Written by I really had no idea what to doodlewash today so I decided to share my breakfast with you. Every Saturday and Sunday our morning ritual includes coffee along with pancakes with wild blueberries on top.
Food is deceptively difficult for me to doodlewash. And when you’re dealing with blueberry juice, it’s a fine line between making something that looks delectable and making something that looks like a pancake massacre. I decided to keep things simple and use just three colors: Quinacridone Gold, Dioxazine Purple and Perylene Maroon.
When Philippe first arrived from France, he made crêpes, but soon discovered the American breakfast was much simpler to create. Granted, our breakfast stops here and doesn’t include eggs, bacon, and steak. A mixture that seems grossly gluttonous unless you’re running marathons daily or happen to be an actual elephant.
Included on our menu is one serving of some show on Netflix, since we don’t have cable. Currently, our show is the Property Brothers, where two twins sell people grotesquely shabby homes and help them renovate them into their dream home. Seeing these “fixer upper” homes is truly a lesson in seeing just what some species of the human animal is capable of surviving in. And it’s probably not the best choice to accompany food, but we ran out of Family Guy and had to switch to something.
After pancakes, we’ll often run errands which includes a trip to our nearby Costco. Timing is extremely important as we don’t enjoy crowds and so we try to get there as soon as they open. Costco is a veritable zoo of humanity when you show up at the wrong time.
When Philippe first visited from Paris he was watching people tasting their way through the store and asked, “It’s 3:00pm… why are Americans always shoving food in their faces?” Just as I was about to defend my country, a Costco employee set out a large plate of chicken wings as a 6-person family appeared out of nowhere and we were almost trampled in the ensuing stampede. “Oh, c’est pas vrai!” he said, “It’s an intellectual misery!”
My first thought was that he would be boarding the next plane for Paris, and I was regretting my decision to bring him to Costco so soon in our relationship. I knew I didn’t have much time to get him out of there as there was another crowd of large people forming like vultures ready to attack the pizza rolls which were about to come out of the mini oven.
As I hurriedly pushed the cart forward to leave, I nearly crashed into a woman in a mobility scooter blocking our exit. She glared at me like a prize fighter to make it perfectly clear she wasn’t leaving without a pizza roll. Philippe looked on horrified, and I was left speechless and embarrassed for my country. In desperation I screamed, “Meatballs! Aisle 3!” as the hungry crowd moved in the opposite direction, and we were able to make our escape.
Thankfully Philippe didn’t rush back to Paris, but seeing America through his eyes is always illuminating. I just can’t answer him as to why Americans always need to have a drink in their hand (“are they really that thirsty that they can’t wait until they’re home?” he asks). I know this country is insane, but it can also be quite a lot of fun. Just like having pancakes for breakfast.
Great sketch and great story. I love that Philippe’s response to sample chicken wings was “It’s an intellectual misery!” That is perfect.
Thanks Kirk! Hehe…yeah…sometimes he says exactly what I wish I were thinking! Lol It was the perfect description I’d been grasping for all these years! 😉👍🏻
at least you didn’t take a picture of your food and put it on facebook so the entire world could have a moment of like and sharing.
Well I did doodlewash my food and this post went out to Facebook, so I’m not sure I’m completely exonerated on that front! Lol 😊😊
It is pretty crazy eh? Awesome pancakes!!
It is! Thanks, Jodi! ❤️😃Glad ya liked my pancakes! Hehe
I think your pancakes look delicious! Great doodlewash! And I was just at Costco! My husband usually goes every Saturday with the kids and my family could be one of those who you described! I just love Costco!
Lol…thanks Kari! ❤️😃Oh we still love it too as long as we get there super early and avoid the crowd! lol…Philippe is a sucker for a good deal! 😉👍🏻
I love the pancakes! And PROPERTY BROTHERS!!! YEAH!!!
Yay, Naomi!! I knew I liked you!! Hehe! 😉👍🏻
Looks delicious! Funny, we were at Cistco this morning and bought a bag of frozen wild Maine blueberries. Ever notice how suburbanites have no order aa they shop as compared to inner cities? We always hit Costco at the wrong time. It’s like navigating the round about at Arc De Triomphe. Check out my vide, Chsos at Place Charles de Gaulle.
Haha, this is fantastic. Thank you for the brekkie – the pancakes look wonderful. I only really have them (crepes) on Shrove Tuesday – a rare treat for me!
I fear I would react much the same as Philippe over in America, and indeed your stories tally with much of my preconceptions of a place to which I’ve never been: everything’s big. Not that it’s much better here, by any stretch!
Thanks Jacob! 😃lol…I tease about America because I think it’s ridiculous, but in a way I’ve always loved! It’s truly a one-of-a-kind place. Definitely worth a visit one day! Hehe 😉👍🏻
I’ve long wanted to visit actually, though mainly to go storm chasing. One day, I shall invade! And you’ll hear a knock at the door 😛
Oh my! Lol…but we are in the right spot for storm chasing. They freaked Philippe out when he first came and he started studying tornadoes! 😉
Fabulous doodlewash! HILARIOUS Costco story….I was literally cracking up so much I had to explain to my husband so he wouldn’t think I needed medication LOL 😉
Haha!! That’s awesome, Nicole! ❤️😃So glad you liked this post. And if you do need medication…get it at Costco, it’s still the best deal in town! Lol😉👍🏻
Costco is a zoo. Fun to people watch though! I find it so amazing how many things people can actually stuff into those extra large carts. lol! 😄 Your pancakes with blueberries looks delish! Great Doodlewash Charlie! 😊
Thanks so much Jill!! ❤️😃 And yeah…I definitely think the people watching is the entire point. I can joke about them all day, but we would actually miss them if they were gone! Lol
What’s the Costco equivalent of Walmartians? (K)
Hmmm…good question Kerfe! It’s late or I’m sure I’d have a clever response to that one. 😊Not sure anything can compare to Walmart! Lol
I’m making pancakes with blueberries tomorrow. Beautiful painting, the juice is perfect.
I recommend shopping at Trader Joe’s, much calmer experience heehee
Thanks Sharon! 😃❤️Actually, our normal weekend run is Trader Joe’s and Target. Hehe…but Costco has our coffee, olive oil, and the giant jug of organic maple syrup for our pancakes! 😊😊
What a great story. You know how I love to sketch in Costco! I am not sure why with all the free samples people still stop for pizza in the food court. Your pancakes are so good. Your colors are always so rich.
Haha! I know, Carmel! So you appreciate the people watching! Lol 😉 No idea how they still have room for pizza after grazing! Hehe… And thanks!! So glad you liked the doodlewash!!
love that ‘Aisle 3 meatballs getaway’ strategy – so funny you two 😀
Hehe! Thanks friend!! 😃Feel free to use this little ruse yourself if you ever find yourself trapped in Costco! 😉👍🏻
I too have found inspiration in my breakfast! Great work on the pancakes. If you really want to horrify Philippe bring him to an all you can eat buffet! 😂
Thanks Eileen!! 😃 And yeah… he’s here and we’re married now, but I still think it’s too soon to try an all you can eat buffet. That might just send him over the edge and back to Paris! Lol
Ha ha! Congrats 😀
Oh yum, I had exactly that (blueberry pancakes) for breakfast yesterday, with a steamy cup of coffee. Your pancakes look beautiful Charlie! Spot on! I love Property Bros, but I was feel bad that they can’t fix the whole house and when the owners make their way into the old house they probably go into shock. As for Costco, I gave up on it. Its too big for me, just to much humanity and the temptation to buy things I never knew I needed. Wonderful post!
Thanks so much Cathe! Glad you liked my doodlewash!! ❤️😃 And yeah…we just watched Property Brothers this morning and were like…kitchen looks amazing, but the bedrooms are still crap!! 😳lol As for Costco, there are still some deals that Philippe insists on there since he’s cheap…err…frugal… So we’ll likely be heading back today! (Hopefully perfectly timed to miss the height of the feeding frenzy! 😊)
oh Charlie, this had me in stitches! A lovely good laugh at the end of a busy day. thank you! the blueberry sauce looks divine. you did it well!
Hehe…glad you liked this story. And thanks so much!! I was totally unsure how the heck to doodlewash that sauce! 😊lol So I’m soooo happy you like it!!