Looking Back Planning Ahead

     Happy New Year everyone!  WOW!  2018!  I've been trying to think of a new plan for my blog.  Obviously, I don't have new places to write about since I am now back in Colorado and so I don't have wonderful France photos and adventures to share.  Which actually makes me a little sad.  I miss France!

If only I could find markets like this in Colorado Springs!

Always the best ingredients

This was my "find" at a market in a nearby French village

     A few weeks before Christmas I realized I had "shared" a number of recipes on my Facebook page - none of which I have ever actually made.  And then I had an "aha" moment.  That's what my blog can be about this year - cooking!
     I have always considered cooking an adventure - like going on a journey.  Many recipes have international connections and some have exotic ingredients.  You start with a recipe (a map) and hope that the steps you take (like following a GPS) result in a wonderful dish (your final destination.)  And if past cooking experiences are any indication of future endeavors then I have no doubt there will be "bends in the road"!  And so, my friends, here is my plan.  I will create all those recipes that I have shared on Facebook for the past 3 years and write about the "journey."
     As I have been reviewing my timeline to find all those recipes, I have had a wonderful time reflecting on everything I have shared beginning in 2015 when I began all my house renovations with plans to move to France.  What a fun time I've had reading past blogs and seeing what has appeared on my timeline along with recipes!
     Of course, it will come as no surprise to any of you that most of my non-blog posts were of the zoo, dogs, Colorado and France.  Lots of great photos!  It was fun (and just a little exhausting!) to read about everything I did on my house to get it ready to sell. Man, I did a lot of work!!
      Here are some photos from recent zoo visits.  I go once a week and hope to start volunteering there sometime this month.  (I also plan to volunteer at the National Mill Dog Rescue organization starting this month.  More about that in a later blog.)

Cute Ember with daddy Tujo

One of Asha's many poses

The majestic Lomela enjoying a sunny day on her heated rock!

Digger was trying to find a comfy position.  This wasn't it!

The mighty Abuto!

      And then there were all of the posts about everything I had to do to get myself and CoCo ready to move to France - visas, vet certificates, lots of paperwork and preparations - not to mention everything I got rid of or put in storage.  But it was all so worth it!  I loved the seven months I spent in France!
     So, dear friends, here is my plan for 2018.  I am in the process of printing off all those recipes I shared and will choose one or two each week to try out and write about.  I plan to do a little research into the history of the dish, the origin of certain ingredients, or a tradition that it might suggest along with my observations on how difficult or easy it was to prepare and what I served it with.  Maybe my wine friends can give me advice as to the perfect beverage to be served with it.  (And perhaps I'll share a few zoo visits along the way!)
     My printer ran out of ink, so I'm still in the process of printing off all the recipes and deciding how to organize them.  But, what fun it has been to scroll through all the posts for the past 3 years!  I highly recommend it.  I have come to appreciate so many of you all over again as you all gave me such wonderful and encouraging comments on my approaching move.  And then such a great welcome home!  I love you all for being such good friends and precious family!
     May 2018 bring you all peace, love, adventure, and true joy.  And I hope you will continue to read my blog as you join me on a new writing adventure - cooking!  And, of course, eating 😊  What do you think? 
     The journey continues - thanks for joining me.  Merci!