November in Pictures

“Spring's wakening bugle long is hushed; long dimm'd is Summer's splendour; October yields her easel bright to black and white November!” - James Rigg, "November," Wild Flower Lyrics and Other Poems, 1897

French Friday: Le Pont des Arts

November 30, 2018 (334/365)

« L'amour est plus fort que toutes les raisons. » - Madame de Sévigné

Le Pont des Arts, linking the Grand Louvre on the Right Bank to the posh St. Germain district on the Left, is one of Paris' loveliest bridges. Originally constructed in 1804, the footbridge has long been a favorite venue for strollers and artists who linger to appreciate its sweeping vistas.

I first spotted a few padlocks neatly fasted to the Pont des Arts in early 2009, and learned that this tradition originated in Florence on the Ponte Vecchio where lovers began imitating a romantic rite mentioned in two contemporary Italian novels. By 2007, the Italian authorities had outlawed the locks in both Florence and Rome, but by that time, the tradition had spread to Paris and as far as London, Germany, Stockholm, Hungary, Russia, China, and even Brooklyn. 

Each year, when I returned to the Pont des Arts, there were more and more locks...

Eric and I traveled to Paris together in November of 2011. Since this was his first time in The City of Love, we participated in all of the clichéd, romantic traditions: strolling hand-in-hand, snuggling on a bateau mouche, kissing under Le Pont Marie, watching the Packers on Thanksgiving in the Latin Quarter -- OK, maybe that is only a romantic tradition for Wisconsinites ;-) Eric engraved a lock previously used on our boat, attached it to our chosen spot on Le Pont des Arts, and threw the lock into the Seine. At the time, it was romantic and I never imagined that we were contributing to the eventual structural damage of the iconic bridge. 

The number of locks continued to multiply and the bridge became both a safety hazard and an eyesore, with plywood temporarily installed to help maintain its structural integrity. Finally in 2014, the locks were removed, the ironwork was restored, and 110 specially-treated, shatter-resistant, anti-glare plexiglass panels were installed to prohibit future locks and graffiti. 

Yet, somehow love always finds a way...

It's Christmastime in the City

November 29, 2018 (333/365)

"City sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style. In the air, there's a feeling of Christmas..."

Structure

November 28, 2018 (332/365)

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape. 

Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show." - Andrew Wyeth

chez Madeline?

November 27, 2018 (331/365)

“In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines Lived twelve little girls In two straight lines…” - Ludwig Bemelmans, Madeline

Sleepy P

November 26, 2018 (330/365) • Holiday weekends are exhausting!

“Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.” - Napoleon [or at least the house!]

A Place in My Heart

 November 25, 2018 (329/365)

“When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go.” - Alexandra Stoddard

Love Actually in Concert

 November 24, 2018 (328/365)

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” - Love Actually

Last night we had the pleasure of watching the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra perform the award-winning score live to Love Actually, while the film played in high definition on a giant screen at the Riverside Theatre.

French Friday: Vendredi noir

le vendredi 23 novembre 2018 (327/365)

« Je dépense donc je suis. » - Descartes de Crédit 🤣

Black Friday -- Non merci! Although I might change my mind if I could shop here (Galeries Lafayette):

...or here (Printemps Haussmann):

...or here (Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche):

Giving Thanks

November 22, 2018 (326/365) • Thanksgiving

"If the only prayer you said was 'Thank you,' that would suffice."

November in my Garden

November 21, 2018 (325/365)

"We seldom think of November in terms of beauty or any other specially satisfying tribute. 

November is simply that interval between colorful and dark. 

Then, nearly every year, come a few November days of clear, crisp weather 

that makes one wonder why November seldom gets its due." Hal Borland, November

Week 47 - Technical: Step Back

November 20, 2018 (324/365) 

"Those who want to be serious photographers, you're really going to have to edit your work. 

To stop and look at your work is the most important thing you can do." - Annie Leibovitz

[Edit your image to where you think it's perfect and let it sit for two days. Then return to it and see if it works.] #dogwood52 #dogwoodweek47

Early Bird

November 19, 2018 (323/365)

"Dawn-giddy birds chirp as if every morni

bng is a special occasion." - Terri Guillemets

Exalt

November 18, 2018 (322/365)

"Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill" (Psalm 99:9)

National Adoption Day

November 17, 2018 (321/365)

"I am blessed, chosen, adopted" - Ephesians 1:11

Superman, Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs, John Lennon, Nelson Mandela, Presidents Clinton and Ford, Ingrid Bergman, Maya Angelou, Babe Ruth, Richard Burton, Truman Capote, Eleanor Roosevelt, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Jack Nicholson, Debbie Harry, Eric Clapton... and ME! 

French Friday: La Pyramide du Louvre

le 16 novembre 2018 (320/365)

« L'architecture est le miroir de la vie. Il suffit de regarder les bâtiments pour sentir la présence du passé

et l’esprit d’un lieu; ils sont le reflet de la société. » - I.M. Pei, l'architecte du Pyramide du Louvre

100 Days

November 15, 2018 (319/365)

“The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting” - Andy Warhol 

(In 100 days, I will be enjoying my coffee in Paris!)

Education is the Key

November 13, 2018 (317/365) • American Education Week

"Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students." - Solomon Ortiz

"Opening the door to each child's future." 

World Kindness Day

November 13, 2018 (317/365)

"What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?" - Jean-Jacques Rousseau #worldkindessday

Week 46 - Composition: Golden Triangles

November 12, 2018 (316/365)

"An artist is a person who lives in the triangle which remains after the angle which we may call common sense has been removed from this four-cornered world." - Soseki Natsume #dogwood52 #dogwoodweek46

Golden Triangle: A diagonal line divides the frame from corner to corner, two more lines are added from the other corners, intersecting the diagonal line.