on whilst channel surfing the other night ??  

A program about a 40 year old woman in California, who goes to her cosmetic 

surgeon and has her entire vagina reconstructed to look like it was 18 again.  

Did I watch it ?!  You bet I did !  I had no idea such a thing was possible.

It was fascinating and repulsive all at the same time. tsk, tsk.  

That very first color television set cost a small fortune back

in the 1950's.  Not many people could afford the $1175 (£812)

to see that NBC bird in all his glory. I remember the announcer

would say: "The following program is brought to you in living

color on NBC" and it really irritated me because I had to stare

at that dull peacock while the more privileged were looking at 

his colorful plumage.

 In 1961, Disney's Wonderful World of Color, was a turning

point, persuading consumers to go out and purchase color sets.

 

"Colour" crossed the pond to England in 1966.  Those that

had a black and white set were able to purchase a color

receiver costing around £250 or $362.

 

Gosh how I miss these kooky shows !!

Do you see any of your favourites on this poster ?

 

People find it hard to believe when I tell them that I was without a 

TV for almost two years.  It was actually a good thing.  I read more 

books, taught my self to knit, made lots of homemade bagels and  

listened to Public Radio twenty four seven. Yawn. 

 

You can buy this apple television on Amazon.

At the moment - they are sold out.

 

I love "The Andy Griffith Show!"

It was a great documentary - not unlike where where I grew up.

Barney - gotta love him.