"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." – Mary Oliver

  • Day Trip to Chartres

    Day Trip to Chartres

    On my last full day in Paris, before G returned from the UK, I caught the train to Chartres. The main drawcard is the Chartres Cathedral, and its architecture, sculptures,…

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  • Tenderheart Cook #43, #44 and #45

    Tenderheart Cook #43, #44 and #45

    Fennel quickles A quick pickling recipe for fennel. The Quick Lowdown: Pickled fennel nicoise The Quick Lowdown: Miso-Roasted Pumpkin and Chickpeas with Kale The pumpkin and chickpeas are coated in…

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  • Looking for Signs of the Camino in Paris and Chartres

    Looking for Signs of the Camino in Paris and Chartres

    The main aim of our European trip was to walk the Camino, with Paris being a happy bolt-on for me. For centuries, pilgrims came from all over Europe on pilgrimage;…

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  • List #12: Soups on Regular rotation

    List #12: Soups on Regular rotation

    This is another post about soup for Julie and Tobia’s Cool Bloggers Autumn Soup Challenge. When the kids were younger, we would have pumpkin and red lentil soup with toasted cheese sandwiches at…

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  • First Beach Day and It’s Still Spring!

    First Beach Day and It’s Still Spring!

    A few years ago, we ended the summer, and I realised I hadn’t swum in the ocean once. Admittedly, we hadn’t had the warmest summer, but there were some days…

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  • Good Things Friday

    Good Things Friday

    This week, I’ve felt a little bit tired—I have no idea why—but I’ve managed to get my workouts done. I’m now up to 30 minutes of 1 minute run and…

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  • Smaller Museums in Paris

    Smaller Museums in Paris

    Our trip to Paris with our daughter in 2018 included many of the most famous sites, including Notre Dame, The Concierge, Sainte-Chapelle, the Arc de Triomphe, Musée de l’Orangerie, the…

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  • Sunday Night Dinner: Tenderheart #42

    Sunday Night Dinner: Tenderheart #42

    I did not do a menu plan last week. Early Sunday afternoon, I turned my mind to what to eat for dinner. We go to night church at 5 p.m.,…

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  • Dog Beach Time

    Dog Beach Time

    He loves to wade in but panics if it gets deep enough that he needs to swim. Now, he will prowl outside the windows at home, hoping to be let…

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  • Eating My Way Through Paris

    Eating My Way Through Paris

    Those who have been reading my blog for a while will know I love my food. When I travel, eating takes a high priority. I like trying local specialties, enjoying…

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