From Louis

…………………Gone is the yellow and white and all of the LEMONS………..In its’ place I was in the mood for something more serene and sophisticate to bring August in…….BLACK & WHITE with SILVER…….The table is set with a long black table cloth, and on top a smaller white and black marble print table cloth with a small scalloped edge. The table is set with black plates on silver chargers and black and silver flat wear……Black and white linen napkins are held with silver wire rings….The candles are a combination of black and white long tappers and black pillar candles…..The green and pink hydrangeas are in black and white bud vases with a center Murano Zebra glass large vase…..I always like to add decorative items to the table…..a black and white marble box I bought in Florence, Italy more that 35 years ago, and a metal African ball covered in flat studs, [photo at upper right, also bought over 30 years ago], are conversation pieces…..There are two black etched American Indian antique vases/jars Jac and I bought in a wonderful store in Santa Fe that sold American Indian antiquities, [it looks grey in the picture at the lower left, but it’s pure black!], also decorate the table………The table and the mood is set…..now I just have to wait for my guests to arrive at sunset!

………….”Saturday evening with friends”…………Just before my guests arrive I light the candles and put on the music……..The stage is set for a lovely evening.

…………………The sun has set and dinner will be shortly served.

……………The Olympics in Paris has begun!!!! and I couldn’t be more thrilled!…….The opening ceremony was done in FRENCH FASHION…….not in a stadium…..but using the “CITY OF LOVE” as its’ backdrop…….The athletes came down the River Seine in boats of all sizes waving their national FLAGS IN THE POURING RAIN, but did they care it was raining?…..not a bit….Nothing was going to spoil their fun! As they came down the river VIGNETTES were happening all along the river, and on the roof tops of some of the most famous landmarks of Paris……What a PRODUCTION!……Some were more successful than others, and it was a lot to undertake, and some will say too ambitious….In a way it reminded me of the fashion show….”The Battle Of Versailles”….The French production was also too ambitious, and in the end was not good…..I can say that there were some incredible moments….like the many Marie Antoinettes in red dresses in windows of a famous building….all headless holding their heads in their hands……LADY GAGA did a spectacular Folies Bergere performance with hot pink feather fans and a slew of male dancers ……It reminded me of Marilyn Munroe’s dance number…..It was preformed on a gold staircase on the banks of the Seine…..Can Can dancers and Heavy Metal bands all performed….It was a bit all over the place……However……you can bet I will be glued to the TV for the next two weeks watching every event I can!

…………..Every aspect of the ceremony was incredible…..The Eiffel Tower coming to life with thousands of lights and the Olympic Rings ablaze………The FINALE brought me to TEARS when…..CELINE DION…..came out on stage in front of the tower….LOOKING RADIANT!……….and singing with her STRONG BEAUTIFUL VOICE!…….OMG…..she was INCREDIBLE…..such courage….for me……that’s the meaning of the OLYMPIC GAMES!……..Good luck to ALL of the athletes…….but especially our American SONS and DAUGHTERS!