I have a serious case of the post-snow blues. To be more precise, the post – snow french wine food happy holiday people incredible mountainscapes wonderful accomodation – blues.

I have lots to tell you, and I will do so this evening when I gather some more of my shots for you – the image above is from within the chalet. I think you will love this place as much as I did. It was pure magic.

But oh how I missed you!! I’ve only had a chance to briefly visit some of you already this morning as I just couldn’t wait to see what you’ve been up to. I will be back in the (blog)house tonight, à bientot! xx

Photograph by Pia Jane Bijkerk.

To round up the week of My Heart Wanders inspiration (and what a week of loving inspiration it’s been!), I snapped this photograph for you to help your ideas flow. The ‘wandering heart’ in the image is a ‘three of hearts’ playing card that I use as a bookmark. The vintage set of cards was given to me by someone very special – these cards were from his childhood some 60 or so years ago and as he was clearing away items from his attic (thankfully I was there at the time!), he thought I might like them. And yes I do. I use this particular card as a bookmark so that I am reminded of him and all the wonderful times associated with him.

I hope this inspires you to submit something for the book. Click here to read more about the project. I will be announcing the submission deadline next week. If you can, take some time to browse through the My Heart Wanders posts and all the inspiring links attached to the posts. In your submission don’t forget to include your heart in an interior/exterior setting – find a place that best shows off your little wandering heart.

All contact details and submission criteria are in the artist studio for you.

I’ve had alot of fun this week with you all, and now I am off for a little snowy secret break for the weekend – no internet 🙁 , no tv, no traffic. Hopefully I will have some beautiful photographs for show and tell.

Have a fabulous weekend everybody! I miss you already.

photograph by Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Click here for this posts chosen soundtrack. Enjoy.

It’s the week of love. And I’m not one for celebrating a day of something, I like to make the good things last so I extend such celebrations for a week. My birthday last month being the big 3-0, was designed to last for 3 weeks (although that in the end did get a bit too much of a good thing!). So here in the (blog)house this week, we are celebrating love, and to do so I will be picking out some of the my heart wanders early-bird submissions at random and showcasing one each day with a little ditty. But to kick start the celebrations I’d like to begin with one of my loves: food. I’ve come up with a special menu for you which will stay in the kitchen this month. And although I’ve designed it for two, it is easily a menu that can accommodate 12. In fact we dined on an abbreviated version of this menu for my birthday dinner.

So here goes my lovelies, I hope you enjoy. I photographed and styled this story of images in Paris on a warm summer’s eve…

For hors d’oeuvre, start with a perfectly steamed artichoke. Pluck a leaf from the flower and dip it gently in a mustardy vinaigrette and softly bite into the meaty flesh at the base of the petal. Whisper sweet nothings tu m’aimes, tu ne m’aimes pas until you have both made your way to the core. Remove the tiny prickles to reveal the heart and cut little pieces, dip it in the vinaigrette and feed it to your love. The bowl of tossed artichoke leaves will leave you with a beautiful living still life to gaze upon…

Plat Principal: Raclette

Melt slices of fine raclette cheese over individual plates of cold meats, a simple boiled potato and serve with petits cornichons, cherry tomatoes and pickled baby onions while you sip on Savoie.

Indulge in a little pre-dessert to tantalise your tastebuds and follow with les fruits et le fromage: fresh figs with crumbled goats cheese and drizzled with rose-infused honey…

Before it gets too hot in here, lets cool down with a glass of champagne with wild hibiscus flowers. Santé a l’amour. Capture the moment and scribble each other a little message of love…

Then, between stealing kisses, serve le paroxysme. That is, la mousse au chocolat…

Et voilà.

bisous

view from my kitchen window, Paris.

for you dad.