A Leaf Peeper's Ode to Fall

There is no need of words to express the splendor of the season:

Nostalgia!

When things slow down it is time to reflect. Canceling my trip to France (for economic reasons) has been a really hard thing to do. Many of my family members and dear friends are aging. I have missed so much already, living so far. One good thing is that my daughter Emily is, at the present moment, in company of loved ones enjoying the "Cote d'Azur" 's sunshine, food, sights... Thanks to blogs like "Tongue in Cheek" once in a while I am transported to this World that I know so well and where my spirit is deeply anchored. So with a bit of Nostalgia but also a bit of Happiness about knowing that this special place is still there and is not loosing it's charm and flavor. If you click on the photo, you will see a few of my favorite things...

Transitions

Fall, a bit early in my part of the World. My favorite season because of it's gold colors. This week has shown some transitional signs on the mountain. Slowly things are shifting in color and the temperature already low is walking backwards. We are to move things in the slower mode. Reading is once again a comfort in the long evenings. I have welcomed two geraniums in the kitchen. They are encourage to live and wait for next May in a protected environment.

Last Monday, I had invited the TAS group to come to my house. So we were about 8 altogether after Jennifer passed by on her daily run. We had excellent food. Bekky's husband had caught some Halibut the day before so she brought some (there is nothing like fresh Halibut), Diana had made her legendary "Chicken Enchiladas", Terry brought artichoke dip, Becky (the other one, same pronunciation different spelling...) some peach cobbler, I provided smoke salmon from Bernie's excellent recipe, Della had some moose summer sausage (looks like a salami and is fabulous). Just to show you all that in Alaska we do not starve even though most of our food needs to be fished, hunted, gathered or imported!!! Oh yes we did work on our projects too...

Curt turned 51 on the 31 too. He had his "escalopes a la creme" with mushrooms, asparagus, sauteed cubed potatoes and his Double Chocolate Cake that he so loves. A more subdued celebration from last year but warm and cozy at home nonetheless.
Today is one of those glorious light days when the tree shadows dance in the house. I love the strong contrasts.

I have discovered "Listen Alaska" a service provided through our local Library that allows us to borrow and download a large selection of books. I have had the pleasure to listen to "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. First of a Trilogy this story is most compelling. A chilling atmosphere as life as we know doesn't exist anymore and this scenario of the future could potentially happen if we are not careful with the use of our so loved freedom. Sounding a bit like Margaret Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale" with a more juvenile and pure look. I am looking forward to the next two books. Number 2 is out already "Gathering Blue". I have put a hold for the next recording available. At the moment I am fully enjoying the book "Drood" by Dan Simmons. Charles Dickens comes to light, at least the 5 last years of his life, in this book narrated by Wilkie Collins. Dan Simmons has taken historical facts and created the story of Mr Drood and his scary demeanor and has woven the lives of Collins and Dickens. If you have read anything by Wilkie Collins you will enjoy the tone of the story as it could have been written by Collins himself. I have learned much of Dickens and his friendship and private life through this book. So there I am now fully ready to read "The Moonstone" when the weather is getting a bit colder and I need a mental trip to India. I have found a lovely copy of the book at our new bookstore: The Apple Tree in Eagle River. It dates 1944 and has beautiful illustrations by William Sharp. It has 444 pages. I like that easy number to remember and matching somehow this edition. Don't you love the bright yellow cover? It matches the colors of the mountains around here another good reason to select this read.

At the Library I have picked "Among the Mad" by Jaqueline Winspear . I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue reading from the Maisie Dobbs series. The last one was a bit repetitive and predictable to me, but saying that I like Maisie and want to know what is going to happen to her... I am reading also "A Fine Balance". India again and at it's most bare bones. Tough to read at time because of the injustice encountered, even harder because it is real.

Then I also got at the Library "Tiny Houses" by Mimi Zeiger. Just very impressive and inspiring. I am looking to remodel a small place I have in France and want to take advantage of each square inches to make it livable while on vacation. If I ever live in France again I could keep it as my Studio. Anyway the book is very interesting showing many floor plans and pictures.

I also picked up three movies at the Library: Come Early Morning, Closer and Tsotsi. So we shall see... Literally!

I also have downloaded few books and will have to listen to those in the next two weeks. (Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman, The Piano Teacher by Janice Lee, Peony in Love by Lisa See, Pictures at an Exhibition by Sarah Houghteling, A Short History of Nearly Anything by Bill Bryson, finally.... Through a Glass, Darkly by Donna Leon. Wish me luck....

Bookish meme

Iliana posted this: "Dorothy W. just posted this wonderful meme and I couldn't pass up on it. Check it out and I bet you’ll want to give it a go too.
Using only books you have read this year (2009), answer these questions. Try not to repeat a book title. It’s a lot harder than you think!"
Her answers were wonderful. I decide to join in bu couldn't just include the 2009 books because they were not that numerous and did not fit as answers to those questions, so I included the 2008 as well. I hope you do it too.
Describe yourself: The Likeness (Tana French)
How do you feel: Nightmares and Fairy Tales: 1140 Rue Royale (Serana Valentino, a graphic novel)
Describe where you currently live: In the Woods (Tana French)
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Brooklyn (Colm Toibin)
Your favorite form of transportation: The Memorist (M J Rose)
Your best friend is: The Messenger of Truth (Jaqueline Winspear)
You and your friends are: The Yiddish Policeman's Union (Michael Chabon)
What’s the weather like: A Prodigal Summer (Barbara Kingsolver)
You fear: The Behavior of Moths (Poppy Adams)
What is the best advice you have to give: Snoop: What your stuff says about you ( Sam Gosling)
How I would like to die: The Woman in White (Wilkie Collins)
My soul’s present condition: The Reader (Bernhard Schlink) and The interpreter of Maladies (Jumpha Lahiri)

Glow-ry, Glow-ry, Glow-ry Alleluia !!!

Since I turned 50!

I feel it already! Middle age is it? Hope so, unlikely though as I don't anticipate to live to be a 100. As it turns out I am not sure that I can afford to live another 30 years. Thanks to a wavering economy. But that is another matter.
Since my last post things have been happening in our neck of the woods. Melanie and David arrived at the end of July and stayed a couple of days before touring Alaska on their bikes, Bunny and Nancy were arriving on the 4th at one hour difference so I went to the airport to greet them and take them home. My Sister Carol and Brother-in-Law Jean-Pierre arrived on my BD (the 5th). We had a bit of celebration for few days afterthat. First with my friends for a luncheon organized by Terry. They had some fun making fun of my advancing age!!!! They were all giving me advices and what to look forward to... they are all older than me. ahahah. But I am honored to be in such wise company. Curt outdid himself by making a party to remember at our house on the 7th. About 40+ of my favorite people in the world, the only missing were my Mom, Emily and my french family. I did think about them a lot and wish they could have been here with us. Instead of a traditional cake I had a fabulous "Tarte Tatin" for dessert. Paris Bakery and Cafe catered the event. We had some great fun.
The weather had been rainy with just few hours of respite for the party. Yeah!!!
Since then we have gone to Homer for three days. Melanie and David who had started a bike tour on their own in Calgary then went on to Sitka and Anchorage had completed a nice loop around Alaska met us in Homer and drove back with us. Melanie has a special spot in my heart. One of those person that just happens in your life as a gift of fresh air. Thinking of that I have to tell that I got many wonderful presents from my friends but Bunny and Mimi did a surprising thing: Bunny arrived with one suitcase that she asked to open as soon as we were in the car. She extracted from it a huge handle gift bag filled with..... 50 presents!!!! all wrapped with beautiful papers and colorful silk ribbons... That was pretty amazing! I still can't believe the amount of time it took for them to gather those, wrap them and then carry them. I had a lot of fun opening them with Carol later on. I must say that I am very lucky to have friends that go out of their ways to make me feel loved and appreciated. So a big thank you for all of my friends that are vital parts of my life. I could not do it without you.
Where was I??? Oh yeah, Homer. The fireweeds are still going on strong in Kenai. We even saw giant ones by the Orthodox Church in Ninilchik!!! About 7 feet tall. We stayed at the Jenny Lane Cottage. I love that place. So conveniently located on the bluff. Few steps down and you are on the beach. Few steps on the road and you are at the Bunnell Gallery, the Fringe and Two Sister's Bakery. The weather was beautiful. Of course Fat Olives was on the Menu, then Boardwalk Fish and Chips, The Salty Dog Saloon for a drink, Jars of Clay for ceramic purchasing.
A new thing that I did was to take a walk in the back pier on the spit where old rusty ships are anchored. I had fun taking pictures of those silent colorful giants. I wanted to move and live in one of them. Install my studio and start working amongst the rust. Must be because of my new advanced age!!! Live where you belong... But it is true that it is a great waste of great space.
We also drove down East end Road in the Russian neighborhood, a real adventure with superb vista of the glaciers on the other side of Kachemak Bay.
Can you tell that I love Homer???
So now back in Anchorage and saying goodbye to Melanie and David this morning. They are off to Hawai to a wedding. They are so courageous to have tacked so many miles already on their bikes with all their gears. What great memories for them.
Carol and Jean Pierre are on their way to Talkeetna as I write this note.
Life is about to change for us. I guess it happens to everyone but let's say that we are a bit more aware of it then others at the moment. Turning 50 will not go unnoticed for me. It is engraved in my memory. I am scarred and excited at the same time of what is ahead. I am ready for it. I am going to pledge to age but not to get old. I want to keep my spirit how it is: a bit immature, continuing to nourish it with learning and add some depth to it as it experiences new things.