Tongue in Cheek

Welcome to Provence

Photo and text by Corey Amaro:

Provence is having a drink of Pastis in a small village, with cicadas clicking their heels in the background.

Provence is a red blanket of poppies with a child in the middle wearing a straw hat.

Provence is, without a doubt blue shutters and flowers on the windowsill.

Provence is small fishing villages nestled along the coast, a place to cast your dreams afloat.

Provence is a white bowl of fish soup with a sliced dried baguette, a head of garlic, grated cheese, and garlic mayonnaise. The soup should be called garlic soup.

Provence is double painted doorways....

and colorful facades with stripped awnings with a....

Fruit and vegetables stand underneath. Yes Provence is

the land of good and plenty.

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Today is my cousin Kathy's birthday. They went to St Tropez and I stayed home to bake a surprise birthday cake. But what was I thinking.... St. Tropez verses Birthday Cake?!? Truth be told I stayed back because I lost a tooth and have a dentist appointment: Oh the joy of growing old. Maybe I'll bake my tooth in the cake as a double whammy surprise.

The Golden Gift that has Landed on our Doorstep

My cousins, Gene and Kathy, are here from the States visiting us. We have had spent hours talking, laughing and eating, of course drinking and visiting this church, that monument and a million charming towns.

Gene is a handy man. Yes!! A genuine, golden hand, H-A-N-D-Y-M-A-N!! A gem, a treasure, the best thing that has ever landed on my doorstep. He knows how to do anything and everything. I am so tempted to give him a hammer, a drill, nails and whatever else he would need to fix the things that need fixin' and do the "Honey-dos" that I have been begging that Non-Handyman French Husband of mine.

Gene is all for doing whatever I want him to do.... but I feel so guilty, okay sort of guilty to take him up on it. I mean gee... this is the first trip to Europe and all, and there is so much to see and do rather than do miscellaneous jobs for me....

But he is twisting my arm, and well, my guilt is growing weaker and weaker.

And Kathy, she is easy going, loves to do what I love to do best...talk! We have shared story after story! I think I might have to lock them up in the amoire just to keep them here for myself.

Family from Willows, I am so happy I could cry. Especially on this day, to have family near, those who were so very close to my Father. Gene and Kathy have many stories about my Dad.... Today marks two years that my Dad died. Two years..... how can that be?

They are the golden gift that has landed on our doorstep... like little miracles of happiness unveiling themselves to remind us that we are loved and never alone.

Provence to Paris

The French countryside with the first kiss of spring.

I want this car! Will you please buy it for me?

... if you do I promise I will drive you from Provence to Paris, hitting every brocante in between (and bakery too.)

Later Note: The car is a "Deux Cheveaux" (Two Horses). Made during 1948 to 1990, the same shape and style.

They cost anywhere from 3000 (needs work) to 6000+ euro.

The Rose Cloud

Text and Photo by: Corey Amaro

I was stressing out about something, I don't remember what, something unimportant now but was sapping my energy then. I was frustrated, poor French Husband became my focal point, though he wasn't the reason for my attitude he certainly was getting my grief as I barked up his tree.

Then something in his eye calmed me. Thankfully some small goodness in me stopped and held his gaze. In that brief second I caught the lifeline back to the real shore of my being.

I asked for a hug. Sounds simple, sounds corny. But that hug soothed my rough edges, putting me back on track.

That is what I love about him he takes my thorns and allows me to bloom.

Orange Onion Salad Love Affair

Photo and text by: Corey Amaro

My friend Annie talked about a salad she had as if it were her new best friend. She described it in detail: the crunch of its voice, its tangy personality, its unexpected freshness and with curiosity, like one has when one is first in love: She wondered what other flavor it might have if mixed with an added ingredient.

Yesterday late afternoon French Husband, Chelsea and I stopped by Annie's to say hi. As we talked and drank our sparkling water with Pulco Annie jumped up with more energy than a five year old and said, "Corey I made the Orange Onion Salad, you gotta taste it!"

Now, that might not sound unusual... offering a taste of an Orange Onion Salad at five in the afternoon.... But let me tell you in France that is as rare as Martians coming over to visit. I knew at that moment that this salad had to have real pull on Annie's French heart strings.

Annie brought out the Orange Salad, handed me a spoon, not bothering to give me a plate. Love does that it makes you do things you would never think to do. I hesitated, doubting briefly the goodness of oranges with onions. The thought of it made me pucker my lips, though Annie's enthusiasm reassured me, I scooped a mouthful. The moment the Orange/Onion combo hit my taste buds I was smitten. "Who knew!" I exclaimed.

French Husband and Chelsea, as if I were Goldilocks, followed suit. We went home and made it for dinner.

Orange Onion Salad:

One large sweet white onion, thinly sliced. Marinate it with two or three tablespoons of olive oil, one or two tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, Grey pepper with a hint of nutmeg. While this sets aside doing its thing,

Peel and skin, three large oranges peeled, then cut in thirds,

Mix the two together.

Serve as is, or over rice or on an avocado.

(My Friends over at Facebook: Clarice Fox-Hughes adds pistachios, and Mary Marsell-Farrell uses red onions, with raspberry vinaigrette instead.)

Have you had Orange Onion Salad or a variation of it?