BOOK - "THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS" by Elizabeth Gilbert

I just finished reading "THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS" by Elizabeth Gilbert, who also wrote "EAT, PRAY, LOVE". It was published in 2013 (499 pages), and is highly rated (3.78 out of 5) on Goodreads.com. Although I didn't really care for this book (it was longer than it needed to be and was just "ok" for me), she penned a number of VERY special, thought-provoking passages, a few of which I'm inspired to share here.

"The old cobbler believed in something he called "the signature of all things" - namely, that God had hidden clues for humanity's betterment inside the design of every flower, leaf, fruit, and tree on earth. All the natural world was a divine code, Boehme claimed, containing proof of our Creator's love.  This is why so many medicinal plants resembled the diseases they were meant to cure, or the organs they were able to treat. Basil, with its liver-shaped leaves, is the obvious ministration for the ailments of the liver.  The celandine herb which produces a yellow sap, can be used to treat the yellow discoloration brought on by jaundice. Walnuts, shaped like brains, are helpful for headaches. Coltsfoot, which grows near cold streams, can cure the coughs and chills brought on by immersion in ice water. Polygonum, with its spattering of blood-red markings on the leaves, cures bleeding wounds of the flesh. And so on, ad infinitum."  (pg. 229)

"And yet Boehme said that God had pressed Himself into the world, and had left marks there for us to discover."  (pg. 230)

"As a child, I used to fall so deeply into prayer that my mother would shake me in church and punish me for sleeping during services, but I had not been sleeping. I had been... corresponding.  Now, after reading Jacob Boehme, I wanted to meet the divine even more intimately. That is why I gave up everything in the world, including sustenance."

"What happened?" Alma asked, once more dreading the answer.

"I met the divine," he said, eyes bright. "Or, I believed I did. I had the most magnificent thoughts. I could read the language hidden inside trees. I saw angels living inside orchids. I saw a new religion, spoken in a new botanical language. I heard its hymns. I cannot remember the music now, but it was exquisite."  

(pg. 231)

"If you ask me what I believe, I shall tell you this: the whole sphere of air that surrounds us, Alma, is alive with invisible attractions - electric, magnetic, fiery and thoughtful. There is a universal sympathy all around us. There is a hidden means of knowing. I am certain of this, for I have witnessed it myself. When I swung myself into the fire as a young man, I saw that the storehouses of the human mind are rarely ever fully opened. When we open them, nothing remains unrevealed. When we cease all argument and debate - both internal and external - our true questions can be heard and answered. That is the powerful mover. That is the book of nature, written neither in Greek nor in Latin.  That is the gathering of magic and it is a gathering that, I have always believed and wished, can be shared."  (pg.242)  

"Darwin wrote, "More individuals are born than can possibly survive. A grain in the balance will determine which individual shall live and which shall die"."  (pg. 473)

"Unfortunately, like your friend Mr. Darwin, I still seek the firmer answers of empirical science. It is my nature I'm afraid. But Mr. Lyell would have agreed with you. He argued that nothing short of a divine being could have created a human mind."  (pg. 494)

"Well, you are not alone in this world, Miss Whittaker, even if you have outlived everyone. I believe that we are surrounded by a host of unseen friends and loved ones, now passed away, who exert an influence upon our lives, and who never abandon us."  (pg. 496)

"I believe that we are all transient," she began. She thought for a while and added, "I believe that we are half-blind and full of errors. I believe that we understand very little, and what we do understand is mostly wrong. I believe that life cannot be survived - that is evident! - but if one is lucky, life can be endured for quite a long while. If one is both lucky and stubborn, life can sometimes even be enjoyed."  (pg 496)

Joan

"DOWN THE SHORE" AGAIN, but this time "THE JERSEY SHORE"

My high school Bestie, Dorri moved to Florida last year after retiring from her teaching career. She loves the heat, heat, heat (it's NOT for me.......). This past weekend she came "home" to Pennsylvania for a Reunion with her childhood Summer Camp friends and to visit with her 2 children in Philadelphia. 

Lucky for me she had a free afternoon for lunch. I picked her up at her son's restaurant (ZAVINO) in Philadelphia and we drove an hour to Ocean City, New Jersey for a walk on the BOARDWALK and lunch at one of her favorite spots.

Unfortunately, lunch was not as she had remembered (and was anxiously anticipating).

I hate when that happens, don't you?  But we made the best of it with lots of laughs.

Gotta love the SALES at the end of the season!!

SHRIVER'S SALT WATER TAFFY (since 1898)

Anyone who's been to the East Coast shoreline is familiar with SALT WATER TAFFY, but do my Aussie friends know about it?  Yummy, pully, sweet, soft, chewy things....... about 3" long, wrapped in paper and offered in every possible flavor you can imagine. I enjoyed one Vanilla and one Salted Caramel. What willpower I had (that day)!

Yes, that machine is "Pulling Taffy".

Of course you can find almost any kind of delicious junk food on the Boardwalk - 

French fries, funnel cake, KOHR BROS FROZEN CUSTARD (since 1917) and MANCO-MANCO PIZZA (since 1956), which boasts super LONG waiting lines during the summer season.

Naturally children (and adults) need ENTERTAINMENT - abundant and colorful.

Something new on the Boardwalk (to us) - COIN OPERATED BINOCULARS.

PLENTY of BICYCLES......... parked AND being ridden.

How cute is "Daddy's Little Girl" here - stylin' in her pink sunglasses!

It couldn't have been a more BEAUTIFUL, PICTURE-PERFECT DAY - sunny, blue skies, temperatures in the 70's with a nice breeze and NO CROWDS!!  Gotta love the shore in September.

It's always a GREAT DAY when you can spend it with a GREAT FRIEND, right?!!

Thanks Dorri.

xoxo
Joan

NAME CHOICE - "A ZESTY LIFE"

I just read a really LOVELY blog post by Shani Nottingham - RARE PEAR STUDIO. Check it out. Her Blog site is SO stylish and upbeat, I just had to share it with you. Her color choices are beautiful and what a talented artist she is! 

Shani's most recent post describes how she chose the name for her Blog. Which brings me to the question of how I came up with my name - "A Zesty Life"? 

OK, OK, those who know me are saying "Duh!" but seriously, it takes some time, effort and thoughtful moments/hours/days to come up with a name to represent yourself. I'm not promoting any business; this Blog is purely for my own personal enjoyment. It gives me an opportunity to share photos of my travels (so I don't monopolize friends' Facebook time, potentially, subliminally hearing them say - "Her again?!"). From time to time I'll also share books that I enjoy. In addition, I ALWAYS have SOMETHING to say, and this gives me a forum to let it out there --- encouraging your rebuttals of course.  :)

Back to the name choice - I started out planning to use "Living The Dream" (my Mantra) but it was already taken on Blogger (my hosting site).  How about "Livin' The Dream"?  Taken.  How about "A Zest for Life"?  Taken.  So my friend and fellow Blogger from Australia, Felicity MacQueen, was helping me with the mechanics of setting up my Blog (and she designed my heading!).  She suggested "A Zesty Life". Whoohoo!  Not taken!  Mine!!

Well, that's not all true - there IS another one named "A Zesty Life", hosted on WordPress since earlier this year. But I honestly didn't realize it until I was well underway and introduced to BLOGLOVIN' (an easy way to choose all of the Blogs you follow and receive just one email alert). 

I'm anticipating that both of "our zesty lives" will peacefully co-exist in the Big, Bad, Blogging World.........

Joan

BOOK - "THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES" by Sue Monk Kidd

I just finished reading "THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES" by Sue Monk Kidd (2002) (302 pgs). I know, I know, it was published over 10 years ago and I'm probably the last person on the planet to read it, but I'm really glad that I did - FINALLY.  

FANTASTIC. From a 14 year old's perspective in South Carolina in 1964, living with an abusive father and mother who recently accidentally died. Her circumstances lead this young girl on a journey of discovery, spending a period of time living with 3 sisters who are beekeepers and Rosalee, her housekeeper who came with her. Beautifully written - the way the author arranges words in a sentence to describe things in a simple way is masterful. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Rather than give away any more of the story (as if you haven't already read it - HA!), I wanted to share some passages that I thought were particularly well written - very descriptive - so creatively put together - that I hope will give you "warm fuzzies", will bring back memories of the story to you and/or will inspire YOU to read the book - FINALLY.

The story of 14 year-old Lily Owens, told by Lily Owens..............

"There had been a few times, though, just after I woke up, when I thought about my old house, and I would miss it for a second or two before I remembered kneeling on the kitchen floor with grits digging into my kneecaps or trying to step around a great big pile of T. Ray's nasty mood but usually landing right in it. I would remember him tearing into me, shouting Jesus H. Christ, Jesus H. Christ! The worst slap across the face I ever got was when I interrupted him to ask just what did the H. stand for anyway? One quick walk down memory land and the old-home feeling would blow right over." (Pg. 153)

"It was always a relief to empty your bladder.  Better than sex, that's what Rosaleen said. As good as it felt, though, I sincerely hopes she was wrong." (Pg. 163)

"If I ever managed to get to heaven after everything I'd done, I hoped I would get just a few minutes for a private conference with God. I wanted to say, Look, I know you meant well creating the world and all, but how could you let it get away from you like this? How come you couldn't stick with your original idea of paradise? People's lives were a mess." (Pg. 171)

"The last thing I expected was to fall asleep, but when there's a blow to the system, all the body wants to do is go to sleep and dream on it." (Pg. 174)

"Sometimes I didn't even feel like getting out of bed. I took to wearing my days-of-the-week panties out of order. It could be Monday and I'd have on underwear saying Thursday.  I just didn't care." (Pg. 215)

"I marched straight into August's room, a room filled with the smell of beeswax. I switched on a lamp and sat on the cedar chest at the end of her bed, where I folded and unfolded my hands eight or ten times. They were cool, damp, with a mind of their own. All they wanted to do was fidget and pop knuckles. I stuck them under my thighs." (Pg. 233)

"It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what sort of heartbreak is happening." (Pg. 279)

"I'd heard August say more than once, "If you need something from somebody, always give that person a way to hand it to you." " (Pg. 298)

Joan

MY 2ND PHOTO COLLAGE (BRITTANY, FRANCE)

In 2008, I won a one-week stay in a Chateau in BRITTANY, FRANCE (the Northwest region)!!  Who ever wins something this fantastic?! I was able to invite 7 others to come along - my 2 sisters and 5 friends. 

So, when I was recently inspired to create a collage (and since I tend to over-do things), I made a second collage of photos just from this trip. It's not framed, but instead is adhered to foamboard and now hanging on my wall.  Scroll below the collage for enlarged images.

And once again, I'll share each photo (and a few extras) in full size, along with a little storyline........

We flew into Paris and did a whirlwind tour of the city.  The LOUVRE - what a spectacular building. Did you know that it was originally the King's Palace in the city of Paris (while Versailles was the "country Palace") and at the time it was a 4-sided building built around the open interior space.  But during the French Revolution, people stormed it in anger, set it on fire and destroyed one whole side.  Today, only 3 sides of the Palace remain, now in it's famous "U" shape.

We took an excursion to one of my treasured spots - AUVERS-SUR-OISE. My favorite artist, VINCENT VAN GOGH is buried next to his brother Theo there.  The town has made a small museum out of the building where Vincent spent his last nights in 1890, after his failed suicide attempt, called MAISON DE VAN GOGH.  It was shocking to see that this well-respected Master could only afford to live in a tiny room over a restaurant. During his short few month living there, VAN GOGH painted so many of the buildings in this town that they have a poster of his painting under glass in front of each spot.  I loved that.

While in Brittany we explored CARNAC STONES, megaliths dating back to around 3300 BC.  Amazing to think that they have been standing like this all these years, isn't it?  

We then stopped in QUIBERON along the coastline, walked along the beach and picked up a few stones and then drove back to the Chateau for dinner prepared by our chef, Anne Divitry and her assistant, Florence.  

• Appetizer of zucchini soup with a drizzle of olive oil and lavender on top  
• Delicious fish prepared whole, encrusted in salt and served with mushrooms in a cream sauce
• A side of roasted potatoes and green beans 
• Salad and local cheeses  
• Dessert - a really delicious apple tart (a Brittany specialty)
• LOTS of dancing and singing and drinking wine by the fire till bedtime (with hot water bottles for the foot of each bed, loving prepared by Anna each night)

Although these next 4 photos are not in the collage, I wanted to share what this evening's spectacular meal looked like.

The next day we drove to the fascinating island of Mont St Michel.  In the year 966 a group of Benedictines settled here and constructed a church.  For several hundred years it served as a Romanesque Monastery and then as a prison during the French Revolution.  In 1979 UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site and since 2001, Friars and Sisters have been maintaining it as a spiritual site.

On the way back to the Chateau we stopped for some picture-taking opportunities in SAINT-SULIAC, included in the list of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France".  It really is!

We left the Chateau for a visit to Normandy. I drove the lead car with 4 of us and my sister Jane drove the 2nd car with my other sister, Ellen, Betty and Pat.  But, there's no way their car had as much fun as our car did......  Anna was my "Navigator", "Precious" (Donna) cut up pears and bread and fed us, while Marian kept us entertained with her quick wit. 

On our way we stopped in VILLEDIEU-LES-POELLES for a private tour of a bell foundry at CORNILLE HAVARD.  In NORMANDY we had a very moving, historical, private, morning tour with Alain from OVERLORD TOURS.  

We stayed in a charming B&B called LA FERME DE RANCONNIERE in the tiny village of CREPON, near BAYEUX (I particularly LOVED the main church in Bayeux). I hesitate to sound boastful, but I truly think my photos of his Inn do it more justice than those on their website!  How about the view from my window?  Each room was unique.  We enjoyed a memorable dinner there and tried the local drink - "CALVADOS" - an "apple brandy"/"hard cider".  I liked it (......a little too much!).

On our way to the waterfront town of HONFLEUR (I LOVED this town and want to return someday), we made a quick stop in BEUVRON-EN-AUGE, included on the list of "Most Beautiful Villages in France", and I fell in love with its charm!!  My camera was busy at this stop.  Here are two photos that might give you a little flavor of it.

We shopped for lunch in the waterfront town of HONFLEUR......  yes, I WILL return someday!

Our final stop on this trip was in the town of GIVERNY, where we visited the home of Impressionist Painter, CLAUDE MONET.  His gardens were spectacular and to be inside his home was quite a thrill. The Impressionists are known to have traded paintings with each other when they gathered in Paris and his home showed his collection (although they are now reproductions).  Can't you see how the reflections and swirls in the water here (and the lily pads) inspired MONET to paint this?  He was the garden AND water designer, by the way.

Betty HAD to have an original painting from France.  This street artist in GIVERNY, by MONET'S home was just the right guy to fill the bill.

After visiting MONET'S gravesite, we had dinner at a very cute (and famous) restaurant down the street called L'ANCIEN HOTEL BAUDY. At this same restaurant, many Impressionists once dined, such as Cezanne, Renoir, Sisley, Rodin and Mary Cassatt. I loved the paintings hung on the walls inside - this one in particular (but not for sale......).  

I highly recommend the B&B where we stayed in GIVERNY, called LA RESERVE.  The rooms had the tallest ceilings, the breakfast was fresh/delicious and the decor was "oh so French"!!  I stayed in the SEPIA ROOM - decadent.

Oh what a trip that was!! Yes, I planned the itinerary and lodging myself, to give us a flavor of the region west and northwest of Paris. We had the perfect combination of 8 travelers, who all enjoyed the food, the wine, the sights, the late night chats (all in one room) in our jammies........ FUN!

Joan

FOR MY NEW (and my seasoned) BLOG READERS

I'm fairly new to the BLOG world.  Are you too?  I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a wonderful online course, that taught me the basics of Blogging and also introduced me to many other new (and seasoned) Bloggers.  

In case you feel inspired to also start a Blog, I highly recommend BLOG WITH PIP (or BWP).

One of my "classmates", LISA BERSON, from Western Australia, describes herself as ".......a freelance writer & blogger.  Writing like I mean it.  Sharing stories and experiences about life's random moments.  I love writing about motherhood, social injustice, woman's lifestyle issues, travel, career or corporate topics".  And Lisa's a midwife.

This week, Lisa's post included a link to the individual Blogs that each of my classmates created. In your spare time, you might be interested in checking them out AND if you find some that are "inspiring", you can follow them too!  Here is the link - LINK.  

To my avid reader friends, you'll enjoy Lisa's comments about what she is currently reading.  Another Blogger inspired this challenge to fellow Bloggers.........  gotta love the Internet!!

Joan
PS  Did I say "Blog" and/or "Blogger" enough for you here?  Yikes!

"COLLAGE" - MEMORIES OF FRANCE

• Fellow BWP bloggers are responding to a challenge of creating a collage of "HOME"
• Browsing the blogs this weekend, I felt inspired to also create a "COLLAGE"
• The theme I chose is "FRANCE" (BIG surprise, right?!)
• Ritz Photo in Paoli printed it on 24" x 36" photo paper
• It's now framed and hanging on my wall!

Now, for the enlargements of the photos in the collage, with a short description of where I took each one......

One of my favorite red wines comes from the tiny village of RASTEAU in the Rhone region of southern France, where the famous Cotes du Rhone wines are bottled.  It was Fall and the leaves on the vines were "golden".  Not just "golden" but actually "shimmering gold" in the bright sunshine.  I had a "moment" when I felt that I was seeing the much talked about "light" that the Impressionist Painters sought in the Provence region. It literally took my breath away. Shimmering, glittering, golden leaves on the vines - literally like diamonds.  I took this photo from the top of the hill, looking out over the valley.

It was in 2007, and my friend Mary Ann and I stayed at a terrific B&B in VAISON-LA-ROMAINE, called L'Eveche. We spent a whole morning in the exciting "market day" experience, where I bought some fun jewelry that I still enjoy.  And of course we had to buy some French cheese and baguettes to go with wine (Cotes du Rhone of course) for our dinner. Perfection!  Another morning we discovered uncovered ruins in the middle of town and wandered around for a bit.  Sculpture really fascinates me.....  I just don't know how they do it!! Mary Ann still laughs when she remembers my "stumble" here (lost my footing) and there was a girl sitting on a wall just staring at me stumbling with no reaction whatsoever.  Really Mary Ann? Was it really THAT funny?!

While on the west coast of France with Linda and Andy Smith in 2009, for their daughter Abbey's "Destination Wedding in France" (with Ben Hunter), we spent a few hours in the most beautiful village - TALMONT-SUR-GIRONDE (it's on the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" list). The BLUE!! The FLOWERS!! The LAVENDER!! The DRESS on the shop door!!  

Jumping back to 2007 in Provence, we also stopped in the tiny village of SEGURET (also on the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" list), near Rasteau and Vaison-la-Romaine, where I took LOTS of pictures. Everything there was just so beautiful.  I couldn't get enough.  The vibrant fall colors were unbelievable.

Not far from Seguret is the town of GIGONDAS, another area producing really fine Cote du Rhone wine. The price for a bottle of wine there was reasonable, but here???  Not so much.  But it IS a really delicious red wine. I felt really at home in this town. We stopped for a quick lunch, but I could have spent a few more hours just sitting and looking around (and taking pictures of course!).

On this same trip, we actually started on the French Riviera in one of the most wonderful and unique B&B rooms that I've ever stayed in, in the hilltop town of EZE (they had "overbooked" their B&B and HAD to put us here. They had just completed it and we were the first to stay - oh my!).  SPECTACULAR!!  It was a tiny 2-story apartment with a pull-down stairway to the roof where there were chairs to watch the sunset and the sunrise. Which we did. With wine. Overlooking the water of the Riviera. Mary Ann and I still laugh about this being the most romantic place a person could be, doing the most romantic things and who was I with? My friend. Mary Ann. Sigh...........  I'll have to share some photos of this apartment another time. Anyway, we spent a few hours in the walled town of ST PAUL DE VENCE one afternoon. Once again, a Photographer's Paradise, with the red and gold leaves of Fall hanging off the walls (didn't mean to make this rhyme here).  I'll never forget it. Here's a glimpse of a stairway down to a residence with a metal gate that caught my eye.

And my favorite photo of all time is of a window in Provence.  I think it may also have been in Seguret, but I'm not certain. Isn't this inviting? I love the lace curtain in the window, the rustic shutters and the color of the leaves on the walls.

And another sculpture - at the magnificent PALACE OF VERSAILLES, outside of PARIS. It's hard to believe that I had been to Paris maybe 6 times before I visited Versailles. But I finally did it. And with who better than Linda and Andy (he is quite the talented watercolorist - Andy's Website). We all walked around together in awe. Naturally, I then became obsessed with reading more about Paris during the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette, her daughter, etc., etc. The gardens are beyond beautiful. The decor in the Palace is so over-the-top........ (more photos might be in order for another blog post, right??). But doesn't this sculpture just take your breath away? Ok, maybe I'm a little dramatic, but it really does move me.

I hope you've enjoyed the description of my collage photos while on our brief little "trip to France" together........