My Rome with a View...

I have just completed work on my 2014 calendar, "My Rome with a View". The photos therein are just a small sampling of the hundreds I took during the two weeks in April 2013 that I had the good fortune to spend in Rome, the Eternal City.

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Tradition!

First night in Paris and I followed my usual routine. Had dinner at Brasserie Les Cascades, kitty-corner from my hotel (Hotel de la Porte Dorée). Started with my usual Kir Californien, served with wonderful marinated olives, and ordered up the 'vin du moment', which was a St. Chinian 2011:

Plat principal was the Croque Poilâne Provençal (jambon, emmental, tomates, oignons, herbes, served on the tasty pain Poilâne) with a green salad:

Dessert--what else but crêpes Nutella?

Un déca avec speculoos:

All for a mere 22 euros! Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy 'April in Paris' evening.

Not Egypt: Cats can be jerks...

Had to share this! It's not Egypt-related, but the behaviors have been known to be practiced by CH cats!

Not Egypt: The People's E-Book

This is just so cool--I had to share it! All kinds of ideas for e-books are swirling around in my head...

Not Egypt: Macaron Whimsy

More on macarons--in the January 16 issue of Bonjour Paris (The Definitive Guide to Paris) is this article: "The Whimsical World of Macarons", complete with a recipe for pistachio macarons from the master/maître of macarons, Pierre Hermé. I, however, will not be making that recipe. I "learned my lesson" when I took an evening class in the making of macarons at the École Ritz Escoffier in Paris. I now, to paraphrase something my ex-husband once said, eat macarons not make them!

Moi trying to make acceptable macarons!

Been there, done that, got the certificate! And now let someone with more skill and access to the right ingredients make them...

Not Egypt: Jardin Pamplemousse

The first of Pierre Hermé's "Jardin" collection of macarons for 2013 is Jardin Pamplemousse (grapefruit). It is described on the website as "Pamplemousse, Clou de Girofle, Muscade, & Pamplemousse Confit" (grapefruit, clove, nutmeg and crystallized grapefruit). Miam-miam!

A Different Take on "Swan Lake"!

Be sure to go to full screen to view this rather extraordinary excerpt from the Great Chinese State Circus's version of "Swan Lake":