Maman at Monet’s Garden, Giverny

 

I went back to Manderley...

I mean Giverny

With all the flower painting going on around here it seemed a very good idea and it has been 2 years.

April is tulip month at Monet’s garden by the way. They even have a flower calendar.

PBers tell me they’ve been.

Once is not enough. Its always different every time you go and such an uplifting experience, like who doesn’t need that now?

Practicalities: Mornings seem less crowded. Normandy trains leave from Gare Saint-Lazar and it takes 45 minutes depending when you depart (32€ round trip). A special Monet shuttle bus meets each train. 

A funny thing happened while waiting on line to get on the bus. I burst into tears, streaming down my face. Fortunately no one noticed—too busy getting a seat on the bus. I had this thought  my mother, Isabel would have loved Monet’s gardens❤️ With Mother’s Day around the corner and the day before, radio BBC4 had a program on Missing Mother about daughters who lose their mothers at an early age. I was 24, not that young. Still too young in many ways. My mother had a ‘green ’ thumb. She used to warn us not to touch the white petals on her treasured Gardena plant. They could blacken. Of course I touched them. Isn’t it ironic. Here I am surrounded by lush flowers and painting them like mad?

Back to practicalities: bring lunch. No grocery stores on Giverny and restaurants may not be open during the week except the cafe at the Impressionists Museum.

I bought this gorgeous jar of jam..to paint of course in the Monet gift shop. And they do have Normandie cookies and caramels…not exactly your 5 fruits and veg, but in a desperate pinch as a snack, t’will do.

I found a stone seat and drew ✍️ amidst the tulips. You’re no longer allowed to paint. 

I only visited the kitchen 

And Monet’s blue and yellow 

Dining room downstairs. 

CakeboyParis is signing his new beautiful cake book today at the Red Wheel barrow bookstore near Luxembourg gardens today between 4 - 6 and I must run over. Have a Happy Weekend dear PBers. I’m  putting up tons of flower watercolors on Etsy. Do have a look🌸🌷🌸🌷🍓