Harvested Cherry Tomatoes In Ironstone Bowl

Garden Tomatoes in a Baguette Basket

Garden Tomatoes in a Pedestal Fruit Bowl

Grow Lots of Tomato Varieties

Tomatoes in August are a real treat. Chances are you began your tomato plants from seed back in February, you planted tomato seedlings months ago, you had tomato volunteer plants appear in the spring, or you made a special trip to the farmers market to buy from your favorite tomato farmer recently. In other words, tomatoes can be an investment of time, but are the culinary gems of the summer potager. Earthy and ethereal, they shout and taste of Mother Earth perfection.

Tomatoes come in all different colors and shapes these days. The bold red tomatoes are show stoppers. When they are in season, one should display thine divine tomatoes.

Tomatoes displayed in vintage pieces, baskets, fruit bowls, etc. make beautiful table settings and summer color display in the kitchen. It is hard to improve on Mother Nature, and a great example of seasonal living. What a great way to showcase your tomatoes before you eat, cook, or preserve them.

A few things to remember when bringing your tomatoes into the kitchen.

Tomatoes should be washed before eating but not immediately after harvesting. Wipe off any dirt or dust, but when you are ready to eat your tomatoes clean and wash them well.

Tomatoes are best stored at room temperature, and not in your refrigerator. Sometimes tomatoes stored in the refrigerator develop a mealy texture and lose their flavor. An exception to refrigerate your tomato is if the skin is broken—cooling it will slow the potential for it to start molding.

Slightly unripe tomatoes will ripen further if placed near a sunny window, stem-side down. This will stop moisture escaping from your tomatoes.

Invest in a tomato knife. It will make your life easier, and a joy to further work with your tomatoes.

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A few things tomatoes can teach you about seasonal living, and loving that red color in August.

Wear a bright red lipstick and smile with your summer tan.

Kick up your heels in red sandals or flats paired with white pants or capris.

Bring out your summer tablecloths and napkins with a touch of red.

Brighten your summer dishes with red tomatoes, fresh, sauteed, roasted or grilled. Roasting tomatoes at 400 F. degrees for 30 minutes creates a wonderful caramelization flavor.

Tomatoes like companions. Grow lots of basil for all of your tomato dishes.

Simplicity. Perhaps the best way to eat a sun-ripened tomato fresh from your garden is with a generous sprinkling of your favorite finishing salt to unlock the flavor.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Julia Child’s Affectionate Top Two Floor Apartment, “Roo de Loo” at 81 Rue de L’Université

This Monday, August 15th, is Julia Child’s birthday. I have had it noted on my planner for some time. She means so much to me, as I am sure she means so much to all of you too. Her life and accomplishments are well documented and cemented in history, as well as her loving marriage to Paul Childs. What a duo!

Visiting Paris back in spring of 2015, I walked to the street, and sought out the apartment building, the two top floors where the Child’s resided in their post World War II days and Julia embarked on her culinary passion and adventures. It was really important for me to see their building in person, and my husband thankfully was very obliging in this walkabout. To my knowledge, there is no plaque mentioning Julia Child near the building for various reasons, the French bureaucracy, and Julia Child was much more revered in the United States, ironically than in France. Truthfully, I think Julia Child would have preferred it that way. One only has to use your imagination to scan your memory for all the book and movie details made on her glorious life. Knowing she was here, is enough for me.

Rue de L’Université in 7th Arrondissement in Paris, France

I love so many aspects of Julia Child, and her quotes on food and life always give me a chuckle. By the way, Julia Child who cooked everything, yet it is well known her favorite lunch at home was tuna fish salad on a toasted English muffin.

Wonderful Julia Child Quotes:

“People who love to eat are always the best people.”

“I believe in red meat. I’ve often said red meat and gin.”

“A cookbook is only as good as its poorest recipe.”

“It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate, you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.”

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”

“I am not interested in dishes that take 3 minutes and have no cholesterol.”

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun.”

“With enough butter, anything is good.”

“Cooking well doesn’t mean cooking fancy.”

“Life itself is the proper binge.”

“You’ll never know everything about anything, especially something you love.”

“If you are afraid of butter, use cream.”

“A party without a cake is just a meeting.”

“I enjoy cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food…”

“The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile.”

This Monday, please make a special culinary nod to Julia Child in celebration of her birthday, and touching us all with her passion.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

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Syrah Grape Clusters Basking in the Sun

Just like magic, our Syrah grape clusters have developed, are maturing, and grapevines are closing in on harvest. The sense is harvest is a tad bit earlier than usual. Fruit set looks abundant and lovely.

It really is something to see the grapevines go through their process each year. Some years are better than others, like life. Like life, there are some things within your control, and some that are not. Like life, one should focus on the present journey, rather than the destination, and the destination will take care of itself. “Life is a journey, not a destination.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Grapevines Marching Onto Harvest

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

Entrance to an art gallery in Snug Harbor, Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

Recently, while on vacation visiting a dear friend on Bowen Island, British Columbia, (a stone’s throw from Vancouver), I happened upon this wonderful art gallery in the little town of Snug Harbor. The entrance, colors, and chalkboard quote drew my attention. This is what I love about traveling, the unknown to explore and experience, coincidences that are not really coincidences but subtle messages, the culture and people to immerse yourself with, and new things in general to try and acquaint yourself with. Traveling expands your horizon, and it expands your life.

Bowen Island, by the way, is a “Places to Know” kind of place, but that is another post for another time. The sheer beauty of the water on Howe Sound, snow capped peaks, and a chance to do nothing but stare into the water and Douglas fir landscape mesmerized is an idyllic setting to listen to your thoughts. If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a soaring bald eagle, a bobbing seal, a water’s edge heron, or a few curious orca swimming with the current. Truly a very special and beautiful place, and a place to know.

Outside the art gallery on a chalkboard was this touching quote by an unknown person which really resonated with me. A perfect message for me now, and to remember. Perhaps this quote might touch you too. I happily share this quote with all of you. I wholeheartedly encourage you to give something a try that you have been wanting to do, dreaming of doing, aligns with your bliss, and listen to your heart.

Listen to Your Heart Quote

Past Related Posts

Brunch With A View

Oceanside’s The Seabird Resort

The Floral Palette

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

John Manion, Beloved Husband, Winemaker Extradronaire, VP Liquid Assets

It starts with sunlight, a good grape varietal, blessed terroir, knowledge to bring it together, and a lot of help from our friends and family! Viola, a wine that is fine!

Our backyard vineyard idea was a landscape solution to begin with. Could we really grow a pretty vineyard to look over, that would have four season interest, be drought tolerant, and maybe yield a good grape for a nice wine. A grand experiment that luckily has worked out well, and ultimately created a nice lifestyle for us at Domaine de Manion.

We use to enter a lot of home wine competitions, and did well with medals and awards. Later, my husband, John, was even asked to judge some of these competitions. With judging duties and the pandemic, we stopped entering our wines.

This spring for fun, we entered two of our wines in the 2022 Orange County Fair Home Wine Competition. We were surprised when we received a Gold Medal for our Syrah 2020 and a Bronze Medal for our Syrah Rosé 2021. We knew our wines were drinking well. It reinforces we are managing the vineyard well, and doing right by the grapes. John is a great winemaker, and he has a nice style with his wines.

Hail to the winemaker! The wine is fine!

Related Past Posts:

Hail to the Winemaker

Surprise at the Orange County Fair

Anticipating One’s First Grape Harvest

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

An Avocado Stump Becomes a Statuary Pedestal

I love to repurpose things for other functions than they were originally intended. Usually it is vintage or antique pieces, but in this case a tree stump. I love trees, and try and nourish and manage them as best I can. Sometimes severe weather, a tree planted in the wrong place, or maybe just “the end of a life cycle” for a tree dictates that it must come down.

Such was the case with a few of our avocado trees on our property. Originally, I believe, our property was a working orchard with rows of avocado and macadamia trees. We still have our incredible macadamia trees, but the avocado trees were on their last legs when we bought our property. After a few years, I realized these avocado trees were never making a comeback.

Rather than cutting the tree at the soil level, I thought to use it as a base for a high boy table at first, and left a tall stump. This goes along with the intertwining “beauty and function” philosophy of French Country living. “It must be beautiful, and also functional.” The high boy table idea, didn’t work out for me, but ultimately it provided the perfect pedestal for my “life like” horse statuary. A tree stump is beautiful, timeless, and functional in many creative directions. I began to landscape around the horse and pedestal, planting three Italian cypress in 15 gallon pots in the ground to keep them somewhat small, and adding a climbing rose that now has support. It became a small vignette.

A Tree Stump Provides a Perfect Spot for a Resting French Lapin

With another nearby failing avocado tree, I was going to create a little garden chair with a stump, but ultimately decided it was a perfect spot to nestle and elevate a peaceful statuary French lapin. There again it provides beauty and function and a nice focal spot for this particular garden room. All timeless.

If you have a tree that has to come down, think first about what you could creatively make using its stump. It has had a history on your property, and it can continue repurposed in a different way and function. I have seen beautiful wood bars and/or furniture made from felled trees. I mentioned a few ideas, but the possibilities are endless.

My point here is not really about tree stumps, it is suggesting to you to keep an open mind about repurposing objects and things, and keep your creative mind flexed about possibilities all around you in your world. In other words, keep the concept “lemons into lemonade” flowing. You never know what wonderful unique piece or solution could evolve for you with your home and garden.

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie

New “A Frame” Fencing Over Raised Beds

I started this potager or vegetable garden on the north perimeter of our property from virtually a blank slate. I enclosed it with willow fencing, planted a privacy Podicarpus landscape wall, built raised bed kits, created pathways, irrigated, and further planted climbing roses and tree topiaries. It faces a sunny south exposure, and it worked. I was able to grow a lot of wonderful seasonal vegetables.

Eventually the word got out amongst the squirrels, there was good eatin’ at the Manion potager. This year we have live-trapped and relocated 21 squirrels to better digs. It didn’t help. I love wildlife, and closely observe the little ecosystem around us with great pleasure. See below for a related post.

My husband, John, made these “A” Frames over our raised vegetable beds. Actually, this idea came from my uncle, on his property in upper Wisconsin. These “A” frames are time consuming, but really are protective of your vegetables. Each side is a 4’ x 8’ frame (for a 4’ x 8’ raised vegetable bed) with matching triangle ends and support. The screen is 1/2” wire hardware mesh, which is stapled onto the framework. Two hinges at the top of each side allow you to lift up the side and work on your vegetable beds when you need to. Hook and eyes on each end are further security from any bandits trying to get in. It is a pretty simple design that is very effective.

I have experienced different pests, insects, and wildlife through cycles in my garden. One year I experienced a lot of tomato worms. One year I saw a lot of delicate dragonflys. One year rabbits were really a problem. Right now it is squirrels. So I know this too shall pass.

In the meantime, I am securing everything I can with chicken wire, and hardware mesh. Please share if you are having trouble with wildlife in your garden.

Related Post:

Eyes on You

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend…Bonnie

May 2022 South Garden Facing North. Poppy, Where Did You Come From?

Quite a few years ago I was given some oriental poppy seeds. Some were red, and some were purple. All were beautiful and delicate when they bloomed. Poppy seeds are very tiny like carrot seeds, and benefit before sowing, to mix them with sand. From that one sowing of poppy seeds, the poppies come back each year. However, it is always in a different spot, different number of poppies, and different blooming. It is a mystery of where they will spring up. This year one sole red poppy has sprung up and bloomed beautifully in my South Garden.

I said to myself, these poppies sure have a mind of their own. Then I thought, there are some life lessons and musings in the way these beguiling poppies conduct themselves. Maybe you will sport a smile and agree.

It is okay to stand out in a crowd. We are all very special and unique in this world. No one is exactly like us. Remember to be your best of who you are, and not anyone else. You will never be a “wallflower.”

Follow your bliss, and everything else will fall into place. We make our own everlasting joy and happiness, and it comes from within us, not from external circumstances or material things. Bloom because you are happy.

Make each and every year different, in what you do, what you experience, and where you go. Keep your life vibrant in trying new things, meeting new people, reading, and traveling. Bloom in a different spot each year.

Persistence is everything. Even if you don’t have optimum circumstances, sheer persistence and perseverance is on your side, and you will bloom.

Be authentic to yourself and others. Don’t try and be something that you simply are not. An oriental poppy will never be a groundcover verbena.

Life is fleeting. Enjoy each and every day. Live in the “now” and “present” as much as you possibly can. You may not have a tomorrow, but you bloomed in magnificent beauty today.

You might look different from others, but we are all part of, and connected to this beautiful universe. Be careful not to judge by appearances. Everyone is beautiful in their own right, and everyone has a reason they are part of this beautiful universe. Be a beautiful poppy.

Don’t take yourself too seriously. A little bit of humor goes a long way in easing tension, lifting one’s spirits, and creating moments. A red oriental poppy couldn’t be any further from the design of the South Garden. Red oriental poppy makes you stop and chuckle.

Stand up for yourself and what you believe in. No one else is going to take up your mantle. Be passionate, and make a difference. You might see red, but I am a strong and determined red oriental poppy.

Don’t be hard on yourself. “You are enough.” You might not understand the circumstances that allowed you to grow and bloom, but the fact that you did is a gift.

Embrace change. Life is all about change. Don’t worry. Don’t fight change, rather “go with the flow of change.” Everything seems to work out just about the way it is intended to, in the end. If there is only one beautiful red oriental poppy this year, maybe there will be more next year.

April 2019, South Garden Facing West

May 2019, Main Pathway, Purple Oriental Poppies

Bon Appétit et Bon Weekend….Bonnie