Growing up in Vancouver, B.C. I had the wonderful opportunity of skiing at Whistler in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. This was pre-village era, when going up the mountain meant you turned right off of the Sea to Sky Highway at the Husky station, parked your car, and rode the Gondola up the mountain…
Giddy in Paris, Part 4
This is a continued story from my most recent trip to Paris in early June, 2011. This post reviews some of my favorite dinner spots in Paris. I was giddy about our dinner reservation at La Regalade St. Honore. Walking from our apartment we crossed the Seine via the Ponts des Arts Bridge: there were…
Walking, Eagles and Herons
Greenlake, here in my neck of the woods, is one of my favorite spots to walk my dog, Libby. I’ve had to take some time off of running due to an inflamed tendon so have been outside walking as often as possible. In the past 2 weeks I’ve seen eagles 4 times. Last week I…
Giddy in Paris, Part 3
Arriving at La Petit Toque the following day for lunch, we discovered it was unexpectedly closed. Fortunately, there was a restaurant next door with an outdoor table situated underneath a large chestnut tree in the center of the square. There was a warm and gentle breeze and Dave ordered a bottle of Cote de Rhone…
Giddy in Paris, Day 2
My good friend, Jenifer, was able to join me for a day. She was on route home to Seattle after a weeks holiday in Spain. We’ve known each other for 14 years and share a love of French food, travel and adventure. The sun reflecting off of Jen’s red hair caught my eye, “Bonjour and…
Giddy in Paris, Part 1
The sun was shining, the sky was azure blue and it was market day in the Bastille neighborhood. What a whimsical day for a picnic! Dave and I meandered our way through the stalls, marveling at the abundance of vendors displaying cheeses, breads, meat, fish, fresh eggs, pastries and more. Pate, proscuitto, fruit, cheese and…
My first writing class and the Sample Story Idea
I attended my first writing class last week filled with nervous anxiety, excitement and wonder. I had so much fun! Now I’ve got a homework assignment that I’m working on and still wondering what to focus my writing energies on. I’m attending ‘The Writer’s Workshop’ at the Good Shepherd Center in the Wallingford neighborhood of…
The Magician
I entitled this collage, ‘The Magician’ because it feels like the circus to me 🙂 It reminds me to not take my self too seriously (something I forget about), to embrace life and all its magical mystery, and to let go of my own presupposed assumptions, plans and over planning. I love the images that…
African Laughari
I’m borrowing the title of this post, African Laughari, from my grandmother, Tillie Battle. In the early 1970’s she traveled to Africa and upon returning composed limericks and painted pictures of the animals that she had seen while on safari with her husband, Tucker Battle. My mom, Helen Heaney, then helped gather the poems and…
Why I love Paris: secret gardens, art, architecture and more
Some of my friends have wondered why I return again, and again, to Paris. Haven’t I seen enough already? How many times can you explore one city? Each time I journey to Paris I encounter something new and explore different neighborhoods. This time was no exception. Dave and I set off in search of a…
Dinner in Paris
Dinner in Paris is truly a remarkable thing. Just remembering meals I’ve enjoyed causes me to salivate. There are multiple restaurants in Paris and lots of websites, foodie reviews, and travel books to research them all. You can go for the high end 5 star plus with Michelin stars to lots of bistros and other…
Petit Dejuener et Dejuener en Paris – Breakfast and Lunch in Paris
There are so many delicious items to eat in Paris. From pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants), tarte au framboises (raspberry tarts), magret de canard (duck breast), cabillaud (cod), caille (quail) agneau (lamb),salade de printemps (spring salad) and desserts galore, it’s difficult to choose some favorites. On this Spring trip I returned to some favorite spots…
Sharon Richards 