Basket of lavender in Provence | | |
Well we’re back from our trip and though I don’t want to bore you with “Oh my trip to France was so magical…” stories, it honestly was. You know how sometimes you build something up and then the reality is a tad underwhelming? Well this trip was the opposite of that. The reality was so much better than anything I could have imagined.
I’m still trying to process everything. There is so much that I learned about myself and about France and its wonderful people, so I’m taking my time to unpack those lessons so that they stay with me a while. I know that I only scratched the surface, but what I’ve learned about France so far has made me want to learn more.
The first thing I learned is that the stereotype of French snootiness is completely wrong. Sure we ran into an occasional impatient store clerk or waiter, but these were usually in high tourist areas and no different than what I’ve run into anywhere else in the world. No, the overwhelming majority of people we talked to were patient, kind, helpful, good natured, and had a wonderful sense of humor (even when I was mangling their beautiful language!). They seem to savor life. We saw that in the pubs and on the trams and in the streets. And there was a real sense of community that we saw everywhere we went. A sense of pride in who they are and what’s important to them.
That being said, it's great to be home! As someone once said, there's no place like it...
Our online store is up and running again and our Newberg shop is open regular hours now (Th-Sat 12-5). And we're gearing up for the holidays and all of the fun and craziness that brings! First up is my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, with its emphasis on community and counting our blessings. One of the blessings I'm so very thankful for is you and your continued support and encouragement!
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of love, laughter, and good food!
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A twisted lavender bouquet makes a great centerpiece | | |
You may have seen these beautiful bouquets on instagram or other social media sites...and it turns out they are very easy to make! They are beautiful table centerpieces or look gorgeous on your fireplace mantel. You can use just lavender or add other dried flowers and grasses from your garden. Here's a quick how-to:
Materials
- 4 bunches of dried lavender (about 400 stems)
- Dried grasses, wheat, flowers of your choice (optional)
- ribbon
Instructions
Make all 4 bunches (and other stems if using) into one giant bunch with one rubber band.
Move the rubber band up until it's about at the 1/3 mark on the bouquet.
Put one hand below the rubber band and one hand above the rubber band (but below where the buds start)
Start twisting the stems in opposite directions. The stems will start to slowly move in the direction you want. Continue twisting 10-12 times or until you have the desired effect. Wrap the ribbon around the lavender right where the rubber band is (I usually wrap it twice) and tie in a neat bow.
Trim the bottom of the bouquet so that it can stand up on its own
And there you have it!
A beautiful vase-less lavender centerpiece for your table!
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Roasted Potatoes with Herbs de Provence | |
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped potatoes, any thin skinned variety like gold, red, or fingerling
- 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Herbs de Provence
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Arrange tossed potatoes onto your baking tray bake for 25-30 minutes or until the potatoes are golden brown and tender.
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Roasted Pork Tenderloin
with Garlic and Lavender Herb Crust
from Discover Cooking with Lavender by Kathy Gehrt
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Ingredients
2 tablespoons plain dry breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons culinary lavender buds, finely ground using a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus one tablespoon for coating pan
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
1 pound pork tenderloin, trimmed of all fat.
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Using a paper towel, coat pan with a thin film of olive oil.
2. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, parsley, lavender, olive oil, garlic, and salt.
3. Rub the pork tenderloin with the breadcrumb mixture. Place pork in the pan and let sit for 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
4. Roast the pork for 20-25 minutes or until crust is brown and the pork reaches 160 degrees F. Transfer the roast to a carving board; tent loosely with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes.
5. Cut into ¼ inch slices and serve with your favorite side dish.
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Featured Products: Hostess Gifts | |
300 Meters: Letting Curiosity Lead the Way
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The medieval streets of Annecy, France | | |
It was our first day in Grenoble and we thought we’d do the tourist thing and ride “the bubbles” up to the Bastille on the hill overlooking the city. So we hopped onto the bubble-shaped gondola and took the 10 minute ride up, enjoying the aerial view and what it could teach us about Grenoble’s landscape and layout. Once at the top, we wandered a bit around the Bastille, climbing a winding staircase to the very top of the fort and learning a little of the history that took place there. As we wandered, we saw a trail up the hill behind the Bastille and thought we’d see what was there. “300 meters to restaurant” the sign at the beginning of the trail said, and although we were jet-lagged, we started walking, curious to see what lay ahead. Around the last corner emerged an unassuming red restaurant that looked like it might belong somewhere in Sweden, but we thought we’d investigate. As we got closer, it was clear that this was no ordinary restaurant. The first thing we noticed were the huge picture windows that looked out over the Belledonne mountains and down to the valley. White linen tablecloths covered the tables, with wine glasses waiting to be filled. So we stepped inside. Our Amelie-looking waitress knew very little English and my French is very limited, but between some pantomime, the help of google translate, and a sense of humor, we were able to get what we needed, enjoying local specialties ravioli dauphine (tiny little cheese filled raviolis) and chartreuse (made by local monks).
This seemed to be a theme with this trip – exploration and curiosity were our driving forces. For the first week, Mark was working during the day so I was on my own. I wandered through the medieval streets of Grenoble, Valence, and Annecy, finding a church here, a fountain there, or a beautiful courtyard or park around the next corner. I biked around Lake Annecy, stopping at a small local beach to watch children playing in the shallow end of the lake and swans gliding across the blue waters. I stumbled across the plain-looking Museum of the French Resistance and Deportation and cried as I bore witness to the atrocities committed against fellow human beings.
The following week, during our time in Provence, Mark and I followed markers set into the sidewalk leading to the sanitarium where Vincent Van Gogh had spent a year. I stood in that famous bedroom of his, looking out into the garden below, watching the pigeons land on the ledges, and trying to imagine what he might have been thinking. Just beyond the sanitarium, we followed signs to Roman ruins complete with bath houses and monuments to their gods and tried to imagine what life might have been like so many years ago. Later, we followed the sound of drums that led to a Halloween parade through the streets of Saint-Remy, children dressed as witches and ballerinas and parents taking those photos that they will cherish in years to come.
I have to admit that there were days when I was tempted to just hang out in the hotel room, order room service, and watch movies. Traveling can be exhausting, intimidating, and humbling. But every day I pushed myself to get out there and see what France had to offer. Sometimes I got lost and sometimes I was frustrated, but always at the end of the day I was happy I had explored and often found treasures I hadn’t even been looking for. Though I had a list of places I wanted to see, I soon noticed that France had other plans for me, and when I let my curiosity take control, I was rewarded with gift after gift – beauty and surprises around every corner.
This is a lesson I’m bringing home with me: to keep exploring, keep asking questions, keep challenging myself. To savor every day. To eat the good food and drink the good wine and allow myself to wander. It’s been easy these last few years to just stay safely in my little bubble, in this small town, tending my lavender. But there’s a big beautiful world out there full of all kinds of surprises and I intend to keep letting my curiosity lead the way.
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I hope you've enjoyed our November newsletter! Feel free to forward our newsletter to any lavender-loving friends who you think might enjoy it! And follow us on Instagram for more pretty lavender pictures!
Pam
(Unless otherwise noted, all photos are taken by me!)
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