Good and Evil on my dresser top

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

Faces not so different
Both gnarled with age
My fairy godmother and my necromancer
Posed in uncomfortable juxtaposition on my dresser top

Meticulously carved expressions
Wide-eyed rosy-cheeked Good
Dark-lipped deceptively malevolent Evil

Both in exquisite garb
Good in pink paisley leggings
Evil with spangled bloomers tucked stylishly into ebony boots
Nevermore perched in a cage upon her arm
Good a flutter of diaphanous wings
Evil awash in a black veil with silvery spider clasp

Both reminding me that I have grown old with them
That this very day marks my seventy-third year of dancing between the two

At times inhabiting a world of pink froth—helping others, bringing children into the world, trying to be a loving mother and grandmother, a faithful friend

At other times donning a darker habit, thinking myself quite justified in self-centered pettiness, harboring hateful, revengeful thoughts over what I consider life’s injustices

And so, they sit in judgment upon my dresser, looking down on me
Reminding me that each moment of each day
I have a choice between good and evil

Mayhem And Love.

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

This poem by one of my favorite WordPress poets is an exquisite expression of the world and humanity as it is, vibrating always between polar opposites.

Chateaux of the Loire – Day Five: Chateau de la La Ferté Saint Aubin

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

The history of Chateau de la Ferté Saint Aubin goes back to the 17th century. We found it a delightful place to visit not only because of the gorgeous restoration but because of all the marvelous things to see and do. My favorite was the exquisite doll museum with dioramas of antique dolls and children’s toys.

My daughter enjoyed the goats and chickens in the farm.

And we both loved the cooking demonstration of madeleines in the chateau kitchen using techniques of past centuries.

On the way back to our car we discovered how they trim those enormous hedges that surround many of the entrances to the chateaux.

A delightful place to bring children–although my granddaughters were at their Centre Loisir that day.

Chateaux of the Loire – Day Four: Chenonceau

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

Of all the beautiful chateaux along the Loire, Chenonceau, built in 1513, is the one I have visited and loved the most. Which is why I can always go back again to walk that grand gallery over the Cher river, delight in the exquisite floral arrangements in each room, and read about the rivalry of Catherine de Medici and Diane de Poitiers and visit their competing gardens.Their iron, but very feminine, fists in their velvet gloves always preserved Chenonceau in times of conflict and war.

This year with my six-year-old granddaughter as my tour guide, I visited places in the 70 hectares that I had never seen before–the Maze, the extensive greenhouses and gardens where the flowers for those beautiful displays are grown and arranged (did I think they call 1-800-FLOWERS ??), the stables, the XVI century farm, and the historic display of the chateau’s use as a military hospital during World War I.

The castle chef’s at work

One of the many beautiful bouquets designed for each room

This lily pad display even mimicking the pond scum

The photo display of WWI as a military hospital

One of many garden areas

Enjoying the tour

Chateaux of the Loire – Day Three: Chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

This is the third of nine posts about our visits to Loire chateaux this summer. Chaumont was distinctive for its annual International Garden Festival and a lovely lunch at Le Grand Velum which features spices, vegetable species, rare and relevant plants from eco-agriculture.

Less than 200 km south of Paris, nestling between the cities of Tours and Blois, is a haven of poetry stretching out 40 meters above the wild Loire, Whatever the season, Chaumont-sur-Loire, once the home of Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers and Princess de Broglie, beckons visitors indoors to admire its cozy and lavishly furnished interior. Installations by an array of contemporary artists in the château and along the footpaths of the park catch you by surprise. Every year, more than 400,000 visitors flock to its International Garden Festival, held since 1992.

Our photos include the chateau itself with all its elegance and grandeur on the banks of the Loire, its fabled stables, its unusual eco-friendly restaurant, and, of course, the Garden Festival

Catherine de Medici’s bedroom in her usual somber hues

Modern stained glass art installation in attic niches filled with restoration materials

Grand dining room

Huge stables filled with carriages and harnesses

The chateau’s floral borders

Garden Festival entry portraying top of home sunken by nature’s forces in this future themed competeition

All that is left is the attic with the survivor’s few precious belongings

Parfumery entry.

Another unusual entry

Look closely for Maggie popping up in this one

And on to lunch at Le Grand Velum

Cushion of veal cooked like a boiled ham, with grilled bacon from the same meat, seasoned with lovage. Heads of broccoli and duxelles of finely sliced chard served on home-made wholegrain bread roll

Beef eye-of-round and Carrots cooked in mild " ices (Voatsiperifery pepper, paprika and turmeric), cumin potato bubbles and sa % ron yellow zucchini, beef gravy and cress shoots to

Beef eye-of-round and Carrots cooked in mild
“ices (Voatsiperifery pepper, paprika and turmeric), cumin potato bubbles and saffron
yellow zucchini, beef gravy and cress shoots

Milk chocolate and pollen flavoured # reusel biscuit, organic honey parfait, served with a smooth peach-apricot cream. Sorbet comprising the

Milk chocolate and pollen flavoured
streusel biscuit, organic honey parfait, served with a smooth peach-apricot cream.

Mormon Meteor at Blackhawk Museum

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

I enjoyed learning about the Mormon Meteor III (video by Jay Leno) and hearing historian David Fetherston’s speak (video of lecture) about “Bonneville Then and Now” last Saturday September 10th as part of the Blackhawk Museum’s Speaker Series. Took Meteor will be there for only a few more days before returning to the Price Museum of Speed in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Next Sunday is annual trek to the Go Pro Grand Prix at Sonoma Raceway. It is the final of this year’s Indy series.and my last chance to see my favorite driver Helio Castroneves race this year.

Chateaux of the Loire – Day Two: Chateau Sully-sur-Loire

Gallery

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

This gallery contains 17 photos.

Now THIS is what a castle is supposed to be! Visit the Chateau’s website and be sure to play the Presentation Clip and you too can experience what we did, traipsing up and down endless spiral stone staircases (hanging on … Continue reading →

Chateaux of the Loire – Day One: Chateau Villesavin

Gallery

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

This gallery contains 18 photos.

This summer I spent three lovely weeks in Orléans with my daughter and granddaughters, ages four and six. During the week, the little girls, who are bilingual in French, attended a Centre Loisirs pour les enfants (see news photos here) … Continue reading →

Back To School Eve

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

My daughter-in-law is a middle school science teacher and this is her delightful and educational blog for her students. Enjoy!

Finding Flora & Fauna

Hands down…This is THE most beautiful shade of blue I have ever seen!I took this picture somewhere between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean after leaving the port of Labadee, Haiti this summer. I remember staring at this water and feeling so grateful to get the opportunity to see such beauty in person. I spent a long time waiting for wildlife to jump out and say “Hello” to me. Not a single fish or mammal greeted me that day (our big ship was too noisy, I imagine) but, the sound and color of that amazing body of moving water, I will never forget.

Tonight is Back to School Eve for me. I leave this summer with such special family memories and adventures including the addition of a new puppy, our loving and energetic pointer named Patch.

September is a busy month! In a few weeks I venture to…

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Looking forward to my journey to France

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Dr. Karen Stephen

I will be joining my family in Orléans France two weeks from today. Here are some photos of the neighborhood of our Airbnb accommodations at the Place du General de Gaulle in the center of the city. And here is our lovely apartment with a very un-French American style kitchen, a delightful room for the granddaughters with a play area, and a couch for me should I still be sleeping sitting up for my broken shoulder. It’s got to hurt less in France! And all at an extremely reasonable price. Weekend trips to Paris, the Loire, and other destinations are very easy. And Drivy is our source for car rental (the European Airbnb for cars!). A nice elderly woman is renting us her car for the entire stay.