All Things French!

BON JOUR!!

 Are you following the Olympics?  We’re not watching much of the events, but have taken an interest in all things French--food, books, textiles, wine, TV shows, etc.  Especially "Emily in Paris"!  How could you not like to see all those awesome fashions and the views of the city?!   That's the best part of any international program.   Recently, we found show about canal boats—mostly in England but, there is also a canal runs through France! 

We can be there in spirit and just imagine how it would feel to walk the streets, float the canals, eat from the garden food carts; coffee shops along the Seine, flower market booths--all fabulous 

Julia Child lives on with her cookbooks.  I've not mastered anything French in the way of food, but I"ll keep trying.  Today since I had some fresh raspberries, I made the Clafouti recipe--yes, it's traditionally 

made with cherries, but any fresh red fruit will work in my opinion.

Really easy and quick to assemble.

Beautiful!  Add a little powered sugar sprinkled over the top and serve with whip cream!

Easy knit French beret by Erica Lamer

I've knit berets before for my granddaughter so this will be one for the charity basket--

For breakfast, we'll savor crossiant with French scrambled eggs (made with clarified butter and creme fraiche) melts in your mouth!  Top it off with a cup of coffee from a French press!  What could be more delicious than that?!

My new reading list includes  books by Antonie Laurain "The Red Notebook" and "Madame Pommfry" by Rebecca Rosenberg--she was the mother to champagne.  Love drinking that bubbly—is interesting reading  about how she begun her business. 

Au revoir for now

All Together Now..................

Settling down after travel is tough!  Get back in the groove…….almost impossible!  While packing was a joy, unpacking becomes drudgery!  Then, there is the chore of beginning another day of what’s for dinner?  And shopping—hate! Hate!  Why was it such fun to shop in a strange  location?  And now, we must shake off the rest and relaxation mode and begin full on action!!

First thing on the calendar, Donuts for Diapers surprise shower for great grand baby #3.  This had been planned earlier but baby decided to arrive sooner than due date—like two weeks sooner!  Postpone…..soooooooooo, it’s time to get in gear and present this special event.  Hop on board—there will be donuts (of course), mini quiche, fresh fruit plate, breakfast tacos, and now that momma isn’t pregnant—she can indulge in mimosas!  Only gift needed is diapers—any size please! 

Isn’t this the cutest 6 week old baby?!

Handsome little guy for sure…

My heart is full and blessed with goodness of almighty God!

Big

Pile of diapers—all sizes!

Table set with brunch items—two different quiches, variety of fruit, 

Donuts for sure!

Cupcakes (vanilla and chocolate)

Coffee, tea, soft drinks, OJ, bubbly! 

While traveling, I just knew I’d finish reading my book—

Alas, I didn’t read many chapters

When we met our Denver daughter for breakfast, she handed me a bag of books!  Joy!  She was a journalism major so I trust her recommendation.  

She always tucks a little note inside to inform the next reader of her opinion. 

I’m set for months of good reading now! 

Back to action plan!  Since our freezers were cleaned out when power was out for days, grocery shopping was top Of list!  Ugh!! Double ugh!!

Ahh! The Magic of It All!

 A trip is always magical!  Doesn’t matter where you travel, you’ll always find something interesting, unique, beautiful!  Our destination to Colorado Rocky Mountains never disappoints!  Although, we have visited here many many times, it never disappoints each time we arrive! 

We love the smell of petrichor , nothing like that fresh breath of rain.   In the distance we see virga as the clouds cry but nothing hits the ground.  The mountains are magic like that. As the afternoon rain shower covers the overview of Breckenridge, we can’t help but be awestruck! 

A walk downtown to view Blue River streaming through the city park, a background view of the all inspiring ski slopes creates a sense of smallness. 

Numerous flower baskets decorate walkways and streets

Even establishments honor colorful arrangements 

We like to indulge in local food products.  This snack was definitely a bonus!  Crunchy, yummy and satisfying! 

Ah, so different to our taste buds—quenched our sweet tooth. 

Not often do we eat out on these adventures esprit we have a full equipped kitchen.  We shop the local markets for our meal ideas.  

We visited Dillion farmers market to find smoked salmon, fresh baked sourdough bread, shiitake mushrooms, pork chops, fruits and veggies.  Our meals were simple to prepare so we could enjoy our balcony over looking more delightful scenery.  We plan to leave no leftovers when we depart. 

One night we enjoyed pork chops with mushroom sauce—with the pork remaining, green chili stew was on the menu another night. 

Baked potatoes covered with all the fixings (leftover onions, bacon from breakfast, 

That’s Life!!

 

And so it began!  A hurricane that blew across many islands to land in the Gulf.  Of course, it doesn’t stop till it hits land which happen to be Texas.  The eye of the storm passed directly over our house, bringing high winds, heavy rain fall, toppled trees, downed power lines.  No power is not on my list of good things!  We’re whimps!  We loaded up our car and headed west!  Very selfish of us, I know.  Usually, we’re the ones that says to all those without power to crash at our house.  Not this time—over 2,000,000 households had NO power!  These kind of days neighbors help neighbors.  If you have food that needs to be cooked, out come the smokers and bbq grills and there is a block party.  Sleepless, hot nights are the standard.  Some have generators but otherwise you just keep as cool as possible in 90+ temps. 

Luckily after a day and half some locations came online.  Our daughter, grandson came to our house to empty our freezer.  We didn’t want any spoilage.  The smell of rotting meat is awful!  So thankful they did that.  We had just shopped week before and loaded up on sales!  Daughter exclaimed “ stop buying meat”!   Needless to say family members will enjoy good eating for days ahead. 

There was no damage to our house!  We’ve been  blessed!  Power has been restored so we can offer our house as lodging to friends in need. 

We drove to Keystone, Colorado as we already had the trip planned and paid for.  Coming from below sea level to 9400’ altitude is definitely a strain on our old bodies!  Walk short distance, out of breath, can’t sleep at night—But—it’s cool!  The mountains are gorgeous!  Worth the discomfort!  Part of me wishes I was with family and friends as they struggle with the aftermath of Beryl—then there is the other side of me so happy we left.  

And so July begins…

 We are traveling to Paris via Italy—what a fun adventure this will be—because, it is virtual!  Yes, Tour de France began June 29, only this year it began in Florence, Italy due to Olympics being held in Paris.  As we have physically been in Paris several times and enjoyed a month long tour in Italy, this is an exciting journey!  I did not start my spinning on June 29 as planned.  The wheel turned first thing on Monday July 1 with the silk/cotton blend. 

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind!  A new great grand baby was added to the family June 18–he is named Stetson James and eagerly embraced by big brother.  Our CDH great grandson endured his 11th surgery and hospital overnight stay coming through with flying colors.  Travel was necessary between hospitals—we certainly enjoyed those rounds this time! 

Back to subject—July 4th was filled with parades, celebrations, fireworks and friends.  Nothing like family and friends!!  

Finished-finally-pair of socks!! 

There is enough yarn left to knit fingerless gloves.  Knitting next is Knitmas in July!

The yarn is sourced, balled and cast on. 

Of course, life deals some rough times, that’s where our faith takes over and we soldier on.  

I managed to sit at the loom and weave off the cotton warp with hand spun cotton weft

Once the warp was cut from the loom and hemmed,  towels were washed, dried and folded.  I like to hem before washing.  Too many bad experiences with yardage in washer. 

So happy to have that finished!  A new colorful warp has taken to the warping board—shouldn’t leave the loom naked too long!

Emotional Support Fiber Animals

 Are you caught up in the emotional chicken craze?  Nope not me!  So many of my friends are going goofy over that knitted or crocheted chicken!  My friend has a group of knitters flocking to this!   Have you seen it? 

This designer has sold a ton of this pattern—guess she knew someone needed an emotional fiber animal.  There are many you tube videos on “how to”to work up this pattern as well.  If you need this fowl in your life, go for it! 

Me? I’d rather enjoy my fiber animals. 

My support lamb has been sitting by my loom for years.  Just a little touch of her woolly locks and I’m good.

Basket full of bears!  Yes!  All created from handspun fiber! 

This “chocolate” bear named Godiva!  He’s handspun brown and white cotton

Little snuggly bear is knitted from my handspun naturally dyed wool leftovers from an afghan

Octopus was for a conference theme one year—things you find in an ocean

My pin cushion is a sleeping sheep, woven with hand spun wool

My first emotional support animal was this spirit animal 

Support fiber animals leaning on each other for added reinforcement in times of happiness and sadness.  

Do you need that “bear”ing in your life?!!

I love my “emotional” support fiber animals!!

cheese whiz

Decided it was time to prepare the freezer for summer.  The freezer is overstocked--not necessary with good stuff either!  When something in the frig starts to go bad, into the freezer it goes.  Then comes the day, when there is time to sort through that freezer stuff, you can find all sorts of  possible eatables'! 

 Put on your gloves--you're going to need them--otherwise, it's cold cold hands and you're trying to warm those little mittens up every few minutes.  Or the darn freezer alarm goes off--buzz, buzz, buzz--and if you leave that door open too long and don't heed the warmings, the power shuts off and bam! darkness--can't find a thing then! 

On a recent boring day (yes, in my book, it's a boring chore to sort out the freezer), the gloves are pulled on, counter space was cleared,  ready to dig into that vast mass of what??  Who knows what was thrown into that dark conveniet space?  Pull out bits of bags--wth is that?  There are bits of chopped something; closer inspection, it's green onions--well, that makes sense.  

This is the day I could use that--

next out--plastic wrapped small bits of  white/and yellow cheese; chopped cooked bacon, bread of all kinds--hamburger/hotdog buns, keto, white, brown bread, rolls, biscuits, etc.  must be dried out by now.

An idea formed in my pea brain--I'll make pimento cheese spread!  Yes, what a clever idea!  I have those cheese bits, chopped green onions and bacon--oh, yea!  there is a small jar of pimentos in frig--surprised, it isn't in the freezer.  Dig some more to find frozen cream cheese!   

Shut the freezer door!  I"m done sorting! onto conquer pimento cheese

All the ingredients are gathered--just need some help grating the cheese--"oh honey!  Are you busy? "  he grates so much better than I.  

Mix, mix, mix--taste. add more of this, more of that--till it is just perfect!

Every true Southerner loves pimento cheese spread--if you are tired of of using it as spread, make grill cheese sandwiches or quesadillas,   Add to your eggs in the morning.  Or one of the many ways described here

That was a good way to clean out the refreezer!  Although, it didn't make a dent in freezer space!  I'll try again on another boring day!

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