I Left My Heart

Hello everyone! I hope your month of May has been merry!

For your weekend viewing, I’m bringing you a colorful tour from our recent adventure in San Francisco. The weather was gorgeous, clear and sunny, with a very strong wind that threatened to blow us over a few times while navigating the steep streets and sidewalks (especially when carrying 30 pounds of gear!)

Our trip was a mix of business, family visits and a little getaway. D used to live in the North Beach area and I’m quite familiar with the city, so we very much enjoyed visiting favorite spots and indulging in perhaps too much Italian food and gelato (but is there such a thing as too much gelato? I think not). Experiencing other environments is so rejuvenating, isn’t it? Even a drive to a neighboring area for lunch or sightseeing can be such a lift to the spirits and also make you appreciate where you live even more. An adventure near to home is an adventure just the same. I’d love to hear what adventures you’ve  been on recently or are looking forward to.

(In other news, this week I completed a huge and important project which had been my main focus for the last six weeks, so my shameful blogging neglect will be soon rectified. Thank you for continuing to visit through it all.)

Thinking of you and sending wishes for a lovely weekend. I hope these photos bring a bit of joy and adventure.

much love,

G

 

Romantic Vignettes of Paris

Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends – I’ve brought you roses from Paris!

This week I’ve been working on gathering up the images from my most recent trip to Paris into little themed collections, available in the shop, called Paris Vignettes.

As these all had roses of various hue, I’m presenting them to you on this day of romance. I think it’s lovely to send Valentines and Valentine’s greetings to anyone you feel affection for. Not everyone has a special someone to celebrate with (D for instance is in Chile) but everyone should be able to celebrate in knowing they are loved by friends, family and co-workers. So, with that, I send each of you love, hearts and roses. And leave you with some links to bring beauty and romance to your day:

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I’ve just gotten a new post up at Paris By Two, inspired by the fairly cold and gloomy weather there right now.

My friend Nicole in South Africa has just released the latest and most gorgeous issue of her online magazine, Vintage Lifestyle. You can view the whole issue here.

For all things floral, I do hope you read Rona’s blog, Flowerona. If you’re not a regular reader, you are in for a daily treat.

And finally, take a tour of the most amazing rose farm in Australia at Blooming Lovely. Thanks to Erin for sharing it.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

much love,

G

A Winter Welcome

Dark days, short days, days of bundling up against the shiver of winds insistent on creeping down our necks and curling up our sleeves. Time to tuck the last of the bulbs into the ground, light the fire and welcome the festive season – the season of joy, of sparkling lights, of reflecting on the year almost past and, most of all, the season for expressing the love and gratitude in our hearts for those who have touched us with theirs.

In recent years, I’ve made peace with winter. With its inevitability, its inconveniences and discomforts, its melancholy moods and especially with the reasons we must have winter, and endings, at all. So I’ll embrace the respite and the chance for renewal and rebirth. As we embark along winter’s path this year, having you share the journey makes it memorable, indeed. Thank you for being here.

much love,

G

p. s. These images were taken in January in the Stevens Pass in Washington State. The first one we decided to use as our Christmas card this year. All are available here.

p. p. s. The holiday download will be posted soon! Very much looking forward to visiting you and seeing your holiday preparations.