The Last Design Wall Monday of 2014

Playing with scrap HSTs. It makes me feel so frugal.

We've been having several little adventures the past few days. Christmas day was gorgeous so we got a little walk in before dinner.

The day after Christmas it was the men's turn to pick our daily activity...no surprise it was to seek out a Canadian pub. We actually went to two and both were closed. Wound up at an Irish pub right off the Seine on the edge of the Latin Quarter. My son and I walked home from there and once again I made him stop while I took pictures of interesting iron work. 

These are a a series of five iron reliefs along a wall.

On Saturday we went to a memorial for American volunteer pilots who flew for the French military squadron, L'Escadrille Lafayette, in World War I. Underneath the monument is a crypt with 68 sarcophagi for the remains of those American pilots killed in conflict. This site is not one that is covered by US taxpayer dollars for its upkeep like the US cemetery in Normandy. There is a US foundation that works constantly to raise money for care of the site. It is really a lovely memorial with lots of wonderful details but in sore need of some TLC.

This beautiful mosaic is on the floor under the central arch. I'm guessing this was the American pilot's unit insignia...definitely an iconic American image. 

Sunday's outing was also related to aviation though mostly it was naval history. We visited the wing of the Trocadero that  houses a French maritime museum. It had a few life-sized replicas but was full models made to scale at the museum.

There was a tiny replica of Christopher Columbus' Santa Maria.

I especially liked the world map on display with this era...no Alaska discovered by Western civilization and California is a separate piece of  land!

You have the best view of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero...though the weather was very blustery and you have to share the view with thousands!

We ended that day with lunch at an English microbrewery based in France, "Frog." Amazingly enough...their menu of bar food was all about American barbeque. Hubby and I shared this platter for two. It wasn't Texas quality...but it was tasty. The mostly shredded carrot jar was cole slaw...it had very little taste. Next to it is a jar of fried okra and fried red pepper strips. I don't eat okra but I loved the pepper strips. Then some sweet potato fries and baked beans...liked both of those. Two shredded beef sliders, fried chicken wings and pork babyback ribs...and Texas toast. 

I've been spending a lot of time playing in EQ7...and I did some damage to my credit card on a batik sale at Fabric Fanatics. They always have a big, end-of-year sale. Hubby is going back to Alaska soon for about a week and can bring me back my order. It will be Christmas all over again in a few weeks! 

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We did! I am looking forward to 2015.