Tucker seems to have lost interest in The Virtual France Adventure now that I've wandered away from Sauces and Coq au Vin and settled into Impressionism and Post Impressionism Art and Literature.
A general cat-titude of wake me when we start sampling Le Fromage....m'kay
But what trip to the late 1800's in Arles would be complete without sampling Post-Impressionist Toulouse Lautrec's adult beverage of choice?
Thanks to a friend a couple of years back I had possession of the end of a bottle of authentic Suisse Verte Absinthe. Idgy and I being both artist's and writer's had decided that it was our duty to sample the Green Fairy together, at least once. The first thing we rapidly learned was that 1888 France must have smelled a great deal like an open box of Mike and Ike's. Absinthe has a very strong licorice scent. Stronger than Ouzo.
The second thing we discovered rapidly was that it will knock you right on your ass!
However...should you find yourself in possession of Absinthe the following is The Traditional Absinthe Ritual.
First: Obtain your absinthe overseas. Good Absinthe. Real Absinthe. Many of the Absinthe-like imposters sold stateside to the curious are about as Absinthe as Totino's is Authentic Napoli Pizza, okay?
The Traditional Absinthe Glass and Filigree Spoon and a bottle of ice cold water. The glass will have markings to indicate the amount of Absinthe (about a heavy shot) and lump sugar (shown here) or cubes should be rested on the spoon. The water ratio should be 3 or 4 parts to one of Absinthe. If you have the marked glass it takes the guesswork out.
Do not drink Absinthe straight. Authentic Absinthe has wormwood. Wormwood is poison in undiluted quantities.
Slowly pour the ice cold water through the sugar on the spoon to create La Louche (pronounced "loosh")
Which will result in an opalescent light Jadite green drink. And your entire home will smell like black licorice.
Enjoy...but don't plan on leaving the house.
Really.
And although I have not seen any Green Fairies, I was treated to The Dress Optical Illusion this week. (...for the record..I see white and gold...)
Black and Blue?
Gold and White?
I think "Momma" sums it up best:
And slowly puttering away at the new painting.
And with the balloons...
Still early on...hoping to incorporate Parchment, French words, Objects...going to make it a multi-medium piece. So far I like the salt-foxing best...and of course that you can actually sorta-kinda identify the object in the background as The Eiffel Tower.
It is a work in process.
Like Absinthe and Optical Illusions and Painting...TRY EVERYTHING!
More anon...