Hi! I’m so glad you could join us…
I’m Marie. Glad to meet you. If you clicked on this page, you must be looking for a little more information.
Here goes!
First, a little background information. I’m the mother of three mostly-grown children, step-mother to three completely-grown children, Grandmom of two – Angel, who lives with us, and Niko-Man, the son of my younger daughter – and wife of a wonderful man. I spent nearly twenty years selling food at retail – mostly meat and seafood – in chain grocery stores, independents, and small markets. I left that world behind a few years ago, and now focus on a different part of the food chain – growing, cooking and eating.
I began this blog in September of 2009 as an easy way to share photos and news with my far-flung family while focusing on improving my writing and organization skills.( I’m easily distract – hey! a butterfly!) Over the course of the first year, it evolved into what you see here – a chronicle of gardening and cooking here at our Rhode Island home, with the occasional visit from the local wildlife and stories about my family.
I’m also lucky enough to be able to spend a portion of the year at our apartment in Paris and exploring the beauty, history and culture of France. If my love of all things edible began with a job behind a fish counter, travelling with my Frenchman-at-heart husband has developed it into a deep and abiding passion. I’m happy to share these trips and experiences with anyone who wants to read about them.
So, thanks for stopping by! Come back any time. And don’t ever be shy about leaving a comment. Making new friends is never a bad thing.
Hi, Marie. Just dropped in for a peak. You sound well. We have survived the ice but it’s still cold! Take care!
Hey Beth! Good to have you here! Mom says you’re doing some writing, too. Send a link and we’ll put it up!
Hi Marie, Just wanted to say hello and say how much I enjoy reading your blog. Love the photos and the stories with them. I hope you don’t mind, but think I will add a link to your blog on mine.
Leanne
Thanks, Leanne! By all means, link away… And please, feel free to chime in on any topic you like…
Glad to know you’re here!
Hey, there, Marie,
It’s been years, but I thought I’d see if you remembered me. The maiden name is Shockley, and I’d love to hear from you.
Maria
Hey, Junior High wasn’t THAT long ago!
Wait – yes it was…
Good to hear from you! I’ll drop you an email in the next couple of days… The weather’s finally broken here, and I’m up to my eyeballs in weeds!
Talk soon!
When are you going to come to Lawton for a visit?
Not til next year, probably. You’ll hear about it, I’m sure… 😉
I better.
HI! I found your blog today and I am enjoying it! I thought of another one I frequent that you might enjoy as well. The address is http://thekitchensgarden.wordpress.com. It’s not putting that as a link but anyway, that should get you there! You both are gardeners and it just seems like you might enjoy each other’s work! I look forward to reading more of your posts! Gretchen
Oh, it did put the link when I posted the comment! Yay!
Hi, Gretchen, and welcome! I can’t tell you how honored I am to be compared with Miss Celie’s blog!
She’s much funnier than I am, you know… But I do love her!
Looking forward to reading more of your blog, and your Adventures in Publishing!
I’m so glad that you already know each other! That’s funny. I just KNEW that you two had things in common! Yes, she’s a hoot. Thanks for checking out my epiphanies! It’s fun, this blogging world.
Hi Marie, I’ve just subscribed to your blog, and am loving it! It’s great to read about other gardeners /growers/ cooks /seasiders 🙂
Hello, and welcome!
I’m fairly sure I’ve stumbled across your blog once or twice…there don’t seem to be enough garden-bloggers on WP!
I love to see what others are doing, too – especially in other countries!
“I love to see what others are doing, too – especially in other countries!” Me too! It’s kind of like standing over a virual fence chatting with your neighbour about the garden or what’s cooking. I love it!
Hey Marie,
I just want to say that I enjoy our “conversations.” Looking forward to your next blog!
Mel
massachusetts-is-wicked-awesome.com
Me too, Mel…it’s always fun to make new friends!
I’m happy to find other food growers as well. And we’re all women!
Hi Ellen, and welcome! Looking forward to reading about your journey on your blog as well.
Don’t count the guys out – we’ve got a few good grower/cooks hanging aroung here!
Found you through Rufus and so glad I did. Late afternoon in Paris looks lovely.
Welcome, Ruth! I’m glad you like it.
Hi Marie, hello from neighboring Mass! Great blog, and so envious of your apartment in France. My husband is a Frenchman-at-heart too, that’s something we definitely like to daydream about.
Hi, Sara! Welcome! It’s always good to meet a ‘neighbor’…
Don’t be too envious – the *other* reason we were in France last week was to get a crash-course in the French insurance system…The apartment upstairs from us had a plumbing issue sometime in August(you know, the month that all of Paris goes on vacation?) and our apartment flooded. The damage to the floor alone made me want to cry…
http://photographyofnia.com/2011/12/15/bottles-in-the-kitchen/
I wished to give a real gift to you…
Thanks, Nia! That is so kind!
Tally ho, Marie!
I don’t think I’ve kept it a big secret how much I love your blog. I like how you can so easily write about different subjects — seamlessly, it seems. I just nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award in my post this morning. Hope you are well!
Mel
You’re the best. I’ll go check it out soon!
I believe I found a Hen of the Woods today 1-17-12. I don’t recall seeing it yesterday. Is this possible? I posted a picture on my facebook page.
Looks like you’re in RI, too, so no, probably not a hen. Our recent deep-freeze temps make that nearly impossible. I don’t Facebook, so there’s no way to have a look at it, but it’s most likely some kind of polypore – stiff and leathery, and not edible. If you’d like, I can email you, so you can send me the photo…just let me know here.
What a delightful site! I’m so glad to have found you.
Food and France, these are a few of my favorite things….
Glad to have you!
Just checked out your site, too!
Sunshine Award
Hi there! I love your blog, and that’s why I am nominating you for the Sunshine Award! Please feel free to do whatever you wish with it. There is no obligation! Here’s the link to my post on Tuesday with the rules etc. http://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/sunshine-and-l…er-blog-awards/
Happy blogging! Cathy
Thanks, Cathy! That’s a new one for me 😀
I’ll try to get to it in the next week or so.
I’m so glad to have a new garden-blog friend!
I know you are super busy, and probably don’t have time for these, but I have nominated you for an award, I had to.
http://leannecolephotography.com/2012/05/02/dead-flowers-can-be-inspiring/
For you, sweetie, I’ll try my best to get to it!
As always, I’m honored by the thought….
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I am wondering if your new profile picture will have shoes and socks as the weather changes. Ha!
Nah, I go barefoot all year…you can take the gal out of Oklahoma, but you can’t take Oklahoma out of the gal! 😉
Hi – I am a first timer reading your blog. I was searching for more information about foraging in the wild in Rhode Island, specifically mushrooms, and came upon your blog. Growing up as a child in the Philippines, we had wild oyster mushrooms growing around the base of a clump of banana trees in our back yard and my mother used to cook them and we just loved them! Now that I am living in Rhode Island, I see mushrooms growing all over our backyard and was wondering if they were edible or not. I have seen white puffballs but not sure if they are edible or not.
Anyway, I just wanted to say I enjoy reading your bloggings.
Hi Dette – thanks for your comment.
I’m no foraging expert, so I can’t advise you on whether or not you’ve got the “good” puffballs or the poisonous ones. If you really want to learn about it, most of the wildlife sanctuaries run classes and walks, and there are some good guidebooks out there, too. The one thing I *do* know is that some mushrooms that are edible in one part of the world are NOT in others because of different growing conditions, so always double-check before you eat something that looks familiar…
We should start seeing fall oysters around here after the first frost, so keep your eyes peeled!
Happy Hunting, and I hope this won’t be the only time you comment 🙂
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My goodness you are popular. So nice to meet you via internet blogland. I am not sure how I happened to click on you. Actually I think it was accidental.
Don’t judge by the number of comments here – they’ve been accumulating for more than 3 years 😉
I’m glad you’re here, Yvonne, no matter how it happened…always good to ‘meet’ someone new!
I’ve just come across your blog from another I was visiting – intriguing combination of growing and crossing the pond to Paris. I will read with interest! Thanks, Tracey
Hi Tracey – and welcome! I saw your comment on Sarah’s blog this afternoon, too, but didn’t get the chance to come check you out yet…
I’m not going to make it back to Paris anytime soon, what with the little one in the house, but planting season is just around the corner! Glad to have you along!
Yes, I saw your comment on Sarah’s blog and it made me smile! Paris or otherwise, look forward to your posts. Thanks, Tracey
great recipes with great photograph.Excellent blog!
keep up your great work !
Thanks, Dedy, and welcome!
I love your recipes!
Hello, I love your blog title, that’s what made me click on it! My DIL got her Phd from Brown and my son from Yale (where he teaches). they own a home in Prov so I’ve spent quite a bit of time there mostly cleaning their house, but doing a fair amount of hiking and sightseeing. RI is beautiful!
Hi, and welcome! I’m not originally from the area, but fell head-over-heels in love with it when we moved here about 17 years ago.
Glad to have you aboard!
You’ve got a great blog Marie!
Great perspective through out lifes
nice to know you then!
Thanks, Dedy!
I just had to say I feel so badly! I think I’ve been calling you Barb! Sorry Marie! Loving your Wildlife Wednesdays. 🙂
Really? I don’t think so…
Or maybe I was too busy to notice?
Anyway…No worries! 😀
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Nice work Marie!
Keep up the good work 🙂 🙂
~Ankush
Thanks, Ankush. Welcome Aboard! 😀
I have nominated you for the I’m Part of the WordPress Family Award. If you are interested here is the information http://ourgrowingpaynes.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/im-part-of-the-wordpress-family-award/
Thanks, Virginia – I’m honored that you thought of me. If I get the chance, I’ll pass it along 🙂
Hello Marie,
You found me (and I you) through Leanne Cole’s blog – you mentioned abandoned spots in your (Rhode Island) area – I am based in Connecticut and have a good friend in Providence, so I am in the area. If you have any information/locations that you would care to pass along, I’d be very thankful. Glad you enjoyed my work.
PS – you may contact me directly at robert@digital-infrared.com
Thanks!
Very interesting work, indeed!
The places I was thinking of aren’t down here on the Island, but along 146 north of Providence and on in to Central Mass. There’s an old drive-in theater with a fabulous stone entrance gate (that’s crumbling), a Dairy Bar – the kind built to look like a giant wooden milk bottle, and several empty industrial complexes. A couple of interesting small, decaying frame houses, too…If you get time, it’s worth the drive!
Marie,
Thanks so very much. I will do my usual Google sat map to view from above and formulate a plan. Not sure when, but I will make it…unfortunately, time is not on my side as decay and vandals are always working 24/7.
Maybe you will see them on my blog some day. Best regards, Robert
Very nice blog and great pictures. I had a good time reading and looking at your blog.
Thanks, Charles! I’m so glad you found us! I hope you’ll be back again, too…
Does anyone have any recommendations of where I can buy fresh wild mushrooms, such as chanterelles or morels, in Rhode Island or Fall River, MA area? I’m open to other types of wild mushrooms too. I need them for a recipe and I can’t find any anywhere. Thanks!!! Please send any suggestions my way at: dianacoderre@yahoo.com
Hi Diana – your best bet is going to be Whole Foods. Mushrooms are seasonal though – don’t expect fresh morels in winter. Chanterelles are Fall mushrooms, but you might find a cultivated version. If you’re near Aquidneck Island, try the Winter Farmer’s Market at St. Mary’s in Portsmouth on Saturday mornings – there’s a grower/importer who comes most weeks.
Good luck, and I hope you’ll be back to read more!
Marie, have you heard that there’s a new Anne Rice novel out—that she decided to revisit her vampire sagas with ‘Prince Lestat’?? I just happened to be looking up something on my blog and came across this post (http://artcoloredglasses.com/2012/01/04/dream-a-little-dream-but-how-to-choose/) again, and…the rest is…kind of synchronous, something of which you and I seem to know! 😉
Hope all’s swell with you and the whole gang.
Lots of love,
Kath