sweet breezes 'gainst
bare feet
swathes of sunshine
some strawberries
between infinite spectrums of greens
no plans
& panaches
as the sun
moves 'cross the
sky
behind th' leaves of
tall oaks
Recipe for Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches coming soon…
Do you like to have lazy plan-less weekends too?
Nasturtiums have a lovely minty flavor
Nasturtiums and Pansies are wonderful additions to your veggie garden! They'll add hits of gorgeous color to your plots and Nasturtiums will even ward off many pests. Best of all…
They're also edible!
Flowers in the Viola Family, such as Pansies (and Violets) have a faint minty flavor. The flowers and leaves of Nasturtiums have a peppery watercress tinge. Toss their brightly hued flowers on top of a salad or include as a pretty touch on an al fresco dinner plate.
Two simple ways to Live Beautifully!
Pot of Pansies, Quick, gestural watercolor on Winsor Newton Paper (Click image for better, larger view)
Today is a tribute to Italy two ways…
First, via the gorgeous voices of Il Volo, a young trio with voices of gold who've already gone platinum in Italy. Their name, “Il Volo,” meaning “flight,” was chosen to signify the feeling that these three young tenors were about to spread their wings and fly. And indeed they have! You will be blown away! (Thank you, Kaye Cloutman, for introducing me to Il Volo. Visit her lovely website, Clout&About)
Teenagers, Piero Barone (17), Ignazio Boschetto (16), & Gianluca Ginoble (16)
And my second tribute to Italy, a painting of a peaceful olive grove in Umbria. Umbria is the region of Italy often compared to Tuscany, without the touristy aspects. Jim and I picnicked beneath these beautiful, old trees enjoying wine, salami and cheese. It was a blustery day, like today, sunny one moment, cloudy the next.
"In the Umbrian Olive Grove" by Juliane Porter (Oil on 18"x14" canvas ~ Click for a better, larger view)
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I recently had the great fortune to attend Richard Strauss's masterpiece, Capriccio, at The Metropolitan Opera, starring world renowned soprano Renee Fleming.
Brilliant.
Perhaps because it is a consummation of all the fine arts, (literary, orchestral, vocal, visual & frequently ballet as in Capriccio), opera hits me on myriad levels. Breathtaking music from a phenomenal world-class orchestra accompanying the premier soprano of our time – in the setting of an 18th century chateau near Paris… all within the complexity of a great literary work.
A feast for the senses!
Take a peek at the final scene of Capriccio being performed at the Paris Opera House by none other than the magnificent Ms. Flemming herself. Don't do anything else. Just close your eyes and let the music sweep you away.
Capriccio, Strauss's final opera, is a dramatized aesthetic debate over which is more valuable, music or words? Swathed in achingly beautiful music one is likely to be persuaded by the former, though the opera itself ends without a decision cast one way or the other.
As I toyed with the question, I flipped and I flopped.
Words?
I find generally, the fewer the better… as they're usually ego's favorite vehicle on a direct path away from authenticity. Yet I couldn't do without Tolstoy, Bronte, Wilde…
Music?
It has an emotionality that breaks open the heart.
Ah - Why choose. Especially when one there is opera, the consummation of all the arts! Which happens to be the very resolution of Capriccio's story itself.
What would you choose if you could have only one? Music or Words?
Russell Braun, left, is the poet Olivier, Joseph Kaiser the composer Flamand and Peter Rose the theater director La Roche in Richard Strauss' "Capriccio" at the Metropolitan Opera. (Photo by Richard Drew, Associated Press)
Richard Strauss, Composer
"Summertime Shade." Oil on Canvas by Juliane Porter.
(please click image for better, larger view)
This gorgeous, old, climber in Chatham, MA begged to be painted.
I recall my father describing his great joy in climbing about the limbs of such trees as a young boy. I too have always loved and had tremendous respect for trees. They take me back to childhood… Their power, grace & often imposing wisdom of living hundreds of years- like the one pictured here in my painting.
This is a very expressive, childlike painting about innocence and the power of presence.
sun dappled shade
easy breezes
forgiving grace
a
wisdom of hundreds years
presence
See more artwork by Juliane Porter at www.JulianePorter.com.
The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.
-Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Soon they'll be asleep.
The house will be ours.
Nothing off limits.
No place we can't scour.
We'll stampede cross the wood floors as fast as we can.
And yowl like coyotes awake after ten.
From lands far and near we'll hunt down precious gifts.
Before morn' there'll be a mousie and twisty-tie blitz.
At first sign of light we'll take up our posts,
Performing purrs, trills and tricks to fill up our bowls.
We'll see you next time, maybe daytime you say?
Certainly!
Another fun time to play!
What do chandeliers, octopus and white stallions have in common?
Our final and perfectly lovely evening in New York City of course!
The evening began with dinner at Michael White's Marea, whose menu reads like a study of the sea. This high-end Italian restaurant features the regional food of Italy influenced heavily by ingredients drawn from the four bodies of water that surround the boot. The fish, sourced from both the Mediterranean and waters worldwide, stays true to this Mediterranean flavor profile contributing to the authenticity of the restaurant.
We were impressed on all levels: Superb cuisine, seamless service, and stylish ambiance. Every single bite of our four course experience was a special memory, but don't worry, I'll only share two: my pasta course and Jim's dessert - for the simple reason I found pictures of them both:-).
I savored every last morsel of the Fusilli with Red Wine Braised Octopus & Bone Marrow. This dish is Chef White's homage to American surf and turf – though it requires purely Italian cooking techniques. The dish glistens with the velvety smooth sauce, and each bite is unexpectedly complex despite looking so simple. The sweetness of the octopus compliments the tart red wine and tomato sauce made rich and smooth by the emulsified marrow. The home-made fusilli are tender yet al dente and the whole thing is topped with a crunch of breadcrumbs. Wow!
Marea's (NYC) Fusilli with Red Wine Braised Octopus & Bone Marrow (Photo by UrbanSpoon)
Three courses later, Jim devoured the Panna Cotta with Pink Peppercorn & Thyme. (He's becoming rather an expert on Panna Cotta as he orders it at every opportunity!) And, since we share everything, I can attest to it's fabulousness!
Marea's (NYC) Panna Cotta with Pink Peppercorn & Thyme (Photo by UrbanSpoon)
During dessert, we happened to get to know the two lovely ladies to our left when they inquired about my chandelier earrings. I promised Karen I'd post them here with a link to where I'd purchased them; Anthropologie. I apologize that it took me a couple weeks Karen! I'm behind posting this week because I've been immersed in the oil painting portrait of two beautiful children– their mama will be surprising her husband with it on his birthday so I can't fall behind:-) I've posted two pairs of my favorite chandelier earrings from Anthropologie below. (I wore the first that night)
Glass Beaded Chandelier Earrings by Anthropologie
Glass Beaded Chandelier Earrings by Anthropologie
And that brings us to white stallions…
We enjoyed the most serene and lovely horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park after dinner. It was a crisp, spring evening. Every now and then we'd pass someone jogging or walking their dog in the moonlight, a fellow carriage rider in the distance beyond the beautiful, old, gnarly trees. We had the park and the city all to ourselves, bundled up under our blanket, cherry blossoms perfuming the night… all under a backdrop of sparkling city lights.
The perfect finale.
Our carriage picked us up right outside Marea! The carriages happened to be lined up along the street just steps away:-)
Carriage Rides through NYC's Central Park after Dinner make a Romantic Evening
Fabululous Flirty Aprons (and gloves) keep you beautiful while you're in the kitchen!
I seriously can not get over how adorable these aprons and gloves are from FlirtyAprons.com! I've always been a fan of beautiful aprons, but these are even cuter than the (ahem) seven I already own!
Just one of the many reasons to love Flirty Aprons is for their designs in dressier colors like black, for more elegant occasions such as dinner parties or romantic evenings, when something cutesy would ruin a gorgeous outfit.
And they're about half the price of any similar designs I've seen.
FlirtyAprons.com's Sassy Rubber Gloves
How about these gloves! If you've seen me in the kitchen you know I never wash anything without putting on my trusty rubber gloves. FlirtyAprons's sassy red gingham and polka-dot versions are so cute, I'll look forward to washing dishes.
Oh, be sure to check out the aprons for men too. Extremely masculine and functional, each one has that little extra something to suit your man's personality. My personal favs are: I Like Big Buns and I Turn Grills On :-)
You've got to check FlirtyAprons.com out! Which are your favorites?
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The Violette Fizz is one of the Spring Cocktails featured currently at Bar Pleiades in NYC's Surrey Hotel
One never knows what surprises New York City traffic may pull. So when our driver promptly delivered us to Cafe Boulud (sumptuous details to be posted soon!) for our pre-theater dinner an hour early last Thursday…
Fate stepped in and redirected us to Chef Daniel Boulud's equally fabulous Bar Pleiades next door, where we happily sipped the time away on beautiful cocktails from their Spring selections.
The Violette Fizz, created by Bar Pleiades's genius mixologist, Maura, is a delightful concoction of Creme de Violette topped with an egg white and lime cream. Refreshing and garnished with a delicate violet, this tangy-sweet and light cocktail is perfection.
Nestled in the Surrey Hotel of NYC's Upper East Side, Daniel Boulud's Bar Pleiades is an upscale Coco Chanel inspired bar striking the balance of a well-made cocktail – elegant without being self-absorbed, cosmopolitan rather than edgy, and intimate without being stuffy. The selection of cocktails is updated seasonally to keep things fun and fresh, while a mainstay of classics are on the menu year-round. The bar will be happy, however, to make any cocktail you've had at any time of year, whether or not it's currently on the menu.
The decor is chic and gorgeous: polished black and white lacquered surfaces, pearl quilted booths, and intimate areas for privacy. This is both an ideal spot to meet someone and do some people watching on Madison Avenue. The service is warm, attentive and informative.
What is your favorite spot for a cocktail in New York City… or elsewhere 'round the world?
Daniel Boulud's Bar Pleiades's decor is chic and gorgeous
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Vegetarian Massaman
A recent trip to visit family brought us to Greenville, South Carolina, a historic city of cozy neighborhoods with mature oak-lined streets and a downtown overflowing with culture and great restaurants. During our stay, we were treated to a wonderful Thai dinner at Lemongrass Thai Cuisine on North Main Street downtown.
The food at Lemongrass is delectably fresh while delivering the diverse spices and aromas of Thai cuisine- salty and sweet, fiery and mild, sour and bitter – into perfect harmony. The presentation of the meal was colorful and authentic, incorporating the rice tureen, clay pots and artful yet not-too-fussy arrangements.
Keeping it a little lighter, I ordered the Vegetarian Massaman Curry, a combination of mixed vegetables, potatoes, onions and pineapple sauteed in coconut milk and – of course – massaman curry, (a fragrant yellow curry that incorporates ground peanuts, lemongrass, and tamarind together with warm spices such as cardamom, bay leaves and fennel), topped with cashew nuts and avacado. Absolutely phenomenal.
In fact, everything we ordered was terrific. Fluffy jasmine rice. Tender, perfectly cooked squid, muscles and shrimp flavored with basil, lime and ginger in the Tom Yum Talay (soup). Crisp vegetarian spring rolls served with a tantalizing Thai sweet and sour sauce. Hungry yet?
So, not only do I recommend the city of Greenville, SC as a great place to visit, but a stop into Lemongrass Thai Cuisine is essential while you're there!
Do you have a favorite Thai restaurant or Thai dish? Do share 🙂
