Tea at Trianon: A Father's Day Barbecue

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Friday, June 16, 2017

A Father's Day Barbecue

When my father was alive I never fully appreciated how hard he worked to support us. I wish he would come back for one moment so I could tell him. From Southern Lady:

This Father’s Day, pay tribute to the man who has filled so many roles through the years—provider, protector, pal, and more. Our dads work hard for us all year long, so use this day to show them just how much we appreciate them and all they do. There’s no better way to spend this special June Sunday than with a time of feasting and fellowship reveling in the early-summer air. Fire up the grill, and treat dad to a gussied-up backyard barbecue that takes full advantage of the season’s vibrant colors and flavors. Start with our Grilled Vegetable Crudité with Smoky Parmesan Dip, which gives the traditional veggie platter a robust spin sure to please the heartiest of appetites. Soft-boiled eggs, green beans, and fresh pesto are flavorful additions to classic potato salad, and, along with a colorful slaw, they make the perfect complement to marinated skirt steak. Keep the grill going for dessert—a delicious honey-drizzled fruit pizza puts a final sweet touch on this special day. (Read more.)