La vie est belle!

 Hi everyone, I have another page about one of my favourite cities - Paris.

We walked by the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral on the 14th April 2019 - twenty four hours later we had just got off the Eurostar train and gone for something to eat before moving on to Euston to get home.      I switched my phone on and a news item was showing that this wonderful building was on fire. On the journey home our travelling companion opposite kept showing us images of the burning building - we arrived home and watched TV news in horror as it continued to burn.

By the next morning TV images were showing how much damage had been done. 

A few months later after travelling around part of France and visiting my ex SIL and hubby we were back in Paris for a few more days. We were amazed at the progress already made.

Scaffolding was up and there was lots going on, everything fenced off but open enough to see wooden structures waiting to go in place.

Here is my page

I used some gold paint mixed with texture paste through an Aall and Create stencil - I also rubbed some of the gold paste down the page. Paris is the city of light

I stamped the Darkroom Door Notre Dame image onto some pale yellow paper and fussy cut it then added some designer paper with part of a map of Paris on it - I stamped the image onto the page then overlaid the cut out image so that the lettering was on the page. I added more stamping using Darkroom Door, Artemio, Crafty Individuals and Creative Expressions stamps

Finally a Tim Holtz paper doll couple, many years ago they had married in this cathedral. They too were sad about the tragic event.

I hope to get back to Paris in the Autumn - I wonder how much more of the repair we will see.

I am entering at 

Country View Challenges  - the May theme is 'We Will Always Have Paris'

I am also entering at Art Journal Journey - Elle's theme is 'Language' and I have added lots of French phrases here  - I expect my French will be quite rusty by Autumn.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

More Mixed Media Challenge - Anything Goes - I opted not to use the pink

Have a lovely weekend, the sun is shining here and we are enjoying reading on our balcony.

Thanks for looking, Chris

Cat talk!

Good News! We have now got a new router so hoping I can now speed up a bit and catch up - well I could if we didn't keep going out. Hope to try again tomorrow...meanwhile...please read on

The other night I was preparing our meal when I heard a baby crying, except, as you know from my title it was a cat - a very loud cat, making the strangest noises (as only cats can) while bravely facing up to another cat who was making grumbling noises

They were right below my hallway window so I grabbed my phone and took a few photos. 

By the time I had brought my phone back the cat that is standing was making a little less noise

It gradually moved off but at such a slow pace, step by step this sequence took 3 minutes to get this far (I missed some out - it was very slow with feet being picked up very slowly)

It then bowed it's head and walked off at a slightly quicker pace - as you can see the larger and possibly wiser cat just watched it go and sat where it had been for a little while longer.

Hubby and I tried not to laugh and disturb them but it really was so funny to watch and we would both love to speak cat to find out what the argument was about. 

Here is my page about them - this cat may look rather strange - it is an altered wolf stamp by Lavinia and the look on the cat's face when we first saw it, along with the howling seems to fit! The other cat is also a Lavinia stamp, as are the poppies.

I added lots of Aall and Create washi tape, some of it torn and added some doodling.

This is my latest entry at Art Journal Journey and Elle's 'Language' theme

 Thanks for looking, Chris
 

T stands for - the choice...

Hi everyone, we have a had a few outings over the past week but my favourite was a trip to Biddulph Grange last Thursday. If we had taken heed of the weather forecast we might not have gone but...we had a big umbrella and waterproof coats so off we went.

It was raining a little when we left here to travel the 25 mile trip South and as we got closer it seemed darker and still raining. We got to the car park and the heavens opened. We sat for a while and it seemed to ease so we got out and headed to the cafe for a warming coffee and scone. This is the view from the front of the cafe...  ...and here are our coffees and scones.

Not quite what we were expecting - but tasted good all the same. Of course it is here at the start of our walk that I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands for Tuesday 

The rain wasn't easing much more so we decided to do the short walk.

We took a bit of shelter in the Chinese Garden...

...still raining...

...so, through the gateway...

...and onto the Dragon path...

..a look back at the shelter and the bridge.

The paths were quite wet.

The Tulips had a great backdrop of Wisteria

At this point, just as we were about to take a turn onto the shorter route the rain stopped so we continued onto the longer route.            

A new walkway has been constructed outside the grounds - we need to investigate another time we think!

One of the paths we used to take is now closed

A huge puddle but love the reflection

Looking back towards the cafe

The Pine Walk - we will be back here in June

We took the scenic route to a garden centre before going home (it has a craft shop attached) This looking out over the Staffordshire countryside.

The rain started again as we arrived at the Garden Centre.We had been very lucky!

 We have had rain at some time every day for a few weeks now but the weather forecast is for drier weather over the weekend - hurray!!!

Thanks for looking, Chris