Food & Travel
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A Quilt Community
The last weekend of May is a special time in south-western Ontario. On this weekend for each of the past 52 years, a small community has come together to host a unique charitable event that benefits the less fortunate around the world in a big way (to the tune of $14,000,000 since 1967). It is the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. The heart of the Sale is a quilt auction featuring handmade quilts donated by quilt-makers from around Ontario and beyond. But this Sale is so much more than that. Supported by local businesses and churches, as well as more than 2000 volunteers, this is truly a community event. That…
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Garden of the Queens – Part 3
Paris is a city of apartments so people have very little if any personal green space. The public gardens thus become their back yard. This is clearly evident as you stroll into the English garden of Jardin du Luxembourg – Luxembourg Gardens. This is a space where joggers can run the circumference of the park while others soak up some sun by the octagonal basin or play a game of tennis. The garden is also a place for children. Here they can watch a puppet show at le théâtre des marionnettes or take a pony ride. La Vie En Rose Beyond the ponies lies the lovely Jardin de la Roseraie.…
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Garden of the Queens – Part 2
I first chanced upon Jardin du Luxembourg after visiting le Panthéon national monument. As I strolled down Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, I was happy to discover that the gardens were just below it. Walking along the garden fence, I enjoyed the free photographic exhibition that was mounted on it. And as I entered the Odéon gate next to le palais, I came upon the most famous feature in Luxembourg: La fontaine Médicis. Built in the form of a grotto in 1630 by Queen Marie de Medici, the Medici Fountain is a sight to behold. A long, reflective bassin de l’eau is flanked by plane trees and beautiful, giant swags of ivy. At…
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Garden of the Queens – Part 1
On first blush, Jardin du Luxembourg – Luxembourg Gardens – may seem like any other royal Parisian garden – a beautiful green space surrounding a royal palais – palace. However, Luxembourg is so much more than that. During a recent visit to Paris, I had the great fortune to spend a month in a lovely rental apartment in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter of the city – less than a 10 minute walk from Jardin du Luxembourg. (Another bonus: it was also right next door to the legendary Le Procope, the oldest café in Paris, having been founded in 1686.) My proximity to the gardens for this extended visit…
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Special Delivery
I was so excited to see the courier pull up in front of my home one day last week. I knew that he was carrying a very special package and I couldn’t wait to open it. Shortly after I launched this blog, I decided that I wanted to have a calling card that I could give to people to introduce them to L’Abeille Française – The French Bee – in person. So I reached out to my brand designer Julia of Julabrand Design Co. and asked her for help with this. Not only is Julia my beautiful niece, she is also a talented and experienced graphic designer, having trained at…
