GOING OUT WITH A BANG! FOR THE 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY'!!! PARIS, FRANCE - THE EIFFEL TOWER

WELL, MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE SEEN FRANCE IN ALL VARIOUS NUANCES...IN THE ART WORLD, IN VINEYARDS, LAVENDER FIELDS, CATHEDRALS, AND NOW...THE ICING ON THE CAKE!!!   THE EIFFEL TOWER.  I CHOSE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS AS THE EFFECT IS STRIKING AND HAS A VINTAGE APPEAL.  AND REMEMBER TO PLEASE GO BACK AND VIEW MY DAILY POSTINGS FROM MAY 17TH UNTIL TODAY AS EACH POST IS DIFFERENT.

A VERY VINTAGE SNAP SHOT OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

THIS APPEARS TO BE AROUND THE 1940'S.

A SIMPLE GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

ALONG A TREE LINED CORRIDOR BY THE EIFFEL TOWER

A PHOTO SHOWING THE IMMENSITY OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

A CANDID YET ROMANTIC PHOTO OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

A NIGHT VIEW OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

A BEAUTIFUL VISTA OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

BEAUTIFUL AUDREY HEPBURN AT THE EIFFEL TOWER

A SPLENDID CLOSE TO A SPLENDID WEEK OF, LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND ACTION IN FRANCE.

I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS LOVELY WEEK OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF FRANCE.  THANKING ANITA FOR A LOVELY TIME AND GRATITUDE FOR HOSTING SUCH A GRAND AND GLORIOUS 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY'

I BID YOU ALL GOOD DAY!

MERCI!

posted by Teresa

FRENCH ARTIST PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR - 1841 TO 1919 THURSDAY, MAY 23RD

TODAY'S POST IS ABOUT RENOIR.  HIS IMPRESSIONISTIC STYLE DURING THE SAME ERA AS CLAUDE MONET, IN FACT THEY WERE FRIENDS.  

Renoir was born in Limoges, France, on February 25,1841.  His drawing talents led him to become a painter of scenes on fine china in a porcelain factory.   As a young man he also visited the Louvre quite often to study the great masters paintings.   He then began to study art in Paris, where he met Claude Monet.

PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR

Renoir chose to paint his subjects close up rather than at a distance like Claude Monet did.  And he was also an Impressionist artist choosing a bright pallet for his colors.

THE SWING 1876

A GIRL WITH A WATERING CAN

LUNCHEON OF THE BOATING PARTY

JULIE MANET WITH CAT

THE THEATER BOX 1874

DANCE AT LE MOULIN DE GALLETTE

DANCE AT BOUGIVAL

TWO SISTERS

 RENOIR IN HIS OLD AGE STILL PAINTING AND IN A WHEEL CHAIR. 

I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS TOUR INTO THE LIFE OF RENOIR.  HE WAS ONE OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ARTISTS OF HIS DAY.

Please do go back and view my daily posts as from May 17th I began posting daily for the 'Simply Irresistible French Blog Party'...and I will have one more post on Friday....so stay tuned~

posted by Teresa

NEW BLOG POST FOR THE 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY'

TODAY WILL BE ABOUT RANDOM PLACES IN FRANCE THAT ARE LOVELY TO VIEW.

I KNOW I MISSED THIS ONE WHEN I WAS POSTING ABOUT MONET'S GARDEN.   IT IS A FURTHER VIEW OF THE FAMOUS BRIDGE IN MOST OF MONET'S WATER LILY PAINTINGS.  GORGEOUS! ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!

NAPOLEON'S TRIUMPHANT ARCHWAY. WOW!

AND I FORGOT ABOUT THIS PHOTO OF THE BELLS IN NORTE-DAME CATHEDRAL.

AND THIS IS THE MAD HATTER HAVING TEA ON THE RIVIERA. NO?  THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU JOHNNY DEPP FANS OUT THERE.  GOTTA HAVE A LITTLE FUN! HEE! HEE!   OH!  BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN UP AND COMING 'MAD TEA PARTY' AT VANESSA VALENCIA'S 'A FANCIFUL TWIST' SOON.  HER ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE FORTHCOMING!!!

CHATEAU DE SAUMUR

AH...HERE IS THE FRENCH RIVIERA. ONE OF ITS SECLUDED INLETS.

AND A MORE POPULATED AREA OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA.

BEAUTIFUL LAVENDER FIELDS!

RIQUEWIHR, FRANCE

MONET'S ROSE GARDEN.

TUSCANY.  WHICH I HAPPEN TO HAVE THIS AS MY DESK TOP IMAGE AT THE MOMENT.

TUSCANY VINEYARD.

TUSCANY. WHICH ALSO REMINDS ME SO MUCH OF OUR OWN CALIFORNIA VINEYARD AREAS.

AND A FREE DOWNLOAD FOR YOU.... SOME CAN-CAN GIRLS FROM THE GRAPHICS FAIRY BLOG

I hope you have enjoyed today's random tour of France, and be sure to see my other daily posts which began on May 17th.

posted by Teresa
photos courtesy of Yahoo, or Wikipedia the free online encyclopedia

NO FRENCH BLOG PARTY POST TODAY... TUESDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE ON OKLAHOMA TORNADO

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE IN MOORE, OKLAHOMA

As I was checking the news on Monday evening, the tragic news was about the huge tornado which struck Moore, Oklahoma late in the day.  The path of the tornado was 2 miles wide and left a 20 mile long swath of devastation in its wake.  Two elementary schools suffered severe damage from the 200 mile-an-hour wind.  THE DEATH TOLL HAS BEEN REVISED TO 24 DEAD, 9 OF WHICH WERE CHILDREN. (At first the news media had the toll at 51 dead, maybe some of those people were missing and were found alive).  They are saying this is the worst tornado of its kind to cause this much chaos, damage and loss of life.  Search and rescue teams are still searching through the rubble of the city which flattened houses to their foundations.  I will update this as new news comes in.
But for now, this will be a day of prayer for the city of Moore, Oklahoma.
I will be posting more or the French Blog Party and France on Wednesday.  Please see my three previous posts about France.
May God comfort the hearts of those who lost loved ones and be with the whole city of Moore, Oklahoma.
We hold them up in our prayers across the world.

posted by Teresa

MY FOURTH POST FOR ANITA'S 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY'. TODAY...THE IMPOSING EDIFICE OF THE NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS.

ONE OF MY FIRST INTRODUCTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS OF THE NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL WAS WHEN I READ 'THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE-DAME' BY VICTOR HUGO.
Not only did Victor Hugo use Notre-Dame as the central theme of his story, he also gave exact details of Paris at that time, taking up to seventeen pages of fine print to describe Paris and the cathedral in minute detail.  It was a lot for me to wade through so I won't grace you with the details but will show you photos instead.

NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL IS 'SMACK DAB' IN THE CENTER OF PARIS.

To me it is one of the most amazing cathedrals constructed.  The various styles of Gothic, and Medieval history are reflected in its various architectural designs. 

THE 'PARIS POINT ZERO' MARKER IS LOCATED IN THE CATHEDRAL SQUARE JUST IN FRONT OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO NOTRE-DAME.  TO SOME PEOPLE IT IS KIND OF A MAGICAL POINT (AND NOT JUST A MILE MARKER FROM THE CENTER OF PARIS OUTWARD) BUT PEOPLE COME AND STAND TOGETHER AND SPIN AROUND ON IT FOR GOOD LUCK OR  COUPLES COME AND HAVE THEIR PHOTOS TAKEN STANDING ON THE MARKER WHILE THEY KISS.  ONE FANTASY AUTHOR FROM IRELAND, MICHAEL SCOTT, USED THE 'PARIS POINT ZERO MARKER' AS A PORTAL TO OTHER LEY LINES AROUND THE WORLD FOR WIZARDS TO TRAVEL RAPIDLY TO ANOTHER LOCATION.  IN HIS BOOK 'THE ALCHEMYST' THE FIRST BOOK IN A SERIES ABOUT THE FAMED IMMORTAL ALCHEMIST NICHOLAS FLAMEL, THE ONLY SUPPOSED ALCHEMIST WHO CREATED THE SORCERER'S STONE, WHICH WHEN AN ELIXIR IS MADE FROM THE STONE MAKES ONE IMMORTAL WHEN YOU PERIODICALLY DRINK IT.  NICHOLAS USES THE PORTAL TO ESCAPE OTHER IMMORTALS WHO WANT TO STEAL THE SORCERER'S STONE FROM HIM AND ALSO A VERY ANCIENT BOOK WHICH IS IN NICHOLAS' KEEPING.  (MICHAEL SCOTT'S  BOOKS ARE EQUALLY GOOD AS THE 'HARRY POTTER'  SERIES.)

JUST THE LAYERS AND DEPTH OF THE ARCHWAYS IS SO CAPTIVATING TO VIEW.  ONE COULD SPEND HOURS WALKING AROUND THE CATHEDRAL TAKING IT ALL IN.  IT MAY VERY WELL BE ONE OF THE MODERN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.   IN THE FRONT AND CENTER LIES THE ROSE STAINED GLASS CIRCULAR WINDOW WHICH I HAVE A CLOSE-UP OF BELOW.

THE BREATH-TAKING AND MAGNIFICENT ROSE STAINED-GLASS WINDOW ALL INDIVIDUAL PANES DEPICTING RELIGIOUS FIGURES.  

GARGOYLES OVER LOOK PARIS TO PROTECT FROM EVIL SPIRITS. (THEY KIND OF LOOK SCARY ENOUGH TO ME TO BE EVIL SPIRITS THEMSELVES!)

THIS GARGOYLE SEEMS TO HAVE THE BODY OF A MAN AND THE HEAD OF A GOAT.

THE INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL IN ALL ITS GLORY, WITH MARBLE PILLARS, AND GLIDED SANCTUARY.

ANOTHER GARGOYLE THAT SEEMS TO BE QUITE BORED WITH HIS JOB.

MORE INTRICATE DETAILS ON THE BATTLEMENTS OF THE CATHEDRAL.

AND WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE CATACOMBS BENEATH THE CATHEDRAL WHERE PRIESTS AND OTHERS ARE BURIED IN MACABRE FASHION. 

MORE SACRED BONES IN OF THE DEAD,  IN THE CATACOMBS, STACKED IN GRUESOME ORDER.

A CLOSER VIEW OF THE AMAZING SANCTUARY WITH STATUES OF SAINTS AND CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR PORTRAYED ON THE CROSS IN THE MIDDLE.  DEFINITELY A MODERN WONDER OF THE MODERN DAY WORLD.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE CATACOMBS BENEATH NOTRE-DAME.

AND THE SPIRE ON NOTRE-DAME WHICH SHOWS MORE SAINTS IN BRONZE LINING THE STEEP ROOF ON EITHER SIDE. AND ALSO, A QUITE REMARKABLE VIEW OF THE CITY OF PARIS AND BEYOND.

I HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THIS JOURNEY TO NOTRE-DAME, IN PARIS, FRANCE.
STAY TUNED AGAIN, AS I WILL BE POSTING MORE OF OUR VIRTUAL TOUR OF FRANCE ON TUESDAY, MAY 21ST.

posted by Teresa

ANOTHER NEW POST FOR ANITA'S 'CASTLES, CROWNS, AND COTTAGES' SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY!!!

MAY EVERYONE BE ENJOYING A MARVELOUS SUNDAY!!!
HERE IS MY THIRD POSTING FOR ANITA'S FRENCH BLOG PARTY.

MONT SAINT-MICHAEL, IN  NORMANDY, FRANCE.

Today's post will be about Mont Saint-Michael which is a rocky, tidal island, 247 acres in size and is a commune in Normandy, France.  The permanent population is somewhere around 44 people, and is composed of monastery peoples.  More than 3 million people visit it each year.  You may recognize it from many movies.  I remember seeing Sam Neil as 'Merlin' in the movie of the same name, swiftly riding along on his horse on the wet sand toward the monastery in hopes of finding relief for Nimuwe at the monastery when she was scarred by fire from a dragon. 

MONT SAINT-MICHAEL AT NIGHT.

In 709 A.D. a monk declared he had been told by Michael the Archangel to build a small church on the tidal island.  Years following, a pre-Romanesque monastery was built in the 11th century.  Gothic style additions were built in the 13th century after fire had destroyed most of the monastery during the 12th century.

THIS ARIEL VIEW SHOWS JUST HOW SECLUDED MONT SAINT-MICHAEL IS.

During the French Revolution of the 1800's the monastery was used as a prison which was later closed in 1863.

THE ENTRANCE TO MONT SAINT-MICHAEL.  YOU CAN TELL WHY VISITORS WOULD WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE GRANDEUR OF THIS MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE AND THE HISTORY SURROUNDING IT.

WITH THE BUILDINGS SO CLOSELY BUILT TOGETHER ON 247 ACRES, IT WAS DEFINITELY A FORTRESS WORTHY OF BEING ACKNOWLEDGED.

A PHOTO OF THE CLOISTER, MEANING THE ENCLOSURE OF THE MONASTERY.

THIS IS THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENCLOSURE OF THE MONASTERY.

THE STATUE OF MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL ON THE SPIRE OF THE MONASTERY. THIS IS THE HIGHEST POINT ON ALL OF THE BUILDINGS AT THE MONASTERY.  (SEE THE PREVIOUS ARIAL VIEW).

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE HUGE EDIFICE STRUCTURE OF THE MONASTERY.

 THIS IS A MAP OF FRANCE (AND I THOUGHT IT WAS LABELED WHEN I DOWNLOADED IT). ON THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF FRANCE A SMALL SQUIGGLY LINE NEAR THE SHORE INDICATES WHERE MONT SAINT-MICHAEL IS SITUATED.  YOU CAN SEE THE ISLAND INDICATED BY A TINY GREY MASS IN THE WATER OFF SHORE. (WELL? HOW ELSE CAN I DESCRIBE IT!)

AND HERE IS A FREE DOWNLOAD OF SOME FRENCH MUSIC FOR YOU FROM THE GRAPHICS FAIRY BLOG.

I think that is all I have for this amazing historical tour of the tidal island of Mont Saint-Michael. France has so many unusual sights to see.  Thank you for coming aboard to view this virtual tour. AND PLEASE GO TO MY LINK ON THE LEFT SIDE FOR ANITA'S 'SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE FRENCH BLOG PARTY' TO VISIT MORE PARTICIPATING BLOGS WHICH SHE HAS LISTED LOWER ON HER BLOG POST.
MERCI !

Stay tuned for another new posting on Monday, May 20th.

posted by Teresa