Silver Linings and New Beginnings

Greetings from "en confinement"  The kitchen is my happy place these days, well, every day actually.
The above pictures my first attempt at scones which taste great but  look more like cookies. Of course, I ate too many of them and felt particularly grateful for the Jazzercise Live class this morning.  Plus we are having vegetarian lasagne tonight.

Starting online French classes tomorrow with Zoom. I anticipate we will  experience different comfort levels with an online Book Club.  I have tutored a private student for quite some time with Skype and Google Hangouts.  That seems easier than a group discussion in French. We will see.

By the way, the scone recipe comes from a book entitled Afternoon Tea Serenade. The book lay untouched in my cookbook closet (yes, closet) for at least ten years. In fact, it even comes with a cassette of classical chamber music to enjoy while sipping tea. Where the heck the cassette tape is, I have no idea.  Actually, using a recipe from this cook book falls under the  Silver Linings of Confinement. Do you have any silver linings of your own to share?

Non Voyage

F

French Onion Macaroni and Cheese

The panic of the Covid-19 pandemic reared its ugly head over the weekend. France is in lock down. Everything is closing except for groceries, pharmacies,  gas stations, tabacs and essential services.  After much agonizing, I made the painful  decision not to fly to France tomorrow.  This required a lot of soul searching. What was the motivation for my trip?  Hanging out with friends, participating in the hiking groups, enjoying life in France.   Would this be possible in light of the current restrictions? Then there is the unknown? Would I unwittingly be spreading the virus to the sweet older residents of Monflanquin? How seriously would people take the urge to self-isolate?  What difficulties would I face upon my return?  I exhausted myself checking different web sites for information.  Finally, I reached out to friends in the village to get their perspective.  The general consensus was that Monflanquin would not be as I know it. So here I sit sad and mad and very tired.

 I walked to Starbucks with Bill and Maggy today.  Most of the customers drove through or ran in and out to get coffee. Thinking of coffee, we just learned that  our son Michael closed both his Brooklyn coffee shops indefinitely due to the New York lock down.  As a mother, that hurts more than any other Covid-19 disappointments.

I did not think any photo could sum up this post. So you are looking at a picture of French Onion Macaroni and Cheese, made with gruyere and white cheddar. It tastes like French onion soup without the soup, the closest  I could get to anything French this week.  Its creamy deliciousness did offer temporary comfort.   Be well, everyone!

Love this cook book!

Exotic smells dance through my kitchen these winter days. Seeds of cumin and fenugreek combined with chat masala, turmeric, black salt, ginger, garlic, and hind  magically transform our  ordinary week day dinner to a fragrant Indian feast.   I received Indian-ish by Priya Krishna as a holiday gift back in December. The best way to describe the cook book is happy. Ms. Krishna shares her Indian  family's traditional and  not so traditional recipes. Designed for the home cook, the recipes are easy to follow. The author explains basic techniques of Indian cooking and offers tips through out. The essential spices can be found in Indian/Middle Eastern grocery stores or can be ordered online. Throughout the book are picture's of Priya's happy looking family with special tributes to her mom.  This one loving cook book has helped me get through the gray rainy  Oregon winter. Un grand merci to Priya Krishna.

A New Vocabulary Word

Bonjour!
Maggy and I are showing off my latest pre-trip acquisitions: new hiking shoes and gaiters.  Never knew the word gaiters  until my neighbor  Diana in Monflanquin  displayed these anti-mud  pants protectors. They come in different sizes and are held together with velcro and a strap to buckle underneath the hiking shoe.  Will let you know how well they work.  I participate in two hiking groups  around Monflanquin. The Tuesday coed Francophone group and the Friday ladies only, mostly English, which culminates in lovely cakes and catch ups. To their credit, the English women choose to speak French most of the time. I have met really interesting people through both hiking groups. Each hike varies in length and location. Usually 10 k is my limit, but I have been known to make exceptions.  It takes a lot of rough weather to cancel a hike.  Looking at Maggy's snow white dog legs and her penchant for puddles, what do you think about gaiters for dogs?

It's Not As Easy As You Think

Delighted to get my renewed American passport in the mail!

Passport Renewed!

My next trip to France is coming up in exactly one month from today.  In a bold self-affirming move, I am taking spring term off from PCC. I will continue tutoring private students and  teach my French Book Club Class.  Also on the menu  for spring is a French Cooking Class chez moi. Date to be announced.

You may think traveling must be a breeze for me since I do it so often. Non, non, et non!  I just spent at least six hours online arranging my next flight to Paris this summer.  Indecision and pickiness plagued me. I want a reasonable fare in a comfortable duration of time with a not too early  morning departure.  What!  Ce n'est pas possible! Actually, it is not. I finally made peace with the ungodly early departure time and the not quite such a bargain fare. Oh, I forgot to mention that I also want to earn air miles.

Well, it's done now.  The next steps will be car and hotel rental and purchasing train tickets before I can finally arrive at our beloved home in Monflanquin. You know what they say. The joy is in the journey. At least, I tell myself that.

As I write this pre-trip blog, I am going to share my pre-trip anxieties and pass along any tips that  help me and might help others who struggle with the pre-trip jitters and the myriad of details necessary to leave husband, home, and dog in a somewhat sane state of mind.

Tip #1: At least a month before a trip, take a clothing inventory.  Have I gained weight? Yes! :(  My favorite jean skirt no longer fits.  My body seems to have read the article on what to expect during menopause and  followed all the unwanted changes exactly.  Time to make a few new purchases of roomier basic clothing items. If anyone wants details, I am happy to share. In the meantime,  my foot size remains a diminutive six or six and a half worthy of rejoicing.

More later. Would love to hear any tips you might have about clothing and packing. I allow myself only a carry on no matter how long the trip so it is always a challenge.

Medieval Magic

Daniel arrives in Monflanquin in time for the annual Medieval Festival.  We are similar in many ways.  He fits into my sweat shirt and other apparel. We share the same opinion about many people we know.

And he eats dark chocolate every day like his mother.

Costumed to celebrate the day. Above the door, the grapes grow fatter, but still not sweet enough for snacking.

My cousins from Israel with Daniel's friends and their adorable baby.

Baby Elenor got her first tooth here in Monflanquin.She did not suffer silently.

I am looking at about two weeks left of my stay. A dear friend will visit the last week of August.  Thinking about priorities, there are a few more  sweet people to see. More time will be spent in the pool. Delicious French cheese will be eaten and amazingly fresh produce enjoyed.  I cannot duplicate my village life style at home. The uniqueness and charm of the place do not translate. Most of all I will miss my friends and the ease of conversation and conviviality.  The  surround sound French  will be sadly absent.  Planning my next stint in the village is the only way to cope with the loss.

And the Medieval Beat goes on..........

Petite Excursion a Villereal

 A new coffee shop opened a few weeks ago in Villereal.  To my delight, it is called Maggie's, though my Maggy's name ends in a "y"
Maggie's coffee shop is more English than French.   I love its shabby chic decor and comfortable cushioned chairs.  The story goes that the coffee shop's namesake Maggie encouraged an apprehensive young English couple wanting to move to France to take the risk and helped them every step of the way.  Now the coffee shop stands as a tribute to this lovely woman who recently passed away. It makes me think about all the people in my life who encourage me every step of the way and for them I am grateful. It's the little things isn't it? The neighbor here who offers to lend me warm clothes as the weather has turned chilly.  (It wont' last.) The artist in the village museum who invites me over when she learns I  do collage.  The fruit seller who wants to be sure the delicate fruit won't be crushed......

Bookshelves of French and English books
hug the coffee shop walls. Also board games and coloring books.

 I will be back!!!