Mark

This show was groundbreaking.

Happy New Year 2026 from the Barringer-Lock Family.

This is not open to debate. Happy New Year 2026.

From our family to yours, may your Christmas be a time of joy & a reflection of the love & devotion you hold dear for those people & furry loved ones in your life.
Happy Christmas from the Barringer-Locks, Robert, Mark & Little Ellen. 😘😘😘

A bit of holiday baking. Today I made Almond Biscotti with Orange & Lemon Zest (Cantuccini). To keep the chocolate-loving Elf I live with content, I covered some in dark orange chocolate & dusted with cocoa powder.

It’s so nice to come home from work and just relax by the tree. I love this time of year so very much.

Not to be too contrived, but when life gives you extra lemons, make crème de citron.

Final beach day this trip. So relaxing. It was a perfect winter day in Villefranche.

Petit déjeuner at the harbour.

Robert & I were quite literally two big kids in a candy shop. Maison Canel is an amazing place.

Dec 3. I’d like to take this opportunity to wish my Robert the most happiest of birthdays for his big 60. This world got a bit brighter, kinder & more joyful when you were born. You are a good man, a loving husband, a kind friend to all & caring dog daddy. Happy Birthday my sweet love.

Beach day. Cool and sunny & water numbingly refreshing.

Nice all dolled up for Christmas. It was a lovely evening to meander.

We are thankful for all the goodness in our lives & for the friends & loved ones who appreciate & love us as much as we do them. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 🦃

Our Christmas cactus is coming into bloom a bit too early this year. It normally is spot on timing wise but still lovely to see. I love the traditional red and green.

Tonight’s autumn delight is Crème de soupe à la citrouille (Cream of Pumpkin Soup) made from a homegrown Crooked-neck Pumpkin.

Bauhinia purpurea flower. Not an orchid.

Not an orchid. It’s a Bauhinia purpurea flower.

Happy Friday!

Tonight I cooked a Moroccan-style pumpkin & rice dish. The rice was seasoned with Middle Eastern spices & cooked with ground pork, onion, dried fruits & nuts inside the pumpkin itself. It was really delicious & autumnal. The pumpkin was a french variety called MUSQUEE DE PROVENCE.

Naked painting. The bathroom is coming along nicely.

A good start. Today I’m roasting the Jaune Gros De Paris pumpkins and making purée for this autumn & winter. Jaune Gros De Paris is a french favourite for pies & soups.

Stunning man

Happy Birthday handsome.

Friday evening pre-dinner stroll in St. Jean Cap-Ferrat on a lovely little beach. Sun was just being to set.

Continental breakfast on the terrace. Today we had fresh figs, heirloom tomatoes and home-baked croissant & pain au chocolat which made it extra nice. It’s another glorious morning which helps.

You can tell from my expression that supper was very well received. Talk about taste memories. Made an old family favourite: Open-faced italian sausage sandwiches served with red wine sautéed onions & garlic with a Mâché (lamb’s lettuce) salad with heirloom tomatoes & stracciatella cheese.

Fabulous day with friends at Plage de Marinieres.

Today, a coworker brought me a nice bag of Bramley apples from his garden so I whipped up a batch of stewed apples with lemon. It is so tasty & tart just the way we like it & the colour is lovely.