Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts

Friday, May 3, 2013

meet me in versailles




Our last day in Paris, we spent the majority of our time touring the magnificent Versailles.

It was nothing like I imagined it -- the chateau itself is one of the largest in the world, and is absolutely glorious in its wealth. Its history is wrought with extravagance, French power and ultimately its fame as a symbol of absolute monarchy.
But in the midst of the leftover winter, the grounds mirrored the dreariness of the skies.

Most of the garden areas weren't in bloom yet, and the statues were covered up and the fountains weren't flowing.
We spent most of our day walking around, a kind of eerie solitude seeming to follow us around.






Dress/Belt: Primark in London, Pants: Forever 21 (shop!), Purse: TargetScarf: Disneyland, Watch: Gifted/La Mer from Target (shop!), Hat: (similar!), Booties: Urbanog

It was such a windy day, that I was equal parts happy and annoyed with my hat.
It was the perfect solution to keeping my ears warm, but it often attempted to fly off my head in the particularly ambitious bouts of wind.
All in all, I really like it and will try and continue to break my "I'm not a hat person" mantra.


As you can see, Versailles is enormous.
It was overwhelming walking around the property, unsure if we'd ever reach the outer limits.
I kind of had the feeling of walking around an abandoned property, or perhaps a haunted mansion where the inhabitants are long gone, but a mysterious spirit remains.
Even so, the property is littered with treasures, like little restaurants and secret gardens and other smaller chateaus, including the summer home of Marie Antoinette.
I became enchanted with her, such a tragic and strange historical figure. I wished I could have visited her in her prime, before all the chaos and obviously...the beheading.

It was quite an amazing experience, even though we were wishing for Spring the entire time!









Wednesday, February 13, 2013

all the king's horses

I'm currently wearing pink tights.
I've spent the entire morning doubting myself and telling myself that no, the janitor wasn't judging me, he was just doing his job.
In my pink tights search, I ran into some serious problems. As in, I couldn't find any.
I searched 4 or 5 stores, and since there are no Forever 21s in Lynchburg (what kind of college town is this?), I felt kind of desolate.
I even almost went into Hot Topic, but save for the few adolescently turmoiled years in junior high, I'm never quite willing to be at a Hot-Topic-level in my life. No judgment here, though, for those of you who did go in there yesterday. You looked happy, kind of.

Target was the only choice, and the only choice they had was Pepto-Bismol.
It didn't actually say Pepto-Bismol on the label, but I went ahead and added it.
I almost grabbed the "wine" colored dark purpleish tights instead, but I knew in my soul I would never be satisfied accepting a challenge by skirting off into the purple zone. Nay, I had to bismol-it-up.

Please come by and ridicule me. The photos will be up tomorrow.

For now, enjoy yesterday's outfit! Devoid of any upset-stomache-medicine hues.


Dress: Ruche (similar)(remixed), Top: Modcloth, Belt: Gifted via LOFT (shop!)
Boots: Gifted via Zulily, Tights: Target

For those of you who don't know, my mom is a super amazing horse trainer.
My parent's house is located in Arizona, sitting on a good handful of acres and housing happy horses and other small animals. It was a joy to grow up there. It's still a joy to go back!
She built a business at home, calling it Grianna Stables. It has blessed countless people, including me!
She's a hard worker, a brilliant friend, a fantastic teacher and a wicked wit.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't buy this top just because it reminded me of her.







Somehow, my siblings and I weren't bitten by the horse bug.
We all split into various trails of passions and interests, and I think my mom was left a little bit baffled.
I'm kind of baffled, too, looking back. It makes me wonder and worry, a little, about what my kids will love and not love. It's easy to think about sharing my favorite books and music interests with my future daughter, but what if she hates the Beatles and wants nothing to do with leopard print and spicy food!?
My mom has been so gracious. And in turn, she has been blessed with a business that is overflowing with passionate women who love horses, love to ride, and love her. 
And I'm pretty confident that she will be followed around by little cowboy and cowgirl grandchildren who think she's the best thing in the world.



This weird little garden is hidden away on campus, across from the big house.
I find it both charming and strange, the home of stone sheep and cement benches and various shrubbery.





These pictures continually cause me to slap myself over that impulsive bang-cutting of 2012.
They can't grow out soon enough.





The Kiss of the Sun for Pardon
The Song of the Birds for Mirth
One is Nearer God's Heart in a
Garden than Anywhere Else on Earth



Until the next pink-tights-time we meet,

Cait