Parking Lot Rooster

This little fucker is the bane of my existence.

Turtle Farm

I went to visit the Turtle Farm a few weeks ago and never posted pix. It's sort of a zoo/turtle sanctuary. You can't really tell how big these guys are but from snout to tail they are about 6 feet long. And ugly.

There's also a shark tank.

Traditional Cayman Houses

Not many of these left.

Hell

I've often said it's kinda like hell here, and there is actually a part of the island called Hell and it has its own post office. Seriously.

Cayman Christmas

One guy's Christmas exhibition. Yowza...

more pix on facebook

Tackiest Island Ever!

Everyone has thrown up their Christmas lights from last year. And I mean thrown up. Just hideous. Here's the roundabout that my apartment looks out upon. This can't make Jesus happy.

Salad Spinner

Learned this technique in Brazil. Used in France. Taught to a lady from Taiwan. For a dinner with Russian guests.

We couldn't find the salad spinner, so I was showing Lili Wu, the lady from Taiwan that visited us in France, how to use a pillow case in a pinch-put freshly washed lettuce in a pillow case, go outside and whip around in circles. Works like a charm, although the neighbors continue to think we are all nuts.

I look shockingly happy. Strange.

Getting Settled In Cayman

This is the beach, called Seven Mile Beach, across the street from my new apartment.

From a Castle to a Palace

My work permit for the Cayman Islands took longer than expected so I had to spend a week in Miami waiting for it. Fortunately, my good friend Tere had just renovated their guest room and so I spent a lovely week at their place, which is huge and beautiful, and has a pool. She and her husband Fernando treated me like a king and I had a wonderful time. I was a bit of a pain in the ass because I was so anxious about coming here but they were just amazing friends. God Bless 'em!

Beautiful guest room!

The pool.

Out for dinner at the Fontainbleau.

Jeff, Tere, Fernando.

Fall in St Pierre

End of summer and time to go...Autumnal colors on the ivy on the house.

It's cold enough again that there's mist off the river in the morning.

And the leaves are starting to turn.

And here's Patch (Tâche) sitting on my bed after I'm gone.

Commute

Helping some friends out at a nearby village. 5-minute drive then walk this way:

The turn off the streetlights after midnite so if the moon is not out I literally need a flashlight to walk back to the car. 

Going to Sleep Mix

Finally got this put together. Going to Sleep Mix

Sunglasses as Camera Lens

I shot these aiming my iPhone through my sunglasses. Somehow the clouds look more dramatic that way.

Random Photo

Wine Tasting at Chateau d'Alogny

Last night we had a wine tasting at Alogny. A family of ten, and me, and had a blast!

We started with a Cremant de Loire, which is a local sparkling wine, made in the méthode champenoise, so very high quality but not well known. Chenin blanc grape, so a little off-dry, but a great starter. (sorry, no pic). I grilled some figs from the garden, dabbled on some Bleu d'Auvergne, and drizzled on a balsamic reduction. Not a great photo, but they were delicious, even for those (Phoebe) who don't like blue cheese.

On to an old-vine Quincy, which is a region just east of Sancerre. I love the lemony notes in Quincy but this was more full-bodied and funky. Less crisp than I'd expected and because of the heft, it really needed food, so we had a selection of aged goat cheeses.

Here's the cheese board I made. Cheeses are, starting from bottom right going clockwise, goat cheese pyramide, Ossau Iraty, Morbier, Comte, and Saint Nectaire.

This is an amazing wine from Cour-Cheverny where they only use Romorantin grapes. I visited the winery last week and met the winemaker. Somewhat like a Sauvignon Blanc, old vines so big flavor and long taste on the palate, but still crisp and bright. Everyone loved this one.

Then a chardonnay from Domaine Gonon: Pouilly-Fuissé, again not as bright and crisp (I couldn't pass up all the old vine choices, as you never see them back home in the US) as I expected but big and full-bodied, a little funky (that's a good thing!!), great with the cheese.

One of my favorite French wines is Viognier, which for while was out of favor and down to only a small amount being produced in France. It was a hit in California so now thankfully, it's production is way up in France. This wine was not from Condrieu, but excellent. Andrea Immer once said that it's like chewing on Juicy Fruit gum and walking into a cloud of chalk dust after clapping chalkboard erasers together. She was talking about an American version but I love this explanation of chalky soild aroma and fruity flavor.

We ate roasted cashews with this to explain and bring out the nuttiness. Helped everybody understand how a wine, especially a white, could be nutty. Very different from a California viognier, but really wonderful.

Now the Reds. Everybody at the party was a Red fan, so thanks for your patience!

I had found a wonderful St. Joseph, "l'Arzelle" 2001, from Domaine des Vins de Vienne, a collective out of the city Vienne, not the region, which is where I am living. It was fruity and spicy and juicy. Delicious with a peppery saucisson.

Next I had toasted some walnuts, and tossed in butter with rosemary (from the garden) and salt and pepper. Sadly, I forgot to pass them around because we were enjoying the cured meats. But we finally got to them and ate every one.

The wine was rich, with notes of coffee, tobacco and chocolate, and just everything a Bordeaux should be. Chateau Tour des Termes, Saint Estèphe:

We finished with my personal favorite, Chateau de la Grille, from Baudry-Dutour, where I visited on my trip to Chinon. So much fruit and depth, but not tannic at all. I love Chinon, and I think this was a universal favorite.  Even the bottle is cool. Thanks so much to the Bird family for inviting me up to do this!

It's Official...I'm Going to Grand Cayman at the End of September!

(almost) Vegan Dinner

Made this tonite:

Steamed haricots verts with butter, potato salad (dressing of mustard, olive oil, white wine, salt, pepper, capers) and cucumber/tomato salad dressed in sherry vinegar, s/p, basil. Clean plates!

Saint-Savin

Oh, Shut Up, You'd Take Pictures, Too!

just a tree, near Chateau de Pruniers

church steeple in Saint-Savin

Driving Back from Bourgueil/Chinon

Was driving alone and so wanted to share it with friends. Listening to Patti Griffin, windows down, and such a big sky. Kinda reminds me of back home in Illinois.

Zen Proverb

When the flower arranger arranges the flowers, he also arranges his mind and the mind of the person who looks at the flowers.

                                    Zen Proverb

Chinon, I Love You

Made a trip to Bourgueil and Saumur, and passed through Chinon again. Still love it the best. Here's some grapes from Baudry-Dutour, where had promised to go back to. EXCELLENT stuff.

Just Because

Some church in Bourgueil

Sunset across the river