A Wonderful Time

I think it would have been impossible to cram one more visit, one more appointment, one more dinner, one more anything into our trip to Seattle. Amazing that we still weren't able to connect with everyone. Guess they'll just have to come visit!

Here are some of the highlights from our trip:

:: Paul and Ann's wedding reception in Richland. A great celebration and chance to catch up with many of our Seattle friends.

:: The annual Pine Cone Drive-in. Featured movies were Duma and Silverado. Kids were treated to classic Donald Duck and Goofy cartoons before the main feature.

:: Wednesday night Bastille Day dinner at my cousin's house. We dined on French onion soup and a potato Gorgonzola tart. We contributed macarons from Le Panier for dessert.

:: My youngest's first haircut. She managed to hold out until nearly 3 years old!

:: Pool Party at Great-Grandma Lucy's house. First time all of Lucy's grandchildren and great grandchildren were all together under one roof.

:: Stopping by our house to pet our little gray cat, Gus. Pretty sure she remembered us. Not!

:: My little one celebrated her 3rd birthday at the Pine Cone Drive-in. Thanks to Auntie Lena for planning such a fun party and to Grandma Chris and cousin Kaity for the butterfly cake!

:: My niece's 4th birthday!

:: A playdate in at the park with preschool friends.

:: A delicious backyard Mediterranean dinner with our good friends. Such a fun night! Such a yummy night! Click here for the complete dinner menu, prepared by our friend of extraordinary culinary genius. I've requested the exact same menu for our next Seattle visit.

:: A relaxing weekend at my mom's house. It was a perfect way to catch our breath before making the long trip home. The girls helped my mom pick beans and gooseberries in the garden. Eva cut flowers and made many small flower arrangements. Such a nice way to end our trip.

And these were just the highlights that I photographed!! I was happy to dine with Lori, Julie, Laura! I enjoyed Thai food with Christine. Had a pedicure, dinner, coffee date with Lori. Went Costco and craft store shopping with Tara. And spent lots of great time with Erik and Lena!

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Just noticing my ridiculous picture choice on my last post. Titled it "Back in Lux" and then followed it with a picture of Seattle's Space Needle. Brilliant. I'm going to blame it on jet lag. It is taking longer to adjust back here in Lux than it did in Seattle. Everyone has their own theory about what direction results in the worse jet lag. I believe it is traveling east. Bryce believes it is traveling west. Honestly, I'd be fine by now if it weren't for 2 little girls who are having a hard adjustment. Audrey has been up from 12-2am since we landed. Last night Eva tagged on to Audrey and was up from 2-5am. Help. However, it is better than the first time we traveled this way. That was a nightmare. Wish us luck for tonight.

Back in Lux

We're home from our trip back home. During this trip it occurred to me that I call Luxembourg and Seattle home - home from being home. Just to clarify we're back in Luxembourg after a 2 1/2 week trip to Seattle.

As soon as the fog of jet lag abates I'll update you on all the juicy highlights of our whirl wind trip - birthdays, drive-ins, bee stings, haircuts, pool parties. Whew. No wonder we're all so tired. Lots. More. Soon. Tomorrow perhaps?

Signing Off

for July. Look for me in August.

Happy Summer to You!

Tiramisu with Red Berries

Here it is! Brought to you by my Luxembourgish neighbor.

Tiramisu with Red Berries

Serves 4 - use an 8x8 inch pan (or 4 ramekins)

4-5 cups of fresh red berries* (strawberries, raspberries, red currants)
100 grams of sugar (a heaping 1/2 cup)
2 egg yolks
1 egg white
500 grams of Mascarpone (a bit more than 1 lb)
2 spoonfuls of Cognac (optional)
Pack of Lady Fingers

*She didn't give me an amount - this is about what I used. A scientific measurement is not required :) Use what you have.

Mix the sugar, egg yolks and Mascarpone together. In a separate bowl beat egg white until stiff. Fold egg white into Mascarpone mixture.

Heat berries in a sauce pan. Add Cognac.

Layer ingredients as follows: Lady Fingers, berries, Mascarpone mixture. Repeat and top with fresh berries. Refrigerate before serving. Can be made the night before.

My Notes:

:: I followed her recipe exactly when I made it, except for the Cognac which I didn't have.

:: I used all three berries. Next time I would not include the currants. They are VERY seedy and the seeds are quite large.

:: Just heat the strawberries and gently stir in the raspberries off of the heat. They just don't hold up when heated.

:: If your berries are very sweet and fresh, I'd use less sugar. A scant 1/2 would be fine.

:: I know some people feel uncomfortable eating raw eggs. . .I'm sure there is a substitution. Any ideas?

:: I think this is better served in individual dishes or ramekins.

Enjoy! It's delicious!

The Fairy

A mom of one of the kids in Eva's class owns a childrens boutique here in Luxembourg. It has the the most wonderful clothes. She imports all the clothes, shoes and accessories from Denmark. Danish childrens clothes are fun, playful and colorful. So glad I finally squeezed in a visit on Monday, right in the middle of a huge sale too!

This shirt by molo had to come home with me. Look at it! The design looks like a scrappy log cabin quilt block. Everything from this designer is colorful and fun.

If you're in Luxembourg make sure you stop in!

The Fairy
27 rue N-S Pierret
L-2335 Luxembourg
Telephone: 352.691.250.374

More from Paris - The Pompidou Center

The Kandinsky exhibit is what attracted us to The Pompidou Center as we both enjoy his paintings. Surprisingly, though it was the Alexander Calder exhibit that we were blown away with. When I think of Calder, I always think of his mobiles - iconic and unquestionably Calder.

I had no idea he created characters in wire. Calder was quoted as saying, "I think better in wire." Did he ever! The animals he created were amazing in their simplicity and elegance. He often used recycled or scrap materials giving some of his creations a primitive, folk art appeal.

His portraits had an uncanny similarity to his model. They were displayed against a white wall so the reflections were seen as well - just as amazing as looking at the wire sculpture it's self.

Calder created a whole circus out of his primitive animals and people. It was small enough to fit in a suitcase. He carried it around with him and performed his circus in France. In the exhibit there was film of one of his performances. Here is one from The Whitney Museum in New York. It is strange and wonderful all at the same time.



If you're in Paris before July 20th run to the Pompidou Center. This is an exhibit not to be missed!

photos from The Whitney Museum

Sunday Stash #5

This is a vintage piece of cotton that is one of my all time favs. It was part of a random pile of vintage fabrics my mom gave me. It is a large scrap; maybe 1/4 of a yard or so. I love the cheerful yellow blooms with the blue dots. It has a loose weave, giving it a look similar to linen. I almost used some of it to make a reversible patchwork bag. It looks wonderful with natural linen. Perhaps I still will.

Sunday Stash flickr group here.
Sunday Stash hosted here.

This is Paris

I fell in love with this book, This is Paris by Miroslav Sasek, when I saw it at the Orsay Museum's gift shop. It was originally published in 1959 and then re-published in 2004. The illustrations are charming and the text is witty and simple. The author writes of the famous attractions in Paris as well as the everyday ones.

This is a butcher's where they only sell horse-meat.

And at the other end is the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile - which Napoleon had put up to celebrate his victories.

When you want him you call "Garcon!" - Boy! -

Everyone knows the Eiffel Tower