Beach Days

Song - Surf City by Jan & Dean

Talk about two right feet?

Right???

I can not wait to take a nice long walk on the beach again!

"Every time I have some moment on a seashore, 

or in the mountains,

 or sometimes in a quiet forest, 

I think this is why the environment 

has to be preserved."

 – Bill Bradley

Top Notch

Song - Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots cover by Sierra Eagleson

Hello little fellow.......

A quails top notch is actually not a "top notch" but a crest or plume and is designed to impress a potential mate. 

The plume isn't just one feather but six and the bushier it is, the more attractive he is.....Rogaine anyone?

A group of quail are known as a coveys.

This one I captured on a garden fence in Carmel.

"What if I fall? 

Oh but my darling, what if you fly?"

--Erin Hanson

Hump Day

Song - Camel Ride by Booker T and the MG's

A Two Hump Day!

Several years ago I was taking a weekly painting class in Tomales, California

It's about an hour drive from my home and

I got to pass this guy twice a day.

No idea what he was doing on a farm in Marin but it was a sight to see!


"Life is like a camel: 
you can make it do anything except back up."

--Marcelene Cox

Bread Bridge

Song - Bread and Butter by the Newbeats

This is the little village of Estaing in Southern France

The bridge over the Lot River is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight

And she is quite a sight!

Later in the day I saw the village men coming across the bridge after work
bringing home the bacon bread!



 “The smell of good bread baking, 
like the sound of lightly flowing water, 
is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight.”

 —M.F.K. Fisher

Time for Exercise

Song - Smile by Madeleine Peyroux

Zipper doing his morning stretches!

Anything for a nibble

**Note: if you were looking for the surprise in yesterdays post, for some reason the video did not land in your inbox.  It was at the very bottom of the post.  If you want to see it - Click on the title to open it!

Someone is at My Door - Surprise

Song - I Hear You Knocking by Wynonna Judd

A decorative piece on a door in Provence

I love the patina of the various colors its been painted

 Our hotel door in Avignon including a letter slot and talking grill

Hotel Garlande

This ornate knocker was locate in St.-Cirq-Lapopie

which is a commune in the Lot district in Southern France.

It is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association

My grandson Henry has learned to push open doors because
sometimes there is a surprise on the other side!

I Hear You Knocking

Song - Knock on Wood by Eddie Floyd

I'm still knocking.....knock, knock, knock......come in

A striking knocker from a door in Umbria, Italy

A worn bedroom window lock inside the Saint Paul Asylum

in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France

where Vincent Van Gogh spent some time 1889-1890

And modern door pulls from Paris, France

Watch for a delightful surprise in tomorrow's post!

Yum!

Song - Green Onions by Booker T & the MG's

On Wednesday I decided that I was getting bored with our usual cooking - meat, veggie, carb, so I found a recipe that would kick it up a notch or two. A woman I follow on Instagram named Lindsay from Pinch of Yum came up with a spectacular idea - Spring Roll Bowls.  She uses all of the ingredients that you would find in a Spring Roll but she had made it into a bowl.

I made a recipe list and Whole Foods delivered all of the ingredients within a couple hours. I did make a couple of small changes - I didn't have a ripe avocado so I blanched some broccoli florets and I added sliced green onions. I think with this recipe anything goes! The Serrano peppers were a little too hot for us so next time I will use Jalapeño peppers. 

It was a huge hit and satisfied something deep.  The mint, cilantro and basil combo were incredible as well as the sweet, salty, tangy flavor in the sauce.

One word of advice that Lindsay says over and over again - Do NOT smell the fish sauce!  Mr. B didn't see that and he did smell it stating that "You will ruin this recipe if you use this!"  I am not a seafood person but I have cooked with Fish Sauce before.  It just adds a deeper layer to the flavors.

Thanks to Lindsay for the great recipe and I am excited to say we will be having leftovers for dinner tonight! Make it.....you will be glad you did!

Great and Blue and Magical

Song -Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens

Over the last few sunny days my son Tyler and I have spotted this Great Blue Heron 

in our trees and down the creek.

Magical...especially to see him soaring....

Horsing Around

Song - In Spite of Ourselves - John Prine & Iris DeMent

Now for a little comic relief....

Correct Social Distancing from Horses

My youngest son Tyler dressed in a horse mask in Boonville, California.

I guess he wanted to make friends with some horses?

Tick Tock

Song - Orvieto Clock Tower Bells

Torre del Moro in Orvieto, Italy - 2005

What a charming and whimsical clock tower

Puppies!

Song - Dog Days Are Over - Florence & The Machine

During this SIP order I have to admit that my mind has wandered around and into the possibility of getting a dog.  But then reality hits and I know it wouldn't be fair to get a dog right now.  We hope to travel again and until we are no longer able to do big extended trips....no puppies for now.  

Above are our last two much loved West Highland White Terriers - Mika and Max

Sunday Flowers

Song - One Fine Day - The Chiffons

An abundant field of white daffodil's in dappled sunlight in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

Wishing you a calm and happy Sunday.

Knock Knock

Song - I Hear You Knockin' by Fats Domino

Come in.....

I have a love for windows and doors wondering what might be behind these portals.

And the hardware that goes with them is very interesting as well!

The hinge on the red door above is from the Cluny Museum in Paris and it looks like a dragon spewing out three fires....maybe.

And this pirate looking door knocker was found in Pisa, Italy.

I guess he got knocked one too many times and the owners nailed him shut!

 And the final knocker is a woman's hand on a dark green door in the 

Bouches-du-Rhône, Tarascon, France (home of the Tarasque monster)