One Week After...

Beauty. Life. Happiness. These words comes to mind as I reflect back on this past week...

Although it's been challenging lately, God answered our prayers for good health. (Praise Him and thank you for being here for me.) We had our first blackout this year from the seasonal thunderstorms and Megan and Darren down the street were kind to have Patrick take his online exam at their home just in time before their power went out too! Beautiful days followed with blue skies and cool winds, the kind that stops you in your tracks and makes you close your eyes and breathe in deeply. I started cooking again, my husband reminded of how much he's missed my cooking. I made risotto with beef, zucchini, mushrooms, and peas. He ate it all. I also made empanadas which I discovered I can freeze and bake when ready to be eaten. The crust still keeps its flaky texture.

Last but not least, our annual gathering in celebration of Independence Day proved to be the icing on the cake this week. We were joined by our dearest friends and also by new friends whom we look forward to joining us every year from now on. The pot luck was delicious, the fireworks were spectacular, and company was wonderful!

So you see, these days filled with things that may appear mundane are truly eventful to me. They make up a life that has found so much beauty and happiness in God, caring friends, good family, and a home filled with love.

Becoming Jane

Having the luxury of time in my hands these past few days, I managed to finally watch this movie that's been tucked away in our bookshelf for many months.  Much to my surprise it turned out to be a beautiful story.

Jane Austen [reading Pride and Prejudice] "She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was a union that must have been to the advantage of both. By her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance. But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was." 

Becoming Jane

Greetings from France

Patrick and I received the most thoughtful mail from Christina, Nicolas, and Emma...  It included pictures and video clips of the past months they've been away from the us.  We wanted to share it here so those of you who miss them as much as we do can share in our joy of hearing from them.  (By the way, although they don't comment here, the Rondeaus check in here on a weekly basis in case you'd like to post a comment. : )

The beautiful family.  

We're looking forward to the day we see each other again.

Nico et Emma

A fun clip of Emma and her Papa.  This put a big smile on our faces. : ) 

Nico et Belle: Parlez anglais à Emma aussi, ok ?

Sweet Summer

The sun seem to burst open the windows today, welcoming summer.  I have to admit that summer is my least favorite season.  (Strange I know having come from sunny California.)  I can't seem to bear the heat.  However, there are still quite a few things I enjoy this season: like the long days when the sun doesn't set until past nine, walks by the river, drinking lemonade, reading outdoors, writing outdoors-- even now as I listen to George Winston's Summer solo piano aptly titled "Living in the Country", the cool evening breeze, farmer's market, and berries, lots and lots of berries.  For all these wonderful things that summer brings, my heart is certainly grateful.       

Here's a peak at our raspberry bush growing under the window of my favorite nook in the house.  Look who I discovered resting underneath the bushes? Adorable Poppy.  She didn't seem to mind at all when I harvested gorgeous looking ripe raspberries above her.  There were a few ripened strawberries today too!  Ahh, sweet summer.      

Summertime

Then followed that beautiful season...Summer...

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I've been taking care of many priorities lately but wanted to stop by to greet you...  Happy Summertime.  Happy Father's Day.  Happy Sunday.  I'm dreaming about the beach and looking forward to returning to the lake this summer.

La Fraise

Belle, tu es là?  Regardez, fraises!!!  Mr. Smiley and I are thinking of you (Nico & Emma too) and missing you still.  Poutoux, Poulette.

on a little butter dish

ripening in the window box

a handful

The first harvest of strawberries on Linwood.  

Milk & Cookies and a Book

I've had a productive day.  For the most part I was able to tend to most of the things on my tasks list.  Don't take my Type A personality to be the reason for having a task list.  I'm beginning to be quite forgetful and with a million things to remember these days, it's the only I can keep afloat. (wink)

I added one item on my list today and that is to go to the bookstore and to pick-up The Diary of a Young Girl.  As mentioned to you here last night I wanted to read this book again.  I'm feeling anxious as if I'm about to eavesdrop into someone's room, ironically with permission.  Tonight, I'll cocoon myself in the bedroom and read Anne's diary.  

Potatoes from Ina Garten

Wouldn't it be nice to be in the Hamptons enjoying a delicious meal cooked by Ina Garten?  These potatoes are not really not from her, but the recipe is. : )  I caught an episode of her show Barefoot Contessa the other day.  She was preparing fish and chips to be enjoyed outside sitting on a dock looking out at the water. How nice.  Instead of making potato chips, she made fries by roasting Idaho potatoes.

Potatoes are Patrick's favorite carbohydrates (over rice!), so when I saw that we had left over baby potatoes in hand, I thought to make roasted potatoes with his grilled steak tonight.  I didn't follow the exact recipe but the main ingredients are here.  

rinse potatoes and cut in halves

toss with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, 

finely chopped garlic, fresh rosemary

and finish with a good olive oil

(This was drizzled with a refreshing citrus tasting olive oil from 

Temecula Olive Oil Company, thanks to Becky!)

place potatoes in one layer on a baking sheet 

lined with foil for easy clean-up 

bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes 

turn potatoes over after 15 minutes 

these potatoes are tender in the inside 

and beautifully brown and crispy on the outside

I'm not certain if it's the olive oil or the potato itself, but these came out caramelized and sweet in flavor, really delish.  Bon Appétit!

On Still Believing

We're watching Saving Private Ryan  this D-Day.  It's too difficult to watch, too horrifying, too sad.  It puts us to tears.  We're thinking about the Allied invasion of Normandy, remembering World War II.  It's a sobering thought-- what's happened in the history of mankind, what's still happening in many parts of the world.  I couldn't imagine living in fear, in chaos, violence, and despair.  God is truly our only refuge...  It makes one  think about making the lives we live count and for always being forever grateful.

I should read The Diary of Anne Frank again, it's been many years and it's always good to remind ourselves never to forget...     

"It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. 

It’s utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more" - July 15, 1944

A Little Monday Happiness

Hi!  It's Monday.  I had a good day at work.  At home, hubby grilled food for dinner and we enjoyed it with Melissa and Marcella.  It's rare we eat dinner at an early hour (7 p.m.) so it was nice to spend a little time outdoors and take pleasure in the remaining daylight.  I gathered another bouquet of these gorgeous cumulous-looking flowers.  I wish peonies bloomed all year round.  All I can say is that it's good to find a little happiness on a Monday.  Have a wonderful week everyone.

petting poppy

this cute apron was a gift from ciara

it came in the cutest gift box 

 thank you again aya bong for this lovely gift from anthropologie

i absolutely love it!