We stayed pretty close to home this week but still a few highlights stand out – especially with food and people.
Saturday morning we had a WhatsApp video chat with Shirley and Jim, our friends and former neighbors in Mukilteo, who now live in Paris. Though technology can be a pain, we are thankful for the ease with which we can “visit” with friends all over the world.
For lunch on Saturday Tricia once again did some magic. She made courgette gratin, something she has not made since long before we went to France. Oh my! I had forgotten how good it is. She served it with sautéed bay scallops.
Wednesday Tricia met up with Alexis and Kasaundra (our granddaughter) for lunch, I got to join them at the end, always impressed with both of them.
Thursday we went to a new place, well at least for me, the Lan Su Chinese Gardens, just a few blocks away from where we live. I see some painting and sketching time there soon, as well as a visit to the tea garden. Today Tricia posted more photos.
Thursday evening we joined friends for Lisa’s birthday dinner at Noble Rot, a place we went to pre-covid. There were eight of us there, great food, laughter, and conversation – thank you Tim.
The ornamental pear tree outside our window has made sure we know that spring has arrived by clothing itself in dazzling white blossoms, an acrylic ink on black just made sense.
Spring always brings out my oil paints, our floor-to-ceiling windows make for the perfect studio. Spring also elicits thoughts of olive orchards in Provence.
The war in Iran and the neighboring countries got me to thinking about the people who live and have lived in the midst of conflicts, something that so far I have never had to experience. My mind went to Croatia, one of our favorite places in the world. Just 31 years ago their bloody war of independence ended.
On April 4, 2024 I played a guitar in an eclectic wineshop in Dubrovnik. The owner told us that when Bono, of U2 fame, was there he played the same guitar – a fitting memory for my thoughts this week considering that he has been an activist for peace for many years.
Dubrovnik, the setting for the fictional violence of The Game of Thrones, was in reality heavily and brutally bombarded in 1991- 1992 during the Croatian War of Independence. The walls and fortifications have witnessed the violence of war for over a thousand years as one nation after another claimed this beautiful country as its own.
We took a small-ship cruise while we were there – only 30 passengers. Robert was our cruise director, guide, and fount of historical knowledge. He knew the war of independence well since he had fought in it – he has lived through things that I cannot imagine. He told us many stories about the history of Croatia, but there was one that still is hard for me to comprehend. One afternoon as we sat on the deck he told us that his parents had lived in five different countries, all while living in the same house. The reality of what that must have been like is beyond my grasp.
Yet the country and the people have rebuilt their country and their lives – they share their vibrancy and kindness with the tourists that flock to their cities.
Just outside of the city walls of Dubrovnik I found this rose in bloom, right next to a stone wall, it is makes a quiet symbol of endurance and hope. A reminder to me to be inspired by the people of Croatia and never let the evils of the world take away the beauty or the hope that is inside. Victor Frankel told us many years ago from inside a Nazi concentration camp that our attitude is the only thing we always have control of, I do forget that too often these days. Thank you Croatia, our time there will always be special.
theTravelsketcher 
Beautiful, poignant post.
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Thank you so much, lots of emotions these days.
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So interesting and inspiring as usual. I wanted to say thank you to you for recommending the book Crow Planet on your blog. I’ve just read it mainly at the airport and on the flight to and fro Verona. I loved the book, so original and thought provoking. Also loved Verona and may not have done any sketching but certainly made up for it with eating and drinking the most fabulous regional treats. Have you been to Verona? The shiny marble streets reminded me of Dubrovnik where we went about 20 years ago, and then I came home and saw your wonderful Croatia photos which was a nice bit of synchronicity.
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Wow, thank you for such kind words, glad you liked the book. I just saw it again and the thought went through my mind to reread it, might do that. We have not been to that part of Italy, but if it is like other parts it must be nice.
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Beautiful rose and thank you for mentioning the conflict in former Yugoslavia which people seem to have forgotten. The courgettes look excellent.
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I think what is striking me is the wars that just keep coming in this world, and the divisions times here in US, it frightens me at times.
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I can’t believe Tricia actually cooks lunch (rather than throws together something that doesn’t have to be cooked, like salad or sandwiches). She must really love to cook!
I very much hope to make it to Croatia one day. I think I will.
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A little explanation of our style. As you know from following this blog we both love to cook. In addition, for many years lunch has been our main meal of the day, we rarely have a dinner type dinner, usually something much lighter, even just cheese and crackers. Then there is Sunday Lunch, the French tradition which we adopted many years ago, it is an all out multi course thing, which we do just for us, we cook while we talk.
As far as cooking goes we both count cooking as one of our main hobbies. We talk about the next meal while we are eating the one we just cooked. Sure there are occasions when we just grab something, but usually eating together at the table is a priority. I remember in my past life when I traveled, Tricia and Alexis always ate together even if I was out of town. It is easier now that we don’t work, but we still tried when we both worked, and are glad we did, our daughter is as much of a foodie as we are.
Sorry for long reply, fooling and food is a passion.
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😂 Haha; I think you mean cooking and food is a passion rather than, fooling?
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That’s why you don’t let me out often, and really need to proofread for me…
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Ah, so you follow a variation of “Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper” that my father-in-law espoused many years ago (not sure if he followed it or just told me about it). I talk about the next meal while I’m eating the current one, too, but only because I like to eat so much. I’m missing the second half of that equation. 🙂
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I think it was French influenced. Lunch is a big deal there. Our breakfasts are pretty light though. Often for me just a piece of toast.
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Good advice; my nutrition professor said the same thing. When we were working, dinner was our main meal, but now that we’re retired, we enjoy a nice lunch.
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Hmmm… something to consider for our eventual retirement.
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We met Niki and Alun, and they said they spoke to you! We are very happy here at La Thèbaudiére! We walked some of the Velo path today, so pretty! We are off to Flers tomorrow for a bit of shopping and lunch. I’m afraid, regarding shopping, we’re learning by trial and error…a lot of error. But we’ll learn!
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We did most of our shopping at the Intermarche in Domfront, and then in Mayanne. We only ever went to Flers to catch the train. Glad you are liking it there. We usually did lunch in Domfront, orMayanne but there ar Bret places in Bagnoles.
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Great places in Bagnoles. And there is a hyper U in Mayenne, a really large place.
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I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourselves in LaThebauderie. We have very fond memories of our 2 1/5 years there. BTW, we’ll be visiting in June, around the 8th and 9th and would love to meet you both. Like Terry said, we did most of our shopping in Domfront and Mayenne. There’s a Gifi store in Mayenne which has a nice variety of household items. Enjoy!
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