Paris 2010

Paris 2010
Garden at Versailles

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Long time, no post

I've been neglecting my blog for a long time. I have no excuse, except for the fact that I've really gotten into Twitter and spend all my free time on that. Plus my online book club goodreads.com takes time and I always enjoy my friends there as well. Anyway, just wanted to say hello, in case anyone still looks for blogposts from me! Please check out my Twitter feed Joy@joyfulng if you want daily comments and photos from me.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

To blog or not to blog, that is the question!



I have been neglecting this blog because I spend a lot of time on Twitter. Please follow me there if you'd like. It's Joy@joyfulng if you want to check it out. Twitter is a lot of fun!






Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Mr. Mercedes

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One of my favorite books so far this year is Mr. Mercedes by mystery/horror author extraordinaire Stephen King.  There are many great reviews of this book on www.goodreads.com. I'm not sure what I can add that's not already out there. I thought it was a brilliant, page turning thriller and recommend it highly, even if you're not a Stephen King fan.




I hope they make a movie out of this book someday! I hear there will be a sequel released next year called Finders Keepers.


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Wisdom



"What I know for sure...
is that what you give comes back to you."


- Oprah Winfrey



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty

I just finished reading Diane Keaton's new book called Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty.  I've been a big fan of Diane Keaton for as long as I can remember. I loved her early Woody Allen films (especially "Love and Death", "Manhattan" and "Annie Hall" which I own on DVD) and she continues to make movies I want to see. I haven't read her first memoir yet called Then Again but I really enjoyed this one.


The thing that is great about Diane is she is so true to herself, doesn't follow trends and is unique and funny. She writes well and I highly recommend this book.


Here are some of my favorite quotes -


She is a fan of Cary Grant and this is a quote of his that she likes - "I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be, and I finally became that person."


"And every day for the last few years I have a little chat with myself. 'Okay, Diane... your hands still wash your face. You can still feel hot water. See's Candies peanut brittle is still your favorite dessert. The wild parrots on the telephone wire outside your bathroom still sing to you every morning, and just like them, you're still a live animal. Be grateful for what you have, you big jerk.'"


"Maybe my smile could help me make it through the day. Maybe I could stop being so aggravated if I wore a smile."  Later she quotes Charlie Chaplin and his "You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you just smile."


I enjoyed reading Diane's thoughts about some of the men in her life such as Woody Allen, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson. She's had quite an interesting life.



Friday, May 2, 2014

Quotes For Today


Max out the time with the people you love. - Tony Soprano




Depression is rage turned inward. - Dr. Melfi to Tony Soprano


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Mastering the Art of French Eating

I recently read a wonderful book called Mastering the Art of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris by Ann Mah. I loved this book! It really made me want to return to Paris someday. I enjoyed the way Ann described the various dishes that she learned to make and that she included the recipes at the end of each chapter. If you plan to travel to France or even just in your dreams, this book is for you!

Also, Ann has a great website - check out www.annmah.net.

Garden

Garden
Versailles

The Louvre

The Louvre
Paris

Paris

Paris
The Seine

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe
Paris

Paris in May

Paris in May
Paris

The Louvre

The Louvre
Paris

Chihuly glass sculpture

Chihuly glass sculpture
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Monet's Water Lilies

Monet's Water Lilies
Orangerie Museum, Paris

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey
London

Bruges

Bruges
View from our hotel window

Amsterdam

Amsterdam
canal

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe
Paris

Lilacs in London

Lilacs in London
St. Paul's Cathedral

The Royal Guard

The Royal Guard
London

Music man

Music man
Bruges

Joy at the Palace

Joy at the Palace
London

Guard

Guard
Tower of London

Jackson in Bruges

Jackson in Bruges
Belgium

Canal bridge

Canal bridge
Amsterdam

Houseboat

Houseboat
Amsterdam

British police

British police
London

Oscar Wilde's Grave

Oscar Wilde's Grave
Paris

Rhododendrons in the park

Rhododendrons in the park
Amsterdam

Versailles

Versailles
Joy in the palace

Winter scene

Winter scene
wow!

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year
dragon

Sweet peas

Sweet peas
love 'em

Pretty bouquet

Pretty bouquet

Princess Diana Fountain

Princess Diana Fountain
Hyde Park

Gardens

Gardens
Versailles

End of summer daisies

End of summer daisies
Our yard

Cool art

Cool art
Tate Modern, London

Penguin party

Penguin party
penguins

Pretty kitty

Pretty kitty
My sister's cat

Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm
Is he a great looking guy or what?

Mad about Don

Mad about Don
Mad Men

Love Monk!!

Love Monk!!
Love To Tony

January and Jon

January and Jon
Beautiful people

Jon and January

Jon and January
Mad Men actors

Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa
The Louvre

Royal Crescent

Royal Crescent
Bath

British phone booth

British phone booth
London

Harrod's Department Store

Harrod's Department Store
London

Versailles

Versailles
bedroom

Trafalger Square

Trafalger Square
London

Tower of London

Tower of London
London

Seattle Public Library

Seattle Public Library
Seattle

Lavender

Lavender

Lighthouse

Lighthouse

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas
beautiful

Coffee love

Coffee love
yummy