Queen to Play

Have you seen the movie Queen to Play?

It is in French with English subtitles. I didn't mind the subtitles because the scenery is beautiful - truly breathtaking (I also enjoy the sound of people speaking French).

It is about a house cleaner who wants to learn to play chess. She asks a widowed professor (Kevin Kline) to teach her.

He reluctantly agrees (and spends the entire movie with exactly this expression).

Much of the movie takes place in his home (I could spend a lifetime there).

It is on an island off of the coast of France (I will need to get my atlas out to determine exactly where this spectacular place exists).

The professor and the house cleaner end up creating a connection while playing chess. She comes to see herself as a person beyond her profession and level of education and he begins to open himself up after losing his wife and living in years of isolation.

I adore this floor (aside from it being a giant chess board) it is marble and reminiscent of many old stately manors.

It is also the office building of a man who heads the local chess tournament championships.

 

Here is another view with a stone lion security guard (how wonderful is that?)

I won't spoil the end for you by telling you the outcome of the tournament-mostly because you really should see and feel this exquisite movie.

I will tell you that it is a glorious journey into what's possible for all human beings once we let go of the restrictions we place on ourselves.

This is a glimpse of the kitchen (very small by American standards but so rich in ambience and extraordinarily efficient).

So when you have a moment to spare click on Netflix choose Queen to Play. Sit back in your favorite comfy chair with a warm steamy beverage and escape to the coast of France.

While you are there take note that anything is possible and everything you need to live your dreams already exists in you.

 

Beauty

A woman whose blog I often look to for wonder and warmth (kimberlytaylorimages)

has taken on an annual ritual of choosing one word that will define what she hopes to accomplish, to create and to encompass her life during the upcoming new year.  I thought "how interesting" and seeing as how I firmly believe in the power of language and its ability to shape our lives - I too decided to take on a word for 2013.  

The word I have chosen is BEAUTY

The word beauty not only conjures up images of beautiful places, things, people, photographs, houses, and so much more - but also of living in a way that is kind and supportive of others-a way that inspires others to live the life of their dreams.  When I imagine being in a way that is beautiful I imagine being really present with others in a space that allows me to hear them and to experience the connection that we all have as human beings.  When I imagine living into the word beauty-I think of being aware of the food and drink and medications that I put into my body and my family's stomachs.  This means that I am going to do a lot more cooking with natural foods (perhaps even plant a garden with my children in the spring).  When I think of living into the word beauty I think of the word create - I am going to create something beautiful each and every day (the first being this post).  I have always been passionate in the act of creating and get giddy with the excitement of conjuring up new things.  When I think of living into the word beauty I think of a lot of closets that are going to be organized this year ;-)  and of a lot more time spent reading books instead of watching television, of playing board games with my sons and laughing at eleven year old potty jokes.  I think of listening to George Winston, James Taylor and my children practicing the violin and cello.  I think of picking flowers, making homework break snacks, walking the dog, and a lot.... a lot more traveling.  I think of learning how to use my camera and taking lots and lots of photographs...of building a garage... of painting my red brick fireplace and constructing a pergola.  There are so many things.  

There you have it (thank you miss mimi charmante for the inspiration).  

My year of beauty begins today.  

Wishing you a beautiful 2013!

Cristine

Fundamentally Fall

Photo credit:  

It is officially autumn in Colorado 

Today, October 25, marked the first snowfall.

Photo credit:  alysefashion.tumblr.com

I was fashionably unprepared.

so…

before buying some fall clothes.

I thought that I might peruse for a little inspiration.

Photo credit:  wolf and willow blog

Photo credit: room seventeen.blogspot.com

Photo credit: fashionarts.com

I consider myself inspired 

Off to the shopping district!

Happy Autumn!

Cristine

Ooo La La….Look What I Found!

For the past several months I have been {and remain} on a very strict budget

You see I have made a commitment to pay off debt and become debt free by the end of the year {except for the mortgage of course-that will take a little longer ;-)

I have done very well on my strict budget and my willpower has been amazing 

{really I am not jiving}

UNTIL

I saw this on craigslist….

http://roomseventeenstyle.blogspot.com/

Not really…this exact table... 

{this is a table that I fell in love with when I saw it on one of my absolute favorite 

drool inducing blogs Room Seventeen Style}

More like this table…

my spectacular craigslist find 

Can you see it?

Or I should say can you picture it with a zinc metal top instead of tile?

Pretty darn close wouldn't you say?

and I betcha the table up top did not cost $400

That's right folks~this solid iron base outdoor table whose original price tag was $2000

is going to be mine for a mere few hundred dollars.  Now I ask you~who could say no to that? Oh did I forget to mention~please don't tell my darling husband~he just doesn't seem to understand how life altering and exciting this once in a lifetime, mind boggling basement bargain bonus find really is ;-)  

Of course it will be kind of difficult to hide a 77" x 40" solid iron base and tile table sitting on the patio in our front yard  for an extended period of time~I think we'll just have to go out for some cocktails prior to the unveiling ;-)

The second conundrum involves getting it home~I don't suppose that my daily exercise of walking the dog and lifting the dishes to the cabinet actually qualify me to lift a 200 lb table top….hmmmmm….I wonder what my brothers are doing this weekend.

Now after snagging this fabulous find…I figured I wouldn't find anything spectacular for at least a few months….but wouldn't you know it.

I spotted these….

Another spectacular craigslist find-no way! 

And guess what they reminded me of?

http://roomseventeenstyle.blogspot.com

Yep another one of those drool worthy photographs from 

Room Seventeen Style

and get this~the craigslist price tag is $300 for 4 chairs

{holy moley}

I can furnish my entire new front veranda 

{it is really a small area bordered by landscape timbers and filled in with pea gravel

but veranda just sounds so much better}

for a whopping $700 

Dear Visa Card~it doesn't look like I will be paying you off this month as I had hoped.

Check back next month~after my darling husband takes my computer away so that I don't have access to craigslist ;-)

Hope you find treasure too.

Cristine 

From Manic to Marvelous

How nice it is to start Monday off with some beautiful images 

Better Homes & Gardens April 2010

~

Yellow just brightens the spirit 

and 

flowers always make me smile

~

Traditional Home May 2010

~

The decorator in me with always look toward interiors when the mere term of 

beautiful images is mentioned

I find this room's eclectic and light hearted fabrics calming and perfect

The slightly modern mix of the subtle yet telling light gray lampshade fabric 

against the brightly colored floral chintz draperies 

and the soft green damask love seat

{did you notice the lampshade fabric on the side of the love seat}

Heaven

~

I hope these images make your Manic Monday 

Marvelous :-)

"For hath God not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of sound mind"

Retro Ramblings

With so much going in on my head these days…

Instead of trying to sort it all out~

I thought that I would just pick a few of these random thoughts and post about it

These are the Clematis vines that I planted last weekend

I will be so excited to see the iron trellis dripping white blossoms

{news update: a pair of magpie chicks have nested behind my clematis bushes-they seem to like it there

-hope the Clematis feel the same}

The other day C-and I had some time on our hands...

We just so happened to come across this nifty little shop called RETRO

Now I am not a mid-century modern type of gal…

{my style is better suited toward a Saturday afternoon stroll at a vintage market in Paris}

But I can appreciate a modern sensibility and the"thinking outside of the square" approach

and I might have to admit that I do find these white curvy chairs 

to be a bit groovy :-)  

Boy… if retro mod was my style this would be the place ~

a one stop shop for everything "cool"

You can even take the "cool" outside

They even had a few outdoor throw pillows that this vintage loving citizen of the historic district and avid francophile might want to take home

These are the ultimate of "cool" and I would venture to say that I could see this little 

aluminum number gracing a street side cafe in Paris tu ne peux pas?

And this…can't you just picture the lunch menu and list of lavish latte's

chalked out here?  

It just goes to show you that sometimes….

you have to venture out of your own proverbial square

 to find your inner "cool"

C- showing off his sorbet tongue while uttering
"Mom are we done shopping yet?"

Happy Weekend Mes Amies!

Cristine 

Where I am today-at least where I'd rather be

johnnyjet.com

Just one of those days….

wishing I was here.