Baby Shower!!!!

This is a late post but I wanted to share the pictures of the baby shower I had  for my beautiful daughter, Avalon.  She now has a happy, healthy baby girl!  What a fun time we had!

  

Flower Balls

Flowers from House of Stems

 

 

 

Yes, we do!!

 

 

Paper Flowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cake from Extraordinary Desserts

 

 

 

Mimosas!!

So excited!!!

The Four Agreements

My dear friend, Pia introduced me to the the Four Agreements this weekend. She lives her life by these four "rules". Four simple and powerful ideas from Mexican author and shamanic healer Don Miguel Ruiz's book The Four Agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your words: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

(This really hit home with me. How often do I speak ill of myself or get caught up in office gossip...too often, I'd say!)

2. Don't take anything personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

(Again, this is a huge one. If someone is having a bad day or not being kind, why do I think they might be mad at me?)

3. Don't make assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

(Well...you know what they say about assuming ~ it makes an ass out of u and me!)

4. Always do your best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

(Et, voila! Just what Mom always told me - just do your best!)

Duck Confit

We buy a lot of this when in France. It is one of Frenchie's favs. We simply spread it over toasted baguette. On a side note: there is nothing better than frying your potatoes in duck fat! Per Wikepedia, Duck confit (French: confit de canard French pronunciation: ​[kɔ̃.fi d(ə) ka.naʁ]) is a French dish made with the leg of the duck. While it is made across France, it is seen as a speciality of Gascony. The confit is prepared in a centuries-old process of preservation that consists of salt curing a piece of meat (generally goose, duck, or pork) and then cooking it in its own fat. To prepare a confit, the meat is rubbed with salt, garlic, and sometimes herbs such as thyme, then covered and refrigerated for up to 36 hours. Salt-curing the meat acts as a preservative. Prior to cooking, the spices are rinsed from the meat, which is then patted dry. The meat is placed in a cooking dish deep enough to contain the meat and the rendered fat, and placed in an oven at a low temperature (76 – 135 degrees Celsius/170 – 275 Fahrenheit).[1][2] The meat is slowly poached at least until cooked, or until meltingly tender, generally four to ten hours. The meat and fat are then removed from the oven and left to cool. When cool, the meat can be transferred to a canning jar or other container and completely submerged in the fat. A sealed jar of duck confit may be kept in the refrigerator for up to six months, or several weeks if kept in a reusable plastic container. To maximise preservation if canning, the fat should top the meat by at least one inch. The cooking fat acts as both a seal and preservative and results in a very rich taste. Skipping the salt curing stage greatly reduces the shelf life of the confit. Confit is also sold in cans, which can be kept for several years. The flavourful fat from the confit may also be used in many other ways, as a frying medium for sautéed vegetables (e.g., green beans and garlic, wild or cultivated mushrooms), savory toasts, scrambled eggs or omelettes, and as an addition to shortcrust pastry for tarts and quiches. A classic recipe is to fry or grill the legs in a bit of the fat until they are well-browned and crisp, and use more of the fat to roast some potatoes and garlic as an accompaniment. The potatoes roasted in duck fat to accompany the crisped-up confit is called pommes de terre à la sarladaise. Another accompaniment is red cabbage slow-braised with apples and red wine. Duck confit is also a traditional ingredient in many versions of cassoulet.

Life is Good

I really want to keep up my blog but spend so much time studying. As some of you know, I was laid off of a 20 year job in June and have been in school reinventing myself. I love it and look at this whole experience as an opportunity!

I just landed a part-time temporary job at a large law firm downtown. I'm so excited to be actually working in the new field. I'm staying strong and determined...Life is good!

I hope you are all doing well. Miss you!

Hugs,

~N

Le Gite

Gite: n. A simple, usually inexpensive rural vacation retreat especially in France

We stayed in this lovely 3 bedroom gite on our last trip to France. The owners converted an old farmhouse and made 3 rentals out of it. It was beautifully located on an organic farm on the outskirts of Pelissane (Provence, France).

Jean Louis was able to ride his bike every morning to the local boulangerie for his daily pain au chocolat. It was close enough to also ride bikes to his parents home.

Notice the old fountain on the patio. Can't wait to go back!

French Tarragon

French tarragon deserves a place in every cook's garden. I was thrilled to find a beautiful healthy starter plant at the Farmers Market in La Jolla. The sweet girl selling it said they are really hard to start and the secret to growing them was to add coffee grounds to the soil.

My research shows that it likes full sun and dry soil. It's perfect for a container garden due to it's need for a drier root system.

It pairs well with fish, egg and chicken dishes. I love it in soups!

Pass the Pastis

Frenchie and his Father having a "pastaga" in Provence. Pastis is what the french have as an imperitif. For an intersting article click here.

Island Hood

We purchased a Zephyr island hood and it looks amazing. The model is ROMA. Straight lines and a lot of shine. It has 4 lights that light up the entire house. We hung it 28 inches from the ceiling so I can see my people sitting at the bar on the other side of the island - it will not block my view while cooking. LOVE IT!!!



From www.zephyronline.com: A sharp, angular island design as distinctively bold as the city it’s named for, Roma’s sleek presence is new to the Europa Collection. We worked closely with our design team to deliver exciting contemporary style and new features at a surprisingly affordable cost. The innovative quick-lock hanging system ensures one of the easiest island hood installations on the market. And the optional recirculating kit makes ductless installations a snap. Ideal for the design-savvy renovator, the high-rise developer who strives for quality, or the builder who needs mass but won’t settle for mediocrity, Roma Island offers the best of many worlds.

Pendant Lights

These are my favorite. I LOVE these pendant lights and have used them as my inspiration for paint color and backsplash choices. They are made of mother of pearl and they will hang over the bar. When lit, they show natural colors of beige, whites, greys and browns (no pink). I will take the backspash to the lighting store this weekend and compare the two on Saturday just be be sure before ordering. They are not cheap but to me, they are like nice pieces of jewelry - don't you think?.

Backsplash

I am in the middle of an exciting kitchen remodel. While in France, my contractor (Uncle Orien) gutted the kitchen, removing a wall that used to separate the front living room from the kitchen. He's doing an amazing job. Before and after pictures to come!

Below is what we picked for the back splash. It glass and is made by Sonoma Tilemakers. It adds a bit of sparkle and color as my countertops are plain. I think it'll add some pizazz to the place. Imagine it against espresso cabinets and stainless steel. Yummy!!!

Blooming in Provence

Today the Mistral blows and it is cold in Provence. A week ago, it was hot and the cactus were blooming in my Belle Mere's garden. One cactus had 10 blooms on it.

I'm back my friends. I missed you all and hope you are happy and healthy. I will begin to post pictures of my recent trip to Provence. It was a magical trip with Jean Louis and I hope I can convey that through my photos.

Bee Buzz

A month ago, these strange blue green plants emerged in the garden. My first impulse was to pull them but upon further examination, I decided to leave them and see what they were. Well, as you can tell, they are Opium Poppies. The bees just love them....I hope they are not becoming addicted! My brother Russell, threw some seeds out in the garden years ago when my Mother was still alive (I'm in the family home) and they finally produced.

The flower's botanical name is papaver somniferum. The Sumerians called it Hul Gil, the 'flower of joy.' This flower is grown mainly by impoverished farmers on small plots in remote regions of the world. It flourishes in dry, warm climates and the vast majority of opium poppies are grown in a narrow, 4,500-mile stretch of mountains extending across southern Asia from Turkey through Pakistan and Laos. Heroin is also increasingly becoming an export from Latin America, notably Colombia.

About three months after the poppy seeds are planted, brightly-colored flowers bloom at the tips of greenish, tubular stems. As the petals fall away, they expose an egg-shaped seed pod. Inside the pod is an opaque, milky sap. This is opium in its crudest form.

It's amazing how how a drug that has ruined so many lives can come from a plant that is so beautiful.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is a little sad for me these past few years. My Mom passed away in 2002 and my daughter lives in a different city. I received a sweet card from her and from our cat, Eiffel Jean Pierre. Today he turns 6.

I am blessed, however to have happy, good memories of my Mom. She raised 5 kids without complaint. She was smart, beautiful and an amazing nurse. I miss her so...

So, instead of being sad, I'm looking at the humorous side of Mother's Day with a few silly quotes.

"Mothers of teenagers know why animals eat their young." ~ Author Unknown

"Mothers are all slightly insane." ~ J.D. Salinger

"I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." ~ Phyllis Diller

"There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it." ~ Chinese Proverb

"It takes a woman twenty years to make a man of her son, and another woman twenty minutes to make a fool of him." ~ Helen Rowland

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~ Calvin Trillin

"A suburban mother's role is to deliver children obstetrically once, and by car for ever after." ~ Peter De Vries

"It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge." ~ Phyllis Diller

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." ~ Oscar Wilde

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." ~ Tenneva Jordan

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back." ~William D. Tammeus.

"Working mothers are guinea pigs in a scientific experiment to show that sleep is not necessary to human life." ~ Author Unknown

"Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease." ~ LisaAlther

"My mother had to send me to the movies with my birth certificate, so that I wouldn't have to pay the extra fifty cents that the adults had to pay." ~ KareemAbdul-Jabbar

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." ~ Mark Twain

"My mother's menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it." ~ Buddy Hackett

Dirty Baby Bird

We have birds nesting in the cypress trees that separate us from our neighbors. I love birds but not these. These are dirty birds that poop every where and dive bomb you from time to time. They took over our waterfall fountain, have chased all the song birds away and have a horrible squawk. I have not enjoyed sharing my garden with them.

The other morning, my cat, Eiffel was minding his own business, looking out the window from his cat tree and the dirty birds were attacking him, well almost, through the window. There were about 20 birds freaking out! This intimidated Eiffel and he finally hid behind the curtain. Mind you, NOTHING intimidates Eiffel Jean Pierre - Nothing - EVER.

Later that morning, I was out watering the side garden and these dirty black birds started attacking MOI! Little did I now that they were just trying to protect their little one that had a mishap with his first flying lesson. As I was watering, this little newborn ran and hid under the fern tree. Later, he hopped on this dead sweet pea bush(that's another story)and I snapped a few pictures.

All of the sudden my heart changed towards these "dirty" birds. My vocabulary cleaned up as well. "Isn't it sweet how the Mom and Dad, fly down to feed him"? "Isn't he sooo cute?" "Just look at that precious baby; he must be so scared!" Five minutes earlier, I was asking my husband if I could buy a bb gun! Funny how a baby changes things.

Happy Birthday Avalon!

Happy Birthday Darling!

1st of May - French Style!

On May 1st, 1561, King Charles IX of France received a lily of the valley as a lucky charm. He decided to offer a lily of the valley each year to the ladies of the court.

A long-lived pagan custom was to plant an adorned tree on this day to celebrate the return of spring. For the Catholic Church it is the first day of the month of the Virgin.

But by far, all over France, it is the succession of the "Workers’ protest Day" 1889-1947) which officially became Labor Day, la fête du travail, in 1947.

The Four Agreements

My dear friend, Pia introduced me to the the Four Agreements this weekend. She lives her life by these four "rules". Four simple and powerful ideas from Mexican author and shamanic healer Don Miguel Ruiz's book The Four Agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your words: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

(This really hit home with me. How often do I speak ill of myself or get caught up in office gossip...too often, I'd say!)

2. Don't take anything personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

(Again, this is a huge one. If someone is having a bad day or not being kind, why do I think they might be mad at me?)

3. Don't make assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

(Well...you know what they say about assuming ~ it makes an ass out of u and me!)

4. Always do your best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

(Et, voila! Just what Mom always told me - just do your best!)

Geranium

Raised Bed

We have been digging up a portion of our grass to put in raised beds. It really bothered me to water the grass to keep it green when we could be using our precious water to water something we could eat! We have one other bed that we use as well. It provided all our our salad greens, herbs, etc. for the entire winter.

Jean Louis and I finally built our double 4x8 raised bed this weekend. I can't wait to fill it with veggies. So, along with 2 more 4x4s, we'll be set. We used redwood on this one and was sure to put the reddest part of the boards towards the dirt. If you want directions on how to build one, email me.

We followed the square foot gardening book and made a soil mixture of 1/3 compost, 1/3 vermiculite and 1/3 peat moss. I also added a little manure and organic fertilizer. It was really hard to find vermiculite in San Diego as I needed the premium grade (course). Do not use pearlite or the other grades of vermiculite as they will not retain the water as needed.

This soil combination is supposed to cut back on watering as the vermiculite and peat retain water. San Diego is in drought conditions and this summer there will be a mandated cutback so this should help.

I'm so excited - it's planting time!!!

For San Diego Gardeners:
Per Sunset Magazine, Coastal gardeners (in Sunset climate zones 21-24) can continue to plant quick-maturing, cool-season crops, including chard, leaf lettuces, radishes, and spinach. Inland (zones 18-21), switch to warm-season crops such as beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, melons, peppers, summer and winter squash, and tomatoes. In the high desert (zone 11), wait a few more weeks; frost is still a possibility.

Plant beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, lima beans, melons, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and other warm-season crops. Delay planting two to four weeks in the high desert (Sunset climate zone 11) where frost is still a possibility. Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company is a great seed source for less common varieties.

Poisson d'Avril

"April Fools" in France: When my husband was young, he and his classmates would play tricks on each other by taping paper or aluminum fish (poisson) on the back of each others coats or would hang a paper fish around a friend's neck. If you fell victim, the others would erupt in playful laughter. He also has fond memories of chocolate fish being sold at the local chocolatier. Not a bad tradition if you ask me!

The linkage between April Fools Day and fish goes back to the abundance of fish to be found in French streams and rivers during early April when the young fish had just hatched. These young fish were easy to fool with a hook and lure. Therefore, the French called them 'Poisson d'Avril' or 'April Fish.' Soon it became customary (according to this origin theory) to fool people on April 1, as a way of celebrating the abundance of foolish fish. The French still use the term 'Poisson d'Avril' to describe the unfortunate victims of April Fool's Day pranks.

It felt only appropriate to have a tuna sandwich for lunch today since the diet forbids me from indulging on a chocolate fish! I'm holding out for that box of Chocolates that will be sent from the in-laws in France to us for Pâques (Easter).