thirty two

we got back from our weekend getaway on Sunday evening, but spent the day yesterday at my inlaws', otherwise I would have posted for sure.

I really can't spend an hour posting photos (I took over 200) so I'll just show you a couple of them, and will guide you to the set I uploaded on Flickr >> here <<.

I was charmed by the beauty of the city, of course, but also by the yellowness of a flower (yet to be identified ... grr) & of lichens, both growing directly on the walls. We stayed in the Hotel de la Cité, which was pretty amazing (the only hotel in France owned by the Orient Express company) & was a birthday gift from my sweet hubby.

so yesterday was spent at my inlaws'. It was a warm, sunny day & I took advantage of this to stay outside, and paint & paint & paint, while the boys played in the garden, on their own, with hubby, or with their grandma. I had an amazing time painting like that ! I was inspired by Maidenhair Spleenwort / Asplenium trichomanes / Capillaire des Murailles.

both of them on my Moleskine watercolor pocketbook (the two above)

and this one is a larger version (above)

the remnants of paints inspired me a more abstract piece (Moleskine size)

it was the good day for sunbathing ... like this Pisaura mirabilis on a leaf of Salvia officinalis ...

yesterday had a taste of summer ...

and for the last photo, I'll show you the last thing I did before leaving my inlaws' ... starting to embroider maidenhair spleenwort on linen.

ok, off to Ikea now. I'm turning 32 today, and have already had a sweet morning, with sweet & simple celebrations, and wishes from my parents, inlaws, and many friends on the net. Thank you dearly, sweetest friends. You make my world go round.

oxoxoxoxoxoxox
super extra special birthday hugs to all of you

Sonia