Earlier in the week, I took pictures of him sleeping in his new bassinet, which goes onto his stroller, essentially making it into a carriage.
More additions to Grandma's Brag Book later...
Location:Home, Montreal, Quebec
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Friday afternoon with Baby Elliott!
These pictures were taken when Elliott was nearly 4 weeks old on Friday, October 21st. I was trying to keep him awake for a little while after nursing, which was quite a task! He was propped up in the nursing pillow that Jen uses.
Earlier in the week, I took pictures of him sleeping in his new bassinet, which goes onto his stroller, essentially making it into a carriage.
More additions to Grandma's Brag Book later...
Earlier in the week, I took pictures of him sleeping in his new bassinet, which goes onto his stroller, essentially making it into a carriage.
More additions to Grandma's Brag Book later...
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Leeds Castle
Backing up just a bit, this is the location where Pat attended his quarterly GOLT meetings with Coty management, known as "the most beautiful castle in the world". It was indeed quite lovely, surrounded by rolling countryside, grazing animals, a full moat with black swans, ducks, etc. It is currently quite a tourist attraction and the day I arrived, September 29th, it was very crowded due to the continuing hot, sunny weather. Vicky kindly drove me there from Chelmsford, about an hour south and across the Thames River. With a little help from the parking attendant, we we able to bring her car closer to the castle itself and found out that Pat was to move rooms into one which was formerly part of the stable.
The castle was built by a Norman baron in the reign of William the Conqueror's son Henry I, on an island in the River Len. For many centuries, it was a royal residence before becoming the private home of an American heiress, the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie. It was she who ensured the castle would be managed by the Leeds Castle Foundation and enjoyed by visitors from around the world. One of the more famous residents was Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who used it as a royal palace. The Coty management team enjoyed a dinner in Henry VIII's dining room!
Our room was located in the upper floor of the brick building in the background, overlooking a lovely English garden.
A black swan near the Aviary:
Then a falconry display in the afternoon:
The maze (that was tricky!)
The castle tour:
Inner courtyard and fountain:
The Chapel, featuring a 15th century tapestry depicting The Adoration of the Magi:
The Seminar Room, used in 1978 for the initial talks in the Camp David Accords, with Lady Baillie's collection of impressionist paintings:
Lady Baillie's bedroom:
Catherine of Aragon's bedroom:
Yellow drawing room:
Thorpe Hall drawing room:
Setting sun on the front of the castle:
What a lovely spot to end our week in the UK! Don't miss this beautiful castle if you are ever in Kent!
More later...
The castle was built by a Norman baron in the reign of William the Conqueror's son Henry I, on an island in the River Len. For many centuries, it was a royal residence before becoming the private home of an American heiress, the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie. It was she who ensured the castle would be managed by the Leeds Castle Foundation and enjoyed by visitors from around the world. One of the more famous residents was Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who used it as a royal palace. The Coty management team enjoyed a dinner in Henry VIII's dining room!
Our room was located in the upper floor of the brick building in the background, overlooking a lovely English garden.
A black swan near the Aviary:
Then a falconry display in the afternoon:
The maze (that was tricky!)
The castle tour:
Inner courtyard and fountain:
The Chapel, featuring a 15th century tapestry depicting The Adoration of the Magi:
The Seminar Room, used in 1978 for the initial talks in the Camp David Accords, with Lady Baillie's collection of impressionist paintings:
Lady Baillie's bedroom:
Catherine of Aragon's bedroom:
Yellow drawing room:
Thorpe Hall drawing room:
Setting sun on the front of the castle:
What a lovely spot to end our week in the UK! Don't miss this beautiful castle if you are ever in Kent!
More later...
Location:Kent, England
Wandering in Paris October 4, 2011
Pat's Coty meetings began at the Novotel on Monday morning, so after coffee and a pain aux raisins at a nearby patisserie, I took the Metro to the Bastille to pick up some Nikon accessories for his camera. From there I walked along the Seine and over to the Latin Quarter. Another nice day for the most part, still lots of tourists in the city but a lovely place to wander and explore.
A bridge close to the Notre Dame Basilica holds padlocks, similar to a part of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, which we've seen before. I think the premise is that whoever leaves one there will return to the city on another visit to remove it!
A visit to Paris isn't complete without a visit to the quirky English book store, Shakespeare and Company, located across from Notre Dame. Always busy and full of books of all sorts!
In the Latin Quarter, the Arenes de Lutece, where Roman gladiators fought wild animals in the first century, AD. Today men play boules and children from a neighbouring school came for their run around the outside edge.
This cafe was closed when I walked by, but coming from La Belle Province, I was a little intrigued! Does anyone know it?
A pretty square, so typical in the Paris suburbs:
A plaque on the home where Hemingway lived, 74 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine
Rue Mouffetard
Open-air market at the bottom of the Rue Mouffetard
Paris Mosque in the Latin Quarter
The very popular tea room in the front courtyard of the Mosque
A selection of Moroccan-style pastries available at the tea-room...I enjoyed a sugared almond crescent with a glass of sweetened mint tea.
The inside dining room at the Mosque
More later...
A bridge close to the Notre Dame Basilica holds padlocks, similar to a part of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy, which we've seen before. I think the premise is that whoever leaves one there will return to the city on another visit to remove it!
A visit to Paris isn't complete without a visit to the quirky English book store, Shakespeare and Company, located across from Notre Dame. Always busy and full of books of all sorts!
In the Latin Quarter, the Arenes de Lutece, where Roman gladiators fought wild animals in the first century, AD. Today men play boules and children from a neighbouring school came for their run around the outside edge.
This cafe was closed when I walked by, but coming from La Belle Province, I was a little intrigued! Does anyone know it?
A pretty square, so typical in the Paris suburbs:
A plaque on the home where Hemingway lived, 74 rue du Cardinal-Lemoine
Rue Mouffetard
Open-air market at the bottom of the Rue Mouffetard
Paris Mosque in the Latin Quarter
The very popular tea room in the front courtyard of the Mosque
A selection of Moroccan-style pastries available at the tea-room...I enjoyed a sugared almond crescent with a glass of sweetened mint tea.
The inside dining room at the Mosque
More later...
More wandering...The Golden Triangle area
The day started with a visit to the very lovely Marmottan Monet Museum at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. I joined two American ladies from The South, who were also looking for the museum. The house itself was beautiful inside and very well maintained, unlike the Musee Rodin. Ongoing construction will result in a garden cafe on the first floor by the end of the winter. The basement was full of Monet's work, many in the Water Lily series, so soft and calming to admire. Definitely a place to return to another time! From there, I went by Metro to the Musee Jacquemart-Andre on Blvd Hausmann for lunch:
The inner courtyard:
The cafe-always busy with local Parisians and always food-check out the decor!
I chose the set menu of quiche and salad and a choice of one of their delicious pastries, today it was a heavenly apricot tart! About €16.
My walk back to our hotel took me across the Champs-Élysées:
And down Av Montaigne
Past the Canadian Embassy
And the posh Spa Hotel Plaza Athenee
I tried to visit the American Cathedral but it was closed to visitors as the receptionist wasn't there.
On Av. George V, part of The Golden Mile of high end stores:
The Golden Flame statue by the Pont d'Alma, where people leave tributes to Princess Diana. The tunnel in which she was killed lies below.
My landmark back to the Novotel! Hard to get lost in Paris!
An international photo display along the Seine, part of the temporary exhibits of the Musee Quai Branly:
And finally, past the merry-go-round by the Eiffel Tower:
One more day in Paris...the weather is changing, Fall is on its way!
Stay tuned...
The inner courtyard:
The cafe-always busy with local Parisians and always food-check out the decor!
I chose the set menu of quiche and salad and a choice of one of their delicious pastries, today it was a heavenly apricot tart! About €16.
My walk back to our hotel took me across the Champs-Élysées:
And down Av Montaigne
Past the Canadian Embassy
And the posh Spa Hotel Plaza Athenee
I tried to visit the American Cathedral but it was closed to visitors as the receptionist wasn't there.
On Av. George V, part of The Golden Mile of high end stores:
The Golden Flame statue by the Pont d'Alma, where people leave tributes to Princess Diana. The tunnel in which she was killed lies below.
My landmark back to the Novotel! Hard to get lost in Paris!
An international photo display along the Seine, part of the temporary exhibits of the Musee Quai Branly:
And finally, past the merry-go-round by the Eiffel Tower:
One more day in Paris...the weather is changing, Fall is on its way!
Stay tuned...
Location:Paris, France
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