"Eat your vegetables"

Being vegetarian for almost thirty years I've enjoyed many grown in our small back garden each Summer. The last of the garden harvest was picked Tuesday - a few eggplants hanging on for dear life, some dangling small green peppers, the remaining Roma tomatoes struggling to survive despite roots devastated by hungry voles! Tossed with extra virgin olive oil, roasted along with an onion, yellow and red peppers and a few garlic cloves and a dusting of that French herbed sea salt, they turned out lovely and the entire house smelt so good.

What to do with them while still hot and colorful - make risotto with roasted veggies, quick, easy and healthy.


A little freshly grated Parmigiano~Reggiano, a grind of black pepper, and a few fresh basil leaves ~ supper's ready.

"Buon appetito."

Salt of the Earth

While salting my veggies last evening I thought, why do we say "the salt of the earth" when it comes mostly from the sea? Throughout history salt has been important and was at one time traded for gold.

Why is American packaging somewhat boring.......sometimes just plain ugly.........while in France, something as ordinary as salt is not only vibrant with flavor, it comes in beautiful containers like this.

SEL DU JARDINIER (Gardener's Salt) is beautiful.............gritty crystals with tiny specks of herbs mixed in. This metal trimmed wooden box complete with attached string ties looks lovely sitting on the kitchen counter.

The usual blue box of iodized American salt has only one redeeming factor...........'when it rains it pours'. My French salt will never pour - it's damp and sticky as if it really did come straight from the sea. It needs help from a spoon or one's finger tips - but even that feels right. Sometimes, perhaps all times, the old ways are better.


Well OK, the little girl with the umbrella is pretty and I do like how the company is showing the old illustrations on their packaging lately.

A Taste of Autumn

Have you ever bought fruit and found it wasn't ripe enough to eat immediately? When I opened the nasty plastic clamshell box containing these California plums. I found them to be really rock hard ~ a big disappointment! However a quick run through the cookbooks today turned up this Plum Raspberry Crumble in Ina Garten's great 'Barefoot In Paris' - Easy French Food You Can Make at Home. This was simple and delicious - luckily I had frozen beautiful raspberries this Summer, the plums baked to soft perfection, and all other ingredients are basic items we all keep around the kitchen.

Just the right dessert for an Autumn evening - warm from the oven with a dollop of creme fraiche - even the colors excite one's taste buds!

Beyond the Pale.........Pumpkins

These pale beauties evade me.................I want some, I dream of them, where are they hiding? Lead me to that pumpkin patch, please.

We cottage girls often want something different. After all, shabby chipped paint, rambling pink roses on faded fabric, unpolished silver, creamy china, are sometimes insulted by bright orange pumpkins.

~~~~~~~~~

I didn't find any big pale true beauties yet, but a few smaller ones were joyfully discovered this past weekend! They'll keep these two large ones company on my table. They are big and pale, yes. Beautiful, in a way. Real, by no means. Don't tell - from a distance they fool. My seasonal secret.

October Fire

Then came October, full of merry glee..............Spenser

The eight month of the old Roman year.

By the Slavs this is called 'Yellow month', from the fading of the leaf, to the Anglo Saxons, it was known as Winter fylleth, because at this moon (fylleth) winter was supposed to begin.Childhood remembrance...................picking Hazel Nuts along the lane on a brisk October afternoon in Devon.
Especially for Heidi in Amersfoort - colorful toadstools hidden in the woods.
My glorious beans now at their most brilliant on the front porch.

"That Autumn eve was stilled.
A last remains of sunset dimly burned
o'er the far forests - like a torch-flame turned
by the wind back upon it's bearer's hand
in one long flare of crimson; as a brand.
The wood beneath lay black."
............Robert Browning

Wedding Bells are Ringing

Must be time for Autumn weddings. When time permits I try to make cards for special people in my life. At first I thought it would be a way to save money..............have you seen the ridiculous price of a nice card these days? The materials and time involved in designing and creating an attractive card can become a bit costly too, but what a great feeling knowing you have made something you are proud to give, and to see how much the recipient enjoys it.

This week I made these two wedding cards. The first one was for my hairstylist and building contractor. We introduced these two special friends last December and today is their wedding day on the beach in Costa Rica!!!

In England, a wedding tradition is to give the bride a lucky sixpence.......a silver coin from Britain's 'old money' used before the metric system.

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a lucky sixpence for your shoe."

The card below is for the very nice young man, and his fiancee, who bought the house next door last year. Next Saturday we'll be attending their wedding in South Carolina at the bride's family farm......small country church ~ outdoor reception ~ sounds fun.

CONGRATULATIONS to all.

A Very Special AMY - Inspiration Friday For Sure!

Many of you already know Amy at Four Sisters in a Cottage. For those of you who have yet to meet her, sweet and dear Amy is battling breast cancer. Following surgery she has been taking mega doses of strong chemo and right now she is feeling pretty rotten. Her blog has kept us up to date with her treatment. It has been honest and enlightening - she has allowed us to see the ugly side of breast surgery, and the damage done by chemotherapy. Her pain has made us realize how good health is the most important thing, and that real beauty comes from within. A couple of days ago Amy questioned the meaning of life with cancer. Today many of us hope we can reassure her that things will get better and she will once again be strong and will get back to living her life the way she wants it to be.

Amy dear, life with cancer is a changed life but it is still a life well worth fighting for. As you already know, my husband (5 year survivor) and myself (18 year survivor) have battled it too - there are SO MANY of us out there. We have gone through hell and come back to get on with living. You too will be doing this - it will take a while but you will join us, proud that you were strong and made your body fight this terrible disease. Then, it will be your turn to inspire other women and men, to show them how one can survive and be strong as they fight their cancers.


Your wonderful Bob, the children, your Mom and your family, your many close friends who are able to be there for you, your doctors and nurses...............................and all of us out here, your blog family, love you and support you on this difficult journey. Many of us wish we too were close by to lend a shoulder to cry on, make you a cup of tea, or just hold your hand when the going gets tough. However, we are here in a different way, thinking of you daily, remembering you in a prayer, and sending constant get well wishes your way. You really are loved. You will be well. You must continue to be strong.

OK Amy, now show us that great hat collection!! Hope it was fun at the sales, and I just know your massage was heavenly!

As you said..............keep smiling. We care about you and love you.