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Words are Beautiful – Philanthropic Patriotism
Words – when the beautiful gift of words become etched in your heart and mind, one realizes just how special that gift is. Words – unique, passionately thought of as part of the packaging, can often be the perfect gift. We were gifted with two important words at this year’s Ball On The Mall.
Earlier this Spring, I received the perfect gift when I volunteered at the Trust For The National Mall Ball On The Mall. I would like to say “Thank You”, for the gift of two simple words that were shared at this year’s Ball On The Mall. Allow me to share.
Each year, The Trust for the National Mall has several events to support their mission. These fund-raisers allow continued beautification efforts on behalf of The Trust for The National Mall. There two awards shared on this night under the mist and stars. The Distinction in Corporate America Service Award was awarded to Volkswagen Group of America honoring their generous financial gift of $10 Million.
The second award was the highlight of the evening. The History, Heroes and Hope Award is gifted to one special person. The requirements to receive this award are quite specific. One has to have made extraordinary civic contributions, made a positive impact through public service, and has made an impressionable impact on our country. There have been two previous recipients Mr. John Akridge, Founder, Chairman and Steward of the Land and Mr. Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director, National Park Service.
This year, The Trust For The National Mall honored David Rubenstein for the History, Heroes and Hope Award. I am still choked up from the beautiful gift of words Mr. Rubenstein shared with us. The beautiful gift of two words were Philanthropic Patriotism. Let me first acknowledge the first two recipients – Mr. Jonathan Jarvis and Mr. John Akridge.
Mr. Jonathan B. Jarvis, 2016 Recipient
Mr. Jonathan B. Jarvis has quite the track record for being a Steward of this Land. With an employment history as a Park Ranger, park biologist, resource management specialist to becoming the 18th Director of the National Park Service, Mr. Jarvis has certainly put in the work to become quite the Hero. The National Park Service is currently a leading authority when expertise is needed in cultural and natural resource management thanks to the efforts of Mr. Jarvis.
“A Call to Action” is the landmark document Mr. Jarvis has left as a blueprint for the next Century as The National Park Service enhances it’s mission. This document details how The National Park Service will become a leader worldwide as it embraces how to engage the general public. Taking ownership and participating in the programs our National Park Service provides, each of us can become inspired to become better Stewards of this land. Thank you Mr. Jarvis for this wonderful blueprint, “A Call To Action”.
Mr. John Akridge, Inaugural Recipient 2014
John Akridge is a man with a conscience. Challenged by the thought of a person commenting on the dismal condition of Our National Mall, Mr. Akridge decided to roll his sleeves up and get busy. That is just the kind of person Mr. Akridge is, another true Steward of this land. Presenting evidence of the condition to Congress, Capitol Hill and his private sector peers, Mr. Akridge began to shed light on the neglect of Our National Mall.
Spearheading a 7 year campaign, Mr. Akridge bent the ears of many City Planners, Environmentalists, Civic leaders, Government Leaders and Philanthropists. Mr. Akridge’s efforts were to bring long overdue attention to the dismal conditions of The National Mall, as he testified before Congress. This Harvard Business School graduate knew what he had to do to bring about changes that would benefit The National Mall.
As Founder and Chairman of The Trust for the National Mall, Mr. Akridge and his beautiful wife Sally raised $46 million in an effort to finance the mission of making The National Mall, one of the best parks in the world. Most successful men have a supportive companion by their side. Mrs. Akridge has shown support by founding the Women’s Leadership Committee. The Benefit Luncheon is the Signature Event for the Women’s Leadership Committee. It is one of THE anticipated events of the late Spring season. I am honored to say Thank You Mr. & Mrs. Akridge.
David Rubenstein, 2017 History, Heroes and Hope Award Recipient
In is own words, “Philanthropic Patriotism is not a term to be thrown around casually.” Sharing his meaning of these two words gave light to the evening. Mr. David Rubenstein defined this term as giving money to projects that the government cannot afford to fund. When one has been blessed to have so much money, Mr. Rubenstein feels that giving back is essential.
A native son, born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Rubenstein was raised in a working class family. An only child, his parents only wanted the best for him. A postal employee and a homemaker made a way for David Rubenstein to attend many prestigious schools like Duke University, among others. After attending law school, he served as Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor during the Carter Administration. Afterwards The Carlyle Group was started and continues to thrive creating meaningful ways to enhance wealth.
A proud signer of The Giving Pledge, Mr. Rubenstein has dedicated more than half of his wealth to philanthropic efforts. Here are a few of the ways Mr. Rubenstein has put his money where his heart is:
- Washington Monument repairs after the earthquake
- JFK Performing Arts, funding for the expansion
- The Thomas Jefferson Foundation for Mulberry Row restorations
- Montpelier restoration efforts
- National Park Service restoration of the Lincoln Memorial
- Washington Monument elevator repairs
These are just a few of the ways that Mr. Rubenstein has given back while demonstrating what a Philanthropic Patriot looks like. Thank you Mr. David Rubenstein for being an example that we should all find honorable. The gift of those two words re forever etched in my heart and in my own small way, I will give back as well. If each of us gave back what we could, when we could, it is a way to take ownership in the world around us.
Trust For The National Mall…great job!!
Catherine Townsend, President, Trust For The National Mall – Thank you for a fantastic evening of great food…..
and gorgeous floral arrangements (of course)…
Thank you to each of the recipients of the History, Heroes and Hope Award. Philanthropic Patriotism…Thank you Mr. Rubenstein for the gift of these two words.
Click here for information about The Trust For The National Mall
Click here for information about The National Park Service
Thankful for the gift of two words….
Teri, Cottage In The Court
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Loire Valley…Countryside Beauty in France
The Loire Valley, just outside Paris should be on your make time to do list when visiting Paris, France. The Loire Valley had remained a mystery to me – what was it famous for and why, what grows there and what is the temperature like. City Wonders Tours offered a Loire Valley Castles & Winetasting Full Day Trip Tour. What better way to explore the Loire Valley. The opportunity to visit three Castles – Chateau de Chambord, Chateau de Nitray, and Chateau de Chenonceau without driving, was certainly treat.
Chateau de Chambord
Daniel and Kotryna, City Wonders guides, filled us in on some juicy tidbits of history and information. King Francis definitely wanted to make certain you KNEW whose Castle this belonged to.
Recently renovated, the garden was long and colorful. Full of pollinator plants and wonderfully pruned trees.
The Castle itself had very little inside. All of the furniture that King Francis used was brought in and went with him when he left. During wartime, anything that remained was sold, stolen or has not been recovered – yet. There was this beautiful stove of sorts that had been restored which would heat certain rooms. not like our wood stoves mind you, but a floor to ceiling model – that Castle was COLD! Just goes to show you, consider your climate when admiring homes from lands far away in different climates. Keeping up with the Joneses goes waaaaay back!
Chateau de Nitray
Respecting that Chateau de Nitray is a private home, I will refrain from sharing the beauty that was found on this property. It is certainly a must see!
Nestled on a lane off the main road, was our mid-day stop that included our first tasting and lunch. We were greeted by the Owner who proved to be a gracious host. We first sampled Chateau de Nitray Touraine Sauvignon – light, citrus fragrance and smooth. The smell of hearty food was in the air and our host explained that we would be served Chateau de Nitray Touraine Les Meuriers with our lunch.
I have to share – I had two helpings of the tomato’s – I did not eat stewed tomato’s….until now. Perfectly seasoned tomato’s, the potato’s, accompanied by the chicken – heaven on a plate! Did I mention the cheese board and bread?
The goat cheese just danced across the bread and the cheese round melted on my tongue…just delightful! With full bellies, we did our best to help the local economy and left with bottles of delicious wines for later. Nothing wrong with making the memory linger.
Chateau de Chenonceau
Our final stop of the day was at Chateau de Chenonceau. In my humble opinion, City Wonders saved the best of the Loire Valley for last.
First had another wine tasting…
As we left the wine cellar, we headed towards the Castle…and were in awe!
From the foyer with restored floor….
The floral arrangements were voluptuous….
The painting that brought out the beautiful attributes of the reigning wife of King Henri, son of King Francis hangs in the bedroom of Queen Catherine de Medici. Quite the contrast between Diana de Portier, Duchess of Etampes who was considered beautiful. Keeping in mind that beauty in these days was pale white skin, no eyebrows, hair plucked for the appearance of a big forehead and pale skin. I think that someone did not like the competition.
Throughout the bedroom, there were a lot of “C’s and H’s”. Talk about marking your territory…these letters were everywhere. The flowers chosen to accent the rooms from the property were outstanding!
Drawn outside where the canoes lazily graced the surrounding waters, I explored the grounds and gardens.
To the gardens……
The amazement of Wisteria in full bloom…
Then, there was the other garden…..
Unfortunately, we had to head back to the bus and head back to Paris. The thoughts of the day – the Castles, the food and the wine made for quite the conversation among strangers.
Thank you City Wonders (Daniel and Kotryna) for a terrific day in the Loire Valley.
Here are a few links to find out more:
Recapping my day in the Loire Valley,
Teri, Cottage In The Court
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Senior Soloflighting – Traveling Solo Is Cool
Senior Soloflighting is something I suggest every woman do at some point. I do not mean to be sexist, however I can only speak from personal experience. I use the term Senior Soloflighting because as an awakening Senior, I became passionate about travel. Not exactly in a committed relationship, I felt what am I waiting for? It seriously became a WHY NOT moment. At fifty, I officially became a Senior Soloflighter. It was the first time in my mature life that I traveled outside of the USA. In fact, earlier this year was the first time ever traveling with a small group. (I will recap this later as it was a Cuban Adventure I am still savoring in my mind. Another Senior Awakening moment!) I love the Soloflight experience!!!
I wanted to share a few personal tips on what I feel are necessary items for a comfortable Senior Soloflight experience.
1. YOU ARE ON VACATION
There are only so many hours in the day. Don’t rush into activity on day one. Arrive, drink water, unpack, get rations (food) and more water. Dehydration is real and can ruin a great vacation! I avoid hotels and try to stay in community – once again a personal choice. Its the hippie in me. As I age, I might consider a hotel. While I can still adapt, I look for private vacation residences. No one is going to make the bed or change the towels…but its for a short stay. I don’t have the maid do this at home…I don’t have a maid. I live to travel and garden – no maid required.
2. PLAN OR NOT PLAN
This could be added to #1. If you have a docket of notes and 98 travel brochures in addition to whatever you booked in advance, you are WORKING and not SOLOFLIGHTING. Depending on the length of your trip, plan one or two full days of an organized event and the rest of your stay WANDER. It is a great idea to have A plan and NOT over plan. My full day yesterday was perfect visiting Castles in the Loire Valley – will share later. Today, I will wander, sit in the park , look for fabric, and people watch as I VACATION. I have an idea of where I want to visit…maybe…or maybe not!
3. SHOES MATTER
Walking shoes may or may not be cute…but they need to be practical.
Choosing basic, practical shoes is not my normal practice. However when traveling, basic black is always a good choice. These Baretraps Comfort slip-ons were on point at the airport as well as walking to my Paris apartment.
Comfort cushion inside and they felt like a glove caressed my foot. We all have our favorite brands. Pick your favorite that will go with anything – dressy or casual.
My second pair was for pure COMFORT! They are by “ahnu” and they are my second pair. It is my second pair. I have another pair from another brand that I wore in Cuba. Needing a half-size smaller, I ordered these. Twelve hours of walking, hopping on and off a bus and I was still raring to dance.
I have to figure out how to make them cute, but as a walker these are SO practical! Several seasoned sisters on my bus yesterday asked me where I got them from and how comfortable they looked. NEWSFLASH – online ordering and YES they were the clouds that carried me from Castle to Castle.
3. CARRY TRAVEL SAFE GEAR
A true Soloflighter means there is no one to carry your bag. You are traveling Solo. Practical just makes sense. I have an over the shoulder body purse. Eight years and still going strong, I ALWAYS know I am carrying this bag.
Three outside zipper compartments that lay close to your body. Perfect for maps and other essentials
(Don’t put your peach from the winery in your purse…although delicious…it gets messy!) Do put in a few business cards or some form of id, a lip gloss – this one from Bluffajo as it’s a natural subtle shine.
ALL of these essential items fit into this bag and it was not heavy. From hand sanitizer, to a notebook with working pen, my Liquid Courage “Super Rich Red,” mented “dark night” to the mints, to freshen my breath I am armed with my essential items. One last thing though…
4. CHARGERS COUNT
One of the realities of being a Soloflighter is that you might not be electronics savvy. I am learning, but Thank God there is a learning curve! Let me introduce you to what I call my Soloflighting BFF. The name is “iclever”. It has been the best purchase I have made on my own for my travels.
No longer do I worry about how long my charge will last – I have reliable back up! I carry my USB cord and my iclever. 4 charges while at a conference in Buffalo, 3 charges yesterday and it’s still going strong! There are two ports on top to charge two things at once!
I hope that you consider Senior Soloflighting these tips come in handy! I have a few more – but I have a day of wandering ahead of me.
Enjoying the Adventure!
Teri, Cottage In The Court
There is no sponsored content in this post. These all personal choices and I have not been compensated for any of these recommendations.
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Winter in Paris…Unanticipated Joy
Spending a part of winter in Paris was how I decided to end 2016. To begin the new year in my beloved “Other” home was a Christmas gift to self. Spending a quiet post holiday experience while it was winter in Paris, would provide the right atmosphere to just be still. Anytime of the year is a good time to consider Paris. Winter in Paris lends itself to moments of unanticipated joy.
This day,in particular, was quite magical. The cool air graced my face and a gentle rain fell. My first stop was at the base of the Basilica Sacre Couer. Like a sugar sculpture standing guard at the top of the hill, the view is one that is quite memorable. One could walk up the steep steps (well worth it on the right day) or take the Funicular – which is like a lift of sorts. This was not part of my mission on this rainy day. I used the Sare Couer as a place to get my bearings. I was on a quest to find beautiful fabrics to bring back home and create a memory.
To coin a phrase, a funny thing happened on the way to the fabric district. The fabric and notion stores are found adjacent to Anvers Metro. I wanted to explore a little and disembarked at Barbes-Rochechouart Metro. It all looked familiar at first. Merchants with everything from clothing to shoes to trinkets lined the streets. Having spare time I wandered aimlessly seeking familiar landmarks. On this day, the familiar landmarks were nowhere to be found. My walking carried me further away from where I wanted to be. I happened upon flowers in front of a store that whispered for me to take a peek. It was such a welcome sight, especially since it was winter in Paris.I needed to pause, so I gingerly turned the door knob and entered.
I was greeted in unison with “Bon Jour Mademoiselle” by the young man who was moving boxes and a sweet voice diligently wrapping a bouquet. I nodded as I embraced the sweet smells, the tasteful vases, and unique Christmas ornaments. It was just enough holiday decor to not overwhelm and more than enough single stems as well as bunches of flowers enticing me to linger.
My French needs a lot of work – seriously – but this gentle young woman worked with me to find what I was looking for. The perfect ornament for a very dear friend.
The smiling Proprietress of Ipomea assisted me graciously. Retrieving my ornament from the window, wrapping it in tissue, and finding the perfect box that would travel well. I explained that I was a gardener writer from America and that her shop was the bright spot on this damp winter day. Even with a small language barrier, we chatted for quite some time about flowers. Her name was Eva Boutolleau and it was a pleasure to meet and spend time with her.
I had to end my visit after getting directions on how to actually get to Anvers and the fabric stores. I cannot think of a better distraction during winter in Paris, than a flower shop like Ipomea. 
We exchanged business cards and I promised to work on my French before I returned. Turning the wrong way, even with directions, I mentally floated on the memories of my visit to a French flower shop. I like to think that the language of flowers is international. The opportunity to chat with a florist who understood this passion was simply amazing. If you are ever in Paris, Ipomea is worth the wander. Should you choose to wander, be sure to tell Eva I sent you or visit her Facebook page @27CuistineParis18
Twenty minutes later, I finally found what I was looking for….fabrics.
More fabrics….
there were, even more, fabrics that made the long journey worth it! The opportunity to touch and feel fabrics that come from some of the better-known design houses is an experience. To afford a remnant is priceless. This year’s bounty included a slice of cashmere, a bit of mohair and a few notions.
Each time I go to Paris there are a few things that I just cannot pass up. Fresh flowers to enhance my daily joy, fabric store excursions, The House of Chanel (I just gaze through the window and dream, each and every time)
and the Eiffel Tower. One day I will muster up the courage to actually enter the House of Chanel and ask to touch the staircase. A dream of my youth that will one day become a reality. Coco Chanel was a designer that I admired as I dreamt of becoming a fashion designer. Coco seemed to have chutzpah and a wonderful sense of style. It was my mission to find the apartment of the infamous Coco Chanel. No matter the season, in Paris, dreams can come true. You must be willing to wander and allow Paris to happen to you. During this past winter in Paris, I allowed unanticipated joy to happen.
Winter in Paris is just as exciting as any other season…you just have to be willing to wander. A chosen tour allowed me to wander even more….
(I will be posting several delayed posts. When I returned from Paris, I lost my Best Friend and Garden Buddy. I had to pause as I embraced this life change, however life goes on. Honoring my Father through my words….)
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