(photo taken by C. Bland) 2017 has barely begun and we have our first snow "storm." Well, okay, it is a blizzard for us here in the piedmont section of North Carolina. The photo my sister-in-law sent is from the mountains where she lives. I took a photo of her vélo at Thanksgiving and gave …
Category: baking
Après Thanksgiving 2016
It's post-Thanksgiving, T + 3, but I am still thinking about all I have to be thankful for in my life. I have fallen into a post-election sadness. Not depression, but a deep sadness for my country. Politics aside, seriously, it's not Democrat vs Republican. It's about treating others, those different from us, with dignity …
Give Thanks
Practice gratitude. Easily said. Not so easily done sometimes. But I try to do this every day. By nature, I am not a negative person. EB recently gave me this little gratitude tree. She and Son #1 have one in their apartment. Last time I was there, I noticed that theirs has more leaves on …
Let them eat brioche?
**Update October 25, 2016 Sometimes the most wonderful things happens when you write a blog. You make new friends. And you realize that people really do read what you write. I write this blog this for me, but if I can reach just a few others who have the same interests I do, then I …
“Bake something. You’ll feel better.”
This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. Good advice, n'est-ce pas? Words to live by. I found the mug at Holstee after seeing what they call their Manifesto. I bought the mug and notecards. So, keeping in the spirit of doing what I love, I got up this morning and …
Searching for Aimée Leduc
I blogged about Cara Black and her heroine, Aimée Leduc three years ago. I was just reminded of Aimée by Arles Lucy because she shared Bonjour Paris's interview with Cara. I am ready for the next novel!! 2017, set in Saint Germain. If you have read any of Cara Black's Aimée Leduc novels, you know …
An Ode to Autumn
Fall, glorious fall. Or autumn, if you prefer. It is, hands down, my favorite season. I ask my students which season they prefer and summer usually wins. No homework. No school. Sleeping late. Camp. The beach. The skiers in the group say winter. Once in a while someone says fall. Girls who like to wear …
Good Women by Sean Dietrich
Here I go again. Shamelessly stealing from Sean. Well, it's not stealing if he says I can, right? And if I give him full credit? I love this man. He says it the way it should be said. He is not ashamed of his Southern roots. He is not ashamed to eat real food. And …
Heroes
Ask Americans of a certain age where they were on 9/11 and they can tell you. I was in a 7th grade team meeting. Before internet and televisions in all classrooms. Most of us didn't even have radios. Sounds like the Dark Ages to the young'uns. The kids I teach this year, in 6th, 7th …
A week of big news
Yes. Big, big news. I am going to be a grand-mère. Mamie, as my Frenchies are already calling me. Pronounced Ma-Me. Son #1 and Mom-to-Be invited me over at 7:00 am a couple of weeks ago to take the photo. Buddha is a handsome fellow, too, isn't he? Looks as if he is ready to …
the sabbatical chef 