Smash those olives to get the pits out. Removing olive pits is a breeze if you smash them first. We have pizza often. Though I do make the crust at times, Trader Joe’s premade dough is a lot easier and just as good. We roll it out onto a cookie sheet and I use a…
This week in The Pearl – August 1, 2025
One year a go today we moved into our apartment in Avignon. Tricia has posted many times about Avignon, here is my post from our first week there – it is hard to believe all that has changed. It was a good week here in The Pearl and beyond. Though I have been an Urban…
TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip – July 29, 2025
The most interesting pieces of art have a focal point, contrast, and depth. Then if there is a story somehow it is even better. These are all areas I have had to learn, even struggle with over the years. Trying to paint some vast landscape without at least an interesting tree or mountain as the…
This week in The Pearl – July 25,2025
This has been a busy week, such a good week. Last Friday I met up with friend Tim to chat and play a little music. Then that evening we drove to Newberg to have dinner with Alexis and Joe. They took us a to a place that we had never been. It had been a…
TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday Tip – July 22, 2025
Deconstructing and rearranging are a creative cooks best tricks. We watch a lot of food shows. (BTW if you have not seen the “Chef’s Table” series on Netflix you are missing out on one of the most beautifully done shows ever, so check it out.) Top chefs are masters at deconstructing and rearranging. Thankfully we…
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