I Love Paris

I love Paris. But I've never been.

How do I know I love Paris? Who doesn't?

I've always wanted to go, inspired by so many glorious photos by Tara, Wally Parshall, and many others.

I've used it in my ATCs. (All the art here are my ATCs.)

I loved "Funny Face"and I think the moment the Tour de France enters Paris is breathtaking.

And while I think of England as my spiritual home, I've always wanted to see Paris.

Well, Jeanie doesn't have a travel budget. But she does have frequent flyer miles and a friend who lives in Paris!

So, when I found out my college buddy Jerry had to leave his Paris apartment in July, I knew my last chance to go and see Paris through the eyes of a native (or at least a long-term ex-pat) was looming close!

So, in a fit of total realization (combined with a tad of depression about the surgery), I booked a flight with my freebie miles!

Come June, I'm on my way!I'll have to take three thousand camera batteries!

I've even been in touch with Tara and we will hopefully get together. Between Tara and Jerry, I'll know every cool place in the city.

The only thing that makes me sad, if my personal Tour de France fan will be staying home. This time.

Jerry was my theatre buddy back in college -- when we'd go on tour, he'd be the only one with a per diem left after two weeks! A wonderful dancer, he actually went pro in shows like "Oklahoma," "Chorus Line" and "West Side Story." He even danced at the White House!

As one of a small, tight group of theater majors, we spent every spring break in the frigid upper peninsula of Michigan, doing musicals and children's theatre on tour. (And of course, we'd come back with colds, while our friends were all tan!)

Recently, he's been a personal trainer in Paris. He's the best shopper ever and will take me to every off-the-beaten path place possible. Am I excited? You bet! Want motivation for physical therapy? It doesn't get better than that!

Write on Wednesday -- A Healthy Writing Life?

Hooray! Write on Wednesday is back! And, our muse, Becca, opened her post with a wonderful medical analogy, mentioning how WOW had “flat-lined over the past few weeks.”

She continued, explaining how on her part, life got in the way.

And, at the end, she asks our discussion prompt:

How about you? Is your writing life healthy these days? How do you keep your writing life alive? What are some of the remedies you use to revive it?

Gee, Becca, how do you manage to get me where I live with a topic so relevant to me? It’s happened more than once!

Regular readers of The Marmelade Gypsy know that my life has been a bit chaotic over the past month or so.

Let’s see. There was Greg’s surgery, a source of concern for us.

And my impending surgery next month, which is making me a little manic, running about like a crazy lady trying to get everything in its place so when I’m home and operating with one arm, I’m not worrying too much about work undone or an overly chaotic environment in which to recuperate.

And of course, I’m trying to do a hundred things before – finish up some projects, have dinner with friends, tidy up.

There’s that DTV thing and replying to the viewers who are confused, angry and frustrated. (And so am I.)

And the TV pledge drive is a week away.

The thing is, I’m not special here. Every single one of you has a list as long or longer than mine, and it combines family issues, work, your hobbies and interests and much more.

And if you are trying to write along the way – write for yourself, or creatively (not the office writing I do every day) – it’s pretty challenging to make room for that.

It's hard enough to make time to exercise, to do my PT moves, or get to the gym.

I think my writing life goes through fits and starts and occasional periods of sublime productivity. Excluding the blog (and I shouldn’t because it’s probably the one place where I write for myself regularly), I don’t do all that much, really. (Well, of course there is the work writing, and not that it doesn't count, but it's not mine. Not really.)

But when I have a deadline – like Rick’s book – I am awesome. Maybe not good. But when it comes to prolific -- awesome!

Deadlines – we’ve talked about those here on WOW before. Maybe it’s because work demands it so I’m used to it. Maybe I work best under pressure. I don’t know. But I need them.

Every year I make that book for Rick. Every year I write the poems beginning – oh, late January at the earliest.

WHY? I don’t know. It’s not like I don’t have a list or mull over the topics. I could write one in July. Or even April.

It just doesn’t come. And when it does, I can’t stop.

So, since my writing spurt has been so prolific and so intense, I am now breathing. Handling the work stuff. Handling the home stuff. Wrapping gifts that must be posted before my surgery and trying to get a handle on my space.

I’ll try to post regularly, though sometimes I know I won’t be able to – and truth be told, not everyone is stopping by every single day to see if there’s something new because you don’t have anymore time than I do! (And besides, you’ll scroll down past the top post if you really want to!)

But that will help me write.

What are the remedies I use to revive my writing life? Well, certainly friendship. And cooking (huh? Yes, it's a wonderful inspiration for me -- maybe it comes from reading too much Laurie Colwin and other food essays!). Art goes without saying. And of course, there is a healing remedy in the soft purr of the Gypsy.

So many things keep my writing life alive -- not the least of which is The Marmelade Gypsy (the blog, not the cat). I may not have a hard deadline, but there is a soft one – will you come back and visit if there isn’t something new regularly? So, there must be something new!

And even if my motivation sags, a good visit to any one of you will revive it.

You see, it's like being in gym class. You're all together, but unique. Everyone has different skills and abilities. The gymnast and the volley ball player may not be the same person. The gymnast and the basketball player are almost certainly different! But they cheer one another on, support each other's efforts. They offer praise or constructive observations. And together, their skills, unique as they are, make a joyful whole.

On your blogs, and in your writing and art, I see the beautiful diversity and the wonderful things you create – be it in paint, fabric, photography or words. I read about your decorating ideas and recipes -- and every single thing is creative. It makes me want to create, too. Something. Anything. And then, share it with you – with words.

Meanwhile, I’ll panic. And then I’ll “think” my writing. And maybe at some point, it will make it from brain to page!

Valentines, Poetry and Chocolate!

I love Valentine's Day. Call me a sap. Wine. Candy. Presents. Love.


One of my traditions is making a "yearbook" for Rick, with photos and poetry summing up parts of our year or just things we care about.

It started as a Christmas gift idea the first year we were together and I was working so close to the wire (I do work best under deadline!) that in subsequent years, it moved to Valentine's Day when things were a little less stressful.

Since then, I've written about our trip to Japan, the little lawnmowing kid, the story of how we met, chronicled the evening we saw the movie "Big Night" and went home and made pasta, and lots of moments in our lives -- very large and very small.

For a person who takes as many photos as I do, you'd think scrapbooking would be second nature, but it's probably the one paper thing I don't particularly enjoy. Yet putting these together is always such a joy!

And watching Rick read the poems is equally joyful.

Here are a few moments from our year...

I was was lucky to get a great book at Jane Rosemont's garage sale -- it's the kind when after you turn all the pages, you turn the cover and then keep turning pages -- it goes round and round!

Over the course of the year, books have ranged from handwritten with drawings and no photos (or paintings) to collage to 12x12 scrapbook format. Recently, I've been useing a color theme and choose three or four papers that work with the theme. This year, it was pretty much natural colors -- greens, beiges, tans, naturals, and one silver-gold-white sheet.

I tear the paper and use a mix of vertical and horizontal elements. After the poems and photos are down, I use ink-to-paper to add color to the pages. Later I add embellishments and texture.

The layout below focused on Greg's surgery. On the photo at the left are packing tape transfers -- the child and the young man.

This year I chose the font "papyrus" for the poetry -- it worked well with the papers.

For the first time, I did two spreads where I didn't use poetry at all. "Road Trip to Sand Lake" was a transcript of a particularly trying car trip when Kevin was driving Rick's car -- and Rick wasn't liking the speed! Greg and I sat in the back and I made a transcript of the conversation.

"Let Rick Ride" featured direct quotes from his "Let Rick Ride" website about bike safety!

One of the nice things about doing the book for Valentine's Day is that I can use photos from the whole year. "Celebrate Every Single Day" reminds us to recognize all the things, good and bad, that occur -- and celebrate them, for we learn from those as well.

He liked it.

I was lucky, too. Tickets to a terrific concert by the symphony featuring two Broadway performers singing show tunes. I love a show tune!

And he made a terrific cassoulet for dinner. The photo didn't turn out well enough to post, but it was delicious!

I volunteered to bring the dessert. I found a terrific Martha recipe I will share here (with my own embellishments!)

I'm in Love Dessert!

First, preheat oven to 350 and put in a roaster (or any pan a bread pan will fit into), filled half-way with water. (Use bottom rack -- you may need to remove the rack above)

Then prep your pan -- coat with cooking spray and then add parchment so it covers the long sides (sticking up, so you'll be able to pull it easily) and the bottom. Then coat THAT with spray.

• These two steps are very important!

Melt 8 oz. semi-sweet or bitter-sweet chocolate with one stick of butter. Allow to cool. (I did this over simmering water, so I could stir and not burn it.)

• Cooking hint -- be sure you don't use a glass bowl that breaks into the water pan, making you have to throw out the chocolate and butter and aren't you lucky you had chocolate and butter left from Christmas or else you'll have to go to the store again. And shouldn't you know better?

Beat 1/4 c. heavy cream to soft peaks and set aside.

Beat 3 eggs and 2 T sugar about four minutes or till doubled or tripled in volume.

Slowly add half the chocolate to the egg mixture and fold in; then add and fold the rest.

Then add the whipped cream.

Add 1/2 t. peppermint extract.

• (Variations: kirsch, orange liqueur, or nothing if you don't want the flavor)

Pour into the pan. Put in the oven inside the roaster and reduce heat to 325.

Bake 25 minutes till it is set and holds when you jiggle pan.

Remove from pan to cool on a baking sheet.

When cool, put in fridge for 30 minutes

Pull out and invert over serving dish. Then remove the parchment.

• More options -- dust with cocoa or powdered sugar (I did this and it sort of sunk into the wet; I suspect if I'd done it with the leftovers, it would have been fine).

Top with truffles (the chocolate kind) and serve with remaining cream (whipped).

My extra touch -- raspberry sauce.

On stove bring one back of frozen raspberries and sugar to a boil, stirring regularly. (The melting berries will give all the liquid you need).

Start with 2 T. sugar and add a bit at a time to taste.

Push through a strainer or sieve. Discard solids. (I haven't done that yet because I keep thinking I can use them for something... maybe papermaking.)

Pour liquid into a catsup squeeze bottle from the dollar store and make pretty squiggles on your plate. (Or just suck out the raspberry goop, because it's delicious!)

When we had it on the day I made it, it was rather "moussey" and delicious (with raves like "exceptional"). The next day, after being in the fridge, it was much more dense -- more like a flourless chocolate cake -- but equally delicious.

It really is easy. The hardest part is prepping the pan. Oh, and doing the chocolate part over after breaking the bowl into it.

Here's Rick's porch on Sunday morning after a snow -- I love how the warmth of the patio stones made a different texture. Isn't it pretty?

Puppy Love and One World Winners!

I had to share my "Puppy Love" tag book from the swap at Karla's Cottage!

Since I got one of my tags, it doesn't show (except a corner in the pic below), since I'd already posted those a week or so ago! I just love it! Cutest thing ever! I love every single tag!

And, I'm happy to announce the winners of my One World, One Heart drawing:

The Inspiring Adventures of Always Inspired is winner of the "Christmas with Jinny Beier" book

Rhondi's Rose Colored Glasses -- The "Sweets" recipe tag book

Daydream Studio -- the Monet-inspired scarf

I'll be posting to these blogs today to alert them of their win -- everything is packed up and waiting only for an address!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A very Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Valentine's Day on Pink Saturday? What could be more appropriate! Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see how other Pinkies are celebrating Saturday! (But be forewarned -- I fear my palette is both pink and red today!)

I'm going to take you to my favorite candy shop -- Fabiano's in Lansing, Michigan.

It's a charming shop, and one that has been in business a long while. They make most of their candies, and they are delicious -- and always beautiful. Which of these lovely boxes do you prefer?

This one gets right to the point...

I'm rather fond of this one...

But my favorites are these!

Of course, if you're talking favorite candy, then it's these wonderfully soft mints -- well, not all mint -- there's a cinnamon one there, too!

Everywhere you look, everything is lovely.

Even the chocolate roses!

Of course, I think I prefer the real thing!

Who could resist these cuties? Yummy, too!

As for me, I'm just waiting for my Valentine -- in great anticipation!

And here's a special message to my Valentine...

I've been hard at work all week on his special gift -- an annual tradition. Each year, I make a poetry "yearbook" with lots of photos from the past year and poems related to lots of those things.

Hopefully, I won't be pulling an all-nighter!

Happy Valentine's Day!

ONE WORLD Now Closed!

An Update: My One World, One Heart drawing has closed! Thank you all for entering!

I will announce a winner this weekend -- if not before!

###

It's melting here, but the temps are dropping and it's gloomy as can be. So, I thought I'd leave you with a preview of my Valentine's Day post!

I'll take you to one of my favorite candy shops!

Tell Me Why

Please tell me why the Congress does this (from a NYTimes article):

"Despite intense lobbying by governors, the final deal slashed $35 billion from a proposed state fiscal stabilization fund, eliminated $16 billion in aid for school construction and sharply curtailed health care subsidies for the unemployed.

In driving down the total cost of the stimulus bill — from $838 billion approved by the Senate and $820 by the House — legislators also sharply reduced proposed tax incentives for buyers of homes and cars that held huge public appeal. Senator [Susan] Collins said getting the final number to under $800 billion was more than symbolic; it meant “a fiscally responsible number,” she said."

AND YET kept in $650 million (I believe it was all kept) so people can buy converter boxes to watch TV.

A brief soap box: I know, TV is considered a "right" and I love it as much as anyone -- I have to; -- I work for a television station. And yes, I know, people are having trouble making ends meet, much less buying a $60 box to watch something they could always see for free. But my compassion is wearing thin. This has been going on for more than a year. People had time to get the boxes or save their pennies.

I don't know the government should have subsidized this to begin with when you think about all the other things going on that really need attention. Withholding services to the poor and unemployed, including health care so people can watch television? I am embarrassed our elected officials would even think that.

Get over it, world. We have a national debt crisis going on.

And we wonder why we have national debt.

End of Rant.

Home at Last!

We're getting back into our groove as we enjoy a major meltdown snow-wise here. Rick is on his bike, and happy as a clam. And after I finish this post, I will do some art. My kind of Sunday (though when you see this, it'll be Monday!)

First, thanks to so many of you for kind words of support. Greg is home and doing fine -- he's determined to go to class on Monday and use the photos of his surgery for his assignment to draw something of the body that isn't generally seen.

To Judy and Dick for taking care of us before the surgery and for Tam for taking care of us that evening, offering a most comfy bed and kind hospitality, we say extra thanks.

You are our angels, and we love you all.

The hospital was as welcoming as any can be, with good computers and fabulous art. The illustrations in this post are all from the hospital.

We found the wifi wonderful -- Rick, especially, could work while we waited.

The big lobby was lovely for waiting when you didn't need to be in the surgical lounge.

Rick made good use of his time...

I'm not sure who did the ceiling sculpture, but I found it fascinating, particularly in the morning light.

An artist named Marcia Selley was featured. These are some of her canvases (or details from her canvases), all very large.

There was also a dollmaker's work on display -- Rosie M. Chapman. Since it is Black History Month, her dolls reflected women such as Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks as well as everyday Western and Tribal women.

I especially loved her chairs, made from paper clay, paper, wire and paint.

There was also a glassed in room set up as a doc's office might be decades ago.

Even the tiles near the elevators were similar to Pewabic pottery tiles -- if they weren't the real thing.

And I liked these, also, but don't know the artist. Betty Youngquist, maybe?

Even the Einstein's Bagels sign was artistic!

Hospitals -- there is little peace, with beeping, carts rolling by, people rushing, and those speaking in hushed tones. Kind staff. Bad food. (Except the sushi -- that was very good.) They seem like a maze when you first enter; then after a day know the best ways to get to the cafeteria and which artwork marks your path to the observation unit.

But I did find this spot, with the warm sun, overlooking a courtyard -- a lovely place to knit (like about three-quarters of a soon-to-be-felted purse!)

After Greg left (his mom and stepdad took him home), Rick and I went for lunch, and since it was such a lovely day, walked around Ann Arbor. While he tried out classical guitars in the music store, I went to Borders and found the new "Where Women Create." Can't beat that! Perhaps later today, I'll be able to curl up and enjoy!

Many cheers! And many thanks, too.