Trianon Deux

Deep dark chocolates, moist and creamy, a flourish of skirt. Remember Trianon was given to Marie Antoinette for her private place? A friend in Santa Fe last year was telling us about a book he found in England. It was titled something like Men and Sheds. Apparently the British male has found many uses for the ever present garden shed.(Read man cave). It was a point of purchase book, on some counter or another, but Paul said he flipped through it, and saw writers nooks, sitting rooms, and various hidey holes. We were in drawing group, the model was going through her poses. He wondered aloud if this retreat made for longer and happier marriages. In taking stock of the men there in our group, he saw he was one of two with happy love lives. The others, seemed to wince, a twitch or two I saw. I pointed out the Brits might be on to something. Of the two, our other friend has a long lasting love...and in his backyard a real tree house...they all looked at him in awe. I got a laugh or two. But you could almost see the wheels turning, a trip to the local lumber yard on their project list....myself, I think in any future real estate I buy,I will look to see the shed. Who knows? It might do the trick. What do you stock a man cave with? Chocolate, beer a fridge? Tomes of poetry? Accepting suggestions now, a hint or two will do. And if there are Brits out there. a clue please on your sheds...

Cheesecake Kiss

Be sure to click on the photo of this piece. I just took another look to see how I could express the exuberance I felt in making this subtle form come to life. There is a dance of paint and color to be found. And a reminder to me of the floating of my brush. Whether you are making art, or collecting it , or just enjoying a look. This vibration, this rhythm, these colors set up to play, there's the thing. That thing that spreads itself, that ripples out. Destined to repeat. It is a cylinder, on a disk, with a berry on top. Architecturally a snap. But what I saw upon these shapes was tenderness. it called for some lighter notes, some Kandinsky if you please. Look at the disk . Follow it around to clouds of blues and lavender, a whisper here and there, accentuated by bolder bits and varying shapes of strokes. Granted the song is not loud, more a sonnet line or two. But I heard it whisper to me and now I pass it on to you.

Chocolate Nun Quatre

From the Convent of Valrhona, another sister of the chocolate order. Perhaps we should draw up a charter. A mission statement for these blessed ones. I am a devotee of profiterole. Whoever invented puff pastry has my gratitude. This one was lavish in her form and had tons of chocolate. She seemed determined. Perhaps because she was requested. I really have to say once more how clever these chefs are. The case is always filled with a variety of choices. And clever names, some mysterious and in need of explanation. I think we will look into these religieuses some more. But for now it is good enough to know how delicious they are and jaunty too. And that they fill a need. In the case they beckon. What is this fascination? There's a story there. I will explore and ask chef about them too. She was a bit of a fauvist in her youth. I saw a dash of vermillion here and there, a beret upon her head. She spent some time walking the left bank beside the flowing Seine. But now her chocolate is heavenly, her attitude has grace. And chef, there he goes again putting them out for show. Is it irony at work, or a desire for the divine? Nibble by nibble closer to bliss? A communion sanctified? I don't know. It's chocolate, cream, custard,and choux paste..and how can that be bad? So maybe she's a prayer. For all blessings to be counted. And joy to be found in little things as we go along our way.

Blueberry Grape Tart

Puddles. I was looking at this piece again( sorry for the slight glare on the pic), trying to figure out why they hold such appeal for me. These fruit tarts Pierre puts together. I am feeling restless you see. Thinking of my wetlands work, eager to walk them again. Yet every time I confront one of these tarts in the case, it is hard for me to pass it up.Then it hit me just a minute ago. It's puddles you see. The edge of the water. From tide pools in Monterey and Carmel (Check out Steinbeck's Cannery Row description in Chapter Six ) and the Pacific Northwest, to mud puddles in Mississippi, to North Carolina Outer Banks, and dear Chandeleur Island, I have been looking from coast to coast at puddles and splashes of wet. Examining form and marveling at all the bits and pieces that live in just this layer or that. And here we have a little island of them. Granted fruit, and berries on custard and cake. But chef has made me a puddle watcher again, tempting me with juicy tidbits that have to be seen up close.He has included nectars, and custards and bounty in it's own little glaze puddle. Notice, I pick the ones whose glaze runs over, and play with the light on the rim. Funny how the muse works, and how we are drawn to things. Now I can't wait to go back to the case this weekend, to see what puddle awaits. Even in this landlocked, over paved place, I have found a bit of my wetlands. So eager am I, the richness and the slight crunch of the fruit are a sublime heaven to eat and aren't a bad benefit. But maybe this isn't so far off the path as I had previously thought. I love painting tarts, and cakes and treats. and what fun we are having, but now I know a way to bring it up a notch or two, as our Emeril would say. I sent a message to chef to "bring it on" I hope he takes it to heart. We need our adventure. Who would have thought a beautiful tart would serve so well. Hats off to chef again and to all of you who like them. Ah-ha. Took me a few, you probably saw it before me. I hope this makes sense. It's all a part of process. Thank you for liking these so much, you have helped me with an aha moment and brought me one step further.

Frazier

Un Frazier, a special treat, only on weekends. A cathedral of strawberry arches holding up the mousse. Underneath, is almond cake. And there's marzipan on top. I marvel at such things as these. Meant to tempt us, calling out. This one is a Grace Kelly. No need to do much at all. Just exist. For every part was just as it should be. No more no less. The combination, well there's the thing. It is classy, smooth and complex. The little sprinkle of nutmeg, the amount of whipped cream, the angles on the marzipan , and who knew, tender almond cake inside. From the first bite I was in Monaco, or someplace nice and sunny. Each flavor lingered just abit to converse with another. No need to window shop for more. If I had my vote. I'd wake up every Sunday. Stroll down to chef Pierre. He is thinking of us. Knows just what we need. No need to think about it, he has that covered you see. I'll take the Grace Kelly please. Un Frazier indeed! Now if he could do a Cary Grant.....I'd be there Saturday! early, very early.

Cheesecake Trio

I said I was looking for happy and happy was home. Much better is the surprise Movie Night we are doing on Saturday, Esther Williams in Neptune's Daughter. We have even ordered flowered swim caps. Needed a giggle. I see this trio just warming up for a synchronized swim, or a bit of a workout at their water gym. Can you see the swim caps and eagerness? In any case, it brings out my smile. Now we are thinking of shrimp cocktails and tv dinners, so fifties don't you think, to have for our Movie Night food. So Saturday night, wherever you are, tarts or tartless, or just stepping out. Pause just a second for a giggle or two, we'll be in the dark with flowered caps on our heads watching dear Esther go through her strokes. Watching a colorful calvacade, an aqua ballet or two. Who knows we might even have to dance along....see giggles enough for all. Yep, just for today, a little bit of happy was home. A memory will be built or two. A little pause for silliness to shake away the cares. I think the tarts have a sense of that. They seem like an aqua trio. A bit of a smile and a splash. So whatever your plans, this Saturday night I'm with Esther in the pool. Ah the mind of an artist has many a muse, but that's the clue to it all. Keeping it tickled with delight. Letting brush free to swim along side.

Two Plus Two

In search of happy and balance...I just have word of a wedding coming up. Was looking for something fun and good today. And this news just came. Hoorah! How lovely for them and her little one too, to become a family. Blending all that came before to make now and after. A lovely choice point, a pivot in time. How exciting and how much stronger they can be. Two plus two sometimes makes four, but in this case, it makes so much more. A romantic at heart, I look at this piece and pretend the red is for love that binds two people and prompts them to say, it's so much better with you than without you. Let's do it together in our own unique ways, but at the end of the day we come home. To gather ourselves, replenish , renew and just be. Here in the space we make. So I wish them fullness, riches of heart, and a pastry or two. So happy and balanced when two hearts find a home. I wish the same for all of you.