Does Paintbox inspire your creative juices?
A bit of childhood whimsy with paint by numbers?
Or the lyrics to the 1967 Pink Floyd song?

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Recipes & Travel:
Canadian Rockies, Canmore, Cooking classes, Paintbox Lodge, restaurants, Travel Alberta

How do you start with a “career” spinning tunes in a bar in Chamonix and end up a successful sculptor? You follow your heart. That, is a life lesson for Nutmeg who admits she likes to have a plan or better yet a “road map” outlining the next steps.

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Recipes & Travel:
Contemporary French Artists, Summer Music Festivals in Provence, Travel in France

Ginger and Nutmeg were not on a plane to France May 1st.
Instead, they had a chance to

their backyard.

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff Gondola, Banff Museums, Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Dog Friendly Banff, Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Things to do in Banff, Travel Alberta

Nutmeg owes an enormous thank you to friends and family for their patience in the last several months, as they endured her chronicles of how to develop a travel application.
Enfin! – Finally!
Edible Heritage Aix en Provence the App, a new pocket travel companion, is for sale and ready to be downloaded to your mobile phone.

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Recipes & Travel:
Aix en Provence, Edible Heritage, Edible Heritage Audo Guided Tours, French Travel App, Provencal Food, Provencal Traditions, Provence Travel, Travel in France

NO, Ginger and Nutmeg are not going into the film business. The famous old (1953) movie Roman Holiday, with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, was not the impetus for their visit to the Italian capital city. There were two compelling reasons to indulge in a little three-day Roman holiday. The first was a chance to visit with dear friends, and the second reason was the last time either Ginger or Nutmeg had stepped foot in Rome was over 25 years ago!
Fleur de Sel and Espresso arrived on their transatlantic flight a few moments after Ginger and Nutmeg’s short flight from Marseille. In fact, it was just enough time for a quick Italian espresso and a walk to the right terminal. Once settled in their hotel rooms and they all met for lunch on the beautiful Piazzo del Polpolo. This plaza has a fountain and it is relatively free of the crowds, as compared to the major sites in Rome….

Recipes & Travel:
food info, Italian food, Italian Markets, Things to do in Rome, Travel in Italy

Seeking the ideal setting for your wedding vows?
It may surprise winter diehards; the team at Mount Norquay in Banff creates lasting memories all year round.

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff National Park, Canadian Rockies, Mount Norquay, Mountain Weddings, Skiing in Alberta, Things to do in Banff, Travel Alberta

Sassafras is native to eastern North America, not France.  However, she works for an airline and she has made it a personal quest to visit Europe regularly.  With Ginger away in Calgary for 10 days, Nutmeg thought that a little time with her girlfriend in Provence would be enjoyable.
The trip did not quite start as planned, Sassafras’ arrival was delayed due to an airline strike.  Then her in-country train connections took longer than the transatlantic flight.  Despite, those minor hick-ups, she arrived on a beautiful summer day, for a lot of cycling and a bit of culture. Nutmeg had packed a 7-day agenda into 5 days; here is a summary of her visit:

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Recipes & Travel:
Biking in Provence, Markets in Provence, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Southern Alberta spring is transient.
Nutmeg likes to call it the Spring Tease.
You might be tempted to clean off the deck, haul out the garden furniture and make an assessment of the damage winter did to the yard. You may even take your bike out for a spin, careful to avoid the gravel left over from the icy days. There could be an opportunity to sneak in an early season golf game.
Don’t put away your warm clothes yet!
These are the few weeks a year, when multi-sport enthusiasts can ski and golf in the same day, although you may be warmer skiing.
Last week the daytime temperatures in the Bow Valley hovered around 7C (45F) and Lady MacDonald was crowned with a fresh dusting of the white stuff.
Nutmeg reflected once again, that there really are places in the world, where flowers are blooming by this time.
A touch of red

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Recipes & Travel:
Banff National Park, Canmore Alberta, Flowers in France, French Poppies, Monet Paintings, Provence Travel, Travel Alberta

Ginger and Nutmeg had spent a morning at a cooking class, and even longer consuming the tasty results. It was already 15:00 (3pm) and they needed a walk after that four-course lunch. On advice from a friend they decided to visit Chateau La Coste to answer the question; can decent wine be produced from a combination of Irish wealth and French grapes?

This vineyard is found just outside of Aix-en-Provence, near the town of Puy-Sainte-Réparade. It is not to be confused with the town of Lacoste (that will be another post). Paddy McKillen a wealthy Irishman purchased the old bastide and surrounding land in 2002. This is a man who knows about premium quality, he is the majority owner in several high-end hotels including, London hotels Claridges and the Connaught.
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Recipes & Travel:
French Wines, Provence Travel, Travel in France, Wines of Provence

Ginger and Nutmeg have lived in the same house for 18 years. They had an outrageous thought. Why not rent the house?  That way they could better justify their time in France.
CRAZY!

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Recipes & Travel:
Florida Birds, Florida Travel, Moving Tips, Travel Entertainment