I've got the Blues

Mmmmmm Blueberries.
Polly made blueberry ice cream cake for dessert, last night.
It tasted as good as it looked.

Parisienne Farmgirl: Doing a Happy Dance!

The delightful Angela at Parisiennne Farmgirl Blog is delighted by her article, published in the Artful Blogging Magazine. Check out her blog, and read about her in this latest publication.

Parisienne Farmgirl: Doing a Happy Dance!
And don't forget to enter her giveaway!

Radish Soup

When our friend Mimi (who lives near Paris) was visiting, she made us a soup with the tops of a bunch of radishes. Not kidding! Radish tops. Weird, eh? Well, it worked. I have made it again and wanted to share with you.



Roughly chop 3 or 4 potatoes into a pot of water to cover. Cook until tender. These leaves can be muddy or sandy, so carefully wash  and chop the green tops of a bunch of radishes. Add to the simmering potatoes. Continue cooking until they become tender. Using a submerging hand blender or a stand blender, blend until smooth.




Season with salt to taste (French sea salt, naturally) and serve.
 



This is a soup from Mimi's childhood. It seems that she really likes it. Well, who am I to criticize something that undoubtedly helped the French survive WWII.

 But, thankfully, we have lovely supermarkets with every kind of delicacies.  We have any kind of meat, vegetables and fruit, spices and herbs, cereals and grains, local and imported specialties.

How often do we stop to think how fortunate we are to live in a world where we have so much bounty.

Afternoon Tea

My dear daughter brought me a lovely tarte au citron et aux myrtilles.

Perfect with a nice cup of tea, but then, what isn't? 

Dig out your tartan and get ready to Celebrate the life and poetry of Scotland's national Bard Robert Burns.

Dig out your tartan and get ready to celebrate the life and poetry of Scotland's national Bard, Robert Burns. My tartan is a rather dull brown, not very attractive and not one I have ever worn. I prefer one to the brighter, more colorful designs. But this is the one of my heritage, and my father, Paul Harold Elgin. The Original Elgin brothers having immigrated in the early 17th century.

Scotland's national poet Robert Burns is celebrated throughout the world. The universal and timeless appeal of his words has spoken to people across the globe down through the years. Here are a few well-known quotations by the Bard.

My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose
"Oh, my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh, my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune."
From Burns' most famous love song 'My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose', penned in 1794. It is written to someone from whom he is parted and hopes to meet again one day, however great the separation.To 

To a Louse
“Oh wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, And foolish notion.”
From the poem 'To A Louse', one of Burns' most famous. The poet notices an upper class lady, Jenny, in church with a louse roaming around unnoticed in her bonnet. The theme is contained in the final lines (above) and is that we would all be disabused of our pretensions if we were to see ourselves through each others' eyes. 

To a Mouse
"The best laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft a-gley; And leave us naught but grief and pain For promised joy."
These lines, which are amongst the most famous in world literature, are from Burns' poem 'To a Mouse'. The lines inspired the title of John Steinbeck's 1937 classic novel 'Of Mice and Men'.

...and perhaps the best know of all, and in his own hand:

Auld Lang Syne
"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!"
Amongst the top most sung lines in the English language, these words are, of course, from 'Auld Lang Syne', which has become an anthem sung the world over at New Year.

Apartment Envy

 If I could just magically click my ruby slipper heels and transport myself to this gorgeous  pied-à-terre

The Perfect Paris Apartment @ http://www.parisperfect.com/

with the vue parfaite.

But for the time being I will just have to make do with my own little flat with a view of - well nothing so romantic as the La Tour Eiffel.

My view in winter

...and in summer

Not your mother's G&T

 Via  Lottie Tea - the kettle's always on

...I want to try that the next time I find myself in a cocktail lounge...

Quick Getaway

Last week Polly and I drove over to the coast. I had read about a sale at Mon Ami's Paris Flea in Florence, Oregon. It was spur of the moment, which is always such fun. We found a few nice things, had some great food, met some nice people, didn't see any whales at the whale watching place, saw beautiful cliffs, waves, skies, and rainbows.

Beautiful rocks exposed at low tide

Seagulls skimming the waves

 The weather was typical for this time of year. That is to say psychotic. One minute bright sun, the next, driving rain. Exciting to say the least.

Crab Pots

All along the coast we saw crab shacks boiling up the day's catch. We settled for fish and chips. Polly doesn't care for crab and I as much as I like it, I find  a whole crab way too much for one person.

Before

After

We had brunch at a small cafe across from the marina in Newport. Have you ever seen a bigger pancake? Everything was delicious and house made. 







All Photos belong to Polly

The Robins have a new home

This Christmas, I was given a pair of ceramic Robins from my dear friends, the Wolleys. I have put them in a small wooden cage in my bedroom. I've had it for some time. It was a gift from a student, and I have always had a living plant in it, until now. I think they look right at home in the little nest I gave them. What a sweet memory they provide.

In memory of the Montana Robins

Last year, while visiting their home on Flathead Lake in Montana, we watched a small drama take place directly below the windows of the second story library/living area called "The Sunset Room".

The view from the "Sunset Room"

The nest is in the first tree on the right

A robin had built a nest in one of the fir trees that border their flagstone terrace. 

4 little eggs

We watched it for several days as first one and then another of the eggs hatched.

One was never to hatch

One day the mother flew into one of the large windows of the house. We hoped she was only stunned, but sadly she was dead. The birdies were now alone in the world and would not survive. It put a bit of a pall over the next couple of days.

I learned that recently another robin has collided with the windows and has died. Oh, the hazards of flying.

Returning to the blog

I have decided to resume blogging. I have read so many lovely blogs lately, and I think it is time to get back to it. So, here is a lovely bouquet of tulips to celebrate.