Shadows by the Seine Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/linen 12 x 20" 30 x 50cm
Seine from Eiffel Tower photo
Lily pads and Reflections Blair Pessemier 13 x 16" 33 x 41 cm
Tree 20 June Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/linen 16 x 12" 41 x 31 cm
Willows and Lily Pads Bliar Pessemier Acrylic/linen 12 x 12" 30 x 30 cm
Water Lilies in June Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/linen 11 x 16 27 x 41 cm
Two sunbathers Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/wood 6.5 x 13" 16.5 x 33 cm
Statue in the Park Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/linen 11 x 14 27 x 35 cm
White flower Giverny Laurie Fox Pessemier Acrylic/wood 6.5 x 13" 16.5 x 33 cm
It's the TOP
At 10:30 on Friday night, there was still a little daylight
on top of the Eiffel Tower. We looked
out on people picnicking on the grass of the Champs de Mars, and local fireworks
display signaling France’s victory over
Switzerland in the world cup. The
streets were empty, with everyone at home, cheering on the home team.
Blair and I had never been to the top of the Eiffel Tower
before, and it was quite spectacular. We
were minding two girls, 10 and 13, daughters of an old Seattle friend. The
oldest girl ured us to go, and even paid our two adult fares. It
was a short line on the ground this day, and a brief wait at level two, which
was as high as we’d gone before, on account of fog. It is a quite good amusement, and for the
first time, I can understand why people want to stand in line so long. Nobody can accuse us of not enjoying our
local attractions.
Friday was a painting day for us, the two girls, and one
other painter. I was so happy we all meshed,
the youngest taking video footage for her movie, “my trip to Paris”. “Excuse me, “ she says, “but just how old ARE
you?” We ate lunch at the local creperie
where she showed us dance moves.
On Saturday night, their dad returned, liberating them from the narrow bed and the two chairs strung
together for sleeping. I don’t know how
they did it.
Children help to measure the time gone by. I learned lyrics to new songs, which I won’t
repeat in mixed company, but they sang them in the Eiffel Tower line. They deemed us dinosaurs as we tried to take
a selfie (we’d never made one before), pointing the camera-phone the wrong way
(I like being a dinosaur – it takes off the pressure to be up to date).
Today, the five of us went for a walk in the Parc Bagatelle,
to smell the roses. We saw five
peacocks, screaming their mating call (as shrill as Harika’s bark).
We’ve had at least ten sunny days here in Paris, and have
painted in all the usual places.
Giverny was exceptionally beautiful in the rays of the setting sun.
