A tablecloth for every season

Over the years I have collected a few oilcloth tablecloths for our kitchen table here in the US, one for each season. Oilcloth is definitely the preferred medium as it wipes up easily and only requires a gentle (with Woolite on cold) machine wash once or twice a year, hang dry with no ironing. Right now, Avril is enjoying sleeping on the fall/winter cloth, one with ocres, greens and yellow, that reminds me of fall colors. When the leaves begin to change color, this cloth joins the tableau in our kitchen, on the table next to the window, so we can view the trees outside as they fall into winter, losing their leaves, heading into rest. I always wish I could join them and the bears and hibernate until spring, stay snuggled in flannel sheets and down comforters until Spring. By then, we can change over to a more cheerful welcoming table, bright with lemons and blues to match the hues of the sky as we head toward summer. By then we can go full Provence, with the white tablecloth, full of Provencal lavender and roses, softly directing us to return to France, saying welcome back.

The incubator

Driving through Provence, we often see signs for pepiniere and never understood the meaning. Recently, I finally researched it and learned it means incubator, and can be used in different ways. It may mean for plants as in a nursery, or can be pepiniere business or a business incubator, meaning to nurture new and creative business concepts. As always the French language has fascinating nuances, particularly when applying beautiful old words to modern applications.

Amsterdam - a different dream

Since I was about 2 years old, I have been on figure skates of all sizes, skated ponds and outdoor rinks, especially one that existed then in Branch Brook Park in Newark designed by Olmstead who designed NYC's Central Park. I grew up further as a regular rink rat at South Mountain Arena, spending hours there on and off the ice, as a second home. Since having children whenever I skate I make sure to help children on the ice with my kids, their friends, foster kids and anyone else who wanted help as skating is a simple form of fun. A top ten item on my bucket list has always been to skate the canals in Amsterdam one winter when it is cold enough, perhaps next year when S. is in college and our time is more free. We've enjoyed Amsterdam in prior trips. The last time was several years ago for a family bat mitzvah at a synagogue that exists for about 200 years in the Hague. We then spent several days in Amsterdam at the Hotel Pulitzer which is a series of old homes where walls have been joined into a lovely maze of rooms, surprisingly good food, and right on the major canals. Although we did not always find the best food outside the hotel (ethnic foods were the better bet), we could walk outside and get on a canal boat to the Anne Frank House in one direction or the Ryjks Museum in the other. Each time I have visited the Anne Frank House it is an experience that gives me the chills, imagining the family living in that tiny space, and dreaming of freedom to do the things we all take for granted. Another must visit is always the Van Gogh Museum containing one fascinating and colorful painting after another, a truly misunderstood artist of his era. When S. was with us on one trip as we toured the Van Gogh museum he was clearly looking for one painting in particular. At the end of the tour he sadly advised me that it was not there. Which one, I asked? Starry night, he replied, a painting he had studies several years earlier in Kindergarten. I was surprised he even remembered it. But I assured him that the painting was in New York at the Modern Museum and we could go see it. A few weeks later we did just that, making time to see other exhibits on display including a Matisse/Cezanne which was touring through major museums. Another favorite of his was the painting with the yellow room and a narrow bed which reminded us of his room at home. The poster we purchased of that painting was framed and still hangs in his room, now over his much larger bed, so at night he can always dream of Van Gogh and Amsterdam, and be assured that Starry Night will be close by in New York. He still has very fond memories of that Museum and Amsterdam. At that time we had just begun to explore spending more time and Provence. Perhaps the connection with Van Gogh lead us to the beauty he so appreciated even when he was ill and suffering, he could still see Provence well enough to capture its flavor in his works.

The decaffeine fiend in France

Whether to feed the fiend or not, that is the question. For me, decaf is the way I travel and in France over the years it has been hard to find, and when I have seen it on the menus I was not always confidence that it would be caffeine-free. Rather like a non-smoking section on a plane back in the day (what day?) or a non-smoking section of a restaurant in France only a few years ago. So, when traveling I would go weeks without a decaf coffee and it would be the first thing I would drink when coming off the plane - right to Starbucks - in the USA. I have noticed a sea change in France regarding caffeine more recently, finding it more often on menus, particularly coffee shops, and even in the supermarket. Now, our house is properly stocked with decaf espresso ready for the melango espresso pod machine. A little milk and we're good to go, without the fiend of caffeine.

French manners - bathroom included

As we know, the French find good manners to be very important. Bon jour, bon soir, merci, all critical statements to make in France in any shop or restaurant. But when attending an event at someone's home, manners rise to another level. As we learned at FIAF, bringing desserts to a dinner party is important, flowers or other appropriate gift to a birthday and so on. But, we had an entire dialogue at a party in December about bathroom use. D. had read that when invited to someone's home in France it is impolite to use the toilet. As D. is a completely uninhibited person, he raised the topic among friends at this holiday party to test the waters. The attendees were a mixture of French, Americans, Canadians, Brits and other nationalities, so it was a "relief" to learn (pun intended), after drinking water and soda that it was not unacceptable to use the bathroom and we could partake before getting in the car for an hour drive home. So, bring on the water, coffee, and cake.

Matisse at the Met

Since becoming ill, we have not made it to our favorite recreation spot in NYC, the Metropolitan Museum. As this was the infamous first date for us, it is where we always go back, experiencing multiple countries and travel dreams in mere hours. This rainy afternoon we arrived at the Museum, used the parking lot at the Museum to limit my walking, managed to find handicapped parking right near the entrance, and wound our way through ancient Rome and Greece, through Africa and Australia (Oceana) to France and Matisse. It was an exceptional exhibit, viewing paintings that demonstrated his progression as an artist, often painting different interpretations of the same scene or still-life, rather like Picasso's work. More subtle and less dramatic than Picasso. We then strolled through renaissance France, and Baroque artwork, and other impressionists in the Lehman gallery to view the small exhibition of 18th century French landscape or "plen air" paintings. It was interesting that although the artists were largely French, many of the landscapes were Italian, some villas and views appearing as they still may look today. Then back through the American wing and Baroque to find the Met store for a few gifts. The new impressionists exhibit will not open until later in the week so we will return again soon, even before we return to France. Until then, we had a day close to our dreams.

The new Michelin Guide - with a new 3-star award

The only new 3 star restaurant, La Vague d'or, is located at Residence de la Pinede in St. Tropez, which we ate at about 10 years ago, but believe it was under different ownership and chef at the time. Although we don't follow the star system much, as we have found that the food is often over-priced and not worth the money and we are more bistro-type low key foodies, we may have to venture there soon with an excursion over the winding hills from St. Remy to St. Tropez. http://www.france24.com/en/20130218-arnaud-donckele-la-vague-dor-restaurant-three-stars-michelin-guide-france-gastronomy