Wednesday night at home

Dear Iz-bug,pumpkin head, Pumpkin head is what my dad use to call me when I was little.Anyway maybe the way you are feeling now and relate to others is a window into your future. When you were in LA and now with you establishing yourself in NY, it has demanded so much energy and 24/7 vigilance from yourself that it is hard to relax and be as open as you feel you can afford to be now. Or maybe the oepness you feel is a teacher for how you can be in your present life.Granted when one is on vacation and traveling and outside one's comfort zone ,one is more abke to be open but you can take some of this magic back home with you,it is part of you now. It is new experiences and environments that simply bring out parts of ourselves that have always lived inside of us. Leo on my lap, butter in a curl near by.I cleaned my crazy woman - studio tonight. Sometimes when I do actually see it somewhat objectively I can see how crazy it appears and think, jeeze Leigh how did you become so eccentric? Other times, most times I just feel like it is a part of me. I love you very much, have a wonderful day in Paris and call anytime but please let me know when you arrive in London. The mom

safe and sound

staying with sasha tonight. Got really drunk off of very sweet wine last night. Threw up twice this morning. Worst hangover of my life. NEVER DRINKING AGAIN. My time in Paris is winding down. Ugh. It's a mix of relief and utter heartbreak. I don't want the magic to leave my life. Had a great night tonight. Went to dinner with a big group. Had great conversations. Being in a strange new country, opens people up to each other in ways we don't need to otherwise. I've related to people more intensely in these past two weeks than I have in years. Why oh why can't it be like this in New York? I guess that's the magic of vacation. Escape from reality.

Sleepy

Tuesday evening, going to bed soon.Have a great day today.I love you.

dearest Iz, you are a wonderful writer. So very expressive. And I love your photos too. I love the first one of you.You are indeed looking wiser,somehow andnof course beautiful too and what a lovely photo of Sasha. It's amazing to see the kids lined along the Seine. And I am so happy you are enjoing the pure joy of being young and connecting with other young people. I think you would really enjoy the Francesca Woodman show when you get home.It's at the Met museum. She was about your age when she took her photos and I think you would relate to many of them. the kitties are here by my feet, fire on, fog outside. I prepare for a Tuesday at work.Vicki is coming into town Friday and we will all, we being Amy and Bernadette and I will take her out for her birthday. The next door neighbors cat is sitting on the very corner edge of the roof. I am turning into one of those people who mostly tells cat stories, mon dieu! I better go.I love you.the mom

Magical Adventuring

This is our youth

Paris has indeed caused my eyes to open. This city has helped me to find the youth I was desperately searching for. Life has become a beautiful adventure. Day by day the world opens up, in ways I did not expect. That is a precious and vital idea to me. It's important to remember when all else fails, that the universe will continue to show you a good time. We can never predict tomorrow, as much as we try. Release of control in the end feels really good. The best things in life do not turn out exactly like you fantasized, but better than you could have ever imagined.  To all that I did not see coming, I am eternally grateful.

Where is Isabelle? how does she like the hostel? She does not answer her phone. Today is the 75th anniversary of the GG bridge. Gobs of people at the bridge, tons of boats in the bay, fireworks later after dark.Tomorrow is a holiday.Maybe tonight we will see a movie. Kitties are fed and fine and that's all the news from back home. Write the mom blogger,please.

Petaluma

Hi Bug, loved the photos.Beautiful.We just got home from Petaluma, after seeing Henry's wonderful show and then going to Jack and Drew's for dinner. Yhe house was filled with people, friends, lots of old ILmers, Henry' friends, Phooebe's friends. Yummy dinner, tacos, meeting new people. I bought the very last small sculpture available for you. everything sold. it's an eye.Tomorrow you go to the hostel. I will try calling you to talk. I love you ! The mom

More

                                                                   Me and Prachi

                                                                   Sasha!

                                                                  Midnight on the Cen

                                                                Famous Paris Sweet Shop

                                                             A nutella crepe exploded on me.

foe toes

More photos of Giverny, miss you

Friday

Late afternoon ,sitting on the couch, sun coming in through the windows,finally it is Friday,end of a long work week.It was a good day, though.I loved the photos you sent to your Papa.I am going to settle in now to looking at my Bazaar magazine, eating grapes and enjoying the quiet house.Write more when you can ,the lone mother blogger...

Sitting by the fire

I loved reading your post about the gardens at Giverny. I can see it in my mind thanks to your descriptions. I am sitting by the fire with Leo snoring away near by. It was so good to talk to you on the phone. I really enjoyed our conversation. It was a good day at work and then I went to my studio for a little while before returning home for a delicious papa prepared shrimp etoufe , a dish with sauce and shrimp over rice. I am tired and will crawl into bed soon and watch some French film noir in honor of you. I am glad you are having such a wonderful time . I love you ,the mom

Giverny

Today was I think my favorite day in Paris so far. Me, Sasha, Jordan, and a few of their friends went up to Monet's home in the country side. I have to say it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever laid eyes on. Magical. We took about a forty minute train ride up to a small town. It  looked like it belonged in a movie. A perfect depiction of what americans imagine europe to be. We rented bikes which we road through the town and then onto a path leading to Giverny. I felt like we were in the sound of music. It was the perfect day. It was seventy degrees as we flew past beautiful sprawling pastures. I can barely describe the beauty of Monet's gardens. It looked like places I could have only imagined as a child. It was a fantasy world. Gardens that went on forever filled with every color you could think of. I thought of you every moment. It felt like a dream. If I had come here as a little girl, it would have been my ultimate playground. With long wooden bridges covered in wisteria, and pounds with floating lilly pads, it was heaven. His home is beautiful as well. Every room has a theme. The dinning room is completely bright yellow, and the kitchen a deep, rich blue. We had a picnic in the garden and biked back. I am changed forever.

Of course I passed out as soon as I got home, and woke up around ten. Since the weather is so perfect now we decided to take a walk along the cen. The cen is packed with young people sitting along the edge drinking wine. This city is filled with a life and breath I've never witnessed before.

Crazy mother

You are indeed crazy mother. Yesterday was kind of boring, not much to tell. Sasha's boyfriend made dinner for us. They are pretty much glued at the hip. Luckily it's a familiar dynamic. We went out to a bar after and I felt very french. As I said before, it feels a bit like a dream here. I pass through time fluidly. There's nothing to break up or structure the days. I just float. Not particularly attached to anything because it's not my day to day reality. I take in new information all the time. New beautiful winding streets. Cafes I've never sat in. It's nice for vacation. Couldn't live like this forever. Miss new york a wee bit. Going to Giverny today. Will write more later.

Miss Butterscotch

I don't have much to write so I will tell you a story about Miss Butterscotch who decided she needed to find meaning in her life so she went out into the wide world and tried to find a job. There are not many things a cat is good at in the working world. However , Miss B had one special talent, she made an unusual sound when she meowed. Her meow sounded exactly like a baby's cry and not a baby that was simply tired or a little bit fussy but a baby that was completely out of it's head with misery. So with this special talent she went to a voice agent to try to find work in commercials. Since she is small and doesn't take up much room or eat very much and was willing to accept minimum wage she was hired right away for a commercial for gerber's baby food. Miss Butterscotch is very pleased with herself and feels her life is much more meaningful now and all her usual angst goes into her work instead of her home life.

Monday night at 833 Clayton street

Butterball is making her crying sound for love and attention and I tell her to come here...does she listen? No. leo is laying across my legs. it was a good day at work today. just painted happily on my monsters.I got a nice email from Sarah.She and Paul just got back from Italy and she said they had a wonderful time. Logan had told her he felt like he was on vacation when they were gone. Sarah said she found him fine but a bit dirty too....ah the happiness of smelly boys.It is foggy and cold here,our summer weather has arrived. Ah look butterscotch has made it up on the bed and is crunched like a little bunny.Both the kitties say " bonjour" to you. they also would like to go to Paris. papa fixed a yummy dinner.Now I will watch some netflix and embroider on my new strange little sculpture. are you going out to see any art? there is so much good art in Paris. if you do please bring me some postcards.I love you . day dry and safe .the mom

Bread and cheese for dinner

Today we didn't do much of anything. It's been raining cats and dogs outside. Me and sasha stayed in bed and watched movies all day. We ventured out around four o'clock to get more snacks, then came right back to continue being blobs. We watched Fire Walk with Me, and Wet Hot American Summer. Wishing to get a breath of fresh air we took a walk in the rain around seven. We wandered into a beautiful old church. The worst part of the day has been the fact that Sasha was taken out by her roommate and her family for dinner and forgot to leave me a key. I'm afraid to go by dinner for myself, because I don't want to get locked out. All I have to eat now is some leftover bread and cheese. oh well. there are worse things.
Hope your day is more productive than mine

love,
Isabelle

Sunday ,may 20th Leo is lying on my knees while I sit in bed and write you. butterscotch is sleeping somewhere.....I just gave Leo his hug from you and Butter will get hers later.I had a really good day at the studio. After I had been there a little while and was opening newly bought art supplies and starting to paint ,I just felt so happy. I know you know how much I love my studio. At 5 I left there to go back to art pad at the Phoenix hotel to pick up my work. It was sunny and warm today so lots of people seer hanging out by the pool and there was a band playing. Gwen seemed good and most likely relieved to have it all over. nothing sold but then there were not very many sales anywhere in the fair. but she felt like the gallery got really good exposure. I always enjoy seeing and hanging out with her. Once home I enjoyed some popcorn and now as I said I am on the bed enjoying the house to myself while the papa is at the gym. Jana would love to hear from you and I am sure papa would too. I loved hearing about your day. It sounds magical. I can see images and would love to have some tea in the back of that mosque.I am not surprised you slept so late . You have been going at top speed for weeks now. I would love to hear more about Sasha and how her school and life in Paris has been. I love you Bug,take good care. The mom

Rain

Today I did not wake up till three o'clock. Even then Sasha had to get me up. She told me she hadn't woken up till twelve, which I was a little relieved to hear. I think it was a combination of travel exhaustion, and jet lag. I finally had a good safe home to rest my head. I could unload my heaviness. It felt nice to be surrounded by voices when I woke up. We lay in bed and ate cheese with crackers with Sasha, her roommate Prachi, and sasha's boyfriend Jordan. Later we rented those bikes you find on the street. The French call it "vileying". I made it about two blocks before crashing into a fence. Luckily Sasha was right next to me, and she has an exceptional way of making anything funny. I easily laughed it all off, which isn't really like me, but I figured "hey this is an adventure right?" We walked through Paris till we got to the french quarter. We ate crepes and then got the most amazing ice cream I've ever had in my life. It stays light till ten here and every where you got the streets are packed with people. I do indeed see why Paris got it's reputation. It's filled with so much life everywhere you go. We drank tea in a beautiful mosiac filled room in the back of a Mosque. While we were inside it began to pour. We ran home in the rain, and even then Paris looked magical. We are inside now, and our wet clothes are hanging up to dry. I miss you every day I'm here. I see so many sights I want you to see to. Tell me how  you are. I love hearing about home.

give a good hug to the kitties and papa,
love
Isabelle

dear Isabelle, this is very cool to have a place to share our lives. I am having a same old Saturday but in a good way. went to dance,had my favorite teacher ,Amara.Then went to Ross and mixed with the haves and have nots. I found t It therapeutic to wonder up and down looking and picking various items up. now I am back home with 1/2 bagel in my tummy and enjoying the beautiful sunny day here. Tonight we go back to art pad for a reception and dinner after. I am so happy for you that you got into The Alantic summer intensive. I bet you will feel less overwhelmed soon about being in Paris. it is huge though,traveling to a different country with different culture and language and navigating all this on your own. you are getting stronger. I hope you are having a wonderful day, I love you.

Bonjur From Paris!
I thought this would be a good way to start our mother daughter blog!
Right now I'm sitting in my hotel room putting off packing. In a little while Sasha will come find me take me over to her place. At this point I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. The language stuff does intimidate me, but I know it takes a few days to get settled. Sasha is sweet. She seems to be very much in love with her life here. I hope I'm not intruding too much. I hope I will fall in love with Paris as well. Miss home. Miss the comforts of parents. It's a strange feeling to be all on your own out in the world.

I found out that I got into the Atlantic theater summer session last night! It was very exciting. In fact it was the best news I've gotten in a while! Well I'm feeling a bit rushed right now! I'll be able to go into a bit more detail later! Love you endlessly!

ps here's a picture of my view right now!