11, Quai aux Fleurs, Ile de la Cite, Paris
I'm transcribing the last of La Jolie Grandmere's stories. This is the famed Thornton Wilder story, how she met and formed a life-long friendship with the acclaimed playwright and story teller. It's taking me a long time to copy as I have to stop frequently to decipher her handwriting.
Right now I am reading about how she renovated a flat in Paris that hadn't been used since the Middle Ages. This is typical of my grandmother. She always took on monster projects such as this. Her apartment was at 11 Quai aux Fleurs on Ile de la Cite, overlooking Notre Dame in Paris.
She stayed at a hotel about 20 minutes away while the renovations were taking place. She would go every morning to quickly check in with and oversee the workers at her flat before returning to her hotel for breakfast. This was a typical morning:
"My workmen arrived at 7:30 am and never missed a day. I was there to greet them, have a chat and discuss the work. I was living at the Hotel Crillion in Place de la Concorde, a twenty minute taxi ride away. I would pile out of bed still groggy with sleep, hike my nightgown up into a belt, put on my mink coat, then another belt, smash on a big hat, don some sunglasses and so with no makeup I was ready in minutes to go downstairs, get into a cab and arrive at the apartment in time to organize my work force while the cab waited. Then I got back in the cab and headed back to the hotel and got back into bed and rang for breakfast."
As I was typing I had a sudden urge to return to Paris. It's not in the least bit possible for me to hop on board a plane and fly over, but I did locate a photo album I had made when I honeymooned there 13 years ago.
We went in the middle of June. Paris is in full bloom and in her splendor. Except for that year. There was, I'm afraid, more rain than sun, but we enjoyed ourselves tremendously anyhow.
I had fun taking a break from typing to look through pictures of Paris!
Our Hotel, L'Hotel du Louvre
We could see right into the museum from our bedroom! I kept looking for thieves in the night!
Notre Dame...
I can't remember, but this might be the view from La Jolie Grandmere's flat, 11 Quai aux Fleurs
I can't remember, but this might be the view from La Jolie Grandmere's flat, 11 Quai aux Fleurs
This cafe was near our hotel
Here we are in the Champs Elysees... we got totally scammed! Some "photographer" took a Polaroid of us and charged us the equivalent of $10 for it. Of course we had to buy the picture!
I love this photo I took of the Arc de Triomphe!
We stopped to have coffee at our local cafe one day and this gentleman was thoroughly enjoying his ice cream. We were sitting a good distance away so I put on my zoom lens and took this photo!
"Winged Victory," Le Louvre, Paris
Venus de Milo, Le Louvre, Paris
I was completely enthralled with the old and the new at the Louvre
La Musee d'Orsay, Paris
We had dinner on a Bateau Mouche one night. It was a blast! Here I am wearing the outfit my mother's dressmaker in Newport made me. It's a white raw silk shit with a cropped white silk jacket which is hard to tell in this picture. Very Jackie O, n'est ce pas? I still wear these from time to time!
A collage of my photography
I'm standing over the underpass where a few short months later Princess Diana would be tragically killed.
One of the most beautiful places just outside of Paris, Giverny
(You can't tell in the picture, but I am wearing my Tretorns!)
Monet's house and gardens were truly breath-taking!
From Paris we took the Chunnel under the English Channel to London where we visited with La Jolie Grandmere and Larry. Our last couple of days were spent at Wimbledon. Unfortunately more time was spent in the members enclosure due to the terrible rains. Our Pimm's kept us happy! My grandfather, Larry, was the only American to be granted a full membership without having won the coveted championship. Yes, I did realize what a treat it was to be with them there.
This was the view from my bedroom, and my bathroom,
chez La Jolie Grandmere in Great Haseley, Oxfordshire
chez La Jolie Grandmere in Great Haseley, Oxfordshire
And lastly, this is for my little sis, the wonderful Queen Bee Swain...
because I know how much she loves the Sunday Styles Section.
My announcement appeared in the Newport Daily News, Providence Journal,
The New York Times and other small publications.
(I have sent QBS the actual announcement, but wish to maintain anonymity here on the blog.)
because I know how much she loves the Sunday Styles Section.
My announcement appeared in the Newport Daily News, Providence Journal,
The New York Times and other small publications.
(I have sent QBS the actual announcement, but wish to maintain anonymity here on the blog.)