News From France

Karin Taylor, Artist... Welcome to her world of colour!

2013-02-04T14:00:00.001Z

Art by Karin Taylor

Karin, who hails from Australia, began her her work as an artist in 2002. As she states on her blog, her journey began as she was "exploring the world of mixed media" and taking her time "to develop the style and nature of the artist" she was to become.

Her art is so full of colour, joie de vivre, and life that it really makes you feel like jumping into the picture and savoring each brush stroke of detail. As soon as I saw her art, it made me feel happy and light, like a cloud. I began to look for more of her artwork on the internet and stumbled upon her website. Please have a look here (Karin Taylor on Redbubble) to learn more about Karin, the artist and her lively and animated artwork.

All of the artwork below is Karin's and there is a link to her page on Redbubble at the bottom of this post. Please take some time to check out her page, because she has sooo many beautiful pieces. She even has calendars, as well variety of cards, prints, t-shirts and other items that are available for purchase. Not only do her items make wonderful gifts to your yourself, but also to your friends and family, so that you can share her beautiful artwork with others around you! HERE is the link to her shop.

You can also find Karin here on Tumblr and see more of her lovely and AMAZING artwork....

And on FACEBOOK here.

You can view her art on her website on this page: PORTFOLIO.

This one is my FAVOURITE!

Cadlemas Day... The Origin of Groundhog Day...

2013-02-02T07:44:00.002Z

Sited from this page here.

Candlemas Day (the Christian festival of lights )

2nd February is Candlemas Day.

This ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox.

Candlemas is a traditional Christian festival that commemorates the ritual purification of Mary forty days after the birth of her son Jesus. On this day, Christians remember the presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple. Forty days after the birth of a Jewish boy, it was the custom to take him to the temple in Jerusalem to be presented to God by his thankful parents.

In pre-Christian times, this day was known as the 'Feast of Lights' and celebrated the increase strength of the life-giving sun as winter gave way to spring.

How did the 2nd February come to be called Candlemas?

It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them - so it was the Festival Day (or 'mass') of the Candles.
Candles were important in those days not only because there was no electric lights. Some people thought they gave protection against plague and illness and famine. For Christians, they were (and still are) a reminder of something even more important. Before Jesus came to earth, it was as if everyone was 'in the dark'. People often felt lost and lonely. Afraid. As if they were on their own, with no one to help them. Then came Jesus with his message that he is with his followers always ready to help and comfort them. As if he is a guiding light to them in the darkness. Christians often talk of Jesus as 'the light of the World' - and candles are lit during church services to remind Christians of this.

Candlemas is a day which holds many different customs.

The Romans had a custom of lighting candles to scare away evil spirits in the winter.

One of the most interesting custom took place in Scotland. In the olden days, Candlemas was the day when children brought candles to school so that the classrooms could have light on dull days. As time went on, gas lighting took over from candle light. The children took money to the teacher who was suppose to spend it on sweets and cakes for the children to eat. The boy or girl taking in the most money were declared Candlemas King and Queen and they 'ruled' for six weeks. They had the power to make one whole afternoon a week a playtime and they could also let anyone they wished off punishment.

Other names for Candlemas Day

Candlemas's Day also has two other names. One is the 'Presentation of Christ in the Temple'. The other is the 'Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary'. Both these names come from special events in the life of baby Jesus.

Candlemas Day Weather-lore, beliefs and sayings

People believe that Candlemas Day predicted the weather for the rest of the winter. The weather proverbs express the idea that a fine bright sunny Candlemas day means that there is more winter to come, whereas a cloudy wet stormy Candlemas day means that the worst of winter is over.

Weather Proverbs

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again.
If Candlemas Day be dry and fair,
The half o the winter's to come and mair;
If Candlemas Day be wet and foul,
The half o the winter's gane at Yule.

Farmer's Proverbs

'A farmer should, on Candlemas Day,
Have half his corn and half his hay.'
'On Candlemas Day if the thorns hang adrop,
You can be sure of a good pea crop.'

German Proverb.

" The badger peeps out of his hole on Candlemas Day,
and, if he finds snow, walks abroad; but if he sees the sun shining he draws back into his hole."

In America the same story is told about the groundhog or woodchuck.

Candlemas Superstitions

A candle which drips on one side when carried in church on Candlemas, denotes a death during the year of someone dear.

Snowdrops are considered to be unlucky if brought into the house before Candlemas Day, representing a parting or death.

Any Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night (January 5th) should be left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down.

Le Chandeleur/Candlemas

2013-02-02T07:40:00.002Z

The History and Traditions of “La Chandeleur”

From this site - Here.

Candlemas like many celebrations around the nativity is related to the light but also to purification, fertility and prosperity. The word "Chandeleur" comes precisely from candelarum, candle in Latine, according to a tradition of lighting candles at midnight as a symbol of purification In Roman times, Candlemas was celebrated from February 2-15, to honor the god of fertility Lupercus during the Lupercalia. It was a rite of purification

The Celts celebrated Imbolc on February 1st. This ritual honored the goddess Brigit, celebrating the purification and fertility at the end of winter. Peasants carrying torches roamed the fields and moving in procession, praying the goddess to purify the soil before sowing.

Pope Gelasius I in the 5th century replaced the old pagan rite of Lupercalia, a rite of light by a legacy of Roman religious festival, with the festival of Candlemas. One part of the ritual which finds its origin in a Hebrew traditionl was that a first boy born had to be presented to the Lord by his mother, 40 days after birth, with an offering of two doves. The rite observed by the Holy Family is described in the Bible.

In churches, torches are replaced by blessed candles to push away evil and recalls that Christ is the light of the world. The Christians then bring the candles at home to protect their homes.

La Chandeleur, Crêpe Day

At that time of the year, when Candelmas was celebrated, winter planting was beginning. So people used the surplus of flour to make “crêpes”, a symbol of prosperity for the coming year! It is said that Pope Gelasius I, which Christianized Candlemas, comforted the pilgrims arriving in Rome with “crêpes”.The shape and the color of the “crêpes” evokes the sun. Indeed “crêpes” are golden discs like the sun. Therefore, the Chandeleur has become with the years, the day of “crêpes”. It is especially loved by children. The tradition is that “the cook has to skip the “crêpes with a gold coin in hand (a Louis d’Or). If he succeeds, his house will be prospering all year long. Another custom, which is much less common, is to take the first “crêpe” and put it in the closet!

The most important remains to share good time with friends and family, around a greatly loved specialty: the crêpes, which should of course be homemade!

Recipe

Perfect “Crepes” without lumps: Ingredients (10/15 crepes):
300 g flour
3 eggs
3 / 4 liter of milk
3 tablespoons oil Key steps: Beat the eggs. Mix the flour with the salt and make a well in center. Add eggs and mix with a whip. Add the milk gradually, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Whip vigorously. If the batter has lumps, the mix or pass through a fine sieve. Let it rest about 15 minutes It is ready! Now comes the hard part of cooking it

Heat a nonstickpan. Rub the bottom of your pan with oiled paper towel or put a small piece of butter. Pour a little bit of the dough in the bottom of the pan with a small ladle, turn the pan to evenly distribute the dough into a homogeneous disk. Cook the pancake on one side. Loosen the edges of the crepe and then return it. Cook it on the new side and then put it on a plate. You can add salty things like ham eggs and cheese. If you put all those things together in a crepe, it is called a crepe “complete”. You can also fill it with sweet ingredients like jam, sugar, honey or mapple syrup. One of the best sweet crêpes is with salted butter, sugar and lemon!

Happy Groundhog Day!

2013-02-02T07:32:00.004Z

So, while Punxsatauney Phil sleeps peacefully in Pennsylvania... I'm already on the morning of Groundhog Day... and at 8:30 a.m. it's very, very cloudy and gray, so NO SHADOW folks!

YAYYY!! This means that SPRING IS ON ITS WAY!!!

Happy New Year 2013

2013-01-07T13:34:00.001Z

Cleansing the AURA and letting ONLY light shine out...

2013-01-07T13:31:00.000Z

Coming full circle-- ZEN!

This year, my resolution is to stay on the straight path to POSITIVE thinking and rise above all the negativity/negative forces around me.. This year--- I will NOT succomb! I will let NO negativity -
people or things- darken my doorstep! I only want the good!

Sooooo... I have resumed my YOGA practice and meditation in a serious and conscious way... and I am paying attention to the light and energy from within...

Namaste and Happy New Year to you All!!

Epiphany in France et la Galette des Rois

2013-01-07T13:25:00.001Z

I totally forgot to post about this grande fete in France-- It's the EPIPHANY, the day when the Three Wise Men came to visit the new Baby Jesus and to bestow him with gifts. The galette is a tradition here in France as well as the gateau des rois, which is more traditionally eaten in the south of France... and is a brioche, not a galette. So, here is mine for this year.. it was VERY VERY YUMMY- to the last crumb... We had our galette On Friday evening with Animesh and Ajali, because Anjali was leaving on Sunday. I found the feve, or little cute favor in my slice, but passed it over to Anjali, so she could be crowned QUEEN! It was all great fun!

Going ZEN in 2013... SOUL SEARCHING!

2013-01-01T09:12:00.005Z

HAPPPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

I am honestly HAPPY to ring in a BRAND NEW YEAR today.. HONESTLY, these past two years have been the most challenging ones I've passed through since my mom was sick and departed in 2005!

I am soo grateful for my dear friends and my hubby who have helped me get through this very difficult and transitional time.. I don't know what I would have done without all the moral support I got from everyone.

Over the past few months... I have decided to make some big changes in my life, in my physche' and to do a realllly thorough cleaning- my spiritual house and my heart, in particular... so that I can really be
content, happy and at peace with my life.

So, I will take the New Year and make it mine- and I will start my mission today- as it's the first day of the New Year.. to devote time to be more Zen and peaceful. To live in the moment, in the NOW and to utilize my inner strength to get things accomplished throughout my day.

I am grateful. I express my gratitude to a positive energy force that is bubbling up within me and I am ready!

So, as we start a New Year--- I wish you all much PEACE and HARMONY in your hearts, in your lives.... as you go out in your day.... May this NEW YEAR bring you what you need to be strong and full of LOVE.

Satnam/Namaste.
Leesa

Rainbow Cheesecake ....

2012-12-19T06:53:00.000Z

Happily brought to you via THE FOOD PUSHER... OMG! I must try this!!!

Here's the link for the RECIPE..... HERE

*Photo on post via the blog- The Food Pusher.. Not my photo.

Me as Psy... Gangnam Style.. Whoopem!

2012-12-17T01:09:00.002Z

Whoopem Gangnam Style...

Me, Mom and Dad...

2012-12-08T14:42:00.000Z

10 THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE!

2012-12-03T10:23:00.000Z

I just found this blog "PEPPER VINTAGE" this morning and loved this post... "10 Things that make me Smile." So, I decided to write a post about 10 things that make me smile, too... I noticed that the author of the blog, Christine, and I have a lot in common!

First up!

1. COFFEE --- Coffee, no matter what time of the day - and it has to be REALLLY good coffee, too!

The funny thing is that I live in a country that is renowned for good coffee, yet; it's not EVERYWHERE I go in Paris, where I find good coffee... It's always fun to hunt for the "perfect" cup of coffee!

2. French people carrying the baguettes - No matter what day or what time of day, but especially around lunch time, you will see the people walking around with their baguettes, usually tucked under their arm, and perhaps biting off the end as they are walking. Whenever I see people walking around with the baguettes, it makes me smile, and sometimes laugh... because it's soo exclusively French! I have been to many different countries, but France is the only country I've been to where people walk around with their daily bread and nibble as they go! The problem with nibbling on your baguette, especially if it's hot out of the oven, is that there is no guarantee that the bread will make it home!

3. Kids and babies! Kids are sooo cute, they make me smile. They say and do the funniest things and they are so candid and real!

4. SUNSHINE! Sunshine is one of the things I need most in my life. Plus blue skies. I am from California, Southern California- the LAND OF ETERNAL SUNSHINE! So, it's only normal for me to want and crave sunshine. It puts me in a happy, sing-songy mood and I smile all day long when the sun is shining! Long live the SUNSHINE!

5. PINK!!! Need I say more?! Anything pink perks me up and makes me happy. Pink IS "HAPPY"!

6. Smiley faces and Friendly people... Nothing makes me smile more than when someone smiles at me first! It just makes me day soooo much brighter!! SMILES ROCK!!!

7. MUSIC! Music makes me SMILE and come alive! I LOVE Music!!!! Music is the LAUGHTER of the SOUL! Laughter is the Music of the Soul.

8. Cupcakes and any type of cake or pastry or pie that is BEAUTIFUL! YUMMMM! It makes me smile!

9. Thinking about California.... makes me smile! I miss my sunny city in So. Cal.... EVERYTHING about it and especially my friends!

10. Dance! Whenever I dance, I smile... it makes me feel soooo good to dance and move around while listening to my favourite music!

Well, there you have it! The top ten things that make me smile! What makes you smile? It's such a great topic for a blog post.... if you have time, do it.. And drop me a line with the link so I can check it out..

Have an OUTSTANDING WEEK!!!

CELEBRATING MOM- HER WONDERFUL LIFE!

2012-11-30T09:12:00.003Z

My mom is gone but she's always in my heart. She is not near, yet not far... she lives within me.

Seven years ago today, my mom took her last breaths and left this world. We were all with her and she is at Peace now. I will see here again, one day!

Me and my mom!

I post these pictures to share my wonderful mom with all of you...

My mom was an inspirational woman, a unique individual; full of genuine humor and full of life and love.

Mom sewed her own outfits and was a fashionita of her time-- Pics from the early through mid 60s.

Mom was a beautiful women- her true beauty from inside shone loudly on the outside, as well.

Pics from the 70s up to the 2005.

This is one of my fav. pics of Mom because her smile was the essence of who she was...

Mom left us too early in life, but I don't think one is ever prepared to loss a loved one, no time is a good time... We've continued living our lives as Mom would have wanted us too, but we can't forget this incredible and amazing woman who had a very special way about her- a way that could light up any dark room she walked into...

My Mom! My mom is Louise. My mom is beautiful, loving and kind. My mom is brave, strong and inspirational. My mom is special to me because she gave birth to me on Nov. 28, 1965. She nurtured me and raised me to be the special woman I am today. She supported me, put up with me, listened to me, gave me good advice, and loved me unconditionally. She was always kind and funny!! I LOVE my mom very much....

Dear Mom,

I wanted to let you know how much I miss you and that I think about you all the time... day and night! It's so hard to be without your beautiful smile, loving words, and warm hugs. You live on in my thoughts and in my heart. You are everything to me. You are the best mom EVER and you have always been there for me. I LOVE YOU!

Celebrating MANDA!

2012-11-26T09:57:00.000Z

The Beautiful and Talented Manda Djinn Loisin

Manda singing at the Swann Bar in Montparnasse

Me n' Manda together in Montparnasse....

It was one year ago that my dear and cherished friend, Manda Djinn Loison, said good bye.

Her sudden and unexpected passing came at a time when I had already lost two friends the previous month and the news of her passing really hit me hard. Two days after Thanksgiving.. and a few days just before the anniversary of my Mom's passing...

Manda was a dear friend of mine. She was my first American friend in Paris, in fact. We met on Myspace, of all places... and became real life friends soon afterwards. She was a ray of bright and beautiful sunshine in my life. She was a talented jazz and gospel singer with a TRULY AMAZING voice... She had a smile that made you smile ... and a laugh that made you laugh. She and I spent many a time discussing our lives in Paris as ex-Pats, as well as many other things... I always felt I could be myself around her-- and we made each other laugh and laugh!

I feel very fortunate and blessed to have had her in my life for 5 years.. and I miss her very much. I feel that her presence is very close to me, and I can often her her voice - talking, singing or laughing - in my mind. I love you Manda and I miss you dearly!

Just desserts!!!

2012-11-24T08:13:00.001Z

Something pretty to look at after all that food you all gobbled down for Thanksgiving! Many of you are working on LEFTOVERS--- which, in my opinion, is the SECOND BEST part of Thanksgiving...

It's like saying, "Yeh, it's no longer Thanksgiving, but we've got PLENTY of LEFTOVERS to last a few days after the fact! GOTTA LOVE IT!!

Hope you all made it through the BLACKEST DAY OF THE YEAR! Did anyone go out and fight the crowds?

Living in France, there's nothing to celebrate until Christmas comes.. and the big sales are in the month of January.. So, I'd like to hear if you all in the States did anything fun and remarkable..

Have a great weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving Day and MOM!!!

2012-11-22T11:19:00.001Z

Dear Friends and Fam...

Today is THANKSGIVING DAY!! WHOOOO HOOO!!

Well, this is my ALL TIME FAV. AMERICAN HOLIDAY because we get time off from work/school to be with the family all day and eat a LOT!!!

Yet, this holiday now brings mixed feelings- It was my MOM'S fav. holiday and she's no longer here in the physical sense.. and so, I can't celebrate with her... and also my family is all spread out now, a little all over the world and so Thanksgiving is no longer the same 'family' holiday it once was! This is really hard for me.

I have been living in France now for almost 6 1/2 years and have continued to observe and celebrate this wonderful American/Canadian tradition every year... whether with a big group of people or just a few... It's always been fantastic and always PLENTY of food to go around, and then some.

Thanksgiving Day is a very, very special day to me and I would really like to give thanks to my wonderful and loving husband, Alex.... and to all my friends here in France.. I don't know what I'd do without all of them.. except that maybe I'd be in California- instead of here- haha!

I am very, very THANKFUL for my loving and dear family and also all of my cherished friends!

You all have made my life a wonderful so FANTASTIC and have enriched it! I am just so blessed and fortunate to have you all here- and especially to all of you I have met through blogging here- or whether we haven't actually met in person, I am thankful for all of you!

Have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

**ALL photos and images where taken from the internet.

Almost my b-day!

2012-11-19T05:49:00.003Z

So, my b-day is approaching in just a week and a half and here's is what I asked my hubby for...

It's a reallllly nice fragrance and I am in love with the ads...

Guerlain, La Petite Robe Noire..

Coffee, it does the morning GOOD!

2012-11-15T07:37:00.001Z

Live in the moment... in Peace.

2012-11-08T15:07:00.003Z

I may have been broken.... but I'm still BEAUTIFUL

2012-11-08T14:41:00.001Z

Teresa (The Road to ME) on Facebook wrote this.. It really hits home...

I've been there...rock bottom, the darkest place imaginable. A place where I didn't even want to know myself, look at myself, see myself.
Really didn't like the person I was.

In the past year I've been slowly rebuilding myself...little bit
by little bit, that mosaic we spoke of, the 1000,000 piece jigsaw... am slowly picking up the pieces and I'm really starting to like what I see.

Others always have liked me... mostly :)
It has been me, a self loathing that has taken me quite some time to recover from.

The road to ME....the journey to me, the NEW me, and the people, and places and discoveries I have made, and am STILL making...they have all helped to SHOW me,

That yes, though I have been broken...

I'm still worthy, useful, and by damn...YES
I AM STILL BEAUTIFUL ♥

Photos taken from Teresa's FB page, The road to ME

ELECTION DAY - Nov. 6, 2012

2012-11-08T12:43:00.000Z

SOOOO HAPPPY that the DEMOCRATIC PARTY has won the PRESIDENCY this year ....

Regardless of your political views... Americans all around the world... It's really time to join together and stand UNITED and PROUD!

Wishing you all a FABULOUS DAY!!!!

2012-11-08T12:40:00.000Z

BlogBlast For PEACE November 4, 2012

2012-11-03T20:41:00.001Z

TODAY is the long awaited for BLOGBLAST FOR PEACE! The day that bloggers all around the blogosphere write about peace and what it means to them personally.

Wikipedia defines PEACE as such: "Peace describes a society or a relationship that is operating harmoniously and without violent conflict. Peace is commonly understood as the absence of hostility, or the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, safety in matters of social or economic welfare, the acknowledgment of equality and fairness in political relationships. In international relations, peacetimeis the absence of any war or conflict."

It's a great notion, isn't it? '

Yet so hard to get it right in this world! I don't understand, and have never understood, for that matter WHY 'peace' is so hard to attain on a universal level-- on a societal level, for that matter? I often ask myself, "Why can't we just all live in peace and harmony, and that's that? No more wars and killing, no more fighting and name calling, no more hostility and anger or vengeance against one another... It makes no sense to me that we have to live in a world were people are mean, disrespectful, apathetic and uncaring towards each other, right?

I don't know if the world is ready for PEACE in totality, but I sure am... and I try to spread my little piece of peace every day as I go out into the world by smiling and greeting people around me.

I think that as we do little things on an individual level, it all works together for the common good and that every step we take in the direction of love, respect, caring, and kindness for our fellow human being next to us, we make a little dent in the dark aspect of all that is negative...

We can let our positive energy flow out and around us to make others smile, to brighten someone's day... to chase all those bad energy vibes far away.

This is how I find peace in my life, in my day... and try to spread it to others around me. I know that I'm not always perfect and the positive vibes are not always rolling off me, but I try! And, for every time I see a smile on someone's face as I walk past them, I know that the world is already becoming a better place, because a sweet smile goes a long way towards finding the PEACE at the other end of the rainbow.

Please think about what I've said here today and as you go out and live your day among those around you, and try to spread a little PEACE around you, too!

Namaste and have a peaceful day!

DONA NOBIS PACEM

2012-11-03T20:38:00.000Z

I'm always so happy when this day comes around because it's a day in the year in our lives where the blogospere is hopping with PEACE!! Peace and Goodwill, Peace all around.. Peace is in the air and under our skin! I can feel it all now!!!

Peace be upon you all... On this day and every day!

Blogblast for Peace Day is a very important one and I am always striving to get in touch with my own- INNER PEACE, to be AT PEACE within my own skin, so that I can be at PEACE with others around me.

I find that I am very challenged by others around me and the negative forces and things I cannot control.. and this year, I'm going to make a very conscious effort to be more ZEN and to get back to the basic core of being peaceful from within-- something my soul has been without for over a year now... Not only was last year a SUPER CHALLENGING one for me, but this one has been, too..

So, I am going to really work hard at getting myself back ... to find my 'peace' and to share it with others!!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL OF YOU FOR YOU SUPPORT, LOVE and ENCOURAGEMENT-- I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for my loved ones- family and friends! Even in times where I have been abandoned by those who I thought were my true friends, I have encountered others in my life who have proved to be there and real for me- and who have accepted me for who I am and without judging me... I appreciate this greatly and I know that people are put in our path and in our life for a reason!

So, in closing- in this very long written post about PEACE on this DAY FOR PEACE, I have shared with all of you a very up close and personal account of how the PEACE that comes from within us is SOOOOO important to have in order to be peaceful with others- to love, respect and appreciate others around us.

HAPPY BLOGBLAST FOR PEACE DAY and thank you Mimi for getting us all together here to join together in PeAcE aNd HaRmOnY!!!!

Namaste!

Happpppppy Halloween.. and Happy Haunting to you ALL

2012-10-30T21:58:00.003Z

Well, it's been a long while, I know...

I'm off to LONDON tomorrow a.m. very early... my FAVOURITE CITY in the UK, in all of Europe, for that matter...

Going with my friend, Mithra for a long deserved GET AWAY from all... YAYYY!!!!

So, I leave you with Happy Halloween wishes...