0 SWISS SAUSAGE SALAD - A GUEST POST

On Monday, the 1st of August, Switzerland will be celebrating the 720th anniversary of the Foundation of the Confederation, so for that occasion I decided to adapt a traditional dish that is generally served on this day and write a long-awaited guest post for a foodblogger I really appreciate...Being the proscratinator that I am, it took me a few months to come up with an article which I could consider worthy of Leemei Tan's lovely blog "My Cooking Hut". For me, accepting such an offer means that I have to give the best of myself in order to honor my host. It is a question of respect.So, after hours of reflection, I opted for a Swiss dish that...

0 Gondola Fever

BEAR and I are too busy shipping out your chateaux to jump in a Venice canal and think about gondolas... But no reason YOU can't dream of gondolas... 'Gondolier Fever' has been going on since Canaletto and before after all... It does look terribly relaxing... Gondola dancing anyone...Who knew? Are there gondola parking lots? Can you get a ticket for double parking? Which would you rather have?A ride in a gondola... Or a pistachio gelato? I know my answer...HmmmPistachio wins hands down.I think I caught gondola fever from looking at this watercolor book by Jean-Louis Morelle. Though the only Venice scene is on the cover - sometimes that's all...

0 Artist's Journal Workshop

I'm awfully late posting today Darling PBers I know, but you overwhelmed me with your enthusiasm for yesterday's Bordeaux chateaux watercolors! WOW WOW WOW & BIG MERCI! I would head off for Paris this minute if it wasn't the worse time of the year to do so. *FYI-if you bought more than 1 painting yesterday you were overcharged on shipping and it will be refunded to you PDQ. I messed up filling out the forms on Etsy. Please forgive :(On to the wonderful subject of sketchbook journals - they seem to be rampant these days. And why not? Travelers forever have been recording their thoughts, notes and doodles in journals/carnet du voyage. You...

0 Chateaux in Bordeaux

Chateau Beychevelle Bourdeaux, watercolor, 9 1/2" x 13" Why not sit back, pour a glass and check out all the Bordeaux chateaux watercolors I found lurking in my closet... Champagne Moet & Chandon, watercolor, 9 1/2" x 13" Terminee! Chateau d'Yquem, watercolor, 9 1/2" x 13" You love Sauternes Chateau Margaux, watercolor, 9 1/2" x 13" Chateau Mouton Rothschild, watercolor, 9 1/2" x 13" I could use a glass of Ch. Latour right this minute myself... ... I may have to go back to Bisoux to get some more Caneles...MERCI for supporting Maine lobsters & Parisbreakf...

0 BLACK & WHITE WEDNESDAY #3 - MY RADIO INTERVIEW

- Aqua Vitae -This picture was submitted to "Black & White Wednesday", an event created by Susan at "The Well-Seasoned Cook".~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have some great news to share with you folks!Remember me talking about my first ever radio interview (in French) which I gave in May? Well, it will finally get aired on Sunday the 31st of July on RSR La Premère, from 12:00 to 12:30 pm CET (link to live streaming).For those who don't live in Europe and who will not be able to listen to the programm live, it will also be available for 30 days via podcast. I hope you'll enjoy it! J'ai de très bonnes nouvelles à partager avec vous, chers...

0 Adieu Maine

Adieu Lobster, watercolor, 9" x 11" I'm hating to leave Maine just as much as you are :) The last day of David Dewey's workshop is a half day spent close to his house so we can eat a farewell lunch together. David's palette. However does he get such brilliant color with such a messy palette? David demos and explains - the sliver of his shirt hanging out just happens to match the yellow-green in his painting. Maybe if I wore more color?We get the crit before we eat lunch today. Everyone side-by-side. LUNCH and what I ate:Watermelon Salad with Mint Leaves1 (5-pound) watermelon1 Vidalia or other sweet onion1/4 cup red wine vinegarSalt and pepper1/2...