Joies de Vivre

The intoxicating fragrance of peppermint tea bags, fresh from the box.

Joies de Vivre

To eat figs off the tree in the very early morning, when they have been barely touched by the sun, is one of the exquisite pleasures of the Mediterranean.
—Elizabeth David, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine 

And an exquisite pleasure here as well, even midmorning, with the sun like roses full-blown.

image:  Christie B. Cochrell, Green Figs

Joies de Vivre

Turquoise—both color and texture.



image:  Christie B. Cochrell, Turquoise

Boyd Cochrell

Happy birthday to my favorite father, who would have been 95 years old today (and likely hating every moment), and would certainly not have approved my buying those purple petunias I've set next to the St. Francis bird bath against the back fence.  When he died, my mother bought purple pillows, in defiance, to assert her own preferences.  And I, defiantly, came to love cello and violin music, despite his scathing ridicule.

Much of that was put on—he was one of the most tolerant of men, and loved life and his family and friends.  Some of his favorite things:

democrats

The New Yorker

Tanqueray martinis

The Mikado

Paris and Rouen

double crostics

huckleberry pie

dark chocolate

Beethoven's Emperor Concerto

Dick Francis mysteries

Norwegian lefse with green chili instead of 
       white flour tortillas

Yellowstone

New York

dogpaddling

Strauss operas

sourdough pancakes

Yachats, Oregon

John Lee Hooker's I Ain't Got Nobody

huckleberry pie again

image:  Boyd Cochrell

Joies de Vivre: Iced Coffee

I am reminded how much I like iced coffee, though for some reason I never remember to look for it.

In Germany, the eiskaffee, made with strong coffee, ice cream, whipped cream, and grated chocolate, isn't to be scoffed at either.  I remember it from my first trip to Europe, many memories ago.

An Italian affogato is essentially the same, though made with more gelato than espresso.

Summer days, summer travel, sitting at a little café table on some charming square . . . and then the earthy aroma and flavor of coffee, ice cold.  There's a perfect itinerary.

To be accompanied by another favorite book, The Mystery Roast, by Peter Gadol.  Great summer reading, about coffee and Cycladic figurines.

image:  Iced Coffee, Craving Comfort

Joies de Vivre

Sheer energy!

image:  Meditating Monks at Pongour Falls, Vietnam, TheEarth We Live In

Joies de Vivre: Cinnamon Toast

“Recall a taste or smell that has a happy personal memory for you”—

Cinnamon toast!  Buttery golden brown toast with cinnamon-sugar sprinkled evenly on it, the melted butter soaking up the topping, creating a delicious consistency.  Its fragrance, too, adds to this ultimate childhood comfort food, loved best on a blustery winter’s day, or when feeling unwell or unhappy.

image:  The Right Way and the Wrong Way to Make Cinnamon Toast, The PioneerWoman

Joies de Vivre: Bed-time Reading

“Knowing you have something good to read before bed is among the most pleasurable of sensations.” —Vladimir Nabokov

image:  The Bed-time Book, Jessie Wilcox Smith

Joies de Vivre: Kaleidoscope

I've always loved the symmetrical but chancy light- and color-filled window of the kaleidoscope.  As with a geode, or a pomegranate, the wonder inside the unassuming tube is entirely concealed until you venture in.

image:  Kaleidoscope, About . com

Joies de Vivre

Espadrilles!

(than what could be more summery?)

image:  Striped Espadrilles, Brittany Boutique

Joies de Vivre

Chèvre with fire roasted green chili!  The best of my childhood flavors in combination with those of my assumed homeland (my heartland), the Mediterranean.

My new breakfast, on whole-grain bread.

image:  chèvre frais du hameau des Anglars, L'Hospitaler (04), Véronique Pagnier

Joies de Vivre

 

Honey shampoo.

I must confess to sometimes doing irrational things in the name of aesthetic pleasure.  I fell in love with the scent and effect of an unassuming honey shampoo at a B&B in Santa Barbara or Morro Bay last October, but when I went looking, discovered it’s not available in regular bottles for love nor money.  So I bought what I could—one hundred of the little guest-sized bottles, which should last me a good, happy year.  (And are easy to pack along on trips, I might add in my defense!)

image:  honey, Self Growth Your Way

Joies de Vivre

Puffins—even behind glass!  Even the abstraction of puffins.

image:  Christie B. Cochrell, Puffins

Joies de Vivre

English oakwood smoked farmhouse cheddar.  Be still, my fat-saturated heart!








image:  Cheese Wheel 

Joies de Vivre

Favorite paintings.  Especially in the "flesh"—or in the pigments and canvas.  Lovely to see this one in the Tate, up close.

image:  John Singer Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose

Joies de Vivre

Mayan hot chocolate, fragrant with spices and chili.  Make your own , or sit in a café under some golden autumn trees, or inside, behind steamed windows, and linger.






image:  Mayan Liquid Gold 

Joies de Vivre

Sleeping Black Lab puppy, ear in water dish.

(Or, okay—Black Lab puppy awake, too.)

image:  Shadow Mtn Labradors

Joies de Vivre

Green chili, and its fragrance while roasting.








image:  Taos Green Chili 

Joies de Vivre

Iced water with lemon.

image:  Iced Water, FreeFoto.com

Joies de Vivre

Plums, clouded and sweet.  The taste of each, again, reminds me of the famous poem.

This Is Just to Say

I have eaten 

the plums

that were in

the icebox 

and which

you were probably

saving

for breakfast 

Forgive me

they were delicious

so sweet

and so cold

—William Carlos Williams

image:  Christie B. Cochrell, Plums