I Must Confess.......

Wait, I'm not Catholic, whew!  I will confess I'm more fond of France now than I used to be - it must be the wine and champagne and more wine!!  I don't think I need to say any more about that.

I am enamored by the magnificent churches, cathedrals, crosses and abbayes that stand out like beacons along the French countryside.  I especially love my Benedictine monks at Fontgombault and their chanting.  Last time I went to vespers, I bought a couple of rings [made by the monks] and one of the monks blessed them for me.  Now I never want to take them off.
       
I have possibly eaten more bread and cheese since I've been here than I have in an entire year at home.  Luckily, the pastry phase only lasted so long - although brioche w/ chocolate chips fresh from the oven are to die for.  I did learn to cook a French dessert called "cafloutis" and had a chance to "experiment" in the kitchen.....some successes and some that need to go back to the drawing board, but for those of you who know me, and my refrigerator, you will know this is a great achievement for someone who has never been a "Becky-Home-Ecky!".

Coffee....love it and have started to drink mine black w/ a little raw brown sugar.  That will shock my cute coffee kioske guy in NYC who always had my "large coffee light & sweet" waiting for me every morning before work.  Love that guy!  I wonder if he will remember me when I'm back?  Change is good though and can be seen in the amount of fresh produce I've consumed.  I am a machine....faster, stronger, able to jump tomato plants in a single bound - okay not really, but it sounded good.   I've eaten more tomatoes, zucchini [or courgettes], cucumbers, eggplants and beets than I ever have.  I pick them fresh from the garden and I will miss them terribly.  Come to think of it there is an empty lot next to my building in Harlem....do you think they would welcome a garden?                  

Lanterns of Death  [lanternes des Morts] were funeral beacons.  They have small holes in the tops where a light was exhibited at night to point towards the direction of the cemetery.  Eeerie, but kinda cool too!

That ends my confessional for the week.  Well, it is Monday after all so I'm sure I'll be back next week :)

Meet Cinderella & Dexter

Ella & Dex

Brother & Sisterly Love

Ella & Dex for short.  They are the adorable French kittens I was babysitting for 2 weeks. I miss them :(  It's amazing how such tiny little creatures can sneak in to your heart and make it melt.  There are so many stray & unwanted cats in France, I dare not tell you some of the stories I've heard to keep the population down.  However, these 2 are in a great home and will be well taken care of, dare I say, spoiled!  I can't wait to see my Izzy who became my dad's cat when I moved to NYC.  She is the best!

Bier & Chocolate

I can't think of any way to start the month of September than to talk about bier and chocolate: two of my favorite things.  While nowadays I usually only drink beer on a hot summer day at the ballpark or have a lambic at an outdoor cafe, I can always eat [dark] chocolate!  Funny how similar these two machines look to me and they create such delectable items of pure pleasure.  I could easily dive in to a vat of either chocolate or beer and eat/drink my way out!  Happy September to all - and please, you have my permission - to indulge heavily in both. Cheers!