Scarves and masks

Welcome to my renamed blog .  Every domain name with France or Provence in it costs at least $8000,  therefore Charmed by a Car for 99 cents seems right . Still trying to actually change the domain name but need to watch another ten hours of youtube before I take the leap!

 I sense that everyone is starting to get slightly more irritated as the novelty of binge-watching and baking  is starting to wear off, not to mention the permanent bad hair days.  The endless conversation about testing is as irritating as trying to talk to 9 friends on Zoom (Zoomfatigue anyone ?) or seeing yet another scarf draped around Dr. Birx. She’s going to be on the news every day for the next year (or two) so she must be buying alot of scarves. There is even an Instagram account for her scarves (click here) leading me to conclude that she and/or her scarves must be offering some sort of psychological aid to some people out there.

Caption Contest. The scarves are nowhere near as interesting as the facial expressions. 

 

Scarves ( foulards) en France

 No one wears scarves, as well as the french and not even the biggest celebrity in the world can compete. It doesn’t matter if it’s not even tied properly or comes loose, it still looks good. Doesn’t matter if you are an aristocrat or cheesemonger. I think it has something to do with posture, arrogance, skinny bodies, or all three. The ongoing mystery of the french. 

Case in point.

Nope, just doesnt cut it.

Gold standard here.

Toronto’s Dr Eilleen de Villa, Chief Medical Officer. Her scarves have a twitter account followed by 5300. Looks like Hermes.

 

Hermes Scarves – So easy to go down the internet rabbit hole here!

Scarves designed by a postal worker in Texas ( named Kermit!), a scarf for Canada’s 150th Birthday, I even found a scarf featuring the Calanques in Provence.  A fascinating company with no marketing department but over $5 billion in sales.

The Hermes scarf for Canada’s 150th was designed by a young British artist and is stunning. Read here.

Carre de Paris – juicy blog all about the scarves including Texas postal worker ( Kermit Oliver).  Read here.

Pinterest ( never-ending rabbit hole) Hermes scarves by artist. Click here.

The making of a Hermes scarf. Read here.

I Sieste Au Paradis-I am coveting this scarf, a gorgeous scene of the  Calanques, favorite hiking area by the sea. Like all H scarves, it comes in several colors.

 

Photos from France

I asked my friends in France for some recent photos. To say these photos are making me green with envy is an understatement.  And the poppies aren’t even out yet! Most are living outside of Aix in the country where I can only dream of being as I sit in grey Toronto. Merci Barb, Florent, Solange, and Anne ( in Paris) !

What a stroke of luck for Ann to see this while out walking.

Interesting reading this week.

Silicon Valley fleeing to New Zealand. Read here.

The Secret Group of Scientists and Billionaires Pushing a Manhattan Project for Covid19.  Read here.

The Washington Post winning submissions to its yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words

1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs. (editorial note. Special significance these days
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle, olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.), emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists
13. Pokemon, a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), (back by popular demand): The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

The WP also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition

• -Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
• -Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
•  -Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.
•  -Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
• -Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
• – Karmageddon (n): It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these Really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it’s like, a serious bummer.
•  – Glibido (v): All talk and no action. 
•  – Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve accidentally walked through a spider web.
•  – Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you’re eating.
•  And the pick of the literature:
•  – Ignoranus (n): A person who’s both stupid and an asshole. A useful everyday word dont you think?

Watching

Netflix– I’m loving Call My Agent ( big hit in France and hilarious) and La Mante ( thriller with Carole Bouquet, previously a Chanel model).  Subtitles.

Netflix Documentaries:

• Gamechangers a smash-hit about the benefits of plant-based eating for athletic performance. Why every guy over age 40 is trying a plant-based diet. Very interesting and compelling.
• Ask Dr Ruth- a tale of hardship and inspiration. Very uplifting, and will make you smile (95% on Rotten Tomatoes).
• YouTube Free “Planet of the Humans”– surprise, a controversial Michael Moore produced movie which already has 5.4 million views. Free until end of May. Not too uplifting so watch while drinking a bottle of nice wine.  Won’t make you smile but better to have a discussion about this than none at all.

 

Ideas for Mothers Day ( supporting local and Canadian.  Lets see if my kids are actually reading this)

 

Pluck Teagram. Excellent tea and fun gift. Choose your tea, label, and write your message https://pluckteas.com/product/pluck-teagram/

 

 

Baker & Scone…I love these scones which are sold around the city and in their bakery on St. Clair.  They are doing really well with curbside pickup/delivery.http://www.bakerandscone.com/

 

Doctors Without Borders

Different sized boxes of medical supplies.

https://msfwarehouse.ca/pages/mothers-day

 

 

Maison-Basque, a great shop in Toronto carries gorgeous striped products including table linens, pillows, drapes, deck chairs, tote bags, and now FACE MASKS. https://maison-basque.com/

 

What do Hermes and the Deux Chevaux have in common?

Citroen actually produced a special edition Hermes model to celebrate its 60th anniversary, launched in 2008 at Paris Auto show. Quite a departure from the usual branding of a cheap utilitarian car but in typical fashion, the french break their own rules. Pretty ugly color but nice leather inside.

 

And finally, my sister is sewing face masks from an old duvet cover of my Mom’s ( french toile pattern !)  Frankly,  I dont care what the design or pattern is, we all look horrendous in these masks!

Yes, still in Pjs.