Monday, August 17, 2015

No Longer in France



The photo above is one of my last looks at France. I have been back in the United States now for about a week. I unexpectedly cut my visit short because of a family emergency. My mother, who is 91, is ill. I have returned home to stay with her & help with her care in what will be the final months of her life. She is alert & aware & at peace with her prognosis. She has lived a long & fruitful life & is most appropriative of all of her blessings. 

Even though my mother is an excellent patient the task of caregiver is not without its challenges. Everyday presents a new challenge & learning experience.

 It is very similar to the challenges one faces living in a foreign country like 
France, even if for only a few months out of the year. Leaving family behind is always one of the difficult drawbacks. Although a sobering thought, I think it is probably important to share not only the beauty & romantic aspects of a life abroad but also some of the difficult realities as well.
 Best wishes to all of my friends Dreaming of France. I have lots of photos from this summer & hope to share them with you as I continue to navigate my new reality.



Sunday, August 9, 2015

The Bounty of the Season

On Saturday we went to the smaller market in Cordes. It was a rainy day so I did not take photos at the market.  But this is a photo of what I bought. I sautéed the peppers & Swiss chard in olive oil & garlic & then tossed them with orecchiette pasta  lemon juice & lots of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. It made a very nice rainy night supper. Fruit & pasteries for dessert. I had so planed to take a  photo of the beautiful jewel like pastries inside the neatly wrapped package. However, when it came time for dessert, all thoughts of photography went right out the window.



I love this season of plenty & I am so appreciative of all of my neighbor's incredible generosity. My sweet neighbor Aurora recently brought me sunflowers from a nearby farm. Another neighbor gave me the rather giant zucchini from her garden, which I turned into a lovely creamy soup. 



Yet another neighbor gave me a huge sack of tomatoes from her garden. Along with garlic from Spain & basil from my own little flowerbed I used this recipe to make a scrumptious  sauce.



The photo below is from last weeks market day, all that I had bought dumped out of my basket onto the table. Without even knowing it I had a real color palette going on.  I just adore thoes baby eggplants both the white & the purple. I slice them very thin & sauté them in olive oil until tender & golden  brown then just sprinkle with coarse sea salt. That's it & they are so delicious.



While in Spain one of my favorite tapas was a plate of  the Padròn peppersI loved them so much I just had to get some & try to make them for myself. Again you just sear in olive oil until they begin to blister on all sides then serve sprinkled with coarse sea salt. For me the best recipes are always the simplest.



I hope you are enjoying the bounty of the season & maybe, just maybe
too
while you do.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Aujourd'hui


Lunch with a view in Albi today. We dined alfresco on the balcony of a nice little restaurant with the Cathedral of Saint Cecilia as a back drop. 


At home peaches from the peach man in Rėalville on a chair in the kitchen, almost already half eaten since I took the photo early this morning.



A few little vignettes from my travels today



Just thought they were appealing.



Hope all of you are having a fantastic Wednesday.


Monday, August 3, 2015

Signs

You probably know by now that I have a thing for French signage.



The older & more faded the better.



I love the hand written ones because I so love the uniquely French style cursive.



The old blue enamel signs are so quintessentially French as well.


This is the kind of sign you can love & want to disobey at the same time. Just kidding...sort of.....who wouldn't want to sneak into the grounds of this abandoned chateaux.



I believe I'ver posted a photo of this sign before but I couldn't help another shot. It's one of my favorites.



I wasn't sure what this place really was but loved the old sign anyway.



I also love the discreet signs framed & placed on doors of local B&B's.



Sometimes there is really no need for a sign because it is perfectly clear what is for sale.



These signs represent just some of the many details that make up 
for me.