Patricia Sands

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Mother's Day

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

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On Sunday, May 10th, Mother’s Day is celebrated in North America. Come on a flight of fantasy with me now for a few minutes. Any mother would love it!

Villa Ephrussi, in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, is a special estate to visit at any time. Our women’s tour spends an afternoon there each year exploring the magnificent villa and prolific gardens. It’s always a highlight … especially these musical fountains. Click on this link to enjoy the show! (I could not get the video of the fountains to load here ~ typical of me ~ but I hope you will click on the link to see the stunning show.)

Even if you can’t be together with other family this weekend, it’s so easy to gift books. Here’s one suggestion! 🙂 https://amzn.to/2YGgDa6

Happy Mother’s Day to mothers everywhere. So many of you are working from home and at the same time trying to take care of your family.  Some of you are home schooling children and doing your best to keep your world and theirs revolving in some kind of “normal”. Families and friends are talking to each other more than ever before. Let’s keep that going. 

So many of you are taking risks every day and leaving the safety of your home to take care of the rest of us in a multitude of different ways.

There are not enough words to express our thanks to all of you and also to all those people around that I see doing such thoughtful acts of kindness, day in and day out. Let’s keep believing that we will get through this by continuing to help each other.

La Fête Des Mères

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

In Canada and the U.S.A, this Sunday, the second Sunday in May, is Mother’s Day. Well, officially it’s Mother’s Day … we all know in reality every day is Mother’s Day. Where would we be without them?

Mother’s Day in France this year is June 3.

The date is fixed to the last Sunday of May, except in the case of Pentecost Sunday  and then the festival is postponed until that date.

France’s tradition was inaugurated by Napoleon and made official in 1920.

As you might expect in the foodalicious culture of that country. Special cakes are often created for this day.

Many of them are in floral designs such as these on the left … almost too beautiful to eat!

As I was looking up information for this post … um, you wonder (???) why my current WIP still  isn’t finished … there are distractions like blogging!

Okay, where was I …

I happened upon the wonderful blog of Myriam, an Australian writer who also shares fabulous posts on France … another fine example of the global melting pot of information in this amazing blogosphere of ours. You are going to love her site!

This is a cake she made while in France  a couple of years ago celebrating La Fête with her mother and grandmother. Magnifique, oui?  Now if you are like me … I suck at baking baking is not my forté … with the exception of my Christmas shortbread cookies which I have to admit are delicious (based on the rapid disappearance of any batch left unattended) and I have my dear long-departed Gram to thank for that recipe.

But I digress … as I often do …

This cake is from a very famous Paris bakery and comes in a kit! Woohoo! I can do kits!

Myriam has shared all of the necessary ingredients from this kit and how-to photos on her blog. Click here to see how for yourself. Even baking-challenged moi can whip up this impressive delight!

If you are looking for something different to prepare for your mom this weekend, this might be just the ticket. (Don’t you love that plate too?)

While you are planning the rest of your celebration for Mother’s Day, here are a few quotes to ponder.

L’avenir d’un enfant est l’oeuvre de sa mere-The future of a child is the work of his mother. -Napoleon Bonaparte.

Le coeur d’une mere est un abîme au fond duquel se trouve toujours le pardon.-The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.-Honore de Balzac, a 19th century French novelist and playwright.

Une maman formidable donne toujours une grand-mere exceptionnelle.-A great mother always makes an exceptional grandmother.-Jean Gastaldi, French writer.

A little historical note: the United Kingdom was the first country to begin celebrating mothers in the 1600’s. Mothering Sunday occurs on the fourth Sunday in Lent so the date changes from year to year.

My dear mom died 6 years ago at the age of 92 (with a better memory than mine right to the end!). We will honour her on Sunday, as I will be feted by  my children and grandchildren, and as I will honour our daughters and daughters-in-law. Amazing mothers all.  Whether the mothers you honour are present or live on in your heart, whatever you do, celebrate with that attitude of gratitude!