Tartar, grilled fish, and oysters, oh my!


In the movie The Big Chill, Jeff Goldblum’s character says: “Don’t knock rationalization. Where would we be without it? I don’t know anyone who could get through the day without two or three juicy rationalizations.” Thankfully when it comes to food I excel at rationalization. Beef would be far easier for me to give up…

Some Things About France I Would Miss


If we ever left France and returned to the USA, which would not be a bad thing since we love the PNW, there would be things I would miss. Here are just a few that come to mind. When we first moved to France we spent a lot of time visiting châteaux and old churches…

An Appetite for Arles


After five days in Arles I can confidently say that the food here does not disappoint. Well, except for the one time I ordered a small steak cooked saignant, which in the US would be considered bloody rare, thus the name. As is common here, once they hear my accent, she said, in English, “medium”,…

Off to the south of France


After a few weeks at home we are off again, this time to the south of France. The weather was wet for a few days then it got quite hot. My new studio and paints got a bit of a work out. Jimmy Buffett died on the first of September, quite a shock to me…

Basel Ticked All the Boxes


Basel was our first introduction to Switzerland, and what a pleasant place to start. Stereotypes of mountside cottages with goats and cows ringing their bells would have to wait, Basel is a big city. Bicycles and pedestrians rule, crossing and swerving with no rhyme nor reason. Driving our car was a two person job –…