This and That

Hello? Is there anybody out there?
I know it's been ages, so I decided it was time for a quick catch up. The last couple of months have presented us with a few ups and downs, and I haven't been writing much, but I wanted to share some of what's been going on around here, what a few friends have been up to, some interesting links, and what I've been listening to, eating and reading.

January started off with a quiet NYE at home with a friend visiting from the US, followed by a sunny, delicious, carb-filled, 48 hour trip to Rome (which thankfully renewed my faith in that crazy city!). December and January were full of doctor's appointments to prepare my husband for hip replacement surgery. I'm going to say it again...the healthcare in France is incredible! He's now working with a physical therapist and will be ditching his crutches soon. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make my annual trek to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in February, which totally bummed me out (first world problems, I know), but being here and experiencing Paris blanketed in a layer of snow, which just happened to coincide with my birthday, was a rare treat.

And now it's March already!



I spent several days this week at the annual Salon de l'Agriculture and the biennial Salon du Fromage (which is open only to professionals). Luckily the place is enormous, so I was able to walk enough to burn off all the cheese, charcuterie, crêpes, bread and wine I enjoyed over the week. Every year I look forward to seeing the animals and spending time meeting and chatting with the small producers in the regional products pavilion. This year I brought home some incredible, grassy olive oil from Provence, a few bottles of wine and a nice wedge of tomme de vache from the Lozère.

Cheese is my thing and I never want to stop expanding my knowledge on the subject. Two recent additions to my ever expanding cheese library include The Oxford Companion to Cheese and The Book of Cheese - The Essential Guide to Discovering Cheeses You'll Love by Liz Thorpe. Lot's to keep my mind busy between these books!

In addition to the cheese reads, friends are keeping my nightstand stocked with great books. David Lebovitz's honest and entertaining story of home renovation in Paris, l'Appart, is currently available in both hardcover and Kindle versions, and Ann Mah has a novel being published this summer, The Lost Vintage, about wine, war and family secrets. And I know what gift I'll be giving to all of my food loving friends with kids this Christmas. Mardi Michels of eat.live.travel.write has a cookbook coming out this summer called In The French Kitchen With Kids that shares some easy and fun ways to get your kids cooking with you in the kitchen.

Forest Collins, who writes the definitive guide about cocktails and the cocktail culture in Paris on her website, 52 Martinis, and who taught me just how incredible gin can be (thank you, Forest!), launched an app last autumn called Paris Cocktails. Check it out! Download it! It's free...for now.

Winter can be dark, drizzly and bone-chillingly cold in Paris and it's far too easy to indulge in chocolat chaud and heavy comfort food. Chocolate & Zucchini is one of my go-to websites for healthy, seasonal recipes and batch cooking meal plans.

I don't listen to too many podcasts, but am currently loving the Paris based Earful Tower. You can imagine how thrilled I was when host, Oliver Gee, invited me into the studio a couple of months ago to talk about French cheese, my favorite subject!
52 Martinis also has a podcast dedicated to all things cocktail related, on which I was a recent guest to discuss New Orleans, Mardi Gras and of course, cocktails.



I'm intrigued by Micronutris, a company based in the south of France that offers an array of edible insects. I spotted their display in a small grocery store in Olonzac while we were at our house in Occitanie in November. On their website they advertise with slogans like, "Unwind with thyme flavored insects and a glass of crisp Chardonnay." and "Throw a handful of insects on the salad, pick up your picnic basket and put your sunglasses on" (these sales pitches definitely sound better in French than they do translated into English!). I think this is a great idea and had the chance to taste their products at le Salon de l'Agriculture this week. I especially liked the little cookies made with meal worm flour.



One of my favorite casual eating and drinking spots in Paris' 11ème, Martin, now has a little brother, Robert Restaurant. I've yet to get over there, but with chef Peter Orr in the kitchen, it is bound to be fabulous.

I started doing yoga again after a 15 year hiatus and it has been amazing! I feel so much more flexible and calm, and who knew that core muscles were so important (or can hurt so much after years of being neglected!). If you're in Paris, or visiting Paris, Affordable Yoga offers classes all over town at both drop in and package rates.

Unfortunately I have some sad news to share as well; our little Domino suffered a heart attack and passed away while we were down south in November. The vet thinks he had an aggressive tumor growing in one of his lungs. His sudden death has truly left an empty place in our hearts and in our home and we will eventually adopt another cat, but currently have our hands full with the care of our 17 year old chihuahua.
We miss you, Domino!



So as not to end on a such a sad note, here are some stories I read this morning of people who have restored my faith in humanity. It was a nice way to start the day.



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The "Kids"

I don't have kids, but I do have two dogs and a cat. I adore them and I dote on them. A lot.

Speck, on the left, is almost 15 years old. He's riddled with arthritis and has become a fussy, irritable old man. There are moments when I find his neediness really difficult, but at the same time my heart aches for him and his confusion and frustration about his pain. So I try my best to be patient. He takes medication every day, which helps him a bit.

Tico, on the right, is 12 years old. He loves us, and only us. And food. In general, he dislikes new places and new people, though there have been a few who have wooed him over and become his friend. Especially if they have offered him treats. And it seems that the older he gets, the more tolerant he has become when meeting new people.



We also have a gorgeous black and white cat named Domino.
We found him abandoned by his mother when he was only two weeks old, so we had to bottle feed him for those first few weeks. You would think that there would be a close bond between us after that, right? Nope. He prefers the dog's company much more than he prefers ours. And of course they think he's crazy and avoid him as much as possible.

Voilà! Our little family. I hope you've enjoyed meeting them.


More dog and cat photos here.
As I said, I don't have kids, so I hope I'm allowed some gratuitous pet photos from time to time!



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I Think Our Cat Has a Lingerie Fetish

Domino likes to help me do the laundry.
And by "help" I mean he likes to pull various pieces of my clothing off the drying rack and drag them around the house. I've found t-shirts, socks, and once a cardigan scattered about.

But his big thrill are my panties. Which I find really annoying because I keep finding my clean knickers either on the stairs or on the landing, crumpled up and covered in cat hair.

I suspect that our cat has a lingerie fetish.

Now one of my bras has gone missing and I can't find it even though I have searched for it everywhere.
I think I know who to blame.

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Photo du Jour

Poor Domino. Here he was last night, sleeping peacefully, not a care in the world.
The little guy had no idea what was in store for him at the veterinarian's office today.


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