Favorite wine, favorite picnic.  I went all out and cooked a fabulous lunch and hauled china and stemware (paper cups) and this beautiful tablecloth to the wooded picnic area.  We all had such a fun day and the effort made to bring everything made it all worth it.

After a bottle of wine…odd photos are taken!

The George V in Paris has an amazing spa.  Once I flew into Paris early in the morning and went directly to the spa.  Ok ok.   I know that is pretty decadent but hey it had been a rough year.  I had a blood clot post a knee surgery and I was going to treat myself.  So…back to the spa.  The spa is lavender and toile and so calm.  The staff is fabulous and the massage was to die for.  The colors and the clean design made you feel so beautiful and special.  I always have to ask (can’t seem to control myself) if they have worked on any stars lately.  Yep…and they are not phased.  These pillows reminded me of the spa at the George V.  I love them and the memory of the morning at the spa.

Walking in the Marais district in Paris I came upon the Esteban shop.  It is a beautiful boutique with the best smelling candles and scents ever!  Each year I make the pilgrimage to buy more candles.  This year I got the bright idea to carry them at my store…duh…that was easy.   My favorite scent is fig.  I wear it sometimes as a perfume.  It is very fresh and clean and for a gardener like myself, it’s perfect!  I still plan on going to the Marais but only this time I won’t have candles in my luggage!

I am not sure there is anything that will make your heart beat faster than the Paris flea market! SOLD!

I am in the train looking on to the platform outside. I notice a Nun passing by….she is wearing brown Birkenstocks.  An old man spots a cigarette that has not been smoked yet.  It is by the trash can.  He picks it up and puts it into his bag.  He is looking everywhere for things to put into his green bag.  He continues picking up cigarettes that still have some smokes in them.

And then, a small boy appears.  He is with his mother?  She is carrying a small suitcase….it is child size and I wonder if it is his.  He has big round eyes.  They are haunting brown eyes.  You look at him because he is so cute.  His head is shaved and he watches everyone go by.  It is like he is searching for someone. He looks hopeful, his mother does not.  She is searching her bag for a cigarette. She drops his hand.  He wanders a little.  I hold my breath; he is no older than three.  She sees and grabs him.  She grabs him hard…..I look on his body for other marks….please let the answer be  no.  He waits.  He is hot and but he has been dressed in winter clothes. It is 90 degrees today.  It hurts to watch him.  I pray for him.  I am lost as to what I can do.  I am on the train. I see him through glass.  Her cigarette is lit and they weave into the mass of people. God, please bless this child.

We are now an hour into the trip.  We have left the concrete jungle of Napoli. It seemed to me that they had still not recovered from the trash strike a few years ago.   Traveling on the train, we go from tunnel to tunnel. You notice this especially when the train is not air conditioned….tunnels arn’t so great with the windows down. In between the tunnels there are fields of golden wheat mixed with sections of green trees that seem to follow a river now and again.  There is a lot of corn now and many of the wheat fields have been baled already.  We are nearing Rome and my daughter has to have a game of crazy 8’s before we get there.  It should be quick since she makes up her own rules…..funny how she wins every time.

We had a much better ride back across the mountain this time, and even saw something special.  We all saw a golden retriever type dog and everyone felt badly for him….”ahhh look at the lost dog way up here!”  Then from around the corner came a HERD of GOATS and a Shepherd with a cane and all!  All the goats….probably 100 or so all had bells around their necks and we were blocked to enjoy the event.  The sound was so fun and everyone was happy to see the road blocked by goats!  Heidi where are you???