|| 14 February 2021

More About Sister Andrée’s 117th Birthday Celebration

As forecast, we are having a snowy Valentine's Day here at Provence-sur-la-Prairie. Powdery snow has been swirling down since a little before 9:00 AM. I am making an effort to keep the water in the bird bath thawed. (Tea kettles are useful for more than boiling water for tea.) As I look out the window now there is a bright red cardinal silhouetted against the white snow drinking at the bird bath. Of course we have concerns about losing power. But while the electricity is still flowing through the lines, more about Sister Andrées birthday.

Currently, the oldest person in Europe is Sister Andrée, a French nun who Thursday celebrated her 117th birthday — with a wonderful French meal and lots of media coverage.

Karen in Rosemount’s diligent research turned up photos and more information about Sister Andrée’s birthday. (Merci, Karen)

In Minneapolis’s Star Tribune she found an article (originally published in The New York Times) titled "Almost 117 years old, a French nun knocks down COVID-19." This article includes the birthday lunch menu:

Port wine as a lunch starter, followed by foie gras with hot figs. Then roasted capon with mushrooms and sweet potatoes as a main course, followed by a two-cheese platter — Roquefort and goat cheese — and glasses of red wine. And finally, her favorite dessert: a raspberry-and-peach-flavored baked Alaska. That will come with a glass of Champagne.

In the Daily Mail Karen found another article that includes several photos.

Star Tribune article Sister Andrée’s 117th Birthday

Daily Mail’s article on Sister Andrée’s 117th Birthday

be chic, stay slim, have a Happy Valentine’s Day — Anne Barone

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|| 11 February 2021

Oldest Person in Europe: French, of course

It’s cold. Certainly currently in a major chunk of the USA. And the forecast is that chunk will get colder. Sunday night here at Provence-sur-la-Prairie the temperature is forecast to drop to 0 F. (-18 C.) This may be a record for this part of the world.

In the meantime, our Chic & Slim Special Correspondent Kat has alerted me to the news that the oldest person in Europe is, of course, French. (Merci, Kat)

Sister Andrée, a French nun residing in a nursing home near Toulon today (11 February) celebrates her 117th birthday. And she is a Covid survivor !

Kat commented: “You bet this lady has eaten her share of foie gras, butter and pastry, not to mention little sips of red wine and cognac. Probably never seen the inside of a gym!”

Surely. Sister Andrée did not enter a convent until she was 40 — and, in any case, I understand most French orders eat healthy and well.

Joyeux Anniversaire, Sister Andrée

You can read more about Sister Andrée in the linked Guardian article.