Starting To Get My Fall-ON!!

After writing yesterdays post I actually got a little inspired myself. Funny how that works sometimes.

So, Hubby and I went out to our local Famers stand to buy some late season tomatoes, and  newly harvested pumpkins.

The tomatoes, and pumpkins were just beautiful. I felt like a kid in a candy store.

When you have that many pumpkins and tomatoes staring at you, it really is hard to know which ones to bring home.

 

(no orange pumpkins for me!)

I bought four different types of tomatoes, zucchini, red peppers, fresh basil, sweet corn, plums, and of course pumpkins in beautiful shades of green and white.

While in Paris we visited many stores with wonderful displays of fresh vegetables, and fruit, but none were as beautifully displayed as at Au Bon Marche Grand Epicerie………

(For more information and images go HERE)

Just look at the beautifully displayed tomatoes!

( not the tomato on the left!)

Seeing the tomatoes in bowls reminded me of how I like to arrange fresh produce to make it easily available for my family and guest…..

Not as artfully displayed as the Bon Marche, but none-the- less, hopefully inviting!!


I took my tomatoes, and a bouquet of Fall flowers and placed them near my kitchen window…..






Caprese salad made with yellow flame, and red beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella, garlic infused olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper! YUM!!


This made a great side-dish with our Spaghetti Carbonara, and fresh French bread from a local bakery…..

(I must think I am still in Paris!)

Yes! Yesterday was a perfect Fall day.

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Trying To Get My FALL-ON!!!

   

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Just getting back from Paris I am trying to get back on our time schedule. I am also trying to get into a Fallish kind of mood.

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If I had been home the last couple of weeks, I am sure I would have started lighting more candles at dusk.

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I would have purchased the last harvest of locally grown tomatoes.

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Fall plantings would have been placed on my front porch with a few pumpkins peeking out around them.

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Ornamental Kale is one of my favorite Fall plantings.

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Alas, I was gone so I am trying to catch up, and get inspired to start my nesting for the Fall season.

 

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I love the weather this time of year, cool, crisp mornings and evenings, while it is still pleasantly warm during the day.

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I don’t know about you, but I think it is time for me to get my Fall-ON!!!

Have you done any Fall nesting yet? Please share what you have done in the comments. I love to be inspired by my wonderfully talented readers….

Here’s To FALL……..

 

Looking In The Windows In Paris

 

We were on our way home from a beautiful first day in Paris looking in the windows of the shops as we passed by.

I looked in the window, started to walk by, and then a quick turn around……. I had to go into this lovely shop!

The shop was full of gorgeous orchids. Some that I have never seen before.

 (A reader just sent me the information on this chandelier that she found on 1st Dibs......http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=671479)

In the very middle of the shop there was this grand 1960’s glass chandelier. It had to be at least 5ft. in length. I only wish I could have captured it’s magnificence in a photo.

If you would like one for your own home you can go to 1st Dib's website and for a mere $24,000 it can be yours!

The curator of this shop was a young man named, Marc! He spoke English, and was delighted to practice. He told us all about his shop, and the unique items displayed.

Most of the unique items were purchased at flea markets. Can you imagine finding the chandelier in pieces in a box? He told us all the pieces were intact! Amazing.

Notice the buckets on the wall that are holding the ferns? This is off of an old water wheel. What a clever display.

I am going to try to duplicate this somewhere in my backyard. I fell in love with this concept.

He had several lamp bases that were made from old metal grates off of fences.

Before opening the shop they came in, and stripped all the walls and the ceiling down to it’s original beginnings. I love the texture of the stone, plaster and beams.

Marc told us to only spray a mist of water on our orchids, and to not water them. They absorb water through their roots, so a mist is sufficient. We kill our orchids with too much love/water!!

 More water buckets  trailing down the stone walls with ivy gently flowing among the orchids.

We had a lovely visit with Marc. We are finding the Parisian’s to be so warm and charming. 

If you have the pleasure of going to Paris be sure to visit this lovely florist:

Eric Chauvin

22, rue Jean Nicot

Paris 75007

www.ericchauvin 

or

commandeparis@ericchauvin.fr

Have I told you that I LOVE Paris?!

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♥♥♥ In Love In PARIS♥♥♥

They call Paris the city of LOVE, and to be here with the love of my life is beyond wonderful.

In Paris there is a special bridge for people in love called…..

“The Love-Lock Bridge.”

On this bridge lovers place a lock on the chain link part of the bridge, and then they throw the key in the Seine river.

Since this trip was to celebrate my hubby’s retirement he took the lock off of his tool box that he had used for years at his job.

I asked him to write me a little love note on our lock……..

 Oh how I love this man!!!

I have already told you what a romantic I am so this was right up my alley!

Putting our lock on the fence.

He wants to marry me! AGAIN!! He always makes me cry.

Of course I say, “YES!” Even after 42 years!

Throwing our key into the Seine.

♥♥♥Love from Paris!♥♥♥

I Took A Cooking Class In Paris

Today was our first full day in Paris.  We started  off by walking a few blocks from our apartment,  to a charming restaurant called, “REED,” owned by a lovely French chef Catherine Reed……..

(Notice the backwards “E”? Simple graphics always make such a wonderful statement.)

Inside this charming restaurant we met the lovely,and beautiful Catherine Reed, owner and chef……






(She is holding a bouquet that she put together using flowers she purchased on the famous Paris street, Rue Cler.)

Once inside her lovely establishment we could feel the warmth, and charm from not only her, but the actual restaurant itself…….

Catherine began to explain what we would be cooking today. She has such a warm, and easy way about her……


She explains that our meal will consist of:

Artichokes, Barigoule style

Mushroom stuffed boneless chicken thighs, and roasted chicken breast

Mashed red potatoes

Romaine lettuce wedge with vinaigrette

Rustic strawberry shortcake

We entered the kitchen to begin our prepping….



(Notice the beautiful marble topped sideboard that holds the desserts. Just look at the gorgeous black La Canache stove.)

Here we are prepping the Jerusalem artichokes for our appetizers.

My sweet Hubby was in charge of the porcini, and chanterelle mushrooms. I must say with Catherine’s direction he did a fabulous job!

Our finished artichoke appetizer! It was so delicious, if I do say so myself. Bacon, mushrooms, garlic and a garnish of spring onions and large shaves of Parmesan cheese!

The finished product!! De-boned chicken thighs stuffed with mushrooms, mashed red potatoes, and a wedge salad with vinaigrette. 

Even though we all participated in the cooking, we owe our beautiful meal to Catherine Reed!!

We finished off our meal with a rustic strawberry shortcake. Catherine added a touch of orange zest to the batter, and it was just the right touch…..

I was amazed at how many little tid-bits of information Catherine gave us. 

If you ever go to Paris I highly recommend a cooking class with Catherine Reed. She is so relaxed,personable and might I add, adorably talented.

We enjoyed it so much we went back for two more wonderful meal as guest…………

This is Kathysue signing off from Paris!

When In Paris be sure to go to REED for a wonderful meal, or better yet, a wonderful meal, and a cooking class…….

REED

11 bis rue Amelie

75007 Paris

phone # 01 45 55 88 40

 To make a reservation:

email: Catherine.reed@wanadoo.fr