Today on Weekend Meanderings, a random acts of kindness challenge, pancake recipes, French artist Claire Basler and lots more.
Good morning friends, how are you?
Today I am joining Kim and Juliet for weekend meanderings, our weekly series of things that caught our eye and piqued our interest.
This morning it is a beautiful albeit it chilly. Like many, the weather seems to be an ongoing topic this winter, one week it’s cold with non-stop rain, the next it is almost 80 and sunny. I am not ready for it to be summer yet. Here in South “summer” is long, HOT and humid. It seems as if it starts in May and ends in November, so I could use a few more weeks of cooler weather.
Monday is President’s day, that means a 3 day weekend for many. Do you have any plans? Will you be shopping the sales? I do have my eye on this Mango dress and this dress from Zara. If you are going to a spring/summer wedding this dress is gorgeous, sadly I have no where to wear it.
Ok, grab your hot tea, coffee or chocolate and settle in for some pancakes, an interesting artist and lots more on weekend meanderings.
Pancake Day
Pancake day is Tuesday. Also known as Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Fat Tuesday, it is the last day for Christians to indulge in fatty foods before the start of Lent(Ash Wednesday)and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients.
Some people start Fat Tuesday with a paczki, some King cake , we start the day with pancakes. I’ve never been a fan of paczki so I skip those but I do love pancakes. This year I am trying something new and am making brown sugar pancakes who knows I might make a King Cake too!
Are you a fan of King Cake? Pancakes? Or something else? Do you have a favorite recipe?
5 delicious pancake recipes to try on Tuesday.
Easy Fluffy Pancakes from Eat Little Bird
Classic English Pancakes with Lemon and Sugar
Buttermilk Pancakes from Simply Delicious
Fluffy Banana Pancakes from Feel Good Foodie
Brown sugar pancakes from Cookies & Cups
More About Paczki and pancakes
Never heard of a paczki, you can learn more about them here.
Pączki Day: A Polish tradition becomes an American tradition
The Long Surprising History if Pancakes
Random Acts of Kindness Challenge
The world can be cold, cruel and lonely sometimes, and lately it seems as if it is getting worse. The news is filled with stories of bullying, not just in schools but in the work place and other sad stories. Yesterday was Random Act of Kindness day and this week is Random Act of Kindness Week.
This is a week that encourages us to put kindness first and to share it everywhere you go and with everyone you meet. After all, we can all use a little kindness in our life.
My friend April Harris is having a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge during the season of Lent. She writes:
“This year I am challenging myself to carry out random acts of kindness every day, a minimum of one each day. Of course, there is no reason to restrict carrying out random acts of kindness to a particular time of year. Ideally, this challenge will inspire us to continue to look for ways to incorporate random acts of kindness in our everyday lives on a regular basis.”
April has put together a list of 40 random act of kindness, you can choose one a day or mix and match. You can read all about her kindness challenge on the blog, just click the link, and use her suggestions or you own.
What do you say? Are you up for a challenge?
Claire Basler
Recently while scrolling Instagram I came across artist, Claire Basler. She is French, lives in a chateau and she paints flowers. That is a very simple description of this incredibly talented artist.
Claire studied at Ecole des Beaux Arts but also spent countless hours studying the paintings in the Louvre. One of the artists that she admires is one of my favorites as well Jean-Antoine Watteau. Not only does she create ethereal, beautiful paintings but murals as well. In fact every inch of her chateau is covered in her art. The chateau is also home to her garden where most of the flowers that she paints are grown.
I don’t want to tell you too much about here because if you like her work and I know that you will I want you to read about her and take in her amazing art and philosophy of life.
Image Instagram
To learn more about Claire check out these articles.
Le Vie en Fleur: Claire Basler
Former French Schoolhouse Turned Enchanting Artist Studio
Claire Baslers’ Chateau de Beauvoir
Image
Claires’ work reminds me a lot of another favorite artist, photographer and author Jamie Beck. If you do not follow Jamie on Instagram she is a must.
Six years ago she left NY for Provence and has never looked back. Her first book came out last year and is a NYTimes best seller. Jamie is looking to branch out creatively and is currently exploring other options, perhaps a tv show or something else.
An American in Provence is on sale for $20.00!
Links
How Olympia Gayot Brought J.Crew Back
Airfare Expected to Rise in Spring and Summer — Here’s Why
The Best Places to See Daffodils This Spring
8 Spectacular Spring Flower Festivals to Experience Around the Midwest
6 Reasons Introverts and Pets are Perfect for Each Other
How to Age Positively and With Grace
Here’s Why You Should Make a Habit of Having Fun
In Case You Missed It
This week I shared a delicious sweet potato and pumpkin soup recipe.
The perfect spring and summer outfit as well as lots of links and recipes on Friday Favorites!
And, last but not least, lots of romantic things including outfits, sweet treats, videos and a book that you will absolutely want to add to your list!
THAT’S IT
I hope that you enjoyed my weekend meanderings post. It you try one of the pancake recipes or join the kindness challenge I would love to know.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
When you leave here don’t forget to pop over to see all of the things that Kim and Juliet have discovered this week.
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
Subscribe to the blog and you will get the latest recipes and post to your inbox! You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. And if you like Pinecones & Acorns share it with a friend!
Friday Favorites No. 525 from Once Upon a Chef, A Cookie Named Desire, Inspired by Charm and More
Kylemore Abbey, Resort Wear and More on Weekend Meanderings
Friday Favorites No. 524 from Well Plated, Creme de la Crumb, Simply Delicious and More
Morris & Co. wallpaper, My Tiny Estate and Saving the Manor, as well as, scarves, advent calendars on Weekend Meanderings
Elizabeth, your soup looks so good … and would make a wonderful lunch on this very cold day in California. Yes, I love pancakes … all kinds. Maybe a little too much. Ha! Love and appreciate Aprils’s Random Acts … we need more of this in the world. Thanks for introducing me to Claire and Jamie … I’m intrigued by both and will spend some time today enjoying their work. Hope you have the best long weekend … I just realized it’s a holiday weekend. I guess I should check out a few sales! xo
Elizabeth, Love the acts of kindness by April. I saved this.. A great idea for Lent and you are sure right, the world needs it more than ever now.
I enjoyed seeing all the pancakes. I think my favorite are buckwheat with bananas and I should try and make them Tuesday!
All these links about Claire sound fun. I love art and flowers.. Will read.
I know the weather has been weird here too. Can’t wait for normal spring sunny days. Love your cute outfit with the stripes.. Hoping we can wear cute things like this soon and not worry about being warm.
Have a great weekend. xo
Love the idea of a random acts of kindness challenge! People in Maine really are nicer and friendlier than the DC area, where I lived before. I have gotten used to being friendlier to strangers even when I am not in Maine! The artist you shared really does paint beautiful florals! Have a great week!
Thank you so much for mentioning my Random Acts of Kindness Challenge, Elizabeth! That is so kind of you! Those pancakes all look so delicious. I always use my family recipe for mine, but recently my son updated it so that we can make different flavours of pancakes as well. I think I will make ‘ordinary’ pancakes for Shrove Tuesday though. Thank you for sharing all this wonderful inspiration. An American in Provence is now on my wish list!
I love the reminder of random acts of kindness! And hello….pancakes on Fat Tuesday, what a fabulous tradition!
xx
ELIZ
I love your Random Acts of Kindness challenge. I am going to feature it next week in my faves. You have so much good stuff packed into this post, I am in awe. I found that article about Olympia Gayot fascinating as well. Happy Sunday!
I’m in pancake heaven…just wish someone would make them for me.
Bravo to you for the kindness challenge. I’m going to do it!! Yesterday I brought warm cookies over to our neighbor who just had a baby (but I also needed to get some of them out of the house so I’m not sure how “kind” that was).
Have a great week, Elizabeth.
The random acts of kindness is such a great idea, and so needed in our world today. It’s important to keep in mind that some people may not be open to your kindness. I just saw a woman who was shoveling the snow back onto the sidewalk in front of her house that her neighbor had shoveled clear for her. It’s discouraging, but we mustn’t give up on the healing power of kindness. I really believe love is stronger than hate.
We absolutely need more acts of kindness. Especially now with the country the way it is especially in big cities.
The soup looks so good. You always grab me with your food but this time it’s the act of kindness