Fabulous giveaway from Enchanted Revelry

Okay, Okay, I'm going to announce this fabulous giveaway from Enchanted Revelry only because I must be entered in his drawing twice by doing so. Frankly, I don't want anyone else to enter the drawing because I WANT TO WIN IT!!!!! 

Yes, my blantant selfishness is showing, but and I mean a really big but, if you see the fabulous artists tools and paints and kits and papers and surprises Tristan is giveing away, you would...or at least I hope you would...forgive me for wanting to keep this giveaway all to myself.

Enchanted Revelry is one of my favorite bloggers.  Tristan's postings are so joyful and full of color that you will also become an instant fan.  Please click on the link above, or just click HERE to leave a comment and enter his 300th post giveaway.  It is a doozie!  Sea Witch

Maison Robert - Fine Chocolates - Pastries

When I first moved to Atlanta in 2000, I immediately headed out to the smaller communities scouting out a location for my "new antique booth."  The City of Chamblee offered a lovely "antique row" so off I went to check it out.  Following my tour, I decided to meander around the area to see how much it had changed since my last visit in 1985.  I took a turn down a quiet little road and came upon a small white house, clean-neat, and with a sign in the front which said:

It was mid afternoon and quiet in the day so I pulled in to see what Maison Robert offered.  My eyes looked at the picture window in the front of the house and there sat a man, quietly piping chocolate onto a huge tray.  I stopped in mid step to watch this gentle act of piping.  Piping each little piece of chocolate so neatly and accurately onto a large tray and thought what a lovely way to make a living.  This gentle act of piping, the preparation of the chocolate and to instantly see the fruits of your labor and knowing that all of those who enter will leave with good feelings.  That simple joy that comes with the smallest of pleasures.  The gentleman must have sensed my eyes and looked up and smiled and then returned to his piping. 

It was one of those moments that halted time...just for a few seconds. 

One of those moments that you can't help but smile and know that all is right with the world.   I must share that I romance that moment over and over again when it comes to other confectioneries.  I must also share that they have all paled in comparison to Mason Roberts - Fine Chocolates.

Robert Reeb, at the age of 16, a native of Metz in the Lorraine (northeast France), began his apprenticeship under his father, Frédèric, as a third generation pâtissier-confiseur-glacier.  Robert was the gentleman piping chocolate that day and he and his lovely wife, Patricia, welcomed me and all those I continue to send to their shop.

The glass case filled with exquisite chocolates and all freshly made on the premises.

Robert preparing chocolates as set out on the large tray.  Be still my heart!

Short video of Robert preparing the chocolates shown on the tray above.  You can see how mesmerized I was by the view from the window the first time I walked into Maison Robert.

Maison Robert has recently moved from the small white house to larger digs and his daughter, Katia, now manages the shop. She has added a small but excellent lunch menu as well as pastries.  This table groans with wonderful items to tease your taste buds.

A closer look at these amazing chocolates.

Artfully prepared pastries are as good to eat as they are lovely to look at.

Cookies, who could refuse cookies.  I felt like I was back in NYC at a local bakery.

Maison Robert offers the most delectable truffles filled with the finest liquors.         Sinfully delightful.

  Robert's daughter, Katia, introduced a small lunch menu and it did not disappoint.  Sis had their famous Quiche Lorraine and she said it was as light as a cloud.  

I had their Pan Bagnat which contained marinaded Olives, Lettuce, Tomato, hard-boiled Egg, Cucumbers, fresh Basil and Brie all inside a freshly baked French bread.  My plate is showing only half of the order as it was so big, I had the other half wrapped to go.

We both left with a small bag of their exquisite chocolates.  They will be perfect with a cup of hot tea or coffee at the end of the day.  The Maison Robert's website provides lots of photos of their chocolates and they will ship anywhere. 

If you are a true lover of fine chocolate, than you must order one of their gift boxes for delivery to your home, or to a friend (or to a Sea Witch!!!)  They are a treasure of hand created confections that you can and should delightfully indulge in. 

White Wednesday - Sea Fever

Sea-Fever

By John Masefield (1878-1967)
I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

 By John Masefield (1878-1967).  Have a lovely white Wednesday - Sea Witch

New Header - Brain Coral

Hello everyone.  It was time to change out my header again.  With so many new photos taken in Cancun, I wanted to share some of them with you and a header change is a great way to set that stage.  The dives we took in Mexico had lots of fish life but scattered coral beds.  The hurricanes from previous years did a lot of damage to their natural reefs.  Still, reefs are amazing colonies and they have already begun to rebuild themselves as the locals have shared.  My new header is a cropped close up of a large brain coral located in Machonies Reef, Cancun, Mexico.  One of my favorite of the hard corals, these maze lined corals are all different in design and pattern and when you get close enough to look, have lovely blended colors.  (all photos enlarge when you click them)

Lovely muted shades of blue, pink and yellow.

This is the uncropped photo of the brain coral above.

Coral reefs are one of the richest and most complex ecosystems in the ocean. A huge variety of plants and animals make their home in the warm waters around coral reefs. Colonies of approximately 2,500 different species of corals live in the oceans and virtually all of them in the shallow water off tropical coasts.

Brain coral is one of my favorite coral animals. It is a type of stony coral which is named after its unusual appearance. As brain coral grows, it develops a rounded surface covered in deep meandering ridges and grooves, causing it to look like a brain. I have seen golf ball size brain corals to some as big as a Volkswagen. The life span of the largest brain corals is 200 years.

Brain corals extend their tentacles to catch food at night. During the day, the brain corals use their tentacles for protection by wrapping them over the grooves on their surface. The surface is hard and offers good protection against fish or hurricanes. Branching corals, such as staghorn coral, grow more rapidly, but they are more vulnerable to storm damage.

Grunts swimming around fan corals.  These are soft corals and are very pretty.  The fan corals at this reef were large and very healthy.

A  nudebranch living on a large fan coral.  These shell-less mollusks, part of the sea slug family, have the most interesting patterns and shapes. I love these neat sea creatures.

This sea turtle was swimming through the coral reef to the sandy, grassy area filled with turtle grass.  He was very far away so I had to use several filters to bring up his natural brown and white patterns. 

Brain coral is a major player when it comes to reef building. It develops extremely slowly, sinking resources into developing a very strong skeleton and base making it difficult to dislodge, so it will endure hurricanes and other threats. Once brain coral establishes itself, it can provide shelter for other corals and organisms, contributing over time to the development of a true coral reef. 

Thanks for swimming by and have a wonderful day.  Sea Witch

Monkey head and sheet music.

Some weird finds this weekend. The cold kept most places closed or with a lot of empty tables.  Even the Goodwill's were low on merchandise.  Just to cold for too many folks right now. Still, I came across some "interesting items".

Blue Dog Love art book and my personal favorite, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, but what makes these books special ... they are both authographed by the author.  Signed copies always bring good prices.  And a Ever Ready vintage flashlight that still works when you put in a fresh set of batteries.

Lovely vintage sheet music with great titles and cover sheets and of course, music.

Most are from the 1920s

I have a passion for original art, and this nice oil on canvas on a board is lovely.  Thick with paint, it has a wonderful impressionistic look. Great old Watt mixing bowl and some vintage locks, kazoo and a blue devil, lead figurine.

I also like "thunder mugs" or chamberpots.  This one is in perfect condition and has lovely transferware patterns all round it.  I have to assume that the manufacturer knew what they were doing when they used "sweet smelling roses" on the chamber pot.  Found a bowl of faux green apples that look like the real thing and an interesting arithematic toy that actually works.

A pretty Nativity set that at first glance appears like Llardo porcelian. but it is not.  Soft blues and taupes make this so pretty and the figureines are well crafted.  But this makes the third Nativity set I have come across missing Joseph.  Mary's husband is just as important to this family unit, especially since Jesus himself is known as a carpenter and a carpenter's son.  He would have learned this skill from his father, Joseph.  I'm beginning to wonder if this is done deliberately.  I certainly hope not.

Oh, yes and the monkey head.  This  has an old world look to it and has a big tassle.  It is so out there with just enough creep factor that I had to get it.  Old photos from the Depression era...love'um, a vintage tin washboard for a child in wonderful shades of pink and blue and a coblat blue advertising dish. 

So for a bitter cold weekend, I still found some interesting things.  Got to get my Valentines items together this week as well, but it is too cold for me to hunt for them in the garage, sigh.   Hopefully, it will warm up by the weekend.  Have a great Monday everyone.  Sea Witch

"Project Runway" Returns to New York!

Whoo hoo, Project Runway begins Season 7 and has returned to NYC and the first episode is scheduled for this Thursday, January 14th!  I adore this show and can't wait to see the creations, both good and bad by the selected designers.  Never liked the LA location from last season and frankly sis and I thought that the entire design group was lackluster at best. 

There is something about NYC that gets the adrenaline pumping and the perfect location for motivating the creative juices. I have taken a look at some of the portfolio's of this seasons designers and this should make for an interesting season.  I do hope there is more talent then ego...or at least have the chops to back it up.

Of course, seeing the always elegant and delightful Tim Gunn in action as he noodges these designers through their paces is always fun. He is such a class act and I adore his mantra, "Make it work."  Sea Witch

El Poblano - Cancun, Mexico

It is so bitter cold here in Georgia that my honey and I started wishing we were back in Cancun where it is warm and sunny.  The conversation naturally turned to good food and I remembered I wanted to share with you our meal at El Poblano.  This is a restaurant were the locals come to eat.  With all of the staff working there on New Year's Eve, only one woman spoke a smattering of english.  We knew that we found a great restaurant if that were the case.  Additionally, the large spit of meat that was in the front of the restaurant was the second tip off.  As this was New Year's Eve, all of the drinks were two for one.  So double beers for my honey and I had a Margarita for each hand.  Let the games begin!

Front of the restaurant proclaiming it is a "taqueria" or a taco restaurant.

Do you see the giant spit of pork in the front of the restaurant? This would turn slowly and continue to grill and savor.  It is from this spit that my honey's tacos were filled.  Let me also mention the delicious, hand prepared flour tortillas that were to die for.

Pico de Gallo, green chili sauce and red chili sauce is at every table along with their hot, prepared tortilla chips from fresh corn tortillas.

I ordered something called Bistek  It was a large, homemade roll (to die for) filled with grilled steak, onions, fresh avocado and cheese.  I squeezed fresh lime juice over the meat and dug in.  This was a huge, freshly baked roll and out of this world.

My honey could not resist the meat on this spit so he ordered the house tacos.

These three tacos were the best he had ever had.  Fresh slices of seared pork with onions, avocado, lettuce and cheese all on fresh tortilla.  A piping hot dish, freshly made.  Perfect.

All of this food, to include the drinks came to less then $17.00.  We ate like rock stars.  If you ever in Cancun and want to experieince real local board of fare, then this should be one of your first stops.  You will not be disappointed.

Stay warm my friends.  Sea Witch

BRRRRRR, this Sea Witch is freezing her tail off.

Good morning everyone.  Doesn't happen often, but we received a little snow last evening...along with a thin layer of moisture so it is now ice everywhere.  Although, not as lovely as the photos of snow kissed landscapes as offered by A New England Life, or MayGreen Fairies, or Vintage Bunny I had to share my sad little snow photos only because we just don't see it that often here in Georgia.

Taken about 5:30 am this morning.  Had to let Kota out for his morning constitutional and to bark at his doggie friend across the fence.

Oh, how I look forward to breakfasts out on the desk with my honey as soon as spring arrives.  We live on the deck most of the year watching the squirrels and the rest of nature roll by.  Around May, I even blow up the bright green baby pool and fill with water.  Not so much for the grandchildren who stop by but because this Sea Witch and her honey will drop our big, beautiful bottoms in it and cool off.  Nothing like a good book, a cold drink and someone you love next to you in a baby pool.  All good, I tell ya.  So stay warm and wishing you a lovely weekend.  Sea Witch

Schoolhouse Rock is 37

Thirty-seven years ago this week, ABC television, during Saturday morning cartoons, introduced one the most loved educational commercial ventures for children everywhere. It was called Schoolhouse Rock.  I remember these when I was a girl and my sisters and I always enjoyed singing along with them.  (In fact, I even have the CD of the best of Schoolhouse Rock).  I know my kids remember the songs, even if they thought the animation was a bit lame.

Here are three of my favorites, so click on the videos and travel back to Saturday morning cartoons time and sing along.  I know you already know the words.

Interjections, shows excitement, shows emotion!

"No More Kings."

and of course everyone remembers, "Nouns, a person, place or thing." 

and let's not forget its introduction before each song:

As your body grows bigger
Your mind grows flowered
It's great to learn
Cause knowledge is power!

It's Schoolhouse Rocky
That chip off the block
Of your favourite schoolhouse
Schoolhouse Rock!

On another note, I have pulled the music from my blog for a few weeks.  I wanted to hear from you, as visitors to the blog, is the music annoying and/or does it interfere with your pages loading.  I rarely put "sound" on websites for those very reasons, but blogs are a different breed of webcat and I have received many comments about how you have enjoyed my choices.  Still, if it is preferred to have no music automatically piping up, I would like to hear from you.  Leave a comment or send me an email and let me know. 

Have a delightful day everyone.  Sea Witch--who will  now go and unpack her adjectives.

Tulum, part 2 - Temple of Frescoes

Greetings blog friends, I hope you are staying warm.  It is frigid here in Georgia and I worry about the citrus crops in Florida because of the sub zero cold. Wishing I was back in Tulum among the ruins as I write this.   There was so much to see in Tulum that it became two posts.  Today, I will share photos and information about the Temple of Frescoes, another favorite temple located there of mine.

The Temple of the Frescoes, directly in front of the Castillo, was used as an observatory for tracking the movements of the sun. It contains interesting 13th-century frescoes, though visitors are no longer permitted to enter.  The frescoes represent the rain god Chaac and Ixchel, the goddess of weaving, women, the moon, and medicine.   This is a smaller temple like the Temple of the Descending God but rich in carvings and fresco remains. (photos will enlarge if you click on them)

Facing the front or entrance to the temple, both the right and the left corners have a carved face.  You must stand back to truly see them.  I have taken a closeup of both corners for you below.

This is the right corner of the temple and you can see the awake or open eye of the rain god.

On the left corner of the temple you can see the  sleeping or closed eye of the rain god.

The Descending God is seen on the top colonnade of the temple.

Remains of red paint and hand prints from the original frescoes.  All of the buildings and especially the temples had a plaster finish and were rich in colors and paintings.  Brilliant lapis blues and brilliant reds would abound.  There is something wonderful about seeing hand prints on ancient buildings.  Knowing that another before me, so long ago, has left their mark on this building is always spiritual to me.

If you look closely, you will see my little friend slowly climbing the stairs of yet another temple foundation to bake in the sun.

Looking out to the sea from  the back of Le Castillo.  Watching the surf crash along the reef and recognizing the part of the reef that is open for passage which provided entry to past visitors into Tulum is like having a secret key to a passage way.

 Small patch of beach that overlooks the reef below.

The crashing surf is hypnotic to watch.

The beach below was filled with Tulum visitors.  I would have walked down the 7 flights of winding stairs below to play in the water but I would never have made it back up with my arthritic knee.  Sigh.

Back side of Le Castillo, I wanted to show the sheerness of the pyramid stone wall.

Le Castillo - The Castle and main temple.  Beautiful.  I would have loved to walk among the buildings,to feel the presence of those who have gone before me but they are roped off to protect them from too many feet.

One last look at the beautiful turquoise reef before we began the walk back to the tour bus.  This was my favorite "land" place with our visit to Cancun.  The Mexican government is to be commended for taking such pride and care in this jewel of their history and it is a tribute to their respect for the Mayan and its rich heritage. I am privileged and humbled to have been fortunate enough to pass through it.  Sea Witch