Flower School NY

For ages I've wanted to go to Flower School's open studio Saturdays.

Last Saturday I went to  Opalia owned by Phoebe Crary in Brooklyn, 377 Atlantic avenue. The windows were full of wild dancing poppies - the stems are filled with sap. Don't cut them. Inside an endless array of flowers wait to be choosen for your bouquet. I usually paint just 1 or 2 flowers and my vases are tiny so I was stumped. The other students have taken Flower School intro classes. And are busy creating complex masterpieces. The instructor was whipping out perfect bouquets in minutes. YIKES! This is daunting.
I ran out to eat something at nearby Bedouin Tent, 405 Atlantic Ave. This picture has me munching hummos and carrots as I post. Back to face the flowers and finally choose a few ranunculas... And one tight pink peonie bud...

Mini display bouquets around the shop give me courage. Just ONE flower - my kind of bouquet! Yay.

Meanwhile 'Roses' finished TWO divine arrangements...

And the other student reached the heights of orchid perfection.

My handiwork looks raggedy. Hmmm... I did paint the peonie. I plan to attend another open studio Saturday at Flower School. I'll take some Dutch courage next time.

This Parisien Piggy says, "Don't eat to much chocolate this weekend!"

BONJOUR FLOWER SCHOOL!

et

Bon Week-End!

Easter in Venice

Let's pretend we're in Venice for Easter... Let's amble along a canal... Let's buy a pink quill pen and write a love letter to Byron or Shelley... Whilst drinking a Campari spritz in a cafe... You could think about all the Murano glass you didn't buy...

And forget the rather unspectacular pizza you did buy. These guys should come to New York - they throw a thin stripe of red sauce around the edges. What's up with that?

Nevermind. The views ARE spectacular.

And the gelato NEVER disappoints.

New York gelato joints could catch a few lessons here.

Shall we catch a Vivaldi concert in some old church? It's required listening...

What about the Easter eggs/uova di cioccolata all covered in crepe paper and ribbons? Paris would not approve. They like to SEE their chocolate.

I guess it's pommes and blood oranges.
Happy Easter from Venice!

The Goofy French Chicken

The French famously adore their chickens. In all shapes and forms. So naturalemente the chocolate chicken for Paques/Easter is a must. Is there anything to complain about this chicken? I say nay. But what is going on here? Is this not a sacrilege to tart up a chicken in this fashion?
Isn't something seriously amiss here?

Still if I offered you the chance to hop into top chocolatier Francois Pralus shop in the Marais, you'd be inside pecking around no matter what he's done to those chickens. HMPH.

Lenotre sends their goofy chickens high up in Montgolfier egg-shaped balloons.

The price is rather high too. Goofiness costs. C'est la vie.

So far the French egg has gone unadulterated for Easter but don't hold your breath.

Except for some delightful flowers from Jadis et Gourmande...

Would I be wrong in thinking the goofy French chicken probably lays goofy chocolate eclairs?

BONJOUR GOOFY FRENCH CHICKENS

Paris Bunny Invasion

As we were out viewing the windows around the Madeleine.
 French Girl let out a great sniff.

A 'HMPH' regarding the invasion of Easter bunnies in Fauchon's windows.

I was informed traditionally the French only had chocolate church bells, chickens and eggs for Easter.

 The bunny is a trendy interloper.

Perhaps like the wretched Cane Toad that invaded Australia?
Here you see the classic French traditional chocolate church bell. For some reason I can't figure out the French are deeply enamored with the stupid chickens!

Honestly, does this look like a savvy chicken with je ne sais quoi to you? I think not.

At least Fauchon is keeping a low profile with their chickens - not quite so silly in my opinion. There will be more on the dumb French chicken/poule a demain. Prepare to be shocked.

The almighty PIERRE HERME has included a BUNNY in his Easter/Paques collection, so TAKE THAT French Girl! HMPH indeed.

Anyway bunnies are famous for proliferating madly so why fight it? The bunny has become like the cupcake in Paris - A fact of life.
Here you see the bunny and the chicken duking it out with the kingly egg on top. I think it's a losing battle. Some fiercely traditional Frenchies would do best to accept the influx of the trendie Bunny. That's all there is to it.

BONJOUR PARIS BUNNIES!