Patricia Sands

Author

Photo blogs

International Women’s Day 2016 ~ Photo Exhibit

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Tuesday, March 8, is globally recognized as International Women’s Day.

This day means different things to different people. For some it’s a celebration, for others it’s a call to action to accelerate gender parity, and for many it’s an opportunity to align and promote relevant activity. Whatever your objective, International Women’s Day is the perfect moment for gender-focused action.

The official United Nations theme for International Women’s Day this year is Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality. In other words, #Pledge For Parity. You can take this pledge by clicking on this link. Go ahead. Take action. At the very least, do this.

Leaders across the world are pledging to take action as champions of gender parity. Click here to see what might be planned in your area.

After you’ve taken ten seconds to take the pledge, treat yourself to this stunning collection of photographs of women around the world, compiled by Toronto’s own Journeywoman, Evelyn Hannon. This is a stunning celebration of women uniquely contributing to their communities.

Click right here and be sure to continue through all five pages of photos. You will be very glad you did. That’s a promise!

12809572_10153247234692583_8340262764923178628_n Evelyn shares her thoughts on the project:  “As I add the finishing touches to our ‘2016 Journeywoman International Woman’s Day Photography Exhibit,’ I dedicate this year’s compilation to all daughters and granddaughters wherever they live in this great big world. My hope is that with time this young generation of females will bring us closer to a place of equal opportunity for women and for men. As Mothers, Aunts, and Grandmothers we believe in them and willEvelyn-Hannon do everything we can to support them.”

You can follow Journeywoman on Facebook.

Sign up for her monthly newsletter to receive hot deals and other valuable information from the premier travel resource for women.

Each photo is a study in itself, but was there one in particular that stood out for you?

This eye-catching study was taken by my friend, Carol Perehudoff, a.k.a luxury blogger, Wandering Carol. I keep waiting for the image to start moving. Unforgettable!

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Celebrate women today and every day. All ages. All nationalities. We are in this together.

 

 

The Good Life France SPRING Magazine

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

When this publication arrives in my mailbox, I’m done. Whatever I am working on is set aside, while I take a quick look through the entire magazine. Then I decide which article I will settle into first. My weekend is planned!

Here’s the SPRING EDITION OF THE GOOD LIFE FRANCE MAGAZINE ~ as always, FREE AND FABULOUS! The photography and presentation simply keeps getting better … and it was always superb from the beginning. Take your time, mesdames et messieurs, and savor this gem. Once again, kudos to Janine Marsh, the tireless editor.

On y va!
 

The new issue of The Good Life France Magazine SPRING 2016 magazine has been published.

You can now access it instantly HERE.
The digital magazine technology requires no special software and loads quickly in your web browser. Just click on the magazine cover or link above to begin reading now!

If you will be asked for an access key to view the magazine use this: nzaDE4
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Copyright © 2016 Joomag. All rights reserved.

 

There’s nothing else I could post on this page today to compare with the goodness found in this magazine. Dive right in and enjoy it! That’s what I’ll be doing!

À très bon weekend!

Nice, France

 

Did someone say “Chocolat”?

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Val de Loire

This week I wrote a post  about chocolate in France for my friend Janine Marsh’s wonderful website The Good Life France.

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Click right here to see the post. Chocolate + France … two of my favourite topics. It was fun to write, as you can imagine. If you do go in and read it, please click on some of the links at the bottom of the article. It all helps!

If you follow me regularly, you’re probably already a subscriber to Janine’s amazing newsletter and ezine. There’s a link to the virtual magazine in the column here on my blog. ====================>

Or just click right here to see back issues of the magazine, too.

While I was doing research for that post, I spent some time revisiting the wonderful film Chocolat. Remember that?  I loved it so much, I own a copy. So we watched it again this week.

You also might want to read the novel by Joanne Harris and check out her other work including, Peaches for Monsieur le Curé.

This photo is one of my “shoot through the open window of the car as my husband zooms by shots” … otherwise I would be asking him to stop every two minutes … and he really is great about pulling over. But sometimes it is simply not possible. French roads often have no shoulders or there’s someone right on our tail. In spite of that it’s surprising how often the photo turns out!

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So, back to the movie. If, for some bizarre reason, you haven’t seen Chocolat, get on over to Netflix immediately. It’s a great story … and of course, there is Johnny Depp … but the setting ,,, ah oui … the setting … that’s what’s really delicious!

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It was filmed in the medieval village of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain in Burgundy and on the Rue De l’Ancienne Poste in the charming commune of Beynac-et-Cazenac, in the heart of Périgord Noir. These photos of mine are from that latter general area.

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Beynac is found on the banks of the Dordogne River with a well-preserved 12thC castle, clinging to a steep cliff, once besieged by Richard the Lion Heart. Just ten kilometres from Sarlat, this village is distinctive with “lauze” stone slab-roofed houses and well worth a visit.

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Are you a chocophile? Dark, milk, white? All of them? What’s your pleasure? Be sure to have a supply nearby while you watch the movie.  Bon weekend!

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Dreaming, I’m Always Dreaming …

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

Even though January is only half through, my thoughts keep floating ahead to June when we will head back to France. Here are a few things I’m dreaming about:

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The jacaranda trees will be in bloom and so will the fields of sunflowers,

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and the lavender … I can smell it now! My shutter finger is already beginning to twitch …

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There will be two glorious weeks back in Arles, following the footsteps of Van Gogh and being a flâneur … making notes … taking photos …

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And then … be still my heart … back to Antibes to discover more about Katherine and Philippe and Simone and Nick … and who knows what else …

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And Nice … oh yes, Nice … days in Nice with friends and French lessons and the turquoise waters of the Med … and more notes for stories …

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Yup, dreaming … I’m always dreaming …

Have you begun dreaming about how 2016 will be for you? Even if it’s not going to happen, it never hurts to dream. Dream along with me! I’ll take you with me on the blog and bring you to the south of France in another new novel. Avec plaisir … 

Bon weekend, everyone!

Okay, I have to admit something now. From the minute I wrote the title for this post, a song has been playing over and over in my head. You know how that happens sometimes? It has absolutely nothing to do with France … and comes from waaaaaaay back in the day for me. Probably before your time!  So I had to find it and share it … ah, yes, memories of the Friday night Teen Town dances … a great jive song too! Excusez-moi while I have a little burst of melancholy!