June 30, 2026. Our last full day in France, for now. We had booked a small group guided tour of Versailles along with pickup in the city. Well, “pickup” is generous: we met our guide, who distributed train tickets and chatted with us on the 30-minute train ride. But that was OK. Sometimes you just want somebody else to figure stuff out. And now we … Continue reading Paris, Part II
After more than a month (for me) in Marseille, my husband Dean and I said goodbye to our spacious rental in the Castellane neighborhood , thanks to our wonderful Airbnb host Diane. We took an Uber to La Gare St. Charles and figured out how to watch for the voie, the boarding platform for our SNCF train to Paris. (Travel tip: allow extra time to … Continue reading Paris, Part I
Bonjour! I have been patiently waiting for the opportunity to visit La Bonne Mère (literally “the good mother”), the Marseillaises’ designation for Notre Dame de la Garde, the basilica that oversees the city. It was built in the 19th century on the site of a fort erected to protect the city in the16th century. It is the most visited site in the city and is … Continue reading Les Arts, Old and New
On Monday, June 15 I joined the Cru group from Marseilles on a day trip to Nice. It was planned as a mid-mission break and time for reflection for the group. I was on my own, since I am not directly involved in the mission project. My role is to support John and Karen as staff. We boarded the train in the morning for the … Continue reading La Côte d’Azur
The joys of travel include the unexpected delights of meeting interesting people and accepting their invitations to see and do things that were not in the itinerary. This week I exchanged texts with Christine, a woman I met at All Saints last Sunday. I asked if we might meet for coffee or lunch, while aware that she and her husband live north of the city. … Continue reading Une Petite Galerie
It’s been a while, blog fans. Here’s what’s up with me. These days I am having a great time making art. Upon retiring over three years ago, I happened to see an ad for a mixed media class that only cost $15. I figured I didn’t have much to lose, and it looked like fun. I clicked on the ad, followed the prompts, and paid … Continue reading Taming the Shadow
Scavenge. Rip. Paint. Glue. Repeat. I spend hours in my art room these days, painting and tearing paper, gluing it onto card stock, chipboard or watercolor paper. I page through magazines to find interesting images or words to add to my creations. I notice the colors and shapes in everyday life, whether in nature or on a package I get in the mail. It all … Continue reading The Studio Beckons
saint sinner seeker 