'this is the place where dreams are made'

I love summer evenings.  Sitting outside until night falls with a glass of wine, talking with friends, pondering life.  One said a few nights ago as we surveyed the trees, listened to hysterical bird and heard little mice scrabbling around in the hedge 'this is the place where dreams are made'. I pondered writing this above my door... until we decided it might sound like a brothel?

"It’s impossible” said pride. “It’s risky” said experience. “It’s pointless” said reason. “Give it a try” whispered the heart - Anonymous 

looks like she made it

Well after a few weeks of madness, cooking, tears and adventure, here I am in France cooking in a Chateau.  I love it here, although do wonder what the hell I think I'm doing.  My new boss often says 'it's a game, life's a game, do you think I know what I'M doing?' and... 'in fact everything I've been successful at doing I started out not having a clue'. And as for me... I'm coming to realize this slowly about life. Maybe I'm a slow learner, that we can never really approach a situation with our previous experience, it's all brand new today.  We just have to run with it and FIND the pleasure and the energy and the laughter!
So I have a quirky little apartment in an old abandoned school house, my cookbooks are all lined up and looking pretty on shelves in the kitchen and last night I whipped up a tray of the most delicious little mushrooms appetizers.  Think they're a winner, as suggested by the gardener and so simple!  This is the food I feel excited by, not fussy just yummy. Mushrooms - of any shape or description with the stalk removed and the centre hollowed out, filled with Boursin and drizzled with chilli oil, roasted in a hot oven for approximately 25 mins and voila!  Consumed with gusto. The only concern really is have you made enough?