Patricia Sands

Author

ForeWord 2010 Book Of The Year Finalist

A bit about Brie

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

I’ve been in France all week … well, okay, in my mind … and I know that’s not the same as actually being there in person. But almost … really … I’ve been working on my next novel for several hours every day and my characters are in France so of course I’m right with them.

We’ve been driving the winding backroads of the Luberon region in Provence,

hiking the hills, inhaling the aromatic fragrances of lavender, rosemary,thyme,

exploring the enticing warrens of ancient laneways in picturesque villages,

drinking perfectly chilled rosé

and, of course, enjoying the most amazingly delicious gastronomic interludes (i.e. eating – but that word just doesn’t cut it in France).

My DH kept encouraging me to take a break but I simply didn’t want to leave France. When I finally did surface to acknowledge I have another life and do some grocery shopping this afternoon, I had only one thing on my mind. BRIE!

There happens to be, what my friend Natalie Hartford would describe as an AHHHsomely, überlicious, epicurean emporium in our neighbourhood called The Cheese Boutique. Don’t let the name fool you, this place is magic (and will be the subject of a later post). If you ever want to feel like you have stepped into a shop in France, it’s right here. After immersing myself in all things Français this week, I couldn’t stop thinking about having a perfect slice – or two – of Brie.

I was rewarded. The rosé is chilling and as soon as I finish this post, I’m actually going to have a conversation with my DH and we will eat Brie. I’ve been kind of *absent* this week.

Here are a few facts you might find interesting:

Legend has it that in the eighth century, French Emperor Charlemagne first tasted this cheese at a monastery in Reuil-en-Brie and fell instantly in love with its creamy, rich flavor. The favorites of kings eventually become favorites of the people. Louis XVI’s last and dying wish was supposedly to have a final taste of Brie. Hmm – well it makes for a good story.

This soft cow’s cheese was originally referred to as the “King’s Cheese” but after the French Revolution any reference to “the king” was a major non-non so Brie was called the “King of Cheeses”.

Legitimate Brie must be made in the Seine-et-Marne area south of Paris, but many countries now commercially manufacture a similar cheese which is sold as Brie. For the best taste, look for the French label.
Of the 400+ kinds of cheese made in France, Brie is considered the most popular. In fact, I mentioned in an earlier post that the fromagier extraordinaire we got to know in Antibes told us it was obigatory to serve Brie after a meal if you have French guests. Obligatoire!
Make sure you always serve Brie at least at room temperature. Here’s a website with more recipes for making appetizers with Brie than I ever imagined possible. Bon appetit!
Do you get totally caught up in projects and lose track of time and everything else? I’m betting every writer is raising his or her hand right now, shouting “Guilty!”  There are a lot of excellent blogs offering us good advice on the subject. Here’s a great article on Zenhabits.net that works for everyone.
For the finest in writing tips, drop in on Kristen Lamb, Jenny Hansen, Jane Friedman, for starters. As always, I highly recommend the blogs listed down the right side of this page for a wonderful variety of topics, insights and personalities!

Support your local bookstore … please

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Ben McNally Books – photo courtesy of BlogTO

A few weeks ago I wrote about our beloved local bookshop, The Book Mark, being forced to close.  Every time I walk by the empty store, I feel SO sad! There aren’t many inviting bookstores left with character and warmth in Toronto and those we do have need our support.

If you are downtown, plan to spend some time at Nicholas Hoare Ltd., 75 Front Street East, or Ben McNally Books at 366 Bay Street.

Both shops offer a warm, welcoming atmosphere with beautiful wood floors and shelving reminiscent of an old library. Comfortable chairs invite customers to take some time considering their purchases and informed staff are only to happy to offer assistance. If they don’t have what you want, they’ll make certain they soon have it in the store.  Another bonus, when you are ready to pay there aren’t 20 people in front of you. Have you lined up at our local big chain booksandeverythingelse store lately? Yikes!

Ben McNally also hosts fabulous Author Presentations with a brunch at the King Edward hotel on a regular basis. All the information is on their website and, seriously, you should add them to your calendar.

Nicholas Hoare Ltd. – photo courtesy of their website

In spite of the convenience of shopping online 24/7, there is so much to be said for still having the opportunity to browse in a proper bookstore. Let’s all do our part in at least attempting to keep this option alive in the areas where we live. Libraries and bookstores are a vital link in encouraging the ongoing development of literacy in every demographic of our community. It’s so easy for kids, in particular, to be sidetracked by the digital world. If family members make certain that visits to these centres are part of children’s routines, we may have a chance at helping ensure these guardians of our literary culture don’t go the way of the dinosaur.

In  a short burst of shameless self-promotion, I’ll just add that The Bridge Club is available at both of the above locations. *waving pompoms*

 Do you find that you are doing most of your book-buying online? As a Kindle convert, I have to admit to that but I make a concerted effort to drop into indie bookstores on a regular basis too. It’s really a conflicting situation! Do you have a prediction as to how it’s all going to end?

For readers who are also writers, you’ll be doing yourself a favour dropping in on:

Our fearless blogging and social media leader,Kristen Lamb, who this week talks about how Writing Is More Than Writing

And for sheer entertainment value as well as a ton of excellent information, please continue to visit members of the blog roll down the side of this page. You’ll be glad you did!

A roadtrip to Gourdon

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

My plan was to have you join me for a roadtrip to one of our favourite destinations when we had friends visiting. The perched village of Gourdon has, as the sign says, a “Panorama Grandiose” … say no more. The view is worth the drive and the drive is a treat in itself. There’s a great spot for the usual espresso stop while you enjoy the breathtaking vista with the hills of the Alpes-Maritimes tumbling down to the Côte D’Azur while the Mediterranean sparkles like a jewel on a perfect day.

You’ll find more information about the village and it’s 13thC castle that began as a Saracen fortress in the 9thC if you click here. Roman ruins indicate the area was well inhabited during those times. As well as a loved destination for tourists and locals alike, hiking and hang-gliding are also popular.

The roadtrip down from Gourdon brings us back to the coast ending with a sunset from our terrace in Antibes. The photos are all mine with the exception of the fantastic shot of the entire village which must have been taken from a plane (credit is given to cometofrance.com).

I’m late getting this post up for a couple of reasons but the most important is that as I was putting together my slideshow I received a very sad e-mail. A dear friend in London, England passed away yesterday after battling leukemia for several years. She was one of those people who make life better just by knowing her – and her husband, I might add. When I wrote him tonight I expressed how they always represented to me the best that a couple could be together. I hope you know someone like that too.

So if you are wondering why I have a Beatles song as the accompanying music for this French roadtrip, it’s because I’ve been thinking about my friend Adorée.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DkfHKJqkaU&feature=youtu.be

I’ve been looking after The Adorables this week (our youngest grandchildren, ages 2 and 4) as they’ve been home sick with a nasty virus. Consequently, I am SO far behind with writing and social media, it’s staggering! I won’t even bother going into the fact that I picked up their virus, just to add to the fun! I pride myself on never getting sick so that was definitely not on my agenda! So pardon my absence, fellow bloggers and dear readers, and things should be back to normal (whatever that is) very soon. How do you deal with the unexpected glitches life throws into your schedule?

A love letter to my Bridge Club

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As we roll into another year, I feel like sending a bit of cyberlove to the amazing friends who are my real life Bridge Club by retelling this story. This is old news for some of you who read my blog but many of you won’t know the story.

Along with some fine, steadfast BFF’s in my life, I have this special group that has shared friendship for over 45 years. There are ten of us in what we laughingly call the Bridge Club. We chuckle about it because, to be honest, cards have not played the most important role in our lives although we do enjoy the game.

We’re all the same age give or take a year and that is the most obvious thing we have in common. We have very diverse personalities, sizes, shapes, hairstyles, careers, bank accounts, and families. Yet, at the same time, we are one. The values we share are undeniable.

Like everyone on the planet, we each have our own story. Part of forging a strong friendship is accepting and understanding each other’s story, even if we’re not in accord with every aspect. Agreeing to disagree can be an important step in accepting differences and working through issues.

Becoming a valued part of each other’s story is a true sign of the quality of a friendship.

Our Bridge Club shares a history filled with memories that range from deliriously happy to devastatingly sad and encompass everything in between. It’s been quite a ride made all the more meaningful by knowing each one of us was “there” for whatever we needed. It hasn’t always been everyone responding at the same time but rather whoever had the best to offer the situation. No matter what, we are all in the loop and ready to bring what we could.

Some of the women in our group have known each other since kindergarten. Others came into the circle in our late teens and early twenties through school and university. From our days in the Psychedelic Sixties as hip, liberated “twenty-somethings”, or so we thought, to our present day status as “zoomers’”, our connection has been a constant.

Even though some of us are separated geographically now, we keep in touch. Six of us still get together frequently and we plan reunions with the others when we can. For the past twenty years, we have gathered for a major birthday celebration every five years and, trust me, we can still party!

September, 2010, we had an awesome week together on Vancouver Island. All ten of us laughed way too much, were organized into an impressive range of activities by the “planner” in the group, and, oh yes, played bridge. Did I mention we laughed way too much?

We piled into our vehicles one perfect morning – Bo driving 6 in the van, Barb with 4 in her car – to make the two-hour or so drive to Campbell River for lunch at Dick’s Fish and Chips. Nothing else would do!

The first scenic stop was at Qualicum Beach for a group photo. If you have visited Vancouver Island, I’m sure you will agree about the absolute unspoiled beauty of that part of the world particularly when the sun is shining and the temperature is just right.

Before I knew it, an unsuspecting guy relaxing on a nearby bench had been recruited. He continued to smile as he was handed several cameras and patiently completed the task.

Wondering who we were, some of us chatted for a few minutes. Barb took a photo of the rest of us with him and someone handed him a postcard about my novel, The Bridge Club. I should mention here that this was just a month after publication and the bridge club ladies were being the best promoters a writer could hope for!

But then again, as they constantly reminded me with grins, the novel is their story … with the lines blurred here and there to make it fiction. And that’s the truth, I could never have written the book without the history we have shared nor without their permission and whole-hearted approval.

Two days after I returned home to Toronto, a polite e-mail (address from my website on the postcard) arrived from the Qualicum Beach ‘photographer’ asking if it was ok to contact me. I was impressed by his thoughtful courtesy, agreed, and thanked him again for taking the great photo. Two days passed and this arrived to my inbox.

Inspired by sun, sand and blue mountains    Laughter and joy, the bridge club’s gift.

    An aging gypsy, a beach-side moment,

    lovely women, fellow travelers.

    A snap shot in time, joined for an instant.

 

   Each alone yet connected,

   through joys, sorrows and inner callings,

   visions from the “psychedelic sixties”.

   Honesty and truth, service to a common good

   forged in the fires of friendship.

   

    For me, silence and solitude,

   meditation halls and prayer.

   Birthed in the sixties

   nurtured for decades

   blossoming in the moment.

 Brother and sisters… same goal , different pathways.

 All the best 

He had obviously read the blurb about The Bridge Club history on the postcard and on my website and penned this just for us. This unknown Qualicum Beach ‘photographer’ made our brief stop that morning a very special memory forever.

It’s memories that weave the threads of our story together – the good and the bad, the “stuff” of life. We have choices to make every day and the more we are able to ensure they are affirmative and beneficial, the better our story becomes. When our story is authentic, value-based, and strong everyone connected to us benefits as well. It’s our own personal way of paying it forward.

Having true friendship in your life can only add positives to your journey in every way. The giving is equally as satisfying as the receiving.

The most important lesson we’ve learned from each other? To have a good friend, you must be a good friend.

I wish the same for you.

Take a minute today to let your friends know how much they mean to you. To all of you who take the time to drop by my blog, I’d like to think we are developing a friendship of sorts as well. I want to tell you how much I appreciate your visits. You have no idea how motivating and inspiring it is to know you’ve stopped in. Thanks!