The Spirit of Scent~The Proust Effect

From the book “Welcome Home” by Melissa Placzek

page 96

“But when from a long-distant past nothing subsists, after the people are dead, after the things are broken and scattered, taste and smell alone, more fragile but more enduring, more immaterial, more persistent, more faithful, remain poised a long time, like souls, remembering, waiting, hoping, amid the ruins of all the rest; and bear unflinchingly, in the tiny and almost impalpable drop of their essence, the vast structure of recollection.”

Marcel Proust, in Swann’s Way, “Remembrance of Things Past” 1913

There’s an interesting phenomenon called “The Proust Effect” that I came across while doing research for a psychology class. What it is is simply memories and emotions being prompted into recollection through the power of scent. Example: Picture yourself walking down a city street and as you pass a bakery the scent of chocolate chip cookies overwhelms you. Immediately you feel as though you’ve been transported back in time to your grandmother’s kitchen. The scent of the cookies actually brings tears to your eyes because you miss your grandmother. This is the Proust Effect in action.

Ever since this pshych lesson I’ve been applying this little trick in my own life to create a sort of “scrapbook of scents.” I do this whenever I travel or know I’m about to experience something new. This is so fun, and one of my favorite things to do. It’s surprising how it keeps the memory of certain experiences, places, and people alive.

Maybe you’d like to try this? The next time you’re planning a vacation select a new perfume scent that is unlike anything you’ve ever worn before. DO NOT wear this new perfume until you arrive at your vacation destination. While on this vacation make sure you wear the perfume every day. When you return home, don’t wear the scent for at least two weeks. Then, the next time you smell the perfume it will be like being transported back to where you were vacationing. The scent of this special perfume will remind you of this place forever. I promise, this really works!

Anytime I want to escape, my perfume bottles serve as a sort of time machine. When I wear “Summer Hill” by Crabtree & Evelyn I am on Nantucket Island. When I wear “Rapture” by Victoria’s Secret it’s my wedding day again. When I wear “Pleaseures Exotic” by Estee Lauder I’m being a beach bum in Florida and touring Magic Kingdom with my family, and “Beachy” by Lilly Pulitzer transports me to the beautiful Island of Maui Hawaii. You get the idea. I can’t wait to bring this new scent, “Red Cherie” by Thymes, on a new adventure so I can add to my scent library.

Red Cherie by Thymes

Red Cherie Bath Salts

Red Cherie Body Scrub

Red Cherie

Do you have a favorite perfume or cologne that reminds you of a special place or time?

XO,

Melissa

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more Daniel Dociu art

interview with Daniel

Can’t wait to see what he creates next!

~Melissa

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From the book Red & White American Redwork Quilts by Deborah Harding

My hubby gave me a boxed set of redwork books for Valentine’s Day a few years back. I’ve been interested in embroidery and redwork since I was little. I  remember a nice neighbor lady teaching me how to do the basic stitches on a pre-printed pillowcase with a delicate lace trim. I was mesmerized by how she could take something so plain and turn it into something so beautiful.  My aunt Bobbie showed me how to do cross stitch and how to knit around the same time. I was probably about 12. Later I got hooked on doing embroidery and cross stitch on French linen, and at one point spent my evenings working a complicated petit point that took me close to a year to complete.

During the warmer months I don’t work on my knitting and crocheting as diligently as I do in the winter and I’m always looking for new ways to express myself creatively.

Today I was walking down the hallway to our bedroom and happened to glance over at the book case. I noticed my redwork books…

I decided to unearth a “life” quilt I had started working on for my daughter Andrea when she was still in junior high.

‘Baby Andie’ redwork design by Melissa Placzek

This is the basic pattern I’m going for. Each of the redwork squares will represent a different milestone in my daughter’s life.

Next to the books I found a folder full of redwork designs by me! I think I’ll be publishing an ebook soon

How are you expressing your creativity today?

XO

~Melissa

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Today we…

had jelly doughnuts and rosepetal tea for breakfast

went for a walk with Andie and Madeline May

did some reading and writing

and I watched Husband make barbecue magic happen in our kitchen

and listened to the bees buzz and the birds sing

while I took a hammock nap

Happy summer!

~Melissa

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I love to travel to new places. It’s one of my favorite things to do. But, sometimes we just take a vacation at home, which is lovely in it’s own way.

When I’m on a staycation, which I love because I don’t need to pack, and it’s generally a little more relaxing than actually going somewhere…I still like to read books on traveling to other places. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite titles with you.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

My Love Affair with England by Susan Allen Toth

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik

Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson

A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena de Blasi

What books do you read to satisfy wanderlust?

~Melissa

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and I love the picture of this airship…although I don’t believe this is an image from the movie

~Melissa

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For my birthday, my dear friend Nancy surprised me with a day trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for formal afternoon tea! We arrived a couple hours prior to tea time so we could tour the many, many beautiful gardens. It was such a tranquil day. I took a bazillion pictures, and narrowed it down to a little less than a bazillion Enjoy!

cool flower child car

cool tractor with a flower man at the wheel

This amazing structure is called “Uff Da Palace.”

It took artist Patrick Dougherty an entire month weaving sticks and saplings into this sculpture!

Nancy and Bonnie in the Uff Da Palace

I loved all of the little waterfalls around the arboretum!

waterfall…

waterfall in the Japanese Garden

fox gloves

Kitchen Herb Garden

Kitchen Herb Garden

this rose is so red it almost doesn’t look real!

It was roses, roses all the way…

Linda, Bon, and Nancy in the Rose Garden

Japanese Maple

Wildflower Garden Path

Minnesota’s State Flower-The Ladyslipper

Wicked cool flower siding!

cacti

Orchid

Jack in the Pulpit

pretty

Salvia

pretty

Tea Menu!

Tea Room at the Arboretum

Mmmmmmm….tea treats!

Tea!

Trifle

Now I am inspired to go flower shopping!

~Melissa

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This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I love using recipes from books that add meaning to what I’m cooking, and depth to the cooking experience. This book has one of the best recipes for Warm Tart Tatin with Creme Fraiche that I’ve ever tried. I will cook it this autumn, take a picture and share the recipe with you.

The first image that seems to always come to mind when I think of Van Gogh, is his short life and how sad it was for the world to have lost this visionary at the prime of his painting career. What really appealed to me about this book, Van Gogh’s Table at the Auberge Ravoux, is that there was so much more that made up Vincent’s daily round than most people think about or realize when admiring his art. In the pages of this book  a much more mild daily existence is revealed. We get a glimpse of Van Gogh’s meals with friends and neighbors. Van Gogh’s Table presents a kinder view of his world. Authors Alexandra Leaf, a culinary historian, and Fred Leeman, the former chief curator of the Van Gogh Museum, give us  a closer look at his last home and his last days. Van Gogh traveled all the time and frequently boarded at small hotels and dined in cafés. During his few months at the Auberge Ravoux, van Gogh produced many amazing pieces of art. This book is a tribute to the incredible painter, and the café life that inspired him. Leaf and Leeman have combined stories and gorgeous images of the artist’s life and art with menus from his days at the Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise, a village twenty miles from Paris.

I first became intrigued with the Auberge Ravoux while reading a book called Gracious Living in a New World by Alexandra Stoddard, one of my favorite authors. There is a chapter in this book called The Van Gogh Connection which I find so inspiring! I love her description of this place:

When our bread arrived at the table I knew it was the same kind of bread baked for the painter. It was sliced on a cutting board, perhaps the very same one used to slice his bread. The smell of garlic, butter and soupe de poisson emanating from the kitchen flooded my senses. I had to have everything I knew he’d enjoyed; so I went all the way and ordered la specialite de l’ Auberge Ravoux: gigot d’agneau de sept heurs (the seven hour lamb, which I learned was van Gogh’s favorite…I can still taste this remarkable meal.

*

Another of my favorite cookbooks, Monet’s Table-The Cooking Journals of Claude Monet, is such a beautiful book. Jeff and I made the Daube de Bananes (Bananas in Red Wine) just a few nights ago. It was such a unique, delicious dessert. Jeff said it made the house smell like Christmas!

Bananas in Red Wine

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter

6 bananas split lengthwise

3 cups dry red wine

3 Tablespoons confectioner’s sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and add the bananas. Saute until golden, turning to brown both sides. Transfer them to a plate. Set aside. Pour the wine into a large saucepan along with the sugar and cinnamon. Boil over medium to low heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the bananas and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot.

I can’t wait to travel to France so I can dine at the Auberge Ravoux, and tour the homes of two of my favorite artists.

~Melissa

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Today I’m writing about the magic of candle light!

One of these days I’ll get some spectacular photos of my candle chandeliers. For now these will have to do. You can see my dining room chandelier on my post “Paris Party 2″…

and my porch chandelier on my post “Fresh Air Rooms”…

How do you use candle light in your home? what are your favorite candle scents? I tend to like mild, earthy scents like patchouli and eucalyptus in the winter and autumn, and fruity scents like tangerine and lemon in the spring and summer.

My favorite book on illuminating the home with candle light.

We’ve enjoyed candle lit dinners out on the front porch, and in our home more times than I can count. I’m absolutely addicted to candle light. I have a candle chandelier in my dining room, one over the bath tub, and one over our little table on the front porch.

I just went out back and noticed people sharing a candle lit dinner on their porch. This made me so happy! I guess I never realized how the power of candle light reaches me, even when I’m just watching others enjoy it. I hope others feel this when they see the golden lights flickering from my home. How has candle light affected you? Share your stories please

My friend Keri said:

“Thanks for sharing. That’s so cool that someone was having a candle lit dinner on their porch. I agree — that makes me happy too.For MANY years I was addicted to PartyLite candles and had parties A LOT (my friends actually BANNED me from having parties for 2 years!). I LOVE their candles and the beautiful scents. I used to only use candles … See more at one time in my life. In fact, I was chatting with a former flame (pun intended!) on the phone one evening and I counted all of the various types of candles I had lit in my living room — 121! OMG!! That’s insane! Most of them were tealights. And my house smelled sooooo nice.

I like candles in my bedroom. I say that my “signature scent” (in the bedroom) is mandrin orange/mango or peach. The scent is soft and romantic. Refreshing. I won’t go into more detail… LOL

I LOVE candle chandeliers! They are soooo beautiful.

I think watching the candles flicker is mesmerizing. It’s like you can be silent and just let your mind wander. It has a calming effect on me I guess.”

Thanks for sharing, Keri!

~Melissa

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A couple winters ago, when the snow was knee high and the sky a silver grey hue, I picked up a book that I read about in my page-a-day “Book Lovers Daily Calendar.” I always find great book recommendations in this handy little helper!

The book I found that winter day, that is now one of my all-time favorites, is called:

An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof

This book is written by a woman who decided, along with her husband to come up with a plan to rent out their home, move to a 42-foot sailboat, and set sail for the Caribbean. Their journey lasted two years, during which time they sailed to sixteen countries surrounded by turquoise sea, periwinkle sky, and paradise. It’s a book full of humor, adventure, and my favorite…unique, delicious recipes!

Some of my favorite recipes from this book:

Bahamian Mac and Cheese

Mango Crisp

Papaya Banana Muffins

Spicy Island Gingerbread

and the one I have made over and over…and again for dinner last night…

Cheesy Chicken with Avocado and Tomato Salsa

1/3 cup cornmeal

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 garlic cloves, quartered

1/2 lime or lemon

1/2 cup fresh or store bought tomato salsa (I used a brand that makes a variety with mangoes, peaches and pineapple)

1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and thickly sliced

4 slices extra sharp cheddar, monterey jack or queso de freier cheese

fresh cilantro, chopped

Combine cornmeal, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Dredge completely thawed chicken breasts in mixture. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed frying pan with a lid. Gently saute the garlic pieces for a minute or two. Add the chicken breasts, and saute until a golden brown crust has formed (6 or 7 minutes per side.) Squeeze the lime or lemon over the chicken. Check to see that the chicken is almost done. Top each breast with some salsa, a couple slices of avocado, and a slice of cheese. Lower heat, cover, and cook a minute or two longer until the cheese has melted. Garnish with the cilantro. Serve with coconut rice, a mixed green salad drizzled with pineapple vinaigrette, and more sliced avocado and tomato on the side.

Tip: This recipe can easily be adapted for the grill. Marinate chicken in lime juice, olive oil, red pepper, cilantro and garlic for at least 30 minutes. Grill over medium-high heat until the chicken is almost done. (About 5 minutes per side.) Top each breast with salsa, a couple slices of avocado, and a slice of cheese. Cover grill and cook a minute or two longer, until cheese is melty.

Have a little party on your deck, serve this lovely dish and make mai tais or pina coladas!

Enjoy!

~Melissa

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