Love, Joy and Tragedy : Séraphine Louis de Senlis

The story is about Séraphine Louis, a housekeeper working in Senlis, France in the early 1900's.  Her days were consumed by hard and tedious work as a housekeeper and at night she would paint by candlelight, which was her love and passion.  She spent every free moment doing what she truly loved.  She was self-taught and created her own paints with secret ingredients, which to this day have maintained their original brilliance, as seen in her paintings.  

While staying at one of the homes she worked at, Séraphine's paintings were discovered  by Wilhem Unde, a German art collector.  Their collaboration was short lived due to the war between France and Germany in 1914, when Wilhem had to leave France.  

In the late 1920's, although Wilhem thought that Séraphine had died during the war, he decided to go back to Senlis and did indeed find her again.  During his absence she continued to paint and her newest work was being displayed in a town exhibit for local artists. 

The story continues on through her death.  Her life was full of love, joy and tragedy.  Love and joy when she was painting, as she would also sing joyous hymns while she created her art.  While I was was watching, I felt that she was in the presence of God and the angels themselves, truly Divine.   Tragedy, yes sadly in life there is tragedy.  In the end her tragedy was created because she couldn't paint any longer, whether imposed by others or Séraphine herself.     

Her paintings can now be found in museums in Paris, Nice, Senlis and Villeneuve d'Ascq.  The movie Séraphine was directed by Martin Provost in 2008.  I really enjoyed the movie, it is in French with subtitles.  If you don't mind that, you will love it too!

Despite work and other daily obligations how many minutes in a day do we actually use to do what we love?  What is our excuse?

Disclosure:  This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.  This post includes "Affiliate Links", of which the blogger will receive a small commission if the links are clicked.  The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.  This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest.

May You Be Blessed-Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, if not the favorite.  This year is a little odd because I will be spending it alone.  Not because I have no family to spend it with, but my husband is out of the country and I am sick with the flu and do not want to pass that along to all my kids.  I was hoping that by now I would be better, but I had to make the difficult call to my son this morning not to make the trip over here since I didn't want him catching this. Thankfully his girlfriend is also stranded there so they will be together for their first Thanksgiving!

So Christmas will be extra special this year as then we will all be together, at least most of us.

I decided instead of feeling sorry for myself, I would look at all the past Thanksgivings and wonderful memories I have.  As far back as I can remember my mom prepared the Thanksgiving meal like clockwork.  I in turn continued with that tradition.

On Wednesday we would bake the apple pie and pumpkin pies.  My mom always had Christmas music on while baking. Here are some of her Wednesday before Thanksgiving recipes!

 
My Mom's Famous Pumpkin Pie
1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon of allspice
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
4 large eggs
1 can 29 oz of Libby's Pure Pumpkin
2 cans 12 oz each  evaporated milk
2 unbaked 9 inch pie crusts

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.  Beat eggs in a large bowl.  Stir in pumpkin and sugar and spice mixture, gradually stirring in the evaporated milk.  Mix well.  Pour into the pie shells, cover crust edge with foil.

Bake in pre-heated 425 degree oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees, bake for an additional 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool for 2 hours and serve or refrigerate.

Perfect Apple Pie
6-8 tart apples, pared, cored and thinly sliced (6 cups)
3/4 to 1 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon allspice
pinch of ginger
2 tablespoons of butter
dash of salt

If apples lack tartness sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.  Combine sugar, flour, spices, salt and mix with apples.

Line a 9 inch pie plate with pastry, fill with apple mixture, dot with butter.  Adjust top crust, cutting slits for escape of steam, seal.  Sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar mixture.  Cover crust edge with foil and bake in a 400 degree preheated oven for 50 minutes until done.



Thanksgiving Bread
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons of salt
2 packages of act. dry yeast
6 cups of all purpose flour pre-sifted 
1 egg
salad oil
margarine

In large bowl combine sugar, salt, yeast and 2 1/4 cups of flour.
In 1 quart saucepan 1/2 cup margarine and warm water, on low heat, warm only, not HOT.

With a low speed mixer, mix in warm liquid to dry mixture, blend together, increasing speed to medium for 2 minutes.  Beat in egg with 3/4 cup more flour, beat 2 minutes more, adding additional flour slowly and mixing with hands until smooth.  Knead for 10 minutes.  Place in a large greased bowl, cover with damp towel and let rise for 1 1/2 hours.  Punch down, turn over and brush top with salad oil and cover bowl with saran wrap, place in refrigerator.

Thanksgiving Day, 2 hours before the meal, grease a squared or round cookie sheets.  Makes 30 small balls, placing them with a small space in between.  Cover with towel and let rise in a warm spot for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.  Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven, melt butter and with pastry brush, brush over golden brown rolls.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy the movie below!

Disclosure:  This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.  This post includes "Affiliate Links", of which the blogger will receive a small commission if the links are clicked.  The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.  This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. 

The Brady Bunch We Are Not!

Our family is like the Brady Bunch, but without all the smiles, politeness, respect, and overall sugary sweet, Disney singing birdies flying through the house kind of home!   I was Alice and Carol all in one, so how fun was that?!  I am still having issues from multiple personalities!  My husband loves to cook so it wasn't all that bad!!

Oh the blended family phenomena! When I met my husband we had to commute to see each other.  The visits with the kids were perfect and blissful, well not so perfect and not so blissful, but one can only dream right?!  The kids got along fairly well, as well as to be expected I suppose.  We went to Disney World and other tourist spots in Florida and Washington State.

However, once we moved in all together, which was two years later, the Brady Bunch was long gone and then entered The Adams Family or maybe even any episode of Jerry Springer!!




Somehow we survived and recently our youngest joined his brothers to the Land of Freedom and moved out!  So now my husband and I are empty nesters, which probably will be another upcoming post!

All kidding aside our boys have turned into wonderful men and we are very proud of them.  Blending two families is difficult and maybe we weren't like The Brady Bunch but we love each other all the same.

#Back2Blogging Event- Day 2!

Today's assignment is to re-upload a post you wish more people had read and explain why it was important to you. It was hard for me to choose which one, because secretly I think we would want people to read everything we write!


I did end up choosing this one that I wrote on September 1, 2010.  Never having heard the term "#LinkLove before, I was fascinated about the concept. I thought it was such a lovely way of visiting other people's pages and blogs and allowing them to share their links too!


It did remind me of cross-pollination in a way.  Since no one commented, I started to wonder if I was off base comparing the two! Here it is:

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

#LinkLove and Cross-pollination!

                                                        Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


On Facebook , I recently was introduced to the concept of #LinkLove. I think it is such a generous and wonderful idea. You can have a LinkLove section on your fan page, which lets people who become a fan of yours, post their links of their websites, blogs, fan pages, Twitter and Facebook on to your page. I always like to thank the people becoming a fan on my page and reciprocating on to their pages.

There is also the ♥ #LINKLOVE ♥ GROUP PAGE  and LINKLOVE SUCCESS  on Facebook where you can add your links and find more information on Lovin the Links! 

It automatically reminded me of the sweet bird, butterfly or bee who jumps from flower to flower cross-pollinating!

According to Wikipedia, "Cross-pollination, also called allogamy, occurs when pollen is delivered to a flower from a different plant. Plants adapted to outcross or cross-pollinate often have taller stamens than carpels or use other mechanisms to better ensure the spread of pollen to other plants' flowers."

How wonderful it is to be cross-pollinating other people's blogs and pages, increasing their fan base, a.k.a flowers and at the same time benefiting you!  When I see a post of someone that is nearing a milestone, let's say almost 500 fans, and she is at 498, it feels wonderful to be able to help that person bump up to the next level.

I just started my fan page, so I have a way to go, but it feels so good to help others on their journey.  May we keep cross-pollinating the gardens of others and soon we too will have a garden full of precious blooms!

Join Kelly and Electrolux in Supporting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

You can visit the Electrolux site here and also read how you can support the ongoing research for early detection of ovarian cancer.  Electrolux has committed to donate $750,000 to this cause.

You may be wondering why I have a picture of a turquoise washer and dryer on my page.  The #Back2Blogging event was created by The SITS Girls, it is to help us get back into the routine of posting on our blogs.  One of the lucky participants will walk away with this washer and dryer set! How cool is that?!!

So drum roll please... I introduce to you Thelma and Louise, the fabulous washer and dryer set!

You can read more about Thelma & Louise at the Electrolux Website!

To visit our sponsors please click on their links:
Standards of Excellence , Westar Kitchen & Bath,  Florida Builder Appliances

#LinkLove and Cross-pollination!

                                                        Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


On Facebook , I recently was introduced to the concept of #LinkLove. I think it is such a generous and wonderful idea. You can have a LinkLove section on your fan page, which lets people who become a fan of yours, post their links of their websites, blogs, fan pages, Twitter and Facebook on to your page. I always like to thank the people becoming a fan on my page and reciprocating on to their pages.

There is also the ♥ #LINKLOVE ♥ GROUP PAGE  and LINKLOVE SUCCESS  on Facebook where you can add your links and find more information on Lovin the Links! 

It automatically reminded me of the sweet bird, butterfly or bee who jumps from flower to flower cross-pollinating!

According to Wikipedia, "Cross-pollination, also called allogamy, occurs when pollen is delivered to a flower from a different plant. Plants adapted to outcross or cross-pollinate often have taller stamens than carpels or use other mechanisms to better ensure the spread of pollen to other plants' flowers."

How wonderful it is to be cross-pollinating other people's blogs and pages, increasing their fan base, a.k.a flowers and at the same time benefiting you!  When I see a post of someone that is nearing a milestone, let's say almost 500 fans, and she is at 498, it feels wonderful to be able to help that person bump up to the next level. 

I just started my fan page, so I have a way to go, but it feels so good to help others on their journey.  May we keep cross-pollinating the gardens of others and soon we too will have a garden full of precious blooms!