Medieval introduction

My mom came to visit and I introduced her to Bourgogne.  Before seeing it with her own eyes, she used to think it was bizarre that I was so drawn to a medieval village in the middle of the French (wine) country. Because I was always a "city/beach girl".

"Oh, I get it now, it's not as strange as it sounds.  I can see why you spend so much time here, it really is magical."- Mom

L'Abbaye de Fontenay church. This is where her photo-taking got out of control.

L'Abbaye de Fontenay's monks dormitory. It was designed to look like the upside down hull of a ship.

The boys were out of town, but were generous enough to share their house with us. Here is the view from the bedroom she stayed in at the boys' house. 

One of my favorite places on earth, the boys' wine cave.

Les Cave Bailly Lapierre, where you drive your car into the cave and can taste/purchase a variety of Bially Lapierre cremants. I stocked up plenty, as can be expected.

We also did some house hunting around the village. The house attached to the left of the village's back arch was one I had considered buying last year, alas did not--overpriced, with moisture issues.

La Porte Peinte center for arts, in the heart of the village. Always an inspired afternoon escape.

Mom had to take the requisite photo in the rapeseed fields of flowers.

It's not everyday that your friends parents are all in the same place at the same, time (Argentina, US, and England). Especially on Mother's day. So Carla, Julian and I threw our moms a surprise three-way Mother's Day brunch that ended in bouquets for the moms, and dancing. Pure magic.

Les Essentiels: Novembre

1. Being able to talk to my Mom whenever I need/want The fact that she is only a phone call away is something that I am grateful for on a daily basis.

2. Rodin Face Oil. Now that the weather has changed, it keeps me hydrated.

3. Moleskin notebooks: for work, school, journaling, and just keeping track of all my inspirations. I have four active books in rotation at all times. And a tall stack of filled books.

4. Invitations to Hawaii, Noyers-sur-Serein, and Vienna presenting themselves when I least expect it.

5. NaNoWriMo for that kick in the ass to complete something that is very important to me.

6. Botot toothpaste makes brushing my teeth an event that I look forward to.

7. Weekly artist dates with myself per The Artist's Way program. The morning pages that are also part of the program are pretty incredible as well, for example this morning writing three pages filled with gratitude was a pretty fantastic way to start the day.

Love this pice of art at the Pompidou

8. Fall runs through Paris. Looking down is now just as amazing as looking up and around.

9. Lobster sandwich picnics at Spring, with a couple who gives me evidence that it exists by showing me what real love looks like after many years.

10. Making stateside plans to see my entire family and all my incredible friends during my upcoming visit, and knowing that I will return to Paris, where beautiful things like this happen in places where you least expect them: