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Oh Notre Dame 😢🔥- My heart goes out to the people of Paris and everyone who has been blessed to tour and worship in this beautiful dedication to God. ❤️😢 #notredamedeparis #godisgood #reconstruction #paris #france https://www.instagram.com/p/BwShu_jHI_r/?igshid=43qhhopklu85

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Before I snapped this shot, a turtle was using the pool as a hot tub! 🐢 #neighborhood #nature #godisgood #walk #exercise #spring https://www.instagram.com/p/BwQB8aHnbvR/?igshid=128ald1hu34v6

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Here's a closer look at a built-in Grace Mitchell designed from repurposed brick. It's one of the many great spots that didn't get fully noticed in the first episode of HGTV's One of a Kind "Love Notes" (there just wasn't enough time for all the good stuff!). Watch the 3rd episode tonight at 10/9C. Gimme a thumbs up if you've your dvr set! 👍🏼 #hgtvoneofakind #astoriedstyle #niche #design https://www.instagram.com/p/BvuhXrgH1TS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dp1pydrv1ahj

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Join me on my blog as I tour this wonderful b&b in Montgomery, Texas. Learn some tips from Mary @innkeeper61 about being a gracious hostess. http://admireddesignstudio.com/a-gracious-hostess #teamwork #bedandbreakfast #innkeeper61 #design #montgomerytexas #gracious https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu65lZ8Hg_J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1u2muzowua4rm

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Grace Mitchell of HGTVs "One of Kind" and @astoriedstyle will get your creative juices going Tuesday, March 19th 10pm ET / 9pm CT. Her work is amazing! Can't wait? Visit @astoriedstyle now for tons of inspiration on her site. #hgtv #astoriedstyle #oneofakind #creativity #teamwork https://www.instagram.com/p/Butu21Fn557/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gma9av6nrqpl

[frenchancestry]

A Gracious Hostess

A Gracious Hostess

Have you ever met a person that you loved instantly? (more…)

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Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Make someone's day special by letting them know they are appreciated -even someone like the checker at the grocery store. Maybe I should say especially like the checker at the grocery store. Spread the love. #valentinesday2019 #loveyourneighbor #godislove #randomactsofkindness https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt17p6IHrIu/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9g0qyo7m9wta

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Happy New Year! I currently have this photo on my phone's lock screen. On a trip with my sister to Marie Antoinette's hamlet in Versailles, this swan came around to greet me. Every time I open my phone and see this picture, I think of the words: gracious, humble, beautiful. That is what I wish for you this 2019 year. That you may be gracious to others; that you may be humble and gain all the benefits of such a position, and that you may look for the natural beauty in yourself and others. Have a grace-filled, humble, beautiful 2019! #2019 #happynewyear #grace #humble #beauty #godisgood #marieantoinettehamlet #versailles #swan https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGu6HVH8l-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uao7g4zc7thj

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Merry Christmas! I hope you have been enjoying time with family and friends and that joy continues through the new year. #christmastree #christmas #joy #godisgood #family https://www.instagram.com/p/Br232QTHbyF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m5ewb3okqv2i

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When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? What do you do when fall gives you pumpkins that last through winter? You make snowmen!! I can’t decide if I should leave them as they are or add a scarf and arms and a face. What do you think? #fallpumpkins #winter #snowmen https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq76wNFHJlb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s0ciwatobd5n

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Santorini Still Life #santorini #oiasantorini #oia #travel #greece #agean #stilllife https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5JqXynhtB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kfbw34iojjbt

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Charming door in Adlestrop in the Cotswold #travel #cotswold #design #fox #england

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Farewell, with love, to a super pet and friend. Please read my “Ode to Cooper” in the link above, especially if you have a beloved pet that is getting older. #pets #olderdogs #yorkshireterrier #bestfriend #qualityoflife #godisgoodallthetime

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  A while back our family had to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Sir Cooper of York was his official title, but this Yorkshire Terrier was more affectionately called Coopie, le Coop and sometimes “Cheese” (that last one I have no idea of its origin!)

Cooper was an unconditional lover, though he was known to pout occasionally. When our daughter began to date her now-husband, he tried to sit in between them. Once removed, he would sit with his back to them and look over his shoulder to see if they noticed. He was usually a good sport….well, sometimes he cheated at hide and seek. Figuring out that he could see our reflection in the oven door, he knew which way we were coming around the kitchen island to hide from him.

Cooper was a stylish dresser and once donned a mink suit to be disguised as the poof at the end of our daughter’s lion costume. A leash was woven inside of the tail that connected to his collar so that he followed along as though actually connected to the lion body. The judges of the costume contest showed their delight by awarding him first place. Each son gladly donated socks and sweater sleeves to become his winter coat. Once they added a pipe cleaner to the back of the sweater to make a handle for easy toting.

He loved good design and always spent as long as it took to get the perfect lay of his blanket – a new creation every time. Never was his bedding in the same configuration when we returned home as when we left.

  Cooper was a good babysitter, making sure to be always near but just beyond the reach of a toddler. He barked and marched on demand and even enjoyed the swing-set. He loved to console, cuddle under the covers, and even squeaked like an expanding accordion when he was disturbed while snoozing. Speaking of snooze, he understood the snooze alarm, dashing back under the covers if the blessed snooze button was hit.

In the last six months, we noticed a severe decline in Cooper’s physical and mental health. At the advice of our veterinarian, we made a list of seven things he enjoyed doing in order to assess his quality of life. Sadly, we marked everything off the list. We chose to let him go instead of making him endure further ailments, difficulties and humiliation. It was an extremely hard decision, but one that was in his best interest in spite of our desire to hold on to him. He will be greatly missed.

On a happy note, Cooper loved the water. He was crazy about the swimming pool and was deadly if a pool noodle or float got in his way. He also loved to fish and kayak, so he will be laid to rest near the family’s favorite fishing spot. Nearby will be his sign that hung by his food bowl which read “A Spoiled Rotten Yorkie lives here”.

That he was, that he was.

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Ode to Cooper A while back our family had to say goodbye to a beloved pet. Sir Cooper of York was his official title, but this Yorkshire Terrier was more affectionately called Coopie, le Coop and sometimes "Cheese" (that last one I have no idea of its origin!)

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That sky #sunset #glow #west #godisgood

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Read my new blog post about travel. “Travel Tips for the Tentative, Part Two” may give you some new info or at least a laugh or two. 😉 #travel, #florence #culture #stairs #notredame #giggle #bloomers #accent #grow

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Travel Tips for the Tentative Traveler, Part Two “Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” ― Anita Desai

In February, I shared part one of this story on travel. You can read it here. In it I shared the tale of the Behemoth, encouraged you to enjoy the prep of the journey, be flexible, embrace the unexpected and wander.

Today, I want to share some more tips that I think can make a world of difference even if you are just going down the road a few miles. I like what the author Terry Pratchett has to say about travel, “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

Have you ever waited at the airport and watched others greeting a loved one who had traveled away? There is such anticipation everywhere – people pacing, checking their watches, studying the arrival board, children jumping up for every person that passes by thinking it’s their beloved coming home. I was recently waiting for my daughter and grandbaby at the International terminal. In my excitement, I arrived a bit too early, but it made for great people watching. One family consisting of a mom and three children, were eagerly awaiting the dad. They each held a homemade sign with various sayings, but the one that I’ll always laugh about said “Dad, I’ve been wearing your slippers while you’ve been gone.”

Travel can be exhilarating and exhausting at the same time, but you can help fight the tiredness by preparing ahead of time through exercise. No matter where you go, there will be walking involved, and often stair climbing. Travel can be a good incentive for exercise and vice versa. I remember a trip with my sister when we both were wishing we had prepared a little more for the stair climbing.

We were in Paris, waiting in line to climb to the top of Notre Dame. We knew 387 steps to the top would be a challenge, but decided we were up to it! Partway up the one-way spiral, stone staircase, Sis found a tiny windowed alcove, plopped down, removed her sweaty outer garments and announced she could not go any further!

How many steps did you say???

I reminded her that we were on a one-way staircase and the others breathing down our necks behind us were anxious to get to the top. And…that we had no choice but to do it!

One way stairway!

She bravely gathered her things and her composure and started the climb again. We trudged on, focused on the reward at the top -which clearly did not disappoint. The view from the top of the cathedral is incredible, not to mention the feeling you get standing so near to the famous gargoyles.

As we were taking pictures and enjoying the view in the narrow passageway along the top, I heard a docent tell some people in front of us that we had to go up more steps for another viewpoint before we started down. What?! More?! I discretely asked the guide if there was a way to go down without going farther up. She said there was, but only for a few and she would show us the way. A couple from England overheard me tell Sis about the additional stairs and the optional way down. They grabbed her arm and said, “We are going down with you!” So, the four of us followed the guide’s lead and headed quietly to the hidden doorway and the stairway to the ground. Down, down, down we went. I don’t know about you, but I can go up stairs all day, don’t make me go down. One mishap and you’re a goner! Behind me I could hear the English lady declaring that she couldn’t take another step! With encouragement, she cautiously moved, while uttering expletives that normally would be offensive, but in her beautiful English accent they were amusing. When she declared, “I’m about to lose my bloomers”, I began to laugh, which started a ripple affect upstream to the brave souls behind me. There, in the bowels of the Notre Dame towers, we laughed until we cried. We laughed about how stupid we were to be taking all these stairs. We laughed even more when the English couple confessed that they thought they were in the queue for entering the inside of the church – never realizing until too late they were on the never-ending stairway to heaven! (I wish I could type with an English accent!) We laughed some more until suddenly, we were on the street, saying goodbye to our new friends from across the pond.

So, get to know the place you intend to visit. Learning about the number of stairs for a monument you want to see might be a good idea. I certainly think that advice extends to customs and celebrations as well. Just as it is not a good idea to wear a Cubs shirt to a Yankees vs Red Sox game, it’s not a good idea to arrive in another country and expect them to be just like you, speak English or have all your favorite foods from home. Please don’t be that annoying American who is complaining about a lack of ice! A good idea is to make a list of common phrases and emergency words in the language of the country you plan to visit and keep it close, practice it often. It’s just a courtesy to greet people in their own language, then if the conversation continues you can say “Jeu suis desolate, no compren pa. Parley vous engles?” Or at least say “Engles?” with a smile and win their hearts. Good manners will get you everywhere.

Visit the tourist bureau of your intended country. They are usually situated in the heaviest tourist area of any town and often available online. You will find out important information like an early closing of an historic site you intend to see in that town. They also have maps and good suggestions for getting the most of their city or village. Your hotel or AirBnB, VRBO will too. Speaking of maps, it’s great to use an app on your phone, but you cannot always count on getting service where you are, and the cost of cellular is often prohibitive. You need real paper and old-fashioned technology – trust me on this.

To continue the joy of seeing other places and learning about cultures different from yours, find something to incorporate into your own life. I love to visit the local grocery stores and pharmacies in other countries, as well as department stores. You will see products that make great souvenirs and learn new display techniques as well. Maybe it’s a new way to make a sandwich, spice a soup, decorate a Christmas tree or plant your flowers.

When you get home and back to your busy life, don’t forget about those wonderful photos you snapped. Look for creative ways to incorporate those into your décor. Books like Shutterfly make great keepsakes, but also consider turning your favorite photo into a canvas, printed on wood, coasters, or a pillow, to name a few. We have a travel wall where we hang photos, watercolors, and etchings of the places we have had the pleasure to visit. When it is an ocean town, I love to find a sea shell engraved with the name of the place.

I hope you get the courage to take a trip to somewhere new. Even if it’s to the other side of town, do some research and find out what gems await there that you might otherwise miss. Respect the customs of other countries, try new cuisine, ride in a rickshaw, do something daring, in other words, step out of your comfort zone and think outside the box. You will be surprised and glad you did.

So, the take-away: 1. Exercise 2. Research and visit the tourist centers 3. Be polite and respect customs 4. Embrace something new to take home 5. Make a remembrance Believe it or not, while discussing this article with Sis, and reliving the journey to the top of Notre Dame, she said “I would do that again, 387 steps and all!” That’s what travel does for you – inspiring wouldn’t you say?

Travel Tips for the Tentative Traveler, Part Two Travel Tips for the Tentative Traveler, Part Two “Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.”