En Francais...

I love French culture. Don't care for the gov't after 9/11 and not helping us in Afghanistan or Iraq and I don't tell people Im french anymore.. But loving France and French culture is the same as loving my grampa and keeping his memory alive. And their way of life really is wonderful. My family is from Limoges & Limosin, in the late 1700's Antione Coupal sailed to Quebec after losing his wife and child during childbirth, he started a new life and I am a direct descendant.. What I want more than anything is to walk the moonlit streets of Paris along the Siene with the man I love, shop all the cheese wine and quaint little bakeries. I made chocolate souffles today and my kids loved them. I love everything about France and my french heritage. My grampa was one of 7 children full blooded french. English was their second language and they were loud boistrous and loved loved loved new years eve. Love to debate, argued about anything and heavy drinkers and all strict Catholic. Im the real deal and this is something Im proud of.

Things I love: fresh Baguette bread with brie cheese, wine, champagne, beef burgundy over baguette croutons, salad, creme brulee, chocolate a souffle, real truffles, herb baked bread, croissants, blueberries and merangues, mango sorbet, orange marinier in everything, strawberry mousse, blueberry crepes, orange crepes, my homemade bleu cheese dressing and these are just the things I have made myself and all self taught. I love Ina Garten and I have learned so much from her alone. Love it!

Things I want: A country french home... Gardens and lots of flowers everywhere. Trimmed and manicured lawn and shrubs, flower boxes under 2 windows for whimsy, a gazebo to enjoy the sun and summer nights, a terrace with at least one statue of Mary, French blue kitchen with lots of stripes and polkadots, I love periwinkle blue and incorporate that with a darker hue in the kitchen. I love sea green and apricot together over neutral light beige flooring and walls. Lots of dimention and detail in curtains and walls. A 4 post bead to tie up my husband and love him like a french woman yeah!, dust a ruffles and eyelit fabrics, french doors and fireplaces, wine cellar and library. And a greenhouse to grow my own pink and purple flowers in every hue. Plants all over my house so it breathes with life and so clean and well kept it's like walking into heaven. Pictures of everyone I love all over and Steve coming home to me. That's my sweetest dream.

Dinner is served in usually 6 courses: Hors d'oerve, Entree, Plat, Salade, Fromage, Dessert. Very small portions in this particular order.

At dinner, the women are served first by the men. The dishes will go around the table twice so that all women are served before any man is. Even today little children are taught proper table manners. The lady never pours her own water or wine, the man will be chivalrous and make sure her wine a glass never gets empty thus leaving it up to her escort to determine how much she will drink in an evening. It is not proper to take from the cheese plate more than once. The cheese or fromage course is the most important as no substantial conversations can take place until all have been served from fromage plate. Always eat from mildest to strongest and use bread only if necessary.

Conversations are everything. Usually serve the meal at 2 pm and individually served courses will last into the evening. Light topics are for first courses, arguments and debates are for final courses. The entree' is suitable for self presentation goals and relationship goals conversation. French are interested in health, good or bad news until cheese is served! French women may often appear rude and stuck up but they are truly not. Just like their famous baguette, slightly crusty and tough on the outside but warm, soft and full of flavor on the inside. Perfect hair, perfect make up, perfect nails, perfect style, perfect manners, and perfect environment is the image of a french woman.

Love Tea: Rosewater, Mint and Orange.