Three course meals - two consecutive evenings.
The first - filleted duck wings. My French guest praised the jus...the sauce.
The second - Cod fillet on a bed of not very spicy lentils
Chinese cabbage leaves sautéed and gently steamed.
Carrots steamed in honey flavoured reduction.
Ile de Noirmoutier new potatoes boiled, skins removed, sautéed with honey.
Second course - goats cheese crottin, salade (lettuce), walnut oil
Dessert - Aprioct crumble - Pear Crumble
Easy - Stress free - Wining and Dining
Unexpectedly a door or window can open or close. What Joy to see Happiness in each moment.
Monday, 10 June 2019
Saturday, 1 June 2019
Curtains
At last, the curtains desired on two doors that separate three rooms, now prevent peeping through to the next room. In 2014, I bought three pairs of the same beautiful 100% cotton curtains from IKEA as I intended to hang as dividers in the huge GRAND SALON, but then I was gifted a mini turbine for convection of the heat throughout the 40m2 room. I hung one pair at the French doors into my bedroom. My beautiful cream Laura Ashley curtains hang in my bedroom. These curtains and fabric design are not anymore produced by IKEA.
They were chosen for black outlined roses and little birds design, as I had decided to call my house "Le Petit Oiseau" on account of the locally made pottery birds put onto the roofs of the 'lucarnes' of each attic. I am hopelessly impatient these days with the sewing machine so I was enormously grateful to the wife of my gardener who understood what I needed and was able to check and verify my measurements.
It took me over 3 years to complete the interior design idea: everything comes to those who wait!
They were chosen for black outlined roses and little birds design, as I had decided to call my house "Le Petit Oiseau" on account of the locally made pottery birds put onto the roofs of the 'lucarnes' of each attic. I am hopelessly impatient these days with the sewing machine so I was enormously grateful to the wife of my gardener who understood what I needed and was able to check and verify my measurements.
It took me over 3 years to complete the interior design idea: everything comes to those who wait!
Saturday, 18 May 2019
Singing further South
I found an article about a Singing and Yoga group with Meditation... so I booked it being desperate for a new adventure. I didn't have time to ponder or plan. The one day course was led by lovely, caring, professional people. The food was excellent. The wind was cold as it blew across the lake in the pine forests east of Limoges. I stayed one night, as in my slow car it was about a four hour journey. Feeling like Toad on the Road, amazed by views of beauty, I tried to keep to slower routes.... yet with cattle to slow us further!
There were huge rocks in the Parc Naturel Regional de Millevaches en Limousin - La Rigole du Diable.
On the return route - a different route - I was aiming to visit another plus beau village de france.. but abandoned when I desperately needed petrol. Nothing lost as at that time of night it was more desolate than my own village. Sunset before I entered home and my village, was a gift.
There were huge rocks in the Parc Naturel Regional de Millevaches en Limousin - La Rigole du Diable.
On the return route - a different route - I was aiming to visit another plus beau village de france.. but abandoned when I desperately needed petrol. Nothing lost as at that time of night it was more desolate than my own village. Sunset before I entered home and my village, was a gift.
Friday, 17 May 2019
Inspirational Art in Nature
Inspirational Art in Nature
Deformities in Nature can be amusing.
It was thus when I found in my supermarket bought bunch of carrots, a forked carrot which was akin to the legs of a ballerina. I decided!
It was May 10th - one of the first warm evenings.
There began convivial after work bar chats with people I know in the village.
The artist had returned. He has 'a certain sense of humour', which often dominates conversations depending on his artistic mood! Villagers have tricked or teased him about his 'often used language.'
Within seconds of being invited to group camaraderie - SNAP - a gift for the artist.
To the garden for a beautiful David Austin rose. To a drawer for a ribbon. To the camera.
I had created botanical art.
He really liked it.
It was fun to cause laughter and happiness in the local community.
It smelled delicious.
Deformities in Nature can be amusing.
It was thus when I found in my supermarket bought bunch of carrots, a forked carrot which was akin to the legs of a ballerina. I decided!
It was May 10th - one of the first warm evenings.
There began convivial after work bar chats with people I know in the village.
The artist had returned. He has 'a certain sense of humour', which often dominates conversations depending on his artistic mood! Villagers have tricked or teased him about his 'often used language.'
Within seconds of being invited to group camaraderie - SNAP - a gift for the artist.
To the garden for a beautiful David Austin rose. To a drawer for a ribbon. To the camera.
I had created botanical art.
He really liked it.
It was fun to cause laughter and happiness in the local community.
It smelled delicious.
Friday, 10 May 2019
An evening meal for a Workaway guest
May 9th 2019
and the Spring gardening work she and I did leaving the self seeded PAVOT -
a large Oriental Red Poppy which I mowed around in the lawn too.
I wasn't going to dig the potager this year but hey, it happened and maybe it is good for morale.
I am grateful that I can afford to pay the gardener to help especially when last year I couldn't push the mower. This year is better though not 100%. It takes away physical stress.
and the Spring gardening work she and I did leaving the self seeded PAVOT -
a large Oriental Red Poppy which I mowed around in the lawn too.
I wasn't going to dig the potager this year but hey, it happened and maybe it is good for morale.
I am grateful that I can afford to pay the gardener to help especially when last year I couldn't push the mower. This year is better though not 100%. It takes away physical stress.
Tuesday, 30 April 2019
Cakes, Bakes, Books, Bloomsbury, Artists and Authors..........
Angles as a theme for the Cake Club happening in Angles sur L'Anglin lead to reflections about and learning about artists, authors and the River Ouse.
A source leads water to form a river to the sea.
An idea leads the mind to form a river to learning and information.
Because I set the theme for the Loire Valley Cake & Bake Club, I only had myself to blame to make or construct my idea. I couldn't wriggle out of the challenge. I had to make a chateau gateau.
Eventually the agreed theme was "Angles at Eastertide". I thought people could take their own angle ' idea on which cake to bake for this wonderful place. In my village, I think it was in the 13th century, that the Anglo Saxons or French related English, however one defines them in that era, ransacked and governed the now in ruins chateau until they returned it or passed it on to THE LUSIGNAN family. As one can read my memory of historical events is rather poor.
In “un des plus beaux villages de France ” with its “castle in the air” come share your dream of baking. Create an angle of your own idea, be it
a château gateau,
a cake for a prince or
princess, king or queen
a cake for a prehistoric cave
carving
food for a picnic by the River Anglin
an angle on the theme of
Easter
a geometrical
angle.
It was a privilege to host for the first time in six years. The organisers cradled the event. Everyone helped. There were about 19 people, 10 cakes + 4 savoury bakes. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy. Most of the rain was stopping as the afternoon proceeded but the woodburner alight was welcoming. Later in the two allocated hours, the sun began to shine and some people ventured to sit at the table in the courtyard and chat. All too soon people had eaten their fill after Cremant de Loire bubbly and tea, helped themselves to portions of cakes they wished to take home and whatever was left of their own. Crumbs were swept away. It was the end of planning that which had taken some time to get my head around but what an incentive it was for Spring Cleaning and controlling my own untidiness! And what an amazing pleasure it was to welcome so many people who had welcomed me into their homes over the last 10 or so years that I became associated with expats over the border of the departments.
I had no knowledge of R.Fry that Gaynor talked about... it was clever of her to take this ANGLE of decorating the cake with a copy of the painting found at: https://www.courtgallery.com/exhibitions/51/works/image_standalone180/
Roger Fry was a member of the Bloomsbury Group... and friend of Virginia Woolf....
When I was in England I bought myself four books as I have intended to read Virginia Woolf for some time.
That evening, I started to read: ORLANDO. In the Preface , Virginia writes: "To the unrivalled sympathy and imagination of Mr Roger Fry I owe whatever understanding of the art of painting i may possess."
I never knew such important artists had come here but it is not surprising... Imagine being here if they were both here and where did they stay?
I have also purchased TO THE LIGHTHOUSE and WAVES. I ought to read them in order.
Whilst in Waterstones book store, I was first drawn to the book TO THE RIVER by Oliver Laing. I bought that as it is about the River Ouse between its source and Newhaven Harbour where I often travel to from Dieppe and stay with my cousin at Seaford in the next seaside town. Virginia drowned herself deliberately in this river!
Isn't it interesting how many links there are in life and how one things leads to another....
How coincidences of events and situations sometimes arise!
I am enjoying reading these two authors. I must find out more about Roger Fry and his connection with this village in which I now live.
First of all the chateau gateau. The previous week I made two square chocolate lemony cakes and two very thin lemon rectangle cakes, wrapped in grease-proof paper and foil and kept in the freezer.
The morning of the event a construction took place with chocolate butter cream and the power of invention. I melted lemon drop sweets into spikes - supposed to represent flags! Four ice cream cones were lazily not iced.... they would suffice to represent four towers showing how rich the chateau builders were. I read once that in the past the KING of France would gift a tower to his entourage.. the more one had the richer one was said to be, that is, more in favour with the King!
I dashed to the Tourist Office and bought a winged faerie rider of a white horse, not a unicorn, to represent the Magic of Melusine in regional castles or castles in the air type dreams.
It was also a house warming party cake for my house to celebrate that on the last day of April, just a few days after the cake club afternoon, it would be the 9th anniversary of me owning my French property. Looking back on the last 9 years in this blog and the years before that on my previous blog, this is the second gathering of friends and acquaintances I have hosted in 14 years. the last was when I was 60, catering for 60 people, and soon I shall be 70 but there is absolutely no intention of a 70th birthday party... this is it!!!!!!!
I had no knowledge of R.Fry that Gaynor talked about... it was clever of her to take this ANGLE of decorating the cake with a copy of the painting found at: https://www.courtgallery.com/exhibitions/51/works/image_standalone180/
Roger Fry was a member of the Bloomsbury Group... and friend of Virginia Woolf....
When I was in England I bought myself four books as I have intended to read Virginia Woolf for some time.
That evening, I started to read: ORLANDO. In the Preface , Virginia writes: "To the unrivalled sympathy and imagination of Mr Roger Fry I owe whatever understanding of the art of painting i may possess."
I never knew such important artists had come here but it is not surprising... Imagine being here if they were both here and where did they stay?
I have also purchased TO THE LIGHTHOUSE and WAVES. I ought to read them in order.
Whilst in Waterstones book store, I was first drawn to the book TO THE RIVER by Oliver Laing. I bought that as it is about the River Ouse between its source and Newhaven Harbour where I often travel to from Dieppe and stay with my cousin at Seaford in the next seaside town. Virginia drowned herself deliberately in this river!
Isn't it interesting how many links there are in life and how one things leads to another....
How coincidences of events and situations sometimes arise!
I am enjoying reading these two authors. I must find out more about Roger Fry and his connection with this village in which I now live.
Saturday, 13 April 2019
Purple Toothwort Walk ..continued reportage
Crossing the bridge at Angles sur L'Anglin we walked towards the Low Town Cemetery, climbed the cliff instead of going further along by the river (hopefully, we would return to that point from Le Remerle dam). My friend went ahead of me but I managed without stopping so was quite pleased. Onwards to the Roc a Midi and just beyond to the cliff edge* for a good view over the valley, then one has to retrace steps to avoid private land. Turn left at the road, see the large cabane to the right, continue to a modern cabane and continue straight ahead into La Vallée Sêche where it was verdantly green. Lots of treefalls across the winding path. Be alert to the changing atmosphere as one progresses and suddenly one is out into the open. Turn left and into Lassais. Turn right and right ( left takes one to St Pierre de Maillé) where a spectacular length of one metre logs are stacked, and we are heading back towards La Confluence. Eventually one has a choice to turn right but we head on towards the river where we discover the first crop of Purple Toothwort. Across "the passage de gués" when the water level is low enough it is possible to walk across and I have seen quad bikes cross, I see a favourite place of mine which I love to arrive at.
We find the track alongside the river to the dam and water is low enough to pass on the rocks and edge of the dam.
The trees have been cleared and one can see the house on the Route De Vicq,recently purchased and being renovated after years of emptiness. Further along some kind of dislodged drainage or water vent probably for the house high above?
We continue at a better pace but are stopped again by brilliant arrays of Purple Toothwort. Kew Gardens describes it well. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:662042-1
We found rough steps up to above the caves in the cliffs (we didn't access those). I 'm sure I've never climbed or descended these before but up I scramble determined to not stop except for enough time to turn and take a photo. We were back to the furthest rock cliff (see above)*.
We descend to the river and return to the junction where we had started to climb the official randonnée footpath, then back towards the bridge, before which, 'a gilet jaune' was espied, face downwards off the beaten track, yet on investigation there were no limbs or torso and not even the dog that it would have fitted.
Our walk ended... 4.5 km per hour of the 2 hours. Not speed walking but very enjoyable on a warm day. I still thought we had covered a lot of ground.
NOW:
Here for me is a quintessential, visual image of Springtime in France.
and here,
the newly replaced terrace shelter, whereat No.15 English Tea Shop scones and cakes replace whatever calories one had lost!
We find the track alongside the river to the dam and water is low enough to pass on the rocks and edge of the dam.
The trees have been cleared and one can see the house on the Route De Vicq,recently purchased and being renovated after years of emptiness. Further along some kind of dislodged drainage or water vent probably for the house high above?
We continue at a better pace but are stopped again by brilliant arrays of Purple Toothwort. Kew Gardens describes it well. http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:662042-1
We found rough steps up to above the caves in the cliffs (we didn't access those). I 'm sure I've never climbed or descended these before but up I scramble determined to not stop except for enough time to turn and take a photo. We were back to the furthest rock cliff (see above)*.
We descend to the river and return to the junction where we had started to climb the official randonnée footpath, then back towards the bridge, before which, 'a gilet jaune' was espied, face downwards off the beaten track, yet on investigation there were no limbs or torso and not even the dog that it would have fitted.
Our walk ended... 4.5 km per hour of the 2 hours. Not speed walking but very enjoyable on a warm day. I still thought we had covered a lot of ground.
NOW:
Here for me is a quintessential, visual image of Springtime in France.
and here,
the newly replaced terrace shelter, whereat No.15 English Tea Shop scones and cakes replace whatever calories one had lost!
Friday, 12 April 2019
A walk around the other side of the valley
I have volunteered to keep company, though not to keep up speed or ability of someone who is SUPERFIT, aiming to walk the GR70 ... me thinks it will be a doddle for her but she will have 3 others with her. Not I at their pace!
My turn this week to choose a route and miraculously she has never explored it!
This the first of posts about today.
She puts the app on... we call it NORA as we ignore her telling us this and that! NORA tracks our route and speed, altitude and steps!
When we were on the homeward strait, returning by the river, we found Purple Toothwort...
photos on next posting... BUT, by a "particularly beautiful in Nature display" of them,we found a black beetle which I am convinced is an Oil Beetle. It is many years since I saw one.
http://wild-life-in-france.blogspot.com/2015/03/violet-oil-beetle-in-france.html
I rather like the fact that females drag the male around for an hour after coupling! Poor things!
Really a very interesting article and beetle... There were bees around the toothwort but i don't know if they were solitary bees that the beetle likes to go home with! One looked more like a bumble bee and articles say that these visit for the pollen.
My turn this week to choose a route and miraculously she has never explored it!
This the first of posts about today.
She puts the app on... we call it NORA as we ignore her telling us this and that! NORA tracks our route and speed, altitude and steps!
When we were on the homeward strait, returning by the river, we found Purple Toothwort...
photos on next posting... BUT, by a "particularly beautiful in Nature display" of them,we found a black beetle which I am convinced is an Oil Beetle. It is many years since I saw one.
http://wild-life-in-france.blogspot.com/2015/03/violet-oil-beetle-in-france.html
I rather like the fact that females drag the male around for an hour after coupling! Poor things!
Really a very interesting article and beetle... There were bees around the toothwort but i don't know if they were solitary bees that the beetle likes to go home with! One looked more like a bumble bee and articles say that these visit for the pollen.
Thursday, 11 April 2019
Pottery
I returned to pottery this afternoon.
I returned to moulding & creativity.
I am going to a different potter to also meet new people, widen my horizons, speak English as well as French. It is a dual challenge for me: language and art! It will be similar but different to the informal, irregular pottery course I did between about 2006 and 2012, maybe 2014. I forget. The course is every Thursday unless cancelled. He is English. I like his work plus he has a professional reputation as a potter in UK. The gardens are huge and there is a positive atmosphere. Music sounded a varied selection which was vetoed if the choice was not approved!
I'd been to the artists' open day last Sunday but only visited one of the many and whilst there thought, "Oh I'd like to do this again!"
He remembered that I'd said I would like to do coil work.
Did I?
I am open to being guided to do any learning task that I'm set.
What did I wish to make?
Oh, maybe something for the garden. Could it be frost proof? .. it doesn't have to be.
I hear myself speak.
I liked your spear heads on iron rods so thought of making fish shapes instead.
However, I sense he would like me to do something more challenging.
I am taken just outside to the garden where my eye perceives a tall, fat, conical object with holes in it, hiding in a prickly-leaved shrub.
THAT!
It's eccentric! Maybe a smaller version.
This could be expensive me thinks!
Inside I'm shown how to use an extruder to make coils.
Oh... I'm glad I don't have to roll them!
No... here are the plaques that give you the different widths of coil size.
See... F used this one for the bowl shape ... and for the pot outside, this one was used.
I chose one in-between.
Clay is inserted into a long, vertical, rectangular container fixed to the table top. Pull the lever down as if drawing a pint of beer. Hey presto, catch the coils before they drop to the ground.
Take a coil and follow one of the chosen circular contours on a board.
Follow the technique for adding coils.
Move the clay with tools or fingers on the outside and inside so that the coil ridges disappear into a smooth wall on the inside and outside, which at the same time is forming a cone shape. That is, each layer of coil reduces the circumference.
The potter came from time to time to check.
It was neither easy or difficult but I had to use less slip and ensure I was not making too much of a cone at this stage. Ah... I think it is being made in three parts! At one time I took some layered coils apart when I realized the cone was not being formed, and then found it was being too conical! Whoops.
Quite a lot to consider.
Quite a lot of sensory touch and sight.
Quite a lot of Mother Earth at my fingertips.
Two hours of emptying my head unknowingly, absorbingly, completely in a different environment, learning as one is aware of heavy stoneware clay being transformed by touch.
Nice.
I returned to moulding & creativity.
I am going to a different potter to also meet new people, widen my horizons, speak English as well as French. It is a dual challenge for me: language and art! It will be similar but different to the informal, irregular pottery course I did between about 2006 and 2012, maybe 2014. I forget. The course is every Thursday unless cancelled. He is English. I like his work plus he has a professional reputation as a potter in UK. The gardens are huge and there is a positive atmosphere. Music sounded a varied selection which was vetoed if the choice was not approved!
I'd been to the artists' open day last Sunday but only visited one of the many and whilst there thought, "Oh I'd like to do this again!"
He remembered that I'd said I would like to do coil work.
Did I?
I am open to being guided to do any learning task that I'm set.
What did I wish to make?
Oh, maybe something for the garden. Could it be frost proof? .. it doesn't have to be.
I hear myself speak.
I liked your spear heads on iron rods so thought of making fish shapes instead.
However, I sense he would like me to do something more challenging.
I am taken just outside to the garden where my eye perceives a tall, fat, conical object with holes in it, hiding in a prickly-leaved shrub.
THAT!
It's eccentric! Maybe a smaller version.
This could be expensive me thinks!
Inside I'm shown how to use an extruder to make coils.
Oh... I'm glad I don't have to roll them!
No... here are the plaques that give you the different widths of coil size.
See... F used this one for the bowl shape ... and for the pot outside, this one was used.
I chose one in-between.
Clay is inserted into a long, vertical, rectangular container fixed to the table top. Pull the lever down as if drawing a pint of beer. Hey presto, catch the coils before they drop to the ground.
Take a coil and follow one of the chosen circular contours on a board.
Follow the technique for adding coils.
Move the clay with tools or fingers on the outside and inside so that the coil ridges disappear into a smooth wall on the inside and outside, which at the same time is forming a cone shape. That is, each layer of coil reduces the circumference.
The potter came from time to time to check.
It was neither easy or difficult but I had to use less slip and ensure I was not making too much of a cone at this stage. Ah... I think it is being made in three parts! At one time I took some layered coils apart when I realized the cone was not being formed, and then found it was being too conical! Whoops.
Quite a lot to consider.
Quite a lot of sensory touch and sight.
Quite a lot of Mother Earth at my fingertips.
Two hours of emptying my head unknowingly, absorbingly, completely in a different environment, learning as one is aware of heavy stoneware clay being transformed by touch.
Nice.
Monday, 8 April 2019
Singing and Thinking for Spring
A few days ago.....
It was great fun to sing four new songs with Le Brigade des
Chanteurs.
It was great fun to be part of a team working together to
bring sonorous entertainment to those who knew not what we were about to sing.
It was great fun to be part of a whole experience as we sang
in the dark with torches and candlelight, under woodland trees with birds singing at
dusk; ‘à la crepuscle’. The latter is
such a beautiful, evocative French word that almost lullabies us to sleep.
I’d missed two months of practice whilst helping others in
England, so had not learned by rote as had the others. Despite my own musical talent
being very stale and out of practice, I’ve caught up within 4 weeks, apart from
knowing the words off by heart, which I AM working on. The lyrics are not in French and not in
English, therefore, it is unsurprising to have mastered learning a new language
of sound without knowing it’s meaning.
The process of learning the songs has required
a great deal of mental attention which has been very good to do. It must be
good for preventing any form of dementia! I have been told that my mind is very active, over active, over thinking
conversations, situations and why people do this and that, say this and that. I know my mind is constantly chattering away, thinking
in my head about what happened, or what am I doing now and what is going to
happen, how did I get here, what is it I needed to find! It also discusses how I reacted to or react to or could in the future
react to or do differently something I have done before. It is constantly wondering about this and that. I excuse myself and say it is because I am
and have been living alone in France, which is for many people extremely
challenging and emotionally difficult. Well, it has been for me. It’s also about being busy and creative, even though the body has slumped the brain and mind. Then in a rest period the mind starts again. I have to tell it to be quiet. It's nowhere near as bad as it used be. Out of the busy mind comes writing and communicating even if no-one is reading or listening.... the point is to create construction out of chaos It is exhausting; worse if anxiety steps in. I can see how it must drive people mad!
I return to the SINGING.
I now know the melody of each song.
I now have the words typed and glued onto filing card for
performance and glued onto one folded sheet of paper which travels with
me. Whilst driving along I can sing and
practice by rote each line, each couplet (verse), each refrain (chorus). Whilst
gardening I could go over the words and that would prevent me thinking about
all the other issues and challenges, I must do which I do not have time for.
Indeed, I have been and am also a princess of procrastination. I keep telling
myself not to waste precious time but sometimes I need to slump and go to
sleep!
Ah… three songs are from the TSIGANES of
Bulgaria/Romania/Serbia:
Kanna May
Jag Bari
Nishki Banya
and one is the oldest known canon – in 12th
century South West of England language:
Sumer is Icumen in …
PART 1:
We sang one song after the aperos and picnic where drinks
and food were plentiful. I think it is good to display food that people bring to share with others with due care and attention to presentation. Maybe it didn't quite happen because rain had only recently stopped, and it was cold. It all seemed to be “put on the table higgledy-piggedly”. Eventually some sat at the benches and others stood. It had rained all day so no one was going to sit on picnic blankets and I expect we all thought we would have to tumble indoors. Rain stopped so we enjoyed the evening.
Part 2: Then, the musicians and singers led people down to
the chemin of La Malvoisine https://anglessuranglin.com/la-malvoisine-en-1982/
where we waited for the Professional Storyteller. I spoke to him afterwards about folk lore and fairy tale versions of same tales. He knew about a favourite book of mine
called “Women Who Run with the Wolves” which title I was trying to tell him about and
then he told me!
Part 3: We continued to a place where dark blue tarpaulin was
the place for a performance by a circus school of acrobatic and dance skills to
represent the formation of La Malvoisine.
Part 4: We continued further ‘upstream’ as it were, where we
whispered as if hidden, as we crouched down by stone walls, whilst the public
passed us by…. dolls were suspended in the trees… … red fish marked the sit for
the story teller second tale.
Part 5:
We continued further into the darkness of the woods. Fiery fuelled candlelight marked our way to
where, sat in his peacock cushioned chair, the story teller told another tale –
this, based on a modified African tale, showing how similar folk lore is across
the world.
Part 6: We led the way towards the chateau, as if we were
the waters, slowly and quietly gathering sound of Nishki Banya until we
arrived back to the starting point where hot chocolate and hot wine were served
as we stood around the braziers whilst feeding them with logs.
Slowly people left. I found myself helping clear the tables
of abandoned bottles and food all onto one table. Then I found myself helping
two others to wash and dry the re-usable plastic cups and the glass wine
glasses – ready for the next event.
I walked home, glad to have my new torch as after 23h there
are no street lights. Melody and words
rang and sang as I made my home gladdened to have an experience with French
people even though it shows how much more progress and practice, I need to
make!
Monday, 1 April 2019
No fool like an old fool
1546 John Heywood cited this proverb as one of his collected English proverbs.
It indicates that as a mature and older person one should not make mistakes! One should have learned one's lessons before now! Hey ho!
Be that as it may, here I am with a lot of grass which needs mowing. Reluctant to mow because of using my physical energy, now it has become a necessity to manage the land. I have no gardener for at least three weeks . Now Time, Meteo, Climate are pressing.
Last year I was unable to mow like this in one day and I had to give up completely by July August paying my gardener to do so!
Last year it was wet most of March. This year it has been arid. Gorgeous, crisp, clear blue skies. It really has been like a summer rather than a spring. However, beautiful dandelions and daisies had their heads chopped off. But, I kept oriental poppies, orchids and a few grape hyacinths which are pushing up through the grass, as well as circumnavigated daffodils and tulips! It has looked rather beautiful with buckthorn, blackthorn, plum blossom on the trees in the neighbouring 'parcelles' of land. I saw that the lilac is emerging... - .... it all seems so early!
Four pics taken before the mow today.....
It indicates that as a mature and older person one should not make mistakes! One should have learned one's lessons before now! Hey ho!
Be that as it may, here I am with a lot of grass which needs mowing. Reluctant to mow because of using my physical energy, now it has become a necessity to manage the land. I have no gardener for at least three weeks . Now Time, Meteo, Climate are pressing.
Last year I was unable to mow like this in one day and I had to give up completely by July August paying my gardener to do so!
Last year it was wet most of March. This year it has been arid. Gorgeous, crisp, clear blue skies. It really has been like a summer rather than a spring. However, beautiful dandelions and daisies had their heads chopped off. But, I kept oriental poppies, orchids and a few grape hyacinths which are pushing up through the grass, as well as circumnavigated daffodils and tulips! It has looked rather beautiful with buckthorn, blackthorn, plum blossom on the trees in the neighbouring 'parcelles' of land. I saw that the lilac is emerging... - .... it all seems so early!
Four pics taken before the mow today.....
Sunday, 31 March 2019
Today I made
Today I made:
CHICKEN LIVER PATÉ
300g chicken livers (remove sinews) which cost 1.60 euros
150g butter, diced
finely sliced / roughly chopped red onions and garlic sauteed in olive oil
dried thyme leaves
salt, black pepper,
5 juniper berries and a pinch of ginger powder but you could use allspice, nutmeg etc...
add cream if you wish... I don't but I do add brandy, sherry or port.
1. Sauté onions and garlic slowly ...
2. Sauté chicken slowly...
3. Put all into food processor with seasonings and an eggcupful of sherry or ..... with the 2/3 butter and process until smooth.
4. Pour into small ceramic containers. Add a thin layer of brandy.
4. Melt the extra butter gently... do not burn... pour onto the patê. Leave to cool.
5. Seal top with clingfilm or other means.
6. Refrigerate.
and for the apero group this evening which I have not been to for YONKS:
MUSHROOM QUICHE
Ready made puff pastry (Although I love making pastry, I am a fan of quality French ready made)
Sauté sliced or chopped red onions and garlic and lay as a base onto the pastry.
Spread over a can of sliced mushrooms (apx price 1.10 euros) having sieved off the liquid.
Cover with a beaten mixture of eggs, milk or cream, seasoned.
Sprinkle dried thyme leaves overthe whole quiche.
Bake 175C...
CHICKEN LIVER PATÉ
300g chicken livers (remove sinews) which cost 1.60 euros
150g butter, diced
finely sliced / roughly chopped red onions and garlic sauteed in olive oil
dried thyme leaves
salt, black pepper,
5 juniper berries and a pinch of ginger powder but you could use allspice, nutmeg etc...
add cream if you wish... I don't but I do add brandy, sherry or port.
1. Sauté onions and garlic slowly ...
2. Sauté chicken slowly...
3. Put all into food processor with seasonings and an eggcupful of sherry or ..... with the 2/3 butter and process until smooth.
4. Pour into small ceramic containers. Add a thin layer of brandy.
4. Melt the extra butter gently... do not burn... pour onto the patê. Leave to cool.
5. Seal top with clingfilm or other means.
6. Refrigerate.
and for the apero group this evening which I have not been to for YONKS:
MUSHROOM QUICHE
Ready made puff pastry (Although I love making pastry, I am a fan of quality French ready made)
Sauté sliced or chopped red onions and garlic and lay as a base onto the pastry.
Spread over a can of sliced mushrooms (apx price 1.10 euros) having sieved off the liquid.
Cover with a beaten mixture of eggs, milk or cream, seasoned.
Sprinkle dried thyme leaves overthe whole quiche.
Bake 175C...
Saturday, 30 March 2019
Walking
My friend is in training for a GR70 walk from Puy de Velay to La Cevannes and I am supposed to be helping her; in doing so, helping myself to become fit. She is very fit!
I am very pleased that today I did not feel pain from the groin or knee, and left foot toes only tweaked 'eek' a little. It was warm in the afternoon. She in shorts, me in leggings. She with a hat, me without.
We walked about 15 km in 3 hours with 181 different levels (?) according to the app which we've called NORA as we have to ignore her. We did 20,000 + steps (double recommended for the day). So.... apx 5km per hour; not bad, as opposed to 4.5km we did last week and 3.50 to 3.75 km I did with another friend.
This was my best yet and with the inclines. Not bad for someone whose M.E. prevented her from walking indoors with, in the last 20 years, diminishing relapses. I can't improve on this not for a long while. She however on her own did in the last week a walk of 6.5km per hour for an hour!
On the walk we didn't hear a cuckoo despite being on agri-land and woodland. Neither did we see birds or animals at all!
However, she took me across a dry bocage of land where wild fritilllarie de pintade (Snakehead fritillary) were in bloom including one or two white ones.
Not yet home, we crossed the roundabout at La Roche Posay, enabling a close-up photo of the model horse. La Roche Posay has a well renowned race course.
I am very pleased that today I did not feel pain from the groin or knee, and left foot toes only tweaked 'eek' a little. It was warm in the afternoon. She in shorts, me in leggings. She with a hat, me without.
We walked about 15 km in 3 hours with 181 different levels (?) according to the app which we've called NORA as we have to ignore her. We did 20,000 + steps (double recommended for the day). So.... apx 5km per hour; not bad, as opposed to 4.5km we did last week and 3.50 to 3.75 km I did with another friend.
This was my best yet and with the inclines. Not bad for someone whose M.E. prevented her from walking indoors with, in the last 20 years, diminishing relapses. I can't improve on this not for a long while. She however on her own did in the last week a walk of 6.5km per hour for an hour!
On the walk we didn't hear a cuckoo despite being on agri-land and woodland. Neither did we see birds or animals at all!
However, she took me across a dry bocage of land where wild fritilllarie de pintade (Snakehead fritillary) were in bloom including one or two white ones.
Not yet home, we crossed the roundabout at La Roche Posay, enabling a close-up photo of the model horse. La Roche Posay has a well renowned race course.
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