Sunday, August 26, 2012

Hotel Baudy..our walk continues...finally!



Remember the walk we started (over a month ago!) ?
We're walking to Giverny from our charming bed & breakfast.
So sorry about the delay, but at least we're rested & ready to move on!

Here's a lovely old place called Hotel Baudy.

(www.giverny.fr)
 The Impressionists artists, many of them American, came to stay at the 
hotel and paint the beautiful rural French landscape in the late 1880's.
It was nicknamed 
"The American Artists' Hotel".
 

The dining room where Paul Cezanne and Mary Cassatt had a very heated argument.
Cezanne stormed out of the hotel and sent for his things later on.
(We had a very peaceful meal on a drizzly evening... no one stormed out.)


 Look at the wisteria!  We timed this trip hoping to see wisteria,
not disappointed at all!


Let's walk out to the court yard.
Imagine the artists passing through with their easels, canvases and paints.


A spot for them to sit or to pose their models.

 Richard E. Miller 1910


They would find irises to paint

 and luscious peonies


and quiet paths to explore.


Aren't you thrilled to find the studio well preserved?
I was!
Monet, Rodin & Sisley also painted here.


My daughter took this beautiful photo.


Over time, the garden has invaded the studio.


Back outside we're greeted by purple pansies

 
Are you as inspired as I am?

Our walk continues..........







Saturday, August 11, 2012

Just listened to this one


I really like reading Anne Tyler.

The first sentence of this book:
"The strangest thing about my wife's return from the dead
is how other people reacted."

Anne Tyler's books, this one included, always feel like
a visit to a familiar place.  I know she'll make me smile
with quirky characters & quirky humor.  I know I'll
comfortably read it (or listen to it) to the end and be glad I did.