Heaven on a Barge...

After three days in Barcelona, we took a train to Narvonne and then took a car ride to the Canal du Midi for a week long barge ride on the Caroline in the South of France.

We were met by our hostess and host, Uta and Uli, wo were originally from Germany. They had a wonderful bottle of champagne ready to toast us.

 Uli taught us the rules of living on the barge, like "don't put anything in the toilet that does go in your mouth first" and "when you walk on a moving barge, make sure that three parts of your body are touching the barge."

 The Caroline even had it's own goldfish pond with giant Koi!

We passed beautiful houses as we drove on the barge at five miles an hour. The more we rode, the more relaxed we became.

The most beautiful site was the scenery. These trees were called "Plain Trees" and anchored the soil. They were beautiful and were planted uniformly apart.

The skies were blue every single day we were on the barge.

Castle sitings were so much fun!

We also loved going through locks.

 

At the end of the day, Uta and Uli parked the barge and tied it to the side with a complex set of knots.

As the sun went down, we continued to perfect the art of relaxation on the Caroline.

Beautiful, beautiful cathedral...

At the end of a narrow pathway of stores we found a plaza and a huge church, covered with Gothic windows. This is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St Eulalia. This picture does not do justice to its size. It was HUGE! We had a hard time getting my scooter in, finally entered at a door in the back and...

...WOW! I am sure this is real gold gilding!

It was incredibly ornate! 

There were about fifty little chapels around the exterior of the nave. They were created in a variety of styles over the 13th and 14th century. 

And here we have...St. Joan of Arc. My eyes were blinded by this time and I appreciated the simplicity.

These two tapestries and crypts were suspended way above our heads on a wall at the side.

A small door led to a beautiful courtyard which contained...

...thirteen geese! There is a legend that the thirteen geese will guard the Cathedral. Thirteen is also the age of St. Eulalia when she was martyred. 

Re-entering the church, there was a (relatively) smaller area where there were simpler chapels. I especially liked this one of the statue of the Virgin Mary against a mosaics of angels.

I also loved the Black Madonna and Baby Jesus. 

Why not?

I never tire of the churches in Europe. Whether they are enormous, ornate edifices or simple country 

buildings, my heart is always touched. Through beautiful art, mankind has always sought to make a connection with the Sacred. 

Me, too. 

We're hungry!!!!

Our friends, Brooks and Karen have arrived in Barcelona and we have had a long, long day of shopping. Help! We are starving! Where can we eat? 

We decide to head back to the market, a half block from our apartment.

Oh, the market! It is huge and it is pristine. It buzzes with energy and you can eat prepared food from most nationalities or buy beautiful fresh food to take home. At this Chinese seafood booth, you can choose what you want and they will cook it right there!

This stands is resplendent will many colors of fruit of the best quality. It is nice to grab a few pieces and put them in out backpack for later. 

I have memories of "odors" at markets I have been at before...and I was pregnant! Not this booth. It smells like fresh chicken. 

These are plump free range-chickens and they are delicious!

This is our friend and traveling companion, Karen, and she is oohing and aahing over the olives. We have never seen so many kinds. The ones we tried were marinated in a liquor. 

Here she is again, showing us the Mexican vegetables. I had some squash with our meal. Fabulous. Served only with a little butter and a little salt and pepper. It was so flavorful in it's natural state. 

Our very favorite, the dried mushrooms. We bought some for our dinner (they were cooked on the spot and fantastic. We had to buy a sack to take back to our apartment. 

Well, I didn't get the before picture because we were too hungry. Here is Brooks. He just ate his whole plate of buttered shrimp. Huge ones. 

And here are the three of us...nice and full. We finish up the last bite and...

...head down the very narrow road that leads to our apartment.

Eating your way through Barcelona is a fun thing to do.
Try it sometime!!!

Where In The World Are Suz and Jud Reaney?

Today we are in...

It is a land of great croissants...

and fabulous desserts.

There is a ton of energy on the streets. This is La Rambla street. It is like a three-ring circus. And look at the detail on those buildings.

We have a two bedroom apartment right around the corner from this beautiful store.

Needless to say, the four of us are in heaven!!!

The Beady-Headed Tea Fairy...

The Beady-Headed Tea Fairy would like to welcome you to our noontime tea.

I have dressed in my finest outfit and put my favorite linens on the table to invite you for a cuppa.

My beautiful cup has the loveliest shades of leaves and fine lines of red. Can you see the little lines?

It is Haviland China from France, very fine and beautiful.

What a cheerful tray! Even the teabags lend to the festivities!

Please come again next Tuesday. Maybe I will find us some French treats!!!

Linked to Tea Tuesday http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/ and Teacup Tuesday at http://artfulaffirmations.blogspot.com/.

Pretties from Canada...

One of my sweet angels picked out this cup and saucer in Montreal. It wasn't quite the magic colors (Marie found those for me!) yet I love the colors and the texture...yes texture!

See those white dots? If you look at the dots at the bottom, you can see that they are raised. How special is that! And the flowers at the bottom of the cup look like they are hand-painted. It really is quite lovely.

The pink damask table cloth is hand-dyed in my washing machine ($3 at an estate sale) and the napkin courtesy of Kleenex Paper Napkins. I am having some trouble with my camera and something went crazy before I got a picture of the bottom but the brand is Royal Albert from England.

This is connected to Terri at Tea Cup Tuesday and Kimmie at http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com.

Great news...

No frills (I have a respiratory infection). Jud's last Caring Bridge says it best...

Dear Ones,

I want you all to know that it was very good news today!  My PET scan showed no new metastases, the ones that had disappeared were still gone and the remaining tumors were all decreased in activity.  My tumor marker is now down to 36.  The new chemotherapy is clearly working.  I will not need to go to Mayo next week.  I'll just continue with this regimen that has at last shown progress.  I know that this is likely to be a chronic illness and that things could later change, but for now I am filled with relief and gratitude. 

Thanks to each of you for your prayers, love, and support!

Love,

Jud 

We are so happy!

With love,

Suz

What a Wonderful Surprise!!!

I am in love! I came home from Canada and what should be waiting for me but a lovely package with Lindt Chocolate, lovely packets of tea, and the most wonderful tea cup and saucer and a (amazing) a plate to match (for the chocolate cake I will eat with my tea).

Look at that beautiful pattern! Someone has been reading my posts on Tea Cup Tuesday. That somebody is Marie Skrotzki of Lost Bird Studio. Marie is one of the kindest people I have met in Blogland.

I could just cry every time I look at it. It is such a unique pattern. The lovely filigree is GOLD! The pink and blue are the sweetest shades. 

I am crazy about any pink and I like blue just fine. But this is a very special blue. I would say that it is the shade of a bluebird. I think I will name it Bluebird Blue!

The set is Bavarian China from Germany. The brand name is Krautheim. I must ask Marie more about it. It is especially meaningful and special because Marie is from Germany and the US. I can't imagine anything much more fun than living in two countries.

Sigh!

I have been following Marie's blog since day one. It took a long time to start posting because I was so intimidated! She is so talented. She makes the most lovely things. Beautiful fabric collages, lacy little purses, delicate jewelry, linen hearts. She is one of the most productive artists I have seen. She seems to have something new (and gorgeous) to show ever single day. I kid you not.

She is also one of the most dear and generous people I have been lucky enough to meet in Blogland. We all seem to know this but it bears repeating. Bloggers are some of the nicest people I have ever encountered. Right?

Since this chine is so incredible, I got out my mother's silver,  Rosepoint by Wallace. The roses look just right with the roses on the set. It is one of my most special possessions. My mother died very suddenly when I was eighteen. I was given her sterling silver on my wedding day and I always feel her presence when I use it. Some things about that silver even make my laugh. Mom was not much of a housekeeper and washed the knives in the dishwasher. That is a no-no. I chuckle when I see those spots from her "let's clean it easy" venture.  She was a woman who knew what was important and the four of us came before the laundry.

Marie, someday I want to meet you. Maybe in Germany! That would be magical! When I do, I will give you a huge hug. You have made me so incredibly happy with this gift. Do you know what? I have been looking for months and now I have found my most precious set. Now I better start looking for my second favorite :-)