The Bolter - Remembering Kenya

In Nancy Mitford's novels, the narrator's mother is an elusive character, the Bolter, who dashes around the world, collecting husbands; together with the Hun-hating, entrenching tool-wielding Uncle Matthew, the Bolter is one of the most memorable and funniest characters. It turns out she was inspired by Idina Sackville, a five-time divorced eccentric who had fallen in love with Kenya - along with too many younger men she was keen on marrying.

In The Bolter, just released in the USA, her great-granddaughter Frances Osborne tells the story of her life. Not only does it portray a unique woman, but it also explores the mores of Edwardian London, the craziness of 1920's England, the impact of World War One, and the methods of English colonialism in East Africa. In Kenya, she was friends with the Dane Karen Blixen, who later wrote Out of Africa - they even shared a lover, Denys Finch Hatton.
Colonialism in Kenya was meant to be based on railroads - in the early 1980's I took the train from Nairobi to Naivasha with my family (see pic - I'm on the right). This fascinating book brought back many memories of Kenya where I lived as a child. Some of Osborne's lyrical description of Kenya's landscapes and wildlife stirred deep emotions in me, making me long for my very own paradise lost.

And if your paradise is all things books, do check out dear Gabbi's fabulous post on the topic. This must-see post features great pictures, an amazing visit to the Los Angeles Public Library, and, yes, an award for me...
I love reading, and I love Gabbi!

Lady GoGo Boots

I recently showed you pictures of a kitten, the exquisite GoGo Boots. She has been growing steadily and is now a real lady! Isn't she just gorgeous? Meow!

I was thrilled to receive a double award from Italy's talented Francesca, who makes the most beautiful little toys and painted boxes, as well as Japan's Michiko, whose blog is an unexpected and sublime museum.
I'd like to pass on the awards to Solange for letting us into her wonderful home, Esti for her poignant yet fun drawings, the bunnies of Qi Papers, My Castle In Spain for her colors and treats, Rina who takes us to Chile with love, Los Angeles hip blogger Joanna, Mansuetude for her insights and amazing pics, Diana Muse for her exquisite treasures, Solvi's poetic Sheltering Sky, and Annechovie's tasteful eye candy.

California Skies, Blue & Gray

I found that since I moved to Los Angeles, my photographs and posts focus much more on the outdoors, with an emphasis on seascapes of course; when I was living in Paris, my the huge majority of my pictures were taken in my apartment... Thanks to all of you who made the transition with me from Paris to California, and keep on visiting AUREA.
For my next post, maybe we'll stay indoors and read some books.

I was delighted to receive a Kreative Blog award from a fellow Californian, the wonderfully sensitive Laura - all the more so as she gave me this award for my writing!
She directed me to list 6 random things about me, something I already did here...

Patrick Le Chat

Last week, when I introduced my Girl With A Dog With A Blog logo, cat lovers around the blogosphere felt a little left out.
So today I thought we'd go feline - I'm happy to introduce fluffy and camera-shy Patrick Le Chat, whom some Parisian friends have just adopted.
Isn't he adorable?

I was thrilled to receive an award from both the super clever and stylish Hila and creative foodie Laura.
I'd like to pass on the award to the exquisite Sanctuary, the super-smart Mansuetude from Tumbleword, the lovely Bonbon-Oiseau, sweet as her name suggests, shoe-obsessed Miss Glitzy, the refined South End Blend, the playful Red Aprons, and Liivian Talossa's fabulous photos.

Surprise, surprises

What a wonderful surprise! I have been watering this little plant in my kitchen for months and just as I returned from Los Angeles, a few shy flowers bloomed! They're graceful and fragile as butterflies, poised against thick, velvet green leaves. It's bliss.
And they make me hum, as violets were the favorite flowers of a composer I have been worshiping for ever, Claude Debussy...

Other lovely surprises: receiving awards from Argentina's Karina (El Beso) and also Australia's Hila (Your Cover's Blown). I am a fan of both these ladies, who love books and style as much as I do... Thank you so much, girls! I wonder how I could pass these on to only a few blogs; hmmmm, I'll have to think...

Thanks, Bloggers!

Marie, whose blog is an exquisite treasure trove, has just settled in Paris and yesterday I invited her to meet Benjy and have tea with homemade strawberry-peach crumble... I was thrilled to meet her! She spoilt me with wonderful strawberries and a bouquet of pink peonies. My favorite flowers, in that Schiaparelli hot pink I love - bliss!
Thank you, Marie...

I am a fan of Artycho's lovely creations and was delighted today as I received my first order from this artist and seamstress based in the English countryside. The navy blue Victorian-style bonnet, a model she named after me (!), is perfectly crafted, unbelievably pretty, and came in the most beautiful package ever! I'm eager to wear it - it's ideal for a someone with sun-sensitive skin like me. The talent of bloggers such as Artycho never ceases to amaze me. Thank you, Artycho!


Finally I'd like to thank Kwana, who like me owns an adorable pocket-size pooch, for giving me this Arte Y Pico award.
The icing on the cake: this award originated with a Uruguayan blogger!

Back in Paris - Some News

As I was about to board the Eurostar at London's St Pancras, I spotted this fun illustration by the extraordinary Quentin Blake on a wall outside the station... I love the joy it conveys. I've always been a huge Roald Dahl fan, and I suspect Blake's drawings had something to do with this adoration...
In Paris I was reunited at last with Benjy, aka The Oracle. While I was away, he was bitten on the neck by a large dog on the street... But fret not! Benjy is in good shape and can't wait to resume his guest-blogging. Don't hesitate to leave him questions about Paris, fashion, lifestyle or anything else in the Comments section.

If you're interested in France and food (who wouldn't be?), you might want to know that I've started writing for CalorieLab. See for instance my piece about Smart Choices At French Bakeries and today's article on a French Bill seeking to criminalize encouraging anorexia nervosa.
I miss Uruguay, its beautiful horses and views, so I was happy to stay in touch via this blog's Comments, with Natalia, one of the Maldonado Liceo students whose picture I snapped last week; she's kindly answered my questions about what she and her friends are into, especially when it comes to music. Give Uruguayan rock a go with NoTeVaGustar...

I was delighted to receive this award from 36 Shea's Jill. With her lovely family and fine eye for beauty, not to mention her talent as a seamstress and designer, Jill's enchanting; I also feel I have a special bond with her because she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I spent two years in the late 1990's. Thank you so much, Jill!

On the road in Uruguay

On the road from Punta del Este to Atlantida... I love Uruguay's green landscapes, where horses and cows roam free. Open spaces! Blue skies! Crisp air! You may see lovely children coming out of public school in their typical white túnicas with a black bow, a sight that always makes me go "Aaaaaaaw!"...
Tomorrow we will "Aaaaaaaw!" some more with four-legged creatures. And it's not what you think!

I was psyched to receive this award from 2 bloggers I adore. Sweet Marie, who has an eye for exquisite design, and the whimsical, delightful illustrator Etsi. Thank you so much!
I'd like to pass on this award to
1. newcomer Chloe, a sassy writer and my personal style icon
2. All The Best, whose designer profiles and interviews are such a treat!
3. Laura's Kitchen Notebook, for its super yummy tales from Paris and all over the world
4. Au coeur d'Artycho, where you'll see the most exquisite creations ever and so much more...
5.Pia, because she's Pia, and no award list can be complete without her.
Award-winners, here's what you should do:
1. nominate 5 blogs which haven't had this award before
2. each of the blogs must have a purpose
3.the nominated blogs must make a link back to this page
4. the logo from the award must be put on their blog and it must link back to this blog!

Avenida Gorlero

Punta del Este's Avenida Gorlero is Uruguay's Champs-Elysées or Fifth Avenue, its most famous and chic avenue. In cafés, such as El Greco or La Pasiva, you'll actually be charged as much as in Paris for coffee! (Shhhhhh, don't tell my grandma I patronize these places or I'll be lectured on my shameful wastefulness). At the end of the little streets that run perpendicularly to Golero is my beloved Atlantic Ocean.
Among fabulous ice-cream parlors and fancy shoe stores (together with meat, leather is the foundation of Uruguay's economy), are several super-well-stocked bookstores. Latin American literature became dear to me when I was in junior high in Hong Kong (!) and a Peruvian Spanish teacher introduced me to Cortázar (arguably my favorite short-story writer), Borges, García Marquez, Onetti, and many more. I love having a frothy cortado with some good reading... This week, I bought volumes by authors whose works I have yet to discover: Argentina's Silvina Ocampo, and Chile's Roberto Bolaño (whose novel Los detectivos salvajes was enthusiastically covered in American papers when it was translated into English a few months ago). Check them out! (Shhhhhh, don't tell my grandma I spend money on books or I'll be lectured on my shameful wastefulness.)


I was delighted to find out that
Fashion Ivy had awarded me an Excellent Blogger distinction!
Thank you so much, she said, blushing...