Mother's Day wishes

Mother's Day is coming up! 

And when we visited the Loire Valley one Mother's Day Weekend 

several years ago with The Chef's parents,

we found that many of the chateaux decorate their rooms with

magnificent flower arrangements for the Moms. 

Both his parents are gone now as is my Mom

and what I wouldn't give now to walk both those Moms 

through these gorgeous rooms as a Mother's Day Sunday treat. 

List of things I miss about my Mom:

* The way she swept my hair behind my ears with her long fingernails 

when I was little to put me to sleep *

* The beauty of her long elegant hands *

* Her music and radio voice *

* Late night drives in the car, my sister and I wrapped in blankets

in a bed in the back watching the stars and silhouetted trees through the window *

* Her giggle *

* Her sing-song voice when she was in a good mood *

* Her I love you's *

* Her love of all things purple *

If you are blessed to still have your mom, 

I hope you have a little something sweet planned for her.

And if this day simply brings up loss and sadness, 

I hope you will show yourself some sweetness.

Pick a bouquet from the garden for yourself,

or stop by the store for a little tenderness for your heart. 

We all tend to mother those close to us in our lives

so don't forget to mother yourself this weekend. 

Bonne Fete des Meres!

 (The above photo is Chateau Azay le Rideau.

For a little more info on the chateau itself, Click HERE.) 

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Monday is 'Missing Paris Day'~Chateau Azay le Rideau

One of the Loire's earliest Renaissance chateaux, Azay le Rideau,

located about 150 miles southwest of Paris in the Loire Valley,

was built in the 16th century.

And like Chenonceau and Cheverny, it was created by a woman.

Gilles Berthelot, a financier under Louis XII and Francois I,

left the details of construction to Madame Berthelot.

When Gilles was accused of embezzlement, he left the area

(fleeing to Lorraine) where he died a few years later.

Francois I confiscated the chateau

(from Madame Berthelot) and gave it to one of his officers

as a token of his appreciation.

The story reminds me of Vaux le Vicomte,

a similar story of a finance minister to a King creating something too beautiful.

That story inspired the building of Versaille

(after the imprisonment of the finance minister and confiscation of his property,

architect, painter and gardener).

Moral: Never one-up a King!

(Photographs copyright: Kirsten Steen)