True confessions time. I am a worrier. Can an optimist also be a serial worrier? I know deep down that there is very little that I am truly in control of. When I really want someone or some circumstance beyond my control to change, my mantra is "It is what it is." The late dearest …
Rerun: Baguettes et beurre vs Biscuits and bacon
I first wrote and published this post in April 2017. I was reminded of it when it was posted on Facebook by mon ami, Bertrand, on My Private Paris' page. Merci, Bertrand, Best Tour Guide Ever! And the recipe at the end for gougères is very apropos... I just finished all 5 of Laura Bradbury's …
Continue reading Rerun: Baguettes et beurre vs Biscuits and bacon
Halftime
I am not counting the days, but I think it is almost halftime of summer vacation. I am trying to soak up every minute of it. Really I am. I spent a week at Carolina Beach with Sister Moo and Best Niece. It's become a tradition for the three of us to do this. Moo …
What’s not to love about June?
I wish you could smell these beautiful gardenias. (Wouldn't scratch and sniff photos be awesome?) My dear friend Dani gave them to me. She has a whole bush full of them at her home. We met for coffee and I walked away with these flowers that bloom in June in Durham, NC. While on the …
Becoming a Big Year Old
One of my 7th grade advisees used the term "big year old" earlier in our year together. He was referring to the 8th graders who were eating lunch in the courtyard outside my room. He didn't want to go out there and be with the big year olds. Horror. I had to laugh. Maybe he …
Comfort me with dear friends and… chocolate cake
I have been spending a lot of time with Ruth Reichl lately. Well, truth be told, a lot of time with her memoirs. I got my hands on Garlic and Sapphires, published in 2005, and that lead to her latest book, Save Me The Plums, 2019. I read Comfort Me With Apples, 2001, and Tender …
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Courage
Downtown Durham April 10, 2019Photo by Jim Rogalski Just exactly what is courage and where does it come from? Are we trained to act courageously? Is it instinct? Are we taught courage? How do we know whether or not we are courageous? I have my own thoughts about it, but first I would like to …
Dear Blog,
First off, no, I am not dead. You probably think that, dear Blog, but I am alive and kicking. Yes, I still love you. Yes, I still love to write. What happened? You know, I am not sure. Mon dieu bon dieu, I had to log into the WordPress website and that meant I had …
Needs vs Wants
Princess rotary dial phone: image courtesy of http://www.pinterest.com When I teach the French expressions for "I need" and "I want" (j'ai besoin et j'ai envie), to make it more concrete we make lists. As concrete as possible works best for 7th graders. I do indeed ask them if their parents have explained the difference between …
Waiting for Diego
This time three months ago I was sitting around waiting for Hurricane Florence to pay me a visit. Yesterday I waited for Winter Storm Diego to quietly sweep in. I am a bit of a skeptic when it comes to snow predictions around here. Several friends call it Snowmaggedon. Sister-in-Law sent this photo via Facebook- …
the sabbatical chef 