Life as I know It

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San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Inspiration is NOT a Road Map

I turn to the wonderful Julia Child for INSPIRATION and a nod in the right direction, but not as a road map to a destination.

Here is a picture of the now deserted home in which Julia grew up in Pasadena. I think it should be a museum and or cooking school. Wouldn't that be great?


If possible, you MUST get a copy of this wonderful article in the March 2010 issue of DownEast magazine. I remember reading in Julia's book about her love of Maine, but this article really brought it home to me.


Jacques and Julia are a great team. I find their book a never ending source of ideas.



Her autograph??!! Hurrah! I treasure it.



And, here are the edible flowers and salad greens from the containers I planted a month ago. My dear friend Marilyn (from Maine) came over for dinner tonight, and she was stunned by the brilliant colors and fabulous tastes of these homegrown beauties.



Ahhhh, the simple pleasures of gardening and cooking (and entertaining friends).

Remember–––inspiration and then do it your own way.

All joys,

Sharon

P.S. Be sure to check Monday, March 15th for my new gardening post on Lowe's Garden Grow Along. Please leave me a comment! I appreciate your input.

36 comments:

Erin | Bygone Living said...

It's a shame her house is deserted... I wonder why? It would be great to turn it into a cooking school or museum!

I love edible flowers- so beautiful and complimentary to any dish :)

sarah-jane down the lane said...

I am longing to see the film with Meryl Streep. I totally agree with you, a cookery school would be perfect,

Sarah x

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Oh her house is so cool Sharon! They need to do something to preserve it! Your salad greens look fantastic~ I bet your looking forward to Maine this summer!
Cindy

Unknown said...

A treat of a post. I hope Julia's old home becomes a museum AND a cookery school. AND that I get to visit it one day!
Cheers!

Dawn said...

You are so right....be inspired, and then let your imagination run free!
I love your flowery salad, I grew up with those in California. I still have a 'thing' for borage flowers...they remind me so much of stars, or fairy caps. :)
I just watched Julie&Julia and am determined now to aquire some Julia Child books!
Thank you for this wonderful post.
Sending love,
Dawn

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

Thank you for the inspiring words. I miss Maine all over again now. So beautiful.

Beth said...

I'm looking forward to my first salad of edible flowers and tiny greens! We have a community garden, and next week my daughter and I are going to put some early crops into the plots we have. Oh, yummy! Also, I think I will hunt for some violet roots today to bring indoors to pot for some early flowers....Snowdrops are starting to bloom here and there in my neighborhood. I've never been able to grow them in my yard. I don't know why. They are so cheerful! love, Beth

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Sharon ~ This was a delightful post for the week before spring.

It would be wonderful if they did turn Julia's old homestead into a school or museum. Right now it's wasting away.

The edibles from your garden are a lovely combination of colors.

FlowerLady

Alyssa said...

Oh Julia. She reminds me of my nana. My nana was a wonderful cook! She always had cooking shows on and Julia was one of them. She loved her and she looked like her too, minus the accent. I agree with you Sharon. Her home would make a wonderful intimate cooking school. I will have to get Downeast. One of my fav. mags to read when I'm on Drakes Island.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Lovely! I admit, I'd be a bit hesitant about a plate full of blooms, but I'd try them nonetheless.

I got the book! It's such a beauty. My daughter (who is creatively gifted) looked through it immediately, and is excited to make stuff happen. Thank you!

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I loved Julia. I remember watching her ORIGINAL French Chef show (does that age me?). :)

The PBS Create Channel has been showing Jacques & Julia at Home recently. I love it because they're such good friends, they feel free to disagree about how to cook at times.

I think her house should be a cooking school. It's lovely on the outside.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post, Sharon. I'm saddened that Julia Child's house is vacant and that nothing appears to be in the works to preserve it as a museum (wonderful idea!) Every post I read mentioning Maine makes me more determined to visit...when I have more time in my days, of course.

joey said...

Indeed, the simple pleasures of cooking and gardening ... 2 of my passions! I have so enjoyed my visit here with you, Sharon, and joined your growing list of followers.

Roses and Lilacs said...

I can see why you admire Julia Child. A fascinating woman who led a very interesting life. Her exuberance and good spirits are a model for us all. It would be fitting to see her old home turned into a museum or cooking school.

Your combination salad is so pretty. I have lettuce seeds on my list. That will be one of the first things I plant this spring.
Marnie

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

This wonderful home "must be used".
The salad looks wonderful. Reading your post at "Lowe's".
Sharon - you speak to my heart.

The Artist Within Us said...

Greetings Sharon,

I cannot believe the house has been abandoned, especially being in California.

Your salad mixture is a visual pleasure and I know you cherish the signature in her book.

Warmest regards,
Egmont

Ange said...

Hi Sharon,
Well, I guess we shall meet again for I shall be back. I love edible colour (if it's natural) and your salade fleurie looks positively enticing. I think the universe is telling me something, I keep meeting wonderful people from Maine... Thanks for dropping by my blog!

Nan said...

Gosh, there should be someone or some organization to make her home an historical birthplace. And it's deserted?! Can you imagine? I would think there would be buyers lined up to own it. Wish I had money/clout to preserve it. I just loved her. I find myself thinking about her, her words, her life most days. A real guide in my life.

Lori ann said...

dear sharon,

a wonderful post and you have no idea how much it inspires me! from your lovely, delicious looking salad to julia's books (with signature!). She was at rose story farm (if you love roses, this is a place to visit here in carpinteria)and i had just missed her, everyone was excited, but i did get to sign the guest book right under her name!

i'll look for that magazine, it looks so interesting!

love,
lori

Anonymous said...

You're so right, Sharon. To copy someone else's creativity verbatim is cheating oneself out of their own creative potential. And speaking of inspiration, your salad looks delightful. I think it's time to get the soil ready for arugula seed. :)

Mozart's Girl said...

Dearest Sharon, another wonderful, warming post...thanks so much. I cannot believe after the movie & Meryl's Oscar nomination that JC's house is overlooked? Just bizarre. Maybe we should start a petition? Or a fund! Over here, the National Trust would have taken it over...they even bought the tiny terraced home that John Lennon was born in and turned that into a little museum. Surely Julia was the Lennon of french cookery in America??...well, surely it will happen soon. The edible flowers in the salad are charming too. Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my Militza post...I'm very contemplative today, thinking about her a lot xoxox Rachel

Jennifer said...

That salad is inspiring! Thanks for sharing!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I get a lot of inspiration from people like you, sweet lady! And I love cookbooks for ideas. Sometimes you can find a recipe that you can make with a twist of your own. Enjoy your day! ♥

Michela said...

Sharon, hello, sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you and say "thank you" for the lovely message you left me! Isn't that salad too pretty for being eaten??!!!
Take care xxx

Anonymous said...

SO sad that her childhood home is deserted...wonder why?
and yes, now is the time to open the door and let inspiration...which of course your salad gives us...so good with freshly caught fish...and sun...and summer...wonderful1
Ronelle

sweetbay said...

Julia Childs' old home should be a cooking school or museum -- that is a great idea!

CIELO said...

Sunflower house is gorgeous... so peaceful and tranquil... love the view and the house being so close to the water is just fantastic! Thanks for stopping by our little house in the roses....

Have a lovely day

cielo

Unknown said...

Hello Sharon,

I'm so happy to meet you today! I watched the movie Julia,Julia a few weeks ago and loved it. So much to be inspired by! She followed her heart and her passions and look where it led her? She appreciated the journey as much as the destination! Just like the woman who blogged about her. She felt trapped in her work,thus her inner writer was trapped too.. Blogging was her release and it took her to places she probably never imagined... I agree, to copy is never necessary... As Julia Cameron says," spirit is always talking to us " We just need to listen more closely...Then remember ask for help to bring our ideas to fruition! So many ideas,so little time!
Tasha Tudor always said,
" Keep at it!"

more blessings~
Deborah Jean

Terra said...

I got goosebumps from how pretty the salad is, in your photo. Can you eat all of the viola family's flowers? I was so happy to learn about nasturtiums and how tasty their flowers are, many years ago.
Julia is a heroine of mine too.

Vee said...

Thank you for your visit to my corner after finding me at Brenda's.

Sounds as if you enjoy the best of two worlds! I very much enjoyed your post on your Maine cottage and the "bat walk."

The painting of Damariscotta Lake was done from a viewpoint in Jefferson. My daughter loves to paint plein air along the coast. Her favorite is Owls Head.

We are enjoying an early spring in Maine. Perhaps you'll be able to resume your summer life sooner than usual.

a woman who is said...

I just stumbled upon your blog through my blog friend Vee. I sent you a personal note. It is late so I must come back for a full look around.

I am so happy to have found your blog as I was many years ago when I found your books!

camillap said...

Your salad looks beautiful! My leaves are still to be sown - I can't wait. Thank you for reminding me - and thanks for visiting my blog and introducing me to yours.

Zuzana said...

Beautiful post with lovely sentiments. I guess we all need inspiration, but eventually we need also to give everything our on spice of life.
Have a lovely weekend,
xo
Zuzana

Deborah aka Miss Bee said...

Hi Sharon...just stopping by to say "Hello". Thank you and your sweet hubs for sending me the page numbers where I could find your home and garden in my book. Again, I love the book and now it's even more special to me because of meeting you here.

Hope you're doing well and I'll be back!

xoxo
Deborah in North Carolina

the wild magnolia said...

"Remember...inspiration and then do it your own way." Loved this little quotes.

bunny, The Paris House said...

Hello Sharon, first of all such lovely sentiments, Your salad looks delicious and beautiful. I have been a fan of yours for years and years and have read all your books. I believe I first found out about you in Country Living Gardener magazine years ago. All your books sit on the shelf in our little Flower arranging room in our 200 year old farmhouse.
I adore your blog
Bunny
( I am so excited because my little toile cake server is featured in this months CL Magazine, I adore that magazine and wish CL Gardener would come back one day)