Third time's a Charm!

31/01/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

Today is another really Special Day for our Family!  Jewelius is turning 17!  Yup!  He's celebrating his Birthday in France!

He's an AWESOME young man, and we are very proud of him!

Joyeux Anniversaire, Jewelius!

Is the title for my blog puzzling for you?  Third time's a Charm?  Jewelius is Child #4 for us, so that's not it.  Well, the third time's a Charm for me, and it will be for you, too, because...

We're going back to
Château De Chenonceau!

This was MY third visit (in the last 5 months!) to this awesome place!  I HAD to take my kids to see it while they were here, though.  Looks like I'll be visiting during every Season, because every visitor who comes to see me, will have to go see my favorite Château with me.  Each time I take you there, I will definitely show you something I maybe haven't photographed before, or some small change they've made...let me remind you...they have an awesome Florist who creates beautiful arrangements that I love to admire!

So, let's head on over...

The kids had a bit of fun on the walk in...

Ah!  Here we are again!  So beautiful...

Everyone had to look down the Well...

This Window is just over the Front Door!  I actually asked Dr. J to take this one.  Usually he's the first to photograph the Stained Glass Windows...

It was a cold day...nice Fire!

For this visit to Château De Chenonceau, the florals were all made for Christmas and Winter!
 

They did a wintery, owl theme in the Chapel.  You saw a sneak-peak in my "Owls are so 'in' right now!" Post, but let me show you again...

Ms Emerald was as excited about the Arrangements as I was...hyacinths coming up here...

Isn't this an awesome Ceiling?

Awesome Christmas Decorations in the Big Hall...

Remember the Kitchen?  The Table is decorated nicely!

So many awesome things to look at...

These are the Floor Tiles, but for many of them, the Fleur-de-Lis has rubbed away over the years.  Only the tiles along the walls and corners still have the decoration.

This is the time of year when Moss grows on everything outside in France.  It looks so pretty against the White of the Stone...

Do you remember the Mourning room, the very dark bedroom?  This room got decorated as well...

Jewelius LOVES and HAS MISSED his Sisters!

Remember the Human Maze?  The kids had a ball together...

There you go!  Third time was a Charm, but I'm sure I'll be back for a fourth.  How could I still take so many pictures, even having already been there twice before?  It is a beautiful place to spend a few hours...

What Charms you?  Can you visit repeatedly, like ME?  I'm sure you can!

Have a "Jewel" of a Day!
Jan

Sunday Morning Coffee Cake...for Dinner!

 
30/01/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

Amazing that we're to the middle of another week already!  Where does the time go?

Well, now that you all know that I have a New Years Resolution to keep...

Finishing the Rosetta Stone Program in French!

Oh nuts!  Had you forgotten?  Well, I'm trying...

I'm trying hard to keep on working.  It takes me a long time to do those Core Lessons though, because I insist on writing everything down from the Core lessons.  I think writing them down helps me maintain them better in my brain.  Plus, if I write it all down, I tend to do better on the written sections (yes, I'm learning to write French, too)!  Well, I'm boring you, so let's get to the subject of choice today.

I've been sharing lots of travel photos with you, and I thought it was about time to share another Recipe...a Family Favorite.  Dr. J wasn't home for dinner last night, and since Jewelius likes breakfast for dinner, I started thinking Brunch, you know, with Eggs and Fruit, and Coffee Cake!  Wait!  Coffee Cake for dinner?  Sure, why not?

Growing up, I had a Mom who was, and still is, an excellent Baker, so she has tons of really good Recipes...you know, the kind from Friends and Church Cookbooks!  They are the Best!  Well, I don't know where this Recipe came from, but I clearly remember my Mom making it occasionally for Sunday mornings ('cause that was the day we were allowed to have something Sweet for Breakfast), and I've made it tons of times myself for Sunday mornings as well.  We call it...

Wonderful Coffee Cake!

Original, huh?  I don't know where the name came from, or where my Mom got the Recipe from, but it's easy to make, tastes good, and it's out of the oven in 35 minutes...oh, and did I mention...there's Chocolate in the recipe?

First here's the Recipe...

Wonderful Coffee Cake

2 cups Flour

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 cup Sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 egg

1 cup of Milk

1/3 cup of Vegetable Oil

1+ cups of Chocolate Chips

Mix together all Ingredients.

Spoon into a greased 8X8 pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.
(approx. 180 degrees in France) 

Cool and dust with Confectioner's Sugar.

In France, Chocolate Chips aren't a very popular thing to purchase, but I found some small, Dark Chocolate Chips...

 

(***I do apologize for the quality of my photos today.  Dr. J has the good camera,

and I had to take my photos with the "point and shoot" for this post...)

And, here is the"Wonderful Coffee Cake"...

Voila!  Coffee Cake for Dinner!  Of course, have a little Protein and Fruit with it!  You get to have your Dessert with your Main Course!

Easy, Easy recipe!  It will be a hit with just a nice Cup of Coffee, too, for Breakfast or a Mid-Morning Break!

As always, have a "Jewel" of a day!

Jan

Château De Versailles is "Golden"!

29/01/2013

Bonjour mes amis!

I've been showing you some of the hotspots we went to with our family in Paris over Christmas, but are you ready to see some "over the top" Luxury today?  This really is a "not to miss" attraction in Paris.  We took our family in 2004, and everyone was excited to go again.  Let me show you...

The Château De Versailles was originally built for Louis XIII, and Louis XIV enlarged it.  The place is Massive (with a capital "M")...and Golden, as you will see!  Sorry for the picture overload, but this place really is massive, as I say, and there's so much to take in!  The Front Gate amazes you first!

Look at all that Gold!

This is the Chapel!

And, now we'll go on into other rooms...

What?  Tired already?

Check out the size of this painting!  There were many in this Château!

The Ceilings are ASTOUNDING!

Of course, I couldn't neglect the Doors...

The Château was so crowded the day we went that you will notice the bulk of our pictures were looking up!  Yes, there was furniture in many of the rooms, and lovely beds, but the amazement really was in the ceilings, and on the walls!

I even liked the "golden" Window Hardware!

Next is my FAVORITE room in the Château...the Hall of Mirrors!  I think there were more than 20 Chandeliers, with many Sconce lights as well, which I didn't count!  I imagine a few Balls went on in this Room!

  Checking out the Chandeliers from underneath!

Moving right along...

What do you think of THIS Bedroom???

Check out the Detail...

Even the Hallways were quite Grand!

There was one HUGE Room with all HUGE Paintings of Battles!

And, now let's move Outside...so we can breathe...

I caught Ms. Sapphire "Jumping for Joy" over her trip to Versailles!

These two really do love eachother!

Stunning property, isn't it?  And, this is in Winter...

My Beautiful Family (minus Dr. J and me)...

After taking this all in, it was time for an Espresso Break!

Dr. J dragged guided us all to the Grand Trianon (we were all tired, so some of us, who should remain nameless, didn't want to go)...

One last look back at Versailles by night as we leave...

It was a Golden Day!  I hope you enjoyed getting to see the Château De Versailles!  I couldn't show you near enough here, but now you've got a pretty good idea that no expense was spared in the building of this Château!

Have a "Jewel" of a day!
Jan