Petit Peche

I've been working on different posts for days now, but always come back and feel dissatisfied. And then I delete them.

Life is sweet, sort of beyond words right now. Not for any particular reason; a million reasons.
I don't really know how to describe the joie de vivre I'm experiencing. Simple things: good friends, good food, and good weather. And good coffee--with me coffee is in a class by itself.
A couple of weeks ago my friend Kristin invited me to join her for a cooking class called Petit Peche she purchased through Living Social (amazing online/email coupons for local businesses). We made our way to the instructor Danika's house. The house was tucked away in a sort of shady East Austin neighborhood, so initially we had our doubts. But when we saw the house -- and walked in -- our doubts vanished.

It was a charming house that was a rennovated A-frame church to which they'd added a second story. The antique double doors welcomed us into a great room with creaking wood floors and warm lighting. Looking to the back of the house, we saw a group of people gathered around a large island.

We made our way into the kitchen and joined the group, as Danika set to cooking and teaching.

The menu

The lovely Danika

Olive oil tasting, goat cheese, and fig compote

Kristin

The lamb (I assisted in the seasoning and tying!)

Ratatouille

The deliciously scrumptious spread

Roasted lamb with croutons, Ratatouille, Baguettes, and Cauliflower Puree

Moi

The Pots de Creme. Oh my. Oh. my.

This meal was very simple. But watching Danika cook was inspiring to me. And then I tasted the food...and I think my life was forever changed at that moment.

Plus, I don't think I've ever eaten Goat Cheese before. It is so good. 

She reduced a mixture of balsamic vinegar, honey, and figs to make the "Fig Compote" which we spread over toasted baguettes with goat cheese. It was to die for. 

And the Pots de Creme? With sea salt and lavender?  

Truly a work of art. 

Danika spoke about the pleasures of good food and wine, and about the villa in Provence where she takes her cooking students for "food tours," and the house in Paris where they stay while they wander around together visiting markets, vinyards, and patisseries.  

She has me completely convinced that France is really as romantic as the picture in my mind. And that everything sounds better in French.

Just bear with me. I know I'm silly.

{via}

I'm sighing as I think, perhaps someday I'll be able to sip coffee in a cafe in Paris. Or better, Provence. For now, I'll just dream.

Meditations and Musings

After a title like that I bet you were expecting something intelligent.

Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, we don't do that here.

Although my husband is playing "Stop This Train" in the background (coincidentally enough, there's a train whistling in the distance), and I've been watching Judi Dench on TV and that always makes me feel pensive.

And I got glasses this week. Like Tina Fey. It makes me think I could be funny some day. Or smart.

Well our guests have gone, and the house is empty and quiet again. It leaves me feeling somewhat forlorn. And the house, because of my deep-rooted lack of decorating skills is very empty (of decorative 'objects') and therefore echo-y(?), which can really make you feel alone sometimes.
Maybe I should invest in a couple more rugs.
But I do like the simplicity for the most part. I might like to have a few things hung on the wall here and there, but overall the lack of "stuff" lying around can be nice. It leaves fewer things to tidy up.

Soon we'll be preparing for another set of guests. The same amount of people, only larger in size--no offense. None of them will be sleeping in a pack-n'-play. In May my family will be visiting and I'll be taking a couple of days off to enjoy their visit with them. I'm so excited!
Daniel and I are already contemplating a few fun activities to remind them of how awesome A-town is.

Speaking of awesome A-town, the time has come for South by Southwest. The Pioneer Woman herself is here in Austin for the "bloggie awards" and I am contemplating ways to attend. I have no idea where it's happening or when...for all I know it may have already happened. But it would be cool to meet her in person!
I also would like to go see a SxSW film premier. I've always wanted to attend a movie premiere (premier? what is right?). I'll put that on my list of things I want to do before I die but never will because I'm boring.

Daniel and I spent Sunday afternoon watching movies. He got to pick one and I got to pick one. First it was his turn, and he chose What About Bob? which I slept through. And then it was my turn. I chose a French film called Hors de Prix (translated as "Priceless") starring Audrey Tatou. If it were up to me I would die and come back in another life as a dark-haired, skinny french girl with big Audrey Hepburn eyes and prance around in haute couture. But it's not up to me.
I liked my choice. It's a silly, whimsical, sort of sad-but-not film.
It is the story of a young, beautiful, completely broke woman who makes a living by preying on rich older men. One evening she sets her sights on a handsome young man in a tuxedo at a high-class hotel whom she believes to be very wealthy. Turns out he's just a waiter at the hotel.
The story takes an interesting turn that leaves you telling yourself, It's okay, they're French.
But, I liked it. It was ironic.
So sue me, I like almost all things French. Particularly the language. And the Cote D'Azur. Or perhaps I would. If I ever went there.

Well, believe it or not, I think I've run out of things to say.
I'll go dry my hair now.

Bonsoir!

J'aime...

I'm learning that my favorite design style is a mixture between French and Shabby Chic. I love antique-looking pieces that look like they belonged in a fine house in former years. A fine house like this one here.

This was such a lovely weekend, despite some hiccups. We'll start with the hiccups: On Saturday a woman driving a Trail Blazer didn't feel like using her brakes and plowed into the back of Daniel's Altima. He's okay, but she hit him so hard that he bumped his forehead pretty good on the ceiling. His neck has been hurting a little bit too.
Here ends the bittersweet life of the black Altima. It is never fun to lose a car (something we seem to be doing a lot these days), but I was uncomfortable with Daniel driving that death trap!
Despite this unfortunate event, Daniel sallied-forth and forced himself to play a round of golf Saturday afternoon, and all was well.

I spent the afternoon at a good friend's house helping to stain their deck. We sat in the sunshine and talked and stained and it was just lovely.
I can tell that there is some undefinable change going on within me...rather than relaxing and doing nothing all weekend, I find that I am searching for projects on the weekends and only feel good about the weekend if I've gotten something done. I've loved helping these friends getting their house ready to go on the market. Who could have guessed that I would ever enjoy priming and painting garage floors, pulling weeds and staining decks?
Just wait until I get my own house, it's going to be wonderful! Maybe we'll get one that needs a lot of work!!

What is wrong with me?!

Yesterday was a lovely Easter. Daniel and I spent the afternoon at his parents' house and ate lunch with his mother and all of his siblings. After lunch was cleaned up, Jana and I poured ourselves some coffee, grabbed a piece of delicious hummingbird cake, and had a long chat.

I hope everyone had equally delightful weekends!
Christ is Risen!

P.S. If you've been trying to get a hold of me this weekend, my phone has been dead and I keep losing it. I'm sorry! Call my husband!