Found on Etsy

A few things:

1) I love cows. I will commission a giant oil painting of a cow for my living room one day.

I'm serious.

Cow in Tall Grass by Peacock Garden

Mama Cow 2 by Peacock Garden

Max and Ruby by Peacock Garden

Early Risers by Peacock Garden

2) Meet Gordon:

Gordon the Dog by Karen Fincannon

Gordon is begging to come live with me. Begging. I pointed out to Gordon that he is $80.00 and that is kind of alot for a ceramic dog. He said you can't put a price on cuteness and that he would make a great birthday present. I really can't argue with that.

3) Meet Gordon's friend Rachel:

Rachel the Cow

Rachel must come from California.

Tell me the truth

Am I lame because I think this commercial for the new season of The Hills is seriously cool?

I don't even watch The Hills. The only thing I watch on MTV is 16 and Pregnant (don't judge me.)

The song is called 'New in Town' by Little Boots. Oh yeah, I downloaded it.

Bonjour!!!

I'm back! After spending hour upon hour sitting in the airport waiting for the volcanic ash to clear I am finally back stateside.

You have probably been wondering where I've been! Well...

I spent the last week here. Swimming in ridiculously nice hotel pools.

Buying crepes from street vendors and drinking lots of wine.

Soaking in views of the Seine, taking pictures, navigating the metro and putting those nine painful years of French classes to work.

I went to Mass at Sacre-Coeur and spent a whole day in the Louvre. I even did some art shopping in Montmartre too. It was heavenly.

Cafe at Montmarte by Mary Lou Mack

Chestnut Tree by Cellia Saubry

Hommage a Toulouse Lautrec les jardins de la Butte

by Jean Prevos

Kidding! The only French thing in my life is asleep on the couch right now. Snoring, farting and occasionally wagging his tail.

It sure was a nice thought though. That swimming pool looks pretty good, doesn't it? Maybe when I win the lotto one day...

Non, non. I have been here in the good ol' US of A. Here, but really busy and feeling a bit uninspired. So, please pardon the lack of posts. I'll be back. I promise.

In the meantime...perhaps ma petite soeur will make a few more regular appearances.

Hint hint. :)

Images:

Pool courtesy of the Ritz Carlton, Paris

Café by Shawn Lipowsk

Art by Cellia Saubry and Jean Prevos via this lovely blog.

Other images unknown?!

One of Manet's muses

Édouard Manet's pretty redheaded model appears in many of his paintings. The woman was Victorine Meurent, and while she was a painter in her own right, she is best known for her work as a model for artists such as Manet, Edgar Degas, and even Henri Toulouse-Lautrec!

Portrait of Victorine Meurent

Édouard Manet, 1862

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

She even exhibited in the 1876 Paris Salon-yet her role as the controversial figure in many of Manet's famous paintings is what she has been best remembered by.

Woman with Parrot

Édouard Manet, 1866

Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

Manet first saw Victorine walking down a Parisian street with a guitar in her hand.

Luncheon on the Grass

Édouard Manet, 1863

Musée d'Orsay, Paris

Victorine in the Costume of a Matador

Édouard Manet, 1862

Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

Her most famous (and scandalous!) work as a model...

Olympia

Édouard Manet, 1863

Musée d'Orsay, Paris

This painting was actually inspired by a painting by the great Renaissance painter Titian:

Venus of Urbino

Titian, 1538

Uffizi Gallery, Italy

Good Bye Dixie Carter

Holy Dress!

Very good reader Wes. Even my resident historian didn't get it at first glance (I know, I was shocked too.) So, enjoy the next 24 seconds with my congratulations:

Since Wes didn't give it away totally I'll let the rest of you stew over my hint (and his comment) for one more day. Translation: that post isn't quite ready, sorry it was a busy, busy weekend.

Now, on a completely different topic. Don't you think this would be a great church dress?

Color Guard Dress by ModCloth

I do. I think you would really blend in if you wore it to Mass at Paris' Sainte Chappell:

Sainte Chappell

Building circa 1248

Image Courtesy of visitDC.com

I'm not kidding, you would practically melt away into the walls. The 13th century floor to ceiling stained glass windows cast colorful shadows in every direction. Walking through the front door of this high-gothic jewel box is like stepping into a gigantic kaleidoscope.

Sainte Chappell

Windows circa the 13th to the 15th centuries

Image courtesy of gothereguide.com

You may not be quite as camouflaged by these modern beauties, created by the talented artists of Laws Stained Glass Studios in Statesville, NC. But, you would definitely coordinate!

New Corinth Baptist Church

Rutledge, TN

First Christian Church

Smithfield, NC

Preview

If you can tell me who was born here:

Well, you know the drill. No cheating. See ya Monday!