dear summer, please slow down

{shining egg}

is it just me

or did this week fly right by?

i can't believe it's friday already

(not complaining!)

but really

how did it get to be the end of july?

{catherine...}

{lifelovepaper}

it's just that

this summer is turning out to be so gorgeous..

{mywhimsy}

i want to slow it down

to hang on to

each and every second of it

{catherine...}

each and every summer stroll

(especially those late afternoon-and-into-the-evening ones..

aren't those the best?)

{bethretro}

every drop of sunshine

{catherine...}

those lazy summer naps

(mmmm...aren't THOSE the best?)

{these days in french life}

each and every delicious bite

of all the amazing summer produce

(and eating it outside..

that's most definitely the best)

{tja'sha}

and just soak up all the gorgeousness

of this sweet season

while it's still here

wishing you a beautifully summer-filled weekend...

what are you going to do?

..tomorrow there is a 50~mile long antiques/flea market

here in upstate ny..

(i don't think i'm going to be able to sleep tonight

i'm so excited)

see you next week

with lots of pics!

xo

*thanks to all of my flickr friends for these beautifully quintessential summer moments*

happy happy weekend

{irene suchocki}

it's friday (alleluiah!)

it's breezy and warm

{irene suchocki}

and the sky is filled

with

big big beautiful clouds

{labokoff}

they're just so sweet

and full of something special

i don't really know what it is exactly

but

they always send me dreaming..

{jacqleen bleu}

..they make me think of travelling

{alicia bock}

..of long slow days at the beach

{labokoff}

..of long sweet walks

{alicia bock}

..of just laying in the grass under a big tree

and doing nothing

but watching time float by

mmm...

sounds like the perfect weekend to me.

wishing you a happy one.

xo

secrets and surprises..

a

{anna ritskhe}

hi all!

just popping in quickly to say hello.

and to say that i have a secret

(how horrible am i??!)

i honestly love blabbing my secrets

especially when i'm excited about them..

but

this one i just have to keep to myself for the moment.

okay,

i'll tell you atleast this much..

i'm being interviewed by a magazine as a featured artist... this afternoon.

oop. i have to stop there,

because once i get started..

well, you know.

more to come as things develop though, i promise.

in the meantime have a gloriously gorgeous wednesday

full of surprises large and small.

xoxo

(extra x's and o's today..)

it's all about food..n'est-ce pas?

***

it's monday. (already??!)

and i'm thinking about food.

(didn't i do that all weekend too?)

while digging through my favorite food blogs this morning,

(my mouth completely watering..

and stomach growling..)

***

..looking for ideas for meals and introductions to new food to explore..

it hit me.

i wasn't just looking for food inspiration,

but for creative stimulation/inspiration too.

***

seriously, how can i look at a presentation of scrambled eggs , like this one

and not feel excited by it's originality?

and the cleverness doesn't stop there..

bea at the beautiful blog  la tartine gourmande

is filled with gorgeous ideas and honestly,

a gorgeous way of living life

(and avec petite lessons en francais)

 

her site is a place where you can (happily) get lost for hours

(and i have..willingly..many many times)

***

bea's warmth and charm are so entertaining.

her stories about each meal..testing new food on her husband (and new bebe)

will make you smile and laugh, not to mention very very hungry.

***

she offers endless amounts of *hope* 

for tasty eating

to gluten-free folk like me..

(and 'regular' people too!)

***

and oh the journeys you go on with her as they travel..

***

eating in her native france..

***

learning about olives and feta in crete..

***

cycling and picnicking on block island..

***

all the while bantering, cooking, photographing, and sharing

her beautiful life with us.

making me want to extend my creativity into all parts of my life.

***

her family, environment, and her food are all connected..

her personal anecdotes make you instant friends.

i especially love her story of making apple pie 

with apples from her brother's garden

while visiting her childhood home in france..

***

i think bea's appreciation of life and food is truly art.

and i am fully completely absolutely inspired.

et vous?

i hope you have a happy and inspiring monday.

i'm off to the market now...

xox

*all photos ©latartinegourmande