Paris Bistro

You can't experience Paris without experiencing their numerous outdoor cafes. And apparently Parisians smoke a lot because on every table at every outdoor cafe were ashtrays.  We were fortunate that we didn't have to endure someone else's guilty pleasure of cigarette/cigar smoke!

Part of our fun group..... Lana and Steve always ordered fries for sharing. I still think the world's best potatoes are in Ireland but Paris had American fries beat for yummy goodness.

This is the view of what we saw sitting at the tables.

Aux Crus de Bourgogne Restaurant - Paris

This restaurant is ranked #77 out of 7413 restaurants in Paris! How in the world does Catherine and Dale find these delightful places?!

This restaurant was packed full of patrons and yet we had our own wonderful "quiet" room..... all to ourselves!

I was so taken away by the simple beauty of the window and balcony that I wasn't aware of the artwork that completed our dining space. There were others that muttered "oh my" but I just thought they were kindred spirits with me enjoying the view. Oh, there was a view but it was the artwork that hung above our table and let's just say.....it was very French. No, I didn't take a photo because what's the point if you never want to share it! Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything here except after the trip to the ladies' room and returning to the room that I saw the picture and I too gasped "Oh, MY"!

I am a sucker for vintage hardware and lace....I love this photo!

This is the view outside our balcony window.

Our dining room also came with a velvet curtain that could be pulled for privacy... perhaps for lovers dining in the evening!

Lana is an adventuresome foodie and she has so much pleasure in experiencing in ordering specialty dishes.  On my next Paris trip, I may do the same!

This is the dessert that Kimberly and I shared! Yummy!  If you are in Paris and want reservations, here is the link: Aux Crus de Bourgogne

Butterfly for Barb

Another butterfly for Barb!

I hope Barb doesn't grow tired of receiving butterfly artwork......as I enjoy the butterfly theme so very much. This is a hard plastic material that I purchased from a stamp store already cut into the butterfly shape. Using a heat tool allows you to manipulate the shape of the butterfly. After coloring the one side with alcohol inks, I then collaged a dictionary page with the word butterfly.

I added a very lightweight mulberry paper to the backside of the butterfly and then misted it with a light wash of yellow which added to the transparency of the paper. You can see some of the dictionary paper behind it....love that!

A nice view!

This is my view from the kitchen's back door. I love this huge deck that wraps around the entire back of the house. I should measure this deck....... seriously because you could possibly host around twenty people and no one would bump into each other!  There is another level of deck that has a hot tub too!  I don't think the tub would hold 20 though......it's the usual hot tub size.  The backyard view is very nice indeed!

Just for Bill

Who would imagine that in the middle of Paris would be the Irish?!!  I had to take these photos to share with my husband.....proof!

I have to say that if we hadn't already had dinner plans with the group......I would have definitely stopped here for a Boxty!