Bastille Day Randomness
Happy Bastille Day everyone! Bastille Day holds a special place in my heart, as my first full day in Paris on my honeymoon 31 years ago was on Bastille Day. I fell in love with France that day, and have been fortunate enough to go back twice since then. When Engie asked me to help her celebrate her 20 years of blogging (WOW!), and told me my day would be July 14th, I decided to write about France (again). So I’m her guest today! I’m sorry, I know I’ve written about my 2022 trip a LOT, and my 2018 trip less but still a lot, so likely you will not learn anything new. BUT! France must be celebrated! As must Engie and her awesome dedication to blogging. I mean come on, Hannah? Zelda? Detailed and thoughtful book reviews, even for the books she doesn’t like? And we must not forget her amazing Cool Bloggers Book Club, which she so graciously hosts at her place, she is SO thoughtful and intelligent in her thoughts and questions. It’s a lot of work, and I know all who participate are so thankful and bow down in awe. Plus, she is awesome at commenting. And it was by following her comment back to her blog that I found out that San was hosting NaBloPoMo in 2022, which is how I met most of you. So please join me in celebrating the awesomeness that is Engie. *Pink puffy heart emoji*
In other news, this was a week of salads for us. I posted on Monday about Tobia’s Summer Salad Challenge, and since the heat was hot (Why did the horse have no name? Name the horse!) we had a lot of salad.
- Sunday – Salade Niçoise ala Ted. The store was out of fresh tuna, so he had to make do with jarred. Delicious.
- Monday – Chicken orzo salad with goat cheese ala Maya. We haven’t had this is AGES. She made chicken and veggies for Ted.
- Tuesday – Beluga Lentil Salad and Salmon – This was a new recipe for us, suggested by Tobia. It was definitely a hit, though I used all of the dressing, not the 1/3 recipe they mentioned. Really tasty. I made the salmon in the toaster oven so I wouldn’t heat up the house.
- Wednesday – Fennel, Arugula, Orange, and Avocado Salad with crispy chicken.
- Thursday – Taco Salad – I use this recipe for my taco meat. It’s not quite as easy as opening a packet, but it’s much tastier (and it’s still pretty easy).
- Friday – Friday we used to get take out, but lately we’ve been going out most weeks. Maya didn’t want to go out, so I bought her some sushi, and Ted and I went out for a lovely dinner. He had a delicious chicken in a mustard jus, and I had a delicious Halibut dish. No salad.
- Saturday – Again, no salad. Ted went to a party with a group of coworkers from his time in radio, and Maya and I had breakfast for dinner, which was scrambled eggs and fruit salad. Oh wait, that’s a salad!
This is my ‘the heat was hot’ photo. We’ve had about 10 days of heat, most days have been over 100, a few were over 105. I won’t complain too much, we have air conditioning, it’s not humid, we live in a townhome complex with a pool. So we’re not really uncomfortable, other than the forced air making us cold. But my poor avocado plant has suffered, the leaves are burned and will fall off. This used to stress me out, but it loses its leaves every winter when it gets too cold, and every summer when it gets too hot. I wonder, do avocado trees in the Middle East lose their leaves in the heat? If not, why?
What else. Oh, last weekend, Ted and I went to see a delightful movie in the theater, Thelma. Thelma is a 93 year old grandmother who is conned out of $10,000, and when the police cannot help her, she decides to see if she can get her money back on her own. It’s a predictable feel good comedy. Definitely recommended.
Today I’m going to go visit my Great Aunt Flo and see how she’s doing in her new digs. She ran out of money for the expensive ($7k a month) assisted living place shortly after her 100th birthday, and now is in a much less fancy place, with a roommate. The other place was great, but even when she first moved there in 2021, she wasn’t really using the amenities (Movies! Swimming pool! Chapel for worship! Restaurant! Library!) and mostly stayed in her room doing puzzles and reading Bridgerton novels. Now she’s pretty much bed ridden, and hopefully she is OK. Back in late February, I requested a card for her April birthday from the White House. It didn’t make it in time for her party, it just came last week. I hope she LOVES it. She’s a big fan of Joe Biden, so I am sure it will make her happy.
29 Comments
nance
This horrid heat is making me feel like your avocado plant: I wish I could drop away anything that isn’t absolutely necessary for Maintaining Life. (I’m finding Haagen Dazs chocolate peanut butter ice cream to be an essential.)
Like you, I get chilly from airconditioning. I’m grateful for it, but I’m so sick of it already. I’m sorry your formerly temperate environment has become so hellish. I am daring to hope that next summer will be different since El Nino is moving on. Or is he? Sigh. I don’t have much confidence in weather forecasting anymore.
I love that you got a commemoration from President Biden for your Aunt Flo. And that she’s doing a lot of reading. Good for her!
J
My poor plant, and poor Nance! The heat was BRUTAL but has gotten much more reasonable now. I ordered a shade cover for my avocado tree just now, which will hopefully help keep it from burning NEXT time we get super hot. Too late for this time, I’m sorry to say.
Birchie
Ooh I’m excited that you’re over at Engie’s house! I’m in the middle of my morning blog read and opened everything new in my Feedly without really looking at it, so I got to this post before Engie’s. I’ll hop over there next.
I hope the heats breaks soon. Sure staying inside with the AC cranked up is an option, but it’s much nicer when you can enjoy being outside. I think you’re the second person who has raved about Thelma, so I really want to see it.
J
The heat has broken! It hasn’t gotten above 90 in a few days, and today’s not supposed to get above 80, so YAY! Windows are open.
I hope you do see Thelma and enjoy it.
Margaret
I loved Thelma–what an enjoyable film! It’s been hot here too, close to 90. I’m not a fan.
J
I’m glad you liked Thelma too! I hope the weather there has moderated, as it has here.
Elisabeth
Loved the guest post (and join you in a love of Paris) <3
J
Paris is spectacular and kind of a showoff city, to be sure. I loved reading your blog post about your trip there.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
You are killing it on the salad front. You definitely had more salad than I did last week. I think. But I did try one or two new ones. I am happy to hear the Lentil salad was a hit. I will make some with salmon as you did.
Happy Bastille Day. Exactly a year ago I celebrated that on the cruise with the skyline of Lyon and a wonderful sunset. It was hot but it was a really fun week. Maybe one day I get to do it again.
J
Thanks again for the lovely lentil salad recipe, we really liked it. Tonight it is not hot, but we are still having salad for dinner tonight. I want to buy some cottage cheese so I can try the egg salad recipe you posted. 🙂
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Oh yes, it is really good. I had it on bread actually but you could probably just eat it plain. Also I wondered if you could fill it into a tortilla and make a kind of breakfast burrito of it… So many ideas…
Melissa
Great post over at Engie’s. You can keep posting all about France whenever you want.
J
Thanks Melissa! I love these little trips down memory lane. Blogs are great for that, I can go back and look at memories from my trips any time I want.
Coco
Salad week sounds lovely to fight the heat. I had 3 nights of salad last week as I stayed in a hotel and had sweet greens one block away. Resultaránt salad is always better than homemade one for some magical reason though.
Paris! Yes, one of my favorite place after our family vacation there this year and my epic race. I hope to visit again with the family in the future.
Your grand aunt outlived her saving? Wooo amazing!
J
I loved your posts about your trip to Paris and your race! So wonderful. <3
My great aunt's husband died in 1961, and left her enough money that she never had to work. That's 63 years. Can you imagine? She lived within her means on Social Security once she got that, and could pinch a penny until it screams, so it's not as though she was extravagant. Still. Sadly, she would still be in better financial shape if some family had not taken advantage, 'borrowing' money again and again and never paying it back. VERY frustrating.
Sarah
I want all of the things on your table! Also those salads sound delish!! I also want to go see Thelma, but so far time has been elusive…
J
Isn’t that meal lovely? So good. Wait a bit, I’ll bet Thelma will be available to stream pretty soon.
NGS
I am having A Time right now and reading those kind words made me tear up. Also, I feel kinda bad because my intro about you talked about dog poop and you were so sincere and kind.
I always forget we have twin Aunt Flos. Is yours a Florence? I should send mine a note in the mail.
J
LOL on the dog poop! That made me laugh, and it’s so weird to me that anyone would prefer fresh over chilled. But you do you, Engie!
I saw your post about the TIME you are having, and am sending you gentle hugs of support. I’m kind of glad that you have a dog to walk, I think that helps a bit with the stress. I’m sure you’re using your yoga breath too. I hope Ted feels better soon and that this whole mess is a 1x thing.
Yes, my Aunt Flo is a Florence too. So we both have Edward Teds, and we both have Aunt Flos. Pretty cool, right?
Suzanne
I read your post at Engie’s on my phone, and LOVED it, but couldn’t comment (stupid phone). So I am going to go back post haste and reread it and comment. (You have been so many places!!!)
Love all your salads! The lentils and salmon salad is calling my name.
J
Regarding the commenting, yes, I have that problem too. I can only comment on most blogger blogs using my chromebook, which I don’t use that often. FRUSTRATING. That lentil and salmon salad is tasty for sure!
Daria
Bonne Fête Nationale!!
And, of course, happy birthday, ant Flo!! Many blessings your way from Daria and her family in New Jersey. Hugs.
J
Thanks Daria!
Ally Bean
I’m with Nance about our weather here, although I’m living on Graeter’s Vanilla Bean ice cream. Your great aunt’s situation is the same as my MIL. She started in a fancy place with amenties she didn’t care about and in now in a more modest, yet friendlier, place. I suppose there’s a lesson for us to learn from their experiences. The card from Joe is the best!
J
I’m not sure why we thought she might use those amenities, but we were hopeful. Probably similar for your MIL.
Stay cool in the heat!
Lisa’s Yarns
I’m so behind on blogs so haven’t read your France post on Engie’s blog yet. We lost power last weekend due to a strong storm so I tried to be on my phone as little as possible! And then I left for another work trip yest and get back today (currently in flight). I travel again next week and then get a break in August thank goodness! It’s been so humid in Mpls lately so it was terrible timing to lose power and be without AC. We spent sun afternoon at my MIL’s but then went back home and all slept in the guest room in the basement. I had to present on the national sales call on Monday morning so I was walking around the house, fanning myself with a book since it was so dang warm and probably sweated off most of my makeup in the process. I was relieved the power was restored that afternoon!!
J
Ugh! Humidity is the worst, and with no power? UGH. I’m glad it came back on, but sorry you went through that!
Anne
The best summer of my life was 4 weeks on an international student trip to Carnoux-en-Provence. I stayed with a fantastic family, met new people from the US and Canada, had classes in the morning, and in the afternoon? “Cultural” activities, which often involved…going to the beach. We also celebrated Bastille Day, of course! Did I keep a journal? Not that I know of. Do I regret that every day? Yes, yes I do.
So I share your love of France. My challenge is – no time, no money, and so many places to see. Will I get back (I’ve since been back 3x…)? HECK yes. Will it be soon? Unfortunately, no.
Vive La France! 🙂
J
I’m at a different stage of life, I have plenty of time. Money, however, is always an issue. I hope I can go back at least one or two more times! Oh, four weeks sounds like HEAVEN. I kept a journal on my 2022 trip. I wish I had kept one from my honeymoon…it’s been so long that I don’t really remember a lot of detail anymore.