At Mine: The Home Tour Network {Geeky}

From one year to the other, I have skimmed the categories on The Daydreamer’s Diary, and Home Decoration is one of those to have disappeared after my blog makeover in March 2014. You can still access previous posts falling under the category via the Cloud of Tags link a the bottom of the Homepage, but there have not been many new posts in a very long time (only one, to be precise) - nor will there be in the future. In the attempt at making this blog more consistent and reliable in its approach to lifestyle, I found it better to write less and focus more. 

This being said, today’s post is here to show you that home decoration remains one of my centers of interest. What changes though is that instead of writing about my place or home design and decoration trends from here and around the world, I am inviting you over to a cosy network called At Mine.

This is another visual network alright, but with a focused approach: users upload only decoration or design pictures of their places or venues they are visiting. It gives you the Grand Tour of their favorite spaces and, above all, the spaces they live in at one moment or another in their life. At least this is the rule that makes it stand out; as with all (ok, most) things Internet, let’s be cautious - who’s to say this beautiful picture is not of someone else’s interior and actually says nothing about who you are, what you want to share about your taste and design advice? I guess we have to play along, that’s the only route and being curious about novelty and how it is used is a learning experience.

What’s the difference with Pinterest or Instagram? Well, the layout to start with: its simplicity is appealing and stylish, making every click count. It does seem as if I need some focus in my life since, once more, the fact that the whole visual posting revolves around interior spaces is a plus in my book: there are no distractions and you do not have to scroll through 10 visual posts about woods and animals (which I love, don’t get me wrong!) to see pictures of ethnic rugs en vogue right now in people’s real lives. Similarly, you do not have to go and hunt for that elusive Search field on the page to type in your keywords.

Which leads me to another difference: pictures are beautiful, but are not as staged as on Pinterest where magazine-like settings make interiors all too sleek. Pinterest, as well as the blogging world in general, seem to have undergone a massive makeover in favor of professionalization; only professional looking posts and pictures seem to make it out there… Once again, I enjoy those pictures, but to join the currently raging debate about authenticity, a reality check in the world of visuals is also a healthy change every now and then. This is not to say that At Mine will resist the wind of change - and you will see that some interiors are all too perfect here too and very much inspired by glossy magazines.

What about voyeurism, will you ask me? Well, maybe there’s a bit of that too. After all, putting ourselves out there, in pictures or text, is also fueling other people’s curiosity or, to its extreme, voyeurism. As with all social media channels, it is up to the user who’s sitting in front of the computer to set the boundaries to some extent. The At Mine name and its branding, easily distinguishable thanks to its curly braces, is a way to artistically embrace one’s interior space and the stories it conveys. It is up to you whether you want to open the door or not, letting one curly brace wide open for all to take a peek.

I have just started on the network and I am still figuring out its set of features: it is very straightforward to use thanks to its fresh layout and color palette to bring an interesting and invigorating experience to its users. Once you land on the Homepage, you will see the editorial picks. The second menu is Explore: its presents neat categories such as My Bedroom, My Livingroom etc. If you are looking for a specific type of interior space, this is probably the place to start with. The third top menu on the page is pretty self-explanatory: My Profile. You can follow people, like their pictures, upload new pictures under your profile and detail their content to make them easy to spot for those exploring the site and your feed. To share your interiors, all you have to do is (after having created your account, of course!) click on the Camera icon on the top right corner of the page. You can then upload a picture or drag and drop it.

Will you join me in this new home-centered visual adventure? If you already post on At Mine, let me know and I will be happy to join you there. 

Credits: Snappa (edited by TheDaydreamer)

Season's Greetings! {Seasonal Breeze}

A splash of Christmassy color is in good order even though the celebration itself is behind us. A splash of color, quite simply, is in good order to wish you light and hope throughout the highly festive season. May they guide you in all your end-of-the-year choices to carry you farther and higher, always.

Enjoy!

Credits: TheDaydreamer

Island Adventure: Batz {Look Around}

Travelers waiting on the Roscoff peer immediately comment the vicinity of the Batz island, in the north of the Finistère department in France, their voices tinged with disappointment as if traveling to an island should necessarily mean traveling far, far away. Batz lies under 10 minutes away from the coast of Brittany, so close you can see the typical houses standing out against the clear sky.

When the boat approaches though, excitement soars in children and adults alike. I find leaving the mainland an adventure, regardless of the distance we are going to cover; there's the idea of exploring unknown ground guarded only by water and tales of buccaneers come to the surface while I try to spot the occasional mermaid under the clear and bright waves. Where are you, kind and evil mermaid? 

In no time, we hop on the 520-inhabitant strong island and embrace its vibrant colors: blue, green, pink, white... There are still traces of summer in the flowerbeds, while the mild island microclimate is favorable to yukkas and palm trees. The combination of the ocean's breath and tropical flora is surprising and invigorating. 

The best way to visit the island is by bike. Rental businesses are everywhere and provide useful advice (and maps) about itineraries and breathtaking spots not to be missed. And so we pedal all day long, get stuck in the sandy ground near La Grève Blanche, wave to the horses, eat "galettes" by the lighthouse (La Crêperie du Phare) and collect leaves and twigs along the way as keepsakes that will whither with us. Artichokes are the specialty of the island: green and purple fields with artichoke heads proudly standing are visible throughout the island.  They stand tall, as proud as little soldiers nourished by the seaweed-rich soil in an exceptionally fertile area making the produce unique. 

Much larger than the Sein island we visited previously, Batz has a lot to offer to take you on a different planet for one day or...one week, as long as you accept to open up all your senses and pedal relentlessly!  

Credits: 

1) Snappa (edited by TheDaydreamer)

2) 3) and 4) TheDaydreamer

Quand on n'a que l'amour {WorldWiseWords}

Depuis le 13 novembre, pas de billet sur ce blog. Une accumulation d'événements déchirants d'un bout à l'autre du monde m'ont clouée au sol. Les mots s'étranglent. La voix suffoque. 

Lors de la commémoration officielle en France des attentats du 13 novembre 2015, des voix veloutées se sont élevées et ont chanté, elles. 

Je reste encore silencieuse, je fais mon deuil de tant de haine et de bêtise et vous invite à lire en silence, le cœur grand ouvert, lentement, ces paroles d'espoir (et d'utopie ?). Si la musique, ce langage universel suprême, vous manque n'hésitez pas à écouter l'interprétation de Jacques Brel.

Quand on n'a que l'amour 

A s'offrir en partage 

Au jour du grand voyage 

Qu'est notre grand amour

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Mon amour toi et moi

Pour qu'éclatent de joie

Chaque heure et chaque jour

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Pour vivre nos promesses

Sans nulle autre richesse

Que d'y croire toujours

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Pour meubler de merveilles

Et couvrir de soleil

La laideur des faubourgs

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Pour unique raison

Pour unique chanson

Et unique secours

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Pour habiller matin

Pauvres et malandrins

De manteaux de velours

Quand on n'a que l'amour

A offrir en prière

Pour les maux de la terre

En simple troubadour

Quand on n'a que l'amour

A offrir à ceux-là

Dont l'unique combat

Est de chercher le jour

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Pour tracer un chemin

Et forcer le destin

A chaque carrefour

Quand on n'a que l'amour

Pour parler aux canons

Et rien qu'une chanson

Pour convaincre un tambour

Alors sans avoir rien

Que la force d'aimer

Nous aurons dans nos mains,

Amis le monde entier

Credits: snappa (edited by TheDaydreamer)

Ready for New Books? {Page-Turner}

Events unfold in life and sometimes they shake you to the core and encourage you to look around, then take another look and choose the road less traveled by you. Books are a steadfast passion of mine and when asked what type of books I read, the answer is concise: novels. Sometimes, short stories, the bottom line being that fiction is my magic.

I expect it will stay like this, but under new circumstances, my mentor - yes, I have one at this point in my life - has offered to read a new type of books: self-help, self-development... Not sure how to call them. The essence of his suggestion is that it is ages away from what I have read all my life.

Let's dare, I told myself, let's try. And so here come into my reading picture books about how to change, about how to write (always helpful!) and how to evolve both professionally and personally. The topics are interesting of course, but I have to admit that the shift has not been a natural one and I am quite frankly still struggling. Why?

Aside from simple reading preferences, I find that these books tend to give a lot of examples of successful and famous people to make their point, and not enough nitty gritty explanations - or too late in the book. I am well aware that such and such is famous and will establish the credibility of the following chapters of the said book - but I am more interested in knowing how all the others - yes, even the less successful ones - are working their way through their professional change and development phase. I may be a daydreamer, but clear goals and objectives are a must in life for me.

Speaking of simple tools, the best one to use to read this type of guide book is the ubiquitous highlighter (I have one in every bag, drawer, under the bed - don't ask): it helps extract the essence that may apply to my current or future needs. I find myself underlining, highlighting and writing on the books, making sure that what's more applicable to my case sticks. I have visual memory, so pen work is essential for me and no book will ever come out unscathed.

The reading process is very different compared to that of a novel and I am obviously learning to open up and let this new type of factual style and practical information in. The purpose is also entirely different. Novels open the windows of my imagination and welcome me with open arms into happy, sad, shifting, crazy lives. They do not need my permission to access my imagination - it is theirs to seize.

Practical books work the other way around for me: I need to knock on their door and ask for their permission to pick their pages - and they also need to find the key to my mind. 

What's interesting, as always, is the learning process. I am learning to read again, as it were, with a different purpose and in a context that instead of taking me away from reality, plunges me even more into it. Will I be able to take it all in? I do not know yet, but I'll keep you posted and write about the books I have read so far on this new journey.

Have you ever tried shifting you reading style? If so, why? I would love to know about your journey and how it worked out for you. 

Happy reading to you all and looking very much forward to your own stories!

P.S.: You can find here all the blog posts related to books listed on the blog, and here my Cover to Cover Pinterest page, not to mention that you can also find me on Goodreads as mentioned here.

Credits: Snappa (edited by The Daydreamer)

Double Personality {The Look}

After an hour of intense workout, with puffy and sweaty faces, we all gathered our gear,  swept our faces with towels, stashed away the steps and weights, exchanged smiles of relief to share the adrenaline and satisfaction of having wrapped up yet another intensive lesson. Goodness for the mind, goodness for the soul; both are highly needed at this time of reduced light and lower temperatures.

The workout participants are mostly familiar faces and I am used to seeing them choose mostly the same spot on the floor - habits die hard and we all look like pawns on the health chessboard. We are all used to seeing each others wearing sport gear and acting in a relaxed, open way. Smiles fly easily around and sometimes there is even the occasional handshake and joke while we lift our weights.

It was quite an eye opener when, for once, I lingered in the lobby after the course and, after a  little while, started seeing an army of former training participants come out of the locker rooms all dressed up in what looked like uniforms made for the best soldiers of our business world. They were barely recognizable.

It was more than just about fashion: their pace was quicker, purposeful, their stare much focused and static and their face lines harder. The Kafka-like metamorphosis was brought together once they wore back their office suits, high heals and fancy coats - all sending out the same message of uniformity and compliance with rules and expectations. Their ability to open up shut down. Back to the role play.

The whole scene made me think about our two-faced lives; to some extent, this is obviously necessary and even healthy I would say. But, the sudden, steep change and severe separation between the two was shocking and made me wonder: where do we draw the line? To what extent can we wear two different personalities without losing track of who we really are, what our values are? Can't one personality seep every now and then into the other to bring its personal touch and make ourselves unique? Because, well, in my book, that's where our worth lies.

What's your experience in the field? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! 

Credits: Canva (edited by The Daydreamer)

Top 4 apps of the moment {Geeky}

There are so many apps that I would like to try, just for the curiosity of it and because I am suck a sucker for all things virtual. However, I try to resist the frenzy as much as possible and have to say that some of the latest discoveries have been real improvements in my daily tasks.

I still believe that the sense of freedom they bring is but an illusion: they only add more tasks and time congestion to our already overly busy 24 hours (who am I kidding?). So, how can they still be helpful? They have streamlined some processes for me without adding too much fuss to their own procedures AND they have saved me when everything else failed, especially though seamless integration.

1 - SCANNER PRO

Point in case: the ScannerPro app installed on my iPhone. My HP scanner is out of order. As always, this happened when urgent and sensitive documents needed to be scanned and sent out. Murphy’s law and all that. That’s when I remembered the ScannerPro app: I simply laid the documents flat on the carpet - urgency call - and the beauty of the app is that it detects by itself the borders of the page to be scanned and when it can actually snap a picture (i.e.: when your hand is stable). That’s it, in a few minutes, you have an actual scan with no extra borders, blurred sentences etc. 

Brilliant.

2 - IMAGE TRANSFER

At this point, I had the choice to send the scanned document via email from my phone; however, when writing sensitive content, I like to work full screen. Apart from uploading the document into my GoogleDrive, I had a simpler option: using ImageTransfer. 

This is another simple app allowing you to send pictures to different devices in no time at all. I chose to send the picture (scan) to My Computer and it gave me a URL where it took seconds to download it to the hard drive and save it in the dedicated folder. Done. 

The combination of these two apps together has been saving my administrative process these past few weeks. It so happened that I saw immediately how well they could serve me provided I had an Internet connection - and that, at least, did not let me down.

Lifesaving.

3 - OUTLOOK

There are two additional apps I would like to tell you about, interestingly enough, both Microsoft apps. I will start with a good oldie - Outlook. For those of you following me on Twitter, you may have read my praise of the app - I like it even better than the traditional application. Efficient, compact and über user friendly: if you are used to handling inboxes and emails, the app is a breeze. 

The feature that I preferred instantly was the opportunity to have 4 different accounts (or more!) that were installed in a few minutes, no glitches and conflicts between Outlook, Gmail and whatnot. FINALLY. This is where high quality resides for me, as a user now: apps need to bridge gaps and need to promote compatibility. Major plus. 

The other undeniable advantage is that you can file away your emails and the changes are reflected on the server. This means the end of the overflowing inbox on your app and the double work of still having to go to your actual server based inbox to tidy it up. You do this one via the Outlook app on your smartphone, and it’s over.  One downside: it seems that you cannot create and manage folders from the app itself, and this is a real pity and for me all it lacks to actually reach utter perfection. 

Efficient.

4 - ONE-NOTE

OneNote is the one closing the loop, and again a Windows product: I have been an extensive and messy user of iPhone Notes forever, but ended up having double notes, overlapping ones etc. The beauty of the note format is that they it not the Evernote kind of note taking, at least in my book: they are straightforward and helpful to jot an idea down on the spur of the moment. As ideas accumulate though, the beauty starts vanishing since finding the information I knew I had written down somewhere in my stash of notes becomes a time-consuming task. 

OneNote has reached, for me, just the right level of granularity and flexibility - it bridges the gap between Notes and Evernote. You can create tabs, list, checklists etc. The layout gives you instant visibility on the structure of the information.  Add to this the fact that now Paper53 and OneNote can work together and integration makes it even more  handy! 

Practical.

Do you use any of these apps? If so, what do you think of them? Do you have any app combination to suggest, pretty much like the scan-send recipe mentioned above? 

Find more apps and internet related musings of mine under the Computer and Internet category.

Happy testing and discovering my friends, until the next app update!

P.S. Curious about other apps in the meantime? Head over La Mouette, by Florence, to read about her favorite apps of the moment (article in French). Very different from the ones listed above, they may well be perfect to balance your app usage out.

Credits: TheDaydreamer

Top Blogs: Creative Countryside {Geeky}

Living and working around and in a big city - Paris, France - tends to be devouring. I am an easy prey for cultural stimuli: there is so much going on, in such a variety of styles and approaches, that I just want to take it all in, learn, discover, keep, forget, expand.

At the other end of the spectrum though, urban lifestyle sucks every bit of energy I can painfully muster: the noise, the crowd, the commuting, the delays, the lack of flow in people and things can be consuming, slowly depleting the energy and creativity resources that the cultural and social stimuli had infused into my life.

Blogs are a way for me to read about other people's experiences - Creative Countryside is no exception. The two words making the title of what has become one of my favorite blogs just drew my attention: like a moth I approach their light and can only encourage you to follow my fluttering movements.

The author behind Creative Countryside is Eleanor, a 26-year old adept of slow living. I know, I know, it all sounds so trendy today... But hear me out and - above all - head over to her blog to get some fresh air. Her site if filled with mood enhancing chlorophyl: she encourages us to stop, look right, look left, breathe in, ponder, and breathe out. She urges us to pay attention to the details in a world of urgency - and emergencies. The way I see it, this helps us reconnect with our true selves and keep our mind alert, clear and vivid - and our entourage, be it personal or professional, needs us to be present. When we dysfunction, our entourage, our actions (or lack of them...) suffer.

Creative Countryside shows us that the best resources to fuel our mind, soul and body are in nature, the supreme follower of cycles, of regeneration. I started reading Eleanor's blog and immediately subscribed to her series of emails - it is a good starting point. From there, I have been able to fly on my own.

My favorite features and posts so far have been the following:

How to...Live seasonally in (month): every month, Eleanor let us in the little secrets, the latest news, the best of - including words! Every month, I feel like I have delved more consciously into what nature and its cycles have to offer. She also features a series called Eat Seasonably: I find it less interesting, but this is probably because, in spite of my urban jungle lifestyle, I still do my utmost to buy only seasonable products. And this has been going on for quite some time now...

Essential Tools for Slow Living: this is where you learn that slow living does not rhyme with...anarchy! To fully live a seasonal life, organization is a great ally.

How to start living more slowly: this is where you will learn what slow living actually is and how to embrace the slow living lifestyle - you may start with snippets here and there, or decide to go full force if you feel this is something meaningful for you. In any case, I found this introductory post enlightening.

The content of Creative Countryside is served beautifully by its matching layout: the abundance of white space makes it airy and easy to read, digest and adhere to, step by step. The photographs of nature and its details convey peacefulness and help the reader focus and... slow down. With all the buzz about creating a brand and a consistent one at that, this is a successful example of a perfect match.

Wishing you all a beautiful and relaxing reading time with Eleanor - as well as a gorgeous fall season (I cannot believe I am actually writing this - have I snapped out of my denial phase?)!

Credits: TheDaydreamer

Le Blé en herbe : Colette, enfin ! {Page-Turner}

Colette et moi, c'est une histoire de grande inconnue et de peurs apprivoisées. Un saut dans mes souvenirs estudiantins ressemblant fort à un saut dans le vide qui met à mal convictions et confiance en soi. Retour sur images : oral ou écrit du bac, je ne sais plus et peu importe. Texte de Colette dont je n'avais jamais rien lu.

Panique, réflexion, collages mentaux de bribes d'informations lues, entendues, vues sur l'auteur. Mon radeau de sauvetage prend forme, péniblement car le brouillard voile la vue.

Lentement, je refais surface et me laisse, comme il se doit, transporter par le texte qui me guide : fie-toi aux mots, aux phrases et à ton ressenti.

Toute expérience laisse des traces. Colette, c'est ma trace de ce fameux bac ; par superstition sans doute, après cette épreuve, je n'ai plus voulu ne serait-ce qu'imaginer pouvoir prendre en main un livre de Colette. Difficile d'effacer ce goût d'épreuve...

Jusqu'à cet été : le rituel heureux de préparation du départ en vacances tant attendu inclut le choix méticuleux de livres à emporter et à effeuiller le dos chauffé par le soleil. Au hasard, sans trop réfléchir et afin de contenir mes anciennes peurs, j'ai choisi Colette, Le blé en herbe.

Et par un matin de radieuse solitude à la plage, j'ai regardé Colette dans les yeux. Les pages ont défilé jusqu'à ce que la plage se peuple de tant de personnages que j'ai ignorés. Jusqu'aux heures les plus enflammées quand, d'un seul souffle,  j'ai refermé le livre ainsi terminé.

Tant de délicatesse et de poésie dans ce récit initiatique guidé par la nature, ses rites de passage, sa timidité, son courage. Les mots sont précis, les descriptions visuelles appellent de tous leurs vœux la caméra. C'est le tumulte des sens et de l'esprit des deux personnages principaux, Philippe et Vinca, qui passent leurs vacances ensemble... Seulement cette année, la métamorphose de l'enfance à l'adolescence brouille l'eau de la baie, trouble les sentiments et aiguise les sens.

L'amour, est-ce cet éveil soudain, cette violente mise à nu, cette fébrile prise de risques en se faufilant, la nuit venue, à l'insu de tous, par la porte d'entrée sous le regard absent du chien de garde ? La fin de l'enfance, se traduit-elle inexorablement par une tempête de désirs contrastants et ambigus ?

La tristesse de voir le monde et les amitiés sacrées s'altérer ponctue les pages de ce livre : la métamorphose est inévitable, le temps fuit, l'enfance aussi. Le blé en herbe et ses fines tiges en devenir m'ont réconciliée avec Colette, un jour d'été.

"Derrière la fenêtre, les yeux de la Pervenche le suivaient, et les gouttes glissantes le long de la vitre semblaient ruisseler de ces yeux anxieux, d’un bleu qui ne dépendait ni de l’étain jaspé du ciel ni du plomb verdi de la mer."

Photo : TheDaydreamer

Life's a Beach {Look Around}

Let me bask in the fine moments of summer and its dreams. Let me relish every single grain of sand slipping through my fingers, getting stuck between my toes - and forget about your mother's screams about the need for you to wash all that sand away before heading for home.

Summer, for me, is beach life. Nothing else. I know, this is reductory. The rest of the year, I can visit, discover and travel with an intellectual light on. During summer, I can visit, discover and travel with my senses on.

But, friends ask, what do you do at the beach all day? Don't you get bored?

Oh no, never bored.

First and foremost because where I go in the summer, there are friends awaiting; I see them once a year, on "our" beach turned into a major living room where birthday parties are celebrated, wishful lanterns launched over the sea, colorful balloons released by small hands... Social life is bustling, ideas are exchanged, challenging and wishful plans are defined, for the evening, for next week, for another year, another life maybe.

Then, there is the sheer pleasure of every step in the sand, be it wet or scorching hot like this summer. Living a print, albeit fleeting, is a pleasure that connects me with the earth, brings me back to my roots. Should I even mention the childish joy of diving head first into the warm sea after having waited a long, painful, dark year for it? Feeling smooth water welcome, embrace you and wash away the burdens.

Kids, let's not foget about them, are a full-time beach life occupation: running from one wave to the other, swimming from one parasol to the other, building castles, destroying them, participating in races, asking for attention, ice creams, sun block, food, water and the moon. They drive me crazy at the beach. And that, too, is a full-time crazy occupation.

I escaped twice to the beach this year to live a different experience and bring books back into the picture (were you wondering: "Why hasn't she mentioned her favorite activity?" There you go). Twice I escaped in the early hours of the morning, when I walked alone to the beach carried there by the cheering cicadas (have you listened to my live Chirp on Twitter?) and the breeze. I had the privilege of having the beach to myself and counting the waves, the wasps and plunging into the first pages of my summer books. Uninterrupted by nature, I read a book by Colette from cover to cover, with sensual relish and in the perfect framework (more on the book to come...).

How on earth, could I ever get bored on a beach?

What about you: do you enjoy beach life or do you need to practice sports, go for long walks, listen to music or go to the beach a couple of hours a year to be content?

Credits: Un Blog Une Fille (edited by TheDaydreamer)

Garden Party at Vaux le Vicomte {Look Around}

Who would have thought French châteaux had changed so much? My memories of Vaux le Vicomte go back to my early childhood spent in France, when my parents took  me with them to visit the country from one border to the other. They were right in doing so, I still remember many of the visits we did together.

Museums and castles in general have had to adapt to their new targets and modern taste: nobody wants to wander through and empty garden left to its own devices, let alone walk through corridors and rooms veiled in dust, only dreaming to breathe fresh air somewhere else. Some visitors cannot walk for hours on end from one fountain to the other, one aisle to the other. If you want to include them in your target list, you'd better come up with new ideas, reschedule, refresh and go live! 

Summer is the perfect season to discover the revival of their gardens too. At Vaux le Vicomte this afternoon many visitors are strolling around, while an all white wedding dinner is being staged right under the benevolent eyes of the majestic 17th century castle. There is definitely a pattern here with weddings and white table settings... Candles are being lit, the waiters joke with us... Majestic, but not intimidating. Maybe that is why king Louis XIV disapproved of it: its fine baroque lines make it stand out as a castle out of its league - elegant, welcoming, sumptuous and... full of promises of political power and competition supposedly embodying Nicolas Fouquet's - the owner of the castle - ambitions. 

The garden is alive: it vibrates to the sound of opera music, people are lounging in deck chairs by the main bassin, some of them meet here, not to visit the premises, but only to spend some time sitting on the brink of the bassin and counting the carps. Some visitors prefer sitting under the wide parasols, others drive around while the rest of the party drinks champagne at the back of the golf cart. It is cocktail hour, apéritif time. And Vaux le Vicomte is not letting this fine summer hour slip through its fingers unnoticed. The garden party begins among elegant statues that step down from their pedestals to enjoy the garden party spirit in true #summerdreams style.

Credits: TheDaydreamer

#summerdreams Series {Fairy Talk}

My favorite time of the year is here and I could well say, in line with last year's daydreaming mantra "Bless Summer", it was about time too! Sparkling summer, has finally arrived. It does mean something very specific for me: family, reunions, sea, words, sand, feelings, pencils, water, photography, senses, ink... A bit of a pot pourri, rich and diverse. The way I like it.

That's the beauty of summer, maximum pleasure, minimum constraints: everyone under the same roof (which may not actually fall under both categories above, bear with me), different interests, different personalities and time to fuel each and every passion, leave hurtful people, negative souls behind - or am I raising the expectations too high?

Whatever it is, it certainly is the unveiling of a new lifestyle, back to my roots where I seem to happily leave the slumber of the colder and darker months behind. Like a bear, I wake up. I forage around for fresh berries, sniff the air and stir. Time to re-engage with the world and its detailed surroundings: what will have changed, a year after? Who will have changed? I have a few ideas, but do intend to go and find out in person. 

Will you follow me in my #summerdreams series ? A new tag, a new season during which I will share my travels, discoveries and newfound energy under a blanket of radiant sky.

Credit: LoveFromGinger (edited by TheDaydreamer)

The Universal Garden: Albert Kahn Garden {Look Around}

Here we sit, in true #summerdreams style, brainstorming where we could take ourselves and the kids on the next blazing week-end. Nobody wants to stay inside! The next thing I hear about is a garden around Paris, the Albert Kahn garden. Fine, I promise myself to jot that down and...forget.

The week after, what do I find in my mailbox? The local newsletter that I usually throw away without having a second thought (too much clutter, not enough storage and time and blahblah...). Only this time, I bring it home.

What's on the cover? A vibrant green picture of a beautiful garden that seems to be rooted in Japan. The title says it all and places the magic spot right where it belongs on the map: The Albert Kahn garden, in Boulogne (near Paris, France). 

It is a sign. Let's read on and organize ourselves then - let's go there, find out why it has been so special over the years.

Who was Albert Kahn? He was first and foremost a banker, with a fortune - some of it inherited and some of it built with his own hands, through hard studies and work as a banker. In 1893 he settles in Boulogne, in the Parisian suburbs where he starts designing and putting together his garden.

Aside from his flourishing business, Albert Kahn is a thinker, a visionnaire deeply interested in and affected by geopolitics during his time. He dedicates himself to the promotion of peace throughout the world by creating several foundations and institutions in fields as varied as biological studies, international travels for bursary teachers and documentary archives. His endeavors are now fully documented in the museum. Beyond simple philanthropy, he is a true builder and his garden is further proof of his incredible entrepreneurial mindset.

The garden itself opens its doors for the first time to the public in 1937, when most of Kahn's property had fallen into the State's hands following the 1929 stock exchange crisis. 

What is so special about it? 

The garden is a mosaic of gardens and landscapes. The visit starts with the Japanese garden: peaceful, balanced and sacred, it shows you that the other side of the world is at your doorstep. Water flows on the river bed stones, whispering haikus in our ears. This sanctuary is only one of the sceneries to be found around this universal garden where Kahn has reproduced his ideal of universal peace. 

It is magic to wander around, cross the bridges over the ponds and into the French garden, along the bamboo then the orchard where apples dot the ground and the winter greenhouse hides vigorous secrets waiting to burst out of the glass roof. From manmade glass and brick constructions to blue and golden forests where visitors sit to try and breathe again under the cruel July heat, the voyage continues far and away through this garden - a true, enchanting microcosm and symbol of an ideal never reached. 

Credit: watercolor by TheDaydreamer

The Profile Picture {Geeky}

Dear readers and listeners, 

For this new post, I decided to document a recent change in The Daydreamer's profile image, after much thought, procrastination and search. This was a much needed change, this had become an imperative even. I am glad to finally share the behind-the-scenes with you. 

Put those headphones on and listen away (you can click on the podcast above or go to my SoundCloud page) as I tell you this new story (podcast duration: about 4 minutes). As always, your feedback will help me find the light and next inspiration, so do not hesitate to drop me a few words in the comment section below or send me a tweet. 

Happy listening to you!

   

Credits: 
1 - DeathToTheStockPhoto (edited by TheDaydreamer)
2 - TheDaydreamer

What makes me feel back home {Fairy Talk}

As much as I love traveling (and hate flying), coming back home is what nourishes me. There is no way I can deny or minimize the feeling of reassurance and belonging that sweetly surges and then sweeps me off my feet once I turn the key and step right back into our apartment. 

Don't be fooled. It is more than four walls we are talking about here. I am using the term "home" in the title of this post intentionally and fully aware of the bliss that going back to my regular life, routine and rhythm with my three partners in crime - or occasionally without them as you shall see -provides.

Sometimes the return pattern changes. Last time I came back from a short Spanish trip, I was alone. I had two days to myself. I had be to back home, I had no choice but to find my way. I did intend to find it, there was no resistance whatsoever at my end. There are tons of texts and millions of words out there about some "down time"-"me time" - "slow time" and so forth. Without even reading one of them, I know how important they are, those times, because they are rare, precious and constructive in their own way.

These are the times when I let inspiration flow again. This is when silence and the sheer feeling of fluttering ideas coming to life one after the other resurfaces. I listen to myself, in utter selfish abandonment. 

I open all the windows, summer is my ally, with its strong light, heavy temperatures and call for the wild currents. Let them all in, draw maybe the white curtain that will dance the whole night away to the sound of the breeze. 

Music takes the form of a NuAfro CD: "A selection of new rare tunes with an afro flavor". Its playlist is all about drums and river flowing: sweet and sour, the only kind of tunes I want to listen to nowadays. The kind of music that releases every muscle, lets me drift peacefully on water. The kind of music that makes me want to travel - again!

Unsurprisingly, my hand reaches the nearest octopus candle and its tentacles release the warm scent, the flickering flame that is joyously swaying and telling me "You are back home", feet solidly on the ground.

How would you define your "home"? What are your first gestures once you are back home? 

Credits: TheDaydreamer