Blue Paris - Week's End

If you've not visited Carol at Paris Breakfasts, you must, you absolutely must. We look forward to her Washington, DC exhibit in September 2010. (Is that enough lead time?! We'll remind you again, no worries.) Also, Tina at The English Muse has just returned from a Paris getaway. Here are some marvellously moody Polaroids she posted yesterday. [Beautiful photograph by Johnny Santo Domingo]

Have a wonderful weekend.

ciao-bonjour-meow/GG Central

Look into My Eyes, Darling

GG & her editor love this cool customer. He can pull off a vest, for sure. Makes us want a gin & tonic--if we drank G&Ts. GG continues to long for a playmate. This is as close as she'll get anytime soon.

[By generous Nick Bartoletti in Seattle]

Made4Aid Week - Bags for Haiti

While GG is busy attending to her ailing editor (lap sitting), we bring good news. Now go away. OK, a little joke. Please visit Made4Aid & see a number of lovely & varied bags for sale to benefit Haiti, via Oxfam, this week. This is a bit of a detour from their Darfur WFP project & a worthy one, of course. There is a very cool stripy laptop bag that beckons. There are also gorgeous photographs available for a set price. Please do visit & perhaps make a bid. It is easier than you can possibly imagine. We can vouch for them completely, having made three transactions last summer & autumn. All these auctions end on Sunday 31st January, 9pm New York time.

ciao-meow/the management

[photographs via Made4Aid & used by kind permission]

GG Wants a Petit Mouton

While we are (still) under the weather, we're still grazing for images. This little lamb is so cute (of course) but the amused facial expression sets it apart from other cute lamb photographs. GG still wants a little lamb following her about...it's not going to happen but she will meet a little lamb later in the spring. There will be photographs.

Several networks will televise the Hope for Haiti Now telethon tomorrow evening. If it takes an MTV dog & pony show to reach some people, so be it. We know well how the interjection of celebrities into disasters can make, frankly, a mess. Don't get us started. But when a recent study asserts that many of your children spend 7+ hours (!!!) a day connected to electronic devices (& we don't mean vacuuming the house), & you seem unwilling or unable to remedy this appalling situation (you know who you are), well then. And anyway, George Clooney (the telethon ringmaster) does walk the walk. You just don't always see him doing so.

Please don't forget Darfur Peace & Development, Made4Aid (they are directing money to Haiti at moment instead of Darfur, updates as they are available), & the various Haiti aid links on GG, bricolage, & other blogs you visit regularly. Many thanks.

ciao-still-cheeky-meow/GGCM

[adorable Yorkshire lamb photograph by Karnaphuli via flickr]

Yéle Haiti - Week's End

Yéle Haiti has announced a partnership among several organizations, including AmeriCares, called Haiti Earthquake Alliance. This is to avoid duplication of effort. Here is text from today's website (Friday, 15 January):

"Yéle Haiti has pulled together a group of like minded organizations and first responders in order to help coordinate the delivery of emergency services and materials needed by victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Each or the organizations will undertake their own fundraising and on-the-ground operations, but have agreed to share resources, collaborate when it makes sense and avoid duplication....Just formed in the last day, the Alliance has already pulled together four airlifts of medical supplies, food and other emergency supplies – along with teams of doctors. These airlifts will go out beginning Saturday. Keep checking back to this website for details."

GG Central asks that you continue to support your favorite organizations. Do not fall prey to scams. Do not open e-mail from sources you do not know. Doctors Without Borders is a good place to start as well; more on them next week. Today they are expanding surgical facilities on-the-ground.

We like to highlight Wyclef Jean's Yéle Haiti because it is very important that Haitian citizens are involved in development & rebuilding--real rebuilding-of their country. There were concrete efforts, planning, & progress being made. Many people do not know this fact. We are already hearing uninformed people criticizing Haiti. Not helpful, people. If you want to be involved for the long haul, please visit the William J. Clinton Foundation.

[GG collage from photographs courtesy of Mia Farrow & Haitian paintings by P. Brantle & Valmidor via American University & MedaliaArt--also raising money for earthquake aid]

Help for Haiti

Here is a release from the White House a few moments ago with regard to Haiti. [Vintage photograph in Haiti, via LIFE Archives. By John Leonard] THURSDAY UPDATE: Thank you to Maria Caterina for a Red Cross e-card:

Ciao
Susanna and Giulia,
I was inspired by your posting and have made a donation for the relief effort. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
xoxo

Help Haiti

Many of our friends around the world will awake to news of the major earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, late afternoon. News is still trickling out & there are few photographs yet. This photo was sent out from the AP, via Twitpic. Please go to World Vision, the Red Cross to see what you might do to help. More organization links as things become more organized. Here is the latest BBC link, & the latest New York Times link. UPDATE: Yéle Haiti Foundation now has a donation page.

Remembering Miep Gies

A great woman & hero died yesterday at age 100. Please visit the Miep Gies & Anne Frank websites. You can leave condolences here. (Yes, we know that Miep famously said that she was not a hero but did what was necessary. We think otherwise because most people did not do what was necessary.) [photographs via Miep Gies & Anne Frank websites]

GG's City Townhouse

GG received this wonderful holiday gift on Saturday from her friends Maria Caterina & Hermione the Cat. She's ever so busy making a wish-list for furnishings, looking at swatches for wallpaper (well, she's lounging on Elle Decor at the moment), & generally making a nuisance of herself (when she's not sleeping on one of her two new floors). Thank you MCat & Hermione! (*Below is a description & link to the new & non-embarrassing cat item to have 'round the house via DrsFosterSmith.com)

ciao-meow/GG's interior decorator

*City Place boasts an urban brownstone design at a small town price. This durable cardboard hideaway is ideal for cats that love open boxes. City Place is a petite version of our popular Cat Cottage, with three levels to explore (including roof). City Place features three, double-thick cardboard levels, two windows, and two entrance cutouts. Assembly is required, and full instructions are included. For cats up to 20 lbs. 21" x 23-1/2" x 27" high.

Elegance on Wheels - Week's End

Have an elegant weekend. Here's a great photograph from one of our favorite blogs, Cycle Chic from Copenhagen. We have the Italian red gloves..& that's about it--for now. [photograph by Mikael via flickr.]

ciao-rushed-meow/GG Central

Athletes for Animals

We interrupt our tiresome complaining about the cold weather to tell you about a great new program; it's starting in Washington, DC but will be expanding nationwide (perhaps worldwide--wouldn't that be great?). GG collage of Chip & Dale, Lily, Taylor, Floyd, Hazel, & Zoey (with their humans) via Athletes for Animals.

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG's editor

Athletes for Animals Mission:

Raise funding and awareness for humane education programs that connect kids with animals to teach kindness, compassion and respect for all living beings. The program is starting in Washington, D.C. with the Washington Redskins' Chris Cooley, the Washington Capitals' Shaone Morrisonn, DC United's Clyde Simms and the Washington Mystics' Nakia Sanford. The charitable beneficiaries are The Washington Animal Rescue League and The Washington Humane Society. Nationwide expansion is coming soon.

Snow Toes

It's so so so so cold that sometimes a person does something goofy (see above). GG is asleep & would not dream of going out with snow on the way. [photograph by D Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography's Free For All Creative Commons]

ciao-shiver-meow/GGCM

The Cupboard is Bare

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Did you see this on NBC Nightly News in December? Zach Wilson's mission to help people feed their dogs & cats during these tough times is an inspiration. When people have to give up their animals, everyone suffers. Bravo & congratulations to Zach & his mother Erica on the smashing success of Central Florida Animal Pantry . Please contact your local animal rescue leagues to see what you can do. Dropping off a bag of food is a great start. We're cooking up something here in the DC-area. Stay tuned.

ciao-meow/GGCM

[photograph by generous D Sharon Pruitt/Pink Sherbet Photography's Free For All Creative Commons]

Dining for Women

Darfur Peace & Development Organization (DPDO) has been designated as Dining for Women’s Featured Program for January 2010. Money raised during January dinners will be donated to DPDO’s Women’s Center Program. For more information on Dining for Women, or how you can get involved in their January fundraising activities, please visit www.diningforwomen.org.

[Chocolat film still by David Appleby via allmovieposter.com]

Happy New Year from GG

Cheers to a New Year & a better decade than the last. Some people think we're being negative; we don't think so. Just telling the truth, as it has been here, where we live.

ciao-cheeky-meow/GG & her editor

[image via Vintage Holiday Crafts]