bonheur: chateau du petit thouars

Showing posts with label chateau du petit thouars. Show all posts

Play Misty For Me

Friday in Rockland, Maine starts off misty and atmospheric and I couldn't be more delighted. Blobs + blur. Yay.

David's misty painting viewpoint. He says it will burn off and it does...

The morning demo begins.

A work in progress

I decide to paint another misty view, listening to David's words in the background

But my efforts are too spotty

Nevermind. I shall paint Chateau du Petit Thouars and make it misty a la Paul Rickert + a touch of Turner!

Et voila

At afternoon crit David likes my paint dispursal but suggests perhaps I'd like to paint some Rockland chateaux?

Hmmm...

A nice Blurb book workshop student, Tina Raver put together - you can view it here.

No, I have no plans to try a Maine Whoopee Pie, even if it does look a tad like a French Tropezienne...

And here's GRACIE, Jackie's better half - the tail never stops wagging.

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What I Ate In France

You won't need lunch today. Just enhale the aromas and forget the calories.

I seem to lean towards round foods with red accents like this yuzu tarte from patisserie Arnaud Larher. miam miam

Round again but savory - a salmon quiche from Cupcakes Berko plus two little, mini cupcakes - very miam

I grated the fromage in these beauties at La Cuisine Paris testing recipes class.

At the chateau, Sebastien's sister Amelie demonstrated how to make a Kouign Aman.

Beurre plus sucre plus farine = carmelized heaven.

Next on the menu I made Shirazi Salade (just cucumbers, tomatos, sweet onion all chopped + lime juice and dried mint) at Tout Sweet owner of the darling Biff.

Amelie told me where I could taste real Persian shirazi salad in Paris at restaurant Cheminee.

I always like to stop in at the canteen at Merci 111 bd de Beaumarchais for a healthy salad.

I returned for a second helping with Jennyphoria to talk about French visas and other expat chatter. I could eat here everyday I think.

D. took me to Italian Ante Prima for a buffet of all veg dishes.

Australian expat, Rachel Bajada of French for Foodies had a 7-course dinner. I only made it to the 3rd course before the zzzzzs hit me. The last course was at 3 AM, ahem.This is ravioli of beets with fromage frais et cajou.

I can always depend on L. for some sweetness - a flight of 5 ice creams from Pascale le Glacier to taste. Life is tough.

These sweets from Les Paris Gourmands on 15, rue des Archives 75004 Don't bite into them. Just wear them.

Truly memorable my victory tea at La Galerie des Gobelins.

And of course an Ispahan - Pierre Herme waiting to be painted...

What did Bear eat? Those artisanal potato chips you were all curious about - very YUM

Yesterday I was reading Lindsey's Lost in Cheeseland on the choice of becoming a French national or figuring out who she is after living in France 3 years. I picked up again Sarah Turnbull's Almost French yesterday and she grapples with the same questions of identity. It must be every expat's dilemma. But after looking through what I ate during 3 weeks in France I don't think I'd have a problem deciding.

Remember the dragee from Le Bonbon au Palais?
In ALMOST FRENCH you step into Sarah's shoes and live her life with her French boyfriend in Paris. A vibrant, young Australian journalist, Turnbull makes every faux pas of any foreigner adjusting to France. On one occasion her Frenchman sends her out to get dragée/candied almonds for a celebration. She brings home the wrong color and a huge fuss is made.
White dragee for weddings
Pink for a newborn girl
Blue for a boy etc.
I just popped a dragee in my mouth from Le Bonbon au Palais to celebrate what I ate in France.
Bon Week-end!

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Chateau du Petit Thouars

I've stayed at a few chateaux in the name of research.

I stayed overnight at Chateau Beaumont, Bordeaux in the broiling heat besieged by buzzing insects. I couldn't wait to leave that turret - not so romantic.

But visiting Chateau du Petit Thouars

In the Loire Vallee was an altogether sublime and serene experience.

Painting onsite with a view of the vineyards...

Even if I have been painting macarons

Instead of the magnificent chateau

Or the 30 acres of vineyards

Or the Cabernet Franc grapes has been a sheer joy.

I met Sebastien du Petit Thouars through the net. He asked me to paint the church he was getting married in and the rest is history.

Speaking of history, Sebastien's ancestor, Georges Aubert, a consular under Cardinal Richelieu, bought the chateau in 1643. Sebastien's father replanted the vines in 1975.