Not by choice, mind you.
I arrived home from the States with a mild cold but was feeling much better after just a few days of sleeping in my own bed. Then some hateful germs found their way into my body and it all went downhill from there.
Last Thursday started out as a very exciting day. I left early that morning for Béziers to pick up my citizenship dossier from the sous-préfecture, complete with a letter from M. le Président, the words to la Marseillaise and an acte de naissance that would allow me to apply for both a carte d'identité and a French passport.
The meeting went smoothly and afterward I wandered around the city, window shopping and running a few errands before seeing friends for lunch.
The dry cough and headache began halfway through my savory chèvre and honey crêpe and continued for the next 24 hours until I was able to see the doctor. Diagnosis: bronchitis and a sinus infection.
lovely
The Pharmacie sent me home with a bag of goodies and the days of stubbornly accepting the fact that yes, you are sick so just deal with it already, began.
For five days I slept, wandered around the house in yoga pants and slippers, watched two seasons of the wickedly funny series Weeds, drank copious amounts of tea and juice, took my medication and guzzled cough syrup, then slept some more.
Then suddenly my appetite came back.
I still couldn't speak without fits of coughing, but I was hungry! Tuesday I whipped up a batch of spicy Thai Fried Rice for lunch and Wednesday I tried this recipe for Duck Breasts with le Puy Lentils. I even baked some focaccia bread one day.
I am officially on the mend! Finally.
I prepared a Basque Piperade for the entree. Piperade is made in France's Basque region, in the Southwest. They use a lot peppers and tomatoes in their cuisine, and this is a classic. I got one onion (they're very big here), two red peppers and one green, and tomatoes. I cut the onions in thin slices, and made them cook in medium low heat till they become translucent. Then I added the peppers cut in slices. When they were all soft, I added the tomatoes. I let cook for 15 minutes over low heat. I seasoned. When it was ready, I beat 4 whole eggs (organic) in a large bowl, added salt and pepper and added half of the preparation. I poured in a hot skillet with olive oil and made scrambled eggs. I kept the rest of the preparation hot. 
Friday I baked a pear clafouti in this oven, in individual portions. This time I chose yellow fruit. 
Abbi works for a Star PR agency in LA (a dream job) and loves her life here.
In the afternoon we went to Montana Ave for yogurt icecream and strolled along this very posh avenue, looking at the nice displays in the shops and chatting, chatting.
We had a very good time together!
The little seagull on the edge comes from Uruguay (1987) and it was given to me by my dear friend Nora. The two clay doves were purchased last year in a decoration shop in Saumur with this deck in mind.
This colorful soft wood parrot comes from Paraguay (2007); it has adapted pretty well to the boring stone of my building!
Look at this needy little soapstone bird from Kenya (1982) that hides in a forest of deligthfully scented white flowers. 
This sparrow (2007) comes from the Sarthe (France), and it's done with old oil tin containers recycled by a local artist. It was given to me by my painter friend 
A little colorful toucan bird on the edge comes all the way from Mexico (1996).
And the yellow bird hiding under the 
Finally, this sober small iron bird comes from.... France. It may be looking for its companion that I still have to place somewhere!
On my tray, my Printemps procelain white with a blue rind cup and saucer, gift of a dear friend, my Italian percolator with my coffee ready to be poured, a glass of grapefruit juice, and a bowl of a delicious mix of my home made Charentais melon jam, plain low fat yogurt, and 1/2 cup of organic muesli. I am using a fair trade Brazilian coffee right now, and I love it. I have ALWAYS loved Brazilian coffee I must say. I store it in this container I bought in Venice (Marci has the same) The Italian percolator makes pretty strong coffee, but it's so delicious!
I use a Japanese blue and white bowl I bought in Japan back in 1992. It contains a healthy mix. Plain yogurt: culture and milk, that's it (why would you need anything else?). Of all places, I have found in Amsterdam my favorite muesli mix, to which I add some sunflower and pumpkin organic seeds and dry cranberries. I take about 1/2 cup. 
Finally I add 3 or 4 teaspoons of one of my home made jams. Right now I am using a delicious Charentais melon jam; I will share with you my recipe in my next post.
