Two Maisons

These summery green gems are the secret to my favorite winter elixir. Liqueur de Noix or Nocino as it’s called in Italy is at it’s finest during the holiday season and is truly amazing when drizzled over gelato or whisked into custard.

I followed David Lebovitz’s recipe here last year and it was a grand succès as well as deliciously addictive. The ingredients are simple: the not yet developed walnuts, sugar, vodka, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and lemon magically melded with the addition of time.

While searching for my libation’s origins I read that legend claims “that in order to make a ‘divine’ Nocino the walnuts should be picked during the night of the 23rd and the 24th of June by a barefooted virgin who should wait beneath a walnut tree and gather any green walnuts that fall to the ground. If the walnuts remain untouched by anyone but the virgin the nocino will remain pure. If anyone else touches the walnuts however, it will be corrupted. For this reason the night of the 23rd and the 24th of June is known as la notte delle Vergini Scalze (the night of the barefooted Virgins).”

Ok, so that’s in Italy, but in our area of Provence the walnuts are ready now and with sandals on my feet I’m dreaming of cooler weather, a crackling fire and the nutty sweet memory of this very summer’s day.

Thanks to you readers who entered the Two Maisons Giveaway. I enjoyed hearing about your very favorite antiques and discovering some lovely new (to me) bloggers and readers along the way. My random number generator (read: hat with 13 little pieces of paper) has selected the winner of the french market cabas…. and it’s Donna of A Perfect Gray fame! If there’s any chance that you haven’t seen Donna’s blog – which is next to impossible – make sure you pay her a visit. There’s always an inspiring image to brighten a design lover’s day. Thanks again for participating!

Le quatorze Juillet est arrivé! -a rhyming way of saying that Bastille Day is upon us and as fireworks are exploding in many parts of France, here at Two Maisons the call for celebration is the announcement of the winner of my first Giveaway.
I love hosting a giveaway!

Into the hat went the names….

There’s still time to throw your name in the hat for the Two Maisons Giveaway. I’d love to meet you and you’ll have a chance to win a lovely petite 19th century silverplate treasure box. You can read about how to add your name right here. l’ll be selecting a winner at the end of the day tomorrow so depechez-vous!

we’re having a heat wave here in Provence so something about this post feels positively absurd…

Yet something feels so easy…

So comfortable…

So recognizable… about fall’s 70’s fashion vibe that the stunning This Is Glamorous posted here.

Then I opened today’s “Story” from Story People aptly titled “Second Choice”:

“you look like someone from the 70’s, I said & she smiled & said that this time around she’d done it by choice & that made it easier”

Perfect… just perfect.

There’s a wild plum tree in the garden that generously offers morning shade for our table. Generous spirit that it is, we’ve been blessed (burdened?) with so much fruit that I imagine our entire village could make jam from now ’till September and there’d still be plums to spare.

They’re a small plum, the size of a cherry, and they’re plum delicious. The have have just the right amount of sour to balance the sweet. However just one tiny branch has yielded 12 pots of jam so far and there’s only so much jam we can eat or give away. I’m like the friend with the bumper crop of zucchini… pot’s of jam on offer everywhere I go.

The tree is literally groaning under the weight. Oh please, does anyone out there have any other crafty ideas for this bumper crop?  Or better yet stop by and say hi and I promise I’ll only make you take a bushel or two with you when you leave.

Today is July 7, the 7th day of the 7th month, and a very special day for me. The number 7 is my lucky number and as luck would have it I see extra icing on today’s cake because today marks the 77th post I’ve made to this newbie blog. In the spirit of the day’s celebration, my wish is to say thank you to all of you out there with a Two Maisons Giveaway!

And it’s not just one Giveaway I have in mind… My second favorite number just so happens to be Two (as in Two Maisons silly…) So there are Two Giveaways in store!

First up: some lucky someone is going to be the recipient of this lovely silver plate treasure box. It’s from the Two Maisons Online Shop. In it’s 19th century day it was a snuff box – my but they had pretty snuff boxes back then… It’s aged to perfection and waiting to cradle your favorite keepsake. There’s a heart on the lid and with that I offer my heartfelt thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts.

To win this petit tresor, think about the 7 wonders of your day and then leave a comment on this post. Share your wonders or just pinky swear that you gave it some thought (I know… you’re busy…). Make sure that there’s a way I can contact you if you’re posting anonymously and if you’re a blogger and wish to post about the Giveaway, I’ll put your name in the hat Two more times! The lucky 7 winner’s name will be randomly chosen on the 14th (7 plus 7) of July, which is Bastille Day here in France and the perfect day for a celebration! I’ll be posting about the second giveway then, so check back. Good luck everyone and thanks again for stopping by.

The neighbor's beautiful basil (the vintage cement pot's pretty great too!)

In Provence it’s called pistou and it’s made without nuts or cheese. At which point I rise in protest. What’s the point? But Pistou has it’s place in the local cuisine: basil, garlic, salt and olive oil…. pounded in mortar and pestle to a smooth sauce, then added to soup (of the same name) or drizzled over fish or luscious vine ripe tomatoes. Yes, this fragrant green elixir is a fine culinary friend….

But my basil is threatening to bolt and the pine nuts and Reggiano will not be denied… It’s pesto pour moi ce soir!