Last of Paris, then of St Erme and all things in the country....

Wonder what they sell in this boutique?

Now in St Erme at Performing Arts Forum, near Reims, in a huge, old convent with peacocks.

The way to 'outside':

Hand sculpture on a cemetery headstone:

A welcome from some locals:

Of many things........

And so.......summer not always what it promises to be......

There are storms of many kinds....

and signs of many kinds....

Going back.....couldn't stand it.......

OK going back. Couldn't wait. Came home, saw everyone graduate, and then I lost it the same day and made a plane reservation. This has not been without great trepidation or problems, but it is done. It's still cool in Paris, which will be a relief after Valencia's heat. Here I look at the sky and see the palm trees, and imagine the trees that lined rue Cambronne in Paris - all coming into green when I was last there. I miss it and I miss it badly. This time I am staying in the 17e. Still not a heavy tourist spot, thank God. Have three days of concerts at the end of July in the 7e with Kamil Tchalaev. It's all good. Going to finish the book...if not in July, in August when I go to PAF near Reims to write. That's the last chance I am giving myself. It's been 8 years and that is long enough! Here are photos of my new neighborhood for this long visit....Epinettes. And then to PAF for part of August. It will be so sad to have to leave again; my heart is already heavy with the thought.

Au revoir, Paris....

Last 48 hours here.....gathered up all my fancy books today, put them in a suitcase and trundled off in a taxi to resell them to Shakespeare and Co. 15 Euros later, in traffic from construction, I slog the suitcase into Shakespeare and she picks out the most expensive books (all brand new) 8 of em - and gives me 6 Euros. Nice. So then I take the ones she didn't want over to Abbey Books around the corner, another English book store and he wants the rest and gives me 12.5 Euros. So I made 3.5 Euros on the lot. What a score. Landlord brought these lilacs by on his way out of town.

So off to Baltimore with a bad head cold and a heavy heart. Some happy memories of Chateau de Blavou visit on the weekend with my friend Jean-Philippe and the owner Nigel Murray. Will play a recital there on Bastille Day in July!

Of new friends, arts, and politics....

Election days in Paris.....this on a public poster.....

Meeting new friends



Visual artist Patricia Poullain at her vernissage in Paris, April 18, 2012, Chez Grace





with the lovely Michele Brothers





and the incredible chef/caterer Diane Anthonissen

What a great evening at Patricia's vernissage! At Grace Teshima's gallery in Montmartre we reveled with family members of Patricia's along with old and new friends. It makes me sad to think about leaving Paris. This weekend: a visit to my new friend Nigel Murray at his Chateau de Blavou in Normandy!!!!





www.chateaudeblavou.com

Struggling to be spring....

Everyone keeps hoping, but truth is, the highs are just barely around 50 F these days - it rains, and gets cold, but the green keeps coming!



in the hood...




the sanctuary at Trinite




from my window on a beautiful but cold sky -





signs of new life in the back yard...



leaves at Trocadero trying hard to open....

[AND FOUR DAYS IN MUNICH.....]

EAT THE RICH?



Marionette musicians....



The moon on a building.....



Where hunds are verboten.....





Susie and composer Kent Clelland after a heavenly organic dinner....




Susie and composer Gloria Coates after ANOTHER heavenly organic dinner (and you thought Germany didn't have good cuisine? think again!)

Of friends, stars, signs, and seasons....

Looking out the servants' quarters window of Musee des Arts Decoratifs onto the Tuileries on a sunny, spring day.........having just seen the Babar exhibit and other wonderful things. You could see all the way over the tents along rue Rivoli to La Defense that day...



And Parisians were sunning in the welcome warmth (now gone again as the temperature has dropped once more).





with Tony Rinaldi at an Indian restaurant in the 9th. He is on tour of Europe with Asteroids Galaxy Tour and their posters line the Metro stations:



Wandering further past trompe l'oeil building facades and into Faure's church at Madeleine....






To experience some deep pleasures of Paris in street findings, flower beds and decadent desserts......











as well as the beautiful Moon/Jupiter conjunction in Taurus over the roof of the Hotel de Ville:

the Flea Market, flowers, ashtrays, and ??????

This incredible find was 5 Euros, and says in French

powder cigarettes fumigator against asthma and emphysema











And here Leo Hobaica, fresh in from CalArts..



What is HE doing here?




A little Parisian midday traffic, but the flowers are blooming now! Printemps has sprung!