Tag: Americans in Carcassonne

Life in France

Will work for grapefruit

Grapefruit-scented dish washing liquid
Grapefruit-scented dish washing liquid

Do you know why we are really moving to France? So that Bill will wash the dishes and do the laundry. He will do anything for the aroma of grapefruit. We found that out by accident years ago in Germany when we bought a bottle of dishwashing detergent that was scented with orange and grapefruit. He encouraged me to eat on several plates just so that he would have an excuse to fill our vacation rental apartment with the fresh smells of spring. We brought home two bottles and on subsequent trips to Europe we tried unsuccessfully to find them again. Continue reading “Will work for grapefruit”

Unknown's avatarBob5 Comments
Before leaving the US

From surf to turf

Lobster boat in Rockland, ME
Lobster boat in Rockland, ME

Normally, if I’m going to take a photo of dinner, it’s after the meal is ready and sitting on the plate in front of me. In keeping with the “locally grown” campaign that is prominent in grocery stores across Maine, here you see the before and after photos of the delicious lobster dinner that our friends Anne and Paul prepared for us. Because it was a Sunday afternoon, there were few fishing boats in operation but Paul knew exactly which dock to go to for fresh lobster. As you can tell, this boat has just arrived and the crew members are sorting their catch. The guy in the yellow slicker is slingling that blue crate with our six lobsters inside over to the scale to weigh them. Continue reading “From surf to turf”

Unknown's avatarBob1 Comment
Life in France

Take it or leave it – Bill’s version

We just enjoyed spending time in rental properties in Maine and Massachusetts on vacation I have come to the conclusion that I have to chose carefully the items that will follow us to France.

Special kitchen tools
Special kitchen tools

After more than 30 years of culling the items that are not necessary and finding the perfect kitchen utensils that have withstood the test of time, there are tools that must continue their lives as part our new life. I have broken more garlic presses than I care to admit and now I actually have two that are sturdy and that do the job perfectly. We are taking one with us on our next vacation to pass along to our new-found friends Alan and Tracy who had to leave theirs behind when they moved from Reno a few years ago. I have a vegetable peeler that I found over 40 years ago in a little store in San Francisco, Williams-Sonoma. It is still sharp and is pleasing to use after all this time and after taking a look at it found that it was made in France so it’s going home, too. Continue reading “Take it or leave it – Bill’s version”

Unknown's avatarBill3 Comments
Before leaving the US

Any excuse for a party

Rockport MA beach
Rockport MA beach

When was the last time you had a really good time at a wedding? For us it was just a week ago and the party started two days before the ceremony and continued on through brunch the following day. My guess is that no one had any trouble falling asleep on Sunday night. We were in Rockport, MA where our guesthouse was right across from the beach you see here at sunset. Elaine and Fred, parents of the bride, were the first to stop by to enjoy a glass of champagne on our front porch and to take in the view. Later we saw Lynn, then Lucy, met up with Pam, Al, and a delightful group of new friends including folks from France and Germany. Continue reading “Any excuse for a party”

Unknown's avatarBob4 Comments