Lettuce Celebrate Earth Day!

Today marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day.

I was going to write about the history of Earth Day...about the destructive oil spill off Santa Barbara, California in 1969 that led to a public demand for environmental protections.  Wisconsin Senator, Gaylor Nelson witnessed the damage, and together with Republican, Pete McCloskey co-chaired the first ever Earth Day in 1970.  Harvard University's Denis Hayes was the National Coordinator, mobilizing students in university campuses, many of whom were already active in the Vietnam era anti-war movement.

That first Earth Day was hailed a success, having brought together diverse political, social and economic groups, all wanting to protect the planet for future generations.  It led to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the following year;  and to the passing of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

I was going to write about the awareness of our dependency on water for crops.  How the California drought focussed attention on the cost of eating healthy.  For vegans, vegetarians, organic foodies, and anyone who enjoys a little LT in their BLT, the drought increased their food costs substantially. So much of what we eat in North America, is grown in California.

Crops need water to grow.  A chart showing the amount of water it takes to bring crops to maturity, if only irrigated water is used (in other words no rain), was a shock.  One grape - not a cluster of grapes - just one grape needs 0.3 gallons, or 1.14 litres of water to grow.  A single strawberry, uses 0.4 gallons, or 1.5 litres of water.  One tomato - never mind a whole tomato plant - needs 3.3 gallons, or 12.49 litres of water, and one head of lettuce needs 3.5 gallons, or 13.25 litres.  One walnut needs 4.9 gallons, or 18.5 litres.  Imagine how much a water it takes to bring a walnut grove to harvest!

This may be a better year for California agriculture, and therefore for North American dinner tables.  At this time last year, more than 70 percent of the State was experiencing Extreme Drought, or worse, Exceptional Drought conditions.

This week and last week, 76.54% of California is experiencing no drought at all.  However, there are still Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought conditions in almost one-third of the State.

I was going to write about all these things...instead, I'll tell you a true story, my favourite vegetarian joke...

Years ago, my youngest sister - who was vegetarian at the time - spent Christmas in Wales, with an Icelandic-Jamaican family.  Her friend's mother was struggling with the concept of a vegetarian diet. Her daughter said, "Mum, she eats potatoes, carrots, onions - everything that comes out of the garden".  The next day, the mother returned from the market, proudly announcing, "I got you some rabbit.  Deh come outta de groun'"!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widows Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: Happy Easter!

Widow's Endorphins: Happy Easter!: Be the light in the darkness.    Photograph Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Inc. ...

Happy Easter!

Be the light in the darkness.

  

Photograph Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Inc.

Widow's Endorphins: Savon Savvy

Widow's Endorphins: Savon Savvy: I love this little tin soapbox.  I love the purple colour, and the seven little cherubes frolicking on heavenly clouds, holding a garlan...

Savon Savvy

I love this little tin soapbox.  I love the purple colour, and the seven little cherubes frolicking on heavenly clouds, holding a garland of roses.  The box is a reproduction of an antique tin box designed for Gelle Freres' Savon Paradisia, or Paradisia scented soap.  The Gelle brothers' Paris perfumerie and soap factory dates back to 1826.  The Paradisia line was created in 1908.

I have often wondered about the scent of the mystery soap.  The yellow roses suggest the soap is rose scented, and the white flowers appear to be orange blossoms.  I have searched the internet, reading French and even German text, looking for the answer.  Nichts.

What I did discover, is that Gelle Freres - Jean-Baptist and Augustin - inherited the recipes of  Jean-Louis Fargeon, the renowned perfumer to the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette.  Was this one of her favourite fragrances?

A few years ago, I tried my hand at making my own soap.  It was a deeply relaxing passtime.  There is however, a point in the process which needs one's undivided attention, with absolutely no interruptions.  Those who know my life, will roll their eyes!  My soapmaking days ended almost before they began!

People have been making soap for about 4,800 years.  An excavation in Iraq, unearthed an ancient Babylonian clay container and a soaplike substance, from 2800BC.  A recipe for fats boiled with wood ash, has also been found on a Mesopotamian clay tablet, dating to 2200BC.  The Babylonians are believed to have used soap, not for bathing, but for washing wool and cotton prior to weaving.  A soap factory has been found in the ruins of Pompeii, Italy, dating back to 79AD.  The Arabs refined soap, adding aromatic oils to olive oil, and for the first time, adding sodium lye to the recipe.

Which brings me to the Hydrangeas.  Wood ash, which was the alkaline additive in the ancient recipe for soap, will change the colour of your Hydrangeas.  The wood ash "sweetens" the soil.  Soil with a pH of 7 or more, is alkaline.  Hydrangea blossoms will change in colour from blue to pink.

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.

Widow's Endorphins: April in Paris

Widow's Endorphins: April in Paris: Outdoor cafes, picnics under the cherry blossoms, long walks through historic neighbourhoods, bicycling, art galleries, chocolate s...

April in Paris

Outdoor cafes, picnics under the cherry blossoms, long walks through historic neighbourhoods, bicycling, art galleries, chocolate shops, flea markets, and flower markets...it's April in Paris!  The romance of Spring is celebrated by Parisiens and tourists.  The city is dressed in pink.

April is the month when the big blossoms of cerisiers - cherry trees start to bloom. Ribbons of pink line the walkways in parks, and city squares.  Photographers, with detailed maps of the best places to see the cherry blossoms, mingle with couples, families, and globe trotters under the spectacular floral arches of the trees.

The trees on the Champs de Mars, near the iconic Eiffel Tower are often photographed.  The tower's wrought iron latice spire, reaching 324 metres (1,063 feet) into the sky, is softened by the pink underskirt of cherry blossoms.  Square Jean XXIII, on the South side of Notre Dame Cathedral is another mecca for cherry blossom worshippers.  Across from Notre Dame, on the Left Bank, there's a cluster of cherry trees framing Shakespeare and Company, the popular and picturesque English bookstore.  Tour guides and bloggers say the "most beautiful tree in Paris" is found on the Left Bank, in Jardin des Plantes, France's main botanical garden, and part of the Museum d'histoire naturelle. The tree has giant pink pom-poms cascading from branches which almost touch the ground - a perfect tree to picnic under, after walking around Paris.  

Paris is a very walkable city, ideal for strolls.  The French have a word, la flanerie for happily wandering, and discovering the city.  Seasoned travellers, say it's best to pick one sight to see each day, and improvise the rest of the day.

If your feet get tired, sit down in one of Paris' famed outdoor cafes.  Delicious French croissants and pastries are divine when eaten en terrace.  Enjoy a rich, dark coffee in a bowl, a thick hot chocolate, or an herbal tea known as a tissane, and do what everyone does in an outdoor cafe - people watch!

If you need to take shelter from one of April's showers, an indoor restaurant that is on every foodies must-see list, is the 121 year old Restaurant Chartier, also known as Bouillon Chartier, in the heart of Paris' Montmarte district. Chartier is legendary for good French food, at affordable prices.  In 1989, it was named a monument historique.  Here, it's possible to step back in time, and feel trendy at the same time, because the hippest bistros take their style cues from Chartier's high-vaulted ceilings, dark wood pillars, brass rails, and wood floors.

Parisiens and tourists alike take lunch on the run, or picnic.  Every neighbourhood has cheese shops; bakeries with freshly baked breads and baguettes, cakes and pastries;  butcher shops and delicatessens. Gourmet food is around every corner!

Paris is famous for its markets:  fruit and vegetable markets, flower markets, antique markets and flea markets, all of them held in different neighbourhoods, on different days of the week.  The flea markets, or Marche aux Puce go back centuries, to a time when rag pickers would fish through city garbage at night, looking for something they could resell the next day. They were called Pecheurs de Lune, or Moon Fishermen.

You never know what treasure you'll find in a Paris flea market.  They have everything from lace curtains, to jewelry, to antique postcards and vintage sheet music.  I have an antique porcelain doorknob decorated with a picture of a blue bird on a leafy branch.  My sister found it while browsing in one of the many flea markets she visited while living in Paris.

The city is also famous for flower shops, with buckets and baskets brimming over with fresh cut flowers. and hand written chalkboard signs noting the name and price of each bouquet.  Tulips, ranunculus, and gorgeous peonies are in abundance.

A must-see for flower lovers is the Flower Market of Paris, which dates back to 1808, and is now known as Marche aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II, or as the English would say, the Queen Elizabeth Flower Market.  On June7th, 2014 the flower market was renamed in her honour, in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of D-Day.  Located on Isle de la Cite, the island where Notre Dame Cathedral stands, the flower market is open every day.  On Sundays, there's also a bird market...you could leave with a bouquet of Parrot Tulips...and a parrot! 

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.