pic of the day for wednesday, 03-16-11

lake, plaisir, france, 10-28-09

i'm baaaccckkk!!!

landscape shots don't normally blow the wind up my skirt, but the sky here in france is nothing short of rapturing!  this particular scene unfolded at our local lake, a mere 15 minute jaunt from chez piron.  a spot normally reserved for sport enthusiasts, fishermen, picknickers, strolling families complete with high heeled ladies pushing strollers, & of course the trysting lovers, on this particular evening it was just me & les canards.  and no, they were in no risk of being captured to make an appearance on my dinner plate (shudder!), rather i was busy trying to put food on their table, hurling chunks of bread their way with my freakishly long arms :) :) :)

i'll keep this short & sweet, like yours truly ;)

wishing you a supercalafragalisticexpialidocious day!!!

little miss excuse me while i kiss the sky

pic of the day for monday, 02-14-11

ispahan, jc gaulupeau, versailles, france, 02-13-11

happy valentine's day, kindred souls!

it's a silly holiday really...i believe every day should be focused on giving & receiving love, in all its forms :) :) :)  it does, however, give me an EXCUSE (as if i need one!) to eat even MORE candy & desserts ;)  in fact, i've had so many that we may need to devote the entire week just to sweets!!!

as for this particular delicacy, it goes by the name of ispahan.  we giddily snagged it from jc gaulupeau, an extravagant little shop that has been in existence since 1769!  it was wickedly decadent...rose "biscuits" filled with rose petal cream, fresh raspberries & litchis...blissful bellies & rampant tooth decay quickly followed ;)

i'll post more sugary madness tomorrow, but until then, neil & i remind you to:

turn on your heartlight, let it shine wherever you go, let it make a happy glow, for all the world to see :) :) :)

live in love,

little miss sweet tooth

pic of the day for thursday, 02-03-11

lunch, la rochelle, france, 08-08-09

welcome back to la rochelle!  hope my history lesson yesterday didn't put you to sleep ;)

as i received not a single response regarding my proposition suggesting YOUR preference for today's depiction from the seaside city we previously visited together virtually, you're stuck with this!  it required minimal thought/research/effort on my part, & hence is the perfect selection pour aujourd'hui :) :) :)

and for those of you shocked to see leafy vegetables on my plate, i DO (sometimes) partake of foods that actually provide nutritional value, but only if they're blanketed in cheese ;)

this broad is beat...

à tout à l'heure, alligator!  (see ya later, alligator seems to lose something in the translation, 'eh?)

pic of the day for wednesday, 02-02-11

la rochelle, france, 08-08-09

another day, another church in france...ho hum, ho hum...

no, really...despite the inordinate amount of churches in this country, i have yet to tire of their magnificence!  each architectural masterpiece manages to cast a spell on me, & i am left in awe, drooling under every bell tower ;)

this particular stunner resides in la rochelle.  the area of la rochelle has been around since before christ, (hayzeus, for my latin friends), first inhabited by the gauls & then the romans, during these ancient times.  in more recent history, la rochelle was "officially" founded in the 10th century & became an important harbour in the 12th century.  the following couple hundreds of years found this city bordering the atlantic ocean repeatedly flip flopping in occupancy between the english & the french as a result of sieges & wars & treaties & the like.  peace was short lived, & subsequent centuries were again filled with riots & revolts & lions & tigers & bears...oh my!  wait, that's another story...

ANYWAY, intense triangular trade involving slave trading with africa, sugar trading with the plantations in antilles, & fur trading with canada led to great prosperity with a period of high artistic, cultural, & architectural achievements for this city.  alas, it was not to last, & the city lost its trade & prominence during the decades spanning the seven years's war, the french revolution, & the napoleonic wars.  (WAR, huh, good god, what is it good for, absolutely nothing, say it again ya'll!!!)

in more modern history, the second world war saw germany establishing a submarine naval base at the main port of la rochelle, complete with u-boats & bunkers & men speaking in a deeply guttural manner.  this was the last french city to be freed at the end of the aforementioned war, when the germans were finally capitulated on may 7, 1945.

and voila!  there you have the tale of this seaside city!  i didn't intend to get drawn into a lengthy historical explanation, but my fingers could not be deterred once wikipedia was consulted ;)

as for my own experiences, i found this dwelling in the southwest of france absolutely charming!  i encountered delights around every corner, including street artists of various types, architectural wonders, & gastronomical pleasures!  so what do you want to see next?  photos exist of all of the above, & much, much more!  should we have a poll?  cast your ballot, friends, & tomorrow will bring another glimpse (& a less winded editorial) into la rochelle :) :) :)

before i depart, i will leave a couple bonus shots, just for fun, of the original capture.  one brings to mind an etching, while the other would be classified as the comic book version ;)

sooo...thanks for joining me on this adventure called life!  there are still so many places i want to explore, & yet the revisiting of these photos & the subsequent blogs that follow are compelling me to reexamine firsthand these previous escapades...hmmm...what's a girl to do?  decisions, decisions...not my forte ;)

until next time,

little miss francy pants

pic of the day for monday, 01-31-11

sint-salvatorskathedraal, bruges, belgium, 05-29-10

goede dag mijn vrienden!

since today's photo comes to us from belgium, i thought i would get all fancy & throw in a little dutch introduction for you (courtesy of google, naturally)!

i caught this rusty treasure just outside of sint-salvatorskathedraal in bruges.  it was raining & i was rather in a rush, but i'm still kicking myself for only snapping 2 shots of this magnificently corroded beast!  SURELY (don't call me shirley!) you realize by now that not only do i see beauty in everything, but that i have a special affinity for items of a rustalicious nature...???  thump, thump, thump!!!  perhaps another visit is in order, so i can glorify meener draak by photographing him from every angle under the sun :) :) :)  anyone up for a (lengthy) road trip?  save your guilders & i'll bring the snacks ;)

speaking of snacks, i've been left unsupervised (it's hubby's weekly poker night) & there's a bag of chips & a box of cookies both clamoring for my immediate & undivided attention ;)  what's all the noise?  no need to shout...keep the pushing & shoving to a minimum, please...i won't let you down little snaaaccckkks...here i come!!!  let "operation rehoming in my belly" commence!!!

veel liefde :) :) :)

pic of the day for sunday, 01-30-11

jardin des tuileries, paris, france, 10-17-09

hello, hello, hello!!!

i know i'm consistently inconsistent with my pic of the day, but let me give you a glimpse into what goes down before i complete a post:

first, i excitedly start rummaging thru my online vault of digitally immortalized images.  i get caught up in memories & the minutes turn to hours...

second, i once again realize that i have THOUSANDS of shots.  this is about the time that i am subjected to an onslaught of panic as i try to narrow down my selections...

third, with a handful of potential candidates, i start my scrutinization of each photo.  i continually find flaws & imperfections, & dismay slowly rears it's ugly head...

finally, i shut my wee computer in disgust, with intentions to tackle this overwhelming task mañana, mañana, mañana...

and there you have it.  a look inside the roller coaster ride otherwise known as my brain!

but, i digress...as for the photo, i found this installation piece in the tuileries garden in paris.  i randomly stumbled upon it after a day spent gorging on chocolates at the salon du chocolat, which is an entire trade show of, you guessed it: chocolates!!!  for those of you who know me well, you certainly can imagine the heaven i was in as i sampled one after another of these sugary delicacies!  they even had a cat walk for models to parade upon in gowns made of chocolate...ooh laa laa!!!  haute chocolat couture!!!  oh dear...i've managed to digress again...doh!

ok, ok...THE PHOTO.  this bed was just floating aimlessly in a pond within the garden, without an explanation provided.  i didn't feel i needed one, as my imagination is usually preferable to reality ;)  as i'm writing this, however, i googled a search & have found a link for those of you who prefer to uncover the mystery:  http://parishotelboutique.blogspot.com/2010/06/mystery-of-floating-bed.html  i could have brightened up my shot a bit, but i rather enjoy this darker version of the fairy tale ;)

so, until we meet again, i'll just be skipping along in my little red hooded cloak as i follow this trail of breadcrumbs into the forest...

little miss sleeping beauty

pic of the day for saturday, 01-22-11

opéra de paris (palais garnier), paris, france, 11-23-09

i love this night shot taken outside of the opéra national de paris :) :) :)  it's a tad blurry, but what's a girl without a tripod to do?

the palais garnier is a photo blog unto itself, so i'll have to owe you a rain check on that!

my bed is calling me, so without further ado, i bid you adieu ;)

pic of the day for friday, 01-21-11

self portrait, château de versailles, versailles, france, 01-09-11

i'm not feeling particularly chatty this evening, so i thought i would throw up something that didn't require a lot of thought or explanation...

and voila!  c'est moi!

and to my peeps in the 305:  YES, stilettos are possible on cobblestones...especially when you're as talented (and/or as crazy) as i am ;)

sweet dreams, ya'll :) :) :) 

pic of the day for thursday, 01-20-11

château de plaisir, plaisir, france, 10-29-10

i'd like to send a huge moochass grassyass to the 3 gentlemen who let me play doctor by submitting their responses to my rorschach test yesterday!!!  in protecting their anonymity, i won't reveal their names...unless they declare otherwise, & then i'll sing their praises from the rooftops ;)  and while i'm on the subject of giving props, a special shout out goes to jay sugar britches for continually motivating me to blog :) :) :)  he's even started penning his own, regarding his upcoming cookbook...YAY!!!  check it out here:  http://chefjjs.tumblr.com/

anyway, back to the results from shrinky dink land: one of the aforementioned lasses correctly observed that this is indeed moss growing on water!  give the man a prize!!!  clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!!

i see beauty in everything, & yesterday's capture is no exception.  the thump, thump, thump of my heart definitely quickens upon viewing...what can i say?  maybe i need my own psychiatrist ;)

tune in tomorrow for more fun from planet mo...

toodles!

pic of the day for wednesday, 01-19-11

rorschach test, plaisir, france, 10-29-10

well, well, well...fancy meeting you here!

after months of being pounded by the inconsistent (yet relentless) waves of depression, apathy, stagnation & inaction, i have managed to paddle safely to shore!  i'm wearing my cape of courage & am ready to re-engage in this game called life :) :) :)  i am woman, hear me roar & all that yadda, yadda, yadda ;)

as for the photo, i don't want to spoil all the fun by blurting out the details...instead, let your mind wander & hit me with your best shot!  i eagerly await an insight into your imaginations, (rorschach, anyone?) & promise to reveal this same scene from a more traditional perspective tomorrow...deal?  i'd rather not spit & shake hands on it, if it's all the same to you...perhaps a pinkie swear will suffice?

until then, i remain admirably yours (despite my shameful negligence & insufferable abandonment...boo on me!!!),

little miss motography

pic of the day for friday, 08-06-10

miami, 08-06-10

forget those dudes dribblin that round orange ball...forget that relentlessly blazing orb in the sky...forget the sticky humidity...the real HEAT in MIAMI can be found in graffitiland...now that's cream in your jeans hot ;)

i loaf you, my muy caliente myhammy!!!  every filthy condom ridden & doggy defecated sidewalk, every coño & aye papi, every colada, every cockroach the size of a small farm animal...it all makes my heart sing :) :) :)

pic of the day for wednesday, 05-12-10

brussels, belgium, 03-04-10

hello, friends!  sorry to stray away, but my hubby finished 30 rotations around the sun yesterday.  hence, i have been busy whipping up tantalizing treats & trying to catch the wiley old geezer to administer his birthday spankings!  for being such a fossil, he's pretty dang quick, lol. although it gave me great & immeasurable joy to share this milestone with him, i have to admit it was coupled by sadness, as i now have to come to terms with letting go of my young-buck-mowing-lawns-after-school-for-spending-money-fantasy (shirtless, natch!)...ah ha ha ha ;)

anyway, before i get dickstracted, let's get back to the photo.  i realize that we were visiting versailles "for a spell", but you know how easily distracted i am (LOOK...SKITTLES!!!).  my attention was momentarily diverted when i uncovered this beauty in my archives, & the rest, as they say, is history! 

this is probably the most captivating church i have had the opportunity to capture.  the decay & the gloom instantly won over my heart, but then when the sun was setting & started peering thru the stained glass, i was absolutely smitten!!!  the decomposing giant was awakened & it's windows transformed into yellow eyes glowing in the dusk.  their putrid glare cast a spell on me that left me rooted to the spot.  in fact, i was so mesmerized that i was oblivious to the bitter wind licking at my raw fingers, which were continually exposed in my insatiable quest to digitally immortalize this breathing adonis of rot...aaahhh, bliss :) :) :)

uh-oh, it's getting late...tune in tomorrow for more documentation on my demented desires ;)

pic of the day for saturday, 05-08-10

château de versailles, versailles, france, 11-14-09

hey, gang!

i'm not up to attempting a witty written commentary tonight.  i have a big headache & am still itchy...not in the i've-got-crabs kinda way, but rather the i-got-cooked-from-basking-under-that-blazing-orb-in-the-south-beach-sky kinda way.  i'm just sayin...

anyway, is it enough to disclose that this picture is one of my all time favorites from versailles?  i like finding beauty in the unexpected, & this reflection is a prime example of just that :) :) :)

so until next time, i send you wishes for unanticipated joy & bliss!!!  thanks for tuning in :) :) :)

pic of the day for friday, 05-07-10

château de versailles, versailles, france, 07-11-09

it's another day, which means it's another chance to share more glitz & glam from the chateau in versailles...

they say all that glitters isn't gold, but it's obvious they weren't referring to this palace when this statement was initially uttered.  look up, look down, look all around, & you will have the unpleasant sensation that you are drowning in gold.  every ceiling, fireplace, door, vase, cabinet, chandelier, window, clock, bed, nook & cranny is literally suffocating under layers of gold.  had the king's toilet paper been on display, surely it too would have been adorned in this gilded gaudiness!  i mean, forget about the sandpaper effect it would have had on the royal ass, making a statement is far more imperative than a little anal scratchy-scratchy!

as for the photo, i don't normally take pictures of people without obtaining their consent first.  i just feel that if caught unaware, i am stealing a piece of their soul.  furthermore, to then share their captured vulnerability, would be nothing short of a personal violation!!!  that said, this girl was practically demanding to be captured digitally!  her pose was practiced & perfected, & the odds were good that she would have been mortally offended had she NOT garnered the attention of the shutterbugs...who am i to deny another's desire?  ha ;)

so that concludes today's update from the land of the uber privileged.  hope they enjoyed the spoils while they lasted, as little did they know, but the last reigning louis & his fair marie antoinette would soon be unmercifully guillotined.  maybe all that glitters isn't gold after all, metaphorically speaking...

bonne nuit :) :) :)

pic of the day for thursday, 05-06-10

château de versailles, versailles, france, 11-14-09

it's high time that we took a little fieldtrip to versailles together.  i hope you're prepared to stay for a spell, as i have much to share from this exquisite city that lies just 15 minutes from our house.  so grab your signed parental permission slip, pack some snacks, & let's enter the land of the lavish!

the main draw, is, of course, the infamous chateau.  once a "humble hunting lodge", it was transformed into the ostentatious spectacle that exists today starting in 1661, by king louis XIV.  this palace was meant to impress, & i am inevitably overwhelmed upon each visit with the sheer magnitude of the chatueau & the incomprehensible amount of gold & marbe used in it's design.  the surrounding gardens are another extravagant masterpiece; dizzyingly intricate & foreboding, yet jaw droppingly beautiful.

it's a surreal feeling to walk along the same cobblestones where kings, queens, & an entire court once paraded in their exorbitant finery.  i often find myself straining to hear the soft giggles of the coquettish women & the poetry of the courtiers, but these sounds have yet to tickle my ears...

alas, it's time to tuck in.  tune in tomorrow for another glimpse into the realm of the grandiose!

pic of the day for sunday, 04-18-10

plaisir, france, 04-17-10

like, zoinks!  i fell out of my photo rythm for what seemed like a minute, but according to the calendar, it was actually 13 whole days!  my mind says it's not possible, but we all know it's getting feeble & hence, can't be trusted.  all i can say is "JEEPERS!!!"

it's still been cold enough that when i step outside in the mornings to catch the bus to school, i can see my breath trying to form crystals in the air as it escapes my mouth.  yesterday, however, we finally had a cloudless & sun filled day!  can you imagine my delight?  i stuffed a couple snacks in my purse, broke out my flip flops, & wandered aimlessly for 3 hours...YAY!!!

i have explored most of our small town on foot but hadn't previously discovered the cemetary.  but wait, let me back up.  our "small town" is actually populated with 33,000 people, comprised mainly of french, indian (dot, not feather!), african-american & muslim residents.  i guess we aren't so "small town" after all...i mean, we have an ikea, a toys-r-us, a mcdonald's, a kfc (which doesn't serve biscuits, gravy, or mashed potatoes...imagine my disgust!), a pizza hut & a subway sandwich shop, to name a few well known establishments.  but anway, i digress...

the cemetary & i hit it right off!  i'm a sucker for decay, mold & rust & she had all 3 :) :) :)  i have a handful of thoughts as to how to improve this particular shot (angle, the sky in the background), but this will just have to do.  being so meticulous (we can call a spade a spade, i'm anal...not to be confused with being into anal, but again, i digress...), it's surprising that i post any pictures, as i never fail to find fault with each of them.  c'est la vie, 'eh?  i suppose it pushes me to get out of the house in an attempt to capture even better shots, & thus not get stagnant & complacent...

alrighty, gang.  my legs feel like they are sure to catch on fire from this blazin' hot laptop sitting atop them, so i better call it a night. 

sweet dreams, peeps :) :) :)

pic of the day for monday, 04-05-10

commanderie des templiers de la villedieu, elancourt, france, 04-04-10

it's an undisputed fact that this country is rich in history.  innumerable artifacts lay in wait to tell me their stories, & i, with my trusty rebel in hand, race about in my flip flops (yes, my little piggies are freezing, but it's a long story!) in an attempt to absorb their testimonies.  the location captured above has left my mouth agape after every starry eyed viewing from my passenger side window, but it wasn't until yesterday that i had the opportunity to explore her beauty!

the unbearable cold, wind, rain & hail that has plagued us for a handful of days finally subsided yesterday afternoon.  with it's dissipation, the cabin fever that has allowed irritability & restlessness to rear their ugly heads dispersed as well.  as soon as that glorious, glowing orb resumed it's place in the sky, i was poke-poke-poking my husband to take me on a field trip to visit the commanderie des templiers de la villedieu!!!

"she" patiently let me immortalize her digitally but despite my crawling overy every nook & cranny to discover her secrets, she was as quiet as the non-existent wind.  unfortunately, most of my googled search results are in french & at this late hour, i'm not up to the painstakingly slow attempt at translation.  the treasure hunting, thrill seeker in me would love if the templiers were actually the knights of templar, (well worth the visit to wikipedia), as that would make great fodder for my personal history book, containing the adventures of mo!  in any event, the mystery & intrigue adds even more charm to her existance, & the exploration alone left me with a great smile both on my face & in my heart, & a new dragon friend in my pocket!  (bonus photo enclosed below!)

the game is afoot :) :) :)

sherlock MOlmes & puff

pic of the day for sunday, 04-04-10

plaisir, france, 04-01-10

my, what a long, strange trip it has been...but, finally, spring has sprung!!!  can i get an amen???!!! 

and now, without further delay, i return you to your regularly scheduled program ;o

pic of the day for wednesday, 03-31-10

trianon palace, versailles, france, 01-02-10

did anyone notice that i neglected to submit a pic of the day yesterday?  i think i need to change the name to "pic of the every other day or so", but this invites laxity into my realm & a valid rationalization of it after the fact!  my young whipper snapper of a sister pointed out that the pic of the day could be any day, just not every day & that i should take a moment to add the following disclaimer:  i am consistently inconsistent!!!  and there you have it... i'm letting myself off the hook & wiping my hands of the situation, lol! 

but really, all tee hee heeing aside, i had a headache the size of ummm, i don't know, imagine something really big here, & after struggling thru a few folders in the vault, i decided to bag it & focus my energies towards breaking in my new pillow, lol!

as for the shot above, i just like the contrasts in it!  i usually find more beauty in simplicity than in anything else, & this photo is an example of one of those occasions :) :) :)  if my eyeslids weren't protesting my desires to keep them open, i would take a moment to ramble on about my definition of beauty, but i'm gonna throw in the towel & get some shut eye.  tomorrow's another exciting 11 hour day, & i have to conserve my energy to prepare for the big excitement involved in riding my 2 buses (each way) to the industrial area where i attend my french courses, in a graffiti riddled & shamefully dirty building.  france spares no expense for it's immigrants, as you will learn in another blog, somewhere down the road...

nighty night :) :) :)

pic of the day for monday, 03-29-10

brussels, belgium, 03-04-10

i wanted to choose a photo that needs no explanation, because, to be honest, i am fresh out of time for explanations!!!  i selected this particular snapshot because, well, i have no explanation!!!  i was wandering aimlessly about brussels when i happened upon this yellow version of foghorn leghorn.  2 things "do it for me" in this pic:  the rooster's classic stance & mr trenchcoat in the background!  real life truly is weirder than fiction  :) :) :)

cock-a-doodle-doo ;o

pic of the day for sunday, 03-28-10

our kitchen, plaisir, france, 03-28-10

have i mentioned that i love cheese?  not enough that i would eat, or even nibble on, the plethora of pungent ones that stink up the french fromageries...but give me anything from the families of extra sharp cheddar, mozzarella, havarti, gouda, muenster or parmesano reggiano & i am akin to a pig in shit (as the saying goes)!

i'm not sure when domesticity snuck up on me, but i spent an apalling amount of my afternoon preparing the above gratin, & i'm proud to declare that i didn't succumb to impatience, which seems to be my constant companion when i am in the kitchen!  my blood, sweat & tears (ok, i tend to exaggerate!) were richly rewarded, as i delightedly smacked my lips with every decadent bite from the gooey layers of this bechamel infused dish :) :) :)

as if that plate didn't already make me a kick ass wife, i decided to really go for the gold medal by serving up my top notch mexican wedding cookies for dessert!  kablow, how ya like me now???!!!  they must have been award winners, as the only complaint i heard was the one coming from inside my belly, annoyed by the fact that it wasn't bigger to be able to store away even more artery cloggin' goodness, lol!

that's the dealy-o from a broad abroad.  now if i could just get some assistance with rolling me into bed...i have a new pillow from ikea to take advantage of...merci beaucoup, monsieur piron!!!

toodles!

pic of the day for saturday, 03-27-10

musée du louvre, paris, france, 10-04-09

well, well, well...so we meet again!  welcome back :) :) :)

today's pic makes it's way to you from an adventure i undertook last fall with my visiting sister & her hairy care-bear hunka-hunka-burnin-love beau-hunk!  as for my beautiful, amazing, generous, selfless, inspiring, witty, hilarious, vivacious & all around kick ass sister, penny lane, she deserves a blog (or a baker's dozen) devoted solely to her, so we will put that project on deck!

anyway, our little posse managed to crawl over the predominantly asian tour groups throughout one wing of the gargantuous louvre before surrendering to partake in a more preferrable activity...grazing!  waffles (gaufres), doughnuts (beignets), espressos, & one deformed pistachio macaron i had stashed in my purse, quickly made their way into our happy tummys :) :) :) 

but wait, this blog is about that famous french museum, made more recognizable to the general american public by mr dan brown in his extremely intriguing novel, "the da vinci code"...sooo...we did see the smirking mona lisa, which was no easy task considering the throng of admirers trying to digitally capture her overhyped image (& blatantly disregarding the posted signs by leaving their flashes on to record this painting that some have suggested is actually da vinci in drag...thoughts?).  but what enthralled me most was the egyptian exhibits.

as some of you are aware, i have an inexplicable connection to ancient egypt, & my personal thought on the subject is that i have experienced several past lives in the land of the pharaohs.  yes, i'm a firm believer in reincarnation & this conviction somewhat rationalizes my affinity towards the land of the great pyramids & my fascination with all things egyptian!  one of the things on my bucket list is to explore this awe inspiring country & to behold the same things i may have witnessed thousands of years ago!  anyone up for a vacation on the cheap?  be prepared to get down & dirty, 'cuz that's how i roll!!!  but back to the louvre...

i was all atwitter to gallivant amongst the sarcophagi, to scrutinize the hieroglyphs in an attempt to jar my memory into recognition & hence comprehension (how cool would that be if i suddenly just started translating?), & to soak up the information gleamed from displays portraying the soul's process after death to journey thru the underworld via the hall of judgement.  i also beheld mundane objects used in everyday life, priceless amulets, & everything in between!  it was a magical experience, & along with most every other memory involving little may frates, will forever be etched in a happy corner in my heart :) :) :)

walk like an egyptian,

cleMOpatra

pic of the day for friday, 03-26-10

south beach, florida, 06-05-09

goody, goody gumdrops, we made it to the weekend!!!  to reward you for being such good boys & girls, i have pulled something extra special from the vault :) :) :)  in fact, extra, extra special, because i have been hoarding this treasured series, & hence, have not previously posted or shared this elsewhere!!!

on this particular spring friday in the paradise known as south beach, we were subjected to an unexpected spat of torrential rain.  any local will tell you that this is rather common, chalk it up to business as usual for southern florida.  the sky opens up, the clouds growl, the wind pummels & just when you think you need to start gathering materials to construct your ark, it dissipates in the blink of an eye & that blazing, golden orb resumes it's place in the upper atmosphere.  what was uncommon, however, was what follwed the outburst, which you will read about further along...

sooo, after several thwarted attempts to blaze the elements in an attempt to capture this wickedness-in-action on film, (being blown off the balcony is a strong deterrent), i resigned to confine myself indoors.  that said, i was simultaneously as restless as a caged tiger & as eager as a kid on christmas morning!  finally, when mother earth chose to recall her fury, i snagged my trusted canon rebel & sprang outdoors only to plummet directly into a flood!!!  great balls of fire!!!  in 10 years of riding out tropical storms & hurricanes in south beach, (evacuation was never a viable option for myself & my animal farm), i have never experienced a muck such as the one i encountered last june 5th!  flooded streets containing ankle deep or even calf deep water were notches on my belt, but wading thru thigh, & even waste deep, water was a new item for my resume!!!

in the aftermath, i came across a myriad of eye candy ATOP our newly formed lake, (as i cleverly chose not to even consider what lurked below in the filthy sludge, & possibly contaminated cesspool, i was giddily trudging thru), not limited to:  abandoned cars, floating coconuts, submerged bicycles & even a man paddle boarding around with his french bulldog as co-pilot (for more on maui goodbeer, his dog, yoda, & the worthwhile cause he champions for, please visit http://www.streetwaves.org/ ).  but, the most amazing thing i bumped into was the unwavering cheer of the community, bonding together to rescue the stranded or offer assistance in any capacity necessary.  it re-affirmed the existence of the compassion that resides in a city that is often only viewed as materialisitc, selfish & extemely plastic.  for me, the aforementioned was never my experience & just goes to show that what you seek, you will find!!!  

so that's my story & i'm sticking to it.  for a snapshot of little miss motography "on assignment, in the field", (national geographic, are you reading?  are you interested?), please submit your request to me (including your preferred contact email) & i will forward the evidence to your inbox.  it is not the most flattering photo ever taken, nor will my ensemble be hitting a runway near you anytime soon, but it does unequivocally capture the moment!

surf's up, dude :) :) :)

pic of the day for thursday, 03-25-10

plaisir, france, 01-22-10

look what i found at our local french supermarket...fish heads, fish heads, rolly polly fish heads...& you guys wonder why i have a cheetos based diet!!!

just bear with me for one more day, peeps, & then your highly appreciated correspondence will be answered & the pic of the day will be properly expounded upon!!!

peace & processed foods,

little miss cheesy snack

pic of the day for wednesday, 03-24-10

la rochelle, france, 08-08-09

i found this little green monster in the southwest of france but it doesn't hold a candle to my miami graffiti...ohhhhhh, how i miss it...& ohhhhhh, how i miss riding shotgun in a certain grand cherokee next to my best pally pal, who personally chauffered me to all the graffiti hotspots & was ever so patient as i sprang from the vehicle, obsessed with yet another spray painted masterpiece!!!  ohhhhhh, how much i miss, miss, miss...i will certainly be weeping uncontrollably if i continue down this path, so, instead, i will tuck this heavy heart into bed & await my visit from mr sandman...

bonne nuit!

pic of the day for tuesday, 03-23-10

plaisir, france, 11-25-09

i feel icky :( :( :(  who's got a hug with my name on it?  at least i've been blessed by a room with a view :) :) :)

pic of the day for monday, 03-22-10

my head is going boom, boom, boom, so i will not be able to do the yadda, yadda, yadda, tonight.  to compensate,  i will scour the vault to serve up something extra enthralling, if not tomorrow, wednesday at the latest (& while i'm at it, i'll gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today, preferrably from five guys burgers & fries)!!!  meanwhile, as i have enclosed no details regarding this particular photo, let your mind wander & then submit your version of the who, what, when, where, why & how.  prizes will be awarded for most accurate & most creative*.  get crack-a-lackin' & thanks in advance for accomodating me :) :) :)

*some restrictions may apply.  offer void where prohibited.  CA residents please add 16.9% sales tax.

pic of the day for sunday, 03-21-10

undisclosed location, belgium, 03-06-10

welcome back!

due to time constraints, brevity is of the utmost importance tonight.  hence, not only have i chosen a lightweight & whimsical subject for today's pic, i will also only make 3 quick statements before i vamoose:

1)  i am in serious need of a pedicure...all monetary donations towards accomplishing this goal will be greatly appreciated!!!

2)  due to poor circulation, my feet are always cold :( :( :(  in the above action shot, however, one blazing fire equals some extremely happy piggies...can' t you almost see them smiling?  wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, giggle, giggle, giggle :) :) :)

3)  lastly, to answer the inevitable question that will surely arise, NO, I DO NOT HAVE A FOOT FETISH.  this is just one of many snapshots of a series entitled "my foot on vacation"...lol!  can't wait to capture my toes in front of the great egyptian pyramids...believe it, baby :) :) :)

and now i must do the skeedaddle...

until next time,

mo & her foot of fury (highly photogenic, i might add!)

pic of the day for saturday, 03-20-10

trianon palace, versailles, france, 07-12-09

say hello to macarons, or bonjour, rather!

since arriving in this foreign land, i have had to expand my horizons outside the realm of american snacks.  in this particular instance, it hasn't exactly put me out, because as many of you are already aware, i am a self admitted cookie whore!  chips ahoy served cereal style in ice cold whole milk are definitely a staple in my diet & unquestioningly an important part of my food pyramid!  are you reading nabisco?  do you need a product ambassador?  look no further, your poster child is here!  in fact, i would gladly take payment for my services in the form of nutter butters & strawberry milkshake flavored oreos (i know they were a limited edition item but surely you have some stashed in an obscure warehouse somewhere & with all the preservatives contained within, they don't really expire).

ok, back to macarons.  for the french, these run akin to nectar of the gods, & like every other pastry i've eyeballed thru a large glass window, they may well have been created by some divine entity.  according to my macaron recipe book (en français), the base contains a simple combination of eggs, almond powder, sugar & powdered sugar.  the combination of fillings, however, are anything but simple & are only limited to the imagination (or lack thereof) of the baker.  the vibrant powdered dyes they use to color these petite sweets are as varied as an artist's palette & although they are not on display in the prestigious louvre, i have similarly found myself in awe when beholding the bold silvers, brazen violets, crimson oranges & every other hue in the color spectrum used to create these masterpieces!

sacre bleu (i didn't need to move almost 5000 miles to learn this little phrase...as a child with unlimited tv access, a click of the tv dial presented me with pepe le pew & my inauguration into the french language)!  all this cookie talk has got my sweet tooth demanding it's fix!  since it's way too late to take the 15 minute train ride to versailles to snag some savory delicacies like the ones pictured above, i will just have to creep across the hall to infiltrate my cache of nutter butters :) :) :)

bon appetit & a bonne nuit too,

your little cookie monster

pic of the day for friday, 03-19-10

trianon palace, versailles, france, 11-15-09

heidi ho, peeps!!! 

it's another beautiful day in the neighborhood...well, not really, but i am practicing mind over matter :) :) :)  all stretching of the truth aside, what truly are beautiful are the unedited leaves in the above photo!!!  i sooo heart leaves...which leads me to my next confession:  i.am.a.tree.hugger.  now, before your mind wanders to patchouli & unshaved armpits, let me remind you that i am an incessantly vanilla scented girl who is most comfortable & happy when wearing my treasured stilettos!  nevertheless, trees contain a certain magic & i have yet to pass one that doesn't somehow shake it's leaves at me, as if it were beckoning me to dance!  i'm rather aloof & fresh out of rhythm (this white girl certainly can't dance!) but i'm not too proud to stop & heartily embrace a tree here & there! 

as for the leaves, my fascination has yet to expire!  in fact, one of the most thoughtful & beautiful gestures performed in my honor was by an ex, who shall remain anonymous.  he went to the trouble of gathering hundreds of fall leaves in a rainbow of magnificent colors & then managed to secretly slip them into my car while i was at work.  upon exiting my place of employment, i was greeted by an onslaught of these cheerful little buggers after opening the door of my white misubishi eclipse.  awww, my eclipse...what a car...uh-oh!!!  distraction alert!!!  focus, melanie, focus!!! 

so where were we?  LEAVES, LEAVES, LEAVES (insert blissful sigh here)...i am completely captivated by their changing colors!  the last 10 years living in my paradise of perpetual summer presented me with very few opportunities to behold the radiant reds, oranges, golds & variations thereof that i used to encounter with the changing seasons in YEW-TAHH.  now in france, i am making up for lost time & was totally tickled to find these wicked purple beauties last november while staying at the trianon palace in versailles, courtesy of my generous & overwhelmingly considerate hubby's birthday gift!!!  my little mini netbook is filled with a multitude of leaf snapshots that have managed to tug at my heart & given me reason to pause, but the aformentioned on display are hands down my favorite :) :) :)

well, kiddos, as much as i'd love to continue to profess my love for above-ground plant organs specialized for photosynthesis, (shout out, wikipedia!), i need to sign off, set the edamame aside & get my bed ridden ass movin' to prepare for our dinner plans tonight.  here's wishing you a weekend as wonderful as you are, dear reader :) :) :)

tune in next time!  until then, with an attitude of gratitude, i remain,

your ever happy hugger of perennial woody plants (& life in general!)

pic of the day resurfaces for it's red carpet debut!

       

cathédral saint pierre, saintes, france, 08-09-09

greetings, dear ones!


after enduring exactly 9 months in france, i am finally giving "birth" to my pic of the day!  as some of you already know, i have experienced a roller coaster of emotions since my arrival abroad, most of them being of the non-positive variety.  by giving my pic of the day it's re-red carpet debut, i am taking action to be more productive while simultaneously providing an outlet for one of my greatest passions!  i still continue to dream of publishing "the world as i see it" & feel that i am back on track towards having the motivation to accomplish this!  i will also be sharing these random glimpses from my perspective via my facebook wall, where i can be found under melanie marie piron.


ok, now that the disclaimer is out of the way, let's chitty chat about this photo. i snapped this breathtaking shot on august 9th of 2009, while vacationing with my husband in the south-west of france. with my dear friend, sophie, as our tour guide, we witnessed beauty that will forever be etched in my heart (& will subsequently be featured as subjects in future pics of the day)! in this historic country, old churches are about as common as corner starbucks in america, though i have yet to tire of viewing them & immortalizing them "on film" from every possible angle! cathédral saint pierre is located in saintes, a town founded in 20 bc & known in roman times as mediolanum santonum (the aformentioned information was brought to you courtesy of wikipedia, lol). i was so mesmerized by this beauty that i think a pool of drool managed to form at my feet before i was able to begrudgingly tear myself away.

now that i think about it, i also had a hard time vacating the church because i wanted to give all the money i had to my name (20 euros) to a homeless man in exchange for his scruffy little dog. it was just about the cutest thing ever & i was plotting madly as to how i could whisk it away to then let it reside discreetly in my pocket during our 5 hour train ride home. unfortunately, (or luckily, depending on your viewpoint), my husband does not share my same desire to rescue every filthy animal running astray & hence i trudged away empty handed :( :( :( alas, i digress, which is not so unusual for this a.d.d. addled author, but it will put a fire under my butt to wrap this up!

so without further ado, i bid you farewell for today. i eagerly await your feedback, whether it be of the positive or "constructive" variety, & thank you in advance for taking the time to share a little glimpse with me of the world as i see it :) :) :)

sending you much love & adoration, while simultaneously beaming my razzle dazzle smile your way,

little miss motography