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

somewhere over the rainbow

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:20:00 +0000

i am sending you a smile

before

i share a RETIREMENT story that should be

rolling along without a hitch

here it goes:

a good friend of ours here in France, Armand,

was beginning the restoration of a lovely simple

village

house

THEN just days after New Years

he fell ILL

& his life and his family's life

CHANGED FOREVER

HE developed

pneumococcal purpura fulminans

resulting

4 amputations

he lost

both hands above the wrist

both lower legs

(NB: i could not find an image to match this devastating quadruple amputation)

fortunately this is

not

COMMON

what is common HOWEVER,

is the way
the BLOG community

rallies around people in
NEED

like
Armand
WHO IS COPING
WITH
A LOSS
UNIMAGINABLE

HE
used to

love to climb high among the tree tops to prune the branches

to swim, to garden

He was FOCUSED on his daughter and wife of many years
He was FOCUSED renovating this old house
during his retirement years

HENCE
the

« Solidarité pour Armand »
campaign
is attempting to
raise
monies and awareness
via a nonprofit
for Armand
and his family

who need
a home
In a matter of speaking, a force of nature took his home away , like for Dorethy, in The Wizard of Oz

we are hoping the Magic and Goodness

will help him

get Home again

if you would like to
help
the efforts
please

contact
me
by leaving a comment!

merci

merci
my blog
friends

merci Anita of Castle, Crowns & Cottages for contacting me about this story!

Auntie Em and Doctor knows best?

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:53:00 +0000

you peer out the window

from your feather filled bed

wondering

if you can reach

all your goals

Prince Charming is still fast asleep,

and well, you like the idea of dealing on your own

so the white horse is awaitng

to trot you away

from the

the lumpy, bumpy

mattress

of life

there is

the smell of the sea close by

and

those in your dreams

who told

too many

lies

have now very very long noses

but, you ,.....in fine fairy tale

fashion

click

your heels

and find your way

home

oooola

don't you wish we could click our heels???

a soak

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:21:00 +0000

so you begin with a bath

hot , long bath with that good book you have been longing to read,

music is

in the back ground

home alone

The house has been tidied by the maid,

(yeah , it is ok to dream)

The morning sun is

here

highlighting the beauty all around

the book lingers on your mind

as the day stretches out in front of you

so you stop

and

think

what a gift it is

to breath , to believe in miracles

and then

then you GO FEED THE CHICKENS!

(nope bet you did not see that one coming did you)

have a great day!

bonjour

midi

one enchanted evening....

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:42:00 +0000

one enchanted evening, ok it is still daylight

but, the anticipation is killing you

you are in your fineries

midnight blues

you have rehearsed

you can leave the comfort of the

nest

to embark on an evening of sharing!

enjoy all the beauty around you.

Bold antiques in space and on hand!

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:27:00 +0000

as clear as day

as large as life

like a grand tableau

gracing the hall of an

airy home

like an antique

ring

full of the secrets

of lovers

each full of adventures to share ....

& challenges to climb

feeling light as a feather

in your Hermes scarf

Ready to encounter

the good ,the bad , and the prickly

that life has

to offer.

yes, we have these little hérissons

in our yard

ooola

Ups & Downs of Sweet Treats

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:35:00 +0000

whether French side or State side

(these fabulous graphics are from: Vahram Muratyan'

"Paris Versus New York" [Penguin, $20.00])

at a party or alone

whether the beverage of choice is

à la Française ou à la Américaine

whether dreaming on the sofa

or prancing about in

in your

favorite fantasie

fret NOT

that you are no longer

size ZERO

slinking about

in the

shadows

Rather

HOOT

HOLLER

at the surprise of a

new DAY

Have a super day!

winter prescription:mellow yellow cocooning

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:23:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:07:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:59:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:16:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:38:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 20:10:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 15:46:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:50:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:36:00 +0000

take flight

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:42:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:11:00 +0000

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 !

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:43:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:23:00 +0000

talents of beloved

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:31:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:11:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:34:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:59:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (dancingdocdesign) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:15:00 +0000

photo -simply seductive

blue skies

dreaming

photo - unknown,do tell if you know

wishing you all

cozy connections as we enter into the weekend