Afternoon Tea & Coffee

Thank you Betty and Dom for your thoughtful visit. Your company made me wish there were more hours in the day, not just to plan... but to dream of all things lovely and beautiful!

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude...

...and the pleasures of company. - Author Unknown

(Domonique & Betty photo editing)

There's so much sweetness in the company of friends. I, for one am glad this small occasion took me away from my work today. Here we are planning for our upcoming Fall Fest. With Betty & Louis graciously hosting this year, Dom and I are delighted to help co-host. There's truly something special when us friends and family gather to celebrate the season together; to enjoy the last glorious and delicious days of autumn before it's gone too soon.

lemon madeleines, three-cheese english thyme scones, dark chocolates,

and the cutest petite sugar cookies that looked like they've been kissed by fairy dust--- lovingly made by Lucia and Bruno.

Pile-up

Piling-up scones... Don't ask me why. Every night this week I've taken a twenty-minute break; breaking away from piles of work to bake scones. Experimenting. It's become a strange yet wonderful obsession. Sweet cream, cheese, chocolate, and blueberry flavored scones. Tomorrow night, herb scones.

This season has been one of the most challenging and difficult times in my career. Endless work, sleepless nights, talks with God. It makes me smile (and my husband too) to see my stress pour into my hands, kneading, creating, sugar sprinkled happiness--- if only for twenty minutes, for now.

Love in Autumn

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an affect on the feelings, as now in October." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Getting married in autumn (nine years ago) is a beautiful time recorded in our memory. Under the canopy of golden leaves, we look back to see where we've come and dream about what lies ahead... Oh so much more!

Thank you for staying with me here. Let's reconnect...

Organic Strawberry Preserves

New rating from my husband and loving food critic: 5/5 stars for flavor and 4/5 for texture. The updated recipe and tweaked cooking technique yielded great benefit. Organic and pectin-free... I think our Bonne Maman days may be over. *wink*

Rising Sun

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

C. S. Lewis

Wheat Field with Rising Sun

Vincent van Gogh

Let the Sunshine In

spring cleaning back in april

we've retired the heavy winter blankets

and prepared the bed for light spring linens

letting the sunshine back in

to read and be inspired...

by france once more

with a french pastry (homemade brioche) always at hand *smile*

Reckless Abandonment & The Sweetness of Life

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

Lao Tzu

There are days (many days lately) when I have the urge to throw caution to the wind and abandon my adult responsibilities. To start anew or to simply nurture the little pleasures that spring from my heart. Wishful thinking. It has been over two months since I last posted here and although time stood still here at 2000 Miles Away, that has not been the case at Lavender Hill.

We've had many celebrations of birthdays, graduation, friendships; there were singing, dancing, laughter and tears of joy. There's been hard work with the studies, at the job, at home, in the kitchen and in the garden. There's been countless prayers lifted and answered. My goal is bring you glimpses of these very soon as it is my desire to get back with you...

Lavender Hill produced its first strawberry preserves this spring! (I wish I could say that the strawberries came from our garden. Well, there are strawberries growing in garden but they're not quite ripe yet and there's not enough of them to harvest for canning.) It's my first attempt at making preserves and I have sworn to make preserves and jams with reckless abandon this spring and summer. Until my new journey begins, they will be my little jars filled with life's sweetness.

By the way, the preserves are still in the 'test kitchen' mode. As soon as I perfect the recipe, I promise to share the sweetness with you. ;) My husband and faithful food taster gave this first batch 4 out of 5 stars for flavor and 3 1/2 out of 5 for texture. Definitely room for improvement; I love the challenge. LOL! Special thanks to Ate Jenn for a wonderful day at the Eastern Market, where I purchased the glorious strawberries and to Becky who inspired me to preserve fruits and berries and showed me the tricks of the trade.

Write God's love on your heart

As I began to look at the remaining days of this month (to see when I can get around to writing that winter newsletter), it dawned on me that the winter season ended yesterday! Today is officially spring and indeed the rain came to announce it. Here's to God's promise of renewal, here's to God's invitation of Him into our hearts, here's to a life-- beautiful, abound in His love.

Wait on the Lord:

be of good courage,

and he shall strengthen

thine heart: wait, I say,

on the Lord.

Psalm: 27:14

In Steinbeck Country

"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike.

And all plans, safeguards, policies and coercion are fruitless.

We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us."

- John Steinbeck

And we arrived in the land of poets and writers.

February 19, 2011

On The Road Again: Road to the Stars

Come away with us On The Road Again. This time were not taking the road to nowhere (*wink*), we're taking the road to the stars... (lol!)

star titles courtesy of sydney. the following photos were taken by us three... (there's 13 posts ahead, please click on 'older posts' ;)

Three is a Magic Number

Three is a magic number

Ya it is, it's a magic number

Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity

You'll get three

As a magic number

The past, the present, the future,

Faith, and hope, and charity,

The heart, the brain, the body,

Will give you three,

It's a magic number

It takes three legs to make a tripod or to make a table stand,

And it takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle

And every triangle has three corners,

Every triangle has three sides,

No more, no less,

You don't have to guess

That it's three

Can't you see?

It's a magic number - Schoolhouse Rock

Thank you Sydney & Izzy:

1) For only wanting the celebration of our friendship for your birthday gift

2) For arranging our girls getaway

3) For flying me out 2000 miles away to be with you

au naturale, courtesy of vista blue spa