Constant Upkeep

Versailles - the largest palace in Europe which was built in the 17th century has at least five million visitors every year.  The combination of palace, park, statues and fountains built for the Sun King Louis XIV is still a monument to his absolute power.  The space, the size and the history is admired by everyone who visits this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Two weeks ago a major renovation of the Latona fountain has begun and will last at least 16 months. During this time visitors are invited to follow the work of the many artisans involved in the repair from a platform.

http://en.chateauversailles.fr/news-/events/vie-scientifique/restauration-du-bassin-de-latone-en 

The sculptures at the South side entrance to the park are waiting to be renovated and it is sad to see their beauty still covered under moss and dirt.

"Faire la queue"

 Sunday afternoon is perhaps not the best time to visit the Orangerie to see the Monet paintings - look at this line!  We continued to the Grand Palais, where an exhibition on Felix Valotton should be very good.

No, seems too long of a wait in the rain, let's continue around the corner to the Palais de la decouverte.

Yes, we understand, that it is one hour waiting time from this sign to the entrance.

But the line continues and it will be more then two hours to see "Mille Milliards de Fourmis"
How many ants?  Thousand millions?   And only 30 million visitors per year in Paris.....
http://www.palais-decouverte.fr/index.php

The Golden Sphere

This sculpture by James Lee Byars (1932-1997) was installed in the Tuileries Garden as one of several outdoor works during the FIAC  (International Contemporary Art Fair).

The fair itself took place in the Grand Palais and went between October 24 - 27.

Lucky for us, the sculptures in the garden were not removed yet.  Today under heavy grey sky the gold of this sphere gave a beautiful ray of sunshine perfectly lined up with the obelisk of Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

The "Tuileries Colored Sculpture" by Sam Falls closer to the Louvre is supposed to change colors under the impact of sunshine.   Sam Falls living in California was perhaps not aware of the lack of sunlight here in Paris in the Fall.

http://www.fiac.com/fr/tuileries2013.html?lg=en

McMullen Museum

The large banner on the front of Devlin Hall on the Boston College Chestnut Hill campus announces the exhibition on Gustave Courbet (1819-1877).   He is known as the chief representative of realism in the nineteenth century.

(Portrait of Madame Leon Fontaine, nee Laure Janne, 1856-570)

He famously stated: "I cannot paint an angel because I have never seen one" expressing his distance to the romantic history paintings favored at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.  He taught himself by copying Dutch and Spanish paintings in the Louvre.  

(Woman with Mirror, c.1860)

Looking at the women he depicted, they have angel-like features and perhaps they were 

earthly angels he saw and painted?

http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/cas/artmuseum/

A Newly Painted Historic House

After 13 years in a green house, friends decided to have their large house in a different color.  Not pink, but 'Burgundy  rose'.  A decision was made and six painters went to work.  The neighbors got upset and then calmed down when realizing that it was the base color which offended their eyes.

Now, soon finished, the right 'pink' and the white trim and all the black shutters - it will be beautiful and just as stunning as Jacky Kennedy in the 60's at a Gala Dinner:

(They say that pink combined with black is associated with seduction!  Who are 'they'?)

http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-pink.html

"Cute Birds"

It is only the first time - a few years ago - that we got all excited about a wild turkey crossing the street.
Now they have multiplied and are no novelty but just a nuisance.  If scared, they can fly and go for the eyes! Better to wait inside the house until they left the garden.

Raccoons, skunks, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks we are used to and keeping the garbage locked, we live peacefully side by side.  But now coyotes are seen sometimes and brown bears are in Western Massachusetts and it is not entertaining anymore.

Yesterday morning  there was this proud hawk majestically picking on his breakfast.

From a different angle  I recognize suddenly the rest of a bushy squirrel tail!

Let nature take its course?  I am not so sure anymore.

http://www.entergy.com/2008_hurricanes/Underground-lines.pdf

Autumn Foliage 2013

Middle of October and suddenly the green leaves are changing over night and surprise with their beauty. Driving to buy the groceries I had to stop and admire the double beauty in Bullough pond.

How wonderful that we always have this change of seasons which marks the different months.

Many tourists from the western States in the US come now to enjoy New England:

http://www.massvacation.com/blog/2013/10/explore-massachusetts-fall-foliage-with-activity-suggestions-from-aaa-southern-new-england/

And I, looking in the pond and its reflexion, am thinking about Giverny and Monet's garden.