Entertainment

These Salvation Army guys(on the streets of NYC) were not only ringing their bells (for a donation) they also did a dance routine. How could you not donate! Such talent!

Oh No!

My girls ...after reading the nutrition facts on the Gingerbread house! (Dylan's Candy Bar). NYC

Candy

While in New York City...my daughters and I went to Dylan's Candy Bar. Dylan Lauren part owner, is the daughter of the famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren. She was married this summer in the garden of her parents N.Y. home. This poster of Dylan hangs in the store.

One other interesting note: One of Ralph Lauren's sons, David, was also married this past year. He got married on his parents beautiful Colorado ranch. He married President Geo. W. Bush's niece Lauren. Yep, that right...Her name is now Lauren Lauren...and that's no joke!

Christmas Traditions

Decorating Christmas cookies with the Atlanta grand children has become a holiday tradition!

The Empire State

The Empire State Building built in 1931 still draws hundreds of visitors who line up for an elevator ride to the spectacular observatory....giving you a birds eye view of New York City. It was a beautiful clear day and we arrived ahead of the throngs of people.

A New York Christmas

Hi folks...Not sure anyone missed me....Not only have I been gone...but I also lost my camera! My two daughters gave me a Mother/Daughter Holiday trip to New York City for my birthday...So I will post several pictures over the next week of our wonderful trip. I flew into Newark, NJ and took the bus....yes the bus to Grand Central Station.I was nervous about traveling alone...But there they were ...my girls to meet me :)

We Three Kings

Seeing these three finely dressed gentlemen gracing the tree makes you want to break into song ...We Three Kings of Orient are....

Ladie 's Room Santa

I was shocked to see this beautiful Santa painting being displayed (hidden) in the ladies room. But, then again I guess at least 50% of the people will see it :)

Yawn

I know, I am even boring myself. I really started this blog to show everyone how beautiful the little mtn town we live in in the summer is. I didn't actually look past that to.. coming home to my normal "pig trail". But, here I am and it's the holiday season...so I will show you Christmas lights!

I am leaving this week for New York City. My two grown daughters gave me this Mother/Daughter "Dec in New York" trip for my 65th birthday. There I said it...my age...make a copy because I will not be talking about that again! Therefore, maybe I can show you some beautiful Holiday Windows. I will be posting when I get back though. Don't want to drag along my laptop. I use to travel the world alone....was even a Stewardess back in the 60's. But, I have become sooo dependent on my husband that the thought of meeting my girls in NY.(traveling by myself and getting myself from the airport into Manhattan)..makes me a bit nervous.So wish me luck!

Okay one more Christmas picture. This is the way the Champions Golf Club is decorated in the main room!.....Janey

Live Oak Trees

This is the way to decorate your live oak tree in Texas!

I see you!

Santa seems to be peeking out from between the multitude of trees...Watching to see if you are behaving...I suppose..

The Entrance

The entrance into the dining room at The Champions Golf Club is a thing to behold. It truly sparkles.

Santas Everywhere

Moving along into the entrance of the dinning room there is a beautiful Santa not in his traditional red garb...but looking more like an angel...all in white.

Standing Watch

This festive little deer has a twin. Both are peering out the front windows of the Champions Golf Cub...Famous for their holiday decorations.

Christmas

Okay...one more picture of little Jefferson,TX....which we paused in on our way home from Chicago. I am not sure what was going on here? The town park had Christmas tree after Christmas tree all decorated by different organizations . I feel sure they were much prettier when it was dark..

Hebe Goddess of Youth

Sitting in the center of a street in Jefferson, TX is the beautiful bronze statue. It was given (in 1913) by the children of Jacob and Ernestine Sterne in honor of their Jewish parents who played a big role in the civic and cultural activities of this new town ( 1850's). It was designed where people and animals alike could stop for a refreshing drink.

City Tour

In Jefferson you can take a city tour, and it's not on a large bus....They actually do hitch a mule up to this cart....

Boooo

This is the Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson, Texas. It has been open since 1850 and boasts some impressive names in it's register, and the best orange blossom muffins for two hundred miles! Oscar Wilde, two US presidents, Grant and Hayes and a first lady who grew up nearby, Lady Bird Johnson have all spent the night here.

If you make a reservation be sure you ask for one of the historic rooms (the others are tiny). I have stayed in the Hayes room and it's grand.

Steven Spielberg was a guest back in the 1970's in the Jay Gould room. Rumor has it he was visited by a hotel "spirit" was frightened and checked out before daybreak!

Jefferson

If you ever find yourself in east Texas, stop over in Jefferson. It is a sweet little place with an abundance of restored Victorian homes, many that are B&B's and Inns. It was a river port back in the mid 1800. Barges would come up from New Orleans on the Big Cypress Bayou.The town (like so many others) almost dried up when it was by- passed by the trains later in that century. The Schluter home pictured here is on the ever popular ghost tour...more about that tomorrow

Ann

Attended the one woman play "Ann" last night in Chicago. Ann is Ann Richards the second woman Governor of the state of Texas. This lighthearted portrayal of the strong willed, opinionated , home grown Texas lady was delightfully acted out by talented actress Holland Taylor who also wrote the play.

Breakfast

We are visiting our youngest daughter in Chicago. Katy loves to cook so I was just a "helper" when it came to cooking the huge Thanksgiving meal. To start the day off...she served a delicious, healthy layered baked oatmeal. The bottom layer was sliced bananas..and I lost count after that. I know there were sliced apples, blueberries , oatmeal, maple syrup, and pecans. It sure was good!

Family

Thanksgiving is a time that we all spend with our families...and a time to give thanks. We are enjoying a driving trip across country to spend this special holiday with our daughter Katy and her very tall husband Joe.

Backroads

Tom and I are driving from Texas to Chicago, Illinois...and we are taking our time doing it. Some days you just need to get off of the freeways and roll along the little state highways. The weather wasn't too nice today...so I didn't take very many pictures. I did get him to pull off when I saw this old stone store in northern Arkansas...problem is ...he didn't give me enough time to actually go in!

Empress Eugenie

In the mid 1800's Napoleon III built his wife Eugenie a "beach house" which was really a palace on the beautiful beach in Biarritz, France. Today it is a Grand Hotel.

Breaking Ground!

Had to giggle when I saw this sculpture in the garden of the Hotel de Sully in Paris. I had a mole once in my front yard and it wasn't so funny!

Olive Trees

I don't know why I get so excited when I see an olive tree, but I do. I love nature and we don't have olive trees in my part of the world. This tree was snapped in the cliff side village of LaRoque Gageac, France, which is along the Dordogne River.

The Basque

I am fascinated by the Basque culture...which is alive and well in a pocket of both Spain and France...a land they still consider their own. I read where their physical chacteristists are long straight noses, thick eyebrows, strong chins and long earlobes. These , apparent good friends, were visiting on a harbor bench in Lekeitio, Spain. They agreed to pose for a picture and answered "of course" when asked them if they were Basque!

Coastal Drive

San Sebastian is a small town that has a big city feel on the northwestern coast of Spain... very near the French border. There is a coastal road south of there that is worth the trip.It's a winding road with spectacular views arriving occasionlly at a sleepy fishing port. The way the dramatic cliffs spill into the sea reminds me of the west coast of the USA.

Toujours Chique

This little lady, who up close looked to be in her eighties...was still very stylish and definitely French with her scarf, heels and the very stylish Longchamp purse.

Dinner on the Seine

Though it seemed a bit touristy(especially to my husband) we had dinner cruising along the Seine. We were trying to figure out which starter (appetizer) we wanted to select. The waiter explained to us that we did not need to choose.Each diner gets all five!

Balconies

All of the Basque churches I toured had these beautiful hand hewn wooden balconies along the walls.

Arre'ter!

The first encounter with these signals, for bicycles, was in The Netherlands; where they have so many wonderful bike lanes. I was not expecting to see them in the Basque Country of France.... in the beautiful city of Bayonne.!

Sad?

I snapped this guy in Bayonne, France. He had a sad look about him....maybe he was just lonely?

Not Sure

One of the castles we toured in the Dordogne Valley was Castlenaud. They have locals dressed up in medieval costumes re-createing castle life. I was not sure I liked this. It felt a bit like walking around Disneyworld. But, when we got to the tower, and a beautiful maiden, with a soprano voice and perfect pitch, was singing a heavenly song....I changed my mind.

Dordogne River

I saw several places to rent canoes and kayaks along the Dordogne River, but in the village of La Roque Gageac you could take a boat ride. Flat bottomed boats called gabarres would take you for 8.50 euros on an hour ride past five castles. I took this picture of two gabarres from inside one of them, Castlenaud.

Castles Castles Everywhere

I have seen the castles along the Rhine River in Germany..so I am not sure why I was surprised to see so many along the Dordogne River in France...but I was.

Emblem?

We enjoyed the Basque Country in southwestern France....which also dips down into northern Spain. Lush green mountains meet beautiful white beaches..where locals are again free to speak their own language,Euskara. You feel like you have left France (or Spain) for another country all together! This symbol seemed to be everywhere including on souvenirs ...and I can't seem to find any info on it?

The Boy of Sarlat

This statue sits on a half wall above the main square in Sarlat,France. It is identified in guide books simply as 'The Boy of Sarlat". I do not know who the sculpture was?

Plane Trees

These Plane trees, trimmed for winter (St Jean de Luz, France) are all over southern France. They are a cousin to the American Sycamore tree. Many of these trees were ordered planted by Napoleon to keep his marching troops shaded (especially in Provence).

Oh No!

I guess I am just not a fan of modern art. I saw this exhibit being set up in Jarin des Tuleries in Paris. The guy in the leather coat is the artist. Yes...it is plastic!

Surprised

You can imagine my surprise when a fellow blogger changed the header on her blog. Virginia who has a wonderful blog, Paris Through My Lens. The new picture she featured was one I had just taken days before. Of all of the things to photograph in Paris....I was amazed that we snapped the same picture...and in such an out of the way place!

You Can Smell the Money

In the area to the east of Bordeaux, France there are a lot of vineyards...quaint villages, well heeled and well wheeled people!

Happy Halloween

I thought this scary guy was very apropos for Halloween! It is a sculpture outside of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao,Spain

Bears!

I guess I am missing Colorado, because these bears in Sarlat, France sure caught my eye!

Enjoy Now Pay Later

Which means I will have to do double workouts .... to get rid of all of the wonderful calories....

Walnuts

Foie Gras is not the only product of this area of the Dorgogne, They have walnut orchards everywhere.

Small People

Visited the ruins where cave dwellers lived. They were really short people!

Quack quack

After this I did not order Foie Gras!

Fall

It looks like Fall is here in the Dordogne Valley