Southern Folk Artist & Antiques Dealer/Collector: friends

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Becky's Birthday party

Désirée Joséphine Duplantier and the birthday girl Becky!

Last week Désirée Joséphine Duplantier attended a wonderful birthday party of a good friend Becky. I have known Becky for over 11 years. I first met her and her husband Bob right before Hurricane Katrina as they were renting a lovely 1820's Creole house from another good friend Peter. We have kelp in touch all this time. After Hurricane Katrina when I moved to Baltimore, Bob and Becky would let me stay in the French Quarter weekend place. On one of these visits Becky made me one of my favorate Southern desserts. Blackberry cobbler! I still have the photo of it. I was out all day and when I returned a warm homemade cobbler was waiting for me on a marble nightstand. I will never forget this. The birthday party was fabulous. Upon arrival Désirée Joséphine Duplantier was handed a 1850's coin silver mint juip cup with a wonderful cocktail inside! It was nice to see old Friends and make new ones. A good time was had by all.

A surprise homemade blackberry cobbler left on my night stand. I friend actually made this for me.

Désirée Joséphine Duplantier getting ready for the party

Wonderful 19th century Old Paris porcelain cornflower pattern dinner plates!

Wonderful 19th century Old Paris porcelain wedding band & cornflower pattern dinner plates!

Baked vegetables

Pork roast stuffed with garlic and peppers.

o'dourves

o'dourves on a Old Paris porcelain platter.

19th century cut glass.

Désirée Joséphine Duplantier

The birthday girl.

The Birthday cake.

The birthday party!

Désirée Joséphine Duplantier cake and 1850's coin silver mint julip cup

The famous Poppy Tooker, culinary activist cutting the cake.

Birthday wishes!

Désirée Joséphine Duplantier and the birthday girl Becky!

Monday, April 25, 2016

Lunch with my French friend Bastien in Arcachon, France.

My French friend Bastien enjoying our lunch overlooking the sea!

During my month long vacation in France last Summer I decided to go to Bordeaux France for a week, I loved Bordeaux so much I decided to stay for two weeks! I rented a wonderful apt in a 18th century building in the heart of old Bordeaux, During my stay I invited French friends to come and stay with me in the wonderful two level apt. My good friend Bastien was one of them. In return he invited me to come over to Arcachon, France for the day, a hour trains ride from Bordeaux. The day was a little overcast but still nice. He first showed me the Dune du Pyla (often also spelled Dune du Pilat). The biggest in Europe. After a lovely walk around the village of Arcachon we stop for lunch at one of the many little restaurants overlooking the beach.

Our lunch was the wonderful fish on mashed potatoes with wine.

After lunch for dessert we had wonderful ice cream and walked the beach!

Arcachon is a seaside town in southwest France that's known for oyster harvesting. Its 4 districts are named after the seasons. The Ville d'Été (summer) quarter is home to shopping streets, the town’s sandy main beach and a casino in the 19th-century Château Deganne. Ville d’Hiver (winter quarter) has extravagant 19th-century villas. South of the town is the Dune du Pilat, a huge natural sand dune.

Arcachon has many smaller beaches in the town centre, each of which is separated from the next by a few buildings or private property. Those in the centre get very crowded in summer, but if you follow Boulevard de l'Océan and Boulevard de la Mer towards the west, you'll find some less crowded one's. On the other hand, you are closer to the bars and restaurants of the centre if you stay there - and there's certainly more entertainment.