As I continue to work on my mission statement for this nonblog/blog, I realize the entire planet is starting to blog as a form of therapy. God help us, now we have the entire self isolating world sitting at their computers sending out thoughts, opinions, inspiring quotes and other useless crap including what they are cooking and eating. Did I really post a video of my lamb shank stew simmering away on my stove this week?
There’s a reason there is no flour to be found in stores. Thousands of cooped up people are trying to be celebrity bakers. A close friend with a very big corporate job is now at home baking. She actually posted some brownies made with kidney beans! ( not sure if this is due to flour shortage or to promote immunity) .
After feeding my 13.5-year-old dog Darcy his 6 medications, reading and watching news 24/7 (trying not to do this), tuning in to daily live government briefings ( poor Justin, those thick black locks will soon be gray) and talking on Facetime, Zoom and Skype with friends and family I do NOT have time to read blogs. Its all I can do to delete the thousands of fitness, yoga , meditation, om sessions, masterclasses and howtobeproductive courses/apps flooding my inbox/phone and making me feel even more guilty for couch potato behavior! ( full disclosure I don’t use Facebook but do use Instagram, so thanks again to Zuck who is the mastermind behind this madness).
Assuming you dont have time for endless blogs and because so many followers just want more photos I think escapism is needed most at this time. My favorite escapism (SEE BELOW) at the moment is watching handsome and famous french pastry chefs. I will add some interesting USEFUL stuff at the bottom so scroll down to the end.
Since we cant meet for coffee for awhile here are some lovely cafe scenes from France…..
The beautiful town of Collioure, near the Spanish border. I wanted to steal a few of these chairs.
The town of Collioure. Great wine region Languedoc Rousillon.
I looked out at this from where we lived in Aix.
Enjoying life the french way. Hope this never disappears.
After a hike.
Spent a lot of time people-watching here. Favorite spot in Aix. Love the chairs.
Not sweet, made with almonds but can’t remember the name…why I was thinner in France is a big mystery. The whole thing cheaper than a latte at Starbucks.
Too many lovely cafes to count in Aix.
Tea and cakes in the cafe at the restored Hotel De Caumont. One of the most beautiful spots in AIx.
Quiet streets of Aix.
View from our window. Exactly 4 years ago this month. Early spring.
Prefer this to kidney bean brownies.
And now some further escapism.
https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/
Start here featuring the brilliant violinist Anne -Sophie Mutter playing french composers Ravel, Saint Saens, Massenet.
https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/concert/22396#
Bill Gates did a TED talk in 2015 predicting this pandemic. Having worked closely in Africa and involved in the Ebola crisis his warning went unheeded ( despite the 18+ million views!)
https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready?language=en
And for those buying up all the flour, watch Rosanna Pansino, a top YouTube star and celebrity chef with 9 million followers. She makes $6million per year. Astounding, but useful if you have kids under 10.
https://www.youtube.com/user/RosannaPansino/videos
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/07/19/537302223/the-youtube-star-whos-teaching-kids-how-to-bake
Here is what’s keeping me enthralled….guaranteed EVERYONE will escape watching the top patissier in France at the moment . This guy definitely doesnt have a YOUTUBE channel and there is no chance his salary comes close to Rosanna’s! What an crazy world.
Following the same patisserie theme…here is why we are SO different from the French. They continue to fascinate….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7iL-OiFVI
A Letter from Wartime France
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/03/france-paris-emmanuel-macron-coronavirus-covid19/608200/
An outing to get outside…..there have been many appeals to give blood. You can make an appointment on line. There is lots of info about how they are handling the current situation.
https://www.blood.ca/en
Merci beaucoup to Catrin B, a close friend who sent me this excellent list. And we should all be standing outside and on our balconies applauding the inventor of the web who has made this all possible!
Live feed of the Aurora Borealis in Churchill, ManitobaBritish MuseumWashington National Gallery of ArtMusée d’OrsayVirtual tour of the LouvreVersaillesVan Gogh MuseumUffizi GalleryList of free Broadway musicalsLivestream of Seattle Symphony performance (scheduled)List of 400+ free courses from Ivy LeagueScholastic “Learn at Home” classes for kidsFrick Museum (virtual tours and daily art projects to do with your kids)Yellowstone National ParkBoston Children’s MuseumMARSStorytime from space (NASA astronauts reading children’s books IN SPACE)Live feed of African wildlife around a watering holeBuckingham PalaceClassic movies for freeMontreal Symphony OrchestraAudible released hundreds of free audiobooks for as long as the schools are closed
SPRING WILL SOON BE HERE!
Au revoir for now. I hope you have escaped for a bit!
xoB
Charmed By A Car 
Wonderful ESCAPE!!!
Thanks Barb!!! xoxoxoxo
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Wonderful Barb can’t wait to get started. Keep well All the best Rudi and Simone x
Von meinem iPhone gesendet
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so hope you stay well Simone. Big virtual hug to you and Rudy. Watching for Germany to lead the way on beating this.
I remember having tea with you at the Hotel Caumont, look forward to a repeat. 🙂
Me too! We will do it again. xo