Three Mini's

Song - Outlander - The Skye Boat Song by Bear McCreary



In the last few weeks I have taken three mini vacations all while SIP at home.  The first one was ordering Sam Heughan's The Sassenach Whiskey.  Mr. B and I enjoy him on the Outlander series.  It took several months to arrive and I will pop it one evening soon while watching Outlander reruns as we are in Droughtlander right now - meaning the lack of a new show until next year.

I mean just look at this man - who wouldn't want a wee dram with him - in a kilt - of course!



My second mini-vacay was ordering bread from Poilâne a bakery in Paris.....yes really Paris, France. OK here is the deal.....I was tired of our local artisan bread drying out each day and I had heard that in France they use linen bags to let some air in but not too much.  I started looking on Amazon but they all had corny labels on them so I thought of  Poilâne.

It's an amazing bakery that bakes mostly bread and is located at 

8 Rue du Cherche-Midi in the heart of Paris.  

I went to their website - HERE. 

I placed an order for the linen bread bag and noticed that there was a 30 euro charge for shipping. It seemed a little steep but when I realized all of the money that I was saving Mr. B by not traveling to France this year, it seemed like a great deal! I threw in a few more items in my cart and noticed that the shipping cost stayed the same.  I ordered some shortbread cookie spoons for my mom to dip in her morning coffee and a loaf of Walnut Bread.  I received a text the next morning that they were just taking my bread out of the oven and getting it ready for shipping and that I would receive it by 10:30 the next morning!

Ding-dong......right on time!

It even came with a handwritten card thanking me for my order.

I had a little bit of Brie on hand and Mr. B and I had a delicious breakfast! I put on French music and danced around the kitchen with joy in my heart!!!
Delish!!!

Then little Henry arrived and he munched on a piece of bread too as did his daddy.  I sent Andy home with a slice for Ashley too!

PS - The linen bread bag doesn't work....maybe I shouldn't have left my SF Sourdough bread in it for 4 days????



My next adventure was a little more local -- Santa Fe!  Several years ago I went to a Painting Workshop there given by the artist Carol Marine. It was held at a convent and the food was catered locally and was amazing.  One of the things I loved most was their granola that they served with breakfast. We have ordered it through the years but I had forgotten about it until last week.  So I jumped on their website - Santa Fe Granola Company - and ordered us two bags.  Mmmmm.....

So what little surprises have you been enjoying during SIP?  

We all need to break it up a little and have some fun!

"Quarantine has me realizing why my dog 

gets so excited about something moving outside 

and going for walks and car rides.  

I just barked at a squirrel." 

It's Alright

Song - Don't Think Twice, It's Alright by Bob Dylan & Eric Clapton

The guy in front of me at a Dylan concert in Berkeley

Right now we need to be thinking twice

and

I hope it's going to be alright!

Stay Safe Out There!!!



"Some people feel the rain. 
Others just get wet." 

--Bob Dylan

What Not to Do....

Song - Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett

Sea Lions in Santa Cruz

Totally oblivious to Social Distancing



"The only nation I’m visiting this spring is imagination!"

-- Anonymous

Sixty and Counting

Video - The Squirrel, the Physicist and the Bird Feeder by Claude Lyneis

Zipper the squirrel just chillin'

So Friday is day number 60 of shelter in place!

And I am wondering how you and your families are doing?

If you are anything like me, there are good days and not so good days.

Some days I get a lot done around the house and in the garden.

Other days I want to sit and read.

Some days I find an interesting recipe, order the ingredients and cook to my hearts delight while listening to fun music.

Other days nothing sounds appealing....

But I do think I am adjusting and each day gets better and better.  I also feel like the warmer weather has helped. And seeing my garden bloom!

Hang in there and chill.....like Zipper!



**I hope you watch the video at the top of my post. A woman I have painted with for many years - Joanne Taeuffer has a neighbor in Berkeley and he is the one who filmed this hilarious video! Just see who has the last laugh Shirley the squirrel or Claude the physicist?

"Take life one SIP at a time"

-- Jeanette

Sip, Don't Gulp

While looking at a blog the other morning, I came across this statement - "Sip, Don't Gulp".  I think the woman who wrote this statement was using it in the context of drinking and eating as it was on a long list of things she wanted to accomplish.  Since I have been playing this message in my brain, it has taken on a more personal meaning.

Sip, don't gulp.....life.

 I realize that I tend to "gulp" a lot of things.  When I sip life, it tastes sweeter and I am more present. It can be little things like watering the garden.  I tend to turn the hose on full blast, turn the nozzle onto "Jet-Blast" and blow my little plants away.  It's fast and it gets the job done.  But when I "sip", I turn the nozzle to "sprinkle" and suddenly I feel my body relax.  I enjoy the task at hand.  And I am sure my little green garden is a much happier place.










I turn the heater or air on too high, I want that car in front of me to go a little faster (or a lot faster),  I want the computer to go faster, I rush through dinner, I want the traffic signal to hurry up and turn green,  I want it all and I want it now!  I think part of that is this generation.  No patience.  We are used to fast food, fast service, fast internet, drive thru banking, instant gratification.  Hurry up and move onto the next thing.



But remember what happens when the electricity goes off for a while on a stormy night?  At first you may be indignant and irritated.  As you find the flashlights and light candles and place them around the house, things start to calm down.

The family huddles together in one room, talking and listening to the storm outside.  Maybe playing cards or a board game.  No other noises.  A calmness surrounds.  Suddenly all of the lights come back on, a radio blasts, several TV's fire up and the computer bubbles to life.  Everyone goes back to what they were doing but I know I am not alone in feeling disappointed  that we have lost that "connection".

A gentle reminder...

 

Sip, don't gulp. 

Intention.  My word for the year.

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson