Crusty bread and brie

Just finished a delightful snack of sour dough French bread, spread with a delectable, double-cream brie, and served with a beautiful Cabernet as a tribute to the movie Julie and Julia. The movie was inspirational in so many ways. And it felt like a calling to see it again and perhaps again.

As a writer, who loves to eat and write about food, and who also loves Paris, the movie touched me on many levels. The street scenes with Julia Child engaging the vendors of huiles (oysters) and poivres (pears) while sampling their wares reminds me of times spent strolling the markets of Paris in search of the perfect bunch of grapes for an afternoon picnic. Julia is enthralled by the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and meats.

While watching the scene where the Sole Meuniere is served, I could almost taste the soft, flaky fish served in the browned butter sauce when Julia gives a forkfull to her husband Paul. And when she offers a taste of brie to her sister, my mouth watered for the succulent creamy flavor of the soft cheese. I could echo Julia's sentiments, "Is this not the most delicious cheese you have ever tasted?" as she gobbles up the dab of brie from her fingertip.

Julie the blogger discovers a similar joy in following the recipes and techniques of the woman who taught American women how to cook in the French style. Just the way she and her husband devour the poached eggs and chocolate cake says love.

Pure enjoyment of food. That's what comes through in this movie. Preparing--cooking--and savoring the flavor is always a joy to share.

German Food

German food is so tasty and I profess a weakness
for Weiner Schnitzel.

On a recent trip to Dusseldorf, Germany this delicious platter of Weiner Schnitzel, smothered
in a creamy mushroom sauce, tempted my tastebuds.

Served alongside a cold,
dark, Alt beer from this region of Germany, the meal was a hit. The Apfel (Apple) Struedle and striped
pancake desserts more than satisfied my sweet tooth.

Birds, birds, birds

These little house finches have found the sunflower seeds! It didn't take long for the sparrows and goldfinches to get in on the action too. Even a small, black and white downy woodpecker swoops in to grab a seed and then swoosh back out to the pine trees in the ravine behind our house. The bluebirds are too big to perch on the feeder, but they still come for a look-see anyway.

Tiger Swallowtail

Those red zinnias are a siren call for even more butterflies this morning. This elegant tiger swallowtail returned again and again, probing his proboscis for nectar. Even the hummingbird knows where to come for a snack throughout the day.

The large, red zinnias outside my library window have become quite the attraction. In just the past half-hour, three different kinds of butterflies stopped for a drink of nectar. This dark swallowtail sat and posed for quite a while.

During the morning hours, handsome, American Goldfinch males peck at the petals. Their vivid yellow coats and black markings are considerably brighter in coloration than the duller hued females.

Georgia wildlife

Our northern Georgia location brings many birds to our backyard including Eastern Bluebirds and the American Goldfinch. The bright, red zinnias are quite a draw for both the Goldfinches and also for the tiny, Ruby-throated hummingbirds. The finches pull out the petals searching for seeds while the hummingbirds poke their long, needlelike bills searching for nectar.

In the ravine behind the house, Red-Headed Woodpeckers scamper up and down the tall pines, boring holes to find a steady diet of insects.