18 Tuesday Jul 2017
Posted in America, Photography, USA
Tags
PA, Pennsylvania, photography, Pittsburgh, PPG, PPG Tower, skyline, skyporn, skyscraper
I had the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in June, to attend a conference. I had little time to visit but was pleasantly surprised by how nice the city was. I will dedicate a couple of posts to my visit in the near future. Stay tuned.
[Click on the picture to see a bigger version]
Part of the skyline of Pittsburgh, PA, seen from Mount Washington – June 2017
04 Tuesday Jul 2017
Tags
America, blueberry pie, flowers, Fourth of July, Independence Day, pie, red white and blue, strawberry pie
Today is America’s birthday. Happy Birthday, America!
To celebrate, I bought some flowers to make a red, white, and blue bouquet…
…I let the kitten sleep on my hand while trying to blog…
…and I prepared an American Flag Pie!
You can find the recipe here, on King Arthur Flour’s website. Since I could not find rhubarb, I only used strawberries.
I wish all my American readers a very Happy Fourth of July, and to all a nice day!
04 Monday Jul 2016
Wishing everyone a very Happy Independence Day!
Whether you are traveling to see family, are joining in a Fourth of July party…
…or participating in the reading of the Declaration of Independence, I wish you all a good time.
The few pictures posted in this post were taken during a Fourth of July party I attended two years ago in a small community in Central Texas.
And this is part of my menu for today:
Wishing you all a Happy Fourth of July!
18 Friday Dec 2015
Tags
Austin, Christmas, new york, photography, Richmond VA, Texas, Virginia
This will be my fifth Christmas in the United States, as a permanent resident. I spent two of them in New York, and two of them in Austin.
Before I can post some pictures of the fifth one, which will be in Washington, DC, here are some memories from the previous ones in the U.S.
In New York in 2012…
Advent Calendar – December 24th, 2012
In Austin, TX in 2013…
Christmas Trees Galore Along Loop 360
In Virginia in 2014…
At the Jefferson hotel in Richmond
In Alexandria, for the Scottish Christmas Walk
In Texas in 2014…
Johnson City’s Christmas Lights
Feel free to click on the links for more pictures. So many beautiful memories!
04 Saturday Jul 2015
30 Tuesday Dec 2014
Tags
Christmas, Jefferson Hotel, nativity scene, Richmond, Richmond VA, Santa's worshop, Thomas Jefferson, Virginia
In my last few days spent in North Virginia/DC, I was lucky to have my Mom join me there and come back with me on the road trip back to Texas.
Our first stop on the road was actually the occasion to see an old time friend. This very good friend had booked us at the Jefferson Hotel for a nigh. A wonderful Christmas gift!
The Jefferson Hotel is a gorgeous Beaux-Arts style, luxury hotel that opened in 1895. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Thirteen American Presidents stayed there, as well as personalities such as Henry James, Elvis Presley, or Frank Sinatra.
The hotel is featured in several movies and a rumor says that its grand staircase inspired the author of Gone With the Wind for the description of the novel’s staircase.
That was my second time at this hotel (both times thanks to my friend, that I want to thank wholeheartedly!). This time, the hotel was decorated for Christmas.
View of the Palm Court Lobby and the statue of Thomas Jefferson – December 2014
Statue of Thomas Jefferson – December 2014
Santa’s (gingerbread) Workshop – December 2014
Nativity Scene – December 2014
Statue of Thomas Jefferson in the Palm Court Lobby – December 2014
Grand staircase – December 2014
24 Wednesday Dec 2014
Posted in America, Austin, Holidays, Photography, Texas, USA, Washington DC
Tags
Austin, Austin TX, Christmas, Christmas decorations, Christmas tree, Jefferson Hotel, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas Y'all, Old Town Alexandria, Scottish Parade, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC
Three months have passed and I haven’t posted anything. It’s not for a lack of anything to post about: I have spent the last three months around Maryland, Washington DC, and North Virginia, and I am now back in Austin, TX. But some things do take priorities in life, such as work. Yes, yes it does, because I love what I am doing. But that is a subject for another post maybe.
I still want to stop by today and wish everyone of you a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. Here are just a few pictures of Christmas celebrations from the DC area and Texas!
I hope y’all have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas!
Christmas tree in a shopping mall in North Virginia – December 2014
A store in Old Town Alexandria, VA – December 2014
Christmas decorations in Old Town Alexandria, VA – December 2014
Scottish Santa at the Scottish Christmas Parade in Alexandria, VA – December 2014
A decorated house in Old Town Alexandria, VA – December 2014
A decorated business building in Old Town Alexandria, VA – December 2014
Christmas tree at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA – December 2014
Christmas tree in front of the Capitol in Austin, TX – December 2014
Christmas tree in front of the Capitol in Austin, TX – December 2014
Christmas Lights in Johnson City, TX – December 2014
Christmas Lights in Johnson City, TX – December 2014
Christmas Lights in Johnson City, TX – December 2014
Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX – December 2014
Christmas tree in front of the Alamo, in San Antonio, TX – December 2014
Christmas tree in front of the Alamo, in San Antonio, TX – December 2014
23 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted in America, Art, Austin, Blog administration, Photography, Texas, USA
Dear Readers,
I have not forgotten my blog or given up on it again. I have been quite busy again and although I have plenty in store to share, I have not been able to take the time to simply sit and type the posts.
In addition to Texas, I’ve spent a few days in Detroit last month, and I’d like to share a bit about my experience.
The Spirit of Detroit – Detroit, MI – July 2014
In two weeks, I’ll also be heading back to the East Coast for a few months of professional experience in the Washington, DC Metro area.
So the posts will be coming hopefully, but probably not regularly. Stay tuned though :-)
Thanks for your patience! Have a great weekend y’all!
Frost Bank Tower – Austin, TX – August 2014
20 Sunday Apr 2014
Tags
I know I promised you bluebonnets field, and they will come. But today is Easter and I thought I would share what I did this year.
Can you see the picture in the banner of this blog that says “Texas” (bottom left). When I first saw it, little did I know that this place was kind of emblematic and that I was missing the other part of the name of the ranch: Luck.
We live in a region area where there are plenty of gorgeous areas to visit. We also live not too far from a place that you cannot really visit… except on Easter Sunday. The place is Luck, Texas, and it is Willie Nelson‘s ranch. The movie Red Headed Stranger was filmed there, and the pictures below illustrate what remains of the setting.
There is a tiny church too, that welcomes a Gospel Choir on Easter Sunday, and apparently on Christmas Day too. On Easter Sunday, the door to the ranch is opened to everyone. I want to thank our neighbors for letting us know about this. This is not really a secrete anymore but this is not publicized either.
Willie Nelson is a huge star here and he sometimes make an appearance during the Easter service.
Here is Luck, Texas. Thanks to Mr. Nelson for his hospitality. Happy Easter Y’all!
26 Thursday Dec 2013
Tags
Austin, boxes, boxing day, Capitol, cats in boxes, Christmas, Christmas tree, Hello Kitty, Kitshka, Milou, new york, red tape, Santa Claus, Texas
We complain that we are overburdened by regulations that make our lives less easy – and that’s true. You’d imagine that someone like Santa Claus would get special privileges from the “governing” sphere though because, well, because he’s Santa, for goodness’ sake!
Well, you’d be wrong. And right.
Santa and his reindeers have to get all the permits necessary to enter the U.S. territory like everyone else, but we do think the red tape is being reduced a little for him. After all, if someone is used to red tape, that must be Santa (red, green, silver…), so you don’t want to add to it.
Er, this is not Santa, this is Hello Kitty Claus (?!)
If you are still thinking: “what the hell did she drink for Christmas?!”, let me explain.
The US Department of Agriculture issued a permit to Santa so that his reindeers could enter the U.S.:
Breaking news out of Washington, D.C. as the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 6 PM December 24, 2013 and 6 AM December 25, 2013, through or over any northern border port.
“During this season of giving, USDA wants to do everything in its power to help Santa,” said Dr. John R. Clifford, USDA’s Chief Veterinary Officer. “We agreed to waive the normal application fees and entry inspection/overtime costs, provided he winks his eye and wishes port personnel a Merry Christmas at the time of crossing.”
APHIS also waived the normally applicable disease testing requirements, as the North Pole is recognized by APHIS as negligible risk for all livestock diseases and at a recent inspection, the reindeer were found to be healthy and able to prance and paw with each hoof.
Rudolph might avoid being frisked but he still has – per mentioned-regulation – to stick to a special diet of hay, sugar plums, and gingerbread and be microchipped.
But wait, that’s not all. The Federal Administration Aviation also made things a bit more easy for Santa:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today said Santa Claus, his elfin crew and the Santa One sleigh are GO for the annual round-the-world flight that will deliver presents to good boys and girls everywhere.
“This is my first holiday season as Secretary of Transportation, and I feel a special responsibility to make sure Santa’s flight goes off without a hitch,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
While there were no external changes to Santa One this year, FAA inspectors put in many hours ensuring that the sleigh’s systems – and especially its crew – met all applicable regulations.
(…)
“We’re helping Santa fly smarter and faster while making sure he has a safe and successful mission” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
Finally, not even Santa is free of being spied on surveilled tracked. Yes, you read that right: you can track Santa’s route thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). In fact, “they’ve been tracking Santa since 1955 – they’re veritable professionals at keeping tabs on the big man. From their website, Noradsanta.org, you can follow Santa as he zooms around the globe delivering presents and spreading good cheer.”
Ah!
Well, I hope that Santa stopped at your house and delivered what you expected :-) If you are unsure (!), you can always ask the NSA to check for you.
Not everything went smoothly everywhere. I went to Austin’s Capitol on Monday to take a picture of the Christmas Tree in front of the park.
Yes, this is a limo and a Cinderella-like carriage fleeing the scene on your left
No, this is not a magic tree. Obviously, there was a bug in the lightning system. I wonder if those switched-off lights were incandescent light bulbs?
Finally, finally,… have you heard of boxing day? I had not until about a year. I’ll go back to how in a moment.
Nobody knows exactly the origins of Boxing Day, but there are several theories:
The best clue to Boxing Day’s origins can be found in the song “Good King Wenceslas.” According to the Christmas carol, Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen’s Day — Dec. 26 — when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm. Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant’s door. The alms-giving tradition has always been closely associated with the Christmas season — hence the canned-food drives and Salvation Army Santas that pepper our neighborhoods during the winter — but King Wenceslas’ good deed came the day after Christmas, when the English poor received most of their charity.
King Wenceslas didn’t start Boxing Day, but the Church of England might have. During Advent, Anglican parishes displayed a box into which churchgoers put their monetary donations. On the day after Christmas, the boxes were broken open and their contents distributed among the poor, thus giving rise to the term Boxing Day. Maybe.
But wait: there’s another possible story about the holiday’s origin. The day after Christmas was also the traditional day on which the aristocracy distributed presents (boxes) to servants and employees — a sort of institutionalized Christmas-bonus party. The servants returned home, opened their boxes and had a second Christmas on what became known as Boxing Day.
Boxing Day is not celebrated in the United States. Well, wait, it is actually, although it is celebrated in a particular way that is not on Wikipedia. It is how I heard of it. Boxing Day is a kitty holiday! Mais bien sûr ! And you can be sure some kitties at my home are celebrating like it’s Christmas all over again!
Happy Holiday Season!
