I had a lovely day out yesterday. It started with a brocante (flea market) in the Place des Abbesses, which is one of my happy places anyway. I found three small letterpress ornaments for my press, which was neat. And a lovely set of canisters that was too expensive....

Then I hopped the metro to the Left Bank to hear my friend Rene play. I always love his music. Did a little sketching while I listened.

I walked Rene to his metro station and then stopped to paint in the garden of thE Hotel Sens. I forgot to photograph the watercolor (the first full one I've done -- I've been having too much fun with my sketch pad), and it's too dark now. I'll post it later. But I did a quick marker sketch after painting. And then walked past the Hotel de Ville and sketched my favorite whimsical knights up on its roof.

I ended the day sitting a while in the Tuileries. It was busy on a gorgeous weekend day, but I bought a lemon ice cream cone and scored a chair by an installation of wind chime bells. They were utterly lovely. A whole forest of them chiming when the wind blew. I couldn't sketch the sound, but I did do a sketch just to remember.

I did one very quick watercolor at the end of the day. I was about to head home, but the Louvre looked glorious in the late afternoon sun, and I couldn't resist. It really is my favorite building to paint.