Raconteur

via

via

I gave my students a daring challenge.

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I asked them to

spool out

a reading assignment

into 

a writing opportunity

to

stitch in the details
 

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unseen 

in the story

about the 

character's dilemma.

  I asked them to think. 

I asked them

But one young man responded:

Madame, I can't.

I can't use my imagination...

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This world is too harsh of a place

for me.

 

castles crowns and cottages

   

castles crowns and cottages

and

castles crowns and cottages

set the stage for

problem-solving

to evolve

in a world that 

can't believe

but where harsh realities 

must bow

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to the power

of one who hopes

and spins out

a masterpiece

of

 possibilities.

Dear travelers

The view

from up here 

is

...I recognize

Paris Grey

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Prague 

in its mist

photo by neil j. wilson flickr via pinterest

effervescent 

Venice

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Budapest the Beautiful

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Capri

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and details from

a Scandinavian countryside.

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via toves sammensurium

But the closer I approach



my destination

the sky below 

and

inside of me

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is morphing into a rather 

strange
 

but perfect dream-like focus

toward my 


European Dream.

Narrow canals now channel

via

 

via

my arrival to a

 Hilltop

in 

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I don't know 


if I'll ever meet her -

my 

Dutch blog sister

and

Add caption

 So hang on tight 


take flight

  
click on the links

and 

see the real stars 

below:

1. Judith with Botanic Bleu
2. Carolyn with Draffin Bears 
3. Violet with Create Beauty
4. Speedy and Rachel from Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny 
5. Marie-Ange du blog Rêver au Sud
6. Catherine with Cashmere Lover 
7. Robyn with Simply Fresh Dinners 
8. Denise with Denise's Delights in her Coffeeberry Cottage
9. Sandy with You May be Wandering  
10. Nancy with Fête et Fleur 
11. Mary with Tales from the Backroad
12. Suz with Crusin' Over Sixty 
13. Lynne with Dreams on 34th Street
14. Nélinha du blog Mes Passions en Toutes Saisons 
15. Penny with Angelsdoor  
16. Martina with MV'S Art Impressions
17. Karen with Garden, Home and Party 
18. Rhonda with A Little Bit French
20. Heather with Style Minded Chic Life
21. Marsha with Splenderosa 
22. Peggy with According to Braswell 
23. Mary Jo with Trust Your Style
24. Karen Harvey Cox with Scrapbook of Inspiration
25. The Contessa with Vintage Hen House
26. Linnie with The Butt'ry and Book'ry 
27. Eden Clare with Artful Fairytales
28. Dawne Polis with Quiddity 2  
29. Jade with White and Shabby
30. Marcia with Marcia Pilar 
31. Emily with The French Hutch 
32. Stacey with Design Addict Mom
33. Dawn with Petals, Paper, Simple Thymes 
34. Monica with Prince Snow Farm
35. Violetta with V M Creation Atelier 
36. Marie-Paule du blog Marie-Paule Faure Paris-Campagne
37. Toves with Toves Sammensurium  
38. Irma du blog Soupières et Vieilles Dentelles
39. Karolyn with The Relished Roost 
40. Kim with Exquisitely Unremarkable 
41. Karena with The Arts by Karena
42. Maria with The Good Life  
43. Marijke with Marijke's Thuis
44. Luisa del blog Personally Selected Products  
45. Sonja with Bits and Pieces
46. Karla with Jill of all Trades  
47. Sandra with Thistle Cove Farm
48. Sarah with Hope in Every Season
49. Lynzie with Thoughts from a Young Writer  
50. Jayne with Jayne on Weed Street
51. Barbara with Moveable Feasts 
52. Ria with It's Me
53. Irina with  Gypsy in Me
54. Linda with Life and Linda
55. Carol with Buttercup Counts her Blessings 
56. Elizabeth with Pinecones and Acorns
57. Sharon with Faith Hope and Cherrytea 

It's Too

photo by carin olssen with permission by jennie bernheim at margo and me

 this adventure of ours.

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It's too beautiful to be true

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via

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that we can connect world-wide 

to

celebrate

the unique vision that each 

individual blogger
 
nurtures in order to demonstrate how

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~Yes~


 it's too beautiful to be true

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Are you ready to meet me

at the shore of your imagination

castles crowns and cottages cinque terre italy

 

 and sail away

 
bright and early 

wherever you are on the globe
 

for

to experience

a playful

the london eye

 
 artful and virtual


European dream destination

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for the following participants?

1. Judith with Botanic Bleu
2. Carolyn with Draffin Bears 
3. Violet with Create Beauty
4. Speedy and Rachel from Speedy the Cheeky House Bunny 
5. Marie-Ange du blog Rêver au Sud
6. Catherine with Cashmere Lover 
7. Robyn with Simply Fresh Dinners 
8. Denise with Denise's Delights in her Coffeeberry Cottage
9. Sandy with You May be Wandering  
10. Nancy with Fête et Fleur 
11. Mary with Tales from the Backroad
12. Suz with Crusin' Over Sixty 
13. Lynne with Dreams on 34th Street
14. Nélinha du blog Mes Passions en Toutes Saisons 
15. Penny with Angelsdoor  
16. Martina with MV'S Art Impressions
17. Karen with Garden, Home and Party 
18. Rhonda with A Little Bit French
19. Constance with Constance at Home 
20. Heather with Style Minded Chic Life
21. Marsha with Splenderosa 
22. Peggy with According to Braswell 
23. Stephanie du blog Millesfeuilles  
24. Mary Jo with Trust Your Style
25. Karen Harvey Cox with Scrapbook of Inspiration
26. The Contessa with Vintage Hen House
27. Linnie with The Butt'ry and Book'ry 
28. Eden Clare with Artful Fairytales
29. Dawne Polis with Quiddity 2  
30. Jade with White and Shabby
31. Marcia with Marcia Pilar 
32. Emily with The French Hutch 
33. Stacey with Design Addict Mom
34. Dawn with Petals, Paper, Simple Thymes 
35. Monica with Prince Snow Farm
36. Violetta with V M Creation Atelier 
37. Marie-Paule du blog Marie-Paule Faure Paris-Campagne
38. Toves with Toves Sammensurium  
39. Irma du blog Soupières et Vieilles Dentelles
40. Karolyn with The Relished Roost 
41. Kim with Exquisitely Unremarkable 
42. Karena with The Arts by Karena
43. Maria with The Good Life  
44. Marijke with Marijke's Thuis
45. Luisa del blog Personally Selected Products  
46. Sonja with Bits and Pieces
47. Karla with Jill of all Trades  
48. Sandra with Thistle Cove Farm
49. Sarah with Hope in Every Season
50. Lynzie with Thoughts from a Young Writer  
51. Jayne with Jayne on Weed Street
52. Barbara with Moveable Feasts 
53. Ria with It's Me
54. Irina with  Gypsy in Me
55. Linda with Life and Linda
56. Carol with Buttercup Counts her Blessings 

If you'd like to participate

there's still time to add you to the list.

Here is what each person will do:

1. Choose a European dream destination. You need not ever have been there.

2. Be creative! Write a post and share personal photos, compose a poem,  paint a picture of how you envision that special place, write a short play, make a collage of fashion, food or gardens OR show us your favorite European home décor or dream home. Show and tell why is it simply irresistible! Take my banner

link it back to me, and add it to your post.  HAVE FUN!

3.  Activate your post on Friday July 18, relax and leave it up until Friday July 25. I will provide the links from my blog for the whole week starting on Friday morning, 7:00AM Central Time, United States, on July 18.

4. Then all you have left to do is to visit the links via my blog at your leisure and be kind to leave a comment for the bloggers you visit. I guarantee you will

discover new blogs

meet new friends

and 

smile.

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There is a giveaway for participants 

who are interested!

Please leave me a comment

if 

you would like a chance to win

a five-piece vintage

Sheffield, England

Georgian style silver plate tea set

castles crowns and cottages

 Winner will be announced

after Friday, July 25.

Enjoy!

castles crowns and cottages

Header photos - My trip to Italy 2001