There is nothing better than having a Monday off when everyone else is working. By working an extra half hour a day, I have the luxury of taking a day off each month. I always take a Monday because I love the feeling of awaking on Monday morning knowing I don't have to move a single body part from under the covers. The Babe gets every second Monday off as a rule - he works for the City! Usually he is ice climbing with his climbing buddies who I don't think have jobs.
On this Monday the sun was streaming through the windows and the cat was stretched out in an auspicious sunbeam. The previous day I went to the Ladybug Cafe and Bakery to stock up of on French cookies. The perfect day off includes eating sticky florentines and orangettes covered in rich dark chocolate for breakfast. Technically neither of those are breakfast foods but I figure that somewhere in the fabrication of these confections, fruit, nuts, eggs, milk are all used so I can argue that breakfast staples are incorporated somewhere in these two delicacies. A cup of Kicking Horse coffee made with freshly ground beans washes it all down.
All this is the perfect precursor to reading Molly Wizenberg's new book 'A Homade Life'. I absolutely love Molly's book because her father Burg, reminds me of my dad - specifically when it comes to food. My dad loves food and respects meal times as fervently as a good Catholic observes Lent. Dad has every cooking gadget you can image and when he embarks on a cooking experiment it takes my mom two days to clean the kitchen and utensils that are used in the operation. He also has made some of the best bread I have ever eaten. White, crusty peasant bread - the fattening kind! Dad is also guilty of sneaking a full teaspoon of jam directly from the jam jar. Americans may have apple pie, but Europeans have food with no discrimination.
All this is the perfect precursor to reading Molly Wizenberg's new book 'A Homade Life'. I absolutely love Molly's book because her father Burg, reminds me of my dad - specifically when it comes to food. My dad loves food and respects meal times as fervently as a good Catholic observes Lent. Dad has every cooking gadget you can image and when he embarks on a cooking experiment it takes my mom two days to clean the kitchen and utensils that are used in the operation. He also has made some of the best bread I have ever eaten. White, crusty peasant bread - the fattening kind! Dad is also guilty of sneaking a full teaspoon of jam directly from the jam jar. Americans may have apple pie, but Europeans have food with no discrimination.
42 comments:
Beautiful pictures Raina! Se work a schedule similar to yours -- only an extra hour every day and we get every other Friday off. I live for those Fridays!
Your Dad sounds like a wonderful man -- perfect really!
Monday off is the best day of the week to not have to go to work!
Looks like you know how to enjoy it thoroughly. :)
i like your pictures... i image your dad in the kitchen, a lit of utensilies and a lot of food around, my man can not cook!have a wonderful day!
I'm feeling that joyful not working feeling as I have some holiday to use up before the end of March so I'm taking today, Friday and Monday to have a little home time - bliss!
What a wonderful way to start a Monday morning. Your father sounds wonderful and cooks like my husband, no pan or utensil un touched.:)
your monday's sound absolutely sublime... so nice to find your blogs... beauty abounds xx
hurray having a monday off!
hurray a good cup of coffee!
hurray dads!
Good for you for getting your once-a-month Mondays off - that's a great idea and little 'treat'. The pictures are, as ever, wonderful. x
Scrumptious photos, Raina...the joy of your leisurely morning is so present here. How wonderful you have a Monday off once a month...Nothing like a Monday off! Such a sweet story of your Dad--lovely man! Ladybug Cafe & Bakery...that sounds like my kind of place! ;o) It's Thursday now...but hope the residue of your Monday off still prevails a bit for you this week :o) ((HUGS))
I also have to say your photos are always beautiful!
It's so good to have a free weekday! I do know what yhat is too.
I'm not sure I fully understand your "food with no discrimination", but I'm all for it: sounds better than just apple pie!
(PS I laughed at your comment about climbers: I live in a rock climbing area, and I often have the "priviledge" of seeing, by the side of the road I drive, climbers changing ... under the sun: they have no day jobs for sure!)
i MUST go get that book.
and peaceful days alone are just the best!
My In laws were from the Ukraine. My mother-in-law was the best cook I've ever known! They might scrimp on some things, but never on food! And butter substitutes? Lo-cal ingredients? Perish the thought!
Your Monday sounds idyllic...perfectly acceptable breakfast foods!
Those photos really do capture your slow Monday morning...how lovely! Must check out that book!
I know what you mean about sleeping in on a Monday. Or taking a cat nap in the middle of the day. Pure luxury. :-)
that sounds like the best day ever!
Sounds like the recipe for a perfect day to me :)
Love the goodies you chose. Yesterday I had breakfast at an organic french bakery ~ teaching a friend to knit ~ which is a tad more tedious than I had expected but the coffee and pastries made it a delightful experience nonetheless :)
Delighful morning you had there.
*cheers*
sounds incredible - a great way to treat yourself! more companies should have an option like that!
My perfect day sounds a lot like that, Raina. Maybe when my boys are grown...? Dreamy. Just dreamy.
now, i'm so so jealous... I wish I could take a day off and do nothing... Enjoy it for me!!
Your cat looks lovely sleeping in the sun. Florentines are my favourite, so I'd have loved to share your breakfast. Jane x
Lovely post. I can't complain about not having days off, but I can complain that I rarely get breakfast. I would love some yummy French desserts for breakfast.
Mr Earplugs makes a great loaf of bread. Nipper 'helps' and they destroy the kitchen in the process. It's becoming a bit of a Sunday ritual. Your breakfast sounds fabulous.
For me, another lovely thing about Mondays off is that wonderful "i don't have to join the rat race tomorrow" feeling on Sunday evening : )
hope you had a lovely day
I, also, have Monday's off...a wonderful way to start the week :)
one monday off a month is fabulous, raina! what a fabulous schedule. i wish i could do that, but we get paid weekly, and i have to get 40 hours in each week :-/
Mondays are the best day off as you say! I recently lost my Monday job, but it is lovely, I am so much more relaxed over the weekend now. Love the kitty picture!
what a blissful start to the day! that is truly breakfast in style.
Sounds like a wonderful Monday - I definately think you have the right idea taking the day off - especially with the food and of course all the breakfast staples are included in the batter!
I had a lovely sigh, when I came onto your blog. Your photos are so fresh-looking. I love those sunny mornings too!
Lovely photos. Really gorgeous. I need to read that book. It is on my list.
That sounds like the perfect day.
what nice calm, sunny pictures! i just finished reading molly's book too. isn't it delicious? i can't wait to try one of the recipes from it!
Oh, a Monday off. Yes! That is indeed a luxury. It's like being up in the middle of the night when everyone else is alseep. I think kitty loves that you're home too!
That sounds like the perfect start to the day! I don't think anyone does breakfast quite like the French - I feel ever so peckish all of a sudden!
I read this post at an appropriate time...I finally took a day off after 2 months without one. Your words were my day.
Thanks for sharing the book...looks like something I need to check out! And love your story of your dad...such great thoughts to hold dear.
I agree...mondays off are the best. Yours looks like it was so perfect!
lovely photos...really captures the monday off mood...i love the bit about your papa, i admire anyone who has a love of good food!
Kicking Horse Coffee, French baked goods...MMMM!
Your Monday morning sounds absolutely divine!
Oh Raina your beautiful images and words convey your day so well, sounds like perfection and I may have to go and buy that book now too.
ooo--I know what you mean--Monday is my day off (well, I usually work anyway but i know the feeling!)..that book looks really interesting--am going to pick it up! Thanks!
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