Are We Kissing Goodbye To The Local?

Chateau du Clos Luce

Chateau du Clos Luce - the home of Leonardo da Vinci. Invited to come and live in France by King Francois I, Leonardo da Vinci settled at Le Clos Luce in 1516.  Leonardo da Vinci happily lived in this residence for the last three years of his life, painting and working on his passions.  Leonardo da Vinci creations and his main inventions are displayed in a garden setting - Parc Leonardo da Vinci.  I was amazed and taken away by what I saw.  One word to describe the place "Wow!".

Pomperols Festival, South Of France. Festivals is about the eclectic range of weird and wonderful activities.

Do We

Do we need to make a special effort to enjoy the beauty of the blue sky?  Do we have to practice to be able to enjoy it?  No, we just enjoy it.  Each second, each minute of our lives can be like this.  Wherever  we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other. We don’t need to go abroad to enjoy the blue sky.  We don’t have to travel to enjoy the sunshine.  We can be in touch with these things  right now.

Author Unknown

‘The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of Right just before you.  Do not grasp at  the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.’

Robert Louis Stevenson  (1850 - 1894)

Cite de l'Automobile National Museum, Mulhouse, France.It contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Bugatti motor vehicles in the world.  Brothers Hans and Fritz Schlumpf built the Bugatti collection obsessively and quickly. During the summer of 1960, they acquired ten Bugattis, including two Type 57s and one Type 46 5-litre model. In addition the pair found three Rolls-Royces, two Hispano-Suizas and one Tatra. By the end of the summer, they had purchased 40 cars.  An impressive collection of cars!

Taking Time To Just Be

Look to the day!  For it is life, the very life of life.  In its brief course lie all the varieties and realities of your existence: the bliss of growth, the glory of action. the splendour of beauty.  For yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision but today, well-lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.  Look well, therefore, to this day! Such is the salutation of the dawn.

FROM THE SANSKRIT

Chateau de La Ferte Saint-Aubin.  Part 2.

The Sitting Room.  The paneling, floor and chimney date back to Louis XVI (late 18th century).  The room includes an 18th century Persian carpet, a pair of gilded wooden consoles and furniture covered in Aubusson tapestries dating back to Louis XVI.  The large mirror on the left has a medallion portrait of Marshal de la Ferte Senectere painted in 1670, with a portrait of Duchess de la Ferte Senectere, his second wife, painted by Mignard in the 17th century, facing it on the mirror above the chimney.The Billiard Room.  This room was entirely redecorated by the O'Gormans around 1911.  It had originally been a bedroom with 18th century paneling.  The room has a beautiful set of neo-gothic furniture brought back from Britain by the O'Gormans, each piece featuring their arms and motto.  The billiard table comes from the Chevillottess in Orleans.

Bold, Vivid Colours

There’s no better time to wrap up in your favourite wolly jumper, put on your walking boots and get a deep breath of the great outdoors.

Bold, Vivid Colours