Hey Birthday

 

Peaches

Starting early on the birthday celebration for those born around now, including me. Peaches here are small from the tree that almost blocks our gate. These are the last few ones. They taste best fresh. Honey taste.

 

Hand Vase

Artist friend and could qualify as godfather, he babysat me in a dresser drawer when I was wee small. Gave me this hand vase, and joked at the symbolism too, on my leaving Boston to move out to the West Coast. Miss him, he is invisible these days. Billy Georgenes, the defining man of gentleness and stories I do not tire of. Once I flew with him and his buddy and a pilot to Mendocino for lunch in a little plane from Vallejo, which is north of here. Maybe more stories again someday.

………a week later I spoke to Billy and Helen. Now I need to visit him, he told me several times. His home is floor to ceiling with his sculpture he is actively working on every day. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dreamy place.

How it goes

This blog I think is showing my interest in food just by the way my writing and pictures go so far. Now I am adding food links.

Food will be the companion to my journeys and adventures I am hoping to share further on this blog.

These are pics from Bar Harbor, Maine where my mother lives. That is her bakery, The Bagel Factory. Her bagels are a favorite to the locals. I love the harbor and boats and all over Mount Desert Island. In one of my many lives I want to be a boat person. My ideal retirement would be to watch a small harbor like this every day. I bet I would get to know the boats really well.

More Paris

On my first 2 days in Paris I ate out at a cafe and also a restaurant but have no pics. Most memorable was the cafe on rue Oberkampf I dined at which was small and personal. The waitress spoke English so she helped me out. The food was fresh, simple and comforting. I had the perfect seat to observe. So the bread does not go on the plate but on the table? Lots of kissing between people meeting each other and wine being poured. I also went to a sushi restaurant only because I had heard it was good and it was a few blocks from my hotel. Less English but friendly. 

By my 3rd day in Paris my Euros started to move and I became interested in picnic style eating. Cafe eating is not more expensive really. I was surprised being hyped by all the US Dollar vs. Euro talk. I think some things seemed expensive. But then being the customer I could choose.

July in Paris

Was warm with rain showers off and on throughout 5 days I was there. Here are some pics from trip. I have never been to Europe so I worked hard walking all over and exploring. It was exhausting. Next time I sit in cafes more and drink wine and get to know the natives. Promise. That means learning the language too. It was a most enjoyable trip and I am happy with it all.

Paris Berries

I shared these berries, with I think who was a gypsy woman sitting on the street. She blessed me. Begging is different in Paris. In some instances quite passive. 

 

Paris Lunch and Pastries

I ate that cucumber in one sitting. I love cucumbers. Chocolate bar is from Blé Sucré a fabulously worthwhile pastry shop to visit. I had a coffee eclair from there on my way to the Picasso museum. The other package is macarons from another pastry shop. I could get over macarons easy, they are fun novelty and usually good flavors. It is the sugar levels I have to back off from.

 

Paris Museum

No picture taking allowed within Picasso museum. I was able to snap this Giacometti chandelier in entry of which there are more of his chandeliers within the museum. This was my favorite museum.

 

Paris Bag

This was my splurge. A boutique bought bag in Le Marais. That is why earlier baguette became dinner. Had to budget. This bag is from Shanghai Trio.

 

Paris Cars

 On my way to the Rodin museum I had to remember with a photo the Paris cars, so darn cute. I think Paris drivers are fast and good drivers. I am not sure if statistically they have less accidents. I felt safer in Paris on the street than most places.

 

Paris Lunch in Park

Lunch again while waiting for lines at Rodin museum to get smaller.  Above lunch very good. That was a cauliflower type salad and quiche lorraine with excellent ham wrapped in paper. Most wrappings when I purchased food were done with an extra special handling touch.

 

The Seine

The Seine is a tour in itself. The history of it seems to lurk in its depths, I sense it. 

 

Paris Lunch

Being a former baker from Acme Bread Company, I had to check this bakery, one of many of Eric Kayser. This sandwich was the most outstanding. No yucky mayonaisse. Just shredded chicken, sundried tomatoes mostly. 

 

Paris T

One of two T-shirts I brought home as souvenirs. Now that I visited Paris in July, my trip is cancelled for November. I stayed in a lovely hotel this time instead. Life is like that sometimes. I was determined to go to Paris and had to fit it in on my vacation schedule.

Another place I visited and liked quite strongly was Jardin du Luxembourg. I took a nap in one of the many chairs near the fountain. Nothing like napping with french conversation in the backround. 

I did get lost more times than I can remember. Finally on my last day I purposely became lost. Then I found the T-shirts along the way to the Centre Pompidou. That was pure accident walking into the whole complex at the Centre Pompidou. Quite delightful play of art there. That was how my trip was, I would walk and take in a space and turn a corner and see more and be amazed. Good to step out of one’s country too and see how others live even if only a snapshot from my short trip.

Detox now

I have been on a 21-day detox. Pretty normal so far. The detox part is days 8 – 14 which now I am on day 10. For detox part there is no meat. Something I come to depend on running around. Today I surprised myself with a most delish bowl pictured. I live near Berkeley Bowl which is about as spoiled as you could get for buying fresh veggies at a store. You can guarantee to get in someone’s way there. I bumped into someone while gazing at lemons, pretty sore pickings and bought some Meyers which were the most overpriced item I bought. They say things are relative. All my other veggies were heavenly affordable.

So the dish is: warm rice, cooked broccoli, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, carrots, a radish, and light toast walnuts. Dressing of mustard, garlic, lemon, apple cider, balsamic drop, olive oil, tahini drip, and black pepper. No problem eating it up.

I have been talking to Nick almost a month now by Skype while he visits New Zealand. That means I get to see him when we talk.

I have plans to visit Paris this year in November. Hope my finances hold out. The airline thing is getting weird and forget the dollar. I will mostly, probably be eating vegetables from the markets in Paris. Luckily the place I am staying at has a small kitchen with the room. Of course I will have to also sample the local cuisine and wine Paris is known for.

Farmers’ markets are my thing I thrive on. Feel healthy just walking through them. See you there at a Paris or some other farmers’ market perhaps.