In the Auvergne

More Millet!  More sheep!  Jean-Francois Millet's In the Auvergne is a beautiful pastoral scene, held by the Art Institute.

Sistine Chapel Virtual Tour

One of the classes that I'm taking this semester is called "Masterpieces of the Humanities."  We're studying a different masterpiece each week.  We studied Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel one week and viewed an amazing virtual tour online.  See it here.

Renoir's True Colors

The Art Institute has an interesting exhibit right now.  Renoir's True Colors demonstrates how the conservationists discovered that the background colors in a Renoir painting are not what they were originally.  The painting is displayed alongside a computer-generated image of what they think the original looked like.  Fascinating!

Jewelry Class

I just finished another ring in my jewelry class!  This newest one (top) is a green amethyst.  I made the bottom one last semester.  It's an aquamarine - my husband's birthstone.  I bought some new stones last month so I can make some more bling.  Fun!

Happy Birthday, Eiffel Tower!

The Eiffel Tower is 125 today!  Here's a picture that I took when we were there two years ago.  En printemps, il fait beau! 

The Keeper of the Herd

Here's another beautiful painting with sheep from the Art Institute: The Keeper of the Herd by Jean-Francois Millet.

Apricot Almond Oatmeal

Do you like oatmeal?  Even if you're not a big fan I bet you would like Willliams-Sonoma's apricot almond oatmeal.  So good.

Meekness

We finally made it downtown a couple of weeks ago.  This winter has been so miserable!  After an hour or two at the Art Institute, I have a lot of great artwork to share.  This one is called Meekness by Eustache Le Sueur.  It's dated 1650, but it look so modern!  I love the lamb.

Barr Co Cream

OK - I'm back.  I've been really overwhelmed this semester.  I'm taking three classes "for fun," but it's taking up a lot of my time!  (In addition to Young Women, family and home stuff, etc.)  So I was considering discontinuing this blog and going to Pinterest and only being online sporadically.  But over the past couple of months I've been seeing so many great things that I've wanted to blog about...  So today I decided to change it up and to make my blog a place just for me to post whatever I want to remember, whenever I have time to post.  You are welcome to join me whenever you have time!

One great thing that has saved me this winter (Chicago's 3rd coldest ever) is my Barr Co Cream.  I picked up a tube at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and I've been using it liberally.  The scent is divine.

Christmas Necklace

Don't tell my mom, but this is one of her Christmas gifts.  I made it using some marble beads that one of my husband's colleagues brought back from their trip to Turkey a couple of years ago.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and an optimistic 2014!  I'm going to enjoy my Christmas break and be thinking of what direction I want to take things in the new year.  I think it may be time to change things up a bit!  Stay tuned...